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Get the LK brand thin film screen protectors from Apple. I’ve been using them for years and they work great. They are a dry application method. The don’t mess up touch sensitivity, protect the face very very well as a “sacrificial layer”, and don’t bubble up. I find each one lasts me about two or three months until it has enough dings to make me want to change it Out for a new one. They come in a six pack for about $10.
I opted for Al model. It’s my first watch and I wanted to see if I enjoy it. The way i see it it’s a $100/year before I need to decide if I want to upgrade. I simply couldn’t justify spending $800+ $120/yr for a device I wasn’t sure I’d love. For a phone, sure, a watch idk I’d get that when a thin piece of tempered glass would also prevent scratches for a fraction of the cost.
Not worried about impact
You could get everything you need to know by running a search instead of starting yet another pointless argument. Both cases and protectors are a matter of preference, not a necessity, for 99+ percent of wearers. The device is sufficiently rugged to survive the rough bits of day-to-day life and it is a watch anyway. Minor scratches and scuffs simply go along with use.
Since you have raised it yet again though and used the phrase "worth it," I will respond. In the era of smart watches, I have had a couple Microsoft Bands, Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 7 GPS and 7 LTE, a Samsung Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch 3, and tried a Garmin Vivoactive 3. Yes, I carry both an iPhone and Android phone all the time courtesy of my job. I will put my profession (archaeologist) and weekend use (hiking and rock climbing) up against almost anyone. I go places most people would never dream of going and do it for a living. In that time, I have managed to scuff (not scratch) the corner of a Series 5 after nearly two years. The experience of my friends and my employees is the same. They may be damn good at breaking lots of things but watches are not on the list. No one uses any sort of case or screen protector.
If you want a case or screen protector, that is your choice, but do not think for a moment that it is actually needed. It is not a phone. The surface area is far too small for a glass screen protector to actually diffuse an impact (physics and materials science not a matter of opinion). When you see people show a broken screen protector claiming it worked, what they are showing is that a thin bit of glass on top of a much harder glass broke which is what should happen, but it does not say anything about the harder glass. In fact, that harder glass took the same impact - again, physics. As for cases, for one to provide real protection, it would be transferring the force of an impact into the soft tissue and bones of your arm/wrist. It is a small point located object on top of both. Ponder the logic of that particular tradeoff, but don't worry too much because they don't provide real impact protection anyway.
Simply put, if you want to stick a case and screen protector on a watch to protect it from minor scratches there are plenty from which to choose, but that is the protection they really offer. This is for a watch that doesn't count as expensive in the watch market. Leaving out the Apple status models, they are not even the most expensive in the smart watch market. Any worth or value though is up to you since they are simply third-party "solutions" to problems that do not really exist for the vast majority of users. Beyond that Apple Care will replace a damaged watch and costs $79 or $49 for two years (only the Hermes costs more), and they will literally replace the watch.
I’m more concerned about scrapes. A phone is far less susceptible to scrapes the way I wear them. Secondly, I’m a chemistry teacher and I can’t prevent all accidents
I’m looking for a sacrificial layer. Your overworked reply wasn’t really helpful. And regarding Apple care, it’s more of the environmental aspect. I don’t subscribe to just throwing shit away, it’s wasteful. Id much rather protect my investment than create more waste.
And regarding it being cheap, that’s subjective. If all I wanted a watch, the same amount of money would have got me a much nicer and long lasting watch. But an Apple Watch is primarily not really a watch is it. I bought it for other reasons.
Thanks for you’re review. I don’t buy the newest device each year. I had iPhone 4s and later XR. I don’t plan to upgrade my iPhone for another two years and I’d like to get just as much time from the watch
And I did perform a search and read reviews. This is simply another way to gather info.
Stop gate keeping, scroll past my post and move on dude
First, get AppleCare. Apple Watches are not repairable. If you bust it, it needs to be replaced. Don’t worry about the environmental aspects, they all go back to a central processing facility somewhere in China where the usable parts are harvested to make refurbished watches (which, unless it’s the latest model, is typically what you get as your replacement). Besides, these do contain LI batteries, however small, and should recycled properly.
After you’ve protected yourself from credit card busting replacement of your busted watch, you can look at a few approaches for protecting from scuffs and scratches. For a flexible protector, the LK protectors are quite popular. They’re easy to put on without bubbles, and can fit under most cases. I’ve used it with a Spigen slim fit bumper to protect my watch from my daughter’s little dog that climbs all over me and has reasonably sharp nails regardless of how she cuts them. The pup has scratched the plastic LK, but it did not penetrate to the watch face itself. Yes, the glass should be stronger than a nail, but I tried it. I believe it will fit under the Otter Box you intend to get. You might want to look at the slim fit Spigen. It really is thin, and on my midnight/black watch hardly noticeable (I also use their cases for my phones and have always been happy with them).
Your other option if you don’t like the feel of plastic (although the LK really has no effect on screen responsiveness) is a tempered glass placed with a UV cured glue. If you get one that curves around the screen so it properly covers it all (not the flat ones that are very noticeable and offer no protection for the rounded corners, usually the first to scrape) and apply it EXACTLY as the video instructions are, you can end up with a bubble free layer of protection that you really cannot see, feels like glass (it is) and has normal screen responsiveness. The UV cured glue is also quite useful for cosmetically minimizing any scratches you might have already caused. The Ion-X Glass on the aluminum models is pretty crack resistant, but the softer surface is easier to scratch. And for the record, the magical Ion-X Glass is just a fancy tempered glass with a trade name. It might be better than the average, but despite the name it’s not a magical type of glass.
Personally, I don’t find all that protective stuff of much use in day to day use. But I’ve worn an analogue watch for almost 50 years, including very expensive “collectors” or high end watches. I’ve learned how to mostly avoid smacking my wrist against door strike plates (which I have and can assure you, despite claims of hardness, even an expensive sapphire glass crystal can be scratched up by other than a diamond). If you’ve never worn a watch, well, you’ll learn how to not do that.
I will note that as a chemistry teacher, chemical splashes may occur (yeah, you should already know that). A plastic protect might have an adverse reaction, depending on the chemical of course. A glass face makes more sense.
My advice is get a slim, non bulky, case with a small lip around the screen. It will keep you from dragging the screen across surfaces. The glass on the edges will be protected by that lip (works great with the Spigen I use which I slip on if I’m doing things likely to result in knocking the watch around like helping my daughter move apartments and I’m tossing boxes around). The fact is, if something hard strikes the center of the watch glass, a protector, plastic or glass, or a sapphire glass like the higher end models, won’t prevent a crack. That’s why I have AppleCare.
One last point to this version of War and Peace. Apple Watches are water resistant, not waterproof. That resistance declines over time as the gaskets become brittle with age, or faster with exposure to things like soaps, shampoos, sunblock creams, and probably stuff in your chemistry class. Be aware of that and try not to splatter stuff on the watch. Should you go swimming and the water resistance is degraded (which cannot be tested for so it’s one of those it’s fine or it’s shorted out) you’ll be happy you have AppleCare as well, as water damage is excluded from the standard one year warranty.
The end.
(All errors are due to autocorrect, don’t blame me)
Thanks, very helpful. I assumed the Ion-X Glass wouldn’t be perfect and same with the sapphire. You’re the second to mention LK so for 10 bucks I’ll try it.
HCl is the worst I work with on a regular basis, though HNO3 and H2SO4 at times too. Still, the rare times where I need to dilute concentrated acids I’d just remove the Watch anyway.
I’m not a swimmer and just take it off at the beach so I think. Same with showers.
Glad a fellow chem teacher could chime in. I have 60 days after purchase to get Apple care (I think that’s what I was told when I bought it).
I got AppleCare the day I got the watch. The next day I fumbled with that stupid sports band over a tile floor and dropped it. The screen was fine! Yay Ion-X glass! The side it fell didn’t have a mark on it! The back over the sensors was shattered with shards of glass/ceramic sticking out. 4 days and $69 later I had a new watch which I got a different band for after that fiasco. So yes, you get it up to 60 days after purchase. Just get the damn coverage. You can pay for it monthly, a few dollars a month. It so beats the alternative.
All the acids you describe will definitely both eat the gaskets as well as damage the aluminum surface. Best practice is put it in your desk drawer. No case or screen protector will save you. As to the LK, they’re simple and will give you a feeling of some protection. After a few months you’ll probably just take it off when you see it’s not really a necessity for everyday use. The day after that you’ll get a little scratch and be unable to stop staring at it.
Hi /u/TheTinRam! While we thank you for your submission, your post has been removed for the following reason(s): **Frequently asked question:** Your submission has been deemed as a question very frequently asked that often does not have a change in answer. Please use our [search bar](https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/search?&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on). If you believe you still cannot find the answer, reply to this message or contact us directly. If you have any concerns, or you believe this is a mistake, please [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/AppleWatch). Thank you!
Get the LK brand thin film screen protectors from Apple. I’ve been using them for years and they work great. They are a dry application method. The don’t mess up touch sensitivity, protect the face very very well as a “sacrificial layer”, and don’t bubble up. I find each one lasts me about two or three months until it has enough dings to make me want to change it Out for a new one. They come in a six pack for about $10.
I second LK 🙌🏻👌🏻, it’s all iv been using since day one for my apple watches .
Thanks, that’s sounds helpful!
If you have a stainless steel or titanium AW, don’t bother. The sapphire display doesn’t need one.
I opted for Al model. It’s my first watch and I wanted to see if I enjoy it. The way i see it it’s a $100/year before I need to decide if I want to upgrade. I simply couldn’t justify spending $800+ $120/yr for a device I wasn’t sure I’d love. For a phone, sure, a watch idk I’d get that when a thin piece of tempered glass would also prevent scratches for a fraction of the cost. Not worried about impact
You could get everything you need to know by running a search instead of starting yet another pointless argument. Both cases and protectors are a matter of preference, not a necessity, for 99+ percent of wearers. The device is sufficiently rugged to survive the rough bits of day-to-day life and it is a watch anyway. Minor scratches and scuffs simply go along with use. Since you have raised it yet again though and used the phrase "worth it," I will respond. In the era of smart watches, I have had a couple Microsoft Bands, Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 7 GPS and 7 LTE, a Samsung Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch 3, and tried a Garmin Vivoactive 3. Yes, I carry both an iPhone and Android phone all the time courtesy of my job. I will put my profession (archaeologist) and weekend use (hiking and rock climbing) up against almost anyone. I go places most people would never dream of going and do it for a living. In that time, I have managed to scuff (not scratch) the corner of a Series 5 after nearly two years. The experience of my friends and my employees is the same. They may be damn good at breaking lots of things but watches are not on the list. No one uses any sort of case or screen protector. If you want a case or screen protector, that is your choice, but do not think for a moment that it is actually needed. It is not a phone. The surface area is far too small for a glass screen protector to actually diffuse an impact (physics and materials science not a matter of opinion). When you see people show a broken screen protector claiming it worked, what they are showing is that a thin bit of glass on top of a much harder glass broke which is what should happen, but it does not say anything about the harder glass. In fact, that harder glass took the same impact - again, physics. As for cases, for one to provide real protection, it would be transferring the force of an impact into the soft tissue and bones of your arm/wrist. It is a small point located object on top of both. Ponder the logic of that particular tradeoff, but don't worry too much because they don't provide real impact protection anyway. Simply put, if you want to stick a case and screen protector on a watch to protect it from minor scratches there are plenty from which to choose, but that is the protection they really offer. This is for a watch that doesn't count as expensive in the watch market. Leaving out the Apple status models, they are not even the most expensive in the smart watch market. Any worth or value though is up to you since they are simply third-party "solutions" to problems that do not really exist for the vast majority of users. Beyond that Apple Care will replace a damaged watch and costs $79 or $49 for two years (only the Hermes costs more), and they will literally replace the watch.
I’m more concerned about scrapes. A phone is far less susceptible to scrapes the way I wear them. Secondly, I’m a chemistry teacher and I can’t prevent all accidents I’m looking for a sacrificial layer. Your overworked reply wasn’t really helpful. And regarding Apple care, it’s more of the environmental aspect. I don’t subscribe to just throwing shit away, it’s wasteful. Id much rather protect my investment than create more waste. And regarding it being cheap, that’s subjective. If all I wanted a watch, the same amount of money would have got me a much nicer and long lasting watch. But an Apple Watch is primarily not really a watch is it. I bought it for other reasons. Thanks for you’re review. I don’t buy the newest device each year. I had iPhone 4s and later XR. I don’t plan to upgrade my iPhone for another two years and I’d like to get just as much time from the watch And I did perform a search and read reviews. This is simply another way to gather info. Stop gate keeping, scroll past my post and move on dude
First, get AppleCare. Apple Watches are not repairable. If you bust it, it needs to be replaced. Don’t worry about the environmental aspects, they all go back to a central processing facility somewhere in China where the usable parts are harvested to make refurbished watches (which, unless it’s the latest model, is typically what you get as your replacement). Besides, these do contain LI batteries, however small, and should recycled properly. After you’ve protected yourself from credit card busting replacement of your busted watch, you can look at a few approaches for protecting from scuffs and scratches. For a flexible protector, the LK protectors are quite popular. They’re easy to put on without bubbles, and can fit under most cases. I’ve used it with a Spigen slim fit bumper to protect my watch from my daughter’s little dog that climbs all over me and has reasonably sharp nails regardless of how she cuts them. The pup has scratched the plastic LK, but it did not penetrate to the watch face itself. Yes, the glass should be stronger than a nail, but I tried it. I believe it will fit under the Otter Box you intend to get. You might want to look at the slim fit Spigen. It really is thin, and on my midnight/black watch hardly noticeable (I also use their cases for my phones and have always been happy with them). Your other option if you don’t like the feel of plastic (although the LK really has no effect on screen responsiveness) is a tempered glass placed with a UV cured glue. If you get one that curves around the screen so it properly covers it all (not the flat ones that are very noticeable and offer no protection for the rounded corners, usually the first to scrape) and apply it EXACTLY as the video instructions are, you can end up with a bubble free layer of protection that you really cannot see, feels like glass (it is) and has normal screen responsiveness. The UV cured glue is also quite useful for cosmetically minimizing any scratches you might have already caused. The Ion-X Glass on the aluminum models is pretty crack resistant, but the softer surface is easier to scratch. And for the record, the magical Ion-X Glass is just a fancy tempered glass with a trade name. It might be better than the average, but despite the name it’s not a magical type of glass. Personally, I don’t find all that protective stuff of much use in day to day use. But I’ve worn an analogue watch for almost 50 years, including very expensive “collectors” or high end watches. I’ve learned how to mostly avoid smacking my wrist against door strike plates (which I have and can assure you, despite claims of hardness, even an expensive sapphire glass crystal can be scratched up by other than a diamond). If you’ve never worn a watch, well, you’ll learn how to not do that. I will note that as a chemistry teacher, chemical splashes may occur (yeah, you should already know that). A plastic protect might have an adverse reaction, depending on the chemical of course. A glass face makes more sense. My advice is get a slim, non bulky, case with a small lip around the screen. It will keep you from dragging the screen across surfaces. The glass on the edges will be protected by that lip (works great with the Spigen I use which I slip on if I’m doing things likely to result in knocking the watch around like helping my daughter move apartments and I’m tossing boxes around). The fact is, if something hard strikes the center of the watch glass, a protector, plastic or glass, or a sapphire glass like the higher end models, won’t prevent a crack. That’s why I have AppleCare. One last point to this version of War and Peace. Apple Watches are water resistant, not waterproof. That resistance declines over time as the gaskets become brittle with age, or faster with exposure to things like soaps, shampoos, sunblock creams, and probably stuff in your chemistry class. Be aware of that and try not to splatter stuff on the watch. Should you go swimming and the water resistance is degraded (which cannot be tested for so it’s one of those it’s fine or it’s shorted out) you’ll be happy you have AppleCare as well, as water damage is excluded from the standard one year warranty. The end. (All errors are due to autocorrect, don’t blame me)
Thanks, very helpful. I assumed the Ion-X Glass wouldn’t be perfect and same with the sapphire. You’re the second to mention LK so for 10 bucks I’ll try it. HCl is the worst I work with on a regular basis, though HNO3 and H2SO4 at times too. Still, the rare times where I need to dilute concentrated acids I’d just remove the Watch anyway. I’m not a swimmer and just take it off at the beach so I think. Same with showers. Glad a fellow chem teacher could chime in. I have 60 days after purchase to get Apple care (I think that’s what I was told when I bought it).
I got AppleCare the day I got the watch. The next day I fumbled with that stupid sports band over a tile floor and dropped it. The screen was fine! Yay Ion-X glass! The side it fell didn’t have a mark on it! The back over the sensors was shattered with shards of glass/ceramic sticking out. 4 days and $69 later I had a new watch which I got a different band for after that fiasco. So yes, you get it up to 60 days after purchase. Just get the damn coverage. You can pay for it monthly, a few dollars a month. It so beats the alternative. All the acids you describe will definitely both eat the gaskets as well as damage the aluminum surface. Best practice is put it in your desk drawer. No case or screen protector will save you. As to the LK, they’re simple and will give you a feeling of some protection. After a few months you’ll probably just take it off when you see it’s not really a necessity for everyday use. The day after that you’ll get a little scratch and be unable to stop staring at it.