Ultra 3 screen not as durable as past models?

[DMG35]

First time I’ve ever scratched an Ultra screen and did nothing different with this one. I play a lot of beach volleyball and have never had an Ultra screen scratch. My black ultra 3 screen scratched after 1 found of beach volleyball. I’ve played hundreds of rounds with the previous Ultras (both 1 and 2) and neither of them ever got a scratch on them. Maybe I just got a bad one but pretty disappointed.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I get you are disappointed with getting a scratch on a new watch but, you can't say the U3 model itself is not as durable as past models. If I am not mistaken, the new model is more shatter resistant than the previous model. The model will still scratch given the right events. Yo had to have come in contact with a very hard surface or object.

 

[jz0309]

First time I’ve ever scratched an Ultra screen and did nothing different with this one. I play a lot of beach volleyball and have never had an Ultra screen scratch. My black ultra 3 screen scratched after 1 found of beach volleyball. I’ve played hundreds of rounds with the previous Ultras (both 1 and 2) and neither of them ever got a scratch on them. Maybe I just got a bad one but pretty disappointed.

sorry to hear that, I haven't read anything about changes to the sapphire on the U3, but, sapphire screens can scratch, there have been posts and photos here.
Is it really the sapphire or the oleophobic coating? and is the scratch visible easily?

 

[drew0020]

That is a tough one. I’ve never scratched a sapphire Apple Watch screen and I’ve owned every single one of them. I typically don’t take mine to the beach though. Sand can be tough or even small rocks that you might not have noticed.

With AirPods Pro 3 you can leave the watch at home and still get workout credit. I’d much rather scratch those lol. Hopefully this is a one off situation. Sorry!