Does the iphone 12 scratch easily?

Amyleigh23 wrote:

I’m going to go with Samsung.

Your prerogative, of course.

But be aware that the Samsung forums are full of customers complaining how easily their screens scratch, and Samsungs come with a screen protector preinstalled from the factory.

Corning, and the industry as a whole, worked together to move to a glass that is somewhat easier to scratch but is much more shatter-resistant.

You can add a screen protector to protect against scratches; there’s nothing you can apply to a screen to meaningfully protect it from shattering.

It's not inferior, it prioritizes other benefits.

You have a choice in glass: harder, more scratch-resistant glass is more brittle and more prone to shatter in a drop.

Glass that is more resistant to shattering is slightly softer, and thus more scratch-prone.

Corning and the entire smart phone industry, including Apple and Android phones that use Gorilla Glass, have prioritized shatter resistance over scratch resistance.

It is also physically impossible to scratch a screen through a screen protector unless you destroy or at least very heavily damage the screen protector in the process.

Some background:

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

Once again, you can prevent scratches by applying a $30 screen protector.

Nothing you can apply will stop a screen from shattering and it will cost you around $300 to replace.

Apple and other vendors made the decision that best serves their customers and saves them the most money.

Note that iPhone 12 screens are also slightly more scratch-resistant than iPhone 11 screens were.

You consider it a regression, but since it's clear you haven't read this entire thread, here's an executive summary:

Glass can be made strong and ultra scratch-resistant, but that makes it brittle and prone to break when impacted or dropped.

Glass can be made more flexible and less likely to crack and break if dropped, but that makes it somewhat softer and easier to scratch.

It's an inverse continuum; you can't have highly scratch-resistant and strong, though Ceramic Shield is one of the best attempts to date.

The smartphone industry as a whole moved to formulations that are more flexible and less likely to break but are more scratch prone a few years ago, in part because people didn't like having to pay $300 or more to replace a screen when they dropped their phone.

In addition, scratches can be prevented by adding a $30 or so screen protector to the surface of your phone.

No such addition can be made to prevent cracks and breakage regardless of whether you use a case.

Different companies handle this situation differently.

Samsung ships their Galaxy S20 and S21 phones with a screen protector pre-applied at the factory.

Apple prefers not to and to let you, the customer, decide which screen protector would best work for you rather than increase the price of the phone to make up for applying one at the factory.

You hate screen protectors? That's fine - if you buy something like the aforementioned Samsungs, you will have to remove the factory-applied screen protector yourself, after which you will have a display that is just as scratch-prone as the iPhone's.

No one still makes phones with the harder, more brittle glass anymore.

Ultimately it's your choice, so choose wisely.

eelco208 wrote:

There is a huge difference with this phone and others, since this one already scratches at contacts with other soft materials.

That's simply not true.

The iPhone 12 screen is around a 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means only materials harder than that scratch it.

However, the most common component in sand and gravel, quartz, bits of which are actually found in most pockets just because it's common airborne debris, is harder.

Fingernails and pennies are not; knives and steel may be so, that means car keys could be problematic.

As mentioned previously, the thinking of the phone industry (not just Apple) is this:

You can protect your phone from scratches with a $30 screen protector.

Replacing a cracked phone screen may be up to $600, and you can't add anything to a phone screen that realistically makes it less likely to crack in a fall (you can add a tempered glass protector that somewhat protects from impacts directly on the screen, and cases can help absorb the shock of a fall.)

Most customers would prefer to replace a $30 protector if it breaks (because harder glass is brittle) than their $600 phone screen.

Yes the iPhone 12 does scratch easily. I was careful as well as others have written about. I noticed on Day 3 of Owning my new iphone 12 that I had two significant scratches. I now realise I was decieved by the Apple Spin of super tough "Ceramic Glass". Thinking the iphone 12 did not need a Screen Protector. It DOES NEED a screen protector. Why do they not tell you emphatically ? SO SO frustrating.

If you can figure out a way to do that, you will be a billionaire.

Apple hasn't, Google hasn't, Huawei hasn't, LG hasn't, Oppo hasn't, Samsung hasn't, Sony hasn't and Corning, a company that's been doing research into making glass since 1851, hasn't.

Physics dictates that as glass becomes harder (more scratch resistant) it becomes more brittle; if glass is made less brittle so it can survive drops, it becomes slightly softer and easier to scratch.

You have to pick one, and phone manufacturers have decided rather than have customers spend $300 to replace their screens every time it falls 18" to go with stronger but slightly more scratch-prone glass because you can add a $30 screen protector, you can't easily and inexpensively add something to prevent harder glass from shattering.

If you're curious, this older article still applies:

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

Well, the issue as I see it, this screen is more susceptible to scratches and requires a screen protector, yet the phone is being advertised with

With that in mind, people here are not complaining that they had to buy a shield, but are complaining that they didn't know they had too due to advertised "toughness" and the relative ease that the screen gets damaged. I myself had the phone without a shield for 6 days and it ended up looking worse than the iPhone se I bought 6 years ago. Apple can't have it both ways.

Yes. Me too. I had and iPhone 6 Plus in a bulky protected case for the last several years. Everyone says they are fine without a case. The screen don’t scratch easily! So finally, I paid $1500 USD on an iPhone 12 pro max. The salesman said it was a new ceramic and ultra strong screen. No need for one of those bulky cases , etc. So I thought I would get with the times and go with the naked screen. I absolutely loved it. I’ve had the phone 1 week and saw last night a nasty 1/4” scratch you can feel with a fingernail. I am devastated. I can not even imagine how this happed as my purse sling has a phone slot that is very protected. It had to happen when holding my keys and phone in the same hand. Wow. Very upsetting as my new little prize is now damaged goods! I hope it did not weaken the glass to break on a drop. I guess it’s back to those old bulky ugly cases to hide a beautiful phone! Beware on the 12’s. Use a screen protector.

VerayUK wrote:

Your sarcastic comments are of no help. (Unless you are a salesperson for screen protectors.)

It’s not sarcastic, it’s the simple truth, it’s why screen protectors exist.

It IS a type of design flaw as noted by every other user, except you. Most, if not all, of these posts, imply that the users, including myself, never had any issue with previous, iPhone screens and Apple didn’t advice that the new iPhones would be any different. - Nor did they advise the purchase of a screen protector.

A quick Internet search will show you the same complaints being raised about every previous device’s screen, not to mention the same complaints being made about the screens of every other phone.

I’ve posted an article numerous times that’s a few years old that details the issue:

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

Samsung even applies a screen protector at the factory, which I would prefer Apple not due as I’d rather choose the screen protector that works best for me, not have the price raised to have them include one I would have to remove in order to install my own.

Apple sells a variety of screen protectors in their web and physical Apple Stores for this same reason, as do carriers and every other store that sells iPhones.

Experience is not a preconceived notion. Experience is also evidence. My own experience trumps surveys or reports.

I wish the design flaw would have been noted by any of the toplists or surveys. Then I would have made a better decision which phone to buy, maybe even by applying a screen protector from the start. Now I am just sad that this flaw was missed by so many persons.

I already have the flagships of Apple and Samsung. I have had them for years and years and always without screen protector.

This is the first phone that scratches too easily from all the phones I have had. This is my first smartphone for over a decade which needs a screen protector.

Scratch-resistant, not scratch-proof.

Mohs 5.5 - 6 is a very nice balance of scratch-resistance and shatter protection.

You didn't break your screen, but we used to see multiple broken screen complaints here daily for older phones, and those messages have dwindled to zero.

Meanwhile, applying a $30 screen protector prevents scratches but nothing you can add can do much to prevent screen breakage.

Since screen replacements are $229 - $329 for iPhone 12 family phones, that seems like the right trade-off.

Don't make my mistake. Leave your iPhone 12 in the box until you get a screen protector!

My iPhone X survived 3 1/2 years without a screen protector - no scratches. After just 3 weeks my iPhone 12 has numerous, small, annoying scratches. It has been in my pocket with no other objects. Very disappointing!

It’s horrible. I have two deep scratches and have literally no idea how it happened. Never shared a pocket with keys. Less than a week. I store it in a. Microfiber bag til my case & screen protector arrive.

DO NOT USE until you have a screen protector.

Incredibly disappointing and totally unacceptable on an ELEVEN HUNDRED USD product.

I recently bought an iphone 12 pro and I am floored how easily it scratches. I had a 6s plus previously and never had issues with the glass scratching like this and I had it for years. It was in my purse for a little bit and I took it out & and there are multiple scratches that I can feel with my nail. It was no where near my keys. I thought that this glass would be super strong but it’s not. I don’t trust this glass. I will be buying a screen protector. Very disappointing!

I complained on apple customer service chat and was offered a screen repair for free as part of warranty. Posted it to them and have been given a replacement 12 mini within 5 days- the first thing I did was put a screen protector on. I like the phone for the convenient form factor but feel the screen has let me down here- but Apple service was fantastic. No quibbles. I have no experience of Samsung customer service to compare it to, but am very satisfied.