The iPhone 3G screen is made of glass and protection is typically a good start when using the product. It is optical quality glass, which sits under the frame to offer it some protection but if dropped on a hard surface such as concrete, it could easily shatter or crack. Because of the vulnerable screen an iPhone 3G repair is one of our most popular repair services.
When you feel the glass it seems pretty hard. Overall the 3G glass screen is hard but still susceptible to scratching from every day wear and tear. An old myth that existed when the iPhone 3G was released was that the new glass would not scratch anymore, compared to it’s plastic counterpart. While it may not scratch as easily, don’t expect perfection. Think of it this way: the windshield on your car is made from glass that is very strong and durable. If you own the car a few years though, you may notice the windshield wipers causing tiny scratches. If somebody throws a brick at the glass windshield it will likely break. The iPhone 3G is the same way but it does not take a brick, just a fall out of your lap when you are getting out of the car can be enough to shatter the screen.
Invisible Screen protectors and plastic covers can help with both with both scratching and shattering of glass. As many of our in-house tests have proved though, they may not protect everything behind the screen, such as the LCD digitizer display. Th screen may often freeze (whit freeze) which can be a result of LCD damage.
The multi-touch touchscreen for the iPhone 3G was still new and exciting when it was released clear back in July 2008. The back is made of plastic, which is different than the aluminum back of the original iPhone and the glass back of the iPhone 4.
The biggest different between the iPhone 3G screen and other models (besides the 3Gs) is the fact that the glass is not glued to the LCD display. This is great if the glass breaks, because a DIY repair can be accomplished for about $30. If the LCD goes out too, the replacement LCD parts for a DIY repair can be expensive. The difficulty changes too as a screen repair can be simple (relative to your experience) if you know what you are doing. The problem with the 3G screen being separated from the LCD is that dirt and dust can get in front of the display and behind the glass.
Some people don’t like the 3G glass because it can give off a yellowish tent and be hard to see when not looking at it at the right angle. Some iPhone 3G users have complained that the numbers and letters can seem blurred out with some phones. Others say it’s a grayish dull affect that makes the over experience less enjoyable and productive.
Overall, at the time of the release the iPhone 3G was awesome and the screen, even with some of the complaints, was an advancement over past models. If you are experiencing any of the issues discussed above and an iPhone repair or free diagnostics is needed, do not hesitate to call for help.