I’ve always carried my iPhones in a leather pouch on my belt since 2007. It is also in a case to: 1. protect the back, 2. for better handling but no “screen protector”.
For the last few iPhones my family has owned I have installed ‘Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit’ tempered glass screen protectors (they come as a 2-pack). Although it may seem slightly wasteful, the plastic frame system they use to install the screen protector has worked flawlessly for me each time. There are many videos online that step you through the relatively simple process.
When I bought my iPhone 15 Pro I didn’t have a screen protector or case. I ordered both immediately because I find the iPhone hard to hold onto without a case. I tried to be careful when putting the phone into my pocket, but the day before the screen protector arrived I noticed a very light scratch on the screen even after thoroughly cleaning it. After I installed the protector the scratch was no longer visible.
About 6 months later I fumbled my phone in a rock-filled parking lot. After dusting it off I noticed a significant scratch on the screen protector (I wasn’t surprised considering what I had done). Online I learned that it’s easy to remove a screen protector. Use your fingernail to get under one edge of the glass. Slide a business card or something similar under that loose edge to raise the glass slightly, then work the card around until the whole thing pops off. If the protector is actually broken it will come off in pieces that will have sharp edges. In just a few minutes I had the spare protector installed.
The Spigen screen protector is an excellent fit and works fine with my non-Spigen phone case that slightly comes over the top edge of the phone. There’s no lag or disconnect through the protector when moving my finger around on the screen. I highly recommend the Spigen and consider them cheap insurance. And, yes, I also have Applecare.
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Appreciate the additional replies. After the last few comments, think I’ve decided I will always use a screen protector, no matter how strong Apple claims the screen is & how much protection the case on the phone provides. There’s always the possibility for some type of accident, regardless of how careful one tries to be. It’s much easier - both in time & cost - to replace a screen protector than it is to go to the Apple Store to have the screen replaced. Will make note of some of the screen protectors mentioned for future iPhones; will likely avoid Otterbox & Belkin in the future.
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Do you use a windshield protector on your car’s windshield? If not, why not? Surely the windshield is in danger of being damaged by rocks, and the cost of replacing a windshield is higher than the cost of a protector.
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FWIW, my insurer replaces broken windshields at no cost.
In any case, $5-15 to protect against a reasonable probability of scratches seems like a small price, especially if you’re the sort of person who gets annoyed at things like scratched screens or is concerned about resale value.
There does seem to be conflation of screen scratches and screen breaks. I think it is fair to say that broken screens are relatively rare, though not unheard of, while scratched screens are more common. Screen protectors do a good job at preventing scratches. Breakage is a different thing entirely, but even if a screen protector only marginally reduces the chances of breakage, many users will think it worth the small price of a protector.
This seems to be another tech topic of marginal impact that generates a surprising amount of fervor.
We’ve had iPhones since the 4 or maybe the 4s…and have never broken or scratched a screen. We use cases though…usually from Speck…so the screen doesn’t sit on the table even if the phone is face down. We’ve dropped them plenty of times onto everything from the table to carpet to beach to concrete and I’ve always been amazed that nothing happened to the screen.
I have a Zagg. I’ve broken a couple dropping the phone on rocks, and Apple managed to pop it off on last weeks battery replacement, which somehow netted me a tiny scratch in the past week 
Their warranty is good and they told me today that they have a kiosk in the local mall that will handle the install for me. I’ve done them myself but it’s always better with someone who does it every day
Someone already mentioned Zagg, I recommend those as well. They are very high quality, and have a lifetime replacement warranty, which I’ve taken advantage of. Only downside is they are expensive.
I advise against no case/screen protector like some here are advocating, it’s penny wise and pound foolish imo. But YMMV as always.
- Sorry, I missed your comment the different types of strength/toughness. I’d just been writing a note to call Zagg’s kiosk in the morning and was annoyed I have to do so. (but glad they didn’t brick the phone)
It’s not THAT tough. I ended up with a scratch in less than a week after Apple lost my protector. Thing is, I’ve hardly gone anywhere between the time I left there and the time I noticed it (could it have been scratched in the store? No idea), the phone is usually just on my desk. And I can feel it too.
I definitely didn’t drop it nor do I keep keys or coins in my pocket. Usually I have enough clothing on in the winter that the phone gets its own soft pocket.
The reason I get protectors is because I do drop my phone and am also often in the woods where there are plenty of rocks. My case has a good lip but that doesn’t matter if it drops face down on rocks - which it has and the protector has taken the hit
Good to hear about the in-person ZAGG kiosk. After reading 1-star Amazon reviews it looks like their lifetime warranty requires you to pay $10 shipping costs (and sometimes tax). Some people have also had to pay to ship their broken protector back to Zagg to get warranty replacement. In-person replacements may also have a cost. It might be worth checking out the terms of their lifetime warranty.
Zaag! With my iPhones 4, 4s (original), 5 & 12 I never used a screen protector. I also never dropped any of those phones, but because I type well over 300K words/month on my phones, each those screens lost their shine in areas touched by my thumb.
So for my 13 mini I got a Zaag, and now after 5-1/2 years that Zaag screen still looks like new.
I guess only 4-1/2 years, but still …