Can the iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera lens be damaged by scratching the metal engraving around it?

Lobsterghost1 is 💯 correct!

The iPhone camera lenses are not having the same issue as the Android lenses where they can be pried off the back of the iPhone, if that’s what you’re worried about.

Glass back, like front, is glass and may break if dropped.

Jeff Donald wrote:

That’s not the camera lens. What is slightly raised is the multi coated sapphire lens protector. No, it cannot be easily pried out. I referenced above the YouTube video by Jerry Rig where he pries up the Samsung Galaxy lens. I’ve not seen anyone pry out the protective lens covers on an iPhone. Do you have a YouTube video that demonstrates what you’re saying?

Whatever it is, it’s damage able right? I am sorry for asking such questions but I had toiled very hard to buy such an expensive phone. So I expect it to withstand anything, otherwise why would anyone buy iPhone over android phones? They should be resilient enough to withstand anything

They can’t be removed with a sharp metal instrument, your fingernails certainly are not going to do it. When the same YouTuber tried to pry off the iPhone lenses, he couldn’t do it. His name is Jerry Rig and the lens test starts at 6:05 into the video.

Abhishek6198 wrote:

Jeff Donald wrote:

You do understand at 6:29 he’s showing a Samsung Galaxy S 25 and not an iPhone. Watch his iPhone video and he can’t pry up the iPhone’s protective ring. What’s your point?

Feel what you want. Nothing I say is going to change your feelings. Instead of wasting time on forums and watching YouTube videos, why aren’t you out talking pictures? If you don’t use your camera what’s the point of worrying about it?

i am talking about this video https://youtu.be/qYztDs8vPBg?si=oqkeNs-CrOT3IuLo

I am sorry, but I am suffering from OCD, in which I start having impulsive thoughts that I have done something wrong, or in this case I have broken or at best slightly damaged the glass. That’s why I need your validation

If OCD is requiring you to seek validation from others, you really need to seek help from a qualified medical professional. It's clear from your posts, there is nothing anyone can offer you to give you the assurance you need. As volunteer users here on this user to user only forum, we can answer real technical questions about how to use an iPhone. We cannot help you with your OCD.

The best advice we can offer is to put your phone in a good quality case. Take care of your phone. Don't abuse your phone.

If someone tried to pull out the cameras on the back of the phone, they'll void the phone's warranty and likely destroy it. I can't even imagine why one would even wonder or EVER attempt to destroy their phone and or cameras?

As to the back of the phone it is wrapped in glass. And glass can shatter if dropped, even from a not very high spot. So a good quality case can help avoid disaster.

That’s not the camera lens. What is slightly raised is the multi coated sapphire lens protector. No, it cannot be easily pried out. I referenced above the YouTube video by Jerry Rig where he pries up the Samsung Galaxy lens. I’ve not seen anyone pry out the protective lens covers on an iPhone. Do you have a YouTube video that demonstrates what you’re saying?

In all my time on this forum, I have never EVER seen a report of anyone EVER prying the glass off the cameras with a fingernail. LIKE NEVER, EVER.

People who make durability tests on devices, really abuse them. In the real world, people don't abuse their devices for clicks on a website. You are worrying needlessly over something which simply shouldn't be a concern. I can't even imagine a real world need to ever use a fingernail or any sharp object on the camera covers on an iPhone.

Abhishek6198 wrote:

Jeff Donald wrote:

That’s not the camera lens. What is slightly raised is the multi coated sapphire lens protector. No, it cannot be easily pried out. I referenced above the YouTube video by Jerry Rig where he pries up the Samsung Galaxy lens. I’ve not seen anyone pry out the protective lens covers on an iPhone. Do you have a YouTube video that demonstrates what you’re saying?

Whatever it is, it’s damage able right? I am sorry for asking such questions but I had toiled very hard to buy such an expensive phone. So I expect it to withstand anything, otherwise why would anyone buy iPhone over android phones? They should be resilient enough to withstand anything

Anything can be damaged if one tries hard enough. Expecting any phone, iPhone or otherwise, to be able to withstand anything is totally unrealistic.

The video where Jerry Rig pries the rings up is called “The Camera Rings are Fake!” He starts prying them up in the start and also at 5:50 into the video. iPhone wins that comparison hands down.

Abhishek_6198 wrote:

So the glass slab of the back and the engravings around each of the 3 camera lens are the same material?

No. The camera surrounds are metal. The glass over the cameras are Sapphire Glass and the rest of the back of the phone is glass.

Sapphire glass is just beneath diamond on the hardness scale. It is very hard, but it’s not indestructible. But what is? Think about what you’re saying. I’ve spent $1,000’s on my professional camera gear. I’ve got lenses that cost 4 or 5 times what an iPhone costs. They are far from indestructible and if dropped would cost hundreds if not thousands to repair. I insure my expensive gear. If you’re worried about it, you should too!

He tried prying it up with a razor knife blade and he couldn’t do it. If he’d damaged it, he would have said something. If he could have pried it up or off he would have. He couldn’t even scratch it with the knife. I guarantee you the knife blade is thinner, harder and stronger than anyone’s finger nail.

Jeff Donald wrote:

He tried prying it up with a razor knife blade and he couldn’t do it. If he’d damaged it, he would have said something. If he could have pried it up or off he would have. He couldn’t even scratch it with the knife. I guarantee you the knife blade is thinner, harder and stronger than anyone’s finger nail.

If you look at it closely, he actually didn’t try to pry off the glass, he was trying to pry off the rings. When I used a little force while trying to pry off the camera glass using just my finger nails, I could feel it pry off. Now I am not sure if it’s damaged or not, but I have a feeling it’s damaged.

Abhishek6198 wrote:

Jeff Donald wrote:

He tried prying it up with a razor knife blade and he couldn’t do it. If he’d damaged it, he would have said something. If he could have pried it up or off he would have. He couldn’t even scratch it with the knife. I guarantee you the knife blade is thinner, harder and stronger than anyone’s finger nail.

If you look at it closely, he actually didn’t try to pry off the glass, he was trying to pry off the rings. When I used a little force while trying to pry off the camera glass using just my finger nails, I could feel it pry off. Now I am not sure if it’s damaged or not, but I have a feeling it’s damaged.

And if by some odd chance, which is beyond unlikely, you did damage your phone, just what do you expect anyone here to do about it? The answer is there is NOTHING anyone here can do if you purposely tried to damage your phone. Take it to your Apple Store Genius Bar if you need to know. If you damaged your phone, you'll get to pay for your mistake as it won't be covered under warranty. There really is no point in continuing this discussion. You are welcome to keep posting, but I am done here.