iPhone 12 pro scratched screen

I’ve replied to this topic once already, it bothered me really bad, so I got another. That said; I’m not a screen-ppf film screen protector type as they look like **** once the edges start peeling and get dust/dirt underneath. So now I have an Apple leather case, and wipe it with a clean slightly damp microfiber rag at the end of the day and haven’t had any issues. Only problem is inevitably it will have to go in my pocket at sometime, so I make sure pockets are dirt free....or it sits somewhere it can’t get touched be anyone. It’s actual work to take care of a 12 pro max. I get it, it’s only a phone....but I’m just ocd. I treat my phone like my car now. They def dropped the apple on this “durable” ceramic screen.

If you’re unhappy with a device, that’s your business.

However, if you’re going to claim something is defective or poorly designed because it doesn’t behave the way you want it to, I will defend that.

Simply put, Apple’s displays are state of the art. Were there other displays that were “stronger” that would be one thing, but at present there are not.

Further, Apple’s screens are a little softer than screens used to be and as a result some complain of scratches but the number of complaints about displays shattering because of a drop off a desk or table have fallen dramatically.

You can add a $30 screen protector to prevent your screen from scratching; you cannot pay $30 and reduce the risk of your screen shattering if it falls from a table.

These forums exist, as defined by the Apple Support Communities Terms of Use, for users like myself to provide technical answers to technical questions asked by other users.

Technical facts are not a “defense” of Apple, they are just accurate data.

If you’re unhappy, I presume next time you may select a phone from a competitor and will join those on their forums complaining their screens are easy to damage.

Samsung Community: S21 Screen scratches normal use

The Verge: Why your brand-new smartphone will scratch just as easily as your old one

If your only measure of quality is scratch resistance, you've missed most of what makes the new screens so fantastic. They are 4 times less likely to shatter in a fall. That is hugely higher quality. The almost total lack of complaints here on this, the worlds larges forum for iPhone is testament to the durability of the new screens. Yes, to make a screen harder to shatter, makes it more susceptible to scratches. No one has yet been able to create glass which is equally harder to shatter and scratch. If someone figures that out, they'll become richer beyond their dreams.

In the meantime, since EVERY single iPhone EVER made has been able to be scratched as demonstrated by long threads on "my iPhone screen is scratched" with every phone ever released, logic suggests to protect your very expensive phone, a very reasonably priced screen protector should have been the first thing you applied to your phone.

It’s not minimizing others’ opinions, it’s factual data.

• The glass is more scratch-resistant than that on the iPhone 11.

• The glass is softer and more prone to scratching than on much older iPhones as it is more shatter-resistant.

• For maximum protection a screen protector should always be applied immediately after removing the iPhone from its box and before using the screen in any way.

• While you are deciding on a case your phone is completely unprotected.

It doesn't matter what whatever old phone you had was like; it had glass that might have been harder to scratch but was much more likely to shatter, it doesn't matter if yours ever broke or not,

The industry has moved to glass that is less likely to shatter and may be slightly more scratch prone, because a $30 screen protector stops all scratches, where no screen protector can stop shattering.

It also is stronger, as compared to the glass on the iPhone 11; that source of comparison can be found directly on the Apple web site.

No one uses?

Almost everyone applies a screen protector at purchase, whether they buy one to apply themselves or buy a Belkin in-store to have Apple Store staff apply it.

The rule of thumb is to never even touch the screen until a screen protector has been applied first. I've done that with every iPhone since the original, and I've owned all models since then.

Apple doesn't care what you do or don't do, it's called personal responsibility. You don't have to wash your car, either, but the automaker also won't cover it under warranty when your paint starts peeling off the car due to environmental damage. They also won't cover front end rock chips, which are prevented by applying the automotive equivalent of a screen protector, the clear bra.

Other manufacturers do it differently - Samsung applies a screen protector at the factory, which Apple could also do but they would have to increase prices to do so, and they prefer to treat their customers as adults and allow them to decide for themselves which protector best suits their needs, even if that's none at all.

It is a strong screen, especially when it comes to shatter resistance.

But strength does not mean scratch-resistance - however, even then something harder than Mohs 5.5 is required to scratch the screen, so most materials will not:

rasmus818 wrote:

Why are you so obsessed with screen protectors? This was something people used to use - but nowadays I see no one use it, because the displays on phones have gotten better. I don’t think Apple would sell an expensive phone and then except me to purchase a cheap plastic protector for my screen - the protection is usually built into the display. And besides it would be huge waste of plastic if everyone had to put plastic on their phone. Fortunately for me, I do already have an insurance for display damage.

That statement couldn't be less accurate if you tried. Go to an Apple or Best Buy store and see how many screen protectors are installed on phones daily. The numbers would obviously surprise you. I'm sorry you're disappointed with your phone. But it's not anyone's fault but your fault to have spent so much money on a new phone and not do anything to protect it. Glass is fragile, no matter what its made of. No one has yet to create glass which can't be scratched.

And if you took the time to read what Apple says of Ceramic Shield at www.apple.com, you'd clearly see they made no mention of the phone being more scratch resistant. They clearly said the phone is and this is a quote from Apple directly: "And Ceramic Shield delivers four times better drop performance." This means iPhone 12 is 4 times less likely to shatter in a fall. And the fact that we rarely see people coming here to complain their iPhone 12 sceen shattered, is testament to the strength of the new glass.

The last phone I owned which I didn't put a screen protector on was iPhone 6. At the end of two years, it looked like it had been rubbed with sand. Since then, every iPhone I have owned has been protected by a screen protector and my phones remain pristine.

It's a shame you didn't do the research to understand what Ceramic Shield is about. And your assertion people don't put screens on their phones, couldn't be further from the truth. There is not a single iPhone in my office which is naked. Not one. And every time I visit my local Apple Store, they are installing new screen protectors all over the store.

rasmus818 wrote:

Lol. “..never even touch the screen until a screen protector has been applied”. Sorry, this is just funny to read - like my phone is made out of some cheap materials - I’ve had numerous of Apple products, and I put my hands on them as soon as it’s out of the box 👏 - they are supposed to work just like that.

Oh, they work - but you're possibly scratching them when you do so. By applying the screen protector immediately, the screen is fully protected and doesn't have to be cleaned of even dust before applying the protector. It makes the most sense all around.

I guess we just have to agree that we disagree about this. I understand you are trying explain the rationale in having a screen protector (thank you for that). I’m just trying to explain how I prefer to use my phone without one - and how I preferred that my previous iPhone display might be more prone to shattering but at the same time being more scratch resistant. I just wish it would have been more clear that the new display had this disadvantage - then I would have decided for the iPhone 11 instead. As long as my phone is an iPhone, I’m happy, I would just rather have the display shattered than getting all kinds of annoying scratches.

The iPhone 12 display is more scratch-resistant than the iPhone 11 was.

I get your preferences, so you will just have to deal with scratched screens on whatever device you choose as a result.

This article explains what's been happening to phone glass since at least the iPhone 8/iPhone X and competitors (this article dates to 2018):

The Verge: WHY YOUR BRAND-NEW SMARTPHONE WILL SCRATCH JUST AS EASILY AS YOUR OLD ONE

The gist: glass can either be scratch-resistant but brittle, or less brittle but more prone to scratching.

Since a $30 screen protector can prevent scratches, but nothing you apply can prevent having to spend $229 - $329, depending upon iPhone 12 model, for a new screen when one shatters, you can see which way it makes more sense to tilt the scale.

As stated previously, older screens were a bit more scratch resistant and, as a result, were much more likely to shatter due to an impact, say if you dropped your phone.

Adding a screen protector will prevent scratches from occurring for a small charge; they can’t prevent the screen from shattering after an impact.

Given the option, most people would rather pay $30 for a screen protector than $400 for a new screen.

As an aside, to quote LiveScience:

The most common component of sand is silicon dioxide in the form of quartz. The Earth's landmasses are made up of rocks and minerals, including quartz, feldspar and mica.

https://www.livescience.com/34748-what-is-sand-beach-sand.html

Looking at the slide I posted earlier, quartz is Mohs 7, which is higher than the 6 - 7 tests have shown for the iPhone 12 screen.

So that means a single grain of sand that somehow enters your pocket would be enough to possibly scratch the display if it drags past it.

Note it also doesn't have to be you; virtually all jeans are "stone washed" or dried in a sandy material to give them a lightly worn look during manufacturing, and that involves… quartz.

I'm with you on this. I prefer to decide which screen protector is best for my needs. The last few years, I've let Apple put on the Belkin Screen protectors on our phones, with the Magic Belkin Installation machine, which makes the installation perfect and comes with a lifetime replacement guarantee.

We got to use that warranty this year when my partner dropped his iPhone 11 on the pavement. The screen protector shattered. The phone was completely unharmed. Best $30 investment ever as far as I'm concerned. And the screen protector was replaced at no cost to us.

Yep!!! This new screen sucks the big one!!! It’s definitely worst than previous models... i tried replacement wt both Apple and my upgrade provider wt no luck.. ive placed a decent screen protector (what they call hybrid glass) to prevent future damage.. thats all we can do... im NOT happy, but still not returning my phone tho.. remember thats also a choice u can consider

Apple made no claim the iPhone 12 was harder to scratch. Apple claimed iPhone 12 is 4 times harder to break. No glass is scratchproof. NONE. It only makes sense you spent $1,000 on a phone to spend a few dollars more to protect the glass from doing what ALL glass does and that's scratch. The article is still applicable.

Yes, and modern auto paint is softer than that on 1970s cars - it doesn't mean the paint is bad on your 2020 vehicle when you scratch it.

The fact is, modern glass is a little more scratch prone so it is less likely to shatter after a two foot drop.

That's true of the glass on all modern smartphones, not just Apple's, so you either live with it and take appropriate precautions or buy a used iPhone 6S or 2015 Android and never upgrade.

I don't need to google anything. I'm well aware people fail to put screen protectors on their phones, then get all upset when glass scratches, which is what glass does. It was no different on iPhone 6, 7, 8, X, Xr, Xs, 11 and now 12. There have been threads on this every year for the last several years. And guess what Apple did? Nothing. Cosmetic damage is simply NOT covered. If you don't want more scratches, get a screen protector. Otherwise, you're just going to continue to be disappointed.