iPhone 16 Pro Max Space Black iPhone 16 Pro Durability

[FrankySavvy]

I have owned the iPhone 16 Pro Max in Space Black for nearly six months since launch. I have had it in a case since day one. The first thing I noticed is it seems whatever Apple is doing with the durability of the glass on the front, scratch resistance seems to have gotten worse in my experience compared to previous iPhones. I have a lot of micro scratches and some deeper ones, just from normal usage.

I also noticed that when I removed the case, it appears the black anodized finish is chipping along the frame of the device. The specs in the image are not dust, they are small chips in the finish. It is very apparent on all sides of the phone. My thoughts are lint, dust and debris may have gotten trapped inside the sides of the case and slowly scratched the phone. I work in an office, not outdoors or anything. The case I have is the TAC Standard 4.0. It does not have a microfiber lining, so that could have been the issue.

How is everyone else's 16 Pro holding up, in particular the Space Black.

 

[Fried_Gold]

I have one tiny scratch on the bottom left corner of my screen but otherwise my black 16 Pro looks brand new when I take it out of the case.

 

[FrankySavvy]

It is just weird...I was debating bringing it to Apple, just to see if Apple Care + could do anything. I feel like it should't have scratched that easy from pocket lint.

 

[nburwell]

I’m wondering if particles got in between the case and the phone and that is what caused the scratches. I have a blue Ti 15 Pro and it still looks practically brand new, but I have not used a case on it at all.

I know some say they usually take the phone out of the case 1-2x a week to clean the case/iPhone.

 

[FrankySavvy]

I’m wondering if particles got in between the case and the phone and that is what caused the scratches. I have a blue Ti 15 Pro and it still looks practically brand new, but I have not used a case on it at all.

I know some say they usually take the phone out of the case 1-2x a week to clean the case/iPhone.

I think this is what happened, but I work in an office so I am not sure why pocket lint and minor dust particles would cause this.

 

[Adminasadministrator]

You should always use a glass screen protector... You won't even notice its there and it protects your very expensive screen against micro scratches..... Don't fall for the Apple marketing hype every year "Strongest most scratch resistant glass ever in a phone!!!" It's B.S.

 

[sunapple]

Case scratching the phone is a tale as old as time. My 13 mini in Midnight that's 2.5 years old and was never used with a case is in better shape...

I don't really see that many scratches on my screen either and I usually wipe it down on my jeans (a cardinal sin, mind you).

 

[coleblk]

I've also experienced cases scratching the finish of my phone in the past; since then, I've stuck with OEM Apple Silicone cases. I will say, however, as they age, the coating on the case starts to feel off, and the fit is not as good as it is new. I can personally attest to this, when my phone actually popped out of an Apple silicone case on a small drop and gave my Titanium Black iP16 Pro a nice love scar...wish that was a reflection. As far as the screen goes, always been with a glass screen protector (shattered many, though), so I've learned to always keep a backup. I do have AppleCare+, so I'm fine with the trade-off of a relatively "normal" case vs. something less comfortable and bulky. The Black Titanium definitely shows any damage much more clearly...now where is my Sharpie.

 

[klasma]

Scratch resistance on the display has gotten worsena couple of years ago. This is because scratch resistance and shatter resistance are opposing properties. For better scratch resistance, the material needs to be harder, but that also makes it more brittle, lowering shatter resistance. With the “ceramic shield”, Apple has opted to prioritize shatter resistance over scratch resistance, because a shattered screen usually means a costly repair, whereas mere scratches don’t. (I don’t like it, just to be clear.)

 

[ghostface147]

I don’t use a case, but I chose white for a reason. When looking at the phones at the Apple Store, the white had the least amount of scratches visible.

 

[Andeddu]

I have the exact same issue with my 2 years old iPhone 13 which has lived inside a case since Day 1. The anodised aluminium on the frame appears slightly pot-marked even though I clean my phone and case every 2-3 weeks.

All my other iPhones, namely the 6S, OGSE and 8 are all in mint condition despite similar usage. Apple have definitely changed something in regards to their process for this minor superficial damage to occur.