Gorilla glass scratches easily

G

gwu168

Gawd
Joined
Oct 17, 2004
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Own a iphone 4, mytouch 4g, samsung galaxy s 4g, samsung vibrant, and zune hd. All of them have numerous micro scratches. (I know the iphone 4 doesn't have gorilla glass, but it uses similar tech).

The samsung galaxy s 4g and samsung vibrant are not my daily phones (experimental toys), so they've never been in my pockets. Yet they all have acquired scratches all over the screen. Note these scratches are so small that they're only visible with the screen off at a certain angle (still annoys me).

My iphone 4, mytouch 4g, and zune hd have scratches that are clearly visible with the screen off (no need to angle them in the light). None of these scratches are deep since you can't feel them. My iphone 4 is the worst.of the bunch. It is as if someone lightly went over normal glass with 80 grit sand paper.

I swear, my finger tips must be harder than diamonds to cause so many scratches on all my devices.

I guess a little background to hopefully help others avoid my situation. I'm an avid rock climbers, so my finger tips are giant calluses. I wouldn't be surprised if I have bits of rocks embedded in my skin... I'm also DIY person, so I recently redid my garage floor and doors. This involved grinding the concrete floor and cutting metal supports, which could have contaminated my place with dust abrasive enough to scratch gorilla glass.

I like to know how everyone else's gorilla glass device is holding up. I know a lot of people claim that their device is scratch free, but I can always manage to find micro scratches usually. Person, all my futures devices are getting screen protectors day one.

P.S. I'm a recent owner of a lg g late, and it already has a giant scratch across the screen :mad:
 
Do you play guitar or do allot of manual labor? maybe your hands are just too rough. Get some lotion.
 
I have the Fascinate. I've dropped that phone face down on concrete several times. I don't see a single nick or scratch. Love the monkey glass.
 
Why would ever need that many phones even as play toys? lol

Oh and screen protectors are a must in my opinion. I bring my iPhone 4 to construction sites when I have to work. No scratches on my screen thanks to that, but the back has a few minor ones. Dealing with concrete and rough dirt all day can cause havoc on a phone in your pocket. My previous Motorola Q9 sounded like a rattle by the time I was done with it lol, not smashed just dirt got inside still works.
 
Nearly 2 years with an OG Droid, no screen protector, no case, keep it in my pocket. Not a single scratch on the glass, two small nicks in the metal on the side of the screen. Screen protectors are a sham, the glass is harder then the plastic screen protector is.
 
Never had a phone with Gorilla Glass. I use a screen shield more to reduce the fingerprint factor than for protection.
 
xBanzai89 said:
Why would ever need that many phones even as play toys? lol

Oh and screen protectors are a must in my opinion. I bring my iPhone 4 to construction sites when I have to work. No scratches on my screen thanks to that, but the back has a few minor ones. Dealing with concrete and rough dirt all day can cause havoc on a phone in your pocket. My previous Motorola Q9 sounded like a rattle by the time I was done with it lol, not smashed just dirt got inside still works.
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This. Nothing is scratch proof. Try rubbing sand on anything and see how bad it fucks it up. I've had a Zagg protector on my Droid 1 since I've had it and it works great. I've dropped it on concrete a few times and it's still great. It gave the screen a kind of textured feel that took getting used to, but it doesn't interfere with input/precision and that's all that matters. I wouldn't ever risk permanent damage to the screen anyways, regardless of how "tough" the screen is advertised to be.

Erasmus354 said:
Nearly 2 years with an OG Droid, no screen protector, no case, keep it in my pocket. Not a single scratch on the glass, two small nicks in the metal on the side of the screen. Screen protectors are a sham, the glass is harder then the plastic screen protector is.
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Sure there are scratches on it, just put it up to the light and look at all the fine/minor scratches on it. They're just not noticeable in normal light conditions. These are the scratches OP is talking about. Some people (like me and OP) are just that particular about their devices, so the screen protectors are essential to protect them from really light scratches.
 
I get a Zagg Invisible Shield for every phone I buy. Does away with fingerprints and protects my shit... and if it gets damaged they replace it for free for the life of the phone... can't really beat that.
 
I'm curious. Sorry to hijack. But on the topic. What glass does the HTC Desire Z (aka G2) use?

Because I dont have a case, nor screen protector. Not a single scratch. Quite well done I must say.
 
I've had my Droid for almost two years now. No screen protector. I've dropped it at least three times. It lives in my pocket when I'm not at home.

Can't see a single scratch. Not even when I hold it up to the light.

It does pick up fingerprints like a mofo, though.
 
Mr. Wolf said:
Never had a phone with Gorilla Glass. I use a screen shield more to reduce the fingerprint factor than for protection.
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They clean up much easier without a protector. Fascinate since launch and naked screen, no scratches here.
 
Vibrant on telus, since november,

Tons of micro scratching, one noticeable gash.. Lives in my pocket, not a very rough life... Only ever been dropped once too. (No keys in there either, used to have an iPhone it shared a pocket with though, I bet half is from the iPhone atleast. )
 
my g2x (had it for about 3 months) has been in a case with a screen protector halfthe time... I work on cars and trains (i cut metal and have greasy fingers even though I wear gloves) and there isn't a single scratch on it.

There are little metal shavings in the HDMI port I probably need to blow out :(
 
I have a Realook on my Vibrant but everyone else I know runs their phones naked and don't have a single scratch.
 
MyTouch 4G is not made from gorilla glass, its HTC's own LCD. The Vibrant as well is Samsung's OLED display not gorilla glass either. The only phones if your on the T-Mobile network with gorilla glass will be the G2X and Motorola Defy. Not sure who told you the mytouch and vibrant was made from gorilla glass.
 
PhiL- said:
MyTouch 4G is not made from gorilla glass, its HTC's own LCD. The Vibrant as well is Samsung's OLED display not gorilla glass either. The only phones if your on the T-Mobile network with gorilla glass will be the G2X and Motorola Defy. Not sure who told you the mytouch and vibrant was made from gorilla glass.
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Here is direct link from corning that lists mytouch 4g, galaxy s 4g, and vibrant.

http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/products-with-gorilla/full-products-list

I do find it odd that the zune hd isn't listed
 
I'm buying my dad a moto defy. Hes a painter so he holds sandpaper and works near dirt sometimes. Its possible for abrasive particles to get on his hand or pocket.

Do gorilla glass microscratches effect the screen viewabililty more than say figerprints or glare would? If they wouldnt than i wouldnt bother with screen protectors. I was looking at the reallook kind.

I'm actually more woriried about impact. I was originally going to get him a samsung b2710 till i found out the defy has wifi and he can get free wifi minutes at home. The defy should have had a thick protective bezel like the gzone commando since most of the impacts from falling will be on the edge and not center of glass. A cheap case will remedy that i think. Luckily repacement glass is only $25 on ebay.
 
gwu168, your problem is indeed your rock climbing. Quartz particles are a very common culprit of microscratches you've found on all your devices, and that among other very small, very hard particles would be plentiful where you frequent.
 
Erasmus354 said:
Screen protectors are a sham, the glass is harder then the plastic screen protector is.
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Yes, but when a screen protector is scratched you just peel it off and slap on a new one. You can't do that with the glass screen. Personally I don't like how screen protectors affect PQ and touch, but they are far from a sham.
 
Radio shack has screen protectors that stick very well, don't leave residue behind, and are very clear to look through for like $5. There's really no reason not to use one. I have one on my Mesmerize and it works great. It has lots of micro scratches if you hold it in the right light, but it's clear to look through 90% of the time.
 
Been using my iPhone 4 in a case with an unprotected screen for the past six months, not a single scratch and its in and out of my pocket many times during the day.
 
I have both a Droid X and an Acer Iconia A500, both with Gorilla glass and the first thing I did after unboxing them was put a Zagg Invisishield on each. It takes time to get them on very cleanly but once they are on straight, you're done. Gorilla glass is tough but it's tougher with a Zagg on it.
 
ashman said:
Been using my iPhone 4 in a case with an unprotected screen for the past six months, not a single scratch and its in and out of my pocket many times during the day.
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I bet I can find scratches on your iphone.

People say my iphone 4 is scratch free until I point out the hair line marks that are visible at a certain angle.

Anyways, got a g2x, and the first thing i did was put a screen protector on that sucker; however, I recently scratched the chrome :mad:
 
My OG Droid glass was awesome, I didn't have hardly any scratches/micro scratches after a year. The phone fell off an 8ft ladder flat on its face on concrete and it only had one single small crack in the lower 1/4 section of the screen.

I got a Thunderbolt when it came out and it has all kinds of scratches on it. I tried to use a screen protector on it for a while, but could not stand the feel.

Yesterday, I dropped my Thunderbolt out of my pocket in the supermarket, it landed flat on its face of course and I have about a dozen spider cracks on the screen. New digitizer glass is only $20-40 depending where you shop, but still, kinda sucks.
 
T4rd said:
Sure there are scratches on it, just put it up to the light and look at all the fine/minor scratches on it. They're just not noticeable in normal light conditions. These are the scratches OP is talking about. Some people (like me and OP) are just that particular about their devices, so the screen protectors are essential to protect them from really light scratches.
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+1 Seems a lot of people don't see fine scratches & other slight imperfections because they don't know how to use light reflection? Unfortunately, once you do know how to spot these, you will always see them.

Yes gorilla glass scratches, maybe slightly less easily than others, but it sure does.
 
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mobusta1's iphone 4 doesn't have any scratches, cause that fucker's made from pure diamond, bitches. The whole goddamned thing.

It's true, just ask him about it.
 
Having seen demos of gorilla glass in person, if you scratch it you are doing something wrong. I've seen nails, screws, coins, keys used all over the glass and nothing. I've seen people complain about scratches that aren't really scratches. If you have to look at it at odd angles and with special lighting to see the scratch, you need to get a life. Or learn how to better take care of your phone.
 
Had my Captivate for over a year no with no case and no screen covers. Not a single scratch on that glass.
 
T4rd said:
Sure there are scratches on it, just put it up to the light and look at all the fine/minor scratches on it. They're just not noticeable in normal light conditions. These are the scratches OP is talking about. Some people (like me and OP) are just that particular about their devices, so the screen protectors are essential to protect them from really light scratches.
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kllrnohj said:
Yes, but when a screen protector is scratched you just peel it off and slap on a new one. You can't do that with the glass screen. Personally I don't like how screen protectors affect PQ and touch, but they are far from a sham.
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I assure you, when I said there are no scratches on my screen I meant exactly that. There are zero scratches, micro scratches, uber super miniature irregularities in my screen. Whatever you want to call them. I understand how to look for scratches, I am not stupid. I am also *extremely* picky with my stuff and trust me, the tiniest scratch would drive me batty. My screen is as good as the day I bought it. The only problem I have had is that the metal on the sides has had the paint chip off in a few places.

When I said that screen protectors are a sham, I meant it if you have a good phone with a good glass screen. A proper glass screen *will not scratch*. Physically it can't, anything pretty much short of diamond is molecularly not hard enough to scratch it. There are however plenty of phones out there with poor glass. My dads HTC Incredible is full of scratches. So there is admittedly some merit to screen protectors on some devices. However for ones with good glass screens there is no need at all for a screen protector.
 
Glass is easily scratched by anything harder than it.

How familiar are we with the Mohs Hardness Scale? Glass is around a seven, diamond is a ten. Any of a number of minerals that score a seven or higher will scratch glass. Metal generally won't, (carbide cutting tools might... brass keys, not a chance) but know anyone who wears a ring with a gemstone? Goes outside?

And for the record, Zagg sucks. I hate the orange peel look and loss of transmittance, however there are a number of clear untextured screen protectors that look pretty good actually. Hell, they're generally cheaper than Zagg's garbage anyway, and they're a hell of a lot cheaper than a new screen.

I only had my Captivate for a couple of months before I picked up my first (and only) gash. Cuz then I got a screen protector. I bought Zagg first. The rubbery slow feel, horrid orange peel and oily iridescence made it only last a couple days before I bought some cheap perfectly flat and clear ones from AT&T.

tl;dr - Protect your investment.
 
captivate here;

i got a single scratch on my screen early when i first got it... that was after i kept it in my pocket with my keys for weeks. any other regular screened phone would have been wrecked in my keys pocket

but soon after i bought a realook screen protector for it
 
Based on the Mohs Hardness scale some common things that will leave a scratch on your new gorilla glass phone:

Other hard glass (yep, never put two phones in the same pocket. Found out the hard way :( )
quartz (common in sand and rocks :mad: )
harden steel
tungsten
other hard metals
lots of hard ceramic

anyways, lots of things out there that will ruin you new shinny phone :(
 
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I agree that gorilla glass scratches easily. I have had 3 Samsung phones with gorilla class, they all got hairline scratches. Had my iPhone for longer than all 3 combined, never got a scratch.
 
Wow. I'm utterly in awe that there are so many people that don't use any form of protection for their phones. I wouldn't even walk out of the store without a bumper case much less a screen protector for a $500-800 pocket sized electronic device.
 
FoxhoundOp said:
Wow. I'm utterly in awe that there are so many people that don't use any form of protection for their phones. I wouldn't even walk out of the store without a bumper case much less a screen protector for a $500-800 pocket sized electronic device.
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+1 ROTFL... That should wrap up the thread.
 
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