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

Is this normal or am I too OCD?

R

Rahim92

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 3, 2019
7
0
I have a habit of installing screen protectors on all my devices the moment I unbox them, and due to poor lighting in my room, I have to use a sharp bright light or a flashlight to wipe off any dust particles.

During this process, I have noticed a decent of tiny micro scratches on the screen which are only visible under sharp lighting. Keep in mind that these are brand new devices.

I have returned 2 AWs because of this issue. I tried to ignore but it would always trigger my OCD whenever I thought about them. The third one also has scratches but it has the least, and from that point forward I realized that there is no point in replacing them since all of them will certain imperfections.

I know it’s not a big deal, but I wonder what could cause these scratches during the manufacturing process?
 
Strange. I have a feeling it's not the actual glass that's scratched but the coating that's on the glass. If you can see it in normal light or if you can feel it with your finger or if it's a Hermes edition than return it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mchlwise
I just received my new watch last night. This morning, with indirect sunlight, I can see a long scratch, but cannot feel it on the surface. The scratch is right across the activity complication, so I cannot unsee it! I've also had my screen freeze a couple of times when trying to swipe up or down, and had to reboot. I just ordered a new one to pick up tomorrow and will return this one.
 
iLoveYosemite said:
I just received my new watch last night. This morning, with indirect sunlight, I can see a long scratch, but cannot feel it on the surface. The scratch is right across the activity complication, so I cannot unsee it! I've also had my screen freeze a couple of times when trying to swipe up or down, and had to reboot. I just ordered a new one to pick up tomorrow and will return this one.
Click to expand...
it again sounds like the coating as you cannot feel it, but obviously returning it is an option ...

at the same time, the coating WILL "scratch", that's just normal and eventually the entire coating will wear off ...
 
jz0309 said:
it again sounds like the coating as you cannot feel it, but obviously returning it is an option ...

at the same time, the coating WILL "scratch", that's just normal and eventually the entire coating will wear off ...
Click to expand...

Did series 4 watches come with this coating? The s4 I just exchanged was 2 years old and didn't have a single scratch that I can recall, even in the beginning.

Since I already ordered a replacement, I will keep this in mind about the coating. I appreciate your input.
 
iLoveYosemite said:
Did series 4 watches come with this coating? The s4 I just exchanged was 2 years old and didn't have a single scratch that I can recall, even in the beginning.

Since I already ordered a replacement, I will keep this in mind about the coating. I appreciate your input.
Click to expand...
All watches since S0 have the coating... helps with smudging...
 
OCD. I work with a guy who has it. Finished work at 5. His girlfriend phoned me at 6 to see why he hadn't made it home.
He was stuck locking up, then worried he hadn't set the alarm so opened up. Unset the alarm, set the alarm, lock door, try it 10 times, then thinks he sins set the alarm so opens up again and the cycle stats again. He was stuck there 2 hours until I sent someone to go rescue him!

He was fine before COVID BTW!

Doesn't sound like what you are experiencing. I've not seen any scratches on my SE. But I haven't looked for them either. I just use it.
 
jz0309 said:
All watches since S0 have the coating... helps with smudging...
Click to expand...
Interesting! I’ve had the S0, S3, and S4 (and maybe an S2 briefly - can’t recall!) and haven’t had a single scratch on the display. I’ve had a couple scratches on the aluminum casing, but that’s it.
 
iLoveYosemite said:
Interesting! I’ve had the S0, S3, and S4 (and maybe an S2 briefly - can’t recall!) and haven’t had a single scratch on the display. I’ve had a couple scratches on the aluminum casing, but that’s it.
Click to expand...
sometimes you have to search for them ... use the magnifier on your iPhone and ideally do this outside in the sun, or under bright light ...
 
  • Like
Reactions: iLoveYosemite
Wanting a pristine watch, especially after spending hundreds of dollar or more, is being a smart consumer and is definitely not a sign of OCD.

In fact, applying the term OCD to common behavior or to having high standards can be offensive to those who actually suffer from it.

Besides which, the either-or seems misconstructed. If minor scratches really are par for the course on watch faces, that is, normal, then fretting over them is wasting energy and being needlessly critical. Perhaps, the better way of expressing the choice is: “Are these types of scratches an issue — OR are they normal AND I'm being too picky?”

I would offer an observation from my experiences as an amateur astronomer. Novices are warned against doing what is called a “flashlight” test to judge the quality or health of their mirrors. Besides risking momentarily blinding oneself, a direct bright light on telescope mirrors will show all sorts of marks, small scratches, dust, streaks, etc. These supposed flaws can look horrendous, but have no bearing on the quality of the views through the scope itself.

So, if the only time you can see these minor scratches on the watch is under bright light at a certain angle — and they don't interfere with your use of the watch — ignore them! Don't do the *flashlight* or *bright light* test!

For sure, that's easier said than done — initially — but you'll soon forget about them!
 
  • Like
Reactions: cdcastillo
Apple fanboy said:
But why? If you can’t see it in normal conditions why go looking? What good can come of it?
Click to expand...
I would certainly inspect a new watch to ensure its pristine ... after that, I agree, but, it's a good way to check out the magnifier app on the phone :)
 
Great so we have all come to the consensus that if you are wanting to make sure you have a pristine device have one of the staff there open it for you and inspect it right then. Save yourself the trouble
 
Sam in SoCal said:
Great so we have all come to the consensus that if you are wanting to make sure you have a pristine device have one of the staff there open it for you and inspect it right then. Save yourself the trouble
Click to expand...

I ordered online and had it shipped because there were none available at a nearby store at the time I placed the order. I ordered a new one, and the store had it, so I picked it up today. They did not even want me to come inside the store because of all the covid precautions! They took my return from me outside the doors, and also brought me the new one outside the doors. I asked if I could try on the braided band for sizing purposes, and they let me in for that. So, I inspected the new watch and no scratches on this one. Now, the really annoying part is that I shipped my trade-in yesterday, but they've cancelled that because I returned the watch. So, they're shipping the trade-in back to me. I think I'll just sell it on eBay.
 
I tried screen protectors and a case or two on my Series 3, due to sensitivity and clarity issues I removed these after a couple of months. The watch functioned much better without them and screen was easier to read, also less bulky.

Also keep in mind that dust and grit will potentially get under these protectors which could cause unnecessary damage, possibly more so when fitting or removing.

On my Series 6 it will be used as intended without any protection, I just won't be looking too closely for any micro scratches 😲

For reference my phones always have a case and tempered glass screen protector, I generally like to look after my kit. With the watches I just decided that it compromises functionality too much and any damage is a risk I am willing to take.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cdcastillo
I agree when we pay for a product, we expect something new. But when you mass produce something like an Apple Watch Into the hundreds of thousands, there’s always imperfections that generally you can’t see unless you’re really looking for them. I Purchased iPhones in the past that look new out-of-the-box at first glance, but if you look close enough, sometimes I see minor hairline scratches on the aluminum or dust under the camera lens cover, etc. Sometimes if it doesn’t affect the actual functionality of the product, you have to look past it and just enjoy it for what it is. Otherwise, if you allow the impulse to control you, you can never truly enjoy the product for what it is, am I right?
 
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