Screen protector?

[Kangaroos]

Hello!

I bought a brand new iPhone X (Space grey) two months ago. The same day I got it, I put a case on it and a screen protector. This morning I noticed a long hairline crack on the screen protector going through the whole diameter of the lower half of the phone. I haven’t dropped my phone at all since I bought it and have looked after it like my baby.

So I just took the protector off, will my phone be ok without it? Or should I buy a new one? There are no scratches whatsoever on my phone. Haven’t took it out of my case since I got (case I’m attached files)

I am also very interested in purchasing the Apple silicone cases, are they good? Will my phone break if I drop it?

Thanks for reading

 

[now i see it]

I've never used a screen protector, but I never drop the phone. Your finger moving on the screen won't scratch it.

 

[zx128k]

I usually use plastic screen protectors. No cracks and it protects from scratches.

 

[supergt]

Depends on how you use your phone. If you put it in your pocket, it will likely develop micro scratches over time as there are particles that are harder than your phone screen. I use an edge to edge tempered glass screen protector on my Xs and am very happy with it. Lots of cheap options on amazon.

 

[AustinIllini]

I like the tempered glass. Yeah, they're not cheap but I don't even notice mine is there. And the Apple Store does an amazing job applying them.

 

[DevinNj]

I use glass screen protectors on all of my phones. On my wife’s and my son’s phone as well. Do I expect them to prevent the screen from cracking in case of a drop, no, mostly for scratch protection. The cheap ones on Amazon and EBay are just fine, no need to spend a ton of money.

 

[BigBen2493]

I usually use plastic screen protectors. No cracks and it protects from scratches.

Would you recommend the belkin anti glare over the invisiglass then?

 

[zx128k]

Would you recommend the belkin anti glare over the invisiglass then?

I’m not to keen on anti glare as they usually have a matte finish.

I usually just get the plastic ones on amazon. Don’t worry about the brand much.

 

[44267547]

I like Belkin, their screen protectors are marked up considerably, but you are paying for a quality protector, it just depends on one’s preference and how much money they want to invest in the protector. And no, I haven’t noticed any glare with Belkin’s protectors.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I have never used a protector and never damaged my screen. But, if you have had problems with damage in the past, it might be a good idea.

 

[BigBen2493]

I’m not to keen on anti glare as they usually have a matte finish.

I usually just get the plastic ones on amazon. Don’t worry about the brand much.

Yeah I like the plastic ones that come with the otterbox defender cases but since they make the new ones screenless I’m trying to find a screen protector that is similar to it.

 

[NJHitmen]

I have never used a protector and never damaged my screen. But, if you have had problems with damage in the past, it might be a good idea.

I’ve never used one either, but I’m toying with getting one now. Never experienced any serious screen damage over years of iPhone usage. However, I just replaced my 7 after 2 1/2 years of use - and I can see a bunch of faint marks on the screen. No major gouges, and those marks aren’t really visible when the display is on...but still, they’re there. I’m thinking maybe it’s worth picking up a protector for the new phone, while the screen is still pristine.

Having never used a screen protector, I’m a little concerned that the user experience won’t be quite the same. I guess if I don’t like it, I can always remove it. The other thing holding me back is that I’ve heard it’s tough to apply them perfectly (without any air bubbles underneath). I suppose it can’t hurt to try.

 

[zx128k]

I’ve never used one either, but I’m toying with getting one now. Never experienced any serious screen damage over years of iPhone usage. However, I just replaced my 7 after 2 1/2 years of use - and I can see a bunch of faint marks on the screen. No major gouges, and those marks aren’t really visible when the display is on...but still, they’re there. I’m thinking maybe it’s worth picking up a protector for the new phone, while the screen is still pristine.

Having never used a screen protector, I’m a little concerned that the user experience won’t be quite the same. I guess if I don’t like it, I can always remove it. The other thing holding me back is that I’ve heard it’s tough to apply them perfectly (without any air bubbles underneath). I suppose it can’t hurt to try.

The user experience is no different.

The way I look at it is it can't hurt to have one just in case.

All it takes is one accident and no one is immune to those unfortunately, no matter what they say.

 

[BigBen2493]

I’ve never used one either, but I’m toying with getting one now. Never experienced any serious screen damage over years of iPhone usage. However, I just replaced my 7 after 2 1/2 years of use - and I can see a bunch of faint marks on the screen. No major gouges, and those marks aren’t really visible when the display is on...but still, they’re there. I’m thinking maybe it’s worth picking up a protector for the new phone, while the screen is still pristine.

Having never used a screen protector, I’m a little concerned that the user experience won’t be quite the same. I guess if I don’t like it, I can always remove it. The other thing holding me back is that I’ve heard it’s tough to apply them perfectly (without any air bubbles underneath). I suppose it can’t hurt to try.

You can buy one of the Belkin ones from the Apple store and they will put it on for you

 

[NJHitmen]

So, this is a bit off-topic relative to OP’s original comment, but: the comments above convinced me to finally go ahead and install a screen protector. Did a bit of research and ended up settling on this Sparin kit: https://www.amazon.com/SPARIN-Protector-Hardness-Alignment-Responsive/dp/B07H4PNWZW. I realize it probably isn’t the best in the world, but the reviews are good, the kit includes everything I figured I’d need (such as an alignment tool, and 4 total protectors in case I repeatedly screwed up installation) - and the price was right. Cost me about $5.

I just completed installation, and it went shockingly well. I followed the kit’s instructions to the letter. I also followed a bit of advice I’ve read in other threads, and did it in a bathroom with a hot shower running (which helps reduce the amount of dust in the air). The end result is pretty much perfect. The protector is correctly aligned, with no visible dust nor air bubbles.

The protector itself seems good. No obvious change in the display’s color/clarity, and touch response is unaffected (if anything, the screen feels a little smoother). Obviously I can’t speak to the product’s durability, since I’ve only been using it for ten minutes. That’s the one concern I have based on the reviews - some users complained that the protector broke for no apparent reason (sometimes repeatedly, one protector after another). So, obviously, I’ll keep an eye on it. For now, the Sparin kit gets a thumb up from me.

Sorry for the verbal diarrhea...just figured this was a logical place to post my experience.

 

[TheIntruder]

A low dust environment helps, but I've found the most reliable method is just being careful, with a can of aerosol duster, and some cellophane tape as needed to remove any dust that might get attached to the protector's adhesive layer. This has worked for me all the way up to a 12.9" iPad Pro, whose surface area increases the challenge.

If you trust reviews, you'd also believe that Lighting cables will disintegrate if you look at them wrong. Obviously, they don't, nor do thin pieces of glass chip on their own without any user involvement. Being thin pieces of glass, they are vulnerable, but aren't installed under tension, and don't crack or chip without reason...that usually being mishandling by the user.

Nor is it necessary to pay $30-40 for a piece of glass, unless you value the convenience of buying from a known vendor, and having it installed for you. The cheap stuff on Amazon works fine, and if it needs to be replaced, it can be, multiple times, for the equivalent cost of a "name" brand. What that extra money pays for is fancier packaging, and a measure of support; the product isn't appreciably better than the no-name stuff, at least as a value proposition.

Screen protectors aren't magic, nor are they going to kill your pet (some seem to harbor an irrational hate for them). They're simply an extra measure of sacrificial protection, no more, no less.

Personally, I like the freedom to clean the screen with impunity for just a few bucks.

 

[Kangaroos]

A low dust environment helps, but I've found the most reliable method is just being careful, with a can of aerosol duster, and some cellophane tape as needed to remove any dust that might get attached to the protector's adhesive layer. This has worked for me all the way up to a 12.9" iPad Pro, whose surface area increases the challenge.

If you trust reviews, you'd also believe that Lighting cables will disintegrate if you look at them wrong. Obviously, they don't, nor do thin pieces of glass chip on their own without any user involvement. Being thin pieces of glass, they are vulnerable, but aren't installed under tension, and don't crack or chip without reason...that usually being mishandling by the user.

Nor is it necessary to pay $30-40 for a piece of glass, unless you value the convenience of buying from a known vendor, and having it installed for you. The cheap stuff on Amazon works fine, and if it needs to be replaced, it can be, multiple times, for the equivalent cost of a "name" brand. What that extra money pays for is fancier packaging, and a measure of support; the product isn't appreciably better than the no-name stuff, at least as a value proposition.

Screen protectors aren't magic, nor are they going to kill your pet (some seem to harbor an irrational hate for them). They're simply an extra measure of sacrificial protection, no more, no less.

Personally, I like the freedom to clean the screen with impunity for just a few bucks.

If I drop my phone, will it break with a screen protector on? Or is it mostly for scratches.

 

[TheIntruder]

If I drop my phone, will it break with a screen protector on? Or is it mostly for scratches.

A screen protector serves mostly to preserve the original surface of the phone's screen.

Does that mean it won't contribute some measure of protection in the case of a drop? No, but it doesn't guarantee that either, despite how some market them.

There are too many variables involved to say with any certainty.

The airbags in your car were designed to protect passengers in certain ways, and decrease the chances of injury. Does that eliminate the possibility or injury, or even death? No, it can't, because every crash is different, as is every drop.

Protectors, as well as cases, mitigate risk, but don't eliminate it.

 

[NJHitmen]

A low dust environment helps, but I've found the most reliable method is just being careful, with a can of aerosol duster, and some cellophane tape as needed to remove any dust that might get attached to the protector's adhesive layer. This has worked for me all the way up to a 12.9" iPad Pro, whose surface area increases the challenge.

It did occur to me that a can of air would be helpful. I don't currently have one handy, but I'll know for next time. However, the kit I purchased did include some precut tape. Actually more like stickers, but the intent is the same. Got the job done.

As well as the installation went for me - the idea of doing this to an iPad is giving me the shakes. So much screen real estate. Somehow I'd manage to trap bits of dust/lint beneath the protector.

 

[TheIntruder]

I tend to ignore the bundled dust tapes now because they're inconsistent in shape, and like stickers, have more adhesion than I prefer. Scotch tape is sticky enough to pick up dust, but not cling too hard to anything while juggling, and it's easy to tear off a longer piece to reach something closer to the middle of the screen.

I even find the alignment frames kinda fussy. I helped install a Whitestone protector on a Galaxy, and it was neat, but convoluted, with the frame contraption, liquid adhesive and UV curing light.

Once you do enough of them, you get used to it, and get a feel for what they'll tolerate, if a stubborn piece of dust gets stuck and you have to partially peel the protector off to reach it, or reset the position if it's not perfectly aligned.

The best/easiest is doing an installation on a brand new device; just peel off the protective wrap from the factory and skip straight to application; no need to clean, just make sure no dust intrudes.

 

[NJHitmen]

I tend to ignore the bundled dust tapes now because they're inconsistent in shape, and like stickers, have more adhesion than I prefer. Scotch tape is sticky enough to pick up dust, but not cling too hard to anything while juggling, and it's easy to tear off a longer piece to reach something closer to the middle of the screen.

I even find the alignment frames kinda fussy. I helped install a Whitestone protector on a Galaxy, and it was neat, but convoluted, with the frame contraption, liquid adhesive and UV curing light.

Once you do enough of them, you get used to it, and get a feel for what they'll tolerate, if a stubborn piece of dust gets stuck and you have to partially peel the protector off to reach it, or reset the position if it's not perfectly aligned.

The best/easiest is doing an installation on a brand new device; just peel off the protective wrap from the factory and skip straight to application; no need to clean, just make sure no dust intrudes.

Good info, thanks. The bundled dust tape I used was ok, but in retrospect, it might've been easier to use if it was a little less sticky. I'll try scotch tape next time.

Given that you clearly have a lot of experience with these things: any thoughts on the differences between various screen protector options? Specifically, do you think they're all basically the same, or do you prefer a particular style/brand? There are dozens and dozens of options, but from my (cursory) research it looks like most of them are more or less identical (aside from obviously different choices like privacy or matte protectors). The Sparin I installed is fine, but I'm wondering if there's a better product out there.

 

[BigBen2493]

Do you all have an opinion on the Belkin Anti glare instead of their invisiglass?

 

[R.Stoychev]

I went through cheap glass screen protector, after that went for some time without one and the phone got some minor scratches.. I put it in a dedicated pocket, clean it only with microfibres etc... After that I decided to get tempered glass screen from the Apple store and I must say that it worth's every penny.

 

[BigBen2493]

I went through cheap glass screen protector, after that went for some time without one and the phone got some minor scratches.. I put it in a dedicated pocket, clean it only with microfibres etc... After that I decided to get tempered glass screen from the Apple store and I must say that it worth's every penny.

No cracks?

 

[iMelhado]

I went completely naked. There's just too much beauty in the iPhone XS IMHO; however, with that being said, I have Applecare+ and insurance with my carrier.