Develop Bugs

Is the display just plastic?

Just curious, is the display plastic on the G2? I honestly cant tell

I got a screen protector... just in case. I see many phones have decent screens that do not scratch, but I always go with the protection. Also, I have a house full of destructive kids who do not respect daddy's things.
I think everyone is afraid to say things that may sound like a guaranty. We may have to wait until a brave technician tears one down.

plastic screens scratch and dent like crazy. kind of wish they went with glass.

wow, i managed to scratch the gorilla glass screen on my vibrant so i guess i better get some sort of screen protector on this thing asap, sucks they didnt go with glass after putting all the aluminum trim on it

Lol I doubt its plastic
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Yea I really don't think its plastic.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

I'm pretty sure it's plastic. It's quite hard, but still, I think it's plastic. If it were glass, I don't think they would cut a hole in the edge for the speaker to peek out from. That edge around the speaker is also beveled. Again, something I doubt they would do to a glass screen.
Also, glass is very good for holding an anti-glare coating. The Vibrant's glass screen had one. (Ever notice how glare reflections were colored blue?) That's an extremely thin metallic salt coating on the glass (Magnesium Flouride is a popular coating). As far as I know, it's easy to do on glass, but harder on plastic, and is usually reserved for eye glasses. (And may even be a different technology then.) If it were glass, I think they would have used an anti-glare coating. Then again, HTC could just be shaving off pennies by not using an anti-glare coating. But I sill think it's plastic.
I'm just guessing. I'm no expert.

Thes screens on just about all phones are neither plastic nor glass, it's a combination of materials.

Plastic kinda like lcd tvs. I use to have a plasma an i loved the glass on it but glass cracks plastic takes alot before it does anything.
Either way its a nice screen to me and i bet we wont have the screen cracking problem like the nexus ones. Also always use a screen protector its just smart your always have new screen under the protector if the protector gets scratched just replace it. Better then getting another screen.

wikipedia said:
Display: 3.7-inch (9.4 cm) flat glass touch-sensitive S-TFT screen with WVGA pixel resolution (480x800)
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Of course I don't know how credible this is since I couldn't find any mention of it in the references.

user1307 said:
Of course I don't know how credible this is since I couldn't find any mention of it in the references.
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Wikipedia should never be used for definitive reference.
All of these screens are "glass", because they are silica based.

Glass. Look up some capacitive TS or mobile phone coverglass spec sheets.

Turn off the screen and look at some glare. You can see wavy inperfections. Glass would have this. It also doesn't feel as hard as glass when I try to scratch it with my fingernail on the edge near the speaker.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

[Q] Glass

Galaxy nexus glass is horrible, com paired to gorrila glass IMO, zagg screen cover left marks in glass, never happened with any of my high dollar other androids . I need good glass polish or cleaner Any1 no and tried a good one??? Care to share?? There not scratches more like marks from like a crayon on glass??? Not visible on clean screen bit once get dirty stands out bad??

I don't think they are actual scratches in the glass. Most likely it's the oleophobic coating being rubbed away. It happened to mine as well in my pocket.
The area without the coating will attract the grease/crud more quickly making it stand out.
If you clean the screen and breathe on it at an angle you can see exactly where it is.

El Daddy said:
I don't think they are actual scratches in the glass. Most likely it's the oleophobic coating being rubbed away. It happened to mine as well in my pocket.
The area without the coating will attract the grease/crud more quickly making it stand out.
If you clean the screen and breathe on it at an angle you can see exactly where it is.
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yes!! Exactly,can it be fixed? My gorilla glass made phones haven't done this

Maybe your previous gorilla glass phones didn't have oleophobic coating? Not all phones have it.
I don't believe it can be fixed. Mine got rubbed off from a nylon threaded seam in my pocket. I put a screen protector on after and it isn't visible anymore.

El Daddy said:
Maybe your previous gorilla glass phones didn't have oleophobic coating? Not all phones have it.
I don't believe it can be fixed. Mine got rubbed off from a nylon threaded seam in my pocket. I put a screen protector on after and it isn't visible anymore.
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I dont no if they did? I have quite a few, nexus one, captivate, euro gs2, at&t gs2, nexus s, in use now skyrocket and this Gn . None have done this, but coating.g being wiped off makes sense, I've been using for a week without screen protection and didn't want to put one back on, but ya I think that would make "flaw" go away cause its not visible with clean screen .... thanks for the knowledge!

drawde40599 said:
I dont no if they did? I have quite a few, nexus one, captivate, euro gs2, at&t gs2, nexus s, in use now skyrocket and this Gn . None have done this, but coating.g being wiped off makes sense, I've been using for a week without screen protection and didn't want to put one back on, but ya I think that would make "flaw" go away cause its not visible with clean screen .... thanks for the knowledge!
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I dont know that any of those phones have the coating.
I'd be careful doing any buffing or removal as it perhaps could remove more of the coating...?

The iPad has a similar oleo-phobic coating to prevent fingerprints. Many small scratches that appear on the screen are actually on the coating and not on the glass. I remember seeing a video of a guy who had had enough of the coating and so he buffed it out with a car buffer. The end result was a spotless iPad, but it would now attract fingerprints much easier than before.
Found the link, http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/index.php/t-1133703.html

Crap I use Zagg too, so the day when I take it off there's a risk the coating will come off? Last time I'm using that brand! Not to mention the orange peel effect!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

dnlsmy said:
The iPad has a similar oleo-phobic coating to prevent fingerprints. Many small scratches that appear on the screen are actually on the coating and not on the glass. I remember seeing a video of a guy who had had enough of the coating and so he buffed it out with a car buffer. The end result was a spotless iPad, but it would now attract fingerprints much easier than before.
Found the link, http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/index.php/t-1133703.html
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wow this should be stickied to the other "screen scratches easily" threads.

Anyone going naked screen?

Was just curious if anyone not using any screen protector at all and if it's doing pretty good with avoiding scratches
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

I've had mine for a couple of months now without a screen protector. No scratches or marks on the screen at all. It is kept in a flip cover case though and in transport that fits inside a padded 10inch netbook pouch.

Thank you
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Have had mine since mid August, been going bareback the whole time, no scratches whatsoever. Dog even stepped on the glass, no problem

Well there was a huge argument on whether note has a gorilla glass or not but one thing was clear it had a pretty good scratch resistant glass that said and done no glass is fully scratch resistant and hence precaution is better then cure.

For the cost of a skin/protector its really no contest .
Aids resale value as well .
SGS 1 and 2 covered and sold for a good price .
Screen protector has already saved SGS3 from scratches after dropping on gravel .
jje

I don't have any screen protector on and mine still looks flawless (bought on release day). I don't keep mine in contact with gravel, though.

No protector here. No scratches in two months. Have mine in a case though. Like someone said it can't hurt to get one, but the screen is pretty durable.

No screen protector on mine ^_^
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

i'm not worried about a screen protector, i dropped my samsung gakaxy S2 on gravel once and picked it up, it didn't have a scratch on it, no joke, i'm confident the note 10.1 will be just as good.

believe it or not never used a screen protector in my life

I can't bare to use a screen protector on such a pretty screen..

I only screen protect my mobile devices to guard from pocket scratches.
The Note 10.1 doesn't fit in any of my pockets.
Phones always
Tablets never

I got a small scratch on mine the first week I had it. Some kind of microscopic bit of grit got on the screen and the pen picked it up while I was drawing. I felt it happen and stopped before it became a big scratch. Now I have a screen protector. The glass is NOT scratch proof. You might luck out and never get a scratch, but don't be fooled into thinking it can't happen.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

I've put a matte screen protector on mine not to protect it from scratches but to reduce the smudges and fingerprints on the screen. It also helps reduce the slippery feeling when drawing or writing on the screen, but that's just me.

Reiman76 said:
I've put a matte screen protector on mine not to protect it from scratches but to reduce the smudges and fingerprints on the screen. It also helps reduce the slippery feeling when drawing or writing on the screen, but that's just me.
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I'm curious - does the s-pen leave behind marks on the matte protector? Or does it depend on which tip you use? I recently ordered some matte protectors because I liked the feeling of my s pen on my phone screen (which has a matte protector) but it left behind some marks that i had to wipe away with my fingers. Also, I would assume that matte protectors are slightly abrasive, which would cause the tip to wear out much faster? Any thoughts?

abmicyau said:
I'm curious - does the s-pen leave behind marks on the matte protector? Or does it depend on which tip you use? I recently ordered some matte protectors because I liked the feeling of my s pen on my phone screen (which has a matte protector) but it left behind some marks that i had to wipe away with my fingers. Also, I would assume that matte protectors are slightly abrasive, which would cause the tip to wear out much faster? Any thoughts?
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Hi all, would like to share my thoughts. Been using both sgp screen protector before: cystal clear & matt.
am using black rubber tip but both sp are way too rough. Decided to go naked on the screen and its really comfortable on spen for both tips now.
While using white tips, both sp works smooth and fine but it just doest feel as good as naked.

Tried a screen protector, no good - bubbles and dust everywhere. Much better to get a good quality cover/case I think.
I'm currently using the stock Samsung sleeve. No screen protector. No scratches or issue.

Mmm im glad i put a screen protector on. One time i put imy gn10.1 on top of a mattress(my sisters room was being remodeled) and i wanted to keep it away from the puppy so i put it up there. The mattress was up against the wall behind the coach btw, I know im not the smartest when it comes to common sense haha. Anyways for somereason it fell and i nearly had a panic attack. Apparently there was like a metal heater thing underneath it with sharp metal edges. So when i picked it up it cut right throught the protector and pulled it back leaving some of the screen exposed. I havent changed rhe protector yet but i could only imagine that if i didnt have one on thered be a huge deep scratch and the screen would be useless . Ive never actually cut through a screen protector before... only slight scratch marks. Its one of those thick ones too(zaggs?)
But its good to note that im careless with my electronics so a screen protector is a must. Ive already dropped my gn2 like 3 times in 3 weeks... sad i know. But i guess if u dont seem to drop ur electronics all that often then there really isnt a huge risk. And i dont mind having a screen protector on, to me ive just gotten used to it like nothing is there. And on my samsung infuse 4g i dropped it probably 200+ times not even kidding. never once scratched the screen(although i made a big dent on the edges). I just swear by protectors . However its also probably good to note that i think the water damage(3 times revived), shock from all those drops, etc is what damaged my infuse.... it was barely working when i traded it in for my gn2 after 20mo?. So now i use a case too with my gn2 haha....
Actually screen protectors always give me a peace of mind. After dropping my infuse several hundred times i knew everything would be okay and the screen wont get damaged.
So i thought that i should share my experience what could happen if u dont use a screen protector. .

Bare naked screen looks new but I can't say the plastic does... Scratched and dented.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Does the Galaxy Nexus screen scratch without a protector

Hi. I looked for previous threads but wasn't able to find any...so sorry if this is a duplicate.
I saw on the web that various opinions were around on whether the Gnex needs a screen protector. I watched the key test as well on YouTube. Can anyone confirm if this screen is good enough to not require a protector?
Thanks all.

jeffreynothing43 said:
Hi. I looked for previous threads but wasn't able to find any...so sorry if this is a duplicate.
I saw on the web that various opinions were around on whether the Gnex needs a screen protector. I watched the key test as well on YouTube. Can anyone confirm if this screen is good enough to not require a protector?
Thanks all.
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Obviously not scratch proof. No gorilla glass. Yes to the arguably "reinforced" glass. As long as you don't put your phone in with keys, coins, etc...you should be fine. I don't use a screen protector or case on mine and so far I only have a few nicks from light drops.

iLeopard said:
Obviously not scratch proof. No gorilla glass. Yes to the arguably "reinforced" glass. As long as you don't put your phone in with keys, coins, etc...you should be fine. I don't use a screen protector or case on mine and so far I only have a few nicks from light drops.
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Watch out for sand, I'm pretty sure that's what scratched mine

There is no scratch proof glass on phones. Even Gorilla Glass scratches against things like sand.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Well gorilla glass is not much more than Cornings branded version of the hardened glass found on any phone including the GN. It is as resistant as any phone, but as it's still glass, it's likely that it will scratch. Personally mine has a bunch of tiny scratches(had it since launch). I bet they are caused by sand, and they are no better or worse than my previous phone with gorilla glass.
Whether you need a screen-protector is a question of whether you will be more annoyed by the protector or the tiny scratches. But it is likely that you will get tiny scratches.

My experience:
Galaxy Skyrocket with Gorilla glass: 1 1/2 years without a single scratch.
Galaxy Nexus: scratched in the first month.

Get a screen protector. These screens are pretty soft. It will easily scratch just from being in your pocket.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

I've had mine for about 15 months, and I try to be careful with the phone. But try as I may, things happen. My glass is still crystal clear and free of any visible scratches, but there are multiple spots on the bezel around the glass that are scratched and pitted. I don't use any screen protectors or a case.

tdf666 said:
Get a screen protector. These screens are pretty soft. It will easily scratch just from being in your pocket.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
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no it wont. just being in your pocket will NOT scratch the screen. however, if you have some sand in there or something harder than glass, it will scratch it.
i have had my phone for 14 months now, NEVER had a screen protector on it. and i JUST got my first scratch and i believe it was from a grain of sand on my thumb. i spend a LOT of time at the beach in Feb and March (live in Florida ) and its my only guess as to how it happened.
if you are careful, you should be OK without one....but getting one is probably a good idea if you are around sand a lot.

Yes it scratches
- wore out your welcome

Got mine at launch, no screen protector and no major scratches. There are a couple MINOR ones but nothing that can bee seen without careful inspection. I don't abuse the phone but I also don't baby it. I have used a holster and had it in my pocket. Go naked you will be fine if you don't abuse it.
G-Nexus Sent

bpyazel said:
There is no scratch proof glass on phones. Even Gorilla Glass scratches against things like sand.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
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Common misconception: Gorilla glass is not scratch resistant. If anything, slightly shatterproof.

iLeopard said:
Common misconception: Gorilla glass is not scratch resistant. If anything, slightly shatterproof.
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The misconception is what exactly a "scratch" is. A layer of glass is actually removed and cannot be "fixed". Anything will scratch if rubbed against an abrasive with a greater hardness.

063_XOBX said:
The misconception is what exactly a "scratch" is. A layer of glass is actually removed and cannot be "fixed". Anything will scratch if rubbed against an abrasive with a greater hardness.
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Agreed. My comment was just to reinforce the fact that unlike popular belief, gorilla glass is not at all scratch resistant but rather shatterproof. Not so much as an entire "layer".

Ways to potentially hide/remove scratches on the Nexus %

Well, I've had my nexus 5 for little over 2 months now, and the screen is just covered with surface scratches. It's really annoying as I have never dropped the phone, or left it in my pocket with my keys, nevertheless, despite my best efforts the screen is riddled in micro scratches only visible in the sun. Is there any way I can remove these easily? or could I use a screen protector to hide them? Also, isn't gorilla glass 3 supposed to be scratch resistant, because from what I've seen it's really not.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Avidgamer said:
Well, I've had my nexus 5 for little over 2 months now, and the screen is just covered with surface scratches. It's really annoying as I have never dropped the phone, or left it in my pocket with my keys, nevertheless, despite my best efforts the screen is riddled in micro scratches only visible in the sun. Is there any way I can remove these easily? or could I use a screen protector to hide them? Also, isn't gorilla glass 3 supposed to be scratch resistant, because from what I've seen it's really not.
Any help would be much appreciated.
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Since you posted in this section and didn't use a (?), I thought you where providing a magic product to erase scratches
You can hide/reduce visibility of some or many of them with a screen protector but not all.

+1 to above. Matte screen protector helps a bit. Depends if it's your thing though.

GUGUITOMTG4 said:
Since you posted in this section and didn't use a (?), I thought you where providing a magic product to erase scratches
You can hide/reduce visibility of some or many of them with a screen protector but not all.
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Sorry about that, but yeah, i think I may pick up one of those invisible shields, but these scratches are quite thin and light. so who knows i guess we'll wait and see.

For microscratches pretty much any screen protector will do.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I'll echo the above sentiments. I had (well, have) a barely noticeable, yet nonetheless aggravating scratch, about a centimeter in length, toward the bottom of my display. A regular plastic (non-matte) screen protector solved that issue, as well as completely hiding a giant 'permanent' smudge caused by my oleophobic coating wearing off (but that's another story). So you'll hopefully be good to go.

Metals don't scratch glass. Sand particles do.
If the tiny scratches that can only be viewed at a certain angle under strong light when the screen is off irritate you that much, you may have to use a plastic screen protector and change it every 3 days, or a glass protector and change it every few months.
Gorilla Glass 3 is already the most scratch-resistant thing you can normally get for your phone. Any protectors will scratch worse than it.
There is no way to remove the scratches without damaging the oleophobic layer. A way to "remove" the scratch is to use toothpaste, but that actually scratches the sides of the scratch to "flatten" it. The oleophobic layer will be damaged and you will leave bad smudges on that area.
The best way is to buy a Nexus 5 front frame from eBay and replace it.

timothyung said:
you may have to use a plastic screen protector and change it every 3 days
The best way is to buy a Nexus 5 front frame from eBay and replace it.
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Wow isnt 3days too often? I would say with a good quality screen protector it should at least be good for 3-6months.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

bushako said:
Wow isnt 3days too often? I would say with a good quality screen protector it should at least be good for 3-6months.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Glass protectors yes, but no matter how good quality a plastic screen protector is, the hardness is still only 4H max, meaning micro scratches can build up pretty soon. I mean those tiny, tiny scratches that you can hardly notice unless under the sun.