Are Screen Protectors Necessary?

[Hrothgar]

Sorry if this has been discussed before. I couldn't find a thread on it.

I just bought a Zagg Invisisheild Dry and did a terrible job putting it on. As I was googling whether I could take it off and try again, I came across a number of articles arguing that the Gorilla glass for iPhones 5 and up are are sufficiently scratch resistant that these screen protectors are no longer necessary.

I'd love to avoid spending another $30 on a piece of saran wrap that's going to look terrible on my phone.

What's the common consensus?

 

[spazma7ik]

If you can live with fine micro scratches that will only be visible in direct light, then sure you don't need one. If this is something that would bug you, then get one as there's no way in hell you'll keep the screen flawless without one.

 

[kovey]

If you don't want scratches on your screen, then yes.

Anybody that tells you that they've never used a screen protector and their phone has no scratches is full of it. They're the same people that sell their things on ebay as looking brand new, yet looks like garbage to anybody else.

 

[Prototypical]

I'm fairly particular about my devices and I ran my 4S for three years without one. Yes, there are "micro scratches" on the screen (I guess?) if you really look hard, but they never stuck out enough for me to notice or care. I don't flip devices every year and I'm not obsessed with keeping it 120% pristine (it's a phone, not a Ferrari).

A lot depends on how hard you are on the phone though. I NEVER put anything else in the same pocket with mine, and I'm careful not to put it face down on anything that isn't clean or smooth.

My wife's phone on the other hand, gets a screen protector applied from day one. She's not exactly gentle with hers. lol

 

[MrXiro]

Those "micro scratches" are most likely on the oleophobic coating rather than being scratches in the actual glass itself.

If you pick up some more coating you'll probably be able to buffer out the micro scratches.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+apply+anti-fingerprint+oleophobic+coating/9682

I generally don't use screen protectors but I do use full body protectors to protect the metal back of my phones.

 

[venom600]

Anybody that tells you that they've never used a screen protector and their phone has no scratches is full of it. They're the same people that sell their things on ebay as looking brand new, yet looks like garbage to anybody else.

I've never used one in the 7 years since the iPhone was introduced. I keep my phones two years minimum, and the screens are flawless. They live in my pants pocket with keys, pens, pencils, and change. I get top dollar for my phones from Gazelle, and they've even upped their quoted payments because of the quality. I can't imagine a probable instance where something could scratch the screen and not shatter the glass unless your pockets are full of sand and diamonds.

 

[-ultimac-]

screen protector will eliminate micro-scratch which makes glass weaker and crack much more easily.

Micro scratch can amplify stress by concentration stress at one point.

imagine a notch on a piece of paper, you need very little force compare to un notch one.

 

[MaximoMark79]

screen protector will eliminate micro-scratch which makes glass weaker and crack much more easily.



Micro scratch can amplify stress by concentration stress at one point.



imagine a notch on a piece of paper, you need very little force compare to un notch one.

What nonsense!

 

[sleepyking]

If you don't want scratches on your screen, then yes.

Anybody that tells you that they've never used a screen protector and their phone has no scratches is full of it. They're the same people that sell their things on ebay as looking brand new, yet looks like garbage to anybody else.

LOL this is probably true.
I've also wondered when people say flawless, if it's really flawless. As in hold it against the light in all angles and see not one micro scratch. Yes this might be obsessive but it matters to some people

 

[dmaxdmax]

I dropped my 1 year old iPhone 5 and the screen shattered. Luckily I had a screen protector (not glass) that held everything in place. It was kind of hard to read but I had a working phone for three weeks while waiting for my 5s.

I will always use a protector.

 

[gigaguy]

I think skins are helpful for the back side. the backs of the plastic and metal iPhones get scratched and the 6 looks like it will too. I used to protect the screen in my iPhone and iPad but I don't anymore. I do use cases.

 

[Tikatika]

Have never used a protector on any cell phone or iPad I've ever had. And yet, somehow, I had a Zagg Invisible Shield installed on my iPhone 6 yesterday. Still not sure why, just felt it needed it and am happy with it.

 

[boltjames]

Have never used a protector on any cell phone or iPad I've ever had. And yet, somehow, I had a Zagg Invisible Shield installed on my iPhone 6 yesterday. Still not sure why, just felt it needed it and am happy with it.

I am on my fourth iPhone.

My wife is on her second iPhone.

My two sons are on their second iPhones.

None of these devices ever had screen protection, none of these devices ever had a scratch. Gorilla Glass is scratch resistant, unless you have pockets full of keys and rocks you will never have a screen scratch.

Putting protection on your screen merely lessons your experience and only serves to make your phone ready for its next owner. When you drive your car, you don't worry about the future owner you just enjoy yourself, same thing here.

BJ

 

[munakib]

Just installed the Tampered Glass from Zagg on my iPhone6Plus (approx $50 with installation at the kiosk). I am an OCD sort of person, even the slightest scratch would annoy me and make me hate myself for not preventing it if the option was there. So if you are the type where small scratches wont matter and never look back, go naked.

 

[Supermallet]

For me it comes down to this, what will bother me more, a few micro-scratches that I may only see in certain lighting conditions from certain angles, or a sheet of plastic or glass that I can always see, changes the experience of my viewing the screen, and can possibly change the tactile sensitivity of the phone? Definitely the latter.

And I know there are some very thin screens that may not affect my viewing or using the phone, but I have to pay extra for the screen, then apply it and hope I didn't trap any air bubbles or dirt, and even if I do it all perfectly, it still adds lines to the phone that I can see and ruin the aesthetic of the device.

Check out some of the photos in the case threads, a lot of those phones have protectors on and they jump out at me as being so out of place.

I think a more elegant solution would be a case with a front flap.

 

[dictoresno]

ive always been on the fence about them, but for the price, its cheap insurance.

i had a MobC screen protector on my iphone 5S to keep the screen mint for resale. it definitely paid off for me. one day i laid my phone face down (by accident) on the wood bench in the locker room at work. unbeknownst to me, i had also laid it down on a small piece of dirt or rock. i went to move the phone over, and slid it across the bench. thats when i heard and felt the rock drag across the screen. i immediately realized it wasnt face up and flipped it over. there was a light 2 inch scrach across the screen protector where the sharp piece of rock sliced it. luckily, the screen protector took the hit. it definitely wouldve scratched the glass up. so now, i always use one.