Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 11 Pro Does anyone else's display have massive scratches?

iKnowMr.Jobs

iKnowMr.Jobs

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 17, 2010
273
96
Have had my phone since Friday and the display on mine has accumulated a massive amount of scratches on it already. My previous XS only had a small number of tiny ones along the bottom of the display after an entire year of use. I have about 12x as many of those scratches on my 11 Pro. They're much larger and go into the bezels and get easily reflected in light, so they're actually visible in normal use. Kinda bummed. Anyone else have this happen to them?

(Will post a photo/video that shows this later)
 
Most replies are going to be like this:

"You didn't look after your device"
"shouldn't have dropped it"
"don't put it in your pockets with keys"
"Should have used a screen protector"

The oleophobic coating can scratch easily. So can glass. Even if you keep your keys and loose change separate you can get dust and grit in your pockets which will cause scratches.

I feel your pain, you can't unsee those scratches.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: internetrando, travelsheep, jbachandouris and 1 other person
ever since seeing scratches on my well cared for 6s within the first week, ive never trusted iPhone glass to hold up no mater how great apples marketing is, even cared for and put in pockets by itself. always get a film screen. i recommend power support. made in japan. the best there is.
 
One of the very first things I do, is install a tempered glass screen protector, just for this reason. Back in the day, I had an iPhone that the oleophobic coating wore off. Since then I keep a screen protector on all my phones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5105973, JRoDDz, Tikatika and 1 other person
maflynn said:
One of the very first things I do, is install a tempered glass screen protector,
Click to expand...
Pretty much, screen protector goes on as it's setting up

jimmy_uk said:
It's a shame Apples Sapphire plans didn't come to pass.
Click to expand...
I would think cost effectiveness and from what I've read, sapphire doesn't have the shatter resistance. Apple is all about break resistance, they seem to forget most people don't want their EXPENSIVE device all scratched up.
 
My XS never had scratches. Never needed a screen protector. However my 11 now has 3 long scratches. I never put in my jeans with other items and it has its own pocket in my purse for it as well. Guess I’m going to get a screen protector now.
 
I had one iPhone that did that - you just got unlucky. Most phones are fine, but once in a while you get one that scratches really easily. I'm guessing it is some kind of manufacturing defect - something not curing properly. Every year there is a thread of people who complain that their phones are scratching way more easily than usual. The threads are inevitably full of people who claim that a screen protector is always necessary!! But it's not. I've had a new phone every year since the 3G came out, and only one of my phones ever had noticeable scratches. It had a million scratches by the end of the year, and I baby my phones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jbachandouris
No scratches on my 11 Pro since the 20th when I got it. No screen protector either. My Xs max seemed to scratched easier than my 11 Pro.
 
I had my iPhone 7 for 3 years and that thing saw a lot of abuse and it had fewer scratches than my new iPhone 11 Pro Max does after a week 😒 I haven’t even done anything crazy with it! This seems to be just from sliding it into and out of my pocket or purse. I don’t feel like this is “the sturdiest most scratch resistant glass ever”. I’m definitely getting a screen protector now, while the scratches are still small but I’m super annoyed that it’s necessary!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: travelsheep
It's amazing to me how people manage to scratch up their phones so easy. I've owned many iPhones and others and never had a screen protector and never had more than maybe a couple of tiny scratches in the coating that you couldn't see unless you held it up to the light and really looked closely. I've always just cleaned my screen on my shirt or my pants. I do always carry my phone in a holster and never in a pocket. That probably a big reason why I haven't had issues.
 
I have only had one 1/4" scratch on a iphone since the iPhone 4. That was on my iPhone 8+. I don’t use screen protectors. Just been very careful with my phones. Knock on wood.
 
Otflyer said:
I have only had one 1/4" scratch on a iphone since the iPhone 4. That was on my iPhone 8+. I don’t use screen protectors. Just been very careful with my phones. Knock on wood.
Click to expand...

Yes, same here. I wonder what some people do with their phones. I imagine that this happens more often to women who drop their phones into their handbags.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bethanie21
I’m sure most people saying they’ve got no scratches will find them if they inspect the display under a flashlight from different angles.

Anyway, I think the glass on this year’s display is quite resistant. My 11 Pro Max fell out of my pocket while I was sitting, screen facing the tile floor, and it’s only gotten two small and barely visible scratches.
 
MuGeN PoWeR said:
mine came out of the box with scratches. had tried contacting the apple support and they have been totaly useless. i am thinking of just returning and rebuying.
Click to expand...

It’s always a lottery. My Pro Max has a couple of chips on the screen right out of the box but it’s going back anyway. The 11 I’m keeping is mostly fine apart from a very minor mini scuff. Some how I don’t mind that given the price. But the Pro Max at £1,149 needs to be better.
 
Since the iPhone 6 I’ve had issues with scratches, never really had it before then. It’s probably the larger phones and living closer to the ocean (higher chance for sand to contact the screen).
 
I really don't understand what people do with their phones that causes them to get scratched. My iPhone X is nearly two years old and it looks like the day I took it out of the box. I just put an Apple leather case on it to make it easier to hold. I've never used a screen protector. To me, that's like putting clear plastic on your couch.
 
stephenschimpf said:
I really don't understand what people do with their phones that causes them to get scratched. My iPhone X is nearly two years old and it looks like the day I took it out of the box. I just put an Apple leather case on it to make it easier to hold. I've never used a screen protector. To me, that's like putting clear plastic on your couch.
Click to expand...

I would love to know too, because I just put my phone in and out of my pocket and lay it on tables/desks. I still get micro scratches and sometimes a bit deeper ones. I must just live in sandy areas or something.
 
Dlanod said:
It’s always a lottery. My Pro Max has a couple of chips on the screen right out of the box but it’s going back anyway. The 11 I’m keeping is mostly fine apart from a very minor mini scuff. Some how I don’t mind that given the price. But the Pro Max at £1,149 needs to be better.
Click to expand...


its pain in the butt to talk to Apple Support and explain them. TIll now they havent been helpful to me. its been 3 days since i am trying to fix this problem
 
This is interesting to read. I used to buy screen protectors all the time, and not cheap ones either. Starting with my 5s I just quit buying them. Went over 2 years on the 5s, over 2 years on my 6s and now 6 months on my 8, and I could never see scratches on any of them. Maybe if I got a magnifying glass out and looked at them there might be some minor scratches on the coating, but I can't see it. I am careful not to put other items in the same pocket as my phones, but that's about it.
 
stephenschimpf said:
I really don't understand what people do with their phones that causes them to get scratched. My iPhone X is nearly two years old and it looks like the day I took it out of the box. I just put an Apple leather case on it to make it easier to hold. I've never used a screen protector. To me, that's like putting clear plastic on your couch.
Click to expand...

Shine a flashlight at the display and take a look at it from different angles. You might have a surprise.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kirk.vino
In the same boat with my 11 Pro. Clearly very minor marks on the coating caused by my pocket. Only visible under bright light at certain angles. I believe it’s normal. My X has something similar as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back