Apple's new $2000 nano-texture iPad Pro scratches easier than glass — video reveals display durability concerns

(Image credit: Gerald Lynch / Future)

A new video from renowned durability tester, JerryRigEverything, shows the new M4 iPad Pro's most expensive configurations have some display concerns. The nano-textured glass displays available on the 1TB and 2TB versions of the 2024 iPad Pro, which start at $1,699 for the 11-inch and $1,999 for the 13-inch model appear to scratch far easier than its cheaper counterpart.

In the video, Jerry uses the Mohs Hardness Scale to determine the durability of the Ultra Retina XDR display coated with a nano-texture matte display. Normally glass scratches at a level 6 and that durability is found on all the best iPhones and the best iPads including the $999 version of the M4 iPad Pro.

On the nano-textured glass, however, marks start to appear at level 3, and permanent scratches damage the screen at level 4, noticeably less than the expected level 6. In the video, Jerry shows that a razor blade or screw leaves permanent damage to the display while a quarter or some keys leave marks that can be wiped away with the included cleaning cloth. In comparison, a razor blade or a screw wouldn't leave scratches on the regular glass we see on most Apple products.

The Truth about Apple's Nano Etched Glass - (M4 iPad Pro) - YouTube

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The most expensive iPad Pro's durability concern

So if you're in the market for a brand new iPad Pro with an OLED display and M4 chip perfect for the upcoming improvements expected in iPadOS 18, should you be concerned? There's definitely cause for concern if you throw your iPad in a backpack with no case or screen cover, but you shouldn't be doing that anyway. Given that the nano-texture glass is a $100 option on an already-expensive device, however, the news might give potential customers some pause in considering the more expensive models.

We won't know for sure how the nano-texture glass holds up until we see how it compares to regular glass after months of use, especially with the Apple Pencil Pro which is constantly coming into contact with the display.

iMore has reached out to Apple for comment.

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John-Anthony Disotto is the How To Editor of iMore, ensuring you can get the most from your Apple products and helping fix things when your technology isn’t behaving itself. Living in Scotland, where he worked for Apple as a technician focused on iOS and iPhone repairs at the Genius Bar, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself in his ability to complete his Apple Watch activity rings. John-Anthony has previously worked in editorial for collectable TCG websites and graduated from The University of Strathclyde where he won the Scottish Student Journalism Award for Website of the Year as Editor-in-Chief of his university paper. He is also an avid film geek, having previously written film reviews and received the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019. John-Anthony also loves to tinker with other non-Apple technology and enjoys playing around with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.

In his spare time, John-Anthony can be found watching any sport under the sun from football to darts, taking the term “Lego house” far too literally as he runs out of space to display any more plastic bricks, or chilling on the couch with his French Bulldog, Kermit.