Why is this thing so scratch prone?

[anon(40252)]

Same here. This is my fourth android and it is the most scratch prone. My other ones had zero to 1 scratch and this one has several within a couple months. They said it had fortified glass but not gorilla glass? Not sure ..

I don't use screen protectors and I am not going to .. I have had enough phones that do not scratch that it is an expectation on devices.

 

[guinnkevinr]

I went through three of these each somehow mysteriously received scratches in the plastic within a day or two of use without any drops or anything. Just from being in my hand and in my pocket where it was the only thing in the pocket. Very easy to scratch IMO.

 

[JediJesus95]

I'm also treat my phones with kid gloves. My Droid, Droid X, and Bionic never had any scratches while my Thunderbolt and GN had multiply scratches after only a few weeks. My phone is either in my hand, front pocket by itself, or by my bed at night on the carpet. I have since put on a screen protector but the scratches are still annoying.

 

[JoeNM84]

I've had mine since release day and I have no scratches on the front glass at all. The only scratches I can find on the phone are on the plastic near the micro usb port... most likely from trying to plug it in in the dark. I have no case or screen protector. I've only dropped it one time on to a hardwood floor, slipped out of my pocket while sitting at the dining table. The only other time I remember it being dropped is when I let my friend see it and within 2 seconds she dropped it in her salad while we were out at dinner... the ranch dressing did no damage. I also only keep the phone in my left front pocket by itself and maybe an occasional dollar bill or receipt joins it. I have accidentally placed coins with it but still no scratches.

 

[JediJesus95]

My wife's galaxy nexus has no scratches on it and she's not nearly as careful with her phone so maybe we have two different sets of glass.

 

[anon(40252)]

I think the oleophobic coatings on the glass may result in higher than normal scratches. I know several people that switched form VZW Nexus to GSM Nexus (for other reasons). All of them had scratches on the VZW glass and none of them have it on the GSM.

However, the GSM doesn't seem to have the same, if it all, coatings on it. Not sure ... can anyone verify?

 

[Speedygi]

That's because Galaxy Nexus does not have gorilla glass, as I am told...

 

[dmmarck]

That's because Galaxy Nexus does not have gorilla glass, as I am told...

Gorilla Glass scratches.

The reason why it's so "scratchable" is because things like grit are hard to feel in a pocket but are a very real threat.

 

[rbess1965]

Is it possible that the glass is different for GSM vs cdma ?

 

[dmmarck]

Is it possible that the glass is different for GSM vs cdma ?

That would be an extremely inefficient and somewhat foolish path to take IMO, so I'd presume no.

 

[anon(40252)]

I imagine it is the same glass but the coatings could easily be different. The GSM ones I see have many more fingerprints than the CDMA ones.

I have more scratches on this phone than anything I have ever owned including my old BBs, 3 Androids, and iPods. It is pretty crazy/shocking.

I think it is the coating because they remind me of scratches on a pair of sunglasses (ex. Oakley) and glass just doesn't scratch that easily.

Love the phone ... I may try and return it and get a screen protector (sigh) .. I have never put a screen protector on any device I have ever owned, at least not for more than a few days to try it.

 

[pauldroidr2d2]

I think at least a part of it is a subliminal thing. I've seen a number of Droid X's which had gorilla glass with some rather significant scratches in them

 

[yosteve]

Use a sleeve! I put a sleeve in my right front pocket and when I put my phone in it I slide it into the sleeve in my pocket, it takes no extra time or effort to do so. Plus I put my car keys in that pocket and u don't have to worry about it and it doesn't restrict the pocket for just your phone.

 

[Johnly]

My previous four smart phones don't have half as many scratches as my GN does. I love this phone to death, but just giving it a funny look seems to scratch it up. I hate screen protectors and have never needed one before, but I guess I learned my lesson with this phone.


Probably a stupid question, but are there any things that people do to at least partially remove a scratch?

Helicopter glass in the iPhone and Gorilla glass in the big bad moto's don't exist on this phone. Take good care of it, very prone to scratches and breaks....

 

[ShinyTop]

I have two and do not like screen protectors. I carry in a holster on my belt. First is from release date and no scratches. I don't buy that it is extra susceptible to scratches. Then again I don't expose it to keys, sand or coins. Just common sense.

 

[Johnly]

Gorilla glass and helicopter glass will takes keys all day long... there you have it, it ain't either so keep the keys away.

 

[pauldroidr2d2]

I have two and do not like screen protectors. I carry in a holster on my belt. First is from release date and no scratches. I don't buy that it is extra susceptible to scratches. Then again I don't expose it to keys, sand or coins. Just common sense.

Exactly.

Besides phones with gorilla glass get scratches on them too.

 

[Johnly]

Exactly. Phones with gorilla glass get scratches on them too.

Just takes a lot more gorilla to get it scratched...keys wont, but will tear that plastic Gnex up.

 

[dmmarck]

Just takes a lot more gorilla to get it scratched...keys wont, but will tear that plastic Gnex up.

Brass keys are softer than glass, therefore unless you exert a crap ton of pressure, they won't carve it up.

 

[Johnly]

Brass keys are softer than glass, therefore unless you exert a crap ton of pressure, they won't carve it up.

Yes it will, on the nexus. One sharp hard aluminumn key drug across that screen it will. That's why people sock them, keep me nice.

Going back to another point in the PSA thread, you and someone else mentioned that the 1.2ghz clock speed was outperforming the 800mhz of the iPhone. Well, it has been evidenced that the xynos proc is better than the galaxy and the 4s proc is much faster that the SG2. Guess clock speed isn't the end all for performance.