A number of leading phone manufacturers, including Samsung and Motorola, 'ruggedized' some of their flagship products in an attempt to reduce screen shatters. But they overlooked another common area of display damage: scratches. Drops and water damage are among the most common causes of smartphone death. So it was a no-brainer for leading phone makers, including Samsung and Motorola, to make devices that are both waterproof, or at least water-resistant, and less susceptible to drop damage. I’ve reviewed and stress tested more “ruggedized” phones than I can remember — the ones that come to mind are Samsung’s Galaxy S4, S5, S6 and S7 Active, and Motorola’s “shatterproof” DROID Turbo 2. During my time with the latest of these hardened handhelds, I uncovered a dark secret. OK … that might be a bit overdramatic, but I’m certain the Samsungs and Motorolas of the world would rather that I not point out this glaring shortcoming in their rugged phones. Check out the video above for all the details. Hint: It includes a scratch test. AS Related content opinion Tom Brady's pricey PJs pack 'recovery tech' for athletes Under Armour's new TB12 pajamas aren't cheap, but they promise to rejuvenate your body after workouts. And they just might work, according to a study from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. By Al Sacco Jan 05, 2017 2 mins Health and Fitness Software Wearables Consumer Electronics opinion Budweiser 'smart' beer fridge encourages drinking on the job The new 'Bud-E Fridge' IoT smart refrigerator automatically orders more beer for you and your coworkers when supplies get low, and it's available for a limited time for free, if you're located in Chicago, New York or Los Angeles. By Al Sacco Dec 06, 2016 2 mins Media and Entertainment Industry Internet of Things Consumer Electronics opinion Why Samsung should release a Note 8 Samsung denies reports that it's planning to release another Note smartphone, but it would be a major misstep for the company to do away with what is perhaps its most important smartphone brand. Here's why. By Al Sacco Oct 26, 2016 4 mins Small and Medium Business Technology Industry Smartphones news analysis Google makes more than Samsung, Apple on flagship phone The price Google charges for its Pixel XL smartphone is closer to what it costs to make the phone than what both Samsung and Apple charge for the GS7 and iPhone 7, but Google still makes more money. Here's why. By Al Sacco Oct 25, 2016 3 mins Small and Medium Business iPhone Manufacturing Industry Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe