Can confirm oleophobic layer on iPhone 6 isn't as soft as some people think. Took a sharp box cutter to my screen, and the scratches showed up in the area. Quick wipe with a cloth removed the scratches completely and it was like nothing ever happened.
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New Dual Ion Exchange Glass
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This does show that the coating is harder than metal.
Unfortunately all the box cutter, screws, coins, keys, screw driver tests prove is metal in these tools have a MOHs 5.5 hardness. Regardless of how sharp these devices are, being softer than even regular glass, they will never scratch any screen, unless it is made of polycarbonate or other plastics.
I really dislike all the box cutter, knife, screw driver tests as they give people a false impression. Once you understand how soft these metals are in relation to glass of any kind, it really becomes a fake test in my mind. Screens scratch because they come in contact with sand particles. (Quartz and garnet)
There seems to be a desire by manufacturers to keep consumers in the dark about about screen durability. Seldom do you see scratch resistance (hardness) and resistance to breakage separated. They are two distinctive characteristics of a material. Increasing one does not equate to improvements in both characteristics. Saying screen is stronger is a nice marketing term that leaves things vague. Allowing consumer to assume whatever they like.
Various types of sandpaper will more clearly reveal scratches on every phone screen except pure sapphire (corundum) aluminum oxide, which is 9 on MOHs scale. Sandpaper will not scratch the iPhone ID home button or the camera lense. These are true sapphire. But don't try this on your phone as the sandpaper will scratch the rest of your screen.
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I am about to upgrade my iPhone 4 which I purchased 2 of when they first came out in 2010. I've never replaced the glass and I've used my phone every day since. I never used a screen protector and I never worried about keeping it in my pocket, backpack, or anywhere even if right next to keys, change, or whatever. I still cannot find a single scratch on the glass. That's 5 years of use and not a scratch. I can't say the buttons have been so durable though as I have had to replace both the power and home buttons twice now. FYI, I did this myself so I would not have to exchange my phone at Apple. The other one had to have the power button replaced once and the home button twice.
I'm about to get two iPhone 6s Plus phones and I have no concerns about the sapphire glass getting scratched. I do dread the thought of having to replace the buttons and batteries in them as I have yet to discover how difficult they will be to work on. The screws on the iPhone 4 were tiny enough for these old eyes.
I'm about to get two iPhone 6s Plus phones and I have no concerns about the sapphire glass getting scratched. I do dread the thought of having to replace the buttons and batteries in them as I have yet to discover how difficult they will be to work on. The screws on the iPhone 4 were tiny enough for these old eyes.