Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Android
  4. Mobile
  5. News

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

Add as a preferred source on Google

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.

Recommended Videos

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
Robert Nazarian became a technology enthusiast when his parents bought him a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color. Now his biggest…
Google’s new desktop mode makes one thing clear: Samsung DeX was onto something
Android 16 finally brings a real desktop mode to Pixel phones, but Google’s long-awaited move mostly proves Samsung spent years getting the hard parts right
File, Webpage, Person

I’ve been waiting for Android to take desktop mode seriously for years. Back in 2019, I bought a OnePlus 7 Pro and wasted an embarrassing amount of time trying to brute-force its half-baked desktop mode into something useful.

The idea made perfect sense to me even then. Phones were already absurdly powerful, and the thought of carrying one real computer in my pocket felt less like science fiction and more like delayed common sense.

Read more
The MacBook Neo made me realize Apple still doesn’t know how to do a truly great cheap iPhone
MacBook Neo gave me an iPhone 17e epiphany
iPhone 17e rear camera.

Apple’s main business still revolves around the iPhone, with roughly half of the revenue being brought in by these devices. But this is why it feels so strange that the company managed to build a better entry-level Apple laptop than an entry-level iPhone.

The MacBook Neo starts at $599 in the US, with buyers getting a full aluminum build, a 13-inch hi-res Liquid Retina display, Apple silicon, and all-day battery life. Apple is clear about what it has built. This isn't a Pro machine with the powerful M series processors. But despite the various cutbacks in hardware, it still feels like a complete product.

Read more
You can’t buy the Galaxy Z TriFold anymore: It’s officially sold out
With a 10-inch display and a lifespan shorter than most gym memberships, the TriFold is already the stuff of tech legend.
Samsung Galaxy TriFold folding, TriFold Phone

Samsung has quietly updated the Galaxy Z TriFold’s product page with a message: the company’s first tri-folding phone is now completely sold out with no restock in sight. If you were hoping to get one sometime in the future, perhaps when the phone goes on sale, it’s time to let go. 

“The limited-run Galaxy Z TriFold is now completely sold out,” an updated message on the Galaxy Z TriFold’s landing page says. The message also asks people to keep visiting Samsung’s website for “one-of-a-kind innovations” and shop for other foldables or mobile devices. 

Read more