Is The iPhone Screen Scratch Resistant?

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(Last Updated On: August 14, 2013)

Free iPhone AppsThe iPhone is a fairly resilient piece of technology. That does not, however, mean that it cannot be damaged. While the things that can cause the phone to become non-functional are few and far between, there are a number of issues that can cause cosmetic damage.

One of the biggest issues tends to be screen scratching, and figuring out whether the screen is scratch resistant is usually rather important. The answer to that question is quite complex, and figuring out ways to keep the screen from getting scratched is usually smarter than relying on the native protection of the device.

So is the iPhone Screen Scratch Resistant or Not?

The earliest version of the iPhone was not very resistant to scratching. The original phone and the 3G were fairly prone to scratches, but there was some improvement on the 3GS. From the 3GS onward, iPhone screen scratch resistant coating has been used. The degree to which the screen can be scratched varies from model to model – the 3GS is still relatively easy to scratch, while the 5 is much harder to scratch. It is important to note that all of the phones are “scratch-resistant”, not “scratch-proof.” If you try hard enough, you can scratch any of the phones.

Is it an Issue?

Most scratches on the iPhone are mere cosmetic issues. While they can be obnoxious for those who watch movies on the phone or play games, they will not interfere with operation. Larger scratches, though, can make the phone much harder to use. They usually do not interfere with the actual working processes of the phone or the capacitive touch screen, but they will make it much harder to see the various bits of information on the screen. As such, scratched screens can be a big problem.

Protecting Your Phone

If you want to make sure that your phone does not get scratched, you can take one of several options. The first, and perhaps cheapest, is keeping an eye on your phone at all times. Protecting it like it is fragile will keep it away from anything that can scratch it, but accidents can still happen.

A better solution is to make use of a screen protector. You can get a set of several protectors for a few dollars, and most will keep you from ever getting a scratch on the glass. At the far end of the protection spectrum are cases with hard fronts—almost nothing can get to your phone through these cases.

How to Repair a Scratched iPhone Screen

The bad news is that a scratched screen is a problem that you cannot repair on your own. The good news is the process for getting it fixed is relatively simple and inexpensive.  You can send the phone to an iPhone repair store like iFixYouri.  The cost for scratch repair will always be cheaper than buying a new phone.  Now that you know the iPhone screen isn’t completely scratch resistant, you should take extra care of it.