$50 Flolab Screen Protector – Oleophobic Coating Gone in 4 Weeks (3rd Warranty Replacement)

[Phat^Trance]

I purchased a Flolab screen protector (approximately $50 for a single unit) for my iPhone 17 Pro Max a few months ago. Unfortunately, I’ve had to replace it after just a few weeks each time because the oleophobic coating seems to wear off very quickly. I’m currently on my third Flolab screen protector, all replaced under warranty due to the same issue.

Does anyone have insight into why this might be happening?

I don’t use hand cream, and I don’t clean my phone with alcohol-based products, so I’m struggling to understand what could be causing the coating to degrade so fast. Either the product quality is inconsistent, or there’s something in my usage that’s affecting it.

Is there any way to restore the oleophobic coating on a screen protector once it has worn off?

I genuinely like the Flolab screen protector, especially because of its excellent anti-reflective layer. However, the attached images show the current condition of my screen protector after only four weeks of use, which is disappointing given the price point.

 

[GP-SE]

I've been using a Flolab screen protector on my 17 Pro Max since I got it in October. I use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe my case\phone\screen daily, and my coating is still intact.

How do you clean your screen, are you using any chemicals or detergents?

 

[Phat^Trance]

I've been using a Flolab screen protector on my 17 Pro Max since I got it in October. I use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe my case\phone\screen daily, and my coating is still intact.

How do you clean your screen, are you using any chemicals or detergents?

I don’t clean my screen ant all with chemicals . I just wiped it with my T-shirt from time to time.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Yikes! I would never spend $50 on a screen protector that a $5-7 protector can do. I bought a $4 screen protector for my iPhone 13 and it still looks just as new as the day I put it on the phone.

 

[Itsedstech]

Yikes! I would never spend $50 on a screen protector that a $5-7 protector can do. I bought a $4 screen protector for my iPhone 13 and it still looks just as new as the day I put it on the phone.

Ehh $5-$7 protectors don’t have curved edges, and anti reflective coatings.

 

[seapat]

99% of glass screen protectors are coming from the same factory, just get a multi-pack on the cheap and swap out when needed.

 

[Htsi]

Try shellrus if you want to go even more high end. For what it’s worth my launch day air has it’s oleo coating worn off. Not visible like yours but it’s gone. All coatings are consumables, if you’re getting hassle free warranty claims what’s the harm

 

[Itsedstech]

Try shellrus if you want to go even more high end. For what it’s worth my launch day air has it’s oleo coating worn off. Not visible like yours but it’s gone. All coatings are consumables, if you’re getting hassle free warranty claims what’s the harm

Don’t try shellrus if you dont want a screen protector that cuts off your viewable screen area. They let me down

 

[Htsi]

Don’t try shellrus if you dont want a screen protector that cuts off your viewable screen area. They let me down

I have resorted to no screen protectors. iPad is heavy on scratches but I can get a replacement with a battery service.
Air has a few rainbow scratches and many scratches with screen off.
I haven’t found a protector that is as good as the glass when it comes to anti glare too.

 

[Detonation]

I have resorted to no screen protectors. iPad is heavy on scratches but I can get a replacement with a battery service.
Air has a few rainbow scratches and many scratches with screen off.
I haven’t found a protector that is as good as the glass when it comes to anti glare too.

My problem is the phone's oleophobic coating eventually wears off. So I actually use screen protectors to protect that. But $50 for any screen protector is crazy.

 

[SweetLou122]

Oleophobic coating is really hit or miss with the tempered glass, especially the longevity. The least durable in my experience have been the Flolab and Belkin. I do wipe the screen down with 70% ipa every few days so that’s on the more aggressive side. As such I don’t expect them to last very long.

I had an onn (Walmart brand) glass screen protector on the 16 series and the oleophobic coating was beastly. It lasted at least a year of full time use and frequent alcohol wipe downs and was still beading water droplets nicely. I got another one (corning/gorilla glass version) as a backup to the Flolab for the 17 given their shipping/replacement woes if it breaks, but may just replace it early.

Of note, .onn has several varieties including a, “plain” glass, a tempered glass with “glass by Corning,” and a now discontinued (at least I can’t find it) tempered glass with blue light filter. The last one is the one I had with the fantastic oleophobic coating. Unsure if the other versions are as good.

The Flolab really is a strangely bad coating, and I’m not sure if it has to do with the anti reflective or electroplating process they use. I have the updated 3D infinity edge AR version, and for ~$50, with their $9 warranty replacement shipping now limiting to 1 replacement it’s pretty tough to recommend. The curved 3D edges are pretty nice, especially if you go caseless, but the AR is only marginally impressive in my opinion which makes the other sub $20, 3D options more compelling.

My .02

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

This is what I’ve been using since I got my 17 Pro on release day. No scratches and no visible coating wear after six months and I still have one left in the package.

MAGIC JOHN Screen Protector

MAGIC JOHN 3rd Gen Upgraded for iPhone 17 Pro Screen Protector 6.3 Inch,HD Clear,Shatterproof Tempered Film,Auto Dust-Elimination,Bubble Free,Easy Installation,2 Pack

a.co

 

[SweetLou122]

This is what I’ve been using since I got my 17 Pro on release day. No scratches and no visible coating wear after six months and I still have one left in the package.

MAGIC JOHN Screen Protector

MAGIC JOHN 3rd Gen Upgraded for iPhone 17 Pro Screen Protector 6.3 Inch,HD Clear,Shatterproof Tempered Film,Auto Dust-Elimination,Bubble Free,Easy Installation,2 Pack

a.co

How’s the oleophobic coating / fingerprint resistance on this glass? As others have mentioned, these are all probably made in the same factories with different packaging and branding. There’s probably a sweet spot for price, decent quality, and company that doesn’t disappear overnight.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

How’s the oleophobic coating / fingerprint resistance on this glass? As others have mentioned, these are all probably made in the same factories with different packaging and branding. There’s probably a sweet spot for price, decent quality, and company that doesn’t disappear overnight.

I haven’t changed mine since I got the phone (release day) and it’s just as easy to clean as it was day 1.