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

Indeed, I am noticing the same issue on my iPhone 16 Pro. I’ve never encountered this problem on my previous iPhones (and I’ve had almost all of them). In short, I think there’s an issue with the materials or at least the quality. I contacted AppleCare, and they refuse to cover this (considering it a cosmetic defect). The glass has to be broken to get a replacement through AppleCare+…

[Edited by Moderator]

I notice that my screen shows a lot of fingerprint marks, and in addition to scratches appearing, it seems like the coating is either missing or has an issue. Who should I contact at Apple to get an answer?

I agree with you 100%. It sounds like your screen isn't working as it should so you might have a case to get a $29 repair/replacement screen via AppleCare due to the scratches impacting usability and not being just cosmetic.

こんにちは I understand Katana-San. But people kept posting I need a screen protector!! Again, if I pay $1000+ for a product I expect better. Just like Hyundai and Kia reponse to USB Cable Hack (My city, hundreds of cases), oh you can just buy the cheap streering lock and gas peddale lock, it will be fine! Really? That is the same as excuse for buying a cheap screen protector!

Hello again ~ Complaints here are only heard by the people posting here…it essentially does no good. I don’t see how Kia or Hyundai got brought into this either. Putting a screen protector on will mitigate further scratches and displeasure for you…that’s all I am trying to point out. Only trying to help you…

~Katana-San~

If you have AppleCare and can demo this to the Genius Bar folks then I think this grounds for getting a $29 replacement/repair.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It is nice to hear others have similar experiences with the iPhone 16 Pro scratching easier than previous models.

update from my experience. I took applecare straight after i got the scratch. I went to the genius bar yesterday i also told them my screen sometimes freezes and is delayed with typing and scrolling. The guy was really nice and he changed the screen for me and because “the scratch made my screen not function perfectly” i didn’t had to pay anything! So after my screen got replaced i straight away bought a screen protector. Just try your luck and go to the genius bar if you have apple care!

I thought I was going crazy. I woke up today - two days after getting the iPhone 16pro - and there’s a scratch. How did my phone scratch over night? As the day has worn on it’s getting larger and larger. I’m just laying on my couch! I just traded in the iPhone 12 Pro. Not a single scratch!

Similar story with my iPhone 16 pro max

Less than a day and notices two scratches as I was preparing to install my screen protector

I think there a problem with packaging facing the USB-C metallic connector.

I installed my screen protector and as I was removing air bubbles, two more scratches appeared.

The screen also tends to freeze or not respond.

The screen on the iPhone pro max is going to become a serious issue for Apple.

This is a seriously abnormal situation and has to be addressed

Did You, or any of you use a microfiber cloth to clean your IPhone 16 Pro Max screens?

Because if you did? Then did you know you have to clean the microfiber cloth after each pass? Reason being Microfiber Cloths pickup debris, and holds it in the cloth till you clean it. So one pass you clean, second pass you apply previous debris across your screen.

I take really good care of my iphone 16 pro max but still end up getting scratches on the screen. My old iphone 13 pro max was really abused and does not have a single scratch. Can we go through apple care for replacement?

ni2w wrote:

I take really good care of my iphone 16 pro max but still end up getting scratches on the screen. My old iphone 13 pro max was really abused and does not have a single scratch. Can we go through apple care for replacement?

AppleCare doesn't cover cosmetic damage, but you can certainly see if Apple will help you. EVERY iPhone released has a thread just like this of people claiming their (put your model name here) phone never scratched like their new iPhone does. It is beyond remarkable you had a 13 Pro Max which was scratch free. The threads on iPhone 13 were huge. The threads on iPhone 14 were huge. The threads on iPhone 15 were huge.

And all of this could have been avoided with a decent screen protector. From my perch, I can't imagine paying a $1000 or more on anything and not fully protecting it out of the box. But maybe that's just me.........But probably not, which is why at Apple Stores around the world, Apple installs screen protectors on iPhones all day, every day. And why you can go out to Amazon and find literally thousands of affordable iPhone screen protectors, many costing around $8.

What are you saying? A screen protector protects against breaking the screen but not hairline cracks? You’ll need to explain that line of thought. How exactly does it not protect against hairline cracks?

Hello~ I enjoy my iPhone perfectly and with no scratches whatsoever. It’s always had a screen protector, an excellent case, a back glass protector and a camera protector straight out of the box.

~Katana-San~

I got 7-Day Complimentary AppleCare+ Proof of Coverage with my iPhone 16 pro max 1TB. To continue coverage, you can buy AppleCare+ at the end of your 7-day complimentary period.

You have access to technical support, additional hardware service options, and coverage for unlimited incidents of accidental damage that occur and are reported to Apple during the 7-Day Complimentary period