I've tested every iPhone since the iPhone 12, and Ceramic Shield 2 is the first iPhone glass I fully trust

Date:
Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Description:
No more screen protectors? After 6 months with the iPhone 17, Ceramic Shield
2 has fully proven its worth.

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Its worth celebrating when the real-world experience does actually live up to the hype, then. And thats the case with Apple s Ceramic Shield 2, the tech giants latest and unquestionably greatest iPhone glass. At the iPhone 17 series launch last year, Apple claimed its strongest glass to date offers three times better scratch resistance and reduced glare. Thankfully, after several months of testing it, I'm confident that this lofty claim rings true. Article continues below You may like Apple really went backwards when it ditched titanium on iPhones Four months with the iPhone 17 Pro has changed
the way I use my phone for better or worse The most conflicted Ive ever been about a phone reappraising the iPhone Air, 6 months later Ive been using the iPhone 17 series primarily the iPhone 17 Pro and the Apple Watch Series 11 since November, and Im honestly yet to see the kind of scratches Id been all too used to getting with the previous models of both devices (and Ive tested every iPhone since the iPhone 12 ).

I started noticing the difference on the watch first, which may not boast Ceramic Shield 2 but has a similarly upgraded 'Ion-X' display for twice the scratch resistance when compared to the Series 10 . Apple says its the toughest glass in the industry. The Apple Watch Series 11 (Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks) In the past, Id just had to get used to the fact that the previous watch generations would pick up the kind of hairline micro-scratches that you probably wouldnt see most of the time, but that
would be glaringly obvious in bright sunlight or under harsh direct lights. This time, theres none of that, and its not like Ive got any better at not bumping my wrist into furniture or doorways!

Its been years since Ive had a smashed screen on any iPhone, but I did spot marks after only a few weeks with my iPhone 16 Pro . It earned itself a very noticeable scratch in its first fortnight of use. Over the months, it only gained more micro-abrasions all over the screen, and I ended up relying on a screen protector to keep it from getting any worse. Honestly, the storys been the same with the 15 Pro and 14 Pro , and my handset before that was a 13
mini , which ended up looking like "frosted glass" by the time I was done
with it. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

However, with the launch of the iPhone 17 came Ceramic Shield 2, and its beginning to look like that was an even more substantial change than Apple made it out to be. More than just marketing (Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks) This glass developed by Apple and the tough glass experts at Corning has a denser nanocrystal structure and improved oleophobic coating versus previous generations of iPhone glass. In testing, JerryRigEverything tortured the iPhone 17 and found that it only ended up with light marks at Level 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Usually, scratches show up at about Level 5 or 6.

My experience is that I just dont have to be as concerned about my phone anymore. Youd be able to carry the iPhone 17 in your pockets, even with your keys, and you wont need to worry too much about it starting to look far older than it is. For most people, that probably also means you dont really need a screen protector. What to read next I tested the iPhone 17e, and I'm
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Speaking of which, tests by Astropad found that using a regular glass screen protector may actually end up cancelling out the anti-reflective effect of your new iPhone 17. Thats definitely worth thinking about before spending the extra cash on a cover. If you do get one, it had better be one with anti-reflective properties.

Obviously, think carefully before leaving off a protector or doing the *unthinkable* and going fully case-free. Apple's new glass is great, but its not indestructible. A devastating face-down drop will most likely still break your iPhone, and sand or quartz will still scratch it, even if metal might
not harm it as easily. Planning on ever bringing your phone to the beach? At risk of dropping it onto gravel? Or sending it toppling into a bowl of diamonds? Dont skip the screen protector. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) That said, for everyone else living an unadventurous life, you probably dont need to baby your iPhone anymore.

I know your first instinct is to slap on a glass protector, but it may now be overkill with the latest generation and just an extra expense you neednt bother with. Sure, some scratches may show up eventually, but Im not seeing anything like what Id previously been used to, after months of use.

Overall, Ive found that the much more scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield 2 has ended up feeling like a huge upgrade. What that means in real terms is that youre not going to notice all that much damage from everyday use, and that most of us dont need a screen protector on these handsets.

And the great news is that, as of last month, Apple doesnt sell a smartphone without Ceramic Shield 2 any longer. Even the affordable new iPhone 17e has great durability with the latest glass, so you can grab any iPhone from the current lineup and feel just that little bit safer. Credit where it's due: Apple really delivered on this one. Today's best iPhone deals Contract Deals Sim Free Apple iPhone Air 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 5GB data
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17 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 10GB data 19 upfront 34.99 /mth View at Mobiles.co.uk See all prices Apple iPhone 17 Pro 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 100 upfront 62.37 /mth View at Vodafone Ltd See all prices Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 50 upfront 54.75 /mth View at Vodafone Ltd See all prices Apple iPhone 17e 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 1GB data 30 upfront 37 /mth View at Vodafone Ltd See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/ive-tested-every-iphone-since-the-ipho ne-12-and-ceramic-shield-2-is-the-first-iphone-glass-i-fully-trust


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