Do You Really Need a Screen Protector for Your iPhone 16?

September 9, 2024

The iPhone 16 has dropped, and we’re happy to help accessorize your new phone with the best gear in the biz. When it comes to protecting your iPhone, we're obsessed with screen protectors that help defend against scratches from all kinds of abuse. With advancements in smartphone glass technology, such as Apple's Ceramic Shield, many people are divided on whether a screen protector is truly necessary. We believe that while there have been incredible improvements in iPhone durability, screen protectors can still provide many benefits. Let’s discuss why you might need one and how to choose the best screen protector for your new iPhone 16.

Are Screen Protectors Worth It?

A screen protector is a transparent layer of strong material that you can attach to your phone to protect its screen. Its purpose is to take the abuse of everyday wear and tear, rather than the glass display. This can include sand in your pocket after a trip to the beach, keys scratching against your phone’s display, and dropping your phone onto asphalt. With a screen protector, if your phone falls off your desk, gets shuffled around in a bag, or takes an impact, the screen protector breaks, but not the screen itself. It's much easier to apply a new screen protector than to replace a cracked display (and less expensive, too). So, when your screen protector breaks but your phone screen doesn't, you know it did its job.

The benefits of screen protection might seem straightforward, but there are several reasons to consider one if you haven’t already:

1. Scratch-Resistance
Even the toughest glass will show scratches and scuffs from daily use. Keys, coins, and other hard objects in pockets and bags will leave marks on your screen.

2. Shatter Protection
While screen protectors won't make your iPhone screen invincible, they can provide an extra layer that might prevent the glass from shattering upon impact.

3. Smudge and Fingerprint Reduction
Some screen protectors have what is called an oleophobic coating, which helps give it a smooth touch and reduces the appearance of fingerprints and smudges. This will keep your phone clean longer, and the screen will be visibly clearer. If you don’t use a screen protector, the natural coating on your phone can wear down quickly.

4. Enhanced Privacy
Privacy screen protectors prevent others from seeing your screen from certain angles, which is useful for protecting sensitive information in public places.

5. Blue Light Filter
Some screen protectors feature a blue light filter, which reduces light intensity and filters peak blue light.Filtering blue light can help improve eye comfort when starting at screens for extended periods. It also helps reduce the negative effects on your sleep by promoting the natural release of melatonin

6. Resale Value
Screen protectors help to keep your screen in pristine condition and can increase the resale value of your iPhone when you decide to upgrade.

8 Things to Look for When Choosing the Best Screen Protector for iPhone 16

There are plenty of screen protectors out there to choose from. You’ll want to make sure that the claims being made about them are backed by testing, and not just some flashy marketing gimmicks.

1. Material

PET: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a clear, durable and versatile plastic. It's a thin and touch sensitive material that provides scratch-resistance and basic protection. You can also choose PET screen protectors that provide edge coverage.
Standard Tempered Glass: Tempered glass is strengthened to be stronger than regular glass. It provides multi-level protection, minimizing damage from daily wear and tear, as well as occasional drops and impacts, without causing deep-level damage.
Chemically Strengthened Glass: There are different types of glass within this group that can go through single and double ion exchange strengthening to provide an extra layer of protection that standard tempered glass does not.

2. Durability and Hardness
Look for screen protectors with the highest hardness rating (9H is ideal) to ensure maximum scratch resistance. And be sure to pay close attention to the data behind a screen protector’s strength claims. We always compare the strength of our screen protectors against tempered glass, using rigorous tests and consumer use cases. Be wary of brands that claim to be 10x stronger than others—this doesn’t mean much unless they are comparing themselves to the industry standard of tempered glass. Make sure they aren’t measuring themselves against a lower-quality glass to market themselves this way. InvisiGlass screen protectors are up to 62% stronger than tempered glass* and UltraGlass 2 is up to 2.7x stronger than tempered glass.^†

3. Clarity and Touch Sensitivity
Make sure your screen protector doesn’t reduce the display clarity or affect the touch sensitivity. You’ll want to check the thickness of the screen protector as well—the thinner the screen, the more natural the touch sensitivity will be. High-quality tempered glass protectors usually maintain the original or “native” feel of the screen.

4. Hydrophobic and Oleophobic Coating
Look for a screen protector that is hydrophobic (fear of water) and/or oleophobic (fear of oil). Both will be resistant to liquids, so you won’t have to worry about damage to the screen from sticky fingers or small spills.

5. Installation
If you hate air bubbles and wonky placement as much as we do, you’ll want to keep the difficulty of screen protector installation in mind. Look for easy installation methods that include kits, alignment tools and cleaning wipes.

6. Edge-to-Edge Coverage
Some screen protectors only cover the flat part and viewing area of the screen, while others are designed to cover the edges. Edge-to-edge coverage minimizes the “rainbow effect,” or the streak of rainbow light you get when the screen protector doesn't cover the edge of the LED screen on your phone. Screen protectors like the UltraGlass use 2.5D technology to cover the entire screen, including the contoured edges of the glass.

7. Brand Reputation
Opt for reputable brands that offer comprehensive warranties with customer-centric missions. Reading reviews can also give insight into the quality and performance of the screen protector.

8. Sustainability
According to the EPA, less than 1/3 of glass is recycled in the U.S., and we're trying to change that. Search for brands that make products sustainably and leave a smaller carbon footprint. Many brands incorporate sustainability through plastic-free or recycled packaging. It's still a huge challenge to incorporate sustainability into a glass screen protector, but we’ve decided to make this a reality with InvisiGlass, our new eco-friendly screen protector made of up to 60% recycled glass* and 100% recycled packaging.**

Belkin Screen Protector Testing

We take our products seriously and put our customers’ experience and needs first. That’s why we complete several tests for each screen protector we develop, to guarantee that your phone can handle it all. These include rigorous daily use tests in real-life situations, like these:

Scratch Resistance Test: Tests the screen protector’s ability to withstand contact with sharp objects, like keys, coins, and even sand.
Ball Impact Test: Tests to make sure your device is protected from everyday bumps and tumbles.
Tumble Test: Tests the durability of your screen protector while travelling in a bag, purse, or pocket.
Drop Protection Test: Tests the protection and durability of your screen protector by dropping the phone face down on soft and rough concrete from different heights. This is to make sure the screen protector shields your phone screen from realistic drops and is durable enough to survive most accidental falls.
Fit Test: Makes sure your phone screen is completely covered, won’t interfere with most phone cases and stays put without lifting, bubbling or causing cosmetic issues.

Your iPhone Screen Matters

While iPhone screens have become more durable over the years, a screen protector can still provide valuable protection against scratches, impacts, and smudges. By selecting the right screen protector, you can keep your iPhone screen in pristine condition and extend its lifespan.

Ultimately, the decision to use a screen protector comes down to personal preference and how much you value added protection for your device. With the right screen protector, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your iPhone is safeguarded against everyday wear and tear. Shop our collection of durable and reliable screen protectors for iPhone 16.

FAQ

Do screen protectors interfere with a touch screen?
This is a common concern when installing a screen protector. The good news is that unless you are purchasing a low-quality or thick screen protector, you will not notice any interference with your touch screen. It’s important to look for a thin, high-quality screen protector that doesn’t compromise on durability, like the UltraGlass2, which is up to 2.7x stronger than tempered glass† and just 0.29mm thin. They’re engineered to look and feel just like your iPhone screen and protect against impact, scratches, cracks, smudges, fingerprints, and more. The glass contains an antimicrobial treatment, too, to protect the product from discoloration and degradation.

Do I need a screen protector if I have a case?
Yes, a screen protector is a good idea, even if you have a case. Screen protectors help prevent scratches and cracks from daily wear and tear, like a beach trip, keys scratching against your phone’s display, and dropping your phone onto asphalt.

How to put on screen protector?
Installing a screen protector is easy with our installation kit that includes a bubble-free Easy Align tray, a dust removal sticker and a cleaning cloth.