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

This is crazy! My new iPhone 16 screen has 10 scratches on it after five days of ownership. Apple canceled the case I'd ordered with the phone, and my new case won't arrive for two more days. I've kept the phone either in my shirt pocket, the soft, clean pocket of my sweat pants, or on the charger when I'm not holding it. I've never had a screen that scratched so easily, and cannot figure out from where. This is rediculous!

My iPhone 16 pro got one deep scratch from pant pocket. I might have kept my car remote in same pocket one or 2 times, but this is unacceptable compared to my iPhone 14 Pro which never got this level of scratch after 2 year use. Disappointed for such gimmicks and price.

I have noticed this with my 16 pro, I am very surprised considering I upgrade my phone yearly and have never had an issue. Yet this is suppose to be the strongest glass yet and I have scratches that are visual and deep enough for my fingernail to catch. After a few weeks with the phone.

I can easily use the AppleCare but it almost feels unfair considering this seems like a quality issue if multiple people are seeing this.

ScratchMasterZ wrote:

Ditto here. Had a 13 Pro Max for years without a screen protector and only a few mild scratches here and there, and that's with dropping the phone a few times.

Responses saying "this happens every release, people should put screen protectors, blah blah blah" are posted by people who believe screen protectors are absolutely necessary. If they were so necessary, one shouldn't have to pay the additional $65 on top of a $1,000 phone. Get off your high horse. A screen protector shouldn't be necessary for users who take care of their screens.

Yep, I believe if you want your screen to have ZERO chance of being scratched, Screen Protectors are absolutely necessary. And telling anyone to "get off their high horse" is simply rude.

I have read every post in this sorry thread of people claiming they've never ever had such an issue. Balderdash. EVERY SINGLE iPHONE RELEASED in the last 10 years has a thread and usually a long one at that, complaining their new iPhone screen is scratching and they've never experienced this before. The fact is glass is glass and glass scratches. If you've read the thread, it's been explained why.

So instead of criticizing other users for speaking facts, based on science, either use a screen protector on your phone or accept scratches. It's not a perfect world, but you yourself have or had the ability to avoid them.

And your assertion one has to spend $65 for a screen protector, just demonstrates you don't even know what they cost. You can go on Amazon right now and buy a TWO PACK of very high quality screen protectors from Spigen (which are highly rated and very high quality) with a foolproof installation tray for about $17. FOR TWO.

krishnav0001 wrote:

Same I always put my 16 pro max in my pocket still getting scratches on upper right corner.

A lot of people get scratches on their phone screens from being placed in pants pockets. Why? Pockets are a great place for micro-particles of sand to accumulate. Pants, which are often washed or dry cleaned, in the drying process soap particles turn to hard micro pieces of sand-like particles, which you don't necessarily see, but surely can cause screen scratches. Even though I ALWAYS install a screen protector, even with that, I DON'T put my phone in my pants pockets. Instead, my phone when not in use is placed in a belt clip case, which the phone goes in face down to ensure it can NEVER be scratched.

My iPhone 16 had a deep scratch on screen right after taking it from the store before I could even reach another store where I normally get my screen protector and cases. Never had such issue with my old iPhone 12

Got this phone as a gift to myself on my birthday, but excitement quickly turned into disappointment 😔

They must have changed something in the glass. My iPhone 15 pro did not scratch this easily. I had it for a year, fully uncased no screen protector.

my iPhone 16 has crazy scratches on it after a month.

A lot of people replied, "Yes, buy a cheap screen protector." but that is not the point. Yes, of course, I bought the case and screen protector (It happened before I received my screen protector), but when you pay $1000+ for a product, do you expect me to buy a cheap screen protector? I expect something better. Yeah, you can say oh, it's always people complaining. I never complained since my iPhone one. And I am looking at my wife's iPhone 14 Pro Max; she had for two years without a screen protector and not even a scratch, let alone a .5" circle of scratches on my iPhone 16 Pro Max. And touch sensitivity is gone in the area of scratches.

screen protector may prevent the iPhone from scratching, but it does not prevent it from hairline crackers. I do have a screen protector but still have hairline crackers. I used my iPhone 11 for more than five years without a single hairline crack, but this iPhone 16 Pro Max the hairline crack appeared out of nowhere within the first month

I have had a new iPhone 16 Pro for less than a week and the screen already has multiple scratches. My old iPhone 12 didn't have a single scratch when I traded it in. Apple needs to correct this problem asap. Not a good look for Apple quality control....

i’m not even planning to get AppleCare+  as someone already mentioned when you purchase a high quality expensive iPhone around $3000 AUD you have certain expectations of product standards- expecting upgrades to be superior to previous models not inferior. That is why this type of forums are useful because people get to share their experiences, it shows you are not the only one - it’s much more powerful when people get together and share experiences. So Apple can look at this thread to understand  that a lot of people have the same issue.  Even the best companies might have a bad manufacturing batch etc

mditullo wrote:

Did they mention how much it would cost to replace? My phone has scratches right in the middle of the screen and very noticeable. Happened within three days of owning the phone.

Yesterday, I went to the Apple Store to show the scratches and asked they have heard other complaints. I was basically gaslit and told that it happens when I'm wearing jeans and sliding the phone in and out of my pocket. Was not helpful.

If you want to pay Apple to replace the screen on your 16 Pro Max, the cost is $379. It would be far less expensive to put a good quality screen protector on your iPhone, which will likely hide any scratches you have and prevent future scratches.

Here is the link from Apple with screen replacement costs --> iPhone Screen Repair - Apple Support

Hello~ I suppose you could write a letter…

Corporate Address

Apple

One Apple Park Way

Cupertino, CA 95014

Or …

Product Feedback - Apple

I am a fellow forum member just like you and other members who participate here …so can only share the options that I am aware of…

~Katana-San~

Goomfrugba wrote:

No one said that previous iPhones couldn’t be scratched. We know how glass works. We’re saying that it is EASIER THIS YEAR TO SCRATCH THE GLASS THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. Some of us haven’t had to EVER use screen protectors and have never seen a scratch. Should your phone scratch when all you do is put it in your soft pants pocket and never drop it? Does that seem right to you?

Feel to do a search using the search feature here for threads on iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Screens Scratching More Easily, and you'll see that this is a common theme EVERY YEAR, where people come here claiming their new iPhone is scratching easier than any iPhone they've ever owned before. Many also claiming their previous iPhone never got a scratch in x number of years. There is NOTHING different about iPhone 16.

Here's one such thread about iPhone 15 (though there are many on this) --> https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255230884?answerId=259803690022&sortBy=oldest_first#259803690022

And you can look for threads on models preceding iPhone 15 and you'll see the same claims. Again, nothing has changed.

And yet, the solution is so simple. Why buy a phone costing a $1000 or more and not protect your investment out of the box? Screen Protectors are affordable, replaceable and prevent that expensive investment from being scratched.

Ridiculous! I have the same thing. It has to be a defect! One day that’s it!