Is It Worth The $$$ for Protection on iPhone or Equivalent?

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  [Deactivated] on 20/08/2016 - 06:56

  +1

  But a cheap case from AliExpress and skip all other protection. If you really mind small scratches on the screen get a screen protector, if not just get a cheap case.

• 

  Kangal on 20/08/2016 - 07:12

  Your poll is limited in options.

  1) Get a "expensive" screen protector.
  A 9H tempered glass protector with 2.5D corners.
  <$10.

  2) Get a cheap body protection.
  3M Skin / Silicone bumper / TPU thin case.
  <$10.

  3) Get no insurance.
  It's an SE, it's not worth it.
  I wouldn't think its worth it for an iPhone 6 Plus either.
  But it could be worth getting for an iPhone 6S Plus 64GB+, or iPhone 7.

  Insurance protections are a scam.
  And only apply in the case of theft, and not really drops.

  That's my $0.02

• 

  jzdhgkd on 20/08/2016 - 11:30

  +1

  I used to get teh cheap screen protectors.

  Then I tried a $10-15 tempered glass protector and never looked back. They're SO MUCH better than your regular piece-of-crap $0.05 plastic sheets.

  I'm sure they're not as hard as the actual phone's screen but I've had it for about 9 months and there are only a couple of scratches. I remember needing to replace the plastic ones every few months because I got so annoyed with looking at the scratches.

  On the other hand I think not using a protector at all is very reasonable these days what with gorillaglass5 and so forth. I've also heard anecdotal evidence of glass protectors being "sacrificially" broken and thus saving your screen if you drop it but who knows. Just don't drop your damn phone!

• 

  loke on 20/08/2016 - 12:40

  +1

  My current note 4 screen protector was $5.50 or so shipped from aliexpress and the hardness is great - it hasn't collected any scratches at all- though leaves me wondering whether there's one out there with a great oleophobic coating so i get less smudges.

  I picked up various cases but have been using a Speck one (more expensive, wouldn't ship from amazon)

  BUT the OEM samsung one which is highly recommended cost me $15.00AUD-ish off amazon (grey was 9.99 USD and some more for shipping-bought with other stuff so shipping cost was less/adjusted, blue 6.99USD and 4.49USD for shipping)

• 

  Mumbles on 20/08/2016 - 12:48

  I don't use screen protectors or cases because technology has become so disposable.

  Most owners retire their phone after 1-2 years of use. Means the accessories will only get about 24 months of use max. The next owner will probably benefit from the money you sunk into the phone. If you're buying a $500 mobile phone it will suffer so much depreciation it won't be worth selling. Dollar wise you won't recoupe the costs of the protection products.

  Most mobile phones can survive a drop to the ground from hip height. Screens are already very resistant to scratches. Search on YouTube for videos on mobile phone falls/impact tests.

  If you have young children or clumsy then maybe a tough case with a large lip that stretches higher than the screen would be good value.

  • 

    kryptoz on 20/08/2016 - 20:58

    It is disposable, but if you dropped your $500 phone in the first month you might feel differently. I bought a new 5.5in phone which I kept in my back pocket and used as per my previous 4-4.5in phones — ended up breaking the Gorilla Glass screen by leaning on a fence while chatting to friends — suffice to say I now carry my phone in jacket pockets.
    I / my kids have dropped my Sony phones dozens of times over the years and they always survive pretty well except for small nicks along the edges. I now keep a bumper on my phone to protect that, though it's not arguably needed. A hip-to-floor fall is one thing, but I fear if any phone is dropped while you were walking down a stair or escalator, the chance of it surviving are slim to none.
    Scratches are far less of an issue now with the latest phones as you mentioned.

• 

  PVA on 20/08/2016 - 12:49

  +1

  you can get great tempered glass protectors for $10 or under. They are simple to install, nothing hard like the plastic ones - even I did it (but could never get a plastic one right).
  they work great too, son has had a few broken screens but since the glass protector it cracks instead of the screen.

• 

  plmko on 20/08/2016 - 15:32

  I would not buy a case simply because phones are designed with premium metal feel and slimness, so why are you chucking on some Duplo cheap rubber on it. But for the glass protector, I wouldn't cheap out on it, that's not to say that you should spend heaps but to spend where it is noticeably worth it. 2.5 years ago I spend $50 for Japanese branded Overlay glass; it was thinner at 0.2mm versus the cheap stuff at 0.3mm, retained oleophobic quality for years rather than months and did not crack unlike the cheap stuff.

  Long story short, good to buy quality more expensive accessories but look out you are paying for what you get and not paying on a mark up.

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  Rukiata on 20/08/2016 - 16:09

  dont get insurance its a rip off, if you really want get a outterbox $60+ their cases are top for that stuff. they also got a built in screen protector.

  • 

    eatwell365 on 20/08/2016 - 17:52

    using a survivor case (like outter box). never have to worry rain, drop or run over by a car. only things are:
    1.always get ask what phone is that -big and ugly.
    2.hard to hear and talk (volume affected by case)
    3.photo tends to be darker
    practical but compromise.

• 

  Savas on 20/08/2016 - 18:26

  +1

  $9.99/month x 24 for insurance

  It's almost cheaper to insure my house….

• 

  mrsi on 20/08/2016 - 18:55

  +1

  I use a verus case (similar to otter box) because I drop my phone in the gutter all the time. Stupid I know, but I'll have it on my skirt in the passenger of our car and forget it's there and then get out of the car.
  I'd definitely smash way more phones without the otter box. Hubby would kill me because it will kill his ozbargain budget fixing all the time :p

  Love the case and would never go without it.

• 

  supnigs super skids on 20/08/2016 - 19:28

  Cheap eBay glass protector is like around $2. Best purchase ever

• 

  bluesky on 20/08/2016 - 19:56

  +2

  I would love your opinion in the hope to make me feel better

  There are pros and cons to everything, so hope my honest opinion will not make you feel worse. Nor is it intended to. But still provide some useful info for others.

  If I were buying a new smartphone, I will not buy the glass protector or insurance. But for those who have the Amex Essential card, consider using it for the purchase. This card will provide

  • smartphone screen insurance of up to $500 for screen repairs, if ever it gets broken.
  • purchase protection in case it gets stolen or breaks in the first 90 days
  • even a refund for change of heart within 90 days, if the store won't give a refund. Provided it is unused. (Naturally, only good for impulse buy, which I sometimes do :-), otherwise irrelevant).

  It also gives me back 0.741% of the purchase price as rewards.

  Since the screen is often the part that gets broken, I will be happy to save $40 on the glass protector and rely on this insurance. But will still put one of those cheap plastic film protector on it.

  I brought up the Amex Essential card and its free screen insurance because another OZB member said to me here, that it is a note-worthy point about the card, confirming my thinking that it is probably relevant to others.

  Since the card is fee-free, and you get $75 (with referral) for applying, some might find it worthwhile doing this, just for the screen insurance alone, if you are thinking of buying a phone. If you happen to be in this position, here is the referral wiki. (The bonus $75 requires spend of $500 in first two months, which the phone purchase will help to make up).

• 

  kryptoz on 20/08/2016 - 21:01

  Does that work if you get your phone on a renewing 24mth contract from your current telco, instead of buying a handset outright ?

  • 

    bluesky on 20/08/2016 - 21:07

    Absolutely. From their description

    Smartphone Screen Insurance of up to $500 for screen repairs to your Smartphone when you pay for your phone or contract with your Essential Credit Card.

    Appending also their fineprint,

    For Smartphone Screen Insurance, maximum of 2 claims per 12 month period, maximum cover of $500 per claim and an excess of 10% of the claimed amount applies.

    Oh, I forgot to mention that the card also extends the manufacturer’s warranty by up to 12 months, with no excess

• 

  kryptoz on 20/08/2016 - 21:11

  +1

  The rule of thumb I use for insurance is:
  * if you or your family can afford to replace the item, it's not worth the cost of insurance
  For example, owned house / car / life / travel are essential insurances, whereas small purchase (eg. <$1000 items) insurance is unlikely to ever be claimed on, and the there is likely to be small print that makes the claim voided (for example screen damage on phones). Health insurance (which is not precisely insurance) is not justifiable for most people, chiefly it's important for elderly/pregnant/people with multiple chronic illnesses.

  • 

    bluesky on 20/08/2016 - 21:22

    Agree. I have in the past bought extended warranty for tv's and things, which I have never claimed on. I now rely on my credit card to give another year's warranty for free.

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  lozbargain on 22/08/2016 - 09:40

  +1

  I don't see the point of buying a fancy fragile phone and skimping out on the $20 for a good case. Your situation may differ from mine, but my case has saved my phone many times. It only needs to save your screen once for it to pay for itself.
  I would steer clear of the carrier insurance. My sister has been paying the $20 a month insurance on her Telstra plan and when she had a legit warranty claim for a broken camera (funny images not cracks) the staff stressed her out about some small surface scratches nowhere near the camera saying she'd be out of pocket over $100 if they deemed it physical damage. You could get a screen replaced for less than that. Which is on top of the insurance premiums.
  She intends on canceling the insurance after this experience.

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  lgacb08 on 22/08/2016 - 19:56

  What a waste of money on the screen protector. IPhone se shares the same accessories with the 5 and 5s and there are plenty of places that clearing out these accessories. For example Coles is selling $2 tempered screen protector for the 5 and 6 so it worth checking out.