BlackBerry Z10 Drop Test Review: Where the Sidewalk Ends Your Phone (Video)

Wondering if you should buy a case for your new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone?

The answer is yes!

Mashable's unscientific but fun drop test of the Z10 showed the new offering from BlackBerry is decidedly less resilient than an iPhone 5.

The Z10 has a removable backplate and battery, a boon for consumers who want to be able to a replace the battery. But there is a price for a design that isn't a solid piece.

A short drop from waist level onto a carpeted floor seemed easy for the Z10 to weather. A drop from ear height popped the backplate off a tiny bit. It didn't fully come off, and the battery remained in place, but it's conceivable that even a short drop could dislodge the battery, shutting off the phone and interrupting a call or corrupting data.

The phone worked fine though, even after a drop from above the head onto the carpet.

The Z10 performed similarly on hardwood. Falling from waist and ear height again, the backplate came a bit loose but stayed on, and the phone worked fine.

But once concrete was added to the mix, the Z10 fared poorly. A waist-level drop resulted in scratches and dents, but still, the backplate held on.

From ear height, though, the results were devastating.

The back popped off and the battery fell out. The screen also cracked.

Once the battery was reinserted and the Z10 was turned back on, the touchscreen refused to respond, effectively rendering the phone dead.

A single fall onto concrete and the Z10 is toast.