iPhones need a lens protector?

[Super Real]

Hi, I have just purchased a new iPhone (SE2020).
I'm not a camera guy or interested in those great latest multi lensed iPhones...
But I'm so impressed by the quality of photos by this single lens devise, and it brought up the question in the title.
Do you think iPhones need a lens protector?

I googled and it seems to be a divisive issue.
Some say they don't need because the lens is made from Sapphire Glass which is almost as hard as diamond...

Let me know your thoughts.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Motionblurrr]

Not at all. It is a stronger glass lens than the front and back panels glass.

If anything, all you would need is any case that would make your camera housing recessed—since the iPhone SE is so thin, any case will usually do.

Besides, if you’re that impressed with the photos the SE takes, you’ll be downgrading the quality by adding another layer on top of the lens that the camera sensor has to look through. So, the quality won’t be as sharp no matter what other people say. Physics doesn’t lie!

 

[Super Real]

Wow very quick!! Thank you, I appreciate!

 

[PeteBurgh]

I've seen this discussed quite a bit over the years, e.g.

iphone 11 camera lens protectors

Does anyone use these things at all? pro or cons ? Thanks

forums.macrumors.com

Do You Guys Bother With Camera Lens Protector?

I see they are being sold more and more. Do you bother especially with the big lenses of the 12?

forums.macrumors.com

XS MAX - What Type Of Glass Camera Lens Protector?

Hi All, I am a bit thick about these things so please bear with me! I want to get a glass camera lens protector for the iPhone XS Max but see there are 4 different options/versions & do not know why & which to get or is the best type - one is all solid & the other three have differing openings...

forums.macrumors.com

iPhone 11 pro camera lens protector

Can anyone recommend a good tempered glass lens protector for the pro? Can’t seem to find any suitable ones on line so far and I always use them for that extra level of protection. Thanks

forums.macrumors.com

I'm not sure there's much that hasn't been covered in those threads. Personally, I can't imagine using one. I've never scratched a smartphone lens, and I'm not especially careful with my phones. If I was going to be using it some kind of extreme environment, I'd get one of those cases with a sliding cover instead.

 

[Super Real]

I've seen this discussed quite a bit over the years, e.g.

iphone 11 camera lens protectors

Does anyone use these things at all? pro or cons ? Thanks

forums.macrumors.com

Do You Guys Bother With Camera Lens Protector?

I see they are being sold more and more. Do you bother especially with the big lenses of the 12?

forums.macrumors.com

XS MAX - What Type Of Glass Camera Lens Protector?

Hi All, I am a bit thick about these things so please bear with me! I want to get a glass camera lens protector for the iPhone XS Max but see there are 4 different options/versions & do not know why & which to get or is the best type - one is all solid & the other three have differing openings...

forums.macrumors.com

iPhone 11 pro camera lens protector

Can anyone recommend a good tempered glass lens protector for the pro? Can’t seem to find any suitable ones on line so far and I always use them for that extra level of protection. Thanks

forums.macrumors.com

I'm not sure there's much that hasn't been covered in those threads. Personally, I can't imagine using one. I've never scratched a smartphone lens, and I'm not especially careful with my phones. If I was going to be using it some kind of extreme environment, I'd get one of those cases with a sliding cover instead.

Thank you!!!

 

[haruhiko]

No.

 

[velo]

Hi, I have just purchased a new iPhone (SE2020).
I'm not a camera guy or interested in those great latest multi lensed iPhones...
But I'm so impressed by the quality of photos by this single lens devise, and it brought up the question in the title.
Do you think iPhones need a lens protector?

I googled and it seems to be a divisive issue.
Some say they don't need because the lens is made from Sapphire Glass which is almost as hard as diamond...

Let me know your thoughts.
Thank you in advance.

I’m on to my third lens protector on a 12 Pro Max lol.

First one dropped the phone getting out of the car. Protector smashed. Second one I noticed it had cracked and have no idea how it happened. Both these incidents would have damaged a lens.

I use the cameras a lot and the protectors make no difference to the quality. They cost less than $10 each.

 

[Madtiger27]

Why put on another layer of glass that can degrade camera quality?

 

[Super Real]

I’m on to my third lens protector on a 12 Pro Max lol.

First one dropped the phone getting out of the car. Protector smashed. Second one I noticed it had cracked and have no idea how it happened. Both these incidents would have damaged a lens.

I use the cameras a lot and the protectors make no difference to the quality. They cost less than $10 each.

If I were you, I might consider Apple Care or the carrier's protection plan, which I've already bought, because the situations you mentioned can easily damage your iPhone itself (or those smashed/cracked protectors haven't damaged the camera at all by themselves broken?)
Still, I'm interested in a protector which keeps the lens from dust and fingerprints, though.

 

[Super Real]

Why put on another layer of glass that can degrade camera quality?

It's the point to be worried about. But then how about dust and fingerprint?
I've come to want a whole protector with a sliding window for the lens... Hmm.

 

[Madtiger27]

It's the point to be worried about. But then how about dust and fingerprint?
I've come to want a whole protector with a sliding window for the lens... Hmm.

Worried about what? How many times have we seen a thread about scratched camera lens on an iphone? Not many, if at all. How many times have we seen a cracked camera lens? Not many, if at all.

Dust and fingerprint? How do those things damage the lens? You just wipe with your shirt. How will camera lens “protector” prevent dust and fingerprint?

Just get basically ANY case that has a lip around the camera. Done. I do not want to put stuff on camera lens that will degrade camera performance!

 

[Madtiger27]

Look at this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/otterbox-defender-xt-pro-is-trash.2295937/

A drop on the back of an iPhone with a case will break the back glass BEFORE the camera lens! Camera lens is made of combination of sapphire and regular glass (what Seiko used to call Sapphlex). It is stronger than your back glass.

 

[velo]

There's damage around the lens on my iPhone 12 Pro Max from the first drop. Thankfully the actual lens itself wasn't.

Oh and like I said there's no degrading of the picture quality. Your cat pics and selfies will still be pixel perfect 🤣 Most important to have that blinding resolution for the socials.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

I use a camera lens protector because of the job I have and because the case I was searching to buy was a bumper and offer no protection for the camera. My pictures are in no way affected by the glass covering my lenses.

 

[Spetsgruppa]

I have tonnes of cases but ended up using just the camera protector from my Pitaka Air Case. I just dont like the sound my 12 Pro Max makes when the lens/side of lens touches the table.