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Apple Watch Sapphire Crystal Display Cover Faces Drill in Scratch Test

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Apr 12, 2001
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iPhone service and repair website iPhonefixed earlier this week got its hands on a sapphire crystal Apple Watch display cover and decided to put the 38mm part through a scratch resistance test to weigh Apple's claims of a completely scratch-resistant sapphire display.

The website ran the display cover through its test, rubbing it against a stone wall, scratching it with a coin, key, and abrasive paper, and finishing off with tapping the screen with a hammer and drilling it with a power drill. Following the tests, iPhonefixed found Apple's promise of a scratch-resistant display to be entirely accurate, with not a single scratch or scuff on the screen even after all of the site's attempts at leaving a mark.

Screenshot-247-800x449.png
Apple's promotion of the sapphire crystal display cover marketed it as a material "ideal for protecting the Retina Display" on the Apple Watch, due to it being one of the hardest transparent materials on the planet next to actual diamonds.

Though iPhonefixed was not able to test the Apple Watch Sport's Ion-X glass display cover, with the lower-end model's "aluminosilicate glass that's especially resistant to scratches and impact," it too is likely to hold up well to abuse.

Check out the full Apple Watch sapphire display cover scratch test video by iPhonefixed right here.

Article Link: Apple Watch Sapphire Crystal Display Cover Faces Drill in Scratch Test
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/04/09/apple-watch-sapphire-scratch-test/
Though iPhonefixed was not able to test the Apple Watch Sport's Ion-X glass display cover, with the lower-end model's "aluminosilicate glass that's especially resistant to scratches and impact," it too is likely to hold up well to abuse.
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How can they make such a claim without any data to back it up? They said the same thing about Gorilla Glass, yet it will show minor scratches over time. Sapphire is a time tested material, but not this aluminosilicate.
 
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That just confirmed my choice of the Stainless Steel model. Just 12 hours and 11 minutes left to pre-order time. lol.
 
So the display is seemingly unscratchable. The stainless steel and gold bodies are not only durable but expensive. What is the chance that Apple promotes an upgrade program solely for the Apple Watch where you can replace the inside circuit board and battery at a fraction of the cost while keeping your watch? This is when you want to upgrade to the Apple Watch 2? Similar to the way we can drop off our watches to replace the battery at a watch store?
 
I wish it was waterproof, which would have made this watch useful for me when I'm in the pool. One of the first Apple products I won't be buying...
 
Whoa, does this guy always brandish his hands like that?

Nice to see the sapphire screen to be that durable. I am waiting for the x-ion glass scratch test.
 
I am happy to know that I can wear my $17k watch while working my construction job and not getting it all scratched up. :D
 
Kendo said:
So the display is seemingly unscratchable. The stainless steel and gold bodies are not only durable but expensive. What is the chance that Apple promotes an upgrade program solely for the Apple Watch where you can replace the inside circuit board and battery at a fraction of the cost while keeping your watch? This is when you want to upgrade to the Apple Watch 2? Similar to the way we can drop off our watches to replace the battery at a watch store?
Click to expand...


No chance!
 
NachoGrande said:
I wish it was waterproof, which would have made this watch useful for me when I'm in the pool. One of the first Apple products I won't be buying...
Click to expand...

I think I am in the same boat. No matter how scratch resistant the screen is, I think I am going to sit this one out and see how things pan out. Maybe wait an iteration or two.
 
Sigh... So many useless scratch tests trying to use metal objects to scratch glass/sapphire/etc.

Metal is SOFTER than glass. Keys, rings, drill bits... none of these things are capable of scratching glass, much less sapphire. (Well, there are drill bits with special tips that would do it in a hurry, even to sapphire, but such a test is kind of absurd on its face anyway.)
 
stridemat said:
I think I am in the same boat. No matter how scratch resistant the screen is, I think I am going to sit this one out and see how things pan out. Maybe wait an iteration or two.
Click to expand...
I believe there is a waterproof otter box accessory coming that might help you out.

628x353-otter-cu-yawn.jpg


Not sure if its one size fits all or what the ATM rating is.
 
I really would like to know how much better the sapphire glass on the stainless steel model performs versus the "ion-x glass" on the Sport watch.

I have been thinking all along that it's $200 or so for better casing, but the watch face matters a lot.

Hmm, I wonder if this test confirms that I won't need Apple Care afterall on the SS Watch. That's another discussion.
 
As somebody who has anywhere from two to three drills in my pockets at a time, this is welcomed news.

^ This would actually be funny if watches were kept in pockets…
 
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NachoGrande said:
I wish it was waterproof, which would have made this watch useful for me when I'm in the pool. One of the first Apple products I won't be buying...
Click to expand...

I agree. If I could use it for laps in the pool, I would be much more likely to consider it. I'd also like to monitor heart rate holding my breath underwater, but maybe I'm just a dork like that.
 
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