According to the “Good Hands People,” liquid is no longer feared as much by smartphone owners as a potential “phone killer.” Yeah, I remember the old days when I might have donned an extra shirt if it was raining outside so that my Motorola DROID wouldn’t get wet in my breast pocket where I kept it (and where I continue to put my phones when out). But Allstate Protection Plans’ latest survey shows that Americans fear eight specific issues with water damage ranking outside the top five.
54% of Americans prefer to watch movies and television shows on their phones
54% of Americans watch movies or television shows over their phones instead of traditional television which is a big reason why $10.2 billion was spent last year to replace damaged screens. That was three times the amount spent in 2018 ($3.4 billion).
83% of Americans put a case on their phone
Somewhat surprisingly, Wi-Fi and connectivity issues lands in second place after being mentioned in 19% of responses. Hey, if you don’t have connectivity your phone is a giant flashlight or paperweight.
Touchscreen problems come in third, listed on 13% of the survey responses received by Allstate. If your phone isn’t registering touch inputs correctly, it is almost impossible to use. Another surprise, chipped corners and sides finished fourth after appearing on 11% of responses. This is a cosmetic issue and not one of performance and can be solved, for the most part, by using a case.
In sixth place, water damage is knocked out of the top five concerns at 10%. Most high-end phones feature some type of protection from water although this protection does fade over time. Most flagships can be submerged in nearly 5 feet of clear water for up to 30 minutes and still work. One major problem: if manufacturers are so quick to promote the IP ratings of their phones, why don’t they include water damage on their warranties?
Phone repairs are more expensive than Americans think
Speaker issues (9%) and microphone issues (10%) are seventh and eighth on the survey respectively. Both are equally bad since the latter prevents you from using voice-activated services including your digital assistants, and the former could prevent you from hearing your phone clearly. Other information from the insurer showed that 37% of Americans damaged a device over the past year, but only 15% permanently lost or had their devices stolen.
According to Allstate, 90 million Americans damaged a phone last year and Americans collectively spent $17.9 billion to repair and replace them. That might be the only stat you need to see to know how much Americans love their smartphones.
