Should You Get an Apple Watch Protector Case (and what kind?)
An Apple Watch is elegant, so many people find a protector repugnant. There are good reasons to get one, and here’s a look at some options.
An Apple Watch is elegant in design, so to many people, a protector might seem repugnant. After all, who gets a protector for a watch? You wouldn’t put a protective case on an expensive watch like a Rolex. However, with any Apple Watch used during workouts, extreme sports, or other potentially harmful activities, there are some good reasons for the added precaution of a case.
Considering the Hygiene of Your Wearable
Anything worn on your wrist could trap oils and bacteria. It’s little surprise, then, for folks to get rashes from an Apple Watch. I’ve personally experienced itchiness and even hives after extended wear of particular bands on my Apple Watch.
Other people react to the metal of the case, even though it’s theoretically hypoallergenic. A watch protector can help some people with these rashes. The protector shields the skin from most of the metal parts (except for the parts in the band). It also prevents the watch from moving around and causing friction with the metal. Without bordering on TMI, when I started wearing a protector, my wrist wasn’t as funky. Washing the protector was a breeze, too.
Fashion Sense
Apple limits the colors of the bands and the watch cases. For the aluminum model, you have only Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and PRODUCT(RED) to choose from. You can certainly purchase a different band for your Apple Watch, but that won’t change the watch’s color. If your family has more than one watch, you don’t want to pick the wrong one. Just like an iPhone case, a protector adds a little individuality. My preferred protector turned my Space Gray Apple Watch Series 8 into a dark purple hue. I’m a big fan of purple, especially a good, rich, regal shade.
Considering Function Over Form
The obvious reason to get an Apple watch protector is to protect it. Sure, you can get Apple Care for just $79 for two years of coverage. However, even then, you still have to pay $69 to replace the glass. AppleCare’s Accidental Damage from Handling coverage also doesn’t include scratches. When I tried getting my screen replaced after it became scratched, I was gently but firmly informed that the service doesn’t cover cosmetic damage if it doesn’t affect functionality.
I realized how my watch was getting scratched: on the treadmill. As I walked on the treadmill, my arm movements caused my wrist to rub against the side rails of the equipment. I also experienced scratching when wrestling with my dog, believe it or not.
Her claws, even after trimming, were just sharp enough to cause small scratches to the screen. Adding a rubberized protector created just enough of a barrier that the treadmill and her claws rubbed against those surfaces instead of the watch face.
I’ve also been known to inadvertently tap the Digital Crown or side button accidentally. Now that the side button brings up Control Center, there’s no telling what sort of mayhem I might cause in my settings without realizing it. A case fixed that problem once I found the right one.
A slippery wrist can also cause the watch to move around. This could misalign the heart rate monitor, which affects the readings. A protector keeps the watch more in place and prevents sliding, as mentioned under hygiene.
Which Protectors or Cases Are the Best?
While I can’t say I’ve tested every protector available, I did try several and read many consumer reviews. There are a few basic categories, I found, so you need to determine which is going to work best for you before making your selection.
Basic Bumper
One of my favorite cases for an Apple Watch is the OtterBox Exo Edge Bumper case. It’s available for less than $20 and provides plenty of protection for the chassis of your wearable while also offering a bezel to protect the buttons and screen. Another great option, offering the same level of protection, is the LifeProof Eco Friendly case.
If you also want a screen protector, you can’t go wrong with the OtterBox Eclipse.
Bundled Case and Band
If you want your band to match the bumper, that’s also a possibility. Not only are there many different watch bands available these days, but some accessory makers offer bundles. For example, the OtterBox Multi-Pack includes both a bumper and a matching watch band.
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Some Caveats to an Apple Watch Protector
Bear in mind that many of the plastic covers you might find are thin and flimsy. While I’ve yet to test them for a long time, I can only imagine they’d break down fairly easily. This would be especially true if you work out a lot and expose them to a fair amount of oil and sweat.
Look for a warranty, like the lifetime protection warranty offered by both OtterBox and LifeProof. You also want to ensure the watch can sit properly on its charging puck. Unless that is, you want to remove the case every time you charge your watch.
Cases aren’t for everyone, but fortunately, most cases are inexpensive. That makes it so easy to try one out. If you want to keep your watch in pristine condition or you want to avoid potential skin problems, check out a few of the ones I researched.
If you use a watch protector, let us know your thoughts on your favorite (or least favorite) in the comment section below.
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Kev Pude
October 10, 2015 at 6:02 am
Just fired this off to Spigen re Rugged Armor case:
The case has been fitted to my polished stainless steel watch for about 6 weeks. Whilst I have been generally pleased with the look and fit of the case and thought it was providing protection, the latter is not true. I removed the case today to find multiple rub marks and scratches on the finish. Needless to say I am very disappointed that a case designed to offer protection is in fact causing damage to the finish of my watch. Is the TPU material too hard? Should dust be able to find its way into the case and could this be causing the damage? Is the stainless steel finish of the watch not resilient enough? I note that I am not alone and this problem has been highlighted in a number of customer product reviews posted on the Internet. I would be grateful for your comments on this matter.
Kind regards,
Kev Pude
Bob B.
May 23, 2017 at 5:21 am
My wife got the protector case that covers the watch with soft plastic. The very first morning workout we both had sweat get up under the casing. Water was trapped and it caused the Watch to start turning on functions. My wife’s Watch actually locked her out for 15 minutes because the trapped water underneath was pushing the lock codes. Also so found you need to touch lightly when pressing down.
Alex Hanneman
January 24, 2020 at 8:00 am
This happened to my case as well, are there any cases I can get where this won’t happen?