Does apple recommend a screen protector for the iPad 4?

No. It's up to you.

Apple's recommendations are usually hardware and software related. How to charge the battery, the benefits of backing up, transferring purchases, and things like that.

I have never seen Apple officially recommend any third party accessory and I doubt that they ever will do so. Using a screen protector is up to the individual. I have always used a screen protector of some type on all of my iDevices. I have somewhat oily skin and I would rather trash and have to clean a screen protector than have to keep up with cleaning the glass.

I have an iPad 3 and I have it encased in an OtterBox Defender case with a built in screen protector. My iPad 3 is in pristine condition - screen and back. My OtterBox Defender has taken quite a beating however, and I prefer that the case take the abuse and not the iPad!

I too am a 'case and screen protector' person. My iPad 2 lives in a case and looks just like it did the day I bought it *knock wood. And I recently sold my Touch 4 and it was graded 'like new' after being carried around for over two years.

I like the screen protector also because sometimes my niece plays with the iPad and it's good to have an easy way to clean off grubby little finger prints.

But there are also people here that will swear that there is no need and that the screen protector dulls your input into the ipad. So I think it's a combo of what you like and how you use it. If your iPad is always on the coffee table only being used by adults, you could be fine. If you toss it in your book bag and take it everywhere then you may want to consider some sort of protection.

Skydiver119 wrote:

And I recently sold my Touch 4 and it was graded 'like new' after being carried around for over two years.

Coincidentally, I sold my iPod Touch 4 last week. My kids bought me the 5th generation for Father's Day. When I sold the Touch, the young man working the counter at GameStop graded mine "like new" as well and he told me that he had never seen a used iPod in his store in as pristine condition as mine was.

Guy at best buy said the same thing. Called his buddy over and said 'never seen one like this, there's not even a scratch, I don't have to squint to read the serial number'

my new 5 is happy in its snap on back case, zagg screen protector and little padded case so I can toss it in my purse and not worry about it.

Skydiver119 wrote:

my new 5 is happy in its snap on back case, zagg screen protector and little padded case so I can toss it in my purse and not worry about it.

Exactly the same thing here, except of course that I don't carry a purse! 😁

lol

For the OP, I think the morale of the story is that taking care of your devices can pay off in the end. being able to sell mine back 'as new' basically got me 25% off my new one.