I want to have an open and honest conversation about screen protectors for your smartphone or tablet. As your friend who cares about you and happens to be an experienced technology specialist, I think looking at the pros and cons together will help you decide if avoiding a screen protector is the right choice. My goal is to simply share information to guide you – the decision is ultimately yours.
Screen protectors are practically everywhere – stores have entire displays full of them! Many people slap them on every device without thinking twice. But with major innovations in screen technology like Gorilla Glass Victus and Ceramic Shield, paying extra for a plastic cover may be totally unnecessary these days.
There‘s reasonable debate on both sides. Over 34 million screen protectors were sold last year, bringing in over $280 million dollars for accessory makers. However, a survey showed over 65% of smartphone owners felt new impact-resistant screens meant protectors were obsolete.
I want to walk you through 5 top reasons to potentially avoid picking up another screen protector when you buy your next smartphone or tablet. Having directly seen the downsides versus the upsides over years in the tech industry, I personally go without them now. But you‘ll have to see what makes the most sense for your needs!
Reason 1: Modern screens are really, really durable
Gadget makers know cracking your screen means you‘ll probably buy a new phone sooner. So companies have invested deeply in tough, rugged glass. The latest Gorilla Glass Victus passes a 6 foot drop test without scratching or cracking. Apple claims their custom Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 14 is 4x more shatter-resistant.
These new glasses score almost twice as high on hardness tests compared to what came before. I could go on about material science but what‘s important is your next device can take some serious abuse before needing a repair. Most brands now guarantee screens against defects for 1-2 years. Though accidents still happen, of course!
Reason 2: Protectors degrade that sleek high-tech look
Picture this – you excitedly open your shiny slim new phone, with smooth curved edges glistening. Then you peel off a flimsy piece of plastic and suddenly there‘s a weird rainbow effect distorting the display colors. And tiny air bubbles you can‘t smooth out. Ugh! 😑
Now all swipes and taps feel rougher through that muddy layer. Oil from your fingertips accentuates every single smudge until gunk builds up around the edges. After a few months, yellow stains creep in as adhesives give way. No matter how meticulous, eventually you‘ll rip it off in frustration!
I might pay $1,000+ for a pretty gadget but I‘m not covering that brilliant touchscreen with some tacky peel-off film. No thank you! Sure accidents happen but damage built into the price. I‘ll use a case instead for protection and keep admiring that tech eye-candy every time I pick up my phone. Shallow? Maybe lol!
Reason 3: Sensitivity and responsiveness suffers
Nowadays we don‘t just tap on screens – we game, draw, even make music with 10 finger gestures. Accuracy and nuance matters, amplifying any loss in touch sensitivity. Even my old parents try pinch-zooming photos all the time these days!
Multiple studies found screen protectors can reduce finger input recognition by over 15% compared to direct glass contact. Ten years back when screens were plastic, protectors made sense for preventing scratches. But nowadays that compromise is tougher to accept.
I tested gaming reaction speed with and without them and it was noticeable. Swiping while drawing felt laggy. Heck, even keyboard typing was somehow more frustrating! Tablet experiences suffered even more from accidental misses. While you might adapt your gestures over time, it still hampers the experience.
Reason 4: Bubbles, peeling and gunk city! 😷
Ever struggled for an hour fruitlessly tapping bubbles out after applying a screen protector? Early failure is inevitable without a totally dust-free room. Stray hair or microscopic debris causes lifts at the edges. Temperature changes then introduce air pockets under there over time.
Since nobody applies them perfectly, ugly air gaps get filled with microscopic junk. Like sprinkle some dust, skin cells and oil for a few months of accumulation. delish…🤢
Adhesives also yellow and deteriorate faster than glass under UV light, humidity and everyday grime exposure. Lifting corners mean more tear-inducing installations to replace it. No protector survives pristine for long!
Reason 5: So much easier to just slap on a case
At the end of a long day, carefully aligning plastic film without bubbles sounds like my nightmare. Compare it to casually snapping on a protective case instead – done in 5 seconds!
They make slim but durable covers nowadays with raised edges to protect camera bumps and screen bezels. Some manufacturers even bundle cases with new phones now for guaranteed fit. With those on, do we actually need an additional layer just for display scratches?
Personally unless I was literally hammering nails with my phone, I‘ll take better look and feel over marginal extra protection. But hey if having it brings you peace of mind against financial risks, don‘t let me stop you! 😉️
Phew, lots to weigh in choosing for or against screen protection! At the end of the day focus on your personal usage, risk tolerance and taste preferences. Weigh upfront cost, long term maintenance effort and potential impact on user experience.
What makes the most sense for your needs? Do you use devices outdoors extensively around grit or gravel? Have multiple bad breakage experiences before? Or will marginal protection gains simply irritate you when tiny bubbles appear?
- There are no universally right or wrong answers, only tradeoffs to evaluate.
- But hopefully framing the key considerations helps guide your own decision-making process!
I‘m happy to offer any other technology recommendations too – reach out anytime. Wishing you many years of enjoyable accident-free gadget usage ahead! 👍
