Suggestions on a screen protector

[blarelli]

I finally big the bullet and ordered a GN. Should be arriving Monday or Tuesday, so now I guess I need to order a screen protector. I really hate the really cheap ones, so I thought I'd ask for suggestions for a good quality one.

Thanks.

 

[jean15paul]

I finally big the bullet and ordered a GN. Should be arriving Monday or Tuesday, so now I guess I need to order a screen protector. I really hate the really cheap ones, so I thought I'd ask for suggestions for a good quality one.

Thanks.

I wrote this up for someone in a different forum, but it might help you out. {copy, paste...}

It depends on what you want from your screen protector. There are lots of different factors to consider and different protectors do different things well. You won't find one that does everything well.

• Durability - While all screen protectors should protect your screen, some resist scratches to the protectors itself. Others are "self healing" so even if they get scratched the scratches will fade away over time, but this often comes with a rubbery feel
• Smoothness - do you want it to feel as smooth as the glass or have some rubbery-ness/grip to it
• Clarity vs Anti-Glare - These 2 almost directly oppose each other. Some screen protectors strive to be 100% transparent. Some feature anti-glare coatings, but that reduces clarity
• Oleophobic (i.e. oil resistant) - When touching your screen with your finger or holding it to you face, you often leave a lot of oil from your skin on the screen. Oleophobic screen protectors have a coating that repels oil, so they get much less oily. Again this can cause sacrifices in clarity and smoothness.
• Edge-to-Edge coverage vs display coverage - Do you want one that covers the entire glass face all the way to the edges (including capacitve buttons) or only covers the display. Some people say edge-to-edge protectors don't work well with cases that wrap around to the front (the case will push them off around the edges), but I've never had a problem. I guess it depends on the specific protector, case, and phone.
• Wet install (adhesive) vs dry install (static) - The more common static screen protectors just use static electricity to stick to the screen. They stick very well, but not as good as wet installed ones. Also it can be tricky to install them and not get any dust and bubbles under them and get them positioned just right. Wet installed screen protectors are much easier to install and stick better, but you have to wet the face of your phone, which some people are uncomfortable with. Also you have to wait hours for them to dry, whereas the static screen protector are ready to go immediately.
• Washable - I've even seen some static screen protectors say that you can peel them off, wash them and reuse them, but I'm skeptical.
• Cost - Some are extremely cheap, and some get very expensive. Generally you get what you pay for, but not always.

I'd say pick 2 or 3 things off this list that are most important to you and then do some research and ask questions.


When I was picking a screen protector for my Galaxy Nexus, I wanted (in order of importance) edge-to-edge protection, clarity, smoothness, and a dry installation. I did some research and bought the Boxwave ClearTouch Crystal. I've been very happy with it, although it does pull away a little around the edges. From what I've read, all static, edge-to-edge protector for the GNex do that because of the curved glass. But my case actually covers the edges and holds them down.

 

[velascodylanLB]

I finally big the bullet and ordered a GN. Should be arriving Monday or Tuesday, so now I guess I need to order a screen protector. I really hate the really cheap ones, so I thought I'd ask for suggestions for a good quality one.

Thanks.

Get an invisible shield, very good quality products backed with a lifetime warranty. I recommend it

Sent from my DROID4 using Android Central Forums

 

[fender7217]

You really don't need one. If you take care of your stuff you'll be fine without it. It has an anti-scratch resistant glass coating on it already, like Gorilla Glass.

Putting a screen protector on it will just make it unnecessarily sticky or get dirty edges.

 

[rob1261]

Trust me it only has fortified glass theres no protection I handle my phone like a baby and still managed to get 2 small scrathes on the screen somehow so i would protect it if i were you
ijs

 

[illusion787]

There are many different companies you can go with. I use XOskins, but if you browse the site , like I said there are more than one good company you can use. Just do some searching

 

[TheLibertarian]

You really don't need one. If you take care of your stuff you'll be fine without it. It has an anti-scratch resistant glass coating on it already, like Gorilla Glass.

Putting a screen protector on it will just make it unnecessarily sticky or get dirty edges.

"Anti-scratch resistent" would imply it does the opposite of resisting scratches.

The "scratch resistent" coating is nothing like have Gorilla Glass.

Use a protector. SGP or ZAGG are terrific.

 

[timato]

+1. Sgp can't even tell it's there

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[chuckiewuckie]

Don't like the sticky/tacky feel of Zagg protectors. I had the Bodyguarz HD for my old Motodroid and liked it. Much easier to apply than others I've tried, so I got it for the GN, too.

Amazon.com: BodyGuardz BZ-HSGN-1111 HD Anti-Glare Screen Protector for Samsung Galaxy Nexus ( Verizon SCH-i515 and GT-i9250) - 2 Pack: Cell Phones & Accessories

 

[dancing-bass]

I had a Zagg on my Gnex. Liked the protection, but the slightly sticky feel and "orange peel" appearance put me off. I went without for a while. By random fluke, my wife ordered some stuff for our kid's DSi (case/accessory kit), and somehow they threw in some screen protectors -- for my Gnex (and no it wasn't on the receipt. I checked.)

Anyway, they are a dry-apply, anti-glare. Normally I prefer wet-apply but I got this one one with only 1 dust spec/bubble -- and its off near the bezel so it's hardly a concern except when my OCD kicks in. I'm liking the anti-glare more then I thought I would, and while it's not a slick and smooth as naked glass, its much more finger friendly then the Zagg was. I've heard lots of good stuff about CrystalClear (I think that's the name) so perhaps I'll try them next time.

 

[nipcarlover]

SGP have one of the best screen protectors in the business..

 

[chunkcohen]

I love the SGP protectors. I replaced the ZAGG protector on my Epic 4G with one (forget the version) and I'm getting the SGP Steinheil (oleophobic) for the GNex I just ordered.

The ZAGG protectors are good (and they have lifetime replacement warranties), but as mentioned before, they have a very tacky/sticky feeling. My Epic didn't feel as responsive with the ZAGG protector installed, versus the SGP protector that replaced it. SGP also gives you 2 protectors per box with both the Steinheil and Flex series for the GNex, which is a pretty good value.

 

[jean15paul]

I've recently fallen in love with the GLAS.t screen protectors by Spigen. The screen protector is actually a thin layor of tempored glass, just like Gorilla glass. So it's beautifully clear, strong, and smooth. It looks and feels just if you didn't have a screen protector.Unfortunately they don't make them for the GNex.

 

[Southrncomfortjm]

I'd recommend the Fantom for Samsung | XGearlive

Its basically a second layer of extremely hard and fingerprint resistant glass. It works great for me, the only complaint is that it occassionally causes sensitivity problems at the bottom of the screen - so sometimes it won't register me hitting the nav keys. Doesn't happen often enough to cause issues.

The reason I like this screen protector so much is because it never wears down and, barring a bad drop, it will never have to be replaced. The old screen protector I had on the phone was really scuzzy when I took it off. I was amazed at how clean and crisp the screen was under that old protector. I then put on the Fantom and nothing changed, the screen was still clear and crisp and remains like that 2 months later.

So, $30 is a big investment for a screen protector, but well worth it in my opinion.

- - - Updated - - -

I've recently fallen in love with the GLAS.t screen protectors by Spigen. The screen protector is actually a thin layor of tempored glass, just like Gorilla glass. So it's beautifully clear, strong, and smooth. It looks and feels just if you didn't have a screen protector.Unfortunately they don't make them for the GNex.

Xgear does, see my post above.

 

[jean15paul]

How does this work with the curved screen of the GNex?

 

[Pete The Penguin]

Who did your wife order the DSi stuff from? Curious as to the screen protector you got.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums