Maybe we do need sapphire smartphone displays after all. Hundreds of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus owners have taken to Apple’s online support community to express dissatisfaction with the durability of the displays used on both phones. Most of the complaints suggest that the displays on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are scratching easily, some say more easily than on earlier models of the iPhone.
The complaints were first spotted by AppleInsider, which notes specific comments made by folks who say they have taken great care of their new phones, but are still noticing scratches, particularly around the corners. As the site also notes, Apple has advertised that it actually increased the durability of its displays this time around, using what it says is “ion strengthened” glass on the new models.
“After 2 years of heavy use and no screen cover, my iPhone 5 never had a scratch,” one user complained on Apple’s forums in a thread that has more than 660 responses. “Less than a week into owning an iPhone 6, I have a good sized scratch on my screen. So disappointed. I only ever had a bumper on my old phone and would totally throw it in my purse with my other stuff with no issues. Now I guess I’ll have to get a cover for the screen. Definitely seemed easier to scratch.”
AppleInsider suggests that, perhaps, the new rounded edges on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus make the display more susceptible to scratching. While one of our own in-house units has a few nicks, it’s largely unscratched, though this phone has a case on it that protects the outer curves, which lends some support to AppleInsider‘s hypothesis. The news outlet suggests some folks have been able to replace units taken to Apple but the company has so far not made any statements on the matter, and we doubt it will.
The best bet? Grab a screen protector and a case. It certainly takes away from the overall industrial design, but at least you’re protecting your phone from keys and other objects floating around in your pockets.
