iPhone 16 Models Get 50% Tougher Ceramic Shield for Display

The iPhone 16, ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max feature a new version of the Ceramic Shield, which is the glass and ceramic hybrid material that protects the iPhone's display.

iphone 16 display
Apple says that its latest-generation Ceramic Shield features its most advanced glass ceramic formulation. It's 50 percent "tougher" than the first-generation ceramic shield, and two times tougher than "glass found in any other smartphone." It's not clear how Apple is defining tougher, but Apple has typically focused more on drop protection than scratch protection when marketing the material.

Apple first started using the Ceramic Shield material in 2020 with the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, and at the time, Apple said that it was developed in partnership with Corning. Corning makes the Gorilla Glass that Apple competitors like Samsung use, including the new "Gorilla Armor" that Samsung included for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the ceramic infused glass appears to be an Apple exclusive.

Once the ‌iPhone 16‌ models launch, we're sure to see a variety of drop and scratch tests that will provide more insight into the benefits of the second-generation Ceramic Shield. Pre-orders for the new devices start this Friday, and an official launch will follow on September 20.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro

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Top Rated Comments

Belisama Avatar
7 months ago
50% tougher... 10% thinner... 18% faster...
I'm so tired of all this BS ?.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Heelpir8 Avatar
7 months ago

Can't wait for all the dumb YouTubers who will attempt to demonstrate how tough and durable this new ceramic shield is by destroying iPhone 16's
I think it'll scratch at a level 6 with deeper grooves at a level 7 just like all the rest.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
7 months ago
Can't wait for all the dumb YouTubers who will attempt to demonstrate how tough and durable this new ceramic shield is by destroying iPhone 16's
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bhall110 Avatar
7 months ago
The days of a case being required are leaving us.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spaxxedout Avatar
7 months ago
I’ll let jerryrigeverything be the judge of that
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
7 months ago
I hope that 50% improvement includes micro scratch resistance, because my iPhone 15 Pro Max's screen is among the worst I've used in recent history.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)