Have we bought a lie? do we really need a screen protector?

[pyro6128]

guitlybreak is right, its science. There is a reason they use keys in the demonstrations. Keys will have an extremely hard time scratching coated glass. Its not because its alien tech gorilla glass from the year 3000, try it on a window in your house. Not to mention keys arent sharp and usually the teeth on keys are rounded somewhat. This should help shed a little more light on everything

Mohs scale of mineral hardness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

if you notice number 7, quartz, silicon dioxide. Thats why sand is able to scratch the droids screen. Glass is made with sand, but the sands small size makes it considerably stronger (which is why people sand blast). Diamonds will sure as hell scratch your screen, because theyre the hardest minerals on the planet and will scratch virtually any surface. I don't even notice my screen protector, but I like knowing its there. But if you want to carry your droid naked, thats fine too. Just don't be fooled into thinking that your screen isn't capable of being scratched. It isnt large objects that are going to scratch your screen necessarily, its the small things that will scratch it. Those key videos are just clever marketing, nothing more.

 

[bristolcat]

My pre-installed screen protector finally reached the point this morning where I had to take it off. I found this thread very interesting because I feel quite the opposite of a number of people who like the naked screen. I can't stand it. I can't wait to get home and put a new screen protector on. The screen smudges with the slightest touch now and is really hard to clean. It feels icky and slimy in my hands. I was playing a game earlier (Wixel, it's like Boggle) and it wasn't reacting nearly as well as it had been before my screen protector bit it.

I don't know, YMMV but it just seems more fragile to me right now and I can't wait to get the screen protector back on.

 

[Laurence5905]

I don't have a screen protector. I've droped my Droid a couple of times, and it's landed face-down -- no scratches. Phone still looks brand new (bought it on Nov. 7, 2009)

The screen does smudge easily -- I just figured that was something you had to live with on any touch-screen phone (this is my first touch-screen, so I have no prior experience). Does a screen protector really help with finger-smudges that much? I might consider one just for the fingerprint mess I'm always having to clean off. (Which, by the way, I usually use my shirt-tail for -- no special cloths or anything. And it hasn't scratched my screen yet.)

 

[CBLJazz]

Going naked today i realize that the screen looks better because the screen protectors collected so much grime and smudges.
i love this new version. clean, clear screen. it's like having a new phone

 

[bristolcat]

Does a screen protector really help with finger-smudges that much?

I had the stock Verizon screen protector and in my eight-hour naked experience today, the screen is barely readable compared to when it had the screen protector on. Don't get me wrong - it was smudged up then, too, but it just seems way worse without it on. I feel like smudges are just appearing when I don't even touch it. I did a quick polish, put it down and just looked over and it's greasy and looks like it's fogged up or something.

It could be that my hands are just greasier today or there is still some adhesive left on the screen. I might give it another day after giving it a good cleaning tonight. I guess that in the grand scheme of things, I don't see a huge disadvantage by having the screen protector on, though.

 

[Laurence5905]

So the screen protector doesn't really help with fingerprints, then? I mean, there's not a HUGE difference with it on? It still gets smudges? Oh well...

 

[KevinJ]

I must have really clean and non-oily hands. Sure, my screen gets some prints on it, but I just use a cloth I carry around and it wipes right off.

And no, no screen protector on here. I was originally going to get one, but then most people on here said it was a silly thing to do.

 

[wil318466]

I had a screen protector on for one day. Useless. I dropped my Droid face down on cement. Not one scratch.

I don't know how you guys scratched yours, but I don't keep sand or diamonds in my pocket. I wouldn't rub sandpaper on it, but I've had keys and coins and other normal stuff in my pockets next to my Droid, and the glass is 100%.

The screen looks a zillion times better without a screen protector, also. Some of the things people post, I swear they are either lying or just flat out making a mistake.

A gum wrapper? I dunno. I'm not saying you are lying, but I'm saying I would bet a lot of money a gum wrapper couldn't scratch this thing. I dropped it face down, 2 feet (tried to catch it, too, and flipped it in the air) dropped face down on cement, not even close to a mark on the glass (the black metal part.. now thats a different story.

Keep the screen naked, you'll appreciate the phone more. It has the best display out there, enjoy it.

-Wil

 

[zakany]

Anything that would scratch glass would slice through a thin plastic membrane, no?

 

[davidtaylorjr]

I keep mine in a leather sleeve while in my pocket, but don't have a screen protector. Haven't had an issue.

 

[Droidfish]

I scratched mine within a week of owning it. It happened when I jumped out of my car when the phone was on my lap (classic drop, I know). The scratch is tiny and hardly noticeable but it still pissed me off.

While it is a tough screen and harder to scratch than any other I've ever had it CAN be done.

I have always used ZAGG products for screen protection(since my LG Dare days anyway) because if you apply them right (which is not hard) you can't even tell they are on. No bubbles, no glare, no change to touchscreen sensitivity. And the zagg covers are actually more of a rubbery substance that is very hard to scratch and if it does, chances are it won't touch your screen unless someone is trying to purposely penetrate it in which yes something that can slice through plastic could technically scratch your screen.

Small price to pay to protect such an expensive tool, plus zagg has lifetime warranty if you register your product so if the protector gets a little scratch you get a new one.

 

[reitman1]

Has anyone successfully used a minor abrasive substance to buff out any small scratches on the droid? I was thinking of trying toothpaste, but wanted to see if anyone else had tried something else. I do have several small scratches on my screen that must have come from sand in my pocket.

 

[CBLJazz]

i guess this is possibly a related post- does vzw insurance cover screen scratches?

 

[adrynalyne]

VZW insurance covers whatever you want it to.

Of course you have limited claims and the deductible for those not grandfathered in is pretty high.

 

[urklegrue]

I also scratched mine. Teeny tiny scratch but it bugged me. I put the screen protector on mostly so it would hide the scratch, which it did.

I have the Steinheil Crystal now... the first one I tried was the Zagg and that went on with a line through it, which bugged me as much as the scratch did.