I have had an iPhone for years, and in my history with them, they're pretty hardcore. Not just for what they can do, but how much pain they can withstand. While a washing machine is a little too much for any phone to take, which is why I am using my old one, I am currently using my first generation iPhone, which has a cracked screen because I dropped it 25 feet onto a stadium seat corner. It still works wonderfully though. And when you jailbreak your iPhone, the things you can do with it is nothing short of astounding.
I recommend the iPhone, HOWEVER....in a couple of months, the new iPhone is supposed to be coming out. If you can wait, it'll be worth it.