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I'm sitting with a cracked iPhone 7 screen from dropping it face down a meter onto decomposed granite trail (small rocks). It has just the one clean break through the screen and that's it. Still usable and has held together for two months now.

I'd say the easy to scratch screen is better than a screen that shatters easily.
 
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Been carrying my iPhone X for nearly three years now without a screen protector and not a single scratch on the screen. I hope I don’t jinx it saying that. But if you keep it in a case (using the Apple red leather case) and consciously don’t put in your pocket with coins and keys; and rough surfaces face down, then you don’t need to have a screen protector.
 
Someone must really need the clicks. Common sense tells you if you whack something hard enough that is made of glass, it will in fact break.
 
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Is it really necessary to prove that most anything can be scratched if you try hard enough,. what a waste of time and iPhones...
Well, the point of a test like this is to use instruments with known hardness levels and see if the marketing actually means anything.

Considering Apple made a point to market the screen with a ceramic coating, I was expecting it to be at least notably more resistant to scratches than previous models. But tests show its performance is about the same.

Seems more drop resistant though, which is a plus. Maybe that was the overall goal here. Cracked screens are infinitely worse than scratches, after all.
 
I've never damaged any cellular phone, smartphone, tablet, computer, etc. Why, because I take common sense precautions like using a good protective case, and I don't do stupid, moronic things like carry them w/o a case in my pocket or let a child play with them or try to video myself while skateboarding off of a cliff. Bullet proofing iPhones for a handful of morons is a colossal waste, and it just drives up the price for those of us who are responsible adults.
 
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Weird. I've seen multiple channels say it scratches at level 7 with deeper grooves at a level 8 and some have even mentioned how JerryRigEverything will find similar results. Is there much variation between kits or is it the technique used, such as how firmly you press when attempting to scratch? Either way, I'd rather have better shatter protection than scratch protection at this point. The few scratches my iPhone accumulates every year are pretty faint nowadays and I only notice them when the display is off.
 
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I don’t scratch or drop my phones ever so nothing is an issue for me ;)
Right?! I don’t mean this in a harsh way, but how are so many people cracking and scratching their phone displays? I only use a light-to-moderate case, no screen protector. To date, I’ve never cracked or scratched a phone screen. I do take good care of all my things, but I know I can’t be perfect. Lucky? Idk.
 
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What was attached to the back of the 12 when he cracked the screen? A wallet?
 
Surely we’re missing the obvious here but these problems just require practical solutions. If I scratch my iPhone, I’d expect it to scratch me back in retaliation. Also, if I drop it, how about it spits out an airbag to cushion its fall. I mean, c’mon people!
 
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Yea I'm so sick of having a scratched screen. Just had my phone replaced under warranty due to a defect, and the new screen corner is already lightly scratched from normal usage in a case. Much rather take my chances on accidentally dropping it and paying $29 with AC+ to have it repaired, than have a scratched screen all the time.
This is exactly why Apple is focusing on crack resistance. It’s cheaper for them in the long run and alleviates their repair chain.
 
Weird. I've seen multiple channels say it scratches at level 7 with deeper grooves at a level 8 and some have even mentioned how JerryRigEverything will find similar results. Is there much variation between kits or is it the technique used, such as how firmly you press when attempting to scratch? Either way, I'd rather have better shatter protection than scratch protection at this point. The few scratches my iPhone accumulates every year are pretty faint nowadays and I only notice them when the display is off.
It certainly depends on technique, i.e. at what angles (vertically and horizontally) you hold the tool and how much force you apply. Freehanding this really just gives you a rough result.

From other tests I conclude that the iPhone 12s have indeed more shatter-protection without compromising scratch-protection. Which is a big deal IMO. Reducing the weight compared to the previous generation and clasping the glass differently helps too I guess.

The iPhone mini should be even better, assuming the glass has the same thickness and quality since it's even lighter.
 
I'm sitting with a cracked iPhone 7 screen from dropping it face down a meter onto decomposed granite trail (small rocks). It has just the one clean break through the screen and that's it. Still usable and has held together for two months now.

I'd say the easy to scratch screen is better than a screen that shatters easily.
I disagree. Never shattered a screen (dating all the way back to the first iphone), though I have gotten annoying scratches on several, particularly the X and XS, when they seemed to go too far toward shatter-resistance at the expense of scratch resistance.
 
I disagree. Never shattered a screen (dating all the way back to the first iphone), though I have gotten annoying scratches on several, particularly the X and XS, when they seemed to go too far toward shatter-resistance at the expense of scratch resistance.
I preferred and agreed with you on scratch resistance vs. shatter screen up until I dropped the thing and the screen cracked.

screen scratches are annoying I agree. But.... it's like the same argument for a case where "it's nice to have when you DO need it, but other and most of the time is annoying and ugly".
 
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Same here and I prefer putting on a case rather than a screen protector. With a case on, is really difficult to break the display with an accidental drop unless you're very unlucky.
I don't even do that. I always go caseless and just get AppleCare.
 
I wonder if the amount of pressure needed for scratching is different.

But anyway, I'm not worried about scratches at all. Thanks to the flat screen, screen protectors aren't a problem anymore. I happily had one on the 5S. You couldn't even notice it.
 
I preferred and agreed with you on scratch resistance vs. shatter screen up until I dropped the thing and the screen cracked.

screen scratches are annoying I agree. But.... it's like the same argument for a case where "it's nice to have when you DO need it, but other and most of the time is annoying and ugly".

Since you scratch more screens than you shatter, seems like you should optimize for the common case :)
 
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