Skip to main content

How bad is the cracked smartphone screen epidemic? Motorola gives us the lowdown

remove verizon logo droid turbo 2 motorola dropping
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Motorola shocked the world, or shall I say “shattered” the world, a few days ago when the company introduced the Droid Turbo 2, the first smartphone with a shatterproof display. Thanks to Moto ShatterShield, consumers never have to worry about cracking or shattering their phone’s display again.

Now you might be one of the lucky few who never had to deal with a cracked display, but unfortunately a lot of people have suffered through it. Heck, my wife cracked her screen on two different phones in the same month.

So how bad is this epidemic? Motorola conducted a survey and shared the results in a monster infographic detailing just how bad things are, and quite frankly, it only reinforces our excitement for this new technology.

The bottomline is that 50 percent of people globally have experienced a cracked smartphone screen at least once. Ironically the U.S. has the smallest overall percentage at 34 percent, and India has the highest with 65 percent.

Right now, 21 percent of smartphone owners have a cracked screen. In the U.S., that number is much higher, at 30 percent.

Motorola also notes that 23 percent of those with cracked screens continue to use their phone, even after cutting their finger. Why don’t they do something about it? Many feel that the expense of fixing it isn’t worth it, so 43 percent of people don’t bother. They either continue using it or throw it away.

So how do we break our screens? If you were playing Family Feud, you would have to guess dropping as the number one way, and that would be correct. Fifty percent of cracked or shattered screens come from a simple drop. However, there are other ways as well. 32 percent of people say their phone fell out of their pocket, and 27 percent say it fell out of their lap when standing. However, there are some crazier reasons too. 7 percent say their phone’s screen broke while taking a selfie, and 5 percent said it happened when throwing their phone at something.

Would you rather post a private selfie to social media accidentally than deal with a cracked screen? Seven percent of people say yes.

One can only hope that other manufacturers will follow suit with something similar to Moto ShatterShield, but until then, the Droid Turbo 2 is your only option if you want that peace of mind.

Have you cracked your screen before? If so, let us know your story in the comments.

Robert Nazarian
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Robert Nazarian became a technology enthusiast when his parents bought him a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color. Now his biggest…
AT&T just made it a lot easier to upgrade your phone
AT&T Storefront with logo.

Do you want to upgrade your phone more than once a year? What about three times a year? Are you on AT&T? If you answered yes to those questions, then AT&T’s new “Next Up Anytime” early upgrade program is made for you. With this add-on, you’ll be able to upgrade your phone three times a year for just $10 extra every month. It will be available starting July 16.

Currently, AT&T has its “Next Up” add-on, which has been available for the past several years. This program costs $6 extra per month and lets you upgrade by trading in your existing phone after at least half of it is paid off. But the new Next Up Anytime option gives you some more flexibility.

Read more
Motorola is selling unlocked smartphones for just $150 today
Someone holding the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024).

Have you been looking for phone deals but don’t want to spend a ton of money on flagship devices from Apple and Samsung? Have you ever considered investing in an unlocked Motorola? For a limited time, the company is offering a $100 markdown on the Motorola Moto G 5G. It can be yours for just $150, and your days and nights of phone-shopping will finally be over!

Why you should buy the Motorola Moto G 5G
Powered by the Snapdragon 480+ 5G CPU and 4GB of RAM, the Moto G delivers exceptional performance across the board. From UI navigation to apps, games, and camera functions, you can expect fast load times, next to no buffering, and smooth animations. You’ll also get up to 128GB of internal storage that you’ll be able to use for photos, videos, music, and any other mobile content you can store locally. 

Read more
The Nokia 3210 is the worst phone I’ve used in 2024
A person holding the Nokia 3210, showing the screen.

Where do I even start with the Nokia 3210? Not the original, which was one of the coolest phones to own back in a time when Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace wasn’t even a thing, but the latest 2024 reissue that has come along to save us all from digital overload, the horror of social media, and the endless distraction that is the modern smartphone.

Except behind this facade of marketing-friendly do-goodery hides a weapon of torture, a device so foul that I’d rather sit through multiple showings of Jar Jar Binks and the gang hopelessly trying to bring back the magic of A New Hope than use it.
The Nokia 3210 really is that bad

Read more