Do You Need Protection for your Smartphone Screen?

Courtesy [S1]

Have you recently purchased a smartphone? and are wondering if you should opt for some form of screen protection, but aren’t quite sure if you need one… You’ve reached the right place; let’s see if we can lay out some the pros and cons of installing a screen protector on your smartphone screen

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Most of the prevalent smartphones have an ion-strengthened glass pre-installed on the display, which provides ample scratch resistance, along with considerable shatter resistance in case of accidental drops (which is to say it won’t break as easily as ordinary glass).

The most common pre-installed toughened glass in smartphones is Gorilla Glass, which is a specialized glass manufactured by Corning Inc., which is currently in its fifth generation (which can be found on Samsung’s recent Galaxy Note 7). Gorilla Glass gains its strength via its ability to contain flaws and crack-resistance by being immersed in a hot potassium salt ion-exchange bath. Although Corning has been experimenting with strengthened glass since 1960s, it first came in to commercial use in 2005 in the first iPhone (which required a thin yet toughened glass). The more recent iterations of the Gorilla Glass are thinner, and have substantial damage resistance – Corning has recently released a new iteration specifically designed for wearables (which are typically more at risk for damage than smartphones) called Gorilla Glass SR+, which is a composite based on a type of glass called Project Phire that claims scratch-resistance qualities comparable to that of Sapphire Crystal. Gorilla Glass SR+ can be found in Samsung’s Gear S3.

Other prominent manufactures of this type of Glass are Asahi Glass Co Dragontail (Xolo Black 1X), Dinorex (Meizu M3 Note) and so on.

Now the real question is do you really need an additional screen protector on top of this?                

The answer isn’t quite as simple – Although for general peace-of-mind most users tend to get one, the need for a screen protector is mostly subjective – if your phone is constantly stored in a location such as a purse where it regularly comes in contact with loose change or keys, over time it is claimed by many users that the scratch-resistance is overcome and some scratches can be formed. So if you tend to use your smartphone under conditions where it might interact with sharp objects, it is preferable to get one; on the other hand, if you are generally careful about what surface your screen comes in to contact with, it isn’t really necessary as users claim going back to devices such as Galaxy S3 that their device screens haven’t picked up any scratches even after years of rigorous use.

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TYPES OF SCREEN PROTECTORS

There are different kinds of screen protectors, and their effectiveness varies based on the brand and price.

The plastic screen guards are comprised of a thin and flexible plastic sheet that can be installed on your display using some form of adhesive. These provide protection merely from scratches, and wouldn’t be of any real help in case of accidental drops.

The more expensive kind are made out of tempered glass, which comprises of thin sheets of glass, and is typically installed by pasting it on top of your display. Tempered Glass is made by heating the glass and cooling it very quickly; it breaks differently than normal glass, by breaking up into glass pieces with rounded edges, instead of jagged shards, and is about 5 times stronger than normal glass. These are intended to retain the glass feel while operating the screen, however it does add some amount of thickness and heft, as these are thicker than plastic screen guards. In case of accidental drops, Tempered glass has shown considerable robustness, as this glass tends to crack while deferring the impact pressure away from the display screen.

The quality of these protectors depends on the manufacturer, and based on its quality and price, it can either be a boon or a hindrance.

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CONS OF INSTALLING A SCREEN PROTECTOR

1. Plastic screen guards offer nothing in terms of shatter resistance if a phone is accidentally dropped, and they also tend to eliminate the natural glass feel of the screen
2. A lot of prevalent screen protectors tend to affect the clarity of the display, and with some of them, the natural color and brightness of the screen are diminished
3. Some of them tend to affect the touch responsiveness

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Courtesy [S2]

With the advent of Tempered Glass, plastic screen guards have become a thing of the past, and with Tempered Glass screen guards being available for increasingly cheaper rates, they have become ubiquitous. But not all of them are effective in terms of shatter resistance, and most of them tend to reduce the clarity and responsiveness of the device. Additionally, improper installation can also affect the sensitivity of the screen (as the presence of dust can create bubbles and affect operation). Hence, most of the economical ones offer nothing but additional weight, and are not worth sacrificing the clarity and feel of your natural display screen.

So it is necessary to shell out a decent amount of money in order to buy an optimum  Tempered Glass that is thoroughly effective. Some higher-end ones offer resistance not only from scratches and shatter, but also from fingerprints and oil smudges, as they incorporate an Oleophobic Coating.

You should look for a Tempered Glass with atleast 9H surface hardness and ensure that it is laser cut to precisely suit the model of your device, and while installing it is necessary to make sure that the silicon adhesive attaches firmly to the display, in order to not affect the sensitivity of the touch screen.

Tempered glass from standard manufacturers consist of a comprehensive kit that comprises of the following: Microfiber Cloth, Alcohol Wet Pad, Dry Pad and Dust Absorber Sticker along with a Guide that has complete installation instructions. Please refrain from purchasing inexpensive over-the-counter products, and if you are not sure that you can install it effectively by yourself, consult someone who specializes in the installation and make they sure they perform it in a dust-free environment. Furthermore, please ensure that the Temper Glass pack you receive is sealed, as many fake ones find their way into company packs, and also verify the hologram to ascertain that the pack itself is genuine.

Some of the reputed manufacturers of Tempered Glass protectors are Zagg, Moshi, Chevron, Tech Armour, Extreme Guard, Amzer, NCase, Mobilife, Selfet, PralQ, AirPlus, Feye and so on. While purchasing, please pay special attention to factors such as Hardness, Thickness, Transparency, Number of Layers and Oleophobic Coating.

Hope we were able to help sway your decision to install a screen protector one way or the other. Happy Repairs!

SOURCES:  S1, S2, S3, S4, S5

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We at SOLDRIT, specialize in dust-free pristine installation of Screen Protectors on all devices such as Smartphones, Tabs and Laptops. Call us at +91-888-444-5432 or visit our Website to Book a Repair today.