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Most iPhone screen protectors will continue to work with iPhone 6s 3D Touch

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 11.54.24

Update: LiquidSkin are currently selling a great screen protector for only $0.50 for both iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. Add these to your cart and use the following promo codes:

The 3D-Touch pressure sensitive features in the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus is invisible to the eye but  — at some level — its based off sensors in the screen that detect levels of pressure. This led some people to worry if plastic screen protectors and glass screen covers would impact the sensors, perhaps even prevent 3D Touch from working completely.

However, it turns out this is not the case. 3DTechtronics asked Apple SVP Phil Schiller about this issue in an email. Schiller responded and says it’s not a problem: “screen overlays that follow our guidelines will continue to work with 3D Touch”.

3dt_sp

As long as the screen protector accessories comply with Apple’s guidelines, everything should be fine. But what are Apple’s guidelines? Apple’s rules for accessory manufacturers have three requirements for screen overlays:

If a case design requires the Apple device’s touchscreen to be covered with an overlay, the overlay must not:

  • exceed 0.3 mm in thickness
  • introduce air gaps between the touchscreen and overlay
  • be electrically conductive

A quick search shows that almost all existing iPhone screen protectors will meet these requirements. The last requirement is naturally conformed to by any touchscreen cover, otherwise the touchscreen wouldn’t work at all. In addition, the vast majority of screen protectors are thinner than 0.3mm for both functional and aesthetic reasons.

Official MFI accessories will work but so will the amass of unofficial plastic and tempered glass screen covers on sale for iPhones today. Apple’s iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus launch on September 25th.

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Comments

  1. ishan24 - 9 years ago

    What’s Phil’s email id??

  2. applegetridofsimandjack - 9 years ago

    I’m really looking forward to iPhones and iPads with sapphire displays. I’m really tired of spending 20€ for a screen protector! It’s absolute theft!

    • Gregory Wright - 9 years ago

      I suspect sapphire displays will add to the cost of the device – then what have you gained.

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        Gregory Wright, A very scratch resistant but more easily shattered screen that will cost a lot more to replace.

    • Howie Isaacks - 9 years ago

      Then stop buying them. They’re worthless. I’ve had an iPhone since the first one shipped in June 2007 and I have never had a scratch on any of them. Ever. Just don’t put your phone in the same pocket with keys or anything else that can scratch glass. It’s that simple. Common sense wins every time it’s tried.

      • bhayes444 - 9 years ago

        Keys don’t scratch glass, the metal is too soft. The only common material to scratch the coating on the glass is sand, which is everywhere. It is very difficult to avoid sand.

      • Howie Isaacks - 9 years ago

        Well, then I guess I’ve avoided sand for 8 years. Sand can get under screen protectors. I’ve seen dust do it, so why not sand? At any rate, screen protectors don’t benefit anyone but the people who sell them.

    • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

      20€? I don’t know where you’re buying them but I suspect you haven’t looked around much. I just bought a highly rated one on Amazon for $8.

      • applegetridofsimandjack - 9 years ago

        That is also way overpriced. But I bought a truck full of them from Miniinthebox. Cost me 15€ for like 25 of them.

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        applegetridofsimandjack, That’s a good price if the quality is good. The $8 one that I bought was the thinnest one I could find @ 0.2 mm. I had a cheaper, though thicker one on my 5s and it occasionally interfered with typing accuracy. It’s less than 1% of the cost of the phone so I’m not stressing about it.

  3. Howie Isaacks - 9 years ago

    They’re worthless. If the way you use your iPhone causes the glass to scratch you’re doing something stupid. I hate having to work on someone’s iPhone that has a stupid screen protector. They’re ugly and they reduce the quality of the screen.

  4. chrisdudek04 - 9 years ago

    So will the invisible shield glass, measured at 0.4mm be an issue? My first thought is no, 0.1mm shouldn’t make a huge difference…but you never know. Hopefully it’s fine since I just ordered 2 of them.

  5. mpias3785 - 9 years ago

    Extremely good information to know!

  6. Ilko Sarafski - 9 years ago

    Well, I hope we’ll have some more data in the near future but I think that if/when I get my 6S, I won’t put anything on it. Simply because I am using the 4 right now without protector and for more than a year now, maybe close to 2, I got only 1 small scratch. And that’s because I was stupid and dropped the phone in a very stupid way. :D And we all know that with every generation the phones get better screens. 6S>>>>4 for sure. So I am pretty sure that I’ll restrain from such thing. Some professional thought would be nice here, though… :)

  7. Getz Forme - 8 years ago

    I agree 100% with the people below that are for screen protectors. If you get the right one you can’t even tell it’s on there and if you do happen to screw something up you have the insurance that you have extra protection. $20 for piece of mind? Duh.

Author

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.