OS and Software > All Things Macintosh > [iPhone] Screen Protectors - Are they Really Needed?

[iPhone] Screen Protectors - Are they Really Needed?

You'll get answers both ways.

I have never had one on my 3G, 4 and 4S nor iPad. Never had a scratch. I've always maintained that anything tough enough to scratch the tough glass on these things is also tough enough to gouge through any film protector.

I think the protectors take away from the nice screen images no matter how well they're applied. After time they all accumulate more crap and grime than the glass itself. When my glass does get grimy I wipe it with a soft cotton t-shirt or on the leg of my denim jeans. Cleans up like new every time.
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IMHO...anything that will break a screen, will do so with a protector.
As far as scratching is concerned, I've yet to see one despite my phone sitting in my pocket with keys.
So, I don't think it's worth it.
I like the feel of sliding my finger on glass better than on some type of plastic

reply to Rob
I had one on my first iPhone 3G. But that was my first smartphone, and I was a little paranoid. But since then I didn't have one on the 3GS and on my 4 which I still have after two years and it's still in great condition...

I've always had a habit of not carrying my phone in pockets with keys or change...

I don't have a case for my iPhone 4 except the Bumper. Which is not really a case but i like it primarily for the enhanced grip, as the front & back glass is slippery.
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reply to Rob
The HD anti-glare from Power Support is hands down the best money can buy...It is absolutely perfect.
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reply to Rob
i started with an otterbox on my old brick iPhone 4 but it was a PITA to undo the otterbox to dock at home and office. went to a rubber bumper and a simple film screen protector although i could get away without the protector as the phone uses gorilla glass. I also DON'T put phone in pocket with keys or change i use a hoster on belt .

reply to Rob
Never seen the point.

reply to Rob
I had one on my first iPhone 4, and not on the second iPhone 4. The first one was pristine, the second one got some scratches on it. I'm not sure from what since I kept it out of the pocket where I keep money and keys.

On my 4S I have an anti-fingerprint one which I don't like too much, but it has a lot of small scratches. Being soft plastic that's not surprising but I still think it's worth getting. The clear ones are better IMO, since the anti-fingerprint types are not 100% clear and make the screen look a bit funny compared to without one.

reply to Rob
Typically I have them on the front and back of the iPhone as I unlock them and sell them on eBay after. On this 4s the screen protector got messed up so I took it off. Of course a few weeks later I got a scratch on it, drives me nuts. Luckily for men a week after that I was running and tripped and gouged the glass on the bottom of the front of the phone. I will replace it through AppleCare but it can scratch.
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reply to Rob
For me the anti glare ones look too frosted and is a waste to use on the retina screen.

reply to Rob
I don't use one and have no noticeable scratches. I keep my iPhone in my front pocket, usually by itself.

I previously used screen protectors on my Palm Pilots and Treo (700p). By the time I moved to the Treo 800w, I gave up on screen protectors. They do very little if you care for the phone well (I did even when the screen protector was on it) and make the touch experience much worse. The Palm Pre I used for nearly 2 years looks like new, and that has an even softer front than the iPhone.
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Re: [iPhone] Screen Protectors - Are they Really Needed?

reply to Thinkdiff
My iPhone 4 has one scratch. On the back.

I was using a case until recently, then I decided that it was too much of a hassle for using accessories like the Olloclip, so I stopped using it. Haven't dropped it yet, knock, knock.

reply to Rob
My co-worker took her iPad to the apple store to get a screen protector. She said the sales agent said they don't sell them as the screens are made of scratch proof materials and would crack before scratching. He then proceeded to take his keys and swipe them against the store model with out actually marking it up.

Now that you mentioned it, I recall reading something a while back that Apple stopped selling screen protectors in their stores because they claim their phones don't need it!
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reply to graniterock

reply to Rob
Never used one - no scratches on my original iPhone, 3gs, or 4.

reply to Rob
My wife scratched the crap out of my iPad screen with the diamond on her wedding ring. I don't think a screen protector would have stopped that. I never had a screen protector on my iPhone and there aren't any scratches on it and I've had it for over 2 years
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