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

1. Phones
2. iPhone

I've tested every iPhone since the iPhone 12, and Ceramic Shield 2 is the first iPhone glass I fully trust Features By Simon Cocks published 11 April 2026

You probably don't need that screen protector anymore…

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The Ceramic Shield 2-equipped iPhone 17 Pro (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Reddit
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Threads
• Email

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

Become a Member in Seconds

Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.

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.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful

Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.

Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter

Marketing is one thing, but reality is quite another. Like many of us, I won’t forget the claimed “durable” microtwill of FineWoven, the shaky initial launch of Apple Maps, or the infamous butterfly keyboard that was supposedly four times more stable. Remember the promise of AirPower? Of course you don’t.

It’s worth celebrating when the real-world experience does actually live up to the hype, then. And that’s the case with Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2, the tech giant’s 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 I’ve ever been about a phone’ — reappraising the iPhone Air, 6 months later

I’ve been using the iPhone 17 series — primarily the iPhone 17 Pro — and the Apple Watch Series 11 since November, and I’m honestly yet to see the kind of scratches I’d been all too used to getting with the previous models of both devices (and I’ve 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 it’s the “toughest glass in the industry.”

The Apple Watch Series 11 (Image credit: Future / Simon Cocks)

In the past, I’d 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 wouldn’t see most of the time, but that would be glaringly obvious in bright sunlight or under harsh direct lights. This time, there’s none of that, and it’s not like I’ve got any better at not bumping my wrist into furniture or doorways!

It’s been years since I’ve 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 story’s 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 brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy 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 it’s 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 don’t have to be as concerned about my phone anymore. You’d be able to carry the iPhone 17 in your pockets, even with your keys, and you won’t need to worry too much about it starting to look far older than it is. For most people, that probably also means you don’t really need a screen protector.

What to read next

• I tested the iPhone 17e, and I'm convinced it's an even better-value iPhone
• Best iPhone 2026
• Forget the iPhone Fold — the biggest moment in iPhone history just happened

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. That’s 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 it’s 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? Don’t skip the screen protector.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

That said, for everyone else living an unadventurous life, you probably don’t 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 needn’t bother with. Sure, some scratches may show up eventually, but I’m not seeing anything like what I’d previously been used to, after months of use.

Overall, I’ve 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 you’re not going to notice all that much damage from everyday use, and that most of us don’t need a screen protector on these handsets.

And the great news is that, as of last month, Apple doesn’t 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 dealsApple iPhone Air SG$1,599 SG$1,299ViewSee all pricesApple iPhone 17 SG$1,299ViewSee all pricesApple iPhone 17 Pro SG$1,749ViewSee all pricesApple iPhone 17 Pro Max SG$1,899ViewSee all pricesApple iPhone 17e SG$949ViewSee all pricesWe 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!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

TOPICS Apple Simon CocksFreelance Contributor

Simon Cocks is a freelance tech journalist and the former Technology Editor for Good Housekeeping UK. With over a decade of experience, Simon has written for several major titles, including Esquire, Digital Spy, Shortlist, and Men’s Health. He specializes in testing out the latest gadgets, and has reviewed smartphones, headphones, speakers, e-readers, and much more.

View More

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more iPhone Apple really went backwards when it ditched titanium on iPhones    iPhone Four months with the iPhone 17 Pro has changed the way I use my phone – for better or worse    iPhone ‘The most conflicted I’ve ever been about a phone’ — reappraising the iPhone Air, 6 months later    iPhone Best iPhone 2026    iPhone Forget the iPhone Fold — the biggest moment in iPhone history just happened    Phones Why the iPhone 17e has been overshadowed by the Nothing Phone (4a)    Latest in iPhone iPhone ‘Apple will grit its teeth and push through’ — new report suggests the iPhone Air 2 isn’t dead, and I sincerely hope it’s true    iPhone The foldable iPhone Ultra could cost even more than an M5 MacBook Pro    iPhone If Apple is truly learning from the MacBook Neo, it should return the iPhone to its $199 roots    iPhone I went stargazing in the Atacama Desert and used a hidden iOS 26 feature to capture the night sky — here’s how to take similar photos on your iPhone    iPhone Forget the iPhone Fold — the biggest moment in iPhone history just happened    iPhone Artemis II astronaut snaps stunning Moon photo with an iPhone 17 Pro Max    Latest in Features AI Platforms & Assistants Meta AI highlights its social media origin when matched against ChatGPT    Health & Fitness Not a squat, not a deadlift — the trap bar deadlift 'sits between' them and builds muscle quicker    Turntables Record Store Day vinyl lands in one week — what you need to know    BBC iPlayer Beyond Paradise season 4 star would love a Traitors crossover episode    iPhone ‘Apple will grit its teeth and push through’ — new report suggests the iPhone Air 2 isn’t dead, and I sincerely hope it’s true    Netflix Trust Me: The False Prophet is Netflix's greatest true crime series to date    LATEST ARTICLES

1. 1I've tested every iPhone since the iPhone 12, and Ceramic Shield 2 is the first iPhone glass I fully trust
2. 2We're officially getting the DJI Pocket 4 on April 16, but here's how Insta360 could beat it
3. 3Linux pulls support for ancient CPU — unsurprisingly, Linus Torvald says there is 'zero real reason' to keep a 37-year-old Intel 486 CPU going
4. 4Keanu Reeves' new Apple TV movie Outcome has been slammed by critics — watch these 4 highly-rated films with the beloved actor instead
5. 5'AI is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity': Amazon CEO Andy Jassy lays out his '6 truths' for the future of AI