iPhone 13 Pro Max micro scratch on screen

Ok then explain to me why my iPhone 8 has NO scratches despite years of use, and the 13 has numerous scratches after a couple weeks. The strength of your response makes me think that you indeed are working with apple for damage control. There are a lot of reports and videos out showing that the 13 is particularly susceptible to scratches. Nice try though.

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.

Yes. I have the same issue, and it's utterly ridiculous. I believe Apple lies about the materials used in its products. There’s no way that what they say about the Ceramic Shield screen can be true if scratches are appearing so quickly on multiple devices. In addition to the gash on my screen, the so-called “surgical-grade” stainless steel around the circumference of the phone became scratched when I attached my $50 Apple-designed case. I am livid.

[Edited by Moderator]

I've had my new 13 for 5 days, waiting for the screen protector I ordered to arrive, and I just discovered a micro scratch on it. haven't left the house with it, so I can only guess it was caused by a ring I was wearing brushing against it. Very frustrating. Still under warranty, so I could see if they'll replace the glass, but it's probably not bad enough for them to do that. And until I have the protector, it could easily happen again. It's only visible at a certain angle, but I know it's there.

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.

It isn't the customers' job to defend the manufacturer of any product. Someone takes the time to come on here with a constructive post and gets trolled. As customers, it isn’t our job to defend Apple. Your "offer to help people" is not that at all, you are just taking issue with a viewpoint you don't agree with.

I just got my iphone 13 pro max 2.5 hours ago, I already got a scratch on the screen. Nothing even touched the screen except my fingers. I did not check the screen when I removed the sticky paper cover because I had so many iphones before and this never happened.

Any time you use your phone without a screen protector you risk scratching it, which is why most apply one immediately before using their phone at all.

It's a risk Apple allows users to decide to take.

I agree, my XS had no micro scratches and my 13 pro max already has a bunch of micro scratches. No idea house they go there either as they haven’t been in contact with any objects other than my fingers and pants pocket.

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.

lobsterghost1 wrote:

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.

Depends. Synthetic sapphire generally can't be scratched except by sapphire or diamond. I've had sapphire watch crystals that had zero scratches, even when the watch itself was scuffed up. And at one time there was talk about perhaps using sapphire (perhaps just a thin layer fused to glass) as a portable electronics display material because of its scratch resistance. Apple even uses sapphire crystal as camera glass and on fingerprint sensors. The fingerprint sensor on my nearly 5 year old iPhone 7 and 4+ year old iPad Mini 4 have a pristine fingerprint sensors even if the rest of those devices might have nicks and scratches.

I have the same issue. I had the phone in my pocket for 1 day and its all scratched. Nothing else in my pocket. The next day we put a screen protector on it. We went to the Apple store and they told us not their fault. I said it was poor quality and and defective workmanship. Basically told me they didnt care. I purchased six of these Ipphone 13's for my family. This is the last time I buy Apple products! I will be looking at Android next time.

Feel free, note Android vendors' glass is just about same strength or less. It's an industry-wide phenomenon.

Do an Internet search for glass scratching with Galaxy or Pixel phones and you will see what I mean.

The only difference is some vendors, like Samsung, make you pay for a screen protector installed at the factory.

Dogcow-Moof wrote:

y_p_w wrote:

The only thing that would likely provide what you're looking for is sapphire overlaid on tough glass, and preferably replaceable since sapphire is rather brittle. But I'm not sure who is willing to pay for it.

Precisely - you can have scratchproof and brittle or more accommodating to being dropped and slightly more scratch-prone.

You can stop scratches with a $30 screen protector; nothing you can affordably apply can protect from shattering.

Maybe a case, but that creates other issues like weight, bulk, etc.

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.