iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16Pro Scratch Prone???

[SDJim]

After less than a week of ownership I got a DEEP scratch on the screen of my 16 Pro! What gives??? I haven't had a screen protector on since they introduced ceramic shield several years ago - my 15Pro Max looks brand new! No unusual behavior in he past few days. Then my friend who lives across the country texts me to say he got a bad scratch on HIS Pro! What is happening? Is this widespread?

 

[Diorama]

Could be, or could just be bad luck. I haven’t used a screen protector since the X, but I have one on my 16PM because I ended up with one or two annoying scratches on my 14PM which were the only reason I couldn’t claim ‘excellent’ condition for resale.

 

[GoofyCyborg]

Never used a screen protector on any phone. Had my first mobile at 19, I’m now 48. Couldn’t care less if I got one after all this time. I have Apple Care+!

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Your just unlucky. Plenty of threads each year when a new phone comes out saying how easily the screen is damaged compared to previous years.

 

[Treborray]

there's a Youtuber who was talking about this in a video posted today. I figured he might have just been rough with the phone

 

[L92]

Glass scratches, what? 🤯

 

[Apple_Robert]

The Ceramic Shield glass is not scratch proof. It is more resistant against shattering. If you don’t like scratches on the screen, start using a screen protector.

Too many here make bad assumptions about the iPhone glass and then complain about Apple.

 

[bluedoggiant]

I’m surprised as well compared to my 13 Pro

 

[rulymammoth]

Could be, or could just be bad luck. I haven’t used a screen protector since the X, but I have one on my 16PM because I ended up with one or two annoying scratches on my 14PM which were the only reason I couldn’t claim ‘excellent’ condition for resale.

Where were you reselling it? Why not just do an Apple trade-in? They wouldn't even have asked you about that.

 

[Diorama]

Where were you reselling it? Why not just do an Apple trade-in? They wouldn't even have asked you about that.

Even with the microscratches I got £550, which is more than Apple were offering.

 

[BigBlur]

I suspected this would happen when they said it'd be more shatter resistant. This was a big topic a few years ago when the Apple Watch Series 7 was said to be more shatter resistant. People thought that meant it'd be more scratch resistant as well, but it wasn't.

Shatter resistance and scratch resistant aren't the same thing. They're on opposite ends of the spectrum. The more shatter resistant...the softer the glass...the more likely it'll scratch. The more scratch resistant...the harder the glass...the more likely it'll crack.

 

[Fred Zed]

Your just unlucky. Plenty of threads each year when a new phone comes out saying how easily the screen is damaged compared to previous years.

Yep. Every year with a new model. Same complaints raised. More yellow , more heat , less brightness, new one to me- uneven bezels 😂🤣 I love it.

 

[azhava]

Yep. Every year with a new model. Same complaints raised. More yellow , more heat , less brightness, new one to me- uneven bezels 😂🤣 I love it.

But Safari is always snappier.

 

[c0LdFire]

In general, glass which is more resistant to shattering is easier to scratch.

I’ve had too many issues with scratches since “Ceramic Shield” was introduced a few models ago. A $10 screen protector off Amazon eliminates that problem for me.

 

[Diorama]

Shatter resistance and scratch resistant aren't the same thing. They're on opposite ends of the spectrum. The more shatter resistant...the softer the glass...the more likely it'll scratch. The more scratch resistant...the harder the glass...the more likely it'll crack.

This is the central issue - a polycarbonate wine glass is almost unbreakable in normal use, but will be covered in scratches after even a short period of heavy use. A glass wine glass will stay shiny and beautiful for years, even decades… until you drop it.

It’s much easier to solve the scratch issue with a screen protector, and the best modern ones really don’t sacrifice much, so I think Apple made the right choice overall.

 

[L92]

Btw screen protectors got really good recently. Applying is very easy, hasslefree, glass feels quality, goes to the very edge. It's basically impossible to tell it's applied, once you have a case on as well. I'm sure the sheer quality is not one to one, if it was not applied at all, but it is remarkably good. I went with Spigen, but others will do as well.

 

[deviantintegral]

I upgraded from an iPhone 12 mini 🫗to a 16 Pro, and was surprised to have 3 small scratches within 2 weeks. They're enough that you can feel them with your fingernail and were annoying in day to day use.

As a comparison, I took a look at the 12 mini, and it also has a few similar sized scratches (but over 4 years of use). Yet, while visible when the screen is off, they aren't visible at all when the screen is on, and I can't feel them with my finger. So honestly, I had no idea they were there.

I think I was just unlucky with the 16 pro, as my wife got a regular 16 the same time and is usually way rougher with her phone, and has no scratches yet. I don't think the glass construction is any different between the two lines?

I ended up getting a screen protector, and yes they are very much improved compared to when I last used them a decade ago. At least I don't feel the few scratches I already have.

If over the 4 years they've made the screen more crack resistant, but more prone to scratches, that's probably a good tradeoff. I see way more cracked screens still in use with friends and family than really scratched screens. And I suppose from a corporate evil standpoint, it reduces AppleCare+ claims since they cover cracks and not scratches!

It's funny though. The 16 pro is the first iPhone I've felt comfortable not using a case with due to much better grip... but now I have a screen protector. That means there's still a catch at the bottom when swiping up for home. Oh well!