Watch what happens to Apple's new GLASS iPhone when it's dropped from a height: Apple iPhone 8

The iPhone 8 , 8 Plus and soon-to-be-released iPhone X all feature the all-new glass design, allowing them to be charged wirelessly.

This isn't the first time Apple has used glass in its iPhones. The iPhone 4 and 4s had glass front and back panels, but they were plagued by durability issues, with many customers claiming their phones cracked too easily when dropped .

Apple claims that the glass used in the new iPhones is the most durable glass to ever appear in a smartphone.

The glass itself features a "50% deeper strengthening layer", and a new steel substructure and aerospace-grade aluminium band provide additional reinforcement.

In light of Apple's claims, tech blogger TechRax decided to put the new devices to the test.

In a video produced for Newsflare, he compares the durability of the new glass iPhone 8 Plus, in comparison to the aluminium iPhone 7 Plus, released last year.

Both devices were dropped onto a concrete floor from shoulder height - first on their backs, next on their corners, and finally on their fronts.

Despite Apple's durability claims, the glass on the back of the iPhone 8 smashed immediately on impact, with some shards of glass even flying off the device.

The screen on both iPhones also shattered when dropped on their front - although both were still functional after the drop test.

While you may be thinking the glass back of the iPhone 8 could be replaced in the same way as a smashed screen, there's bad news on that front as well.

A recent teardown of the iPhone 8 by repair site iFixit revealed that the glass back of the phone is glued to a metal sheet, making it much more difficult to remove than the screen.

Apple's extended warranty plan - AppleCare+ - which costs £129, covers up to two incidents of accidental damage to any of its iPhones for two years.

For the screen a service fee of £25 is due, but repairs to the glass on the back are only covered under the “other damage” part of the plan, according to AppleInsider . This costs £79 each time, making the back panel more than three times as expensive as the screen.

If the device is out of warranty, the cost for repairing "other damage" is £356.44 for the iPhone 8 - or £406.44 for the iPhone 8 Plus.

Of course, there are other companies that may offer to fix a smashed iPhone cover for less. But the moral of the story is, if you're planning to buy one of Apple's new iPhones, make sure you get a case.