iPhone 17 Pro Max For those NOT using a screen protector on your 17 Pro series, does your screen have any micro scratches?

[Hal~9000]

I was curious, for those brave enough to go without a screen protector on your 17 Pro series phone, do you have any micro scratches on your screen that are visible when it’s turned off or light shines on it? ☀️💡

Curious how good the Ceramic Shield 2 is 🤔

Not my photos below, but just a couple of examples of micro scratches on the screen:

 

[davidg4781]

Nothing yet after maybe 6 weeks of use.

 

[jz0309]

Nothing since launch day ...

But of course if you use abrasive material to wipe your screen, then you get what is in the photos above... quite frankly a shame that you post photos you seemingly have no idea where they are from...

 

[FreakinEurekan]

The question is, “do I notice” (or “do I care” perhaps)

The answer to THOSE questions is, is “No.”

 

[VineRider]

None on my 17 Pro

 

[Hal~9000]

I saw an older thread on Reddit talking about this same question.

I was just curious if anyone else had gotten micro scratches that you can see when the screen is off but you reflecting light against it?

I get that some people don’t care about them if they occur, I’m just trying to find out if they actually happen or not.

Thanks for your help! 🙂

 

[mjschabow]

Sounds like they must have improved the screens because the last few Pro Max phones I've had have had microscratches almost immediately. Great to hear!

 

[Ahiqar]

Not on my 17pm - still looks perfect

 

[bevsb2]

I currently have an Air, but all previous phones have been pros. I use cases but have never used screen protectors as I don't like the look or feel of them. None of my phones have had micro scratches. I did have one Apple Watch that had a micro scratch.

 

[ifxf]

You should give a third option “Never checked”.

 

[Devyn89]

Nothing yet, had the phone since mid-October.

 

[ant the ninja]

My screen is a MESS. Have a launch day 17 Pro and always went caseless and screen protector-less on all my previous phones because I do iUP so AppleCare was my “case”. However with how soft the aluminum is I did do a case but figured the new screen looks more resilient than previous models so no protector.

This screen oddly enough has scratched worse than previous phones for me. However they don’t get in the way when I’m actually using the phone so it doesn’t bother me. I also don’t baby my phone but I haven’t been rougher with this one than my others.

 

[James6s]

Who’s been using their iPhone 17/17Pro/Air without a screen protector, and how are your Ceramic Shield 2 screens holding up after 8 months?

 

[VineRider]

No screen protector on my 17Pro. Purchased in September, carry in my back pocket, and no scratches whatsoever.

 

[Fr. Guido Sarducci]

Nope. Back pocket, front pocket, handlebars on bicycle and motorcycle, frequently dropped in the dirt, on concrete, hard floors and on and on. My take is that you’d need to be pretty abusive to scratch it.

 

[one more]

Who’s been using their iPhone 17/17Pro/Air without a screen protector, and how are your Ceramic Shield 2 screens holding up after 8 months?

Never used screen protectors and no issues at all on my baseline 17 in use since October 2025. Ceramic Shield 2 is way better than the previous versions, as my previous iPhone 15 had some hairline scratches despite a very careful handling.

 

[Ta0jin]

Nope, none since I took off the screen protector a few months ago.

 

[Macdctr]

Every iPhone I have used without a screen protector ended up getting scratches on the smooth glass surface so no matter the Ceramic Shield protection put on the newer iPhones, I always place a matte screen protector on my devices. I can reasonably say that none of my devices have any type of scratches or micro scratches on the screen as a result.

 

[DaveS86]

I watched a great video on YouTube recently (can’t find it) about how they claim x% increases in strength and scratch resistance of gorilla glass each year…..it was essentially debunked as fiddling the numbers.

1 year they measure 1 parameter and say that’s improved by x% then switch to a different parameter the following year. In reality there’s very very little improvement because you either make glass more scratch resistant and more brittle, or you make it less brittle and more scratch resistant.

I was interested anyway.

 

[AppleForeverandEver]

No scratches on my 17 PM and never use a screen protector. Apple has really stepped up when it comes to screen durability. We used to hear about scratches all the time, now, not so much.

 

[subjonas]

I have an Air (same glass as Pro, right?), and after 8 months my screen is still mint. No protector and no babying, unless you count not putting it in my pocket with my keys as babying. It's fallen to the ground several times--once or twice to asphalt and a few times to wood floors, and I'm unable to find a blemish on the phone of any kind with my naked eye.

I don't like screen protectors mainly because none seem to have the same combination of strong clarity, anti-reflection, and anti-oil qualities as the factory iPhone glass. And with the durability of these newer iPhone screens, I think they're unnecessary for most users' lifestyles. For me at least, that's a wrap for phone screen protectors. Unless the oleophobic coating eventually wears off and can't be somehow reapplied, then at that point I might look into a screen protector with good anti-oil.

 

[Allyance]

Haven't had a screen protector on my 12P since it came out. Screen is absolutely perfect. I do use a clear case because I want to see the polished gold finish and it makes it easier to hold with my 82 yr old hands. I do use the phone constantly, in and out of my pockets.

 

[Tsepz]

I was curious, for those brave enough to go without a screen protector on your 17 Pro series phone, do you have any micro scratches on your screen that are visible when it’s turned off or light shines on it? ☀️💡

Curious how good the Ceramic Shield 2 is 🤔

Not my photos below, but just a couple of examples of micro scratches on the screen:
View attachment 2590858View attachment 2590859

I don’t. Everytime I think I do it’s either a small hair or something that can be wiped away, lol.

My 17 Pro Max is the first iPhone I’ve had where I have gone without a screen protector since purchasing.
Truly impressed by how strong the screen is.