How does the Ion-X Glass hold up after time?

[x34]

i have to say that i am pretty disappointed by ion-x aka plastic display.

it got several scratches just a month after buying. and i did not hit things etc.

but paying hundreds more to get saphire does not make sense i guess because of the watch's short life span...

 

[44267547]

i have to say that i am pretty disappointed by ion-x aka plastic display.

FYI, it’s not plastic. The Ion-X Glass is truly glass. Search ‘Durability sport model display tests’ on YouTube, and you’ll see exactly what I’m referring to.

 

[BillGates1969]

FYI, it’s not plastic. The Ion-X Glass is truly glass. Search ‘Durability sport model display tests’ on YouTube, and you’ll see exactly what I’m referring to.

BTW, off topic, but I love your new Avatar RP

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’ve always found the Ion-X Glass to be pretty durable with my usage. I’m on my second Apple Watch with my first being the series 2 and never had a significant scratch on the display. I’m not willing to spend any more than £399 on a watch with such a short life span anyway so could put up with a scratch or three. I’ve got the Series 5 Nike 40mm in space grey and it looks good and does everything I need.

 

[bobsamm]

I’ve always found the Ion-X Glass to be pretty durable with my usage. I’m on my second Apple Watch with my first being the series 2 and never had a significant scratch on the display. I’m not willing to spend any more than £399 on a watch with such a short life span anyway so could put up with a scratch or three. I’ve got the Series 5 Nike 40mm in space grey and it looks good and does everything I need.

So you don't use a SP? Mine came with the Catalyst case which i love and a thin film protector which i don't, thinking of taking it off.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

So you don't use a SP? Mine came with the Catalyst case which i love and a thin film protector which i don't, thinking of taking it off.

I’ve never had a screen protector on my Apple watches in 3 and a half years of using them. I’m not one for smacking my watch into things though and probably because I’ve worn nice mechanical watches for years and learned to be subconsciously careful. Saying that my AW isn’t babied and has held up fine with daily use. I think people here exaggerate that the Ion-X Glass is more fragile than it actually is too.

 

[44267547]

I think people here exaggerate that the Ion-X Glass is more fragile than it actually is too.

Mate, you flip flop on so many threads, it’s difficult to keep up with your exaggerations. What you ‘think’ doesn’t trump others first hand Experiences. Stop being dismissive just because your experience isn’t reflective of others who had poor results with the ion X glass. There’s _multiple_threads on this exact topic over the course of three years or more on the Ion-X glass being fragile and scratching easily. And you think Randomized digital strangers just come on this forum just exaggerate their experience? [Rhetorical]

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Mate, you flip flop on so many threads, it’s difficult to keep up with your exaggerations. What you ‘think’ doesn’t trump others first hand Experiences. Stop being dismissive just because your experience isn’t reflective of others who had poor results with the ion X glass. There’s _multiple_threads on this exact topic over the course of three years or more on the Ion-X glass being fragile and scratching easily. And you think Randomized digital strangers just come on this forum just exaggerate their experience? [Rhetorical]

I’ve always been consistent in my view Ion-X Glass is durable enough for normal use. I haven’t pointed any fingers or criticised you so calm down. This is just my view devoid of exaggerations or flip flopping as you so fictitiously called it.

 

[bobsamm]

I’ve never had a screen protector on my Apple watches in 3 and a half years of using them. I’m not one for smacking my watch into things though and probably because I’ve worn nice mechanical watches for years and learned to be subconsciously careful. Saying that my AW isn’t babied and has held up fine with daily use. I think people here exaggerate that the Ion-X Glass is more fragile than it actually is too.

I had the S2 and S4 and never used one. I asked the question as the S4 I had last year got scratched up a bit. This watch came with one on already but it feels crappy, so wasn't sure if to leave it on and buy a good one or ditch it.

what about Apple care? $129 here.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I had the S2 and S4 and never used one. I asked the question as the S4 I had last year got scratched up a bit. This watch came with one on already but it feels crappy, so wasn't sure if to leave it on and buy a good one or ditch it.

what about Apple care? $129 here.

I saw a post of yours where you said you surf wearing your AW so I think decent protection is needed in your case. I never put mine in water, let alone salt water so I would advise a decent protector as I’m not sure what salt exposure would do to the screen.

Definitely get Apple Care or add it to your insurance. Mine is covered on a policy.

 

[bobsamm]

I saw a post of yours where you said you surf wearing your AW so I think decent protection is needed in your case. I never put mine in water, let alone salt water so I would advise a decent protector as I’m not sure what salt exposure would do to the screen.

Definitely get Apple Care or add it to your insurance. Mine is covered on a policy.

I surfed in my S4 with none but it was the banging into things that did it, yeah I have insurance but it’s $500 deductible and only paid $600 although worth $850, might get the ac.

 

[FenC]

Setting aside this last page with its bickering, an interesting discussion.

I had a SS S0. I replaced it with an Al S3 as that was all I could get in NZ after LTE became a thing. While owning the S0 I became a wheelchair user, and the Ion-X glass of the S3 picked up weird scratches around the edges that I couldn’t get rid of. They came from the aluminium door of the office I was working in at the time as it would catch my watch sometimes as I pushed through it. The S0 didn’t have those though I used it for equally long as a wheelchair user using that door.

My Al S4 wasn’t so bad as I changed jobs and didn’t have that door to contend with by the time I got it, but it still picked up marks around the bottom edge from hitting stuff I couldn’t avoid. My wife’s S4 Al also has a similar mark on the corner of the glass.

Now that we can get SS here that’s what I have.

I have no case and bought AppleCare+ on my iPhone 11 Pro Max (and my MacBook Pro, but I’ve never had one since 2012 that hasn’t broken and needed a major repair, which is why I buy it for them), but when I sell that in September it will add value to a phone that will still have decent residual value as well as providing an affordable replacement if I drop it and break it. For the watch, assuming you want LTE, the price here is NZ$380 more for SS. AppleCare+ is $169, and if you need to use it you pay $119. That’s $288 to replace a scratched Ion-X watch, and $407 to replace it twice.

I’m not suggesting I’m right and anyone who disagrees is wrong, but personally I’d rather pay $380 more up front and have a watch that I think looks nicer and won’t get scratched, so I don’t need to deal with the hassle (we have no physical Apple Stores, so it’s a send it off deal for service).

Yes, I could smash it completely, but my home contents insurance would cover that for a $300 excess, as they did when I dropped my phone onto my iPad Pro and broke the screen. I had a new iPad with full new warranty the next day for $12 more than AppleCare+ and the replacement of a watch would cost. I’d also get a new charger, charging puck and band.

TL;DR I have personal experience of Ion-X being marked in a way that sapphire does not, and unless you want a GPS only watch I don’t think the extra cost for SS is excessive if you’re also going to buy AppleCare+ in case you scratch your Ion-X.