Why to use a screenprotector

[T4om]

I found it interesting to start a discussion about the advantage ore disadvantage of using a screen protector on a smartphone or another gorilla glass devices.

For the discussions about availability and quality of screen protectors please go to this topic please don’t make post about that here.

Checking the internet, I notice not much information is provided about the benefits of a screen protector, not the information I like to agree on, for my feeling it only marketing driven and retold all the time.

I believe the only true benefit of a screen protector is protecting against scratches.

In my believing the thin layer will distribute the force of an impact somewhat over the thin screen, but this is minimal.

Even when wearing a screen protector, It’s still the gorilla glass taking most of the impact when dropping on the ground. not the protector.

Wel way than is a screen protector so effective of preventing a screen to brake?

This is wat I believe to be the main reason:

Gorilla glass is just glass, the main differences is that’s extremely thin, much more scratch resistant than standard glass and bendable, These two last points ensure that the glass is very resistant to breaking.

For everyone how know how glass is cut in size (traditional), will be aware of the next.

Gorilla glass it’s not entirely scratch resistant, sand for example will cause permanent damage.

Glass is cut by making a straight scratch on the surface of the glass where it need to be cut, after the scratch is made an impact is given on the glass so long the proses is done properly the glass will perfectly brake on that scratch.

If you don’t wear a screen protector, it does not matter if it a thin cheap plastic one or a high quality of wat ever material for wat ever price, only a grain of sand damaging your screen. eventually this small scratch will become a crack during an accidental drop. If the scratch was not there the screen had most likely survived the fall.

Putting a screen protector over a scratch will not repair the scratch. Of course it will enforce the week point a bit, still prevention is better than cure.

You probably have a Fairphone replacing that screen is probably less harmful for the world than a different brand, it’s till verry harmful, so be kind to ore world and prevent that by wearing a screen protector. if the cost and inconvenience of a broken screen aren’t motivating you enough.

Please poste below if you think my information is wrong, ore you like to add something.

[loseyourself]

I used to use screen protectors religiously on past phones. On my Fairphone 4, it came off due to the glue… ungluing (I’m really tired) and I never bothered getting a new one. It still has zero scratches.

I managed to scratch my work phone after about a month of usage and I still don’t have a clue how, so maybe my FP4 is just blessed with an indestructible screen.

[MegaLOOPING]

I use tempered glass screen protectors as as sacrificial layer so that the main screen hopefully doesn’t break.
I am very clumsy and used to use plastic scratch protectors but still ended up cracking my phone screens pretty regularly.
After switching to glass protectors, I’ve had to replace the protector like twice a year but my phones would last me a LOT longer. I used to have to replace my phone about yearly on average because of a cracked screen. That is with cases on all of them.
The glass screen protectors allowed me to use my Sony Xperia 5 II for about 4 years until managed to break the OLED panel under the screen when it got caught in the closing car door and dented the frame.

My aunt is also still using her beat up S20 FE that’s gone through hell and back, the screen is like new but she needs a new glass protector every once in a while. She likes to keep the cracked ones on the phone as well so people think her phone looks broken and is less likely to get stolen because of that (Her words).

So personally I’ll always recommend to put a glass protector on phones as a sacrificial layer. The plastic ones only really make sense imo if you put your phone loosely in a handbag or work in a place with small, hard dust or sand that can cause micro scratches on the gorilla glass and weaken it.

Sadly I have to use my FP5 without protection because my touchscreen is not sensitive enough and I frequently have misinputs. I still do without protection but that’s another issue. At least a replacement screen isn’t too expensive for it when it’ll inevitably break.

[noodlejetski]

completely anecdotal evidence, but a few years ago I dropped my phone screen down, and the screen protector cracked while the actual screen remained intact. would it still be fine without the additional protective layer? absolutely no way to tell.

another reason would be changing the properties of the display, like the privacy screen protectors that only let you see the contents of the display if you’re looking straight on at them, so that people next to you can’t shoulder surf, or matte ones that prevent the glare. I use one of the latter and I really like the way it both looks and feels.

[hirnsushi]

I have never used a screen protector for any of my smartphones (Nexus One, Nexus 4, and FP4 so far), nor a case (except for mounting the FP4 to a bike), they just live in my pocket and they’ve been absolutely fine.
It’s not like I don’t drop them, the Nexus 4 got launched onto asphalt at 50 kph and made it, needed one screen replacement in ~9 years, the FP4’s screen looks still basically scratch free after 3.5 years (the backcover does need to be replaced though).

Until someone tests this in a lab setting I’m going to go with my anecdotal evidence that phones nowadays don’t really need one (also I’ve been pretty lucky probably).

For me personally, screen protectors have the major downside of changing the way the surface/edges feel, and my (neurodivergent) brain really doesn’t like that…

[rkbwde]

I used a protector foil on my FP2 which peacefully died of old age recently

On my FP5, I don’t use one. I only put a plastic bag over it when wearing in my pockets to prevent keys etc. from scratching the display. This works fine for me so far.

[noodlejetski]

so you don’t use a screen protector, but you put something on the screen in order to protect it… we need a name for such thing!

[Lidwien]

Let’s say a Soft key?