Apple executive reveals why he hates screen protectors: It makes my skin crawl because …

Many iPhone users put a screen protector on their phones as soon as they take them out of the box. But one Apple executive has admitted that seeing a screen protector on an iPhone is not something he likes. Tom Marieb, Apple’s vice president of hardware engineering (the role that current CEO John Ternus once held), explained why during a recent group interview while discussing the company’s latest work on display durability. “Personally, when I see someone put a screen protector on their iPhone, it makes my skin crawl, because we work so hard to make beautiful front screens,” Marieb said.Apple wants iPhone screens to last longerTom Marieb said Apple has been working on new coatings that can protect the display from scratches while also making the surface resistant to wear over time. The two goals can be difficult to achieve together, he explained.“We worry about scratching, which is obviously very dependent on having [material that can withstand] very sharp things going into the screen. But we also worry about wear over time; as people use the screen, whether they’ll wear away that surface.”According to Marieb, Apple tried to find a balance between scratch resistance and long-term durability with Ceramic Shield 2.“We could have made it more scratch-resistant, but it would have been a little less wear-resistant. It’s the long life we’re looking for against both of those loads over time.”Apple says it tests screens for years of useApple's approach is not simply to test how a screen performs when it is new. Tom Marieb said the company tries to recreate how people actually use their phones in everyday life. “We very much try to meet the customer where they live,” he said.Apple also uses accelerated testing to simulate years of use in a much shorter period. Marieb said the company can represent five years of use, or even more, within a couple of weeks of testing.“And as you said, people waiting a year or two to actually see the benefits of [Ceramic Shield 2] means we've correctly predicted how people would use it,” he said.Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.