Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Why no sapphire crystal for aluminium Apple Watches?
- Thread starter Tapiture
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Apple knows we want it, so they've structured pricing to push us upmarket. They are quite good at it.
You’re exactly right, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be mad at them for it, haha.
It’s too bad. The best part of the SS is the sapphire screen.
I’m sure it’s a cost issue. Sapphire is notoriously difficult to manufacture.
I’m sure it’s a cost issue. Sapphire is notoriously difficult to manufacture.
I Share your thoughts. I owned the Sport model when it first launched , and I was not happy with the durability with the Ion-X Glass. It showed hairline scratches very easily and I upgraded to the stainless model. And I have zero scratches due to the Sapphire coating. Well worth it for that alone on the stainless model.
Last edited:
I’m incredibly careful with my Apple devices — I use only the correct cloths to clean the screen, make sure it’s clear of dust before I wipe it off, keep it away from hard, sharp edges etc. but my AW Sport has surface-scratches galore. I’ve had it for a year but the first scratches showed up a week after I bought it. You will get surface scratches on the Ion-X Glass guaranteed.
Honest question, but aren't iPhones made with Ion-X Glass?
If so, my iPhone 6 with no screen protector has held up very well with barely any blemishes.
It's hilarious to me, though, that you can't have a scratch-free watch. The aluminum casing can remain flawless in appearance while the glass is scratched to hell. Or, you have a stainless watch with pristine glass and a case that is scratched to hell. There's no winning!
Yes, I have used one of a few screen savers on my first generation Rose Gold AWS since it was first taken out of the box.
Once in a while, a more than superficial scratch appears on the screen saver. I tend to try to ignore it, but when I no longer can do so, I peel off the screen saver and install a new one. Ion-X Glass is still 100% perfect.
S0 here, and my screen has zero scratches.
Used every single day, washing my car, cutting hedges everything, hence going for the Aluminium again.
Used every single day, washing my car, cutting hedges everything, hence going for the Aluminium again.
Meh, it’s hard to read the sapphire covered display in bright daylight, which is a big deal if you’re into outdoor activities such as running, hiking, or paddling. I’ll stick with glass. They’re consumable devices anyways, if my display lasts 3 years then it’s done its job. I’ve never had a sports watch that wasn’t all beat up when I was done. I’d prefer a stronger case material than aluminum but s.s. is too heavy.
I really wouldn't say that's true. I've had a stainless steel series 0 since launch day and can honestly say I've never had a problem reading the screen when outside. S2 and S3 now have screens that are even brighter, so even if it had been an issue (which it hasn't) it would be sorted now with the increased brightness.
No matter how careful you are, anything you wear will take on occasional hits and scuffs.
I know I would GLADLY pay more for a sapphire screen in an aluminum case....I just don't like heavy watches, so I would only choose aluminum as SS feels so much heavier to me. Heck, I'd pay the same price as an SS for an aluminum with a sapphire screen, giving Apple an even bigger profit margin! Unfortunately Apple won't let me waste my money that way.
Two years with my S0 sport and I have been impressed with how durable the screen is. I don't take it off for much of anything; working on my cars, on the house, in the yard, etc and it has survived some pretty nasty scrapes without any obvious damage. Sure, if I polish the screen and look at it just so under a bright light there are some scratches, but the glass Apple has chosen is more than up to the task.
Hold it under a halogen light or look at it out in the sun - I bet you’ve got a few scratches.
I seriously doubt that the sapphire has resolved its brightness issues, it has a higher reflectance which is a physical property that can’t be changed unless the material is changed or the the screen is textured. Maybe the new screens are brighter, but then that means the glass is even better. Even with my S0 glass there have been times out on the lake or on a mountain above the tree line where I had to cup my hand over it to read it. It may just be a difference in our locations as well, in the American Mountain West the sun is almost always out and bright even when it’s very cold, often making even trying to read an iPhone useless.
Excellent point. Even my iPhone 7 Plus display looks like it's flawless, which it primarily is. But under direct light and holding at a certain angle, you can see very minuscule hairline scratches, but barely visible. Even a microfiber cloth could potentially scratch the display, if it had debris embedded unseen to the eye.
I have multiple times as I tend to run outside and my sport's model has no noticeable scratches.
Sure I can use a scanning tunneling microscope to uncover minute scratches but overall, my sport watch has held up extremely well and devoid of any scratches.
Same her but I've only had my series
2 Nike watch since around January. I use mine all the time and have
Zero noticeable scratches. There are
Probably some if I study it closely under intense light but nothing that I ever see while looking at it every day, so it doesn't bother me if those exist.
Hm, interesting. Maybe you don’t clean yours like we do so you avoid dragging any dust or microscopic fragments across the glass.