Do I Need A Smartwatch Screen Protector In 2024?

If you are a smartwatch owner and you are wondering whether you should get a smartwatch screen protector or not, this guide is for you!

Back in the day, smartwatches used to come with pretty bad screens which were prone to cracks. That’s why smartwatch users were compelled to use screen protectors to protect their smartwatches’ displays.

Fast forward to 2023, the screens on smartwatches have become really good and the question is: do you still need a smartwatch screen protector in 2023?

Read More: Best 7 Apple Watch Cases For Construction Workers and Where To Get Them?

In this WearToTrack guide, I’ll address the following topics:

• Should you get a screen protector for your smartwatch in 2023?
• Is it OK not to use a screen protector on your smartwatch?
• How to find the best screen protector for your smartwatch?
• Does Apple Watch Series 8 need a screen protector?
• Should you buy a screen guard for your Samsung Galaxy Watch 5?
• Does a rugged smartwatch like Apple Watch Ultra need a screen guard?
• And many more!

Screen Protector is a very useful item that will help you keep your smartwatch in mint condition but should you get it? If yes, then how should you choose the right one? Let’s find out!

Does Your Smartwatch Need A Screen Protector In 2023?

Before I get to the topic, let me quickly tell you a bit about the glass technologies used in smartwatches over the years. In the early days, smartwatches used to come with a simple glass that was prone to breaking.

The smartwatch companies quickly realized it and they started using gorilla glass which was a better and more durable replacement to regular glass. 

Nowadays, many smartwatches come with gorilla glass and it has become the standard glass that you will find in mid to high-end smartwatches such as Google Pixel Watch, Garmin Forerunner 955, and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.

It’s surely durable but still, it can be scratched so even if you have gorilla glass on your smartwatch, I’d still recommend that you should invest in a good screen protector because it will protect the glass.

Recently many smartwatch companies including Apple, Garmin, and Samsung have started using Sapphire glass on their premium watches. 

When it comes to durability, Sapphire glass is way more durable than corning gorilla glass or any other glass quality out there. As it’s tough glass, it’s less prone to scratches. You will find sapphire glass on premium smartwatches such as Apple Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch 5 lineup, and Garmin Fenix 7.

Practically you can use a smartwatch with sapphire glass without a screen protector but is it recommended? No! The reason why it’s not recommended is that Sapphire glass is very expensive glass and if you somehow break it, it will cost you a lot of money to replace it. So, I’d still recommend you to go with a good screen protector because it will protect the glass.

Overall, the glass on smartwatches has gotten better over the years but still, it’s far from perfection. It hasn’t reached a state where it can survive without a screen protector. So, if you are a smartwatch owner, I’d recommend you should install a good screen protector to protect your smartwatch.

Is It Ok If I Don’t Use A Screen Protector On My Smartwatch?

A good screen protector on your smartwatch will protect it from scratches and save your display from cracking because it will absorb the shock.

If you decide not to use a screen protector, you can surely use your smartwatch without it. However, in this scenario, your smartwatch will be exposed to sharp objects which can potentially damage it.

So, considering the replacement cost of smartwatch glasses, I’d recommend that you should use a screen protector.

How To Choose The Right Screen Protector For Your Smartwatch?

If you want to choose the right screen projector for your smartwatch, you should consider the following factors.

Screen Protector Material

Screen Protectors come in different materials and some are more durable than others. The most common and popular material for screen protectors is tempered glass. 

The best thing about tempered glass is that it’s way more durable than regular glass. On top of that, it’s also scratch resistant which allows it to handle scratches pretty well. 

On the internet, you will also find plastic smartwatch screen protectors and they are cheaper than tempered glass but they are not very durable. 

So, if you want a durable screen protector for your smartwatch, you should consider tempered glass. However, if you are on a budget, you can go with a plastic smartwatch screen protector but I’d recommend that you go with tempered glass because it offers better value.

Clarity

Most quality screen protectors for smartwatches these days offer good clarity but still, there are some cheap screen protectors, mainly plastic screen protectors, available which don’t offer good clarity.

So, you should avoid them because they will make it difficult for you to view the smartwatch screen.

Ease of Installation

Last but not the least, when you are buying a screen protector for your smartwatch make sure that it’s easy to install. Now the question is: how can you check if a screen protector is easy to install?

The easy way to check it is by reading the reviews. If other customers didn’t face difficulty installing it, it means that the screen projector is easy to install.

Should I Get A Screen Protector For My Apple Watch Series 8?

Apple Watch Series 8 comes with a special Ion-X Strengthened glass which has been strengthened through the ion exchange process. The unique thing about this glass is that it provides good protection without compromising sensitivity.

Now the question is: should you get a screen protector for your Apple Watch Series 8? The answer is: Yes. Although Ion-X Strengthened Glass is better than regular glass, it’s not resistant to scratches.

So, considering the high replacement cost of Apple Watch screen glass, I’d highly recommend that you should get a good quality smartwatch glass for it.

Zpiar Tempered Glass Protector is arguably one of the best screen protectors for the Apple Watch Series 8. It comes with high-quality tempered glass which is scratch-resistant, shatterproof, and dust resistant.

Also, it’s made of 9H hardness tempered glass material which allows it to handle minor bumps and scratches without any problem. So, if you are looking for a quality screen protector for your Apple Watch Series 8, you should consider this one.

Should I Buy A Screen Protector For My Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 And Galaxy Watch 5 Pro?

Samsung Galaxy Watch lineup is the premium smartwatch lineup by the company and for Galaxy Watch 5, the company decided to go with sapphire glass. It’s one of the hardest materials on the Mohs scale which tells a lot about the quality of the material.

Sapphire glass is more durable than regular glass and it’s less prone to scratches. Ideally, you can use your Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro without a screen protector but the question is: should you do it?

It mainly depends on how you intend to use your Galaxy Watch 5. If you think that you can take good care of it and protect it from sharp objects such as keys or dumbbells in your gym, you can keep using it without a screen protector.

However, if you are worried about scratches and exposing your smartwatch to a rough environment, a screen protector will provide an additional layer of protection.

If you are interested in getting a screen protector for your Galaxy Watch 5, you can consider Supershieldz Tempered Glass Protector.

It’s one of the best screen protectors for galaxy watch 5 and it comes with 9H hardness which makes it less prone to scratches. Also, it comes with hydrophobic and oleo-phobic coating on the top which protects the glass from fingerprints 

Does Google Pixel Watch Need A Screen Protector?

Google Pixel Watch comes with a gorilla glass 5 on the top which is one of the most durable glasses out there but the design of the watch exposes glass which increases the risks of getting scratches and bumps.

So, if you want to avoid the risk of getting scratches or cracks on your Google Pixel Watch’s display, I’d recommend that you get a good screen protector for it.

When it comes to screen protectors for Google Pixel Watch, you get two types of protectors. The first type covers the whole display while the second type also protects the body. 

So, if you want to only protect the screen of your Google Pixel Watch, you can consider Flokinice tempered glass protector which comes in a pack of 3 and offers adequate protection against scratches.

Similarly, if you are interested in protecting the screen and body of your Google Pixel Watch, you can consider the JZK Tempered Glass Protective case. The case itself is very thin and you won’t notice any significant difference in weight once you put it on.

Does Apple Watch Ultra Need A Screen Protector?

Apple Watch Ultra is the toughest Apple Watch to date and it’s equipped with premium materials which make it very durable. The case of the Apple Watch Ultra is made of titanium which is one of the toughest materials on earth and on top you get sapphire glass which is known for its durability.

If you intend to expose your Apple Watch Ultra to harsh environments and adventure activities such as Hiking, trailing, or skiing, I’d recommend that you should get a screen protector. It will protect the display of the Apple Watch Ultra and add an additional layer of protection to the sapphire glass. Also, it will prolong the smartwatch’s life and protect the display from any scratches.

If you are interested in getting a high-quality screen protector for your Apple Watch Ultra, you can consider LK Tempered Glass Protector. It comes with an easy installation tool which makes it easy to install the protector on the screen. 

The best thing about the LK screen protector is that it’s shatterproof and the company has used special chemical polish and anti-scratch coating to make it resistant to scratches. Also, it’s highly transparent and doesn’t affect the sensitivity of the display.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Can Screen Protectors Guarantee 100% Protection From All Damages?

While Screen protectors do offer good protection against scratches and cracks, 100% protection is not guaranteed. Screen Protectors can be scratched or damaged but they will protect the glass underneath.

How Often Should I Replace My Smartwatch Screen Protector?

It mainly depends on the condition of your smartwatch screen protector. If it has got cracks or scratches and they are making it difficult to use the watch, you can surely replace it. However, if there are no scratches or cracks, you can keep using the screen protector until it needs to be replaced.

How Do I Clean And Maintain My Smartwatch Screen Protector?

Normally you won’t need to regularly clean and maintain your smartwatch screen protector. However, if you feel that it needs to be cleaned, you can use a microfiber cloth to clean it. Make sure that you don’t use any detergent or any other chemical as it can damage your smartwatch.

Is Apple UItra Scratch-Proof?

Apple Watch Ultra comes with sapphire glass which is resistant to scratches but it’s not 100% scratch resistant. Some materials such as diamonds and hard rocks can scratch the sapphire glass.

Is It Necessary To Use A Screen Protector On All Types Of Smartwatches?

While the glass technology on smartwatches has gotten better over the years, it still hasn’t reached a state where it’s completely resistant to scratches or cracks. So, it’s a good idea to add an additional layer of protection to your smartwatch by using a good-quality screen protector. 

Conclusion

Screen Protector is a must-have smartwatch accessory these days and it provides protection to your smartwatch against scratches and cracks at a very small price.

So, if you are a smartwatch owner, you must invest in a good screen protector because it will not only protect the glass but also increase the life of your smartwatch.

I hope that you found this guide useful and if you have any questions or suggestions for me, please feel free to reach me via comments. Also, check this guide where I’ve compared the thickness of all Apple Watch models.