See how an iPhone looks without a screen protector after a year

Apple’s Ceramic Shield glass over the iPhone’s screen is said to be tougher than any smartphone glass, but is that really the case? The Digital Trends Mobile team has been using iPhones without screen protectors for the past year to see how the screens hold up. Two team members have not used screen protectors, while the third has. The Ceramic Shield was introduced on the iPhone 12 and has been used on subsequent models.

One team member used an iPhone 13 Pro without a screen protector and found that while there were scratches, they couldn’t be felt and were only visible when the screen was off and in certain lighting conditions. The Ceramic Shield protected the screen well from daily scratches.

After 360 days, the screen had very few marks that couldn’t be felt with a finger or nail. The Ceramic Shield has improved compared to the iPhone 13 Pro. The scratches are only visible when deliberately highlighted with light. The user is satisfied with the protection and does not regret not using a screen protector. They also do not use a screen protector on their new iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Another team member used a screen protector on their iPhone 14 Pro, as the Ceramic Shield on the previous model got scratched easily. The screen protector picked up scratches and lost its coating over time. However, the Ceramic Shield under the screen protector remained scratch-free. They continue to use a screen protector on their new iPhone 15 Pro.

A third team member used an iPhone 14 Pro without a screen protector and found that the screen had many scratches when light was shone directly on it. They did not recall any incidents that could have caused the scratches beyond regular use. However, most of these scratches were not visible when the screen was on and the phone was used normally. They did not use a screen protector on their new iPhone 15 Pro Max and found it to be holding up better than the iPhone 14 Pro.

Ultimately, the decision to use a screen protector on an iPhone is up to the user. Using the phone without a screen protector will result in scratches, but these may not be overly noticeable. However, if scratches are a concern or if the user tends to drop their phone, a screen protector can provide extra peace of mind.