Screen Protector discussion

[Ron H]

Installed the Steinheil Ultra Nano Clear (sent as a free replacement for the Ultra Crystal Clear).

Compared to installing the Ultra on the Droid X, this was more difficult because it's thinner and more flexible. But finally got it, and the results are great.

It feels and looks like nothing is there, and their claim for an "oil-resistant coating" is true. Compared to the Ultra in the Dx, smudges just don't seem to accumulate.

The package comes with three screen protectors.

 

[tazcordo]

If you get a Zagg, go with the hd version. I don't even notice any orange peel effect. It costs a little more, but worth it.

 

[bennybbc]

I installed my Rearth today also in a steamy bathroom after going naked for a couple of days. It installed easy enough but I put it on slightly crooked so the bottom part hung on the edge of the home button. Instead of realigning it, I cropped the bottom to be just a millimeter longer than the screen. My capacitive buttons are running naked and I like it better like that anyway.

I'm liking this protector a lot so far.

I installed the same one on mine a couple of days ago. I'm used to the Steinheil Ultra Crystal on my Droid X and other phones in my house and they have all been excellent. For some reason I decided to go with the Rearth and I'm not really thrilled with it. It went on fine and it seems to be very clear but it shows fingerprints and smudges so much worse than my Steinheil UC ever did and it's very difficult to wipe them off. With the Steinheil I can just wipe the screen on my shirt a couple of times and it's clean but with this Rearth it will only come clean if I use the small cloth that came with it and even then I really have to use some effort to get it back to crystal clear. I regret the purchase and will likely leave a negative review on Amazon. I can't recommend it to anyone.

Benny

 

[matttye]

hmmm...

My phone lives in a pocket on its own, the screen already has an anti fingerprint coating and super amoled is pretty good at anti-glare by itself

 

[dibs ODDJOB]

Any screen can get scratches on them. Don't kid yourself with well constructed marketing videos made by the companies that sell them. All it takes is a grain of sand to make a permanent scratch.

The only reason to use a ZAGG screen is if you have zero desire to put on a protector yourself. They're overpriced, too rubbery and sticky, and leave a terrible orange peel texture.

Other options like SGP Crystal (my personal favorite) are much easier to put on (no liquids), are crystal clear, and look just like the real screen itself.

 

[t35rk]

I installed the same one on mine a couple of days ago. I'm used to the Steinheil Ultra Crystal on my Droid X and other phones in my house and they have all been excellent. For some reason I decided to go with the Rearth and I'm not really thrilled with it. It went on fine and it seems to be very clear but it shows fingerprints and smudges so much worse than my Steinheil UC ever did and it's very difficult to wipe them off. With the Steinheil I can just wipe the screen on my shirt a couple of times and it's clean but with this Rearth it will only come clean if I use the small cloth that came with it and even then I really have to use some effort to get it back to crystal clear. I regret the purchase and will likely leave a negative review on Amazon. I can't recommend it to anyone.

Benny

I see fingerprints only when the screen is off. When it is on, I don't see them , even through my readers.

Edit: Holy smudges Batman! A little peanut butter somehow found its way onto the screen and it did NOT want to come off. I though I was going to gouge the screen protector trying.

 

[scooter1942]

No way! Impossible! Gorilla Glass absolutely does not need a screen protector! They tested it on the surface of the sun while giant asteroids slammed into it and there wasn't a single scratch. I've never used a screen protector and I use my phone as a boogie board at the beach...Blah, blah, blah...

this made me LOL :laugh:

 

[hal1]

Can anyone recommend a full body protector? I'm looking at SGP at the moment but it's so pricey...

Best Skins Ever. Buy 3 for the price of one of the other brands and you'll have spare parts. I think they'll ship for fee if you spend more than $20 and email them to asl for it

Google best skins ever and you'll find very favorable reviews

Samsung Galaxy S3 with a clear protective Skin from Best Skins Ever

 

[5001craig]

I installed the screen protector that came with my OB Commuter and will say that I am extremely impressed with this screen protector after a few days of use. I actually like the feel of the screen better with the protector installed and it does not change the look of the screen at all (unlike the iVisor I purchased from the AT&T store that sucked).

And I really like the Commuter case also.

 

[lexluthor]

Got my SGP/SPigen Ultra Nano Clear install on Friday.

I'm generally very good at dry protector installs. I've done it many times and know all of the tricks.

I have a couple of issues with this product.

First, it's so thin that's it's very hard to take off the top and bottom protective screens. I was able to get it done, but I bent the plastic a tiny bit down by the home button and it sticks up a little bit there. That's really a non-issue and isn't real noticeable.

Next, and more of a pressing issue, is that the protector scratches VERY easily. I keep it in my pocket (a pretty clean pocket) and there are already a bunch of scratches on the protector. With the screen on bright, you can't really tell, but with it off, they are pretty clear.

If I have that many scratches in a 3 days, it'll probably be near unusable in a month.

I generally don't like screen protectors on gorilla glass, but I know the glass can scratch. But it's kind of silly to have something over the top of it that's already scratched up. Might as well just take a chance on the gorilla glass not scratching then.

Anyone else notice that these scratch very easily?

 

[defected]

Which ones have people got in the UK? Looking to buy one and struggling to see what's available for us to buy easily over here.

 

[lexluthor]

Follow up on my complaint about the SGP Ultra Nano

I purchased this via ebay (authorized reseller). They just wrote back and gave me a very fair offer. If I pay the $2 difference, they'll ship me out the curved crystal product once they get it in.

I took them up on their offer.

 

[Hogan773]

So here is my take on the Protector/Naked discussion as I think about it.....

1) YES GG2 can be scratched but its hard to do so. Seems that sand is probably our worst enemy. For this reason, I left my GS3 in the car on Saturday when we went to the beach. I guess a second option (which I didn't think about early enough) is to put it in a plastic ziploc bag.

Other than that I'm not too worried about major scratching because I put the phone in my pocket and it sits either rubbing my cloth pants or my leather wallet.

2) For those who do this PRIMARILY to preserve resale value - I wonder how much real difference there is when you're Ebaying your phone 2 years from now. Of course if there is a real large scratch that's something, but a few hairline scratches probably won't really change resale value since all the phones are in "used" condition and the buyer can't inspect a bunch of different ones in person via Ebay to find the cherry one. If you're paying $15-20 now, are you definitely getting $15-20 better resale value? Maybe, maybe not.

3) I personally find the clean look and better usability of a naked screen preferable.

4) I am dubious about the "screen protector will act as a piece of laminate which will reduce shattering on a drop".......if the glass cracks or shatters it still renders the phone a gimped POS, and I don't think the plastic film sitting on top will really add lots of structural protection to the glass.

 

[Cochice]

For those of you waiting for or interested in the Spectre:

Thank you for your pre-order with XGear. As some of you may know, we have recently ran into a few changes for the Fantom and Spectre.

{a bunch of stuff about the Fantom for the Nexus}

The Spectre will also not be completely clear, instead it will be available in a blue or white color to match your phone

 

[diirk]

Has anyone had any luck with cases and screen protectors going together? It seems from my brief experience that many cases will peel the protector off unless the protector is cut short enough.

I'm running a Zagg with a Speck Candyshell. No interference issues.

The only reason to use a ZAGG screen is if you have zero desire to put on a protector yourself. They're overpriced, too rubbery and sticky, and leave a terrible orange peel texture.

I'm not disputing other options, or that different folks have different preferences, but it's not reasonable to say that the "only" reason to buy a Zagg is if you want someone to install it for you. Pretty much any store will install a protector you buy from them.

Zagg's are relatively pricy, and definately have a "texture" that is rubbery. Personally I like the texture they provide and more importantly, I like the added protection they provide. I actually tried trimming one and ended up having to use wire cutters. The material is super strong. They have a great warranty and yes, you can get them installed in many different places.

Anyhow, the only reason I'm saying this is that some people that haven't experienced different types of screen protectors may take your statement as fact rather then your opinion.

 

[bennybbc]

Follow up on my complaint about the SGP Ultra Nano

I purchased this via ebay (authorized reseller). They just wrote back and gave me a very fair offer. If I pay the $2 difference, they'll ship me out the curved crystal product once they get it in.

I took them up on their offer.

Could you post a link to that seller? Sounds like a good one with whom to business. Thanks.

Benny

 

[Berix]

Just applied my Steinheil Ultra Nano Clear to my S3 -- package came with 3 protectors and it took me 3 to get a good application.

First application I had it crooked, so I picked it back up to re-apply and got a piece of dust on it that I couldn't remove, so I scrapped that one.

Second one, the tab for removing the back adhesive came off without being able to get the whole back off, so by the time I managed to get the back strip removed, I had bent the protector -- so I threw that one out.

Third time I managed to get the protector on there straight -- had a few air bubbles, was able to use the squeegee to get them pushed out -- got a pretty perfect application, so I was happy with that.

As for the feel of the protector... I knew I wasn't going to get the same feeling as glass, but I had been hoping for it. My finger glides pretty easily on the GG2 screen, with this protector on... not so much. I'm going to try to get used to it for a few days though and I'll determine if I want to try something else after that.

 

[hal1]

^^^ Glad you got one of the three to work. I know that some people love the Steinheil and the Nano, but if you look at some of the experiences that people have posted it seem too much of a crap shoot. I know it depends in how careful you are and the skill of the installer, but this is a user installed product, and as such I can't see rolling the dice.

FWIW, I am one who couldn't get it right (and I install the wet kind all the time). That's why I posted that I am giving away the 2 replacements that they are sending me.

 

[robin_]

Wipe down the installed screen protector with rubbing alcohol to remove any residue. Made mine MUCH slicker.

 

[bennybbc]

Wipe down the installed screen protector with rubbing alcohol to remove any residue. Made mine MUCH slicker.

Which brand/model of screen protector do you have? I just tried your trick with my Ringbo Rearth screen protector. It didn't make it any slicker but it did clean off the smudges and seemed to make it much less susceptible to new smudges.

I'm on my second Ringbo screen protector. The first one went away when I swapped my SGS3 for a new one. Both times now the screen protector starts out fairly resistant to smudges and the few that do show up wipe off pretty easily. But in less than a day they go from that to getting smudges really easily that are practically impossible to wipe off without using a spray cleaner I use on my glasses. I'm thinking that they put some coating on there that's supposed to be smudge/fingerprint resistant but it fails quickly and ends up doing the exact opposite.

Regardless, I've used Steinheil protectors for a couple of years on my DroidX and it would show smudges but a quick wipe on my shirt or with a clean cloth and it would be shiny clean again. Wiping the Ringbo with any cloth, even the microfiber cleaning cloth that came with it would only push the smudges around instead of wiping them off. I could see the smudges with the phone screen on or off.

Since I just tried the rubbing alcohol a few minutes ago I don't yet know if it maybe took off some sort of failed "anti-smudge/fingerprint" coating that Ringbo uses or not. If it continues to be somewhat smudge resistant and easy to clean like it is right now then I guess it was a success. I would not recommend the Ringbo Rearth screen protectors to anyone. I'm waiting for Steinheil to release their new curved edge screen protector so I can give them a try.

Benny

 

[t35rk]

Which brand/model of screen protector do you have? I just tried your trick with my Ringbo Rearth screen protector. It didn't make it any slicker but it did clean off the smudges and seemed to make it much less susceptible to new smudges.

I'm on my second Ringbo screen protector. The first one went away when I swapped my SGS3 for a new one. Both times now the screen protector starts out fairly resistant to smudges and the few that do show up wipe off pretty easily. But in less than a day they go from that to getting smudges really easily that are practically impossible to wipe off without using a spray cleaner I use on my glasses. I'm thinking that they put some coating on there that's supposed to be smudge/fingerprint resistant but it fails quickly and ends up doing the exact opposite.

Regardless, I've used Steinheil protectors for a couple of years on my DroidX and it would show smudges but a quick wipe on my shirt or with a clean cloth and it would be shiny clean again. Wiping the Ringbo with any cloth, even the microfiber cleaning cloth that came with it would only push the smudges around instead of wiping them off. I could see the smudges with the phone screen on or off.

Since I just tried the rubbing alcohol a few minutes ago I don't yet know if it maybe took off some sort of failed "anti-smudge/fingerprint" coating that Ringbo uses or not. If it continues to be somewhat smudge resistant and easy to clean like it is right now then I guess it was a success. I would not recommend the Ringbo Rearth screen protectors to anyone. I'm waiting for Steinheil to release their new curved edge screen protector so I can give them a try.

Benny

After a fingerprint free first day I thought you were nuts after reading your earlier post about the issue. But yes, after the first day, this sp is a fingerprint magnet and does affect outside viewing. Hopefully things will mellow out over time.

 

[bennybbc]

After a fingerprint first day I thought you were nuts after reading your earlier post about the issue. But yes, after the first day, this sp is a fingerprint magnet and does affect outside viewing. Hopefully things will mellow out over time.

Oh thee of little faith, apology accepted...

 

[t35rk]

Oh thee of little faith, apology accepted...

Sorry. Now test that rubbing alcohol out some more and let me know if I should do it.

 

[loomer]

No screen protector for me. This is my 3rd phone with Gorilla glass, and have yet to get a scratch on one (knock on wood). Love the way it glides w/o it. Isn't that why gorilla glass was developed? No scratches?

 

[laptopquestion]

No screen protector for me. This is my 3rd phone with Gorilla glass, and have yet to get a scratch on one (knock on wood). Love the way it glides w/o it. Isn't that why gorilla glass was developed? No scratches?

There is a difference between scratch resistant and scratch proof. Gorilla glass is scratch resistant.

It can be scratched for instance by something harder, like sand.

Personally, I don't want to risk it.