My iPhone 16 Pro Max's screen is getting scratched easily

DeloGs wrote:

I believe most of us, including myself, have already reported this issue to Apple. Posting here is meant to highlight the problem and inform other users about the decline in quality with the new phone, potentially saving trouble for those considering a purchase.

I also appreciate your efforts in recommending screen protectors. However, Joseph Corl’s comment about the leather analogy was spot on—I’ve never heard of a furniture manufacturer suggesting that customers wrap their furniture in plastic after purchase.

Expecting such measures for a flagship iPhone product is simply unreasonable.

The analogy still doesn't work. For one, nowhere does Apple say anyone needs to put a screen protector on their iPhone. NOWHERE. But Apple does sell and install screen protectors. Some people aren't bothered by scratches on their screens. Just like some people aren't bothered if their leather seats age, patina or get scratches. So no, seat manufacturers don't suggest you need a seat cover and Apple doesn't say you "need" a screen protector.

The iPhone 16 phones are NO MORE susceptible to scratches than previous iPhones. Every year for as many years as I can remember, there have been equally lengthy threads of people upset because their phones screen is scratching. iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15 and now 16 in particular, because that's when Apple went with the new glass formula, which they call Ceramic Shield (an unfortunate name in my opinion). Ceramic Shield is much harder to break. But to make glass harder to break, it has to be a bit softer. And softer means it can be easier to scratch. The tradeoff of course is, screens which are harder to break, save users $Hundreds in having to have their screen replaced because it cracked in a fall. I would hope you'd agree you'd rather not have to spend hundreds of dollars replacing your screen if it broke from a drop? No one has yet found a glass formulation, which is equally harder to break and equally harder to scratch. You'd become richer beyond your wildest dreams if you did! But a very small investment in a screen protector will ensure the screen on your iPhone doesn't scratch. It's a lot easier and less expensive to replace a screen protector than it is to replace the screen.

You are more than welcome to continue to alert other users. In fact, I hope people do read these posts and help themselves by putting a good quality screen protector on their phone the moment they get a new phone. They wouldn't be here complaining if they do. But to expect that glass shouldn't be able to scratch and this is something new, is simply wrong. As already mentioned, there are many many threads on just about every iPhone model released of people claiming they never got scratches until their new phone.

EWB3 wrote:

I posted the following a couple of months ago:

I have had a new iPhone 16 Pro for less than a week and the screen already has multiple scratches. My old iPhone 12 didn't have a single scratch when I traded it in. Apple needs to correct this problem asap. Not a good look for Apple quality control..

Apple continue to ignore this issue. Very disappointing and not a good sign of the state of Apple.

That's amazing, because if you do a search on the forum, you will find a similarly lengthy thread on iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15 and now iPhone 16 from many people claiming their phone was getting scratches when their previous iPhone never did. Glass can scratch if unprotected. In fact, with iPhone 12 came Ceramic Shield, which to me is an unfortunate name as it gives users a false sense of security against scratches. Ceramic Shield is MORE flexible, meaning it is much less likely to crack in a fall. We've seen a dramatic decrease in the number of posts from people who are upset because a drop caused their screen to crack. But there's a tradeoff. Which would you prefer. A screen which can't be scratched or one which won't break easily? The scratching issue can be easily solved with a good screen protector. But the screen breaking, could cost you hundreds of dollars to replace. The reality is no one has yet to figure out a glass formula which makes glass harder to break and scratch in the same formula.

Hence why Apple installs screen protectors in their stores every day of every week and why most electronics stores, like BestBuy sell and install screen protectors every day. And why Amazon sells screen protectors from thousands of manufacturers every day.

Apple doesn't warrant against cosmetic issues. My iPhone 16 Pro Max has not a single scratch on it. But then I installed a good quality screen protector on my new phone, before it was ever turned on. If you want to avoid getting more scratches on your phone, you might want to put a screen protector on it, which will likely hide any you've gotten and most assuredly prevent any future ones.

Every iPhone screen ever made can be scratched and every year, people come here after getting a new iPhone saying their screen scratched too easily. While the Ceramic Shield glass on iPhone (unfortunately named, in my opinion) can be scratched, it is significantly harder to break. And that is a trade off. No one has yet learned how to make glass which is harder to scratch and break at the same time.

This is why Apple installs screen protectors in-store every day and screen protectors are a multi-billion dollar business. Install a screen protector to avoid future scratches, which will likely hide whatever scratch you’ve now gotten. When I get a new iPhone, I put a screen protector on it, before I even turn it on to set it up.

Cosmetic damage is NOT covered by your warranty.

I was waiting for this and the cracked screen threads to start. This topic comes up every single release and the comments that follow (including my favorite, “I had the {fill in model} for 3 years without a case or screen protector and it still looks brand new!”) are almost carbon copy every single time. The responses to those will always be the same. Explaining how harder to brake/crack doesn’t mean it is unlikely to scratch. Suggesting using a screen protector (even the super cheap ones you can get off of Amazon for $7 with at least 3 in the pack…glass or the films). And then the responses to that being that they shouldn’t have to use anything because of how much it costs and how Apple should be able to make everything indestructible regardless of what science says.

I personally always use a cheap screen protector film (I currently have one of the extras from my iPhone 15 Pro Max on until the correct ones arrive) and apply it as soon as I take it out of the box before. I do this because I usually opt to sell my iPhones so I protect it so that when I am ready to sell it is still in pristine condition and I am able to sell for typically more than others selling the same configuration. Unfortunately for those that prefer not to use anything at all the reality is that scratches very well can and likely will occur. If it’s something that you know will bother you immensely it would be a good idea to start using a screen protector as soon as possible to prevent future scratches and help make any current ones you may have less noticeable.

I have never posted on an Apple support thread before. This is a serious issue, I had a 12 pro max and 14 pro max that have had no screen protector for some time in between. I always got the ZAGG protectors for my phone. I was prepared for the regular 16 pro but returned it 30 minutes later for the pro max and I didn’t have time for Apple to put the protector on. Either way the phone shouldn’t scratch in less than 12 hours with 3 scratches that my fingernail could go into. My 14 pro max NEVER had this issue. Apple replaced the whole phone for me because they agreed it wasn’t acceptable.

ScratchMasterZ wrote:

Ditto here. Had a 13 Pro Max for years without a screen protector and only a few mild scratches here and there, and that's with dropping the phone a few times.

Responses saying "this happens every release, people should put screen protectors, blah blah blah" are posted by people who believe screen protectors are absolutely necessary. If they were so necessary, one shouldn't have to pay the additional $65 on top of a $1,000 phone. Get off your high horse. A screen protector shouldn't be necessary for users who take care of their screens.

Yep, I believe if you want your screen to have ZERO chance of being scratched, Screen Protectors are absolutely necessary. And telling anyone to "get off their high horse" is simply rude.

I have read every post in this sorry thread of people claiming they've never ever had such an issue. Balderdash. EVERY SINGLE iPHONE RELEASED in the last 10 years has a thread and usually a long one at that, complaining their new iPhone screen is scratching and they've never experienced this before. The fact is glass is glass and glass scratches. If you've read the thread, it's been explained why.

So instead of criticizing other users for speaking facts, based on science, either use a screen protector on your phone or accept scratches. It's not a perfect world, but you yourself have or had the ability to avoid them.

And your assertion one has to spend $65 for a screen protector, just demonstrates you don't even know what they cost. You can go on Amazon right now and buy a TWO PACK of very high quality screen protectors from Spigen (which are highly rated and very high quality) with a foolproof installation tray for about $17. FOR TWO.

krishnav0001 wrote:

Same I always put my 16 pro max in my pocket still getting scratches on upper right corner.

A lot of people get scratches on their phone screens from being placed in pants pockets. Why? Pockets are a great place for micro-particles of sand to accumulate. Pants, which are often washed or dry cleaned, in the drying process soap particles turn to hard micro pieces of sand-like particles, which you don't necessarily see, but surely can cause screen scratches. Even though I ALWAYS install a screen protector, even with that, I DON'T put my phone in my pants pockets. Instead, my phone when not in use is placed in a belt clip case, which the phone goes in face down to ensure it can NEVER be scratched.

You still don't understand what people are saying. We haven't *needed* a screen protector prior to the iPhone 16 Pro. The glass is now, while likely more durable to drops, noticeably more susceptible to scratches to the point where regular, daily usage is resulting in scratches. This is unlike previous generations.

Yes, get a screen protector if/when you get an iPhone 16 Pro because the screen is too soft to now roll without one. Apple over-indexed on break resistance and now has a soft screen where you need to cover it in bubble wrap, unlike the previous two releases.

What we are all saying is that a screen protector is needed for the iPhone 16 pro because this screen is far easier to scratch than on previous releases of the phone. 

We will all be using screen protectors once we get replacements as well. The point people are posting here is to let Apple and others know the screen is softer than it used to be. We see this as a durability problem because we didn't need screen protectors on older iPhones and now we do. That in itself is unacceptable and we want Apple to go back towards scratch resistance so we don't need to cover our phones in cases & unnecessary layers of glass/plastic.

Goomfrugba wrote:

No one said that previous iPhones couldn’t be scratched. We know how glass works. We’re saying that it is EASIER THIS YEAR TO SCRATCH THE GLASS THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. Some of us haven’t had to EVER use screen protectors and have never seen a scratch. Should your phone scratch when all you do is put it in your soft pants pocket and never drop it? Does that seem right to you?

Feel to do a search using the search feature here for threads on iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Screens Scratching More Easily, and you'll see that this is a common theme EVERY YEAR, where people come here claiming their new iPhone is scratching easier than any iPhone they've ever owned before. Many also claiming their previous iPhone never got a scratch in x number of years. There is NOTHING different about iPhone 16.

Here's one such thread about iPhone 15 (though there are many on this) --> https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255230884?answerId=259803690022&sortBy=oldest_first#259803690022

And you can look for threads on models preceding iPhone 15 and you'll see the same claims. Again, nothing has changed.

And yet, the solution is so simple. Why buy a phone costing a $1000 or more and not protect your investment out of the box? Screen Protectors are affordable, replaceable and prevent that expensive investment from being scratched.

EWB3 wrote:

The whole point is screen protectors were not necessary for previous models. The iPhone 16 screen has major quality issues.

That's just NOT true as we've tried to tell and show you. What did you learn from reading the link I posted above about iPhone 15? Were the people in that thread lying about scratches on their new phone? Of course not. There are threads for iPhone 14, iPhone 13 and iPhone 12, where people also complained about scratches on their new phone. The fact is and will continue to be glass can scratch and the only to prevent that is to use a screen protector.

Barb77 wrote:

I have only had my iPhone for a few months and it has scratches on my iPhone 16 plus. I thought the screen was not supposed to get scratches! How do I get this replaced? Very upset this never happened on any of my older iPhones. Very upset for a phone I paid a thousand dollars for.

I suppose, if the scratches bother you enough, you can pay Apple to replace the screen on your iPhone. What you can't get, is your screen replaced under warranty. Cosmetic damage is not covered under iPhone Warranty. There is NO Glass ever made, which can't be scratched. Every iPhone ever released has threads about people upset because their screen got scratches. And Apple never suggested an iPhone screen can't be scratched. They said they're more durable, because they are. But that durability means in a fall, the screen is less likely to break. But to make glass less likely to break, it can still scratch.

Either pay for a new screen, which isn't inexpensive or put a screen protector on your iPhone, which will likely hide the scratches you've gotten and prevent new ones. Personally, I NEVER use an iPhone which hasn't had a screen protector installed the moment I get it.

bl_astt wrote:

Just got my iPhone 16 Plus 2 days ago it has multiple scratches from only being in my pocket for an hour max.

Pockets are filled with micro-particles, often from dried laundry detergent which become crystalline. They can be very abrasive, actually sand-like. I would personally never keep my phone in a pants pocket because of this. That said, put a good quality screen protector on your phone, which will hide current scratches and help prevent future scratches.

rrosier wrote:

You still don't understand what people are saying. We haven't *needed* a screen protector prior to the iPhone 16 Pro. The glass is now, while likely more durable to drops, noticeably more susceptible to scratches to the point where regular, daily usage is resulting in scratches. This is unlike previous generations.

Yes, get a screen protector if/when you get an iPhone 16 Pro because the screen is too soft to now roll without one. Apple over-indexed on break resistance and now has a soft screen where you need to cover it in bubble wrap, unlike the previous two releases.

Here is just one thread about iPhone 15 --> iPhone 15 Screen Scratching Easily? - Apple Community

DenInformatiker wrote:

Did any of complain and manage to get a replacement because it’s unacceptable my screen is scratched like I don’t know and it is always in my pocket alone so not with key or anything else.

Apple doesn't warrant against cosmetic damage. Some have commented, Apple did offer a one time courtesy replacement, but the vast majority found apple unwilling to do so. The fact is glass can scratch if not protected. Your best bet is to put a decent quality screen protector on your phone NOW, which will hide the scratches you have and prevent future scratches.