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!

 

[xDKP]

Tough luck - I know your feelings on this one. Had my Ultra 1 for over two years with a mint display and suddently there were a pretty annoying and fairly big scratch. I don't know how it came, but it came after I got the Ultra Milanese Loop, so I don't know if it scratched it while taking it on/off

 

[DMG35]

I totally get its on me for taking it to play beach volleyball in it, but I'd done that with the other models and none of them ever had a single mark on them. Just seems odd that after playing in them all this time that the first time I play in the Ultra 3 it gets scratched by sand. Not the end of the world but just a little disappointing.

 

[hgfjhbvytjdnb]

The antireflective coating would be what is scratched most likely. Look into how they apply the anti reflective coating and if it changed between generations.
BTW, is the screen flush with the bezel on yours or is it slightly raised?

 

[4sallypat]

Can you buff the scratch out ?

 

[Jackbequickly]

Sounds like just bad luck.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I notice my AWU3 screen sits much closer to the bezel than my AWU2 or 1 did. My bezel caught a lot of damage that probably would have hit the screen. I also use matte screen protectors so that helps a little too (but the AWU3 - they sit exposed because the screen is almost flush with the bezels for me).