iPhone 13 Pro Max micro scratch on screen

That's not unusual. Even though the glass is very strong, it is glass and glass can be scratched. I haven't owned an iPhone since iPhone 6 (and I've had many models since) without installing a good quality screen protector.

Apple even sells and installs them. They wouldn't do so if the glass was impossible to scratch. No one has yet invented glass which can't be scratched.

Apple won't do anything for you as cosmetic damage is not covered under warranty. To avoid future scratches, put a good screen protector on your phone. Go to your Apple Store, Best Buy Store or even Amazon.com and you'll find options from $6 to $50 depending on the quality you want. You spent big money on an expensive phone. Spending a few dollars more to protect the screen from scratches, only makes sense.

Really? There has been a thread every single year when the newest iPhone is released of people complaining they never had scratches on their phone until they bought (insert whichever model) their newest iPhone. EVERY SINGLE YEAR from as far back as I can remember. Glass is glass. And there is NO Glass which cannot be scratched. This is why Apple Sells Screen protectors in just about every Apple Store. Best Buy does big business selling screen protectors. Amazon offers literally hundreds and hundred of screen protector options. It you want to avoid getting scratches on an expensive all glass device, protect it out of the box, like most of us do.

Apple doesn't replace phones with a scratch on the screen as that's considered user caused cosmetic damage. Be very careful and when you put the screen protector on, you likely won't be able to see the micro-scratch anyway.

Take your phone in to be examined; they will decide whether it's a defect or not.

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Dust can easily contain micro-grains of quartz. Just wiping your iPhone screen free of fingerprints with a cloth of any kind could have had a micro-grain of quartz dust. When I get a new iPhone, I don't turn it on or touch the screen until I've got a good screen protector on it.

This year, I went with a $50 Zagg full screen protector. It's so strong, anti-microbial and blue light blocking. Did I need to spend that much. No, of course not. Just protecting the screen is the most important part. Apple sells and installs in the store Belkin Screen protectors. They're high quality and cost about $35. You can still spend less on products from a company like Spigen, which is good for about $12 (order from Amazon) and it comes with a simple install tray, which makes putting one on, simple and perfectly aligned.

Because the glass formulation on iPhone 8 is totally different than is on iPhone 12 or 13. While its true those phones may have been harder to scratch, they were infinitely easier to break. Daily this forum was flooded with users all up in arms because a little drop caused the screen to shatter and they were very upset at the cost to replace said broken screen.

So Apple worked with (we believe Corning) to create a glass which is harder to shatter and that is the glass which first appeared on iPhone 12 and now on iPhone 13. And it is indeed harder to shatter (thought not impossible) as evidenced by the very few reports from users their screen cracked. But here’s where science gets in the way. It is not yet possible to create glass which is harder to break and EQUALLY harder to scratch. The glass in essence has to be softer (not a scientific explanation) to be able to withstand drops without breaking. But that means it can scratch easier.

I do NOT work for Apple. I am a user just like you are. I’ve been on this forum helping people for more than a decade. It’s kind of a hobby to offer help to people here.

If the above doesn’t help you understand, then there is really nothing more anyone can offer you. And again if you don’t mind scratches, don’t put a screen protector on your phone. But even an inexpensive one from a company like Spigen (you can buy a two pack with any installation tray on Amazon) for $10, is infinitely cheaper than replacing the screen on your phone.

Choice is yours of course.

No one is "trolling" you, you are calling someone providing facts with which you disagree a troll.

There is nothing "defective" about the iPhone 13 screens, the same complaints were made about the iPhone 12.

However, if you feel differently, Apple is the arbiter, so contact Apple Support directly for next steps you can take:

Contact - Official Apple Support

Alternatively, have your phone examined at your local Apple Store:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

You do not need a screen protector but it depends on how you treat your phone.

Apple leaves it up to you rather than raise the price to include one as Samsung does.

Honestly, I don't know why anyone goes without; if you really don't like them, then you're knowingly taking a risk by going without.

It's like not washing and waxing your car; you don't have to, but then if the paint fails your auto maker won't cover it.

As far as the iPhone "2" is concerned, yes, the screen is slightly more scratch prone.

Glass can either be harder - more scratch-resistant but more likely to shatter upon impact - or more shatter-resistant but slightly more scratch-prone.

Since there is nothing you can add to prevent a screen from shattering, but you can add an inexpensive screen protector, it's obvious which is the more cost-effective choice.

Hello Luke

I have same problem like you or more!

I have contacted Apple but to fix this need to changes display and to pay over 360€, no warranty for the screen! I will back to iPhone 12 pro

Like screen protectors or don’t, they are the ONLY way to avoid scratching the very expensive screen on your iPhone. I have explained in this very thread there is no way to make glass which is equally harder to break AND scratch at the same time. If you can figure this out, something neither Apple or Corning, the worlds largest maker of screens for phones in the world, you’ll be richer beyond your dreams.

Either put a screen protector on your phone or live with scratches. Those are your only options, like it or not.

I get a new phone every model so I have had them all and NEVER get scratches and I looked at my 13 ProMax this morning and it’s scratched in a few places. I have no idea how they are there. Trust these reports, this screen isn’t like the previous ones. They are only visible when the screen is black so not an operational issue but this screen isn’t up to the standards of Apple’s previous scratch resistant phones.

About five years ago, the cell phone industry moved to glass that was slightly softer and thus more scratch prone but that was much less likely to shatter upon impact with an object or when dropped.

Among other reasons is you can protect from scratches with a $30 screen protector, but you cannot do anything to increase the shatter resistance of harder but more brittle glass.

That's up to the engineers to figure out. Personally, I think even a thin overlay of Sapphire will be brittle. The tradeoff may not be worth the added cost and traffic of upset customers having to pay lot's of money to replace their screens.

The point of this thread however, is to help current people understand Glass as it is today, can scratch. And Apple and their glass supplier engineered a glass which is indeed harder to break, but is also easier to scratch. And people either live with scratches or invest in a screen protector as the only current options available.

Same thing happened to me. I’ve had the phone for like for 1 days. No comment. To Me it’s a defect and screeshould be replaced by apple. It very well may at have arrived like that but since you cannot see it when phone e is on. Who knows - very frustrated.