Apple says its Ceramic Shield glass on iPhone screens is “tougher than any smartphone glass,” but how true is that statement? The Mobile team has been using one of each iPhone 14 series models since last year and two of us haven’t applied a separate screen protector, while a third member of the team has. Here’s how the screens hold up – and what we think about the Ceramic Shield.
Ceramic Shield was first introduced by Apple on the iPhone 12, and was claimed to go beyond glass by adding “a new high-temperature crystallization stage that grows nano-ceramic crystals within the glass matrix , which increases drop performance by 4x.” Apple worked with Corning, the same company that makes Gorilla Glass, which is used on many smartphones from other manufacturers, to produce the ceramic shield. It is found on all iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and now all iPhone 15 models.
iPhone 14 Pro – Andy Boxall
I conducted a similar test with my iPhone 13 Pro, in which it spent a year with me without a screen protector and did a good job of avoiding deep scratches. This does not mean that was not scratch; Most of these could not be felt and were only noticeable when the screen was off and in certain lighting. Its performance didn’t inspire me to use a screen protector on my iPhone 14 Pro.
I have treated the iPhone 14 Pro the same way as always. It lives in a case, but I keep it everywhere from my pocket or bag to my car’s center console, table, and more. It is used every day in all kinds of situations, and although I take care of it, I don’t belittle it. I haven’t dropped the phone on a hard surface, so I haven’t been able to judge its shock absorption capabilities, but I’m impressed with how well the Ceramic Shield has protected it from the scratches we face on a daily basis.
After more than 360 days, there are very few marks on the screen, and I can’t feel any of them with my finger or nail. It’s certainly held up better than the iPhone 13 Pro in the year I’ve owned it, suggesting that Corning and Apple have continued to improve the formula and performance. Also, if I didn’t deliberately use lighting to highlight the marks in the photos, you wouldn’t be able to see them. I’ve included two additional photos showing the screen in normal lighting and with the edge illuminated, emphasizing that you’ll really have to work to spot scratches.
I agree with the way the Ceramic Shield protects the screen. I don’t regret not putting a screen protector on top of it, as I enjoyed the excellent tactility of the glass, saved myself the trouble of getting the protector on properly, and didn’t have to watch it get dirty and spoil the look over time. Or my phone’s. I am not using a screen protector on my iPhone 15 Pro Max.
iPhone 14 Pro – Christine Romero-Chan
When Apple first introduced the Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 12 lineup, it was supposed to be tougher than any other smartphone glass, so naturally, I thought I wouldn’t need a screen protector since I’d mostly done so up to that point. Was doing. However, when I placed my iPhone 12 Pro upside down on a placemat to take some photos of the gorgeous Pacific Blue color of the back glass, I noticed some small, fine-line scratches on the front glass right after. I thought the debris was cleared from the placemat, but apparently, I missed a small piece and now my iPhone 12 Pro display is ruined.
Since then, I have attached a screen protector to my iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro. I also have butterfingers, so I always use a case, even though the iPhone 14 Pro looks great without it. I broke my first original iPhone screen, so I’ve always used a case.
As you can see from my photos, the screen protector I used last year has gotten quite a few micro abrasions and scratches over the course of a year. Even some of the coating on the protector has come off, making it look like there were pieces of debris on the screen when I used the phone. I tried deleting them several times but to no avail. Scratches seem a lot, but when you’re actually using the phone, it’s not so easy to notice because of the lighting. You can only see the scratches if you’re holding it at a certain angle, but how much this will bother you depends on your level of OCD.
When I removed the screen protector, the iPhone 14 Pro’s display looked pristine — just like the day I got the phone. The pictures I took of the display after removing the protector show some scratches, but they are actually just dust particles. There are virtually no scratches on the ceramic shield after using the screen protector because the screen protector removed all the scratches as it was supposed to.
Now that I have an iPhone 15 Pro, I immediately put a screen protector on it and will keep using it until it breaks from a fall and I need to replace it – or until I get my phone back. Shouldn’t I upgrade?
iPhone 14 Pro – Joe Maring
Like Andy, I also used my iPhone 14 Pro without a screen protector. However, I didn’t use my 14 Pro for the full 360+ days like Andy did. I initially started using the larger iPhone 14 Pro Max in September 2022, but then I moved to the 14 Pro in March.
Which makes it even more surprising that my iPhone 14 Pro looks just as bad. It doesn’t look too terrible in the picture above, but as soon as you shine light directly on the screen, you just see How many? There are scratches all over the thing. See for yourself in the gallery below; It’s not pretty.
What causes my iPhone 14 Pro to get scratched so badly? I’m really not sure! I don’t remember ever dropping the phone or placing it in a position that would cause damage to the screen beyond regular use. Yet, the screen tells a different story.
To Apple’s credit, most of these scratches are barely noticeable when the screen is on, and I’m using the phone normally. But sometimes I can pick up on those scratches even when I’m not looking for them, and once I realize they’re there, it’s hard to ignore them.
Does this motivate me to use a screen protector on my iPhone 15 Pro Max? it has not! And so far, it seems to be performing better than my iPhone 14 Pro. I’m obviously still in the early stages with the 15 Pro Max, but it feels like Apple is still improving year-on-year – even if just a little – and that’s great to see.
Should you use a screen protector on your iPhone?
So, what does all this mean for you? Should you use a screen protector on your iPhone? It’s ultimately up to you to decide.
If you use your iPhone without a screen protector, you Are The screen is going to get scratched; There is no avoidance of this. But the end result may not be as bad as you are expecting. If you can live with some cosmetic imperfections, it’s possible to use your iPhone without a screen protector for a full year and it’ll be fine.
but if they scratch Are is going to bother you – or if you don’t trust yourself not to drop your phone regularly – it’s still a wise idea to invest in a screen protector. They are affordable, easy to install, and provide added peace of mind.
If you just bought a new iPhone (or are planning on buying one soon), check out our picks for the iPhone 15 screen protector, iPhone 15 Plus screen protector, iPhone 15 Pro screen protector, and iPhone 15 Pro Max There is no harm. screen protectors. It doesn’t matter which model you get, we’ve got you covered.
