Screen Protectors Without AR Coating Cancel Out iPhone 17's Anti-Reflective Display

[Mike Boreham]

I see this logic a lot. And on the surface it makes sense.

But here’s the thing: screen protectors are more brittle and lower quality glass than what Apple uses on its screens. Especially Ceramic Shield 2.

In other words, you may drop your phone and break the screen protector only and think “I’m glad I had this on!”, then proceed to buy a new screen protector.

But what you don’t realize is if you had the same drop without the screen protector, the original screen wouldn’t have broken because its higher quality and more durable than the protector ever was.

I think you are correct that the screen protector glass is more breakable than the iPhone glass so that on many occasions the iPhone glass would not have broken, but it would sometimes, judging by the number of heavily cracked screens I see around. I expect that on some occasions both the protector and phone glass would crack, but my wife and I have never experienced this on about five drops over 15 years or so. When the protector glass cracks the iPhone has always been OK.

I also find that some glass screen protectors scratch very easily and some don't. The best protectors I have had have been as good at not scratching as the iPhone glass.

(EDIT because I have used protectors for last several years I may not be up to date with how scratch resistant latest iPhone glass is. An iPhone 7 was the last one I used without a protector and that scratched badly)

 

[Pooneil]

I guess that my screen shield does reflect quite a bit. Having said that, to me this is a nonissue. I have always used a case and screen shield. Having the iPhone protected from hair line scratches (or worse) is a priority for me and not having that concern out of the way is what is important.

 

[ratspg]

Never used screen protectors on any iPhone in the past and I've had them all.
That being said, I just put a matte screen protector on my 17PM and I am NEVER going back, this is amazing, love it.

 

[Pooneil]

Never used screen protectors on any iPhone in the past and I've had them all.
That being said, I just put a matte screen protector on my 17PM and I am NEVER going back, this is amazing, love it.

What brand did you choose. Does the matte shield have any effect on clarity of the screen etc.??

 

[JohnC1959]

I don't see much need for a screen protector anyway. I use a case. Drop my phone on hard ground from a few feet maybe a couple times a year and never had the slightest scratch on the display.

 

[Momof2.1107]

I have kids and I don’t care what kind of screen Apple puts on these devices, they will always have a screen protector installed. Also I don’t have the time to visit an Apple Store to have my screen replaced, so I would rather use a screen protector for peace of mind and to save me time.

 

[theluggage]

This sounds like pseudoscience. Light doesn‘t care about „direct contact with air“.

Actually it does.

I remember having to learn the math at Uni (too many decades ago for me to regurgitate now) Roughly speaking: reflections can be caused when light passes between two materials with different refractive indices - such as air and glass. Optical anti-reflection coatings work by adding one or more thin layers of material with a different refractive index to both the air and glass, creating multiple reflections that cancel each other out due to interference.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-reflective_coating

Sticking a screen protector with an unknown refractive index between the AR coating and the air is very likely going to negate that effect.

However, as you say, sticking a shiny thing in front of a non-shiny thing is also going to add reflections, even if it leaves an air gap or when the AR "coating" is just a 'matte' surface.

 

[grammatica]

What? You can pick up anti-reflective glass for iPhones and iPads all over Temu, Ali & Amazon. I have them for both my iPhone & iPad. Even the 4 way privacy glass does that.

No research required or a company marketing its wares.

I was referring to the quality of coating. Yes, screen protectors claim to be "anti-reflective" but they are not OEM quality. Samsung managed to replicate an OEM-level coating on its screen protector.

 

[ratspg]

What brand did you choose. Does the matte shield have any effect on clarity of the screen etc.??

Mothca Screen Protector

Mothca Matte Glass Screen Protector

a.co

Yeah the clarity is a little worse but I’m happy with it. You’d have to try it, it’s going to have to fit you.

 

[Ta0jin]

Very interesting responses. I can only speak for myself but I use screen protectors cause I don’t like scratches on the display. As far as Apples engineered high quality display, that’s a fair point but it doesn’t really matter to me because I don’t notice a night/day difference with/without a screen protector.

 

[SFjohn]

I’ve never used a screen protector & never had a problem with my screen. Not a scratch or a ding, and I’ve been using iPhones since the very beginning. Then again I have a pocket for the iPhone & nothing else goes into it. My other pocket is for my wallet & keys… 😉

 

[ZipZap]

Wonder if I am loosing by using the Shellrus protector on an iPhone Air.

 

[Gregintosh]

Perhaps not broken, sure, but scratched no doubt yes. If she scratches her sapphire screen on her AW easily in the first month without a screen protector, there is no way her iphones would be scratch free especially living in a purse half the time, knocking against other items. The glass protector is weak but it does add a layer of impact resistance in mild to medium events, that repeated over time, may compromise the structure and integrity of an unprotected screen and lead to a crack or gouge eventually. Cost adds up for these screen protectors but i still think its cheaper than AppleCare+ for a screen damage incidents.

Incorrect. Apple charges $29 for a screen replacement under AppleCare+. Of course AppleCare+ has a cost too, but presumably you are getting to cover against all sorts of damage, not just cracked front glass, and for a 2 year period (or as long as you own the iPhone if you get the annual plan). Good screen protectors, that is really good quality ones, cost around that same amount, maybe a bit cheaper, but if you go through 5 of them a year, it adds up.

I agree about the scratches. The new Ceramic Shield 2 seems to be very resistant though, even on YouTube testing.

But also, I only keep the phone in my pocket by itself. My wallet/key is on the other pocket. I get how someone with a bag who likes to mix the iPhone with nail clippers, keys, jewelry, etc. would probably really screw it up. My recommendation would be to have a purse that has a separate pocket for the phone. But point taken.

In the case of men who have an empty pocket, there is probably far less need for a screen protector though. That is unless you like to toss your tech around and be careless with it, slamming it against tables, throwing on bed (where it can bounce off), etc.

Durability

I will say though that I been using my iPhone Air since September with no case and no screen protector and I have 0 scratches, not even micro scratches, on the screen so far. And I have cleaned the screen and looked under a light for them.

I have dropped the phone a few times, but indoors (on tile and laminate flooring)... still no scratches on the screen. A very tiny minor bump in the frame but not noticeable unless you look for it. Pretty satisfied with this level of durability.

 

[RedWeasel]

Actually it does.

I remember having to learn the math at Uni (too many decades ago for me to regurgitate now) Roughly speaking: reflections can be caused when light passes between two materials with different refractive indices - such as air and glass. Optical anti-reflection coatings work by adding one or more thin layers of material with a different refractive index to both the air and glass, creating multiple reflections that cancel each other out due to interference.

You bring up a fair point and I guess I stand corrected, at least to some degree. I'm still not sure though if the "magic" really happens in the interface between air and coating instead of interfaces between layers within the coating.

 

[theluggage]

You bring up a fair point and I guess I stand corrected, at least to some degree. I'm still not sure though if the "magic" really happens in the interface between air and coating instead of interfaces between layers within the coating.

No magic. Physics. Without a coating, the change in refractive index between air and glass is what causes the reflections in the first place.

 

[ZiBart]

Incorrect. Apple charges $29 for a screen replacement under AppleCare+. Of course AppleCare+ has a cost too, but presumably you are getting to cover against all sorts of damage, not just cracked front glass, and for a 2 year period (or as long as you own the iPhone if you get the annual plan). Good screen protectors, that is really good quality ones, cost around that same amount, maybe a bit cheaper, but if you go through 5 of them a year, it adds up.

You have to consider the upfront cost of AC+, that's the point. A 2-3 pack of a decent branded glass screen protector that has so far worked, is under $20 (ESR / Spigen etc.. and always on sale on Amazon). I spend about $30 to 40 a year on screen protectors for her plus a $30 one time - let's say $110 total for 2 years at worst. And after two years, additional upfront monthly cost + incident fees. Yes, I get that it gives you value with other aspects but I have not needed the other aspects with a case + screen protector. A decent $30 case protects the phone well enough to mitigate need. And I havent' had any iPhone hardware issues requiring service within the first 3 years of ownership in my life (trade in or sell privately within 2 - 3 years typically). I have owned an iPhone since the original. Apple provides 1 year of hardware warranty and my Credit Card provides the 2nd. I used to have a CC that even provided a 3rd year warranty. If you go screen-less and/or caseless due to preference, it's a no brainer and worth it. I do this for my phone usually and currently pay the monthly on my 17 Pro. The other upside of screen protectors, is with privacy filters. Although not for me, because it seriously impacts the quality of the OLED, but for wife's work - it's beneficial. Now, if we considered all my Apple devices and that new all device AC+ subscription, perhaps then I could see the cost being better on the AC+ side but this is not offered in my region yet so I can't say one way or the other.

 

[RedWeasel]

No magic. Physics. Without a coating, the change in refractive index between air and glass is what causes the reflections in the first place.

But from what I understand from the Wikipedia article you linked

Many coatings consist of transparent thin film structures with alternating layers of contrasting refractive index. Layer thicknesses are chosen to produce destructive interference in the beams reflected from the interfaces, and constructive interference in the corresponding transmitted beams.

This sounds like the "anti-reflection" mainly happens within the coating, not between air and coating. Light that would be reflected at that interface would still be reflected.

But I have to admit I don't have much of a physics background, so I might miss a lot of stuff here 😉

 

[theluggage]

This sounds like the "anti-reflection" mainly happens within the coating, not between air and coating. Light that would be reflected at that interface would still be reflected.

The physics depends on the change in refractive index at each 'interface'. The interface between the last layer and the air is one of those.

 

[Gregintosh]

You have to consider the upfront cost of AC+, that's the point.

If you go screen-less and/or caseless due to preference, it's a no brainer and worth it. I do this for my phone usually and currently pay the monthly on my 17 Pro.

Yea, that was my point, is that the AC+ upfront cost doesnt count for most people, because there are other types of damage people are worried about (especially if you get theft and loss protection). You have an exceptional cause about your CC offering an extra year of warranty but that's not the case for many people.

The other thing to think about besides cost is the pleasure of using the device. Sure, even if we count the upfront cost of AC+ and adjust it for saving on screen protectors, the point is, would you be willing to pay an extra $150 to use the device the way it was meant to be used?

I would say it's worth it, it feels SO much better without cases and screen protectors. Even no case + screen protector already loses some of that smoothness and feel.

So I don't look at it as just a math calculation because the choice affects the pleasure of using the phone EVERYDAY, not just what the price is.

 

[ZiBart]

Yea, that was my point, is that the AC+ upfront cost doesnt count for most people, because there are other types of damage people are worried about (especially if you get theft and loss protection). You have an exceptional cause about your CC offering an extra year of warranty but that's not the case for many people.

The other thing to think about besides cost is the pleasure of using the device. Sure, even if we count the upfront cost of AC+ and adjust it for saving on screen protectors, the point is, would you be willing to pay an extra $150 to use the device the way it was meant to be used?

I would say it's worth it, it feels SO much better without cases and screen protectors. Even no case + screen protector already loses some of that smoothness and feel.

So I don't look at it as just a math calculation because the choice affects the pleasure of using the phone EVERYDAY, not just what the price is.

Well, it's all math with my wife's phones. But less so with mine and I agree with that part.