Any sapphire display horror stories (shattering)?

[Mad Mac Maniac]

From my recollection on the differences between glass and sapphire displays, glass scratches easier, but sapphire shatters easier... Is this true? Does this mean a glass display is more likely to survive a fall?

I recently had my aluminum/glass apple watch screen shatter when dropped from a high height onto tile (don't ask, I'm still bitter about it) and I'm curious if this is something that would have been saved from SS/sapphire.

 

[cawsllyffant]

I've has series 0,2&3 all in SS. Four days a week I work out, often with 50lbs+ kettle or dumbbells that hit my watch dead on. Never had a scratch*, crack or any issue with the watch face. I'm also a klutz and hit my watch against tables, walls, cats, dogs, trees, cars, drawers, etc on a regular basis.

* I have occasionally gotten small micro-scratches in the coating that disappear after cleaning w/ a soft lint free cloth.

 

[Newtons Apple]

From my recollection on the differences between glass and sapphire displays, glass scratches easier, but sapphire shatters easier... Is this true? Does this mean a glass display is more likely to survive a fall?

I recently had my aluminum/glass apple watch screen shatter when dropped from a high height onto tile (don't ask, I'm still bitter about it) and I'm curious if this is something that would have been saved from SS/sapphire.

Either will shatter but the glass is a bit softer and will scratch while the sapphire is much harder to the point of being more brittle but is more scratch resistant

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I've has series 0,2&3 all in SS. Four days a week I work out, often with 50lbs+ kettle or dumbbells that hit my watch dead on. Never had a scratch*, crack or any issue with the watch face. I'm also a klutz and hit my watch against tables, walls, cats, dogs, trees, cars, drawers, etc on a regular basis.

* I have occasionally gotten small micro-scratches in the coating that disappear after cleaning w/ a soft lint free cloth.

If your kettlebells/dumbbells are smacking your watch dead on, I think you might be doing it wrong... But in all honestly, I've had Series 0 from day 1, and then a refurb S1 swap about 14 months ago, and they both held up amazingly well to banging against all sorts of walls and surfaces. It did start to accumulate a little bit of scuffs, but nothing too bothersome for my taste.

Either will shatter but the glass is a bit softer and will scratch while the sapphire is much harder to the point of being more brittle but is more scratch resistant

"more brittle"... but does that mean it's *more* susceptible to breaking on drops?

 

[44267547]

"more brittle"... but does that mean it's *more* susceptible to breaking on drops?

Shattering on drops, where the impact doesn’t necessarily cause a crack, but the whole display spiderwebs. That’s the concern with sapphire, because of the hardness, but it’s all variable, because every drop is based on [surface type, angle and impact].

 

[ectospheno]

If you can't afford to fix it then you can't afford to own it. If you can afford to fix it then what difference does it make?

 

[igrover]

Dropped my Series 2 SS onto my hard kitchen tile while taking the watch off (was unfastening the sports band when it happened). The watch screen hit on one of its corners and smashed the corner and created spiderwebs throughout the rest of the screen. Luckily the watch case did not impact the floor and was unscratched. Had to use Apple Care to get the screen replaced and now I only remove the watch over a soft floor or rest the watch on my thigh when I am sitting down.

 

[Newtons Apple]

"more brittle"... but does that mean it's *more* susceptible to breaking on drops?

Sapphire is harder to protect against scratches, making it harder does make it more brittle.

The ion glass is not near as hard and will scratch under the right circumstances, but should be a bit more resistant to shattering.

As far as drops, you better make it a habit to always remove and put on your watch over a soft surface. If you are in a bathroom or any room with ceramic floors, you watch is in danger if dropped. The cost to replace the screen is very high and sometimes not worth it.