is it worth to add a screen protector on the front?

[Cakester]

ive had them on my old phones and been without one and the only thing that scratched my old screen on the 3g was grains of sand in my pocket when i was at the beach...and that screen is supposedly not as durable as the 4s. i might try one but remember how hard it was to line up just the home button, speaker, and sides so it looked good? now we have to worry about the front facing camera hole too?! ugrh they'll need to have 5 or 10 packs so we have more to throw away/try again

That's honestly what these editors need to do when they do durability testing. One phone, sew the back pocket of jeans closed, filled with sand. Let's see how scratch proof that is. That in an of itself will show you "2 years worth of wear".

I think sand put little divits in my iPhone 3G from my trips to Florida.

 

[FieldingMellish]

Similar arguments in this thread surround photography, like using LCD protectors or a clear filter over the lens. Many opine for and against.

I use a Bumper that surrounds the edge of the skin, so no dirt is attracted to it and there is no friction on the edge of the skin when inserting the phone into a tight pocket.

 

[WillieG]

LISTEN UP PLEASEEEEE.......

I am back to no screen protector... Two weeks ago I went out and got the full body Zagg... I'm not here to bash Zaggs, I think the product is ok.

However it did take away the beauty of the screen and the orange peel look drove me crazy although I liked the added protection... Then I thought...

I much rather enjoy the beauty and full retina display in it's glory than have this orange peel texture all over my phone. I returned it and I am so so happy.

The only thing on my phone right now is a case for better grip. no shields at all. My iphone 4 looks great !!! and I love the feel of the plain glass!!!

 

[travisrexmiller]

i didn't use one on my 3G and it looks fine, and the iphone4 glass is supposedly stronger, so I'm going commando.

 

[FieldingMellish]

That's all well and good until you are over concrete, reach for the phone, then fumble it and it takes on a velocity all it's own and it skids across pavement.

 

[Cnasty]

I would have said no a week ago but today I noticed a substantial scratch near the top of the screen and it is driving me crazy.

Keep in mind I have not dropped it and only placed in my pocket by itself so not sure how it got there but no real impact to cause a scratch.

So freakin annoyed by this "powerful" glass!

I guess I will put an ugly screen protector on it and take away from the greatness of the screen because scratches are more annoying.

 

[ludawg23]

Order yourself a Powersupport Crystal Film for the front and all your prayers will be answered

 

[headcheese]

I depends on your priorities...if you care more about viewing the display COMPLETELY unobstructed from a screen protector than you do about preserving the "new" condition (for resale or whatever), than don't get a screen protector. If you care more about preserving the new condition and can tradeoff a little of the screen's clarity with a protector, put one on. I see people going on and on about invisishields vs. wrapsol vs. another brand and frankly they are just splitting hairs. There are NO screen protectors on the market that will protect and be not obvious it is on. Simple as that. The closest thing woud be a Power Support Crystal Shield (which aren't even out yet for iPhone 4) and even with that products, there are major flaws such as how the edges are VERY prone to trap dust and dirt, eventually allowing the sides to easily lift up.

You don't know what you're talking about. I've got the SGP oleophobic on mine and there is NO difference in screen quality. It's quite remarkable actually.

OP- the problem I found is not the screen getting scratched, but the oleophobic coating. Before I got my replacement (bunk battery) I had SEVERAL scratches on my ip4, front AND back, and I really babied it. Slapped an oleophobic and a carbon skin on the new one and I'm worry free.

So I'd say go for the SGP oleophobic, definitely worth $13 (for 2 I might add)

 

[vincenz]

Yea, screen protectors make your awesome device look even more awesome. Spending money to protect a hardened glass screen is smart. Spending money on a useless thing is totally not useless. And they don't collect dust and dirt. Sure...

I take it you really like screen protectors.

 

[headcheese]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drakdaddy
Theres a difference between those cheap 2$ protectors that you get from the at&t store and the ones that we are talking about...You honestly no nothing.

+1

+2

I also think that in addition to people who think this because the screen protector is low quality, a lot (most?) don't properly install their shields. Blows my mind when I see people with bubbles everywhere, peeled corners with dirt/dust under them, etc. Of course that looks like sheet

 

[djransom]

I'm on my 3rd Zagg and once again like the last 2 this one is about to come off except I think I'm going to return this provided I can find the receipt. It looks good at 1st and then after a while it begins to look bad and definitely takes away from the beauty of the screen. Luckily this time the guy at Best Buy couldn't find the installation sku for the Zagg so he only charged me for the IS. I find the receipt then yeah it's going back and I'm done with protectors. Times like this make me miss the wife because she was an expert as installing any shield I got and I can't nail it for the life of me.

 

[breezie]

With the 2G, 3G, and 3GS, I've never used or needed a screen protector and I treated my phones border line aggressively. The result was NO screen scratches whatsoever for 3 years.

After 2 weeks with the iPhone4 and very light usage, there's a scratch on my screen...

So for those who said their previous phones were fine, you may want to think twice about how durable the iPhone4 really is!

 

[ludawg23]

I'm on my 3rd Zagg and once again like the last 2 this one is about to come off except I think I'm going to return this provided I can find the receipt. It looks good at 1st and then after a while it begins to look bad and definitely takes away from the beauty of the screen. Luckily this time the guy at Best Buy couldn't find the installation sku for the Zagg so he only charged me for the IS. I find the receipt then yeah it's going back and I'm done with protectors. Times like this make me miss the wife because she was an expert as installing any shield I got and I can't nail it for the life of me.

Zagg is pretty horrible. Try some of the other reputtable brands mentioned in this forum.

If you don't want to do an installation, I'd recommend the Powersupport Crystal film. Does not alter the screen display and you don't even know it's there. My GF has one for her 3GS and they make a remarkable product.

 

[iamthekiller]

sigh... a scratch-prone plastic screen protector on top of a glass display? talk about pointless.. this is like tits on a bull

 

[djransom]

Zagg is pretty horrible. Try some of the other reputtable brands mentioned in this forum.

If you don't want to do an installation, I'd recommend the Powersupport Crystal film. Does not alter the screen display and you don't even know it's there. My GF has one for her 3GS and they make a remarkable product.

I'm definitely going to give Powersupport a try once they release their shields because I agree that Zagg is pretty awful.

 

[dukebound85]

Yea, screen protectors make your awesome device look even more awesome. Spending money to protect a hardened glass screen is smart. Spending money on a useless thing is totally not useless. And they don't collect dust and dirt. Sure...

well i have scratched my ipod touch and iphone 3g screens by having it just sit in my pocket

hardly useless

 

[Cnasty]

Exactly and the I4 scratches just as easily which is ridiculous.

Ill gladly pony up the $15-$20 to protect my screen.

To bad there is already a scratch and its to late.

 

[makefunnyfaces]

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Personally, I hate screen protectors on the front. I've tried dealing with them several times, & always take them off after a few days.

I didn't have one on my 2G, 3G, & 3GS. They didn't get a single scratch. And trust me -- I'm not easy with my phones.

 

[Frenchjay]

It's a good investment. Protect the phone on the front and back and when you come to sell it on you will get the maximum value as opposed to losing 50-100 because it is scratched to hell.

Also there is nothing worse than looking at your screen with a huge scratch on it when watching videos or browsing!!