POLL: Screen Protector for Smartphone

[MotionMan]

My cheap screen protector on my iPhone 5 finally got so bad I decided to get a new one. My daughter had picked an anti-glare protector for her phone a few months back and seemed to like that (she also mentioned that it is fingerprint reducing). So, I recently went with one of those and am very happy with it.

Do you have a screen protector on your smartphone? If so is it a regular version or anti-glare? How happy are you with what you chose?

MotionMan

 

[corkyg]

When I bought my phone, the tech put one on. No complaint here, My next one won't have - Gorilla Glass.

 

[Phobic9]

I pretty much only use the ones made by Spigen. They cost a bit more but they hold up really well in my experience.

 

[zerogear]

Martin Fields and Spigen are the only ones I use.

 

[jpeyton]

None. Over time they develop marks, they discolor, and they peel. But my biggest problem is they are never as smooth as glass.

 

[Dulanic]

No thanks. Haven't used one since Gorilla Glass. Haven't damaged the screen either.

 

[Riceninja]

None. Over time they develop marks, they discolor, and they peel. But my biggest problem is they are never as smooth as glass.

i put a really expensive one on my gs2 and about 3 months later it had lots of tiny scratches, very visible when the screen is turned off and some even with the screen on at <50% brightness. made the phone feel really worn.

now with my gs4 i havent used a protector since i got it 4 months ago and the screen is pristine.

 

[boomhower]

None since moving to an iPhone. HTC EVO and Droids scratched. iPhones haven't. I imagine most of the Android phones have moved to some variant of Gorilla Glass by now. As long as your careful you'll be fine without.

 

[bearxor]

Before I went with a Pure, I had a anti-glare. It had a nice, flat finish. It didn't feel like glass, but it still looked good and went on really smooth.

Now it glass screen protectors from here on out.

 

[Zaap]

Never used one, never will. Frankly, I hate how some of my co-workers phones look after they've covered them in all these layers of plastic. First some ugly case making an otherwise sleek device into a garish looking brick, then a shield over the screen. I know to each their own and all, but to me it just seems a bit ridiculous to make something hideous in order to protect it from... looking hideous?

I've never covered any of my phones with anything (DX then SGS3 now Note 2) and the screens remained/remain pristine. (The DX and SGS3 despite a few drops. My N2 still looks as new as the day I bought it).

 

[kyrax12]

i put a really expensive one on my gs2 and about 3 months later it had lots of tiny scratches, very visible when the screen is turned off and some even with the screen on at <50% brightness. made the phone feel really worn.

now with my gs4 i havent used a protector since i got it 4 months ago and the screen is pristine.

Are you planning to maybe use one in the future?

 

[thescreensavers]

on my gnex I used a screen protector for a little over 1 year took it off never went back not a single scratch.

I have my phone in a casex

 

[trmiv]

Spigen crystal on my S4. Not a fan of matte. I went naked on my galaxy nexus for a long time then one trip to a dusty place and it got scratched. Not taking a chance now

 

[Crono]

Never scratched a screen. I've cracked two, but screen protectors don't protect against drops.

 

[Kneedragger]

I run just a regular one but I think my next one will be a anti-glare one. A friend has one and I really like it.

 

[kyrax12]

Never scratched a screen. I've cracked two, but screen protectors don't protect against drops.

They actually help absorb some of the shock. So theoretically, it does make the glass more resistant.

 

[thescreensavers]

^ pish posh

screen protectors just protect from scratches.

Its a marketing gimmick.

 

[kyrax12]

Spigen crystal on my S4. Not a fan of matte. I went naked on my galaxy nexus for a long time then one trip to a dusty place and it got scratched. Not taking a chance now

How bad was the scratch though? Are we really that OCD to the point where preventing the screen from minor small hairline scratches is more important than using the phone naked and feeling/seeing the glory of the phone without a screen protector?

I have a S4 and the colors just pop out more with out a screen protector.

 

[trmiv]

Bad enough that I could see and feel it. I really don't think the phone feels all that different naked vs having a quality screen protector though so to me its not worth the risk. Also my backyard is very sandy, and I hate worrying about the phone when I'm out there playing with my dogs.

 

[pandemonium]

I've found that a screen protector of any sort removes functionality from the touchscreen and also changes the viewability at certain angles and in different lighting situations. It also doesn't seem to help much in protection and offers up other issues (since screen protectants are a plastic, they're damageable by heat: a constant back-and-forth rubbing motion will "burn" the sheet and leave a scar).

One factor in my phone purchases is if it has some version of Gorilla glass on it. If it doesn't, then that's a big minus and likely to force me to look at alternatives.

A big issue I have with protectors is the way they change the feel when you're using sliding motions. It often reduces the sensitivity of the screen.

The manufacturer didn't give you a screen protector to put on it, so why do it? If they felt the need to include a $10 protectant cover on your phone's face that you just spent $200+ on, they would.

Long story short: screen protectors are a gimmick.

 

[jacktesterson]

I do not use them. Handle your phone well and it won't be a problem.

 

[Riceninja]

Are you planning to maybe use one in the future?

unlikely, since the screen is so beautiful. as far as im concerned the gs4 amoled is the best looking screen tech right now. i dont care if its over saturated and not as accurate "real colors" as the LG IPS, the colours pop, my pictures look amazing and it has the purest blacks ive ever seen.

i do, however, have this case on it most of the time.

 

[Oyeve]

I have never used a screen protector on any smartphone ive ever had or have. Something like 12 smartphones now. Because I dont go into situations that would make me have one. I dont hate on screen protectors, my GF always has a screen protector on her phones because she tosses them in her pocket book. My phones always go smooth into my pocket alone with nothing else and always go flat on its back on my desk. I take certain phones certain places like to the beach and such and my beach phone (S2) is always in a sheath.

 

[olds]

Never had a screen protector that was worth a damn.

 

[Red Storm]

My phones are always naked, no case or screen protector.