Filip Brož Many people who meet me with an Apple Watch on their wrist ask a similar question. Do you already have them scratched somewhere? What about the display and the edges of the watch? Aren't they beat up from everyday use? It will soon be a year since I've actively worn the Apple Watch every day, and it'll also be a year since I've had a single tiny hairline scratch. Otherwise, my Watch is like new.
I immediately answer follow-up questions: I don't have any film, protective cover or frame. I've experimented with all sorts of protections, but only in the last few months; also due to the fact that such products were practically not available on the Czech market.
As with other Apple products, I also believe that the Watch looks and stands out best when worn on the wrist completely "naked", i.e. without foils and covers. In combination with original straps, they can even act as a tasteful design accessory.
But just because I found virtually no signs of damage on my watch after a year of use, doesn't mean it's unbreakable. From the beginning, I try to take care of them and above all not to wear them somewhere where they could come to harm. I take them off when working in the garden or playing sports. A moment of inattention or a tap on a sharp or hard object is all it takes, and sports watches in particular, which are made of aluminum, are quite susceptible. And I have already met many friends who have significantly scratched their watches.
On the other hand, it must be said that I was also lucky during my first year. While taking it off, my watch once flew down the display onto the wooden floor, but to my surprise I picked it up completely unscathed. For example, iPhone owners know very well that if you drop your iPhone twice in a row exactly the same way on the pavement, you can pick up the undamaged phone once and the screen with a cobweb the second time.
It is therefore best to prevent similar cases, but if you are no longer avoiding a crash, it should be noted that the resistance of the Apple Watch is high. I've seen tests on a toboggan, while diving or pulling the watch on a rope behind a car, and although after such escapades the chassis with the display took a lot of work, it usually did not affect the functionality. However, unlike a tapped iPhone in a pocket, which is usually not seen much, a scratched watch on the wrist does not look very good.
With the film, the display will not be scratched
The durability and longevity of the Apple Watch varies depending on which model you choose. The basic, "sporty" edition of the watch is made of aluminum, which is generally much more prone to minor damage and scratches. Steel watches, which are a few thousand more expensive, last longer. Therefore, many owners of aluminum watches are looking for different protection options.
Various protective films and glasses are offered as the number one option. The principle is completely identical to that of the iPhone or iPad. All you have to do is choose a suitable foil and stick it correctly. I myself tried several types of protection on the Watch, in addition to branded products, I bought several foils and frames - also due to the unavailability of similar products in our country - for a few dollars on the Chinese AliExpress. Does it even make sense?
I've found that while foil can be a handy item, most of the foils or glasses available don't look good on a watch at all. It's because the foils don't go all the way around, and it's not pretty on the small Watch display.
But there are exceptions. I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Trust Urban Screen Protector films, which come in a pack of three. Unfortunately, they were able to disappoint me right away due to their special gluing procedure, when I destroyed two pieces at once and only managed to glue the third foil correctly. Moreover, the result was not very good. The film from Trust was not very adherent, and in direct sunlight various irregularities and settled dust were even visible.
For the time being, it is not a standard like with iPhones that if you buy a branded film, it will work on the watch without any problems. There aren't too many of those that cover the entire display and thus get "lost", and the classic ones don't look so good, but they reliably protect the watch's display from unwanted scratches.
So if you are worried about your display, then reach for the film. A suitable candidate can be the established classic from invisibleSHIELD. Tempered glass, which can be bought for a few hundred crowns, offers a degree of better protection. Dozens of other foils can also be found on Chinese e-shops such as AliExpress and others, which may be worth visiting as soon as possible. For a few dollars, you can try different types of films and see if they suit you on the Watch. After all, even the mentioned tempered glass can be found as a non-brand mainly there; there aren't that many branded accessories.
Ordinary film or tempered glass can be purchased in Chinese e-shops literally for a few crowns. It is ideal to buy especially on someone's recommendation, then you can come across really good products that are not too different from branded foils, such as the aforementioned invisibleSHIELD HD, which costs three hundred crowns.
The protective frame ruins the design of the watch
The second option to protect your Apple Watch is to reach for a protective bezel. As with films and glasses, you can choose from several options, colors and materials. I have personally tried both classic colored plastic frames, as well as silicone or all-plastic ones, which also cover the watch display.
Each frame has its advantages and disadvantages. An interesting version is offered by the company Trust, for example. Their Slim Case frames come in a package in five colors, corresponding to the official colors of the silicone bands for the Watch. You can easily change the look of your watch.
The Slim Case itself is made of soft plastic, which will protect the watch in the event of an impact or fall, but it probably won't survive much on its own, especially the heavier ones. Fortunately, you have the mentioned five in one package. The Slim Case simply snaps onto the Watch and does not interfere with any controls or sensors.
However, when putting on any frame in combination with foil, I warn you to be careful, because the frame can peel off the foil. So it is necessary to deploy carefully.
Translucent silicone is also an interesting material. Although its translucency does not mean that it cannot be seen on the watch, it ensures that the Watch is practically indestructible. With silicone around the watch, you really don't have to worry about knocking it during normal use. On the other hand, dirt gets under the silicone, which is visible, and it is necessary to clean everything from time to time. For the silicone case, I recommend heading to AliExpress again, I haven't found a branded alternative yet.
I also tried a Chinese plastic frame that protected not only the sides but also the display. You click it on top of the Watch and you can still control the display just as comfortably. But the big minus here is in the appearance, the plastic protection is really not nice and probably few people will exchange such a solution for the safety of their watch.
As with protective films, the price of frames also varies greatly. You can buy branded products from approximately three hundred to seven hundred crowns. On the contrary, you can get a protective frame on AliExpress for fifty crowns. Then you can easily try several types of protection and find out which one suits you. And then you need to start looking for a verified brand.
Protection in a different way
The autonomous category is then various accessories that combine new bands and protection for the Apple Watch at the same time. One such strap is Lunatik Epik, which turns the apple watch into a massive and durable product. You will especially appreciate similar protection during outdoor sports, such as mountain climbing, hiking or running.
Various durable protective frames can also be purchased in stores, in which you simply place the body of the watch and then attach your own strap of your choice. An interesting design is offered, for example, by the established company Spigen, whose frames are even military certified, including subjecting them to thorough drop tests. Ozaki also offers similar protection, but its products focus more on design and color unification. Both manufacturers offer their products in stores from 600 to 700 crowns. It only depends on the material and processing.
Various waterproof cases can already be purchased in the Czech Republic. For example, the case from Catalyst and their Waterproof model for Apple Watch is a very good piece. At the same time, the manufacturers guarantee waterproofness up to a depth of five meters, with the fact that access to all control elements is completely preserved. You can get this case in stores for around 1 crowns.
The big advantage of all these protective elements is the fact that they are not that expensive. You can try some protective frames or ordinary foils without any problems. Thanks to this, you can easily find out if they suit you and bring some benefit. However, if your Apple Watch is already battered and full of scratches, the protection probably won't save you. Either way, it's still just a watch that we use every day.
… I just skimmed the text, I didn’t read it – in my opinion, giving any kind of protection to apple products is the same as buying expensive tires for your ferrari and wrapping them in bubble wrap,… But what do I want to say – recently I reached for my Apple Watch table for the cable, and I leaned my full weight against the wall with the watch and ran the glass about 60 cm along the concrete wall (concrete panel painted with primalex). I was drenched in sweat, my eyes were bigger than the cat from Shrek, and he slowly turned the watch on himself. They were dirty, with white lines across the display. In horror, I ran my thumb over them and everything disappeared - that is, for me: "It's worth investing in sapphire, ion-x would go to "dill".
Excellent article, I have no problem at all with the front glass of the apple watch sport, the worse is the bottom side with the sensors, so I don't know how I managed it, but I have micro scratches, luckily it doesn't matter
I have the sport edition and I have already managed to run the glass over the wall several times, or take the fur with my watch right at the bend of the glass. I was always horrified that it was glass. However, after wiping off the paint that had stuck to the watch, I was relieved that nothing had happened to it. I even play airsoft with them and nothing happened to them either. So far, two hairline scratches have appeared on the display, which are only visible in bright light and at a specific tilt angle (people tell me that only I can see them).
That's how it is when you don't try to be objective in the review and present only the worst cases - immediately rejecting covers as unsightly is like rejecting mobile phone covers. Here, too, there is so much that you can find good properties and uses, including appearance. For example, I put on a durable cover even over the display only when I go sports, and with a cover only on the body of the watch, you can perfectly fine-tune the appearance of the strap. Take this as an example – the black body version of the watch just didn't fit the metal movement, but like this? And in reality, both are better than in the photo...
Sorry, but no. It just looks terrible…
Have you ever seen a Brietlingy stuck on? That's really a perversion. If you have to sell a kidney for a Watch and you want to sell it after two years, preferably for more than what it cost you, then don't buy it.
I am just about to buy an Apple watch Sport 42mm and this article raised a bit of a question for me, but thanks to the comments I can see that I don't have to worry so much, for bigger work (cleaning the boiler in the basement, etc.) it is clear that I will take it off. I would be a little worried about riding a bike, my work is sedentary at the computer, I also play hockey recreationally, but my goalie vests don't fit there and I don't even want to try it. I think I can do it, or any advice from users? What do I expect from this, I have an IP 6+ and most importantly that I won't have to "haul" and carry the big phone everywhere when I just need to check if someone has texted me etc... Don't allude to anything like why I have such a big phone if it bothers me etc..., just tips from users. Thanks a lot for the responses
In that case, I will disappoint you. If you don't have the big phone with you, you won't blink to see if someone has texted you... The watch needs to be close to the phone for that... Otherwise, AW and I do everything, including currently renovating the apartment, and they don't even have a scratch. I wouldn't worry about durability.
Cover and foil? It's like sex with a condom. ;-)
Something from AliExpress + Watch? Is this supposed to be a joke?
Well, I have a classic metal watch and it seems to have tiny hairline scratches almost all the way around. So I don't know if it really just seems to me or it is already like that from the factory. I don't know of a single case where I had a problem with them. Of course, the glass is without scratches. I also have several other classic watches and I have basically no scratch on them.
It seems a bit of a shame not to do sports with the watch when it is one of its main strengths (heart rate measurement without a watch band), so I ride a road bike and bike with it, run, cross-country + wear it almost every day and I have to say that after 10 months of use on there is nothing to recognize them :))