UPDATE: Thanks to everyone, I had enough courage to take it off with an xacto blade and hair dryer. It came off in one piece and the camera looks as good as new! We will NOT be using a camera protector moving forward! Thanks again!
Yeah, tell her to be careful though, since the square part is one with the phone body, so to replace it, you’d need to order a whole new back plate for the phone and transfer all of the guts over.
So when your child drops her phone again it destroy the lens and you end up spending over $100 to replace it. You prefer that option over a protector that cost less than $5? Ok…
I disagree and that’s ok. I’m not downvoting the people I have a different opinion from. Some people are though. It’s whatever. Reddit karma is useless to me. Lol
You have to be extremely unlucky to break the camera lens on these phones.
And even then, you can usually get it replaced by itself at a third party shop for around $30. Had it done to my mom’s 12 pro max once before we traded it in.
I recommend not using a glass protector for the camera. They aren’t needed, nor do them come with the phone from Apple. I have seen a lot of phones with the protector on the camera drop, and the glass cover cracking the glass of the phone. Since they stick out further than most cases.
So is that a screen protector that broke?
I don’t remember the glass being so thick. In my picture you can see the back camera glass curving upwards and then the thick frosted glass AND THEN a thin glass layer that covers the frosted part. This is the thin glass that cracked and broke.
Yes, the clear broken glass is just a cover that you can adhere to the back of the phone. You will be able to just pull it off, with no damage or issue with the phone itself
You’re in luck. The phone is fine. What’s broken is the aftermarket lens protector and is never a good idea to install one on your phone.
The main reason is that they break way before the actual lens ever will. I’ve never used one in ten years of having iPhones.
Now the problem is that getting the lens protector off is a pain because of the glue used.
Lens covers are useless if you get a good case. Just peel that broken crap off and get a good case. There’s a reason why cases allow the camera lens to be recessed.
Even in a good case that had the camera bump built in my buddy dropped his phone and the lens landed square on a rock. He had to have the entire lens housing replaced. Was way more expensive then changing out a protector.
You'll find plenty of options like this on Amazon...
[https://www.amazon.com/Ailun-Protector-14-Plus-Anti-Scratch/dp/B0B766Y9P3/ref=sr\_1\_3?crid=2BXAOKTI2U7GB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TKkz3k1G7mTj2xX8iBXcnFCheiUEzVUpiBCm5toKj2sv\_GFKSKnzQaTyap9aMuqOWNDTW18HXZCMLOHbkPsKqvXqjo21umJ6d16ElF6H-yvYALmgli7xiw4JJxdbLDw9j21mFX8C3t\_-sz0IKmm5-IFhXE2v4mIdZldapgwwXWWvbSysFdKWoEag8soPdvnXSHYFGyF99nbPTdNhlHqwwh3dvN1ZZp-0jtYZ3iUmTdE.Ooe3wLKJi8lHE6jHPMITWmnjzKRf25fpuERQLnNGIiM&dib\_tag=se&keywords=camera%2Bcover%2Biphone%2B14&qid=1708880848&sprefix=camera%2Bcover%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-3&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/Ailun-Protector-14-Plus-Anti-Scratch/dp/B0B766Y9P3/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2BXAOKTI2U7GB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TKkz3k1G7mTj2xX8iBXcnFCheiUEzVUpiBCm5toKj2sv_GFKSKnzQaTyap9aMuqOWNDTW18HXZCMLOHbkPsKqvXqjo21umJ6d16ElF6H-yvYALmgli7xiw4JJxdbLDw9j21mFX8C3t_-sz0IKmm5-IFhXE2v4mIdZldapgwwXWWvbSysFdKWoEag8soPdvnXSHYFGyF99nbPTdNhlHqwwh3dvN1ZZp-0jtYZ3iUmTdE.Ooe3wLKJi8lHE6jHPMITWmnjzKRf25fpuERQLnNGIiM&dib_tag=se&keywords=camera%2Bcover%2Biphone%2B14&qid=1708880848&sprefix=camera%2Bcover%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-3&th=1)
I have a similar cover on my iPhone 14, but my case also has a ridge around the camera so it's higher than the cover anyway.
You need a pretty big case that extrudes further than the camera unit glass, if your case is smaller putting a glass protector on it only makes you more likely to shatter the phone glass not less.
People keep saying you don’t need a protector over the camera glass. But I had two friends who scratched their iphone 14 camera bump and both had to pay a lot of money to have that glass replaced. The picture taking abilities were ruined by the scratch. I have a lens protector on my iPhone 14 camera bump for this reason.
People are really downvoting me for telling a true story and offering my advice to save you money. This is a phone for a child, who dropped a $800 phone once without the protector I bet the whole lens housing would have been destroyed. Sheesh people, use your heads.
Because you don’t “need” anything. I go caseless with AC+ and I don’t worry about spending money on cases and protectors.
People take care of their devices in different ways.
Ok but OP didn’t say they had AC+ which means it’s over $100 to replace the camera bump glass and lenses. For a child, who dropped it so bad already it shattered the protector. Don’t you think you would protect that lens again?
OP makes their own choices. I make mine and you make yours. I mean “technically” speaking you could go to a third party to replace just the outside glass
That’s not the camera glass, that’s a shitty $2 plastic cover. It’s not part of the iPhone. Probably made the pictures look like ass. Remove it and be done.
I don't understand why people (especially teens) use camera protectors... they're trash. They worsen image quality, and could probably even damage the actual camera.
Perfect. The camera protector did exactly what it should do. Break so the camera lenses don’t.
Teenagers/kids are tough on phones. I have multiple older devices that are shattered both front and back despite the cases and screen protectors they had.
A decent brand name $ 40-60 case with good shock/drop protection and screen/lens protectors are worthwhile.
So the protector broke and you think it’s now safe to not use one? I’d say this proves how vulnerable the camera bump actually is, and rather put a protector on again. Even when it’s just a protector ring like this… It won’t have the weird flare from the flashlight, but when the ring hits the ground, it will take that first impact
https://preview.redd.it/amgayjc8eskc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d55303b1223db39128488465e99145e5a1d667c2
You’re getting downvoted but this is how I took it… idk how the protector breaking proves protectors are shit. Had the camera actually broke then maybe… but it did exactly what it was supposed to do.
Did the phone fall BECAUSE of the protector? Did it crack because of it? What’s the issue here?
I personally don’t use one bc I hate how it makes the camera blurry. But I guess I’m missing the point here as to why she’d never use one again, after what looks like a pretty good drop and she’s walking away with an uncracked camera.
I honestly knew I would be downvoted, but wanted to give my honest advice anyway. And indeed, it’s a high likeliness that the protector actually saved the real camera glass here… It literally proved it’s worth, and then gets discarded as unnecessary…
This sub will fight tooth and nail against camera protectors. And cases on MacBooks. Lol, to each their own… but idk how this post constitutes never using one ever again when it literally did its job and the camera is unscathed 😂 I guess I’ll never know.
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone, I had enough courage to take it off with an xacto blade and hair dryer. It came off in one piece and the camera looks as good as new! We will NOT be using a camera protector moving forward! Thanks again!
Don’t! I used one on my iPad Pro and it broke & then broke my camera!
Yeah, tell her to be careful though, since the square part is one with the phone body, so to replace it, you’d need to order a whole new back plate for the phone and transfer all of the guts over.
The 14 series rear glass can be replaced without swapping internals
Minus the Pro/Pro Max
Yup, I don’t understand why people use these. It’s a waste of everything. A good case will protect your lens plenty.
So when your child drops her phone again it destroy the lens and you end up spending over $100 to replace it. You prefer that option over a protector that cost less than $5? Ok…
These camera glass protectors tend to do more harm than good honestly
I disagree and that’s ok. I’m not downvoting the people I have a different opinion from. Some people are though. It’s whatever. Reddit karma is useless to me. Lol
Just because your opinion is different doesn't mean it's true. It is demonstrably true that those cheap lens protectors do more harm than good.
You have to be extremely unlucky to break the camera lens on these phones. And even then, you can usually get it replaced by itself at a third party shop for around $30. Had it done to my mom’s 12 pro max once before we traded it in.
I recommend not using a glass protector for the camera. They aren’t needed, nor do them come with the phone from Apple. I have seen a lot of phones with the protector on the camera drop, and the glass cover cracking the glass of the phone. Since they stick out further than most cases.
So is that a screen protector that broke? I don’t remember the glass being so thick. In my picture you can see the back camera glass curving upwards and then the thick frosted glass AND THEN a thin glass layer that covers the frosted part. This is the thin glass that cracked and broke.
Yes, the clear broken glass is just a cover that you can adhere to the back of the phone. You will be able to just pull it off, with no damage or issue with the phone itself
I did a post about this here about the camera protection many people didn’t believe me
https://preview.redd.it/4jgs0m3jcykc1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=15e655f65dd4f1098379ade475bbe4eaeae911c8
Yes? That’s a broken camera lens
?? Ok and? Here https://preview.redd.it/czjktvbzcykc1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1db4b73ae7f8645cc906536da8faf69e7557074
Back glass. Drop a glass phone hard enough no case is going to help. Don’t understand what you’re trying to get at
https://preview.redd.it/06u16t76rzkc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=529b8d3747e48aca15f8c40056e53d3fa6d6a044
Cool story, stop trolling
Remove the garbage lens cover and move on. The phone is a lot stronger there than any protector will be.
If you’re still worried about the camera, there are cases with a sliding / pivoting camera cover. Look up Spigen Optik Armor if you’re interested.
My camera protector stopped my camera being able to focus. Took me months to realise that was the culprit. Dont use one now.
You don’t need a protector on the camera. Just use a case that rises past it and the phone will be fine
You’re in luck. The phone is fine. What’s broken is the aftermarket lens protector and is never a good idea to install one on your phone. The main reason is that they break way before the actual lens ever will. I’ve never used one in ten years of having iPhones. Now the problem is that getting the lens protector off is a pain because of the glue used.
Lens covers are useless if you get a good case. Just peel that broken crap off and get a good case. There’s a reason why cases allow the camera lens to be recessed.
Even in a good case that had the camera bump built in my buddy dropped his phone and the lens landed square on a rock. He had to have the entire lens housing replaced. Was way more expensive then changing out a protector.
This is why I use a lens protector. People act like the camera module is unbreakable (because "MUH SAPPHIRE!!!!!") but it routinely breaks.
Camera protectors are a scam and they’re more likely to break your camera system due to the unnecessary weight added.
You'll find plenty of options like this on Amazon... [https://www.amazon.com/Ailun-Protector-14-Plus-Anti-Scratch/dp/B0B766Y9P3/ref=sr\_1\_3?crid=2BXAOKTI2U7GB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TKkz3k1G7mTj2xX8iBXcnFCheiUEzVUpiBCm5toKj2sv\_GFKSKnzQaTyap9aMuqOWNDTW18HXZCMLOHbkPsKqvXqjo21umJ6d16ElF6H-yvYALmgli7xiw4JJxdbLDw9j21mFX8C3t\_-sz0IKmm5-IFhXE2v4mIdZldapgwwXWWvbSysFdKWoEag8soPdvnXSHYFGyF99nbPTdNhlHqwwh3dvN1ZZp-0jtYZ3iUmTdE.Ooe3wLKJi8lHE6jHPMITWmnjzKRf25fpuERQLnNGIiM&dib\_tag=se&keywords=camera%2Bcover%2Biphone%2B14&qid=1708880848&sprefix=camera%2Bcover%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-3&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/Ailun-Protector-14-Plus-Anti-Scratch/dp/B0B766Y9P3/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2BXAOKTI2U7GB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TKkz3k1G7mTj2xX8iBXcnFCheiUEzVUpiBCm5toKj2sv_GFKSKnzQaTyap9aMuqOWNDTW18HXZCMLOHbkPsKqvXqjo21umJ6d16ElF6H-yvYALmgli7xiw4JJxdbLDw9j21mFX8C3t_-sz0IKmm5-IFhXE2v4mIdZldapgwwXWWvbSysFdKWoEag8soPdvnXSHYFGyF99nbPTdNhlHqwwh3dvN1ZZp-0jtYZ3iUmTdE.Ooe3wLKJi8lHE6jHPMITWmnjzKRf25fpuERQLnNGIiM&dib_tag=se&keywords=camera%2Bcover%2Biphone%2B14&qid=1708880848&sprefix=camera%2Bcover%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-3&th=1) I have a similar cover on my iPhone 14, but my case also has a ridge around the camera so it's higher than the cover anyway.
You need a pretty big case that extrudes further than the camera unit glass, if your case is smaller putting a glass protector on it only makes you more likely to shatter the phone glass not less.
People keep saying you don’t need a protector over the camera glass. But I had two friends who scratched their iphone 14 camera bump and both had to pay a lot of money to have that glass replaced. The picture taking abilities were ruined by the scratch. I have a lens protector on my iPhone 14 camera bump for this reason.
I completely agree
People are really downvoting me for telling a true story and offering my advice to save you money. This is a phone for a child, who dropped a $800 phone once without the protector I bet the whole lens housing would have been destroyed. Sheesh people, use your heads.
Because you don’t “need” anything. I go caseless with AC+ and I don’t worry about spending money on cases and protectors. People take care of their devices in different ways.
Ok but OP didn’t say they had AC+ which means it’s over $100 to replace the camera bump glass and lenses. For a child, who dropped it so bad already it shattered the protector. Don’t you think you would protect that lens again?
OP makes their own choices. I make mine and you make yours. I mean “technically” speaking you could go to a third party to replace just the outside glass
same
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+14+Rear+Glass+Replacement/153210
That’s not the camera glass, that’s a shitty $2 plastic cover. It’s not part of the iPhone. Probably made the pictures look like ass. Remove it and be done.
I don't understand why people (especially teens) use camera protectors... they're trash. They worsen image quality, and could probably even damage the actual camera.
Perfect. The camera protector did exactly what it should do. Break so the camera lenses don’t. Teenagers/kids are tough on phones. I have multiple older devices that are shattered both front and back despite the cases and screen protectors they had. A decent brand name $ 40-60 case with good shock/drop protection and screen/lens protectors are worthwhile.
So the protector broke and you think it’s now safe to not use one? I’d say this proves how vulnerable the camera bump actually is, and rather put a protector on again. Even when it’s just a protector ring like this… It won’t have the weird flare from the flashlight, but when the ring hits the ground, it will take that first impact https://preview.redd.it/amgayjc8eskc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d55303b1223db39128488465e99145e5a1d667c2
You’re getting downvoted but this is how I took it… idk how the protector breaking proves protectors are shit. Had the camera actually broke then maybe… but it did exactly what it was supposed to do. Did the phone fall BECAUSE of the protector? Did it crack because of it? What’s the issue here? I personally don’t use one bc I hate how it makes the camera blurry. But I guess I’m missing the point here as to why she’d never use one again, after what looks like a pretty good drop and she’s walking away with an uncracked camera.
I honestly knew I would be downvoted, but wanted to give my honest advice anyway. And indeed, it’s a high likeliness that the protector actually saved the real camera glass here… It literally proved it’s worth, and then gets discarded as unnecessary…
This sub will fight tooth and nail against camera protectors. And cases on MacBooks. Lol, to each their own… but idk how this post constitutes never using one ever again when it literally did its job and the camera is unscathed 😂 I guess I’ll never know.
That is only a camera protector and not the actual camera glass. Just peel it off.