To Those Who Buy Those Leather/Silicone/Not too Protective Cases

[DJL311]

The whole point is that I have NEVER damaged any screen on any of my iPhones - well not if you don't start to look for minuscule scratches using a magnifying glass - but I could not care less about those that I can't see anyway.
I've dropped them plenty of the years. I also keep them for a long time as I have no need for the latest, greatest iPhone anyway.
And I only ever had any case on any of them since they have the camera bump/lens that sticks out.

Had I spent 12$ (or 12 EUR - and I doubt those that sell out here go for that low to be fair) every single year: I'd have had a worse product all the time and I would have spent much more than even for a single screen replacement (that I never needed).
The only way to improve on this would be that the screen protector vendor would insure you would the screen on the phone break nonetheless. But they won't do that (certainly not at that price point).

The screens of an iPhone are NOT fragile at all.

Those pushing the screen protectors ...

You mean like people getting it installed at an Apple Authorized Reseller, ... (my sister had one of those), I've also seen that location pushing people into buying the screen protector with their iPhone using guilt and FUD. It's an outright disgrace to see how they badmouth the screen of the phone they're selling in favor of the obvious profit they make by installing these glass screens. If I were doing an audit of such a chain of stores for Apple: they'd lose their authorized status pretty quickly: you do not badmouth the product you sell in your store.

In the end there's 2 possible materials they can use: a plastic layer or a thin piece of glass.
Plastic: yuck. The big improvement apple did with the original iPhone was exactly that: a glass screen! Not goign to revert back to the dark ages out of fear.
The glass is not going to be better than what apple puts in the phone itself already. Neither with reflections, nor with strength. And certainly not when it comes to the precision of the digitizer. esp. not at the very edge of the phone.

I've also seen cracked screens underneath a perfectly intact screen "protector"... on phones that got dropped badly on an edge. So what are they protecting from anyway: they scratch more easily than the screen and can't protect it from fall damage that is unlucky or bad enough to damaging the screen anyway.

I think the impact protection of a typical glass screen protector is pretty negligible, but I don’t use them for toughness. For me, it’s mostly scratch protection. They take all the little scratches my screen would have, and then I can peel it off and have fresh glass again as I see fit.

 

[s66]

I think the impact protection of a typical glass screen protector is pretty negligible, but I don’t use them for toughness. For me, it’s mostly scratch protection. They take all the little scratches my screen would have, and then I can peel it off and have fresh glass again as I see fit.

Ok, but the phone's glass would not scratch nearly as easily as the protectors do. On average: you'll end up with with far more scratches on your screen with the "protection" on than if you don't use that "protection" at all.

That said: hey if you want to use them: just do so.
All I'm trying to convey is that IMHO and experience: it's a snake-oil business.

 

[DJL311]

Ok, but the phone's glass would not scratch nearly as easily as the protectors do. On average: you'll end up with with far more scratches on your screen with the "protection" on than if you don't use that "protection" at all.

That said: hay if you want to use them: just do so.
All I'm trying to convey is that IMHO and experience: it's a snake-oil business.

I guess that’s true if you refuse to take off a scratched protector; people who leave a cracked screen protector on their phone baffle me. I used my XS Max for two years without a screen protector. It wasn’t horrible, but I did wind up with small scratches I wished weren’t there. I don’t think they’re as important as some people make them out to be, but if you have a dirty/dusty job like I do, they’re nifty to have.

 

[Philthy84]

Using a Caudabe Sheath along with a tempered glass screen protector for my 12 Pro Max I feel it offers a decent amount of protection for its minimal size increase. If something bad we’re still to happen I have AppleCare+ for backup.

 

[Complex757]

I have an Apple leather and silicon and now that they bottom is covered, they're very protective for me.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Using a Caudabe Sheath along with a tempered glass screen protector for my 12 Pro Max I feel it offers a decent amount of protection for its minimal size increase. If something bad we’re still to happen I have AppleCare+ for backup.

I’ve got the Caudabe Sheath too for my iPhone 12 and I have to say it’s the nicest looking case I have seen to date. I’ve dropped the phone a few times and it’s done it’s job. I don’t bother with AppleCare as I have cover through my home and I haven’t broken a phone in years.

 

[sheetgoose]

I like the Sheath a lot, but the buttons didn't work properly on the one I bought a few weeks ago. Had to return it.

 

[the-seeker]

Always used Apple leather case for my 6s plus. Used to have a screen protector for the first year. Didn’t like it. Without screen protector for 3+ years. No single scratch. And I like the bottom open. It is more than enough protection. Going with no screen protector for 12 pro. Burkley and Bullstrap leather case with bottom open. They also contrast the phone color.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Always used Apple leather case for my 6s plus. Used to have a screen protector for the first year. Didn’t like it. Without screen protector for 3+ years. No single scratch. And I like the bottom open. It is more than enough protection. Going with no screen protector for 12 pro. Burkley and Bullstrap leather case with bottom open. They also contrast the phone color.

Why don’t you try a decent tempered glass protector? There is absolutely no difference in feel with those than the actual bare screen and you get a second chance should something hit or scrape the screen. These latest iPhones seem to have quite soft screen surfaces and something as simple as a grain of sand can mark it. I found that out with the first screen protector I used which had a cut out for the notch. I had a light 6-8mm long scratch across the notch where the protector had missed. Thankfully it can’t be seen now I have installed a new protector and to be fair you can’t tell I have a protector on anyway it fits so cleanly.

 

[MiamiBeach]

I alternate between the Apple silicone case for my XS and no case at all, depending on whether I will be mostly at home or running errands. The phone has fallen from a bed onto a wood floor twice, once with case on and once off, thankfully no damage in either instance. It did make a muted sound at impact with the case on, so I am confident the Apple silicone case will protect it from falls on harder surfaces.

 

[the-seeker]

Why don’t you try a decent tempered glass protector? There is absolutely no difference in feel with those than the actual bare screen and you get a second chance should something hit or scrape the screen. These latest iPhones seem to have quite soft screen surfaces and something as simple as a grain of sand can mark it. I found that out with the first screen protector I used which had a cut out for the notch. I had a light 6-8mm long scratch across the notch where the protector had missed. Thankfully it can’t be seen now I have installed a new protector and to be fair you can’t tell I have a protector on anyway it fits so cleanly.

Any protector you would recommend which would accommodate a leather case too?

 

[Luba]

you do not fear that when you drop the phone, those cases wont be enough? How do you deal with that fear? Just YOLO?

No hate. But just curious. I dropped my iPhone 4 before with a leather case, and the screen cracked in many places. Since then I am hesitant to really use those fancy but not too protective cases. I really wanna get a leather case again but just hesitant cuz I go to the gym and run a lot. So I just get Otterbox Symmetry, Pursuit and now Defender.

I do not drop my phone a lot but you know, accidents happen.

you do not fear that when you drop the phone, those cases wont be enough? How do you deal with that fear? Just YOLO?

No hate. But just curious. I dropped my iPhone 4 before with a leather case, and the screen cracked in many places. Since then I am hesitant to really use those fancy but not too protective cases. I really wanna get a leather case again but just hesitant cuz I go to the gym and run a lot. So I just get Otterbox Symmetry, Pursuit and now Defender.

I do not drop my phone a lot but you know, accidents happen.

AppleCare+ and bumpers with frame lips like the ones on a RhinoShields. You Can use the magnetism on the back of the phone since bumpers are only on the sides and top and bottom with a frame/lip that protects the screen. Their video demos that in most situations the RhinoShields protect without bulk and you can wireless charge and attach MagSafe items.

A Joli Original sleeve is good too. The felt inside the sleeve provides cushion if the sleeve were dropped with the phone inside. Need to take off sleeve to use naked phone, then put phone back in sleeve, so it’s an extra couple of steps, but you get to use and hold a naked phone.

 

[Fred Zed]

Apart from the material , does the official Apple silicon case provide same or less raised edges than the silicon one ?