In the past, screen protectors were a disappointment, but today’s screen protectors are easier to install, cheaper, and better in every way. There are three types: PET film, TPU (polyurethane), and tempered glass, which is our personal preference. After that, you have two options for putting them on your display: dry or wet. So, here’s some more information on how screen protectors operate and what they can do for you.
PET Film screen protectors
PET clearly does not refer to a dog or a cat. It stands for “polyethylene terephthalate,” a type of plastic that comes in a variety of forms depending on the purpose. It’s employed in the manufacturing business for everyday items like liquid and food containers. PET film protectors, on the other hand, aren’t just glorified water bottle plastic. On one side, they’re made of polyester film with a scratch-resistant matte coating, and on the other, they’re made of silicone adhesive.
Quality ones are crystal clear and provide a practical anti-scratch coating to your screen, but they do not provide impact protection. Their scratch resistance isn’t as strong as the most recent Gorilla Glass implementations, but they’ll hold up in the event that something abrasive comes into touch with your screen.
They’re inexpensive and normally come in three-packs or more. Plastic, on the other hand, is the quickest to discolor due to sun rays and oil accumulation from your fingers, and it doesn’t feel as lovely to the touch as glass.
Get a PET protector if you have a less expensive or older phone, or if you just want the most basic and economical screen protection. It doesn’t really matter who made it, but if you have a soft spot for a certain brand, there’s no reason not to use it. Protectors from well-known companies are likely to be better cut-out for your gadget, with no slack edges that can grab on your clothes and tear the protection away (it has happened before).
TPU screen protectors
The next step in the screen protector food chain is TPU (thermoplastic polyreuthane). Scratch resistance, flexibility, oil and grease resistance, and greater toughness are all features of this chemically modified plastic. The material’s “self-healing” properties are limited due to its elasticity. This means that due to its mild softness, it can absorb non-extreme impact, such as most drops and light scratches, while preserving the majority of its original composition. Lighter scratches, for example, usually leave only a small depression in the soft plastic, which gradually returns to normal.
The “military-grade” label on most TPU protectors is deserving of explanation. According to one manufacturer, this substance is used “to shield jetfighters.” And, lo and behold, it’s real! Look through this brochure from Aerospace Surface Protection offers polyurethane protective tapes for “aircraft and windmill leading edge protection.” Getting a TPU case or screen protector, on the other hand, does not guarantee that it is made of the same high-quality material. But isn’t your smartphone also not a fighter jet?
A TPU protection is, presumably, a better choice than PET film if you are ready to pay a somewhat higher price. It will, at the absolute least, give better impact protection (but you shouldn’t take any chances). It’s also more pleasant to the touch, albeit it’s not as smooth as glass. The best thing, in my opinion, is that you’ll be able to tell your friends and acquaintances how your phone has “fighter jet defense.” Isn’t it amazing?
Tempered glass screen protectors
Protection with a sassy attitude! Screen protectors made of tempered glass (TG) are the best you can get. A high-quality TG protector is multi-layered, with the bottom layer usually being shock absorbent silicon, followed by PET film, and an optically transparent adhesive sandwiching the previous two layers with the next two, which are tempered glass and oleophobic coating.
All of this scratch, grease, and shock resistance is packed into a 0.4mm-thick sheet that’s no more difficult to install than a PET or TPU protection and isn’t any heavier or obtrusive.
In every way, a glass protector is preferable than its alternatives. It transmits more light, resulting in a crisper display. It’s anti-reflective and reduces glare. It has an oleophobic covering that minimizes fingerprints significantly. Under your hands, it has the silky sensation of real glass. It can even withstand sand scratches, making it the sole practical choice for beachgoers.
Let’s not forget about shock absorption. T-glass protectors have an 8H to 9H material hardness rating, which means they can withstand scratches from anything that isn’t topaz or corundum (extremely hard aluminum oxide). They are not, however, totally shatter-proof.
Because we’re dealing with toughened glass, in the event of a deadly drop, the protector will take all of the damage and shatter into tiny pieces. There’s a good chance that your display will be unharmed underneath. As a result, instead of replacing the entire screen, you’ll only need to replace the screen protector. Which is better for your soul as well as your cash.
Tempered glass protectors are, as you might guess, the most expensive. Despite this, prices have dropped dramatically due to their popularity and tight rivalry among manufacturers.
A screen protector can be installed in one of two ways: dry or wet. In most cases, the procedure is mentioned on the package. Many individuals are afraid to apply a screen protector since it is a tedious and difficult procedure, and some even pay a “professional” to do it for them. In actuality, protector manufacturers are well aware of this, and every reputable brand goes to great efforts to ensure that the essential tools and instructions are provided so that anyone can do it.
Dry installation
The dry approach uses static electricity to keep the screen protector attached to it. There’s no need for any adhesive, and the installation is simple. The specific instructions will be listed on the package, but here’s a quick review with some pointers.
1.Make your way into a dust-free environment. At home, after a shower, your bathroom is a fantastic spot to perform it because the steam will ensure there are no dust particles flying around.
2.Make sure your phone is completely clean. To remove any remaining dust particles, most shields now include special wipes and even stickers. Check the display one last time under different angles with a bright light.
3.Align the screen protector to the display with care. Some protectors include unique tools or labels to assist with alignment, ensuring that you don’t make a mistake. Remove any protective plastic from the protector and set it on the display (make sure the correct side is up). You can carefully remove it and try again if it’s not exactly aligned.
4.Remove any air bubbles with a soft cloth wrapped around the edge of a credit card (or something else plastic) and make sure the protector is firmly glued to the display. Always begin in the middle of the screen and work your way out to the edges.
5.Remove any plastic that may have accumulated on top of the protector, and you’re done!
Wet installation may appear intimidating, but it isn’t any more difficult in practice than dry installation. The procedure is pretty similar to the one previously explained.
However, you must first apply some liquid glue to the protector before attaching it to the display. Depending on the brand you’ve picked, there are several options.
Some companies give little spray bottles with the solution. You spray the display or the protector (or both, depending on your preference) and then adjust the protection by moving it about slightly until you’re satisfied with the fit. After that, remove any bubbles and extra liquid between the display and the protector with the included squeegee. With a last wipe of the top, you should have a lovely, clean look.
Other manufacturers offer a superior application method, but it will cost a little more. A clever gadget that holds your phone is included with the protection. It not only spreads the liquid evenly, but it also aligns and applies the protection flawlessly with absolutely no effort on your side.
There are also companies that sell wet-mount shields that use UV-light curing adhesives. They do, of course, come with a UV light in the package, but one can be pretty expensive (still cheaper than a new display, though).
Fingerprint sensors buried beneath the display have become standard, but the futuristic technology that powers them has created a dilemma. Screen protectors introduce a variable into the fingerprint-scanning process that phones can’t always account for. This can lead to a lower possibility of getting a proper reading or a complete lack of compatibility between some sensors and protectors.
Worse, a screen protector can jeopardize your phone’s security. The Samsung Galaxy S10’s ultrasonic fingerprint scanner encountered difficulties with various shields, allowing devices to be unlocked with unregistered fingertips. While that problem has been resolved, it’s a good idea to double-check which protectors are recommended (or supported) by your smartphone’s manufacturer.
A typical question from folks who don’t use screen protectors is whether or not using one will cover existing display scratches. And the response is that it is debatable. Isn’t it shocking?
To begin, the severity of the scratches must be considered. Obviously, the deeper the scratch, the less likely it is to be covered by the protection. But it primarily relies on the type of protector you’re using. If disguising scratches is your aim, your best bet is a protection with liquid adhesive. The liquid will fill the tiny gap left by the scratch, and once the protection is applied, it may entirely vanish.
For very tiny scratches, even a regular dry-mount protector could be good enough to mask them.
Getting a screen protector for your iPhone has become a no-brainer with so many options available at such low prices. For basic screen protection, PET film is the best option. TPU protectors are a little harder to come by, but they offer the ideal balance of price and toughness.
Finally, Tempered Glass protectors provide the best protection and feel, but they are also the most expensive. Even the most expensive ones, however, are appropriate for flagship smartphones and tablets. They don’t modify the aesthetic of your pricey equipment like cases do, but they can save you hundreds of dollars.
The comment section has been disabled for this story.
