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Apple screen protector installation program officially rolling out to US Apple Stores and beyond from today

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Apple is now deploying its new screen protector program to Apple Stores across the United States and other countries from today. The introduction of the program was first reported by 9to5Mac and rolled out to Japanese Apple Stores last week. The program allows customers to get a Belkin screen protector carefully applied to their iPhone in store. At Apple Stores across America, customers can purchase a Belkin screen protector and have it applied in store by an Apple Store employee. The program supports only Apple’s latest iPhone models in both 4.7 and 5.5 inch variants: the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

The service has been offered in select stores from late last week, but has officially launched today according to Belkin’s website. The main benefit of the service is the assisted application, which prevents bubbles or imperfections from appearing on the screen when the protective cover film is applied …

Air bubble problems are common with third-party screen protectors, as they have to be applied naively by hand. For the official experience, Apple employees will use a cloth to remove any dust from the iPhone before applying the protector with the mechanical system. As a guarantee, after application, unsatisfied customers can ask the Apple employee to repeat the process with a new cover to get the fit just right. The service is free with the purchase of the appropriate Belkin screen protector for your iPhone.

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As always, if you can’t get to an Apple Store, you can always buy a screen protector online and apply it yourself. However, the screen protector service offered by Apple gives peace of mind that the protector will be applied as perfectly as possible with no visible air gaps. It’s a big change for Apple, as just a few years ago Apple would refuse to sell screen protectors on store shelves. Now, customers can visit Apple Stores and get official Apple employees to add a screen protector to their phone.

Here’s a video from Belkin demonstrating the Screencare+ Application System, used in the retail stores. Find more information about the service at Belkin’s website.

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Comments

  1. 2is1toomany - 8 years ago

    The service is free with the purchase of one of the 4 screen protectors from belkin they offer which are the anti-glare for the 6 and 6s, anti-glare for 6+ and 6s+, invisiglass for the 6 and 6s and invisiglass for the 6+ and 6s+. If I’m not mistaken it’s $18 for the the anti-glare and $35 for the invisiglass.

  2. davidstewart01 - 8 years ago

    Assuming that one of these “other countries” is the UK?

    I’m pretty interested in this as I’ve always thought them a good idea but can never get them on!

    Wondering the impact on 3D Touch if at all?

    • proudappleuser - 8 years ago

      No adverse impact. I have on the glass one. Fwiw, Apple always test all third party products to make sure they won’t affect the way a product works.

  3. acjeffers - 8 years ago

    Anyone else find this to be as ridiculous as the Apple iPhone battery case? Why not simply create a screen that is stronger and a phone that has better battery life? Who cares if it’s thinner?!

    • Matt Saddler - 8 years ago

      Even a sapphire screen would have shatter problems under the right conditions. There is also a large amount of consumers that regardless of durability will want a screen protector, just like some consumers put a case on a phone encased in anodized aluminum. Whether for stylistic reasons or an attempt to retain value, a HUGE number of consumers will want this. Also, Apple isn’t forcing you to buy a battery case, simply adding to the large market of battery cases.

      • acjeffers - 8 years ago

        I have a screen protector on my iPhone, and an amazing battery case- and one can argue that it is not by choice that I’ve gotten those two accessories. With no screen protector, the probability that I’d break or scratch my screen is high. Similar argument can be made for the battery case. So in a sense, yes, I’m being forced… There is not much choice here if one has to get an accessory to make up for what is widely perceived as a shortcoming on those ends of iPhone manufacturing. Not to say that the iPhone is not an amazing product.

    • johnmfoley - 8 years ago

      I’ve never used a screen protector and have never had any issues. I would assume Apple feels you don’t need one–maybe with a few exceptions like people constantly working with gravel/metal shavings/similar scratchy bits.

      However, some people still think they need them. And on 70% of people who I see with screen protectors on, they are messed up with air bubbles or folds or other mistakes. I’m guessing Apple’s thought is that if they’re going to do it anyway, might as well help them do it decently.

    • srgmac - 8 years ago

      No — this is not analogous to the battery case; there is no way Apple could create a screen like you are describing with the materials and technologies available currently that is for a mass produced product like an iPhone.

  4. Matt Rittman - 8 years ago

    “The world’s strongest smartphone glass isn’t tough enough, so install a screen protector!”

    • johnmfoley - 8 years ago

      Nope.
      People: Let’s install this screen protector that I don’t need and do it hastily so it makes my iPhone look awful.
      Apple: Well… if you’re going to do it anyway, at least let me put it on right for you

  5. Garry Denny - 8 years ago

    I went to the site and every Apple Store I checked has no mention of this service. I even checked the big stores in NY and California.

    • proudappleuser - 8 years ago

      Since it’s only install in stores I don’t think you’ll see it online. They still sell the self install kits online.

  6. Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

    It would be nice if they had this service for other screen protectors other than just Belkin. I bought one of those smart screen protectors with the extra buttons. I hate to admit, but It works like an Android phone only you don’t know it does from looking at it. I actually like that I have the back button feature that’s not the home button. I still wont’t buy an Android phone because there’s a lot more issues surrounding the use of Android, but I do admit that having extra buttons is useful. You just can’t play certain games very well because you end up triggering those extra buttons by accident.

    • srgmac - 8 years ago

      Eh…Belkin made the special application machine to work specifically for their screen protectors…I would not want an Apple Store employee to be messing around with something like Zagg’s Invisishield where it’s a wet-apply, or anything else really where they would have to put it on manually.
      If you really do want that, I believe some Best Buy stores offer this service, and of course Zagg and Ghost Armor have their own kiosks in malls where they will apply it for you as well.
      Props to Belkin for designing that kick ass applicator machine.

  7. Stephen Ellerington - 8 years ago

    I wonder if this will be extended to iPad screens too? I have avoided screen protectors I the past but when I got my iPhone 6 I was concerned that I might drop it so I got a screen protector.

  8. cityboyatheart - 8 years ago

    Belkin has yet to produce an Edge-2-Edge screen protector for the iPhone 6/6Plus and 6S/6SPlus. No matter how well aligned a standard cut (non-E2E) screen protector is it still looks like you have a piece of plastic or glass sitting on your screen. Besides the reliability and functionality of iPhones and iOS the devices are pieces of art. I prefer to keep my iPhones looking as naked as possible. E2E screen protectors do this beautifully and paired with an extremely thin, translucent case my phone almost looks like it’s come straight out of the box. While it doesn’t offer the protection of an Otterbox or even a bumper case, it’s enough for someone who is careful with their phone. It may sound a bit snobbish but if I’m paying just over a $1000 (with AppleCare+) for a nice looking phone I want to make it as look Spartan as possible and enjoy the look and feel of the iPhone as it was intended to be.

  9. Stephen Ellerington - 8 years ago

    I wonder if this service will be extended to support the iPhone SE?

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Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Benjamin Mayo

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog. Message Benjamin over email or Twitter.