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sartorius

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 11, 2017
96
171
After seeing the JerryRigEverything video, I’m not sure I need to have one, I usually only get a few micro scratches on my phones by the time I’m upgrading.

I currently have the Spigen iPhone Air screen protector (part number AGL09870).

It is chunky, feels like it adds at least 1mm and attracts lint like crazy around the edges.

Agree/disagree?
 
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I have been using an iPhone 16e for around two months now, I don’t even seem to have micro scratches yet. I can’t imagine getting deep scratches.

But of course, I keep my iPhone in my pocket, and I don’t keep anything else in that pocket. I put keys in wallet and the other one.

I am surprised by how many people do mixed their keys and iPhone in the same pocket, though, which results in scratches easily.

I also usually keep my phone face up on the table, if I need to put a face down, I’ll use one of those eyeglass cleaning cloths to protect the screen for that few minutes of time.

So I think if you are pretty responsible with using it, especially with the upgrades to the ceramic shield now, I doubt you will have any scratches, except may be a few micro scratches after a very, very long time.

The bigger concern will be drops, but it also seems that then new glass is pretty resistance to most cracks as well.
 
Received on day one, no screen protector. Pockets and occasionally on a desk.

I've got tons of micro scratches, a collection of scuffs bottom right corner. And a gouge near the front facing camera.

I'm in shock, honestly
 
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I've been using a Torras screen protector on my iPhone Air from day 1, and to my surprise today I discovered a whole bunch of micro scratches. I barely went out of the house these days, and I'm as careful as always. The previous Torras screen protector on my 15 Pro, after two years, still looked pristine.

With that being said, I'm considering using it without a screen protector from now on, with the display being way more scratch resistant and all that now.
 
Received on day one, no screen protector. Pockets and occasionally on a desk.

I've got tons of micro scratches, a collection of scuffs bottom right corner. And a gouge near the front facing camera.

I'm in shock, honestly
The scuffs and gouges tell me something happened beyond just having it in a normal pocket that’s clean of debris.

Sounds like it was dropped from that description. Or the desk surface was dirty, or it was bumped, maybe your pocket bumped against a wall or something else.

Sometimes grit/debris can induce micro scratches. This also may have come from a cleaning cloth you use to wipe the screen.

This happened to my eyeglasses, the cloth had some debris I didn’t notice on it and put a few scratches on them.

Now a days I toss out microfiber clothes after a few weeks to avoid this.

I've been using a Torras screen protector on my iPhone Air from day 1, and to my surprise today I discovered a whole bunch of micro scratches. I barely went out of the house these days, and I'm as careful as always. The previous Torras screen protector on my 15 Pro, after two years, still looked pristine.

With that being said, I'm considering using it without a screen protector from now on, with the display being way more scratch resistant and all that now.

Screen protectors use lower quality glass than the iPhones own. That’s why they crack way easier and also scratch way easier.

Especially now with Ceramic Shield 2, the difference is big.

Many screen protectors are using normal glass or gorilla glass, same ones that were on iPhones like 10 years ago. Nothing close to what is on iPhones today.

In testing, the 17 series is resistant to scratching an entire point (on the Mohs scale) higher than last generation.

Even in some drop tests I watched on YouTube, the glass not only survived at most heights but looked completely fine.

I think this is the first generation of iPhones where not using a screen protector might be okay for most users. The super clumsy ones should still go for it though.
 
My iPhone 14 Pro was completely scratch-free without any protector and I used it for full 3 years.

Never have anything else besides the phone in the pocket, always place it face up on the table. That seemed to be enough.

Confident that Air will be even more secure with Ceramic Shield 2. I wouldn’t even consider a screen protector as they likely scratch much easier, creating a false confirmation that it was needed.
 
Was a screen protector freak from 3G up to iPhone 12 Pro Max and all between. Didn’t use one on my 13 PM, 14 PM, 15 PM or 16 PM. Only ever got a few micro-scratches visible under bright light if you search for them. Phone in pocket with nothing else. Had my 17 PM for 2 days and got a 2mm visible scratch on it, did nothing different from previous years. Now have a protector fitted and thankfully the combination of protector adhesive and protector have made the scratch invisible.
 
I wouldn’t even consider a screen protector as they likely scratch much easier, creating a false confirmation that it was needed.

This! Same with cracks. Phones tend to survive a lot more day to day falls without a problem. Where as a screen protector has cracked on me almost 100% of the time with even a minor fall.

Then after the feeling is “wow I’m glad I had this on” when probably wouldn’t have been needed.
 
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For those of you with screen protectors, is there a brand recommendation you like?

I have an iPhone Air and just got a generic one from Amazon so I had something early. (It’s like an amFilm brand.)

It fits the actual screen so perfectly that the slightest tilt causes the edge of the protector to refract the pixels on the edge of the screen, creating a green or purpley red highlight. I feel like I need one slightly larger.
 
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I am still using a screen protector on my 17 PM, I saw Jerryrigs video and no scratches at a level 6 with deeper grooves at a level 7, but somehow I always get micro scratches on my prior phones and its always only in my pocket with nothing else and yet I always get micro scratches so I did a matte protector from Amazon that Ive used on prior phones. Its ultra thin, barely see it there and I love the smooth matte feel to it.
 
Happy with my Flolab on my Air.. fit is great and I really appreciate the matte finish


If Apple made a matte screen, I'd likely go sans screen protector
 
Don’t do it. Keep your screen protector on.

I laid my phone down on the floor as I was taking a nap on the couch. My kid ran up to me and accidentally kicked it under. Picked the phone up and it was deeply scratched to hell.

Luckily I had AppleCare and it was $29. Since it’s so new my Apple Store didn’t have the parts so they just replaced it with a new phone.

Don’t be me, don’t put too much trust in Ceramic Shield 2938572948, lol.
 
Don’t do it. Keep your screen protector on.

I laid my phone down on the floor as I was taking a nap on the couch. My kid ran up to me and accidentally kicked it under. Picked the phone up and it was deeply scratched to hell.

Luckily I had AppleCare and it was $29. Since it’s so new my Apple Store didn’t have the parts so they just replaced it with a new phone.

Don’t be me, don’t put too much trust in Ceramic Shield 2938572948, lol.
If I had kids I’d be using a UAG rugged case or an Otterbox Defender, lol.
 
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For those of you with screen protectors, is there a brand recommendation you like?

I have an iPhone Air and just got a generic one from Amazon so I had something early. (It’s like an amFilm brand.)

It fits the actual screen so perfectly that the slightest tilt causes the edge of the protector to refract the pixels on the edge of the screen, creating a green or purpley red highlight. I feel like I need one slightly larger.
I had the nomad protector and it was good but no black border so not full coverage. I use a Shellrus now and so far so good.
 
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