iPhone 11 screen scratches

Most of these screens are not faulty, people damaged them when they came into contact with something abrasive.

There are a few that were damaged during manufacturing, and those have been replaced (and will continue to be so) as would devices subject to any actual manufacturing defect.

The photos of damage that have been posted all clearly show where something abrasive scratched the screen, often when a phone was placed into or removed from a pocket, as they show a long continuous curved scratch or scratches.

It does not matter whether you experienced an issue before; the fact that you could hit a sign post at 10 MPH in a 1955 Chevy does not mean when you cause $10,000 in damage doing the same in a 2020 Porsche that the latter is defective.

You can choose to use a screen protector or not, but if you choose not to, you may inadvertently cause cosmetic damage.

If that is an issue for you, return your iPhone if you can; if not, sell your iPhone as used and purchase a different device - but beware that most newer phones suffer from the same issue. I've posted links before showing similar complaints lodged against similar flagship Android phones, including the at this point mere weeks-old Google Pixel 4.

If you felt your old iPhone was more rugged, sell your new one, buy a used or refurbished iPhone of the model you prefer and pocket the likely substantial price differential.

As a customer I feel deceived. You buy a new phone 11 pro with “toughest glass”, buy a case for it, you take into account that after 4 years usage of iphone 6s (that didn’t have toughest glass) without any screen protector (with the case though) the screen still looks perfect, and come into conclusion that you don’t need any screen protector for the phone with toughest glass. After 3 weeks you find a deep scratch at the middle of your screen. I am not saying that it should be unscratchable, I am saying that it supposed to be harder to damage and scratch. Unfortunately it’s not.

Any fault in software can be tested, but there is no test option to find out if the glass at your particular phone is not defected and its quality is matching the standards claimed by the producer.

Deeply disappointed.

Put screen protector.

LOL is all I can say. Apple makes the product, which they have decided benefits more from being less susceptible to breaking than scratching. You the consumer have options, including not purchasing the product. But be advised, the other high end cell phone makers, including, but not limited to Samsung use the same glass on their screens. Scratches have ALWAYS been considered cosmetic damage by Apple. This isn't new.

When you create your own company to manufacture and sell cell phones, you can make the decision that you like. I'm happy Apple chose to use glass which is harder to break. For me, there are simple, inexpensive options I can use to protect my screen from scratches. A screen protector costs as little $10. If you crack your screen on iPhone 11 Pro Max, and you don't have AppleCare+, a replacement screen costs $329 ($29 with AppleCare+). You do the math which protects the consumer more.

Believe what you want to believe. It's NOT simple pocket lint scratching your phone. There are small particles of sand likely there, which is VERY common (for example, detergent, when dried, can turn to sand) and that CAN scratch your screen.

Putting a screen protector on your expensive phone, whether anyone agrees or not is just smart.

Hello everyone, I was at the apple store today about this talking to managers etc. I got nothing, no gesture for a long-standing client, nothing!

The only thing we can do AND WHAT EVERYONE HERE SHOULD DO TO HELP THIS BECOME TOP OF MIND FOR APPLE is file an official complaint via this form https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

As you know apple does not read this discussion thread BUT they do read the complaints submissions from the form. If they receive enough complaints they can make a case out of it and we will have the chance to claim a new screen. For that though we must stick together and make a big deal out of it (in a polite fashion).

I strongly urge everyone in here to fill in the form (not too long cause limited characters), but mainly saying the quality of the iphone 11 screen is not acceptable and that this whole situation is also unacceptable.

There are enough of us here to make a difference so please go and do that now. THANK YOU!

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I believe you're asking - would you pick a screen that is:

1. hard to scratch but breaks more easily when (not if) you drop it and pay $300 to get it fixed

*or*

2. more durable against falls, but scratches easily (where a $10 glass protector could help)

Unfortunately, the common misconception is that a higher priced product should be able to bend the laws of physics...

I am using the Belkin anti glare screen protector that is sold in the Apple online store. It’s fairly cheap and works really well. I actually like the experience and look of the screen better with it on.

when i got my xr i walked out of tmobile with a case and screen protector that phone is flawless till this day but it’s something about this 11 that just seems so fragile For the first couple days i had no case i was waiting on it from amazon and i babied the thing but I noticed how different it feels not having a screen protector on in my opinion a screen protector is a must if you want to keep your phone in its original condition ive already noticed fine scratches just around the bezel from putting it in my pocket and i knew better to put it in my pockets with no screen protector or case lol but i also had nowhere else to put it i cant hold it cuz its a chance you’ll drop it i did put it in a xr case but i took it out bc it looked stupid i now have a case for her just waiting on the screen protector. SO TO YOU READING THIS GET YOURSELF A SCREEN PROTECTOR FOR ANY PHONE YOU BUY ASAP.

All it takes is a grain of sand, something smaller than your eye may be able to see, to scratch ANY phone screen.

See this article in particular about the new glass on the iPhone 11 series --> https://www.idownloadblog.com/2019/11/04/iphone-11-scratches/

Bottom line. Put a decent screen protector on your phone to stop further scratches and to most likely hide any you already have.

No iPhone is waterproof. iPhone is dust and water resistant. BIG DIFFERENCE.

No phone commercially sold is scratch proof. None. Zip. Nadda. Zero.

If you bothered to read this thread beyond the first post, you'd have seen several links to articles which explains why harder to break glass is unfortunately easier to scratch.

Here is one specific to iPhone 11 --> https://www.idownloadblog.com/2019/11/04/iphone-11-scratches/

And here is an article from the Verge about all modern cell phones --> https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/10/19/17514174/gorilla-glass-scratch-resistance-google-pixel-3-samsung-galaxy-s9-note

If you want to avoid getting more scratches, invest in a good quality screen protector.

Apple isn't here on this user to user only forum. So telling Apple to be transparent won't get you anything. Tell Apple directly if you're not happy by providing feedback via this link --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

But you should read this thread to better understand why this years phones (as well as Samsung, LG and Google) scratch easier in return for glass which is much harder to break if dropped. In fact, the new formula in the glass has virtually wiped the angry threads that people's phones cracked away as we just don't see hardly any people complaining this time around. You can make glass harder to break, but easier to scratch. Or you can make phone harder to scratch, but easier to break. No one has yet figured out how to accomplish both in a glass formula.

Click here --> https://www.idownloadblog.com/2019/11/04/iphone-11-scratches/

That’s just the thing; it didn’t scratch “magically” but rather most people don’t realize over time most pockets do accumulate some degree of debris in them and that debris can scratch unprotected glass.

Fingernails and fabric alone won’t do it.

It would be fair to say apple made a trade of sorts when it comes to the scratch resistance of the newer iPhones, they traded scratch resistance for an increase in drop resistance, your new iPhone will resist being dropped much better, however, it will scratch more easily. If that bothers you a lot then I guess you can just use a screen protector. Also it is an issue of how glass works, the harder it is to resist scratches the more brittle it is and likely to crack, the softer it is then the harder it is to break but easier to scratch. It's just a matter of priorities and personally I prefer my phone not cracking when I drop it.

“...., I find it appalling that Apple is allowing this....”

Apple cannot allow or disallow you scratching your own phone.

Phones cannot scratch themselves. You or your acquaintances scratch them.

Screens cannot be scratched under a glass screen protector. You scratched it before fitting.

All available protectors I have used have had silicone adhesive, don’t fuzz the selfie camera, and stick very well whether the $30 Belkin or $3 from China

And 100% stop scratches.

They’re using a new type of ‘glass’ that’s more prone to scratching because they’re pandering the all the clumsy people who drop their phones.

I’ve owned every iPhone (except 5c) since day 1, and I have NEVER needed a screen protector until the 11 (and to a lesser extent, the X/XS).

I have always put my phone in my pocket and aside from very faint barely visible hairlines scratches, I’ve never gotten scratches so deep I can feel them with my finger nail. Apple opted to use a much less durable ‘glass’ which is very prone to scratches.

It’s ridiculous that screen protectors are now a necessity to keep them from severely scratching from putting them in our pockets.

[Edited by Moderator]