Do I need to glue a protective film on my smartphone. Do I need to glue a protective film or tempered glass? What the defenders say

There are several ways to protect your phone from unwanted damage. As a rule, these are all kinds of covers and protective films. I would like to dwell on the latter in more detail. Many of you are familiar with them firsthand and even use them today. They are quite cheap and create an additional layer of protection between the smartphone screen and the brutal outside world who is trying his best to destroy it.

And yet I do not use screen protectors. Why ask you? Well, for several reasons. Firstly, I am very annoyed by the sticker process itself, and I am wildly indignant at the sight of air bubbles and leaked dust particles under the film. Familiar feeling, right? Secondly, I do not like the tactile sensations from the screen protected by a film. Believe me, even the most expensive film can change your experience with the device, not for the better. Any of these, over time, make the display of content on the screen not as crisp and clear as if you were looking at an unprotected display. This comes from the constant interaction of the film with natural and other fats from our fingers. And finally, I just don't feel like I need it. After all, phone manufacturers used specially designed materials for screens, which in most cases are very difficult to scratch.


Engineers around the world use such a concept as the hardness of a material. To classify materials by hardness, various tests are carried out, based on the ability of certain materials to influence each other, and in our case, with phone screens, to scratch each other. In general, in theory, a harder material cannot be scratched by a softer one. Usually smartphones these days have protective glass and usually it's Gorilla Glass. According to Corning's specification, Gorilla Glass 3 has a hardness of 534 - 649 kgf / mm2. This value can be compared to the hardness of hardened steel and means that objects such as household knives, keys or coins are unlikely to scratch the display. In addition to increased hardness, Gorilla Glass uses a special so-called oleophobic coating that reduces their ability to pick up fingerprints.

In fact, there are a limited number of materials that a phone screen comes into contact with that can scratch it. By adopting a simple strategy for handling your mobile device, you can avoid scratches without resorting to screen protectors.
Here's what I do. In every item of my clothes there is a “designated” pocket in which I carry my phone, and I know for sure that nothing but it will go there. It can be either a pocket of trousers or jeans, or any inner pocket in outerwear.
The most important culprit in the appearance of scratches on the screens of not only smartphones, but also watches, is sand. Sand itself is a product of mechanical weathering of rocky soils, and sand grains, as a rule, consist of the most unweathered particles, mainly quartz, which is used in the manufacture of glass. As they say, I found a scythe on a stone. If you live on the coast or are just on vacation by the sea, then you should get a small plastic container to store your phone when you visit the beach. I agree that the “naked version” of carrying phones is not for everyone. Maybe you are a lifeguard at sea or a builder, and your work activity takes place in an environment of "unfriendly" materials.


This article was not written to discourage everyone from using protection. mobile devices but only to raise awareness. I see a lot of people around who, almost on a subconscious level, feel a manic need for the screens of their smartphones. Trust me, companies have already spent a lot of time and money researching to make your phone's glass more durable and scratch resistant. And I hope the above information and tips will help you save some money and the hassle of using screen protectors.

What do you think about this? Are you able to do without protective films on the screens of your devices? Tell us in the comments about your strategy for avoiding scratches on displays.

Smartphones are not cheap and you probably spent hundreds of dollars to buy one. And the more expensive our device, the more carefully we treat it. After all, in fact, we invest in a product that can be resold through certain time, and the “shabby life” phone is unlikely to arouse interest among a potential buyer. Yes, and the owner himself, you will agree, it is much more pleasant to use a device that looks like new for a long time.

Modern smartphones are equipped with high-quality protective glass. Most recent flagships feature durable Gorilla Glass (currently in their fourth generation) or sapphire crystal. Is it worth sticking an additional protective coating? And if additional protection need, then which of these two means to choose: glass or film?

Why the screen of modern smartphones needs additional protection

The displays of flagship gadgets are much better protected from scratches than the first models of phones with plastic or ordinary glass. To assess how much protection has become more reliable, let's give a few numbers.

• The hardness of ordinary glass on the Mohs scale is not more than 5 units.
• The hardness of the metal is 5.5, which allows keys or a knife to leave scratches on the phone screen with ordinary glass.
• The fourth generation Gorilla Glass has a hardness of about 6 units (according to some sources - 6.5H). He is not afraid of metal objects.

But the strength of quartz, the main element of ordinary sand, is 7 units on the Mohs scale. Is it any wonder that scratches on even the most durable screen protector become noticeable over time?

The second aspect of the problem is the fall of the smartphone on the floor. It is especially dangerous if the gadget fell screen down. In this case, the expensive unit of the display and touchscreen must be replaced. And you are left without a phone for a period of a week to 1.5 months. Exact time required for replacement depends on the availability of spare screens for your gadget model in service center. Waiting for new models, which are still few in Russia, can be seriously delayed.

Protective film for smartphone

A special film can protect the glass of the phone from scratches. It is made of a fairly durable polymer that does not break down when in contact with metal keys and other blunt metal objects.

Benefits of smartphone screen protectors:

• Low price. Manufacturers offer to purchase them in sets of 3-10 pieces per pack. As soon as one fails, you stick a new one.
• Perfect fit for popular phone models. For example, in Novosibirsk you can buy in our online store.
• Reliably protect the screen from scratches during domestic use.
• Do not require special skills to sticker on the phone. The adhesive layer is covered with a special technological film. Clean the display from dirt, remove the technological layer and stick the film.

Protective glass for smartphone

Tempered glass is another modern way protect your gadget screen from scratches. During production, it is heated up to 600 °C and then cooled down. This makes tempered glass very durable, up to 9 on the Mohs scale. In theory, it can only be scratched with a diamond - the most durable mineral. Recall that the sand has a hardness of only 7H, which does not allow it to leave scratches on such a protective coating.

If the films only prevent scratches, then protective glasses can also help if the gadget falls to the floor. The additional hardened coating breaks, but the display itself remains intact.

Advantages of protective glasses:

• The price is 8-10 times less than the cost of replacing a display with a touchscreen.
• Protect your display from scratches and drops. The extra coating breaks but saves a costly screen unit.
• Possibility to order in Novosibirsk, Meizu other models, precisely fitted to the size of the phone, the location of its holes for the camera and speaker.
• Do not spoil the image on the screen and do not reduce the brightness of colors. Moreover, some manufacturers claim that the colors become more saturated.

How to stick glass on a smartphone

The sticker is made in four stages.

First you remove all dirt from the display. To do this, the kit comes with two napkins: wet and dry.

Now we remove the technological film.

And paste the tempered glass on the smartphone.

We remove air bubbles from under it for better fastening.

For questions about the choice and purchase of protective films and glasses in Novosibirsk, please contact the managers of the SibDroid store. They will give professional advice and select the appropriate protection for your phone model.

When this device fell, the asphalt was more likely to crack than the screen. /thesun.co.uk

Miniature displays of the first phones did not need special protection. With the advent touch screens in the late 2000s, protective films became widespread. Displays in those days were made of plastic and were quickly covered with scratches to the point that the image was hardly visible.

The situation was corrected by protective accessories made of thin plastic, which took on a hail of scratches. The owner of the gadget had only to change the film every few months and the screen remained as good as new.

Why films stopped gluing

techradar.net

Starting in 2012, smartphones began to install very scratch-resistant chemically tempered glass Gorilla Glass. The hardness of this material is higher than that of metal and is 6–7 points on the Mohs scale. In theory, this means that it will not work to damage the screen with keys, a nail, or even a knife.

In practice, the displays, although smaller, were still scratched. However, many have begun to give up protection, following the marketing claims.

Glue or not

moshi.com

Despite the constant improvement in performance with each generation of Gorilla Glass, which are now installed not only on flagships, but also on smartphones of the middle and even lower price category, users are divided into two camps. Some continue to glue films and glasses, others categorically refuse them. And, if you look, everyone is right in their own way.

What the film and glass advocates say

In favor of the use of protective accessories, the following arguments are most often cited:

• Protection is guaranteed to save from any scratches.
• When dropped, glass or film is likely to protect the screen from cracks.
• With protection, the display will be as good as new and subsequently the smartphone can be sold for more.
• Films and glasses are much cheaper than replacing a broken screen.
• Accessories add new properties to the display: matte finish, anti-reflective layer, protection against peeping.

What the defenders say

But those who prefer clean screens usually respond with such counterarguments:

• Films and glasses spoil the design of the smartphone.
• Protection reduces the sensitivity of the sensor and impairs tactile sensations from use.
• Thick glasses protrude above the Home button or cutout for the camera module.
• The oleophobic coating on the protection is worse than on glass and wears off very quickly.
• Films and glasses do not adhere to the curves of rounded displays, the finger clings to the edges, and dirt accumulates around the perimeter.
• In places where the protection is scratched, unpleasant rainbow distortions appear.

How to be

There is still no clear answer. Yes, latest smartphones resist scratches on the screen much better and can even survive a good fall. However, there is no 100% guarantee that everything will be in order with the gadget. And if you can still put up with scratches without spending money on replacing the display, then broken glass will inevitably entail considerable costs.

Who exactly should use film or glass

• Anyone who wants to keep presentable appearance to sell a smartphone before buying the next one.
• Owners of inexpensive gadgets with fragile screens.
• People who, by the nature of their activities, use a smartphone in an aggressive environment.
• Anyone who is afraid to break an expensive device and get to replace the display.

Who can get by

• Users who hate any changes to the original design of smartphones and are ready to replace the display in case of an unsuccessful fall.
• Everyone who took care of protection by putting the gadget in a reliable shockproof case.
• Neat and pedantic people who carry their smartphone in a separate pocket and never drop it on the floor.
• Owners who do not bother about the appearance of gadgets and consider scratches as a kind of decoration.

If you have noticed, now almost every first person sticks a protective film or glass on their smartphone. But how important is this accessory for modern device, because manufacturers assure us that smartphone displays are now protected like never before.

We all know that there are Gorilla Glass glasses that are incredibly durable and the Internet is full of videos where they are tested by trying to break with a hammer or throwing smartphones from a height onto asphalt. So maybe additional accessories are not a concern for the safety of your device, but another attempt to pump money out of the pockets of consumers? Let's figure this out.

Why glue protective glass or film

Protective film It is a thin polymer coating with an applied silicone layer that acts as an adhesive base. Without experience, installing a protective film is quite difficult, since you need to simultaneously orient it on the display surface and make sure that dust does not get between the film and the screen.

The film is primarily designed to protect the screen from scratches and minor damage. If the smartphone falls with the screen down, the film most likely will not help.

Strained glass(tempered glass), which is sold in stores, is nothing more than ordinary thin glass with a silicone adhesive layer. The silicone also prevents shards from flying in case the glass breaks. Unlike film, tempered glass is able to protect the screen of the device from damage as a result of bumps, falls and other influences.

And so, to sum up: the film protects from minor scratches, glass from more serious damage. But, besides this, when choosing between them, there are a few more nuances.

What to choose: glass or film

From my own experience I will say that glass is preferable to film, as it protects the display better. In addition, glass is easier to install and lasts much longer.

But, if you own a phone with rounded edges, you may have already encountered the problem that the glass does not stick around the edges and an ugly white stripe forms.

If you have an iPhone, then everything is simple - buy 5D glass on aliexpress and enjoy life. For owners of other brands, they also came up with similar glasses, but they are not glued over the entire surface, but only along the edges. Therefore, such glass is held very poorly and is likely to fall off with any awkward movement.

In this case, you can use a silicone protective film, which, due to its plasticity, perfectly covers displays even with very rounded edges of the screen, such as Galaxy smartphones S8/S9. But you can not find such films for every model. Here, the same aliexpress will come to the rescue.

Glasses for all models on Aliexpress

To defend or not to defend is the question on which opinions are divided. Someone, in a fit of caring for their favorite device, protects it with a film and a case, while someone does not recognize any upgrades and relies on modern technologies such as Gorilla Glass. Each choice is correct and user-friendly in its own way.

If you want to keep the good appearance of your favorite device and not worry about which side to put it on the table, or, having hastily put your smartphone in your pocket, remember that the keys and pennies are already there, a protective film will not be superfluous. Also, display protection will be useful for girls and women who like to wear earrings, in this case the screen can be scratched right during a conversation.

In this article, we'll cover the types of screen protectors and take a look at the best ones, but first, let's answer some of the most frequently asked questions that come up when deciding "Should I use screen protectors?"

Protective film spoils the appearance of the phone?

Modern materials and technologies for the production of ultra-thin films make them practically invisible on the device; in order to see if the protective film is pasted on a smartphone with high quality, you need to look very closely.

Does the film affect the sensitivity of the touch screen?

The pasted protective film has no effect on the sensitivity of the touch display. Of course, after gluing, you will feel the difference tactilely, but the film will not affect the control and response of the touch screen.

What if there are traces after removing the protective film?

Modern films are made on the basis of silicone-based polymeric materials. This means that the film simply “applies” to the screen and adheres to it not due to the adhesive, but due to the physical properties of the polymer. Thus, even after several years of operation of the screen with a film, when removed from it, there will be no trace left.

There are many screen protectors on the market today. various types, so for your device you can purchase protective film which best suits your needs. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the types of films most widely represented in the stores of the country.

Advantages of glossy films:

• almost invisible on the screen of the device;
• provide high-quality color reproduction;
• maintain screen brightness;
• well hide small scratches that have appeared on the surface of the display when using the device without a film;
• protect the device from further damage.

Matte (anti-reflective) screen protectors

Advantages of matte films:

• a finger glides better on matte films, makes it easier to control the device;
• fingerprints are almost invisible;
• scratch resistant;
• anti-reflective films allow complete comfort use the device in any light, even in bright sunlight, as the beam of light is scattered when it hits the matte surface of the protective film and does not create glare and reflections.

Advantages of anti-shock films:

• high screen protection mechanical damage and reduce the risk of cracking under strong impacts
• the sensitivity and brightness of the screen is maintained by almost entry level, since the thickness of the shockproof films is not much thicker than the standard ones.

Shockproof protective films are glossy and matte.

We also want to tell you about minor shortcomings that arise when using a device with a protective film. For example, glossy films cause slight display glare and are also prone to fingerprints. Matte films, due to their anti-reflective properties, contribute to a slight decrease in display contrast and the appearance of a slight grainy effect, which becomes noticeable on a white background.

But progress does not stand still. Technological films began to appear, combining best features glossy, matte shockproof film models, as well as some properties modern displays(with oleophobic coating). Interesting accessories of this kind are available from the American company SGP. Let's talk more about best films SGP:

The film is somewhere between transparent and matte. It practically does not affect image quality, while it has much less glare (compared to conventional glossy film) and does not collect fingerprints thanks to special microchannels.

— a glossy film with a special oleophobic (anti-oil, grease-repellent) coating that prevents fingerprints and keeps the display clean. At the same time, the film is absolutely transparent and so thin that you need to look closely to notice it on a smartphone.

is a crystal clear and ultra-thin glossy film that is perfect for people who don't want to feel or see it on their device at all. It has a special coating that prevents the occurrence of a rainbow effect in the light, an anti-reflective coating allows you to use the gadget comfortably even on a bright sunny day, and thanks to a special silicone layer, the film can be easily glued without bubbles.

SGP Oleophobic Coated Tempered Glass Series "Glass T"— unique shockproof protective film. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that this powerful protective glass is only 0.4 mm thick! In addition to the protective properties, the film also has an oleophobic coating that prevents fingerprints. And most importantly, it perfectly protects against mechanical damage. Even if the device falls with the screen on a hard surface, nothing will happen to it, because the Glass T will take the hit, which is very IMPORTANT for expensive Chinese devices, such as the Keneksi Teta Black smartphone. After all, the repair of Chinese technology is not cheap, if at all possible!

In addition to SGP, there are a number of companies that can protect the device with high quality - these are Ozaki, Capdase, Moshi, GelaSkins, Nillkin and others. Among them we want to single out the Polish company MyScreen. Their MyScreenPROTECTOR series of protective films is already actively used by thousands of users in European countries. A distinctive feature of MyScreen films is the laser cutting technology, which provides a better fit to the device walls and a long service life of the films.

In the shops of the country, MyScreen films are presented in a wide range (glossy, matte, with antibacterial and oleophobic coatings) for the most popular models Samsung smartphones, HTC, Sony, Lenovo, Nokia, and iPhone.