Related
So I have gone through quite a few screen protectors, as I am on a family plan with 3 of my friends, all of which have Evos. Being the one to get all of them on these phones, I naturally went ahead and got the screen protectors for all of us. All the ones I have used before today have been the cheap kind, albeit from different sources. In a rush to collect my $25 from AMEX for small business Saturday, I hastily bought some screen protectors online on new years eve (turns out it had to be a local small business, so I won't be getting any money from AMEX).
So I bought a Steinheil Ultra Crystal pack, a Steinheil Anti Fingerprint pack, and a 3 pack of handhelditem.com generic clears.
Installation was quite easy for me, as I had practice installing cheapies on three phones, which can sometimes be hard due to bad cutouts. The Ultra Crystal is cut a bit small to the screen, leaving about a half millimeter all the way around. I'm used to laying these down so you don't have any bubbles, although there was a small bubble by my buttons due to lint underneath. The included sticker "lint removers" were great because they had strong enough adhesive to easily pull up the screen protector from the corner, although I'm sure some tape would have done the same thing. Pulled out the lint, relaid the bottom quarter, and everything was perfect.
The last screen protectors I had been using I bought from an Ebay vendor, and they were quite cheap, something like $1.35 each. Holding one next to the Ultra Crystal, you can tell the Steinheil is slightly thicker, and the cutout for the top was different (the ebay ones were cut in a rectangle shape up top as to not cover the camera/sensors, the Steinheil covers all of these).
Clarity wise, I can barely tell the difference. I am inclined to say the ebay one had the tiniest bit more white hue to it, but I'm not even so sure that is the case. All the cheap clear protectors I have used have had excellent clarity, in a way that no one can tell you are using a screen protector and the screen looks brilliant.
So really, what are you getting? People swear by Steinheil, and looking at the anti-fingerprint one I can see why. The AF one looks a lot better than the cheap AF ones, but the cheap AF protectors are pretty much unusable for me.
You do get a nicer cutout, but no one noticed with the last ones I had anyways. The ebay one was cut closer to the side edges and the top/bottom, and the edge never bothered me, so I'd say the fit was better in those respects. I've had the DC Mugen ones, which were an identical fit to the Steinheil up top, but were cut short of the soft buttons on the bottom. I have a feeling the handhelditem.com ones will be almost the same cutout if not closer to the outside edges. I'll wait to see when I get them, they shipped those separately to me.
So do I recommend it? Well, only if the cutout is particularly important to you. They do come in nicer packaging, the included microfiber cloth is bigger then some of the ones I've gotten with other protectors, not to mention the ebay purchase which came with cloths that almost feel like wax paper.
A little time and I'll know if this protector is more scratch resistant than the others I've had, but most of those held up pretty well so it's tough to say that will happen.
I don't see why you wouldn't want to save the money and get the cheap ones. I got 5 for $7.50, shipped, handheld items charged me 6 dollars for shipping alone. Five protectors means you can always replace yours when any scratches on it actually bother you, and you get plenty of tries if you mess up install.
I'm debating whether I should try out the Anti-Fingerprint ones or just try to sell them, they do look quality and holding them up to my phone/monitor makes for a reasonable tradeoff between clarity and glare, and that's with a protective film on it.
For reference, I bought the ones off ebay from seller spshop88, here's a recent auction he put up here, they're quite cheap now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/5x-Clear-LCD-Sc...189206?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item43a3febb96
Note, these do have a rectangular cutout for the top that leaves your camera and sensors exposed.
I've tried all those $25 protectors like zagg and invisible shield. I ended up trying GTMax off Amazon and there great. Three for $7 shipped. They feel like the original bare screen and crystal clear. Very nice coverage. It fits absolutely perfect. Here's the link if you want to try them out.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003T1WI02/ref=oss_product
There are many topics in this forum about screenprotectors and shield. That's why I decided to make one topic on this subject based on my experience. I've used protectors for the Xperia X1 and the HTC Desire, i've used the following:
Screenprotectors
Brando UltraClear My experience with the Brando's are very good. They are easy to install as they don't use glue, but some kind of static energy, I don't know what it is exactly. Due this, they can be reapplied by peeling them off and reapply them. And you can even clean them with water. This is also a disadvantage, as the protector can move a little around the screen and can be lifted up by sharp objects.
Color distortion due the brando is negligible and in my opinion the brando's have a nice feel to them, which is of course quit important for a screenprotector.
Ebay I've had some experience with these protectors, and while they are cheap, I'm not a big fan of them. They feel cheap and there is too much resistance while touching the screen. I also have my doubts about the protection, especially with sharp objects penetrating the protector, but I have no experience with that. Color distortion depends on how you apply the protector, I have seen some people with some vague lines on the screen due these protectors.
Martin Fields These appear to be the best protectors but I have no experience with them. Please post your experience so this can be a nice overview topic
Shields
StealthGuards This is the shield/screenprotector i use at the moment. The problem with shields is that over time, the small parts (in my case the side of the phone) tends to get loose. That happened to my Zagg shield which I originally bought for my Desire. Since I didn't want to spend $25,- again I browsed around the internet and found this alternative. They are incredibly cheap (Free + shipping, so around $2,-) and hard to beat at that price. The feel of the screenprotector isn't as nice as from the brando. But it's better then the Zagg and good enough for all day use.
The protection you get is very good, every part of the phone is protected by some plastic looking and feeling material. The StealthGuards offers the same protection as the Zagg, and scratches automagically restore as long as they aren't too deep. So you have a lot of extra protection without the bulk and at a low price. Disadvantage could be that your phone gets more glossy. For a matte phone like the desire this isn't something i'm happy about, but you can order matte shields for a small price (which I didn't btw, so I'm not sure how that will look). Also you can't reapply them as they use some kind of glue. Personally I didn't have any problems peeling them off (no glue left on the phone, or easily removable).
ZaggIs more or less the same as the StealthGuard, but more expansive. You do get 2 year warrenty and free replacement for that price, and I guess it's more scratch resistant but with normal use the SG is sufficient for me. I've scratched both with my keys and didn't see much difference. They have more resistance then the SG and I wasn't a big fan of using the Zagg as screenprotector so i ordered a Brando. Installation is better then SG, as SG doesn't even provide instructions or the installation fluid (but you don't need it really, I just pushed it on the phone and it sticked).
BSE is mentioned in this post and is also a cheaper alternative to Zagg.
Installation
For installation of your protector I recommand BillTheCat's excellent installation technique post that can be found here
Conclusion
On a low budget I recommend the StealthGuards, as they are dirty cheap, offer way better protection then the cheap ebay protections and feel better. If you have some more money to spend I would go for a SG + Brando UltraClear combination. This is primarily for the feel on the touchscreen, which I like a lot on the brando. Maybe the MF is better, but I can't recommend it as I personally never used one.
If you have a lot the spend you could look into the Zagg, but you will definitely want another screenprotector alongside the Zagg, which makes it even more pricy. I guess it's protection is better then the SG, but I doubt you'll need it.
This is all based on my personal experience I had with these products, yours can be entirely different and if so, please post it below. I will update this post if users provide useful descriptions on there phone protections.
Great post! A lot of useful information here for those looking to get a screen protector for their phone.
I only have experience with the Zagg Invisible Shield. I tried it on my old hero, and while it's a solid product I just couldn' get used to the way it felt uner my fingertips. I ended up removing it after only 4 days of use. That being said, when I recently retired the old Hero it didn't have a single mark on the screen. So, for me the screen protector from Zagg didn't do anything except lower the usability of my phone.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Nice post.... I got a nice HTC branded pouch from amazon for £7.50 ($12.20) and it's great.
amazon.co.uk/HTC-Pouch-PO-S520-smartphone/dp/B003HRZRCE/
timber4483 said:
Nice post.... I got a nice HTC branded pouch from amazon for £7.50 ($12.20) and it's great.
amazon.co.uk/HTC-Pouch-PO-S520-smartphone/dp/B003HRZRCE/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't like pouches, they add weight and slow the process of quickly checking my phone This one looks nice though
I've been using Martin Fields protectors for a few years now. Better quality than most and cut very well so that they cover the entire screen. Easy to apply without bubbles forming and can be removed without leaving residue on the screen.
One thing that i have noticed is a discoloration/wearing on the shield in the most frequently used areas of the screen. It's only noticeable when the screen is off though.
These are very costly compared to most but offer a good level of protection and last for ages.
DirkGently1 said:
I've been using Martin Fields protectors for a few years now. Better quality than most and cut very well so that they cover the entire screen. Easy to apply without bubbles forming and can be removed without leaving residue on the screen.
One thing that i have noticed is a discoloration/wearing on the shield in the most frequently used areas of the screen. It's only noticeable when the screen is off though.
These are very costly compared to most but offer a good level of protection and last for ages.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard the same story, since my protector is slightly damaged after 3/4 year of heavy use i'm thinking of buying one and check them out. How does the martin field feel compared to the original screen?
cyleo said:
I heard the same story, since my protector is slightly damaged after 3/4 year of heavy use i'm thinking of buying one and check them out. How does the martin field feel compared to the original screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually found the naked N1 screen a bit hard to get along with. My finger wouldn't swipe across smoothly and felt 'sticky'. The MF protector was actually an improvement although it takes a days use to wear in properly. I've had the same protector on for a year now and it's still going strong
i use a zagg and love it! goes on great but does feel funny something you just have to get use to the only bad thing i noticed is when i tried to put the one from my white streak on my black streak the screen was totally unresponsive so i had to get a new one bestbuy replaced it so no big deal couple of my friends had the same problem so i guess you can't use it more than once. it will mark up i dropped my streak and tried to stop it with my shoe and ended up kicking it across the room and it put 2 small marks on the zagg but other than that its great and i do recommend it. a little pricey though!
A very good alternative, actually better and a lot cheaper than Zagg, is BSE: http://www.bestskinsever.com/
I started using them on my last 3 devices and have never looked at another product since.
XPerties said:
A very good alternative, actually better and a lot cheaper than Zagg, is BSE: http://www.bestskinsever.com/
I started using them on my last 3 devices and have never looked at another product since.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for BSE, I've used them on almost every phone since my BlackBerry days. I've tried others and keep going back.
The ShieldGuards are really good they might be better than zagg I recommend this
Invisible Shield from Zagg is always a good choich but a little bit pricey. They just recently released the universal screen pack to Radioshack so they should be available to you locally. Which is always ideal for me.
They price at 14.99 for three.
I have never tried bestskinsever, but I used Zagg a couple of times when it was still called Invisible Shield.
Is bestskinsever the same sort of product? That is, is it sticky to touch, or does the finger slide like it does on the screen?
Also, does the screen protector part have the orange peel effect, or is it mirror-like, like a normal screen protector?
The Zagg style protectors are fantastic for the body of electronics items, but imho very bad news for screens, especially touch screens.
Updated startpost with BSE. I will take some pictures of the Stealthguard installed on my device
Im thinking about getting a zagg. they just gave me a simple screen protector from verizon when i picked up my thunderbolt. definitely not going to cut it.
Updated OP with link to the installation technique guide from BillTheCat
Skinomi its good too! Easy to put on only sucky part is u have to wait 12-24 hours for it to dry (
Sent from a flashed CM7 myTouch 4g
winxx said:
Skinomi its good too! Easy to put on only sucky part is u have to wait 12-24 hours for it to dry (
Sent from a flashed CM7 myTouch 4g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those are new to me. How do they feel and react to scratches?
bought my hd 2 with a screenprotector today and the protector is shining under the sun. can't see a thing.
It seems the StealthGuard is no longer free, however, for $10,- you get 2 protectors, so it's still very competitive when compared to the others.
Edit: There seems to be a workaround and still get the protectors for free if you sign up to become a devaffiliate. I haven't tried this myself (mine is still on), but it's worth a shot. (here or here)
OK the HTC ARIA has been around for a while now and one of the most pertinent objectives is screen protection. That having been said I think it's a good idea to poll people to find what cases and screen protectors have been handeling the masses needs.
I will put my 2 cents in here, starting the poll.
My daughters ARIA started out w/ a Zagg screen protector and Amizer case. Much to my chagrin the case fell apart. She never told me and the first time she dropped it, the screen shattered (though the Zagg screen protector did keep it in place) It's being replaced now and I hope to have a different one when she gets it back. I look forward to your thoughts and purchases. Good bad or indifferent
tomween1 said:
OK the HTC ARIA has been around for a while now and one of the most pertinent objectives is screen protection. That having been said I think it's a good idea to poll people to find what cases and screen protectors have been handeling the masses needs.
I will put my 2 cents in here, starting the poll.
My daughters ARIA started out w/ a Zagg screen protector and Amizer case. Much to my chagrin the case fell apart. She never told me and the first time she dropped it, the screen shattered (though the Zagg screen protector did keep it in place) It's being replaced now and I hope to have a different one when she gets it back. I look forward to your thoughts and purchases. Good bad or indifferent
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My opinions:
The Aria is at its best without a case - it feels great in the hand and looks nice too.
I have a case I use occasionally. It is a TPU HTC-branded skin-like cover. It was less than $10 at Amazon, and fits perfectly. It only covers the back and sides, with cutouts for all the Aria external connections/controls. It makes the phone a bit more bulky, but it is about as thin as you can get. Slightly covers the edges where the glass screen meets the back
I don't use a screen protector (like Zagg). I'm tempted, but with a glass screen, I don't know how much it'll get scratched without one.
Again, just my opinions...
I too wouldn't bother with a case for this phone, I really don't see the need.
I would always use a screen protector. I know these screens are glass (even Gorilla Glass I think?) but they are not impervious to damage. You just know the first time it slips out of your hand and goes skating down the asphalt you are gonna wish you had one on because it WILL leave scratches!
As far as screen protectors go, I've used 'em all over the years and firmly believe the 'wet apply' ones like Zagg are the best. However, out of this style of screen protector I think Zagg is the worst - thick and rubbery and will give you orange-peel effect.
I personally use Bodyguardz and love them! Phantomskinz are also good and with both of these companies you get 2 sets for the price of Zagg's 1 set and a lifetime replacement warranty. Also with Bodyguardz, when you sign up and order you then get 20% off all subsequent orders.
http://www.bodyguardz.com/htc-aria-cases-screen-protectors-covers-shields-skins-films.html
http://phantomskinz.com/search.aspx?find=htc+aria
Good luck!
The amzer case is really good if you have a screen protector. It kind of leaves indents on my Aria, so I don't know if it'll scratch the glass. Best to get a screen protector regardless.
People say the case sucks because it's hard to take off, but theres a trick to it, just pull from the bottom left edge of the front frame. I've dropped my Aria almost 12 times. Still perfect, Its been 6 months. The matte finish does get worn though.
I know there is a thread made on the 16th that basically touches on this question, but doesn't really answer it. I work for Apple and have fallen in love with the Power Support screen protectors. The only problem is they are only available for Apple devices. I've done a lot of searching for a close alternative with no conclusive results. I was going to go with an SGP Oleophobic but a little more research has me thinking that I'll be disappointed. SGP's Ultra Crystal line seems like it could be close but they aren't available yet.
Can someone who has experience with Power Support protectors tell me if there is anything that comes even remotely close? I don't care if its wet or dry install, I just want it to look/feel/function similarly.
EDIT: If you are thinking of replying with "haven't you seen the 'key scratch test?'," or "I don't like screen protectors on my phones, why do you?," or anything that doesn't have to do with the question, don't bother responding. I'm not wondering "if" I should get one, so there is no need to respond like I am.
Thanks
Screen cover is not nacessaire because it is easy to replace the old display with a new one.
Anyone?
nadejo said:
Screen cover is not nacessaire because it is easy to replace the old display with a new one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a terrible comment. Not only is it NOT easy to replace the screen, it's not going to be cost effective at all. You could buy 50 screen protectors and still not be close to the same cost as replacing the screen.
Sorry I have nothing positive to contribute OP. Hope you find what you are looking for.
Sadly OP, I dont think you'll find anything near the powersupport quality. I work for a certain someone too, putting on at least 15 powersupports a day for no extra charge (perfectly, I might add) and I absolutely love the finish it gives the iPhone.
After 3 days of no screen protector, I finally went to a VZW corporate store today and splurged on the 3-pack of crystal clear protectors. The value was pretty good, 3 great protectors for only $13 (around $8 with a corp. discount). They are not antiglare (I hear those for the GNex suck), but they definitely are not very noticeable.
My only gripes are that the protector does not go all the way to each side (which is not vzw's fault, and is easily remedied by a case) and the fact that it causes an extremely slight rainbow if the phone is tilted at a 80 degree angle or so. But then again, whenever i use my phone its at a straight angle to my face, so i never notice it unless i'm trying.
Hope it helps
I've extensively used Power Support films for my Apple phones and am a big fan of the clear protectors. I've used SGP as an alternate for my Android phones and have also used a few of their films for iPhones. I feel like the general film quality is comparable between SGP and Power Support, although I do prefer Power Support. In my experience, the Ultra Crystal is the closest product that SGP has to the Power Support clear films. I have used the Ultra Oleophobic, which I think is also close, but does seem to have noticeably increased friction over Power Support. Despite what you might think, I find that the oleophobic have an odd tendency to keep certain smudges and can require a little effort to get completely spotless. I usually use a microfiber cloth to wipe mine.
I am currently using an Ultra Oleophobic screen protector on my Galaxy Nexus. As has been noted on other threads, it does not cover the entire face of the phone. Although I mentioned a few of the negatives that I perceived in the film, I am still generally happy with its performance outside of the reduced size. To me, the quality of the film itself is markedly better than that of cheaper alternatives.
Although I cannot personally vouch for it, the reputation of Martin Fields is that they produce screen protectors comparable in quality to Power Support. They appear to now carry a product for the Galaxy Nexus front face and rear camera lens. My anecdotal experience with the company has been that I placed one order with them but never received the product. I never tried them again. I know that some reputable third-party resellers, like Expansys, carry their products and you may have better luck with them than shopping direct.
I believe that Power Support, SGP and Martin Fields all use similar Japanese produced base film material.
I have never used a wet film so I cannot make a comparison.
As an aside, the only instance in which I prefer SGP to Power Support is for their matte films (which I generally do not care for.) I find the Ultra Optics to be a better matte film than the Power Support anti-fingerprint film. I have used both on iPhones.
I like the powersupport protectors too. Always used them on my wife's iphone 3g and i was pissed when every apple store within 50 miles of dallas was out of them when we got her new iphone 4. I settled for an ifrogz they sold at the att store and she likes it just as much. Problem with my GNex is i have yet to find a dry apply protector that properly fits the curved screen. I have a Zagg on currently but i hate it....way too much orange peel. I also have a clear-coat and an sgp flex that were delivered today. They both appear to have less orange peel than the zagg but i havent tried either yet. Still....none compare to the powersupport. Bummer.
Thank you all for the replies. It sounds like I probably will end up giving the SGP Oleophobic a shot and seeing how I like it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00668QSWY/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details
One or two guys on here have mentioned it already, but if any of you are wondering about which one to get, i cannot comment on any of the others, but reallook is pretty decent.
I can't apply screen protectors to save my life, but I went to a wireless store, and had one of the guys do it for me. And it came out pretty good.
It's well made enough to where you can't even tell you have a screen protector on it. But it is a fingerprint magnet.
But still really well made, and possibly the best screen protector for the note?
And a good bonus is that they give you 2 screen protectors, and even screen protectors for the camera lens (4 total!!)
Hope this helps some people that are looking for a screen protector.
Also, the protectors are absolutely clear imo, so if you're looking for some sort of shaded protectors, this is not it.
And you MUST figure out which is the sticky side, (it's actually the second tab which is sticky, which really threw me off)
Got this one too, basically because 2 cost less than one Steinheil and people reported it not to have the rainbow effect (RGB glittering from adhesive like e.g. the Zagg ones).
+
It's absolutely clear.
No rainbow/glittering.
It's extremely precisely cut.
It sticks rock solid.
It's comparatively inexpensive.
-
It's the worst fingerprint magnet ever.
Cleaning away fingerprints is a pain, this must be some special oleophilic coating.
Fitting it on took forever, easily 10 trials, 1 hour and I still could not get it to stay 100% flat. Right now there's a small area (2x2mm) next to the home button that's not sticking. I left it like that because the other 9 times it'd be flying on any one corner no matter what.
Tiny and not so tiny scratches after only 2 weeks AND the Samsung Flip Cover...
I would not recommend this. Installing it is a real pain and seeing how maintenance (cleaning) time drastically increases while durability is to be questioned (scratches), it seems like a waste of time and money.
I installed my real look perfect the first time... I do own a wireless shop though and do it all the time. My point is that the difficult install is not relevant to the quality of the product, it has to do with experience. If you messed up this one you will probably would have messed up any other brand as well. IV used real look for a while and yes its a fingerprint magnet (like most other "crystal" protectors), and yes it scratches (that is the point to scratch these and not the beloved phone) but I believe it to be as high a quality product as any you would pay 2 or 3X the price for... that's why I use it!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
I may not have the experience you do but this wasn't the first screen protector I have put on a device, must've done this nearly a dozen times. The other protectors ranged from dirt cheap (read: free with other accessory) to quite expensive (Invisible Shield). None were this tricky to attach and besides this one there was only the PSP with it's notorious raised edge one one side of the screen where I/the foil failed to achieve a perfect on-surface attachment.
As for the scratches, of course what you say is the point. But a decent quality foil should certainly not get scratches this fast with additional protection (flip cover) over it. For comparison, my PSP's $3 foil served some 2 years of almost daily carrying the device in messenger bags with no additional protection and to this day has barely any scratches.
One thing I forgot to mention is the costumer service at Reallook is incredibly good. Any questions or complaints I had, the guys there tried there hardest to kiss my ass.
It is a shame though that the protector is SUCH a finger print magnet. But some other guy on here said that these protectors are thicker than the SGP. If this is true, then maybe Realook is worth it just by the fact that it offers superior protection. I bought a nice screen protector to protect my $700 phone, it better damn well do it.
The biggest advantage to buying realook is the back camera screen protector that comes with it.
And again, read the instructions if you do get this one. Tab 1 is supposed to be pealed off first, but it's actually the non-sticky side.
If anyone finds a better protector that offers more protection, please post it on here so I can try it out.
Tomdroid said:
I may not have the experience you do but this wasn't the first screen protector I have put on a device, must've done this nearly a dozen times. The other protectors ranged from dirt cheap (read: free with other accessory) to quite expensive (Invisible Shield). None were this tricky to attach and besides this one there was only the PSP with it's notorious raised edge one one side of the screen where I/the foil failed to achieve a perfect on-surface attachment.
As for the scratches, of course what you say is the point. But a decent quality foil should certainly not get scratches this fast with additional protection (flip cover) over it. For comparison, my PSP's $3 foil served some 2 years of almost daily carrying the device in messenger bags with no additional protection and to this day has barely any scratches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In no way am I trying to argue but just want to point out that invisible shield and the cheap junk that come with cases are totally different therefore comparing apple to oranges. I can assure you that there is zero difference between installing a real look and an sgp, etc. These are equally as difficult as the ultimate ____ crystal whatever that people pay $40 for and absolutely no difference. Of course there are some with oil coatings that would keep the fingerprints away but yet again, apples to oranges. My one and only point is that the real look clear and the sgp ultimate crystal, and any other multi-layered hard screen protector are all equally difficult to align and install perfectly... it simply is a tough job to get it perfect in one (or four) tries. That being said, I WILL NEVER PUT THAT DISTORTING ZAGG JUNK ON MY DEVICE AGAIN! I'd buy 10 of these before having orange Peel effect... my eyes have been opened! Lol!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
daddymatt said:
I WILL NEVER PUT THAT DISTORTING ZAGG JUNK ON MY DEVICE AGAIN! I'd buy 10 of these before having orange Peel effect... my eyes have been opened! Lol!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amen! Had that on my OG Droid ... for maybe a week. Ugh, what an overhyped, overpriced, gross, look AND feel destroying pos that was.
i thought all the same???
I got the realook on my note and agree with the op. I used it in conjunction with a tpu case for decent protection. Can't really see much scratches after a few weeks and definitely prefer it to zagg shields I used in the past.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note using Tapatalk