Once it reaches its maximum velocity the altitude doesnt really matter. However I dont know how to calculate that maximum velocity and the minimum required altitute. From the very short snippet I can read (paywall) I dont know if the phone landed in concrete or not.
What about the heat? If the fall is longer won't the phone heat up more?
The only time heating becomes an issue is at supersonic velocities and is due more to compression of the atmosphere against the object then actual friction.