Do You Need More Protective Films?
In the early days of smartphones, you probably wouldn’t have dared to leave an AT&T or Verizon store without the screen protector and case already installed on your very fragile (and very expensive) device. Falling to the floor or pushing in your bag will leave you with broken or scratched glass, and repairs will cost you more money.
But times have changed and smartphones are not as brittle as they used to be. So do screen protectors still make sense?
Most likely not, unless you are very rude with your device.
Most smartphone manufacturers use durable glass from Corning for their screens. Many Android devices are supplied with glass Glass Gorilla , and Apple is buying glass for the iPhone, made to order . This means your phone is less likely to shatter every time you drop or scratch your keys.
Meanwhile, screen protectors can get scratched, tarnished, or smudged depending on the material – and if not installed flawlessly, they can make your screen look less perfect than it really is. Plus, a screen protector will only help the screen itself. It won’t prevent dents on the edges, back, or phone – you’ll need a case for that – and it probably won’t prevent your screen from breaking if you drop your phone onto a really hard surface.
Of course, we will not dissuade you from using a screen protector if you want full insurance against possible damage. You can find decent protection on the cheap, or pay up to $ 50 for additional features like privacy or blue light filtering. But if you don’t want to mess with additional hardware, you might have to change it a few times over the life of your phone, you probably can do without it.
This story was originally published in 2012 and was updated on 3/1/2020 with more recent information.