Apple hardware boss says putting screen protectors on iPhones makes his 'skin crawl'
Apple's new hardware chief admitted that it makes his "skin crawl" when people put screen protectors on newer iPhones.
In an interview with TechRadar, Tom Marieb, the tech giant's new vice president of hardware engineering, talked about the durability of Ceramic Shield 2, the material used on iPhone screens and backs.
"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," he said.
Ceramic Shield 2 is used for newer devices from the tech brand, including the iPhone 17 series, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the foldable iPhone Duo, and the Apple Watch Series 12.
"So we very much wanted to develop new coatings that could withstand [scratches], but also make sure that these coatings were wear-resistant as well. 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," Marieb continued.
"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. We accelerate time to try to compress those things into the engineering cycle, so that we can feed back as we try one thing after another, and can represent five years of life—or even more—within a couple of weeks of testing."
Earlier in September, Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which boast a variable aperture camera, and the company's first foldable, the iPhone Duo.
The foldable phone features a 5.4-inch outer display and, when unfolded, a 7.6-inch inner screen. Apple also made sure to tailor iOS 27 to the iPhone Duo's unique form factor, with controls, dock, and app navigation on the side of the device instead of the bottom of the screen to maximize space for content.