Earlier today we reported that Apple was partnering with one screen protector company, likely Belkin, to offer professional installations of screen protectors done by machines. Now, a report from MacOtakara says that Apple has started rolling out its screen protector installation service in Japan and that it has in fact partnered with Belkin to do so, just as we reported this morning.
Apple Stores in Japan have implemented the Belkin TrueClear Pro system in order to perform the screen protector application process. Belkin details the process in a support document on its website, but it’s relatively simple. First, he Apple employee ensures that all dust and particles are removed from the device’s display and places the iPhone on one side of the machine and the screen protector on the other. Then, the machine is closed, the protector’s wrapping is removed, and the screen protector is aligned perfectly onto the iPhone’s display.
Should a customer feel that an error was made in the screen protector application process, then the Apple Store will redo the process at no additional cost.
The initial cost of the screen protector + application process is between $19 and $37, depending on the material chosen and the size of the phone. The program will rollout to the United States and other markets soon.
Apple this week will also start offering a new broken iPhone upgrade program. This program will allow users with devices that have broken screens to upgrade to newer models by trading in their broken phone.
Read more about both the broken iPhone program and the screen protector installation setup in Mark Gurman’s piece from earlier today.
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That was a fast implementation… almost too fast… But this is great, I no longer have to worry about putting on a screen protector crooked.
The most interesting part of this in my opinion is that Japan got this service first. Normally, the US would get products/services/software first as that’s Apple’s home market. Belkin is also American. I have to ask: Why Japan first?
ya, I thought that was kind of odd too, but i’m sure it will come to the US soon. It could be that Japan could be a trail/test area for now, to see if people really want this done. So that way they can see how useful/unuseful it will be in the US
That makes sense
it’s because the system was engineered in japan but licensed out to belkin and apple. japanese people are great at ingenuity but terrible at mass marketing.
I’m guessing they aren’t thinking about just adding sapphire screens to new phones for awhile
Having lived in japan for 6 years I can honestly say this is nothing new — at least not phone all the other stores…
Whenever I’ve purchased a phone in store i have always got a screen protector to go with it… the store will apply the screen protector at no extra cost…
I have also bought new screen protectors and had the store take the old one off, clean the screen, and apply to new one – at no extra cost…
Japanese people are extremely helpful…
I should point out that by ‘store’ i mean a non-apple store (so phone company shops like AU, Softbank… or Electronic stores)… so i am very surprised to read that Apple stores are actually charging you for this — just because they are using a machine… :-(
What is that device in which he places the phone afterwards?
People who say iPhone don’t need screen protectors are buIIshïttèrs.
Yes Gorilla Glass gets more and more scratch resistant every year but it is still extremely prone to scratching.
When I bought my iPad 4, I didn’t apply a screen protector before it was 3 weeks old. I just didn’t get around to it.
After 3 weeks of usage, it got scratched on the bottom right. While I was extremely careful and only used it at home… Same happened with my iPhone 6…
I now use an iPhone 6S and iPad Air 2. Both are equipped with tempered glass protectors. Never again will I use an Apple product again without it having a screen protector (except Macs and Apple Watches).
I don’t believe they do absolutely need one. My 6 never had one and didn’t have a single scratch by the time I handed it on, and my current 6s doesn’t either. I put both in Apple Leather cases so they do have protection, but not from a screen protector.
That said, it’s a useful safety measure. I don’t use one but my fiancé does given she’s more prone to dropping and breaking things.
I believe you but I also believe you got lucky then… I’m sure one day you will find your display having a scratch or more.
I wouldn’t say it’s luck, I’m very careful and in particular my phone goes into a separate pocket to everything else (phone left, keys and wallet right). I work an IT job so I’m not exposed to any rough work conditions either like some people are. If I scratch it I’d consider myself unlucky as opposed to lucky for having not.
In any event, I have Apple Care+ so if I do damage the screen I’ll replace it through that. I decided that was the better option for me, especially when the iPhone 6 first came out and I couldn’t find screen protectors that conformed to the curved edges of the display.
I have my iPhone 4 for over 4 years. The only thing it ever had on it was a custom Pink Floyd sticker on the back of it. No screen protector, no case, no nothing. and in the end, sold it to T-Mobile for $202. It still looked like new! I don’t put my phone in my pocket. I’ve always just used a belt case to put it into. Not sure what some of you are doing, but it wouldn’t matter what phone you owned, you’d have issues.
You don’t need them. The glass on IOS products is nearly impossible to scratch. That said, they CAN, but it is very hard to do. Diamonds will scratch the glass, but you can take a knife blade to them and they won’t. As careful as you were, something careless happened. I have had 9 iPhones and six iPads and am not terrible careful with them, and without any screen protectors I have never had a scratch on any of my devices. So, if a protector is $20, I have saved $300 by not purchasing them. I work at an Apple Store, and as to cracks, having a protector does absolutely NOTHING, as every day I see people come into the store with broken screens with then supposed glass protectors that prevent breaks. Its marketing nonsense.
It’s actually not all that hard to get minor scratches and swirls on the Gorilla Glass, because silica (sand dust) WILL scratch it quite easily. And you don’t need to be living on a beach for that to happen. A good tempered glass protector can be had for $7 or $8. I’m also using a Rhinoshield Playproof case (great slim case, btw) to protect my phone. It’s silly that folks rely on that 0.2 mm thick applied glass to “protect” their screen from drops.
I have/have had in my household, iPhone 3G, (2) iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, iPad, iPad 2, iPad mini 3 and iPad mini 4 and have never used screen protectors, nor have ever had a screen scratched. Some of them are in cases, but not all. I would not call that luck but rather the way in which I/we care for them.
What if dirt gets trapped between the phone and the screen overlay (as Philly says)?
Will they start all over again, without charging the customer more/again?
Ignore comment. I missed it in the article.
Stark contrast from nearly exactly 6 years ago (give or take a month or so) when screen protectors were banned from Apple store shelves..
You serious? Why were they banned?
I think Steve was making a point about how scratch resistant the screens already were, or how crap the protectors available at the time were. Probably both.
Never had a case or screen protector on my iPhones. They’re not for me. Though I can understand why some people would like to have a case, I can’t wrap my head around those ignorent people that buy a cheap screen protector. Those things are extremely easy to scratch, I can get a scratch in with just my vinger nails. Sure its not a screen on the screen, but the screen is way stronger! On top of that, most screen protectors do not have the anti vingerprint coating, so you will see so many smudges after using it.
After a (short) while, the phone looks terrible, because of all the smudges and scratches on the screen protector. Stop using them, buy a decent screen protector or just don’t bother putting anything on!
/rant, sorry had to get that off my chest.
Here at Apple Retail Store Qingdao it’s available as well.