I have read many mixed reviews of this glass screen protector here, on other forums, and on Amazon.
Amazon's the best, IMO, because you're reading product reviews from real everyday normal folks from all different walks, so the compilation of reviews includes the whole range of skill level.
Inarguably, the Whitestone Dome Glass protector is probably THE MOST difficult to install, save the fact that the kit includes an allignment jig that helps installation inmeasurably. I recently did this (this evening) and can't imagine attempting this without such a jig, though I understand similar UV activated glue is available to use with separately sold glass protectors.
So I'll start with some background info to set the scene for accuracy...
I'm a landscaper by day, but a jeweler part time. That means I chunk heavy crap around all day long like a farmer, but on the weekends I show off my dexterity like a watchmaker.
That's important, because this installation requires steady, confident hands, much forethought, patience, and it ain't cheap!
Sooooo...
Let me say that I was really nervous. I already accepted the idea that I might have to decide whether to purchase another one or go a different route and just choke on losing 45 dollars.
I watched 8 YouTube videos on installation, including one completely failed installation, and a demonstration on the removal of one.
The package arrived today but was outside the house in the cold. Of course I wanted to pop it on immediately, but figured that it should warm up to temperature first.
During that time I prepped my table. I used a marble to see if it was level. During preparation, i also prepared myself for the possibility of failure. LOL!
I layed out all of the items like I was about to perform surgery.
CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!
Use those dust removal stickers! Even after you let the glue fall and remove the "bridge", check again for dust.
Don't flail about to much. That simply stirs up dust.
"Relax", is the best advice I can give. Peeling the backing off the glass from underneath it so dust that's in the air doesn't land on the inside surface sounds like a logical idea, and you should, but static from peeling it can become a pain.
If you're calm enough, you can do this just like the videos.
I wiped the edges after the first and second curing with the UV light. I did end up with excess flow out one side, and on the other side during the second wipe down, I had an ever so tiny bubble (if you'd even call it that) on the edge. The bubble was from wiping away the partially curred glue, which pulled a tiny, TINY bit out. (Literally one third the size of the exposed part of the SPen tip.)
I remedied this OCD-killer by using a toothpick dabbed in what remained at the top of the glue tube and simply touched it to the edge, which sucked it right in to fill the tiny void.
I used the UV light several times with the idea that it simply couldn't hurt to do it as often as I could.
My screen literally looks like a perfect install. Absolutely fantastic, as Sakitech would say!
I would say the skill level required for this is about average, but you really have only one chance to get it right, and there are a few steps that need to be followed perfectly or else they can trip you up.
Watch those videos. Many show people doing an imperfect installation with decent or good results, but after watching several you'll see just how to avoid mishaps.
On a different note, I did notice something very strange while utilizing the UV light; there is a weird shape in the center of the screen that shows up under the light. I have no idea what it is, but it shows as a slightly different color in the center third of the screen, nearly full length with rounded corners and perfectly symmetrical. I'm assuming it's an adhesive beneath the screen for the interactive SPen screen? I dunno. Kinda neat.
Anyway, after reading reviews stating problems with lifting of the edges of the Whitestone Dome, I figured I would contribute here by checking in and giving updates as to the longevity of this very beautiful, but slightly expensive and fiddly (to say the least) installing screen protector.
Feel free to ask any questions.
O.K., so not a month, but 3 weeks later:
Bear in mind that I do NOT abuse my phones. I do tend to coddle a nearly $1000 phone.
So far the screen saver has been great. No lifting at the corners like others have experienced.
I have my Note 8 in an Amovo wallet case- Good stuff; check it out on Amazon.
I remain thrilled with my Whitestone screen protector.
I certainly cannot say that I don't notice that it's on there, but it's only the edges that I can see. While I'm immersed in actually using the phone, I notice nothing at all.
I'm now considering getting one for my S8+, which currently sports a cheap edge adhesive glass screen saver that feels like there's room to slide a business card under.
AddictedToGlass said:
O.K., so not a month, but 3 weeks later:
Bear in mind that I do NOT abuse my phones. I do tend to coddle a nearly $1000 phone.
So far the screen saver has been great. No lifting at the corners like others have experienced.
I have my Note 8 in an Amovo wallet case- Good stuff; check it out on Amazon.
I remain thrilled with my Whitestone screen protector.
I certainly cannot say that I don't notice that it's on there, but it's only the edges that I can see. While I'm immersed in actually using the phone, I notice nothing at all.
I'm now considering getting one for my S8+, which currently sports a cheap edge adhesive glass screen saver that feels like there's room to slide a business card under.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here with mine. Very satisfied. Nearly 3 months now and it's been rock solid for me.
Same here, great bit of kit.
Agreed - I love my Whitestone. It picked up a scratch, and I used the new warranty facility to replace it. It's not exactly cheap (around £20) to get the replacement, but it's better than having to buy one at full price.
This one ended up being a little more fiddly to install, but that was my fault - I allowed the LOCA to flow too far towards the bottom of the device before dropping the glass. I had tiny cluster of bubbles near the power switch which I worked out with some patience, and I also ended up sticking the jig together because I cured it for too long before removing the phone. However, the overall result is better than my original install, and I haven't had the touch up the edges of this one at all.
As much as I want to use the whitestone, I have some pretty big issues with it right now. For one, the glass is unnecessarily big. If the flaps that went up around the top were just a little smaller, it'd be compatible with so many more cases. The other issue is the type of glass their using. I don't know what it is, but it collects oil and gunk REALLY well on the surface of the glass (not the edges). I especially notice it on colder days (which we have plenty of in minnesota), but it's like the oil builds up into a thick layer that I have to wipe off with a cloth. All my whitestones have been like this. I ended up ordering a cheap full adhesive protector from amazon, and even though it has that STUPID black border and doesn't stick at the edges properly, it's sized way better than the whitestone and the glass feels of a much higher quality.
jooniloh said:
As much as I want to use the whitestone, I have some pretty big issues with it right now. For one, the glass is unnecessarily big. If the flaps that went up around the top were just a little smaller, it'd be compatible with so many more cases. The other issue is the type of glass their using. I don't know what it is, but it collects oil and gunk REALLY well on the surface of the glass (not the edges). I especially notice it on colder days (which we have plenty of in minnesota), but it's like the oil builds up into a thick layer that I have to wipe off with a cloth. All my whitestones have been like this. I ended up ordering a cheap full adhesive protector from amazon, and even though it has that STUPID black border and doesn't stick at the edges properly, it's sized way better than the whitestone and the glass feels of a much higher quality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange, no oil/grease issues like that with mine and it's plenty cold here too (unfortunately!). I haven't even had to wipe often for fingerprints and stuff. Not sure what would be causing that type of problem.
sefrcoko said:
Strange, no oil/grease issues like that with mine and it's plenty cold here too (unfortunately!). I haven't even had to wipe often for fingerprints and stuff. Not sure what would be causing that type of problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed - I would say it has one of the better oleophobic coatings.
StevePritchard said:
Agreed - I would say it has one of the better oleophobic coatings.
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Click to collapse
Maybe I've just been getting bad batches? idk.
I've had no problems with mine. Looks and works great! My wife's has started to come up on a corner. It's because she was mishandling it and not realizing what she was doing. All the warnings that we are aware of she is basically unaware of because... I don't know. It's still working for her and doesn't bother her. I don't plan on using another brand when I have to replace hers.
After 3 months the glue went bad on mine and started peeling on a top corner, then it went down both sides over night. Frankly at £40, it needs to last a lot longer for that money.
So;
It's mid August, 6½ months after the installation and it still looks great.
To be fair I have to mention that I do have two phones I use on a daily basis, but the Note is used for many more hours a week as a tablet as compared to my naked S8+, which I really only use to make and take calls.
In other words, the Note sees a lot of touch screen activity.
The Whitestone is holding up much better than I expected, given all the problems I've read about it. I do have a very subtle problem spot on the right side edge right in the middle where it has started to bubble. Though it's really only visible at certain angles, and quite small, my OCD magnifies this visual defect a great deal for me! When I hand over my phone to someone (always reluctantly...LOL) to view a picture or an app, I still get compliments on the screen protector, and no one has ever pointed it out to me. (It is very small.)
IT HAS DONE IT'S JOB...
-At least once, because there's a small scratch in the surface of the glass. Again, another thing hardly noticable, but if it were in the screen itself of my Note, I would be very upset. (Give me 6 more months to get to the point where it's perfectly acceptable for this handheld device to show signs of use.)
A CORNER DID START TO LIFT...
Last month, the upper right hand corner developed a very small bubble. I knew right away from what I've read that this might be the start of the end of this screen's life. But I continually massaged the screen down many times, and it actually worked and resealed.
My take on this is that firstly, it's been ridiculously hot in my region. That might've helped with resealing. But secondly and most importantly, I never allow dust to get near my phone.
Dust is the enemy. A single microfiber particle between the screen and glass cover might've made resealing impossible. People pop their phones in their pocket all the time, and because the phones are dust proof now, it's even easier to take for granted what they are exposed to. As soft and protective as pockets are, they expose phones to a lot of dust. (Look at the lint trap in a clothes dryer!)
IN CONCLUSION...
I'll keep monitoring this thread to answer any questions, but I'll probably only post an update of when the Whitestone finally needs to be replaced. At that point I'll probably throw some photos up before I remove the old one.
As far as I'm concerned it has already exceeded my expectations of longevity, and I'll gladly be getting a replacement when the time comes. But I will continue to try to get the most life out of this one despite the small lift on the edge.
BTW...
The "problem" side of my screen is where it had less of the LOCA bleeding out of the edge during installation. Even though the puddle of adhesive was dead center when I dropped the glass on, when I wiped the excess from the edges, the right side had less run-off. Right now I'm wondering if I wiped the excess off of the edges too soon. During the next installation, I'll be sure to give more time for the glue to stay where it needs to.
COMPARED TO NO SCREEN PROTECTOR...
Well, I never, ever, ever have used any of my smart phones without a screen protector. But I finally grew weary of the cheap crappy edge-adhesive glass protector I had on my S8+, and threw it out! The screen would often not register touches, etc, and was an under-screen dust catcher. I havn't bought a Whitestone for it yet because I spend so little time using it that I keep forgetting. So for about 4 months, I've been using my S8+ with no protection save a case that does have a screen flap (like a wallet).
I have a small rub mark on the screen, hardly noticable, but it's there.
If and when I purchase a Whitestone for that phone, I'll post here as to whether or not the LOCA actually hides that mark, as I've read in other threads that it can hide existing scratches presumably because it fills them in (makes sense).
A FINAL PLUG FOR THE NOTE 8...
I doubt the NOTE 10/X will wow me enough to drop my 8 like a wet sock and bolt to the store. I do figure that it'll be feature-packed since the advances of the 9 weren't anything crazy special. But I'm far from tired of this phone and given what I paid for it, I expect I'll have it long enough to have to perform the inevitable battery replacement surgery before I finally upgrade.
I believe the Whitestone protection will help me stay that course. :good:
Related
I just got the javoedge no-glare screen protector and it is the best I have used.
I think that the zagg invisiblesheild is amazing and bulletproof, but has a terrible glare. The one from javoedge makes this phone usable during the day outside.
http://www.javoedge.com/reflexeshop/productCatalog/getProduct.do?poid=985&pbmId=4737
Outside Use
If it was mid-day, brightest sun you can get directly over head...when I try to use my phone, I jack up the brightness to 100%.
Then I would usually have to cover it with my hand, and still get very little ability to see the screen.
I'm using, and have been for about 6 months:
http://www.zagg.com/invisibleshield...es-screen-protectors-covers-skins-shields.php
It's like impossible to scratch and the screen is perfect.
The main problem is glare / daytime usability. I'm ready to buy the one you suggested almost ASAP just for that.
How many do you get, just the one, I still might have to try this out it sounds better than my walmart ones.Wow might have to try them both.
I used the zagg one you have and love it for durability (I had the whole phone protector and loved it until it got gunky around the edges). The issue was glare; I couldn't see anything with it on.
With this you get one screen protector, but it is all you need. With the regular phone with no screen protector I could see about 40%, zagg 30%, this one somewhere around 75% or better (a noticeable increase, not perfect, but much much improved).
The problem with the walmart ones (and most others) is that you don't have the durability that zagg and this one does; with this one you can abuse the screen and still wipe them off with your finger for a perfect view.
I recently purchased the JAVOScreen anti-glare screen protector and enjoy the durability and fitment. However, I find it very hard to use in daylight.
Are you sure you purchased the anti-glare one?
Martin Overlay
Expensive but the best screen protector I've ever used. I use them on all my mobile devices.
My .02
I have been using Pocket PC Techs WriteShields for a long time now all the way back to my Ipaq 3650 days... long before my i700.
They are anti-glare and so dang durable that it is one of those products you just love to recommend. I have been given some other brands here and there along the years and those REALLY cemented my appreciation for the WriteShields. I play a LOT OF SOLITAIRE... like every time I go to the reading room (if you get my drift) and I always my fingernails... along with all my other PDA/phone use. I get around two years out of one of these and that includes just a ridiculous amount of abuse.
I have the same thing on my Tablet PC... it has been there since 2004 and I kid u not... it looks like brand new (obviously not as abused as the phones )
FWIW
Veloslave......Would you please advise on your visibilty outside during the day.
Can't believe it's not mentioned here.
The best screen protector hands down for any device are the Anti Glare ones from www.Boxwave.com
they'll last forever, are washable, easy to apply, make the touch surface feel more paperlike which makes writing on it nicer, eliminates glare, doesn't show fingerprints... it's just awesome.
I have the on my Sony TG50, my Nintendo DS, and my xv6800. All are perfect.
Well, I have the Zagg invisibleSHIELD, and I like it, it just sucks in the sunlight. I'd like a better one for viewing outdoors, but after reading this post, I dont know what to get. Three to choose from...
Boxwave
Pocket PC Techs
JAVOedge
Choices... choices...
You won't be dissapointed with Boxwave antiglare, trust me. I got my TG50 5 years ago now, and it was a great choice then, still is.
Just ordered the anti-glare from boxwave. we'll see how I like it when it gets here.
veloslave said:
My .02
I have been using Pocket PC Techs WriteShields for a long time now all the way back to my Ipaq 3650 days... long before my i700.
They are anti-glare and so dang durable that it is one of those products you just love to recommend. I have been given some other brands here and there along the years and those REALLY cemented my appreciation for the WriteShields. I play a LOT OF SOLITAIRE... like every time I go to the reading room (if you get my drift) and I always my fingernails... along with all my other PDA/phone use. I get around two years out of one of these and that includes just a ridiculous amount of abuse.
I have the same thing on my Tablet PC... it has been there since 2004 and I kid u not... it looks like brand new (obviously not as abused as the phones )
FWIW
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is it in the sunlight?
meccadon123 said:
Veloslave......Would you please advise on your visibilty outside during the day.
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Click to collapse
+1
I would like to know as a few talk about this one. I use my phone outside and the sun and my screen don't mix with visibility.
Got the anti glare one from boxwave. It's got a lot of pros and not many cons.
Pros:
A dream to write on w/ the stylus.
Very easy to install, not one of those flimsy "rubbery" screen protectors, actually plastic and stiff.
Even if you do get a little dust under it, you cannot see it at all once it's installed.
No air bubbles whatsoever.
Very easy to wipe fingerprints off of.
They say it's removable and washable? I dunno about that, but if I ever have to do it, it's worth a shot I guess.
Cons:
Easier to read in the sunlight, but not near what the website hypes it up to be.
More pros than cons, overall I am very happy with it. I like it a lot better than the Zagg invisibleSHIELD.
-Randy
Glad you liked it. I know I do. They are definetly removeable, and washable, but they are a bit tricky to remove. You must do so very carefully or you can risk bending them, or worse, removiing some of the adhesive which will be noticeable when it's reapplied. I've found to remove them, get them warm first with like a hairdryer to make it easier to remove, and then try to lift a corner with somethign very thin like a razor blade. To wash just rub it with mild dishsoap and water, and then flick it off like a poloroid. You can reapply it evenn with some water still on it.
In my expirence, not much reason to ever remove it. Just clean it while it's still on there.
I'll second the Boxwave screen protectors. I've had the same one on my phone since I got the phone at launch. I've taken it off once to clean it, and I have one very small scratch on it. Pretty impressive compared to other protectors I've used.
I have been meaning to get a screen protector. I am leaning towards Boxwave but last time I had an anti-glare, it made the screen a tad fuzzy. Hmmm....
I'm using the Boxwave Anti-Glare as well. The only issue I ran into is that I had to trim mine just a slight amount for my Mogul, the stock size actually fit under the case edges of the screen and caused my screen to not respond to touch. It does a great job of resisting fingerprints, and the paper feel when writing is definately a plus.
I swear by the Zagg products. It is true they are not that great in the sunlight. I usually crank my brightness but I have used the WriteShields before and they scratch after continue use. Play solitaire for a while and you will see the drag line from the deck to the stacks. Kind of annoying. Zagg will not scratch at all, guaranteed. Check out the Zagg videos on wrapping an iPod and then using a weed wacker on it.
Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
vodka7 said:
Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange. The Cruzerlite (which are thin TPU cases, cheap in my opinion) drop test stood up to NUMEROUS drops & the device survived without any sign of damage. Not a scratch or dent.
Is you device white or black? My old Nexus 10 had a defect in the black soft touch coating that looked like a dent, but it was more likely an issue in the molding or application process.
vodka7 said:
Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pics?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Endoran said:
Pics?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is the white version, but the dent is on the top right above the camera, on the black portion, right where the side casing touches the glass. I would have a very hard time photographing this because of where it is on the phone/lighting etc.. ill try when I get home though.
vodka7 said:
Thats right folks, the out edge of this that lies around the screen is very, very brittle and thin. I have never dropped the phone and it has been in my spigen leather pouch for my old nexus since I bought it, no idea how it got dented, and its only very slight without scratches but it is definitely there.. just a forewarning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a picture speaks a thousand words
I have about 5 or so nicks on the sides where the glass and plastic edge meet on my naked white N5. I agree that the plastic used is pretty brittle but it's not noticeable unless you really look for it.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Get a sufficient case otherwise you can't really complain...
I have one little mark or nick as well where the plastic case meets the glass on that tiny little lip. My 2 year old got a hold of my phone and dropped it on a metal external hard drive case the day I got it and it landed right on 90 degree edge of the case... I went temporarily insane. It is very small but kind of surprised me I guess. I dropped my galaxy S3 many times and never got more than the little hairline scratches you see in glossy plastic. That soft touch coating seems to have some give to it. It was my fault. My parents gave my kids a new ipad mini and I set my phone on top of it. I was in the other room and heard him say "new tablet". I knew at that moment the mistake I had made...
I have one of those really slim cases on the way which would have prevented it. I typically don't use cases and am usually not bothered by the small marks I get on my phones but because some of those ultra thin cases are so slim now days I am going to try one out. Marking up a brand new phone is a little different than one that's a year+ old...
I too, also have a slight dent under the screen bezel part of mine. I have never dropped mine. Noticed it while it was on the table; that the reflection of the curtain was slightly bent at the one area, instead of being completely straight. Looked closely, and sure enough, there was a dent. It's not noticeable during day-to-day use, but you CAN notice it if looking at the reflection it shows.
The chrome bezel on the nexus 4 was susceptible to dents as well.
A few weeks ago the Nexus 5 flew out of my hands and landed on our concrete driveway. I feared the worst, but only a small dent in the upper left corner of the back panel and some scratching is all that happened. Lucky me, but I still hate it. Never had a single blemish on the Nexus 4.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
The sides of this phone are fine, besides the fact that they collect dust like crazy. The screen, however, is not. Another guy posting on Android Central also reported having a dent, similar to mine. I actually think this dent came with my device. I noticed it a couple of weeks ago, but disregarded it, as I thought it was the screen protector that came with the phone, but I decided to remove it and check again. It IS a part of the screen
Hobbesfed said:
The sides of this phone are fine, besides the fact that they collect dust like crazy. The screen, however, is not. Another guy posting on Android Central also reported having a dent, similar to mine. I actually think this dent came with my device. I noticed it a couple of weeks ago, but disregarded it, as I thought it was the screen protector that came with the phone, but I decided to remove it and check again. It IS a part of the screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normal. That's why most early glass screen protectors were not sticking properly.
bblzd said:
Normal. That's why most early glass screen protectors were not sticking properly.
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Click to collapse
Normal? How is a dent on the screen normal? My Nexus 10 does not have this, my old Samsung Vibrant does not have this. Why would a dent on a Nexus 5 be normal?
Hobbesfed said:
Normal? How is a dent on the screen normal? My Nexus 10 does not have this, my old Samsung Vibrant does not have this. Why would a dent on a Nexus 5 be normal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say it's normal because of the following reasons:
1) it doesn't effect the usage of the device in any way
2) it's barely noticeable even in the "perfect" lighting conditions
3) many have reported the exact same thing in the early tempered glass threads; the only time it has ever come up or been noticed.
So why exactly is it a problem for you? Corners were cut to make this phone at a cheap price I would think that's pretty clear. It's also not the screen itself but around it.
Dented
In my N5 have no dent and any scratch..
I love with my N5
bblzd said:
I would say it's normal because of the following reasons:
1) it doesn't effect the usage of the device in any way
2) it's barely noticeable even the "perfect" lighting conditions
3) many have reported the exact same thing in the early tempered glass threads; the only time it has ever come up or been noticed.
So why exactly is it a problem for you? Corners were cut to make this phone at a cheap price I would think that's pretty clear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a difference between "corners being cut" to make the device cheaper and really poor quality control. I understand them using a less camera module and a lower capacity battery, and a screen that washes out when tilted, etc, but the numerous issues with the hardware is ridiculous. Dents in screen, poor GPS connectivity, Wi-Fi problems, dust under screen, loose vibration motor, rattling buttons, and so on.
There is no reason for hardware bugs like this. To lower the price, lesser powerful hardware is used, but the low price is no excuse for poor quality. Like some users said, in terms of hardware, this device is like an alpha, and the only way to receive the "perfect" device is to continuously RMA.
We paid for the device, we should not be getting so many faults and issues.
Hobbesfed said:
There's a difference between "corners being cut" to make the device cheaper and really poor quality control. I understand them using a less camera module and a lower capacity battery, and a screen that washes out when tilted, etc, but the numerous issues with the hardware is ridiculous. Dents in screen, poor GPS connectivity, Wi-Fi problems, dust under screen, loose vibration motor, rattling buttons, and so on.
There is no reason for hardware bugs like this. To lower the price, lesser powerful hardware is used, but the low price is no excuse for poor quality. Like some users said, in terms of hardware, this device is like an alpha, and the only way to receive the "perfect" device is to continuously RMA.
We paid for the device, we should not be getting so many faults and issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is it even a defect? It's not even noticeable. No one would consider it a hardware bug except apparently you. Please explain how this effects the usage of your device in any way.
Poor quality control is EXACTLY how corners are cut. Manufacturing anything has margin of errors and the less margin of error you're willing to release the more phones are "thrown away" and the more money a released device will cost. I'd explain more but I'm sure Wikipedia or a Google search can better explain the finer points of manufacturing and quality control then I can.
You read the specs of the phone and it has everything a $700 phone has but it costs $400. How did you think that was accomplished?
bblzd said:
.
You read the specs of the phone and it has everything a $700 phone has but it costs $400. How did you think that was accomplished?
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Click to collapse
There is a lot of discussion about that price... but Google routinely undercuts the competition when it comes to the nexus line (looking at you, 7)
Looking at the specs of the 5, then looking at comparable phones out ing the market, the only conclusion I can come to is that Google is letting these things go at either zero margin, or (my thought) at a fairly beefy loss.... kicking back cash to LG to cover their losses.
All you need to do is look at the other phones available at the same full retail price... does the 5 seem anywhere close to those? Nope, it blows them all out of the water... laughable in most cases. Now, you can cut corners to lower prices, but you can't cut THAT much.
LeoRex said:
There is a lot of discussion about that price... but Google routinely undercuts the competition when it comes to the nexus line (looking at you, 7)
Looking at the specs of the 5, then looking at comparable phones out ing the market, the only conclusion I can come to is that Google is letting these things go at either zero margin, or (my thought) at a fairly beefy loss.... kicking back cash to LG to cover their losses.
All you need to do is look at the other phones available at the same full retail price... does the 5 seem anywhere close to those? Nope, it blows them all out of the water... laughable in most cases. Now, you can cut corners to lower prices, but you can't cut THAT much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The actual cost break down might never be known. One thing is for sure though, LG is not willing to take any loss and whatever Google may have paid them "extra" they will still try and build the phone as cheap as they possibly can.
LG does not consider the Nexus as their flagship phone and will never treat it as such. It's a phone they were contracted to build and they will cut every corner they can. It's just business.
Hello XDA!
First of all, I'd like to wish a Happy New Year to everyone on this board! May 2016 be a fenomenal year to you guys!
I'm opening this conversation because I wanted to share my thoughts with you regarding this problem that owners of the Edge/Edge+ variant are facing: the lack of good glass screen protectors.
I've been looking for this device for a couple of days now (I still don't own it) to replace my current smartphone, and after doing a little bit of research and also for curiosity (to know if a curved glass would have a glass SP), I encountered this problem across the internet, and I don't know how long it will take to be solved.
What I'd like to share with you guys, is the current question: what if you don't use a Screen Protector? I mean, after looking around I encountered some problems regarding it:
Sensitivity is heavily impacted by these SP
The majority of these Glass Screen Protectors aren't cheap, with many ranging between $30 to $40
Man, they're ugly. I mean, to acomodate part of the adhesive or glue that will keep the SP on the device, the majority of the units have the top and bottom parts colored, which acomodate these adhesives. And here we have some problems: sometimes they don't match the device color or even fit the holes properly for the home button and others.
They don't stay on the device for long period of times. In my view, are easily disposable
And my solution to this is pretty simple: if you end up getting the screen badly scratched, or even cracked, you can just replace it with another front glass. And in my opinion, it is totally worth it, from a user experience and also economical view (I'll show the values below).
A device like the S6 Edge is not cheap, and what I think is that you end up losing a great part of the experience of the device by putting these kind of SP on. I tried the smartphone on a couple of stores yesterday and the touch and feel of the edge of the screen is just too nice to be impacted by a poorly-made SP.
Funny thing is that I never thought about that until today. I actually have a Moto G (2013), and initially I wanted to be so careful with it that I bought a couple of cases. But over the time I noticed that it completely destroys all the design and feeling of it in the hand. After a couple of months, I quitted using these cases and have never been happier.
With the screen I am still very careful, using a glass screen protector on it, but after thinking about it today I don't know if it is worth it. There are plenty of very good glass screen protectors out there, but you can't beat the sensitivity and feeling of the screen without any SP.
A lot of people (including me) tend to be very careful with it's devices, and it is completely normal, but I think sometimes we tend to give a lot of attention and concern to it and we end up not experiencing everything the gadget has to offer.
In the future we are going to have even more technologies that depend exclusively on the screen, such as the 3D Touch, perhaps more curved smartphones and even a fingerprint scanner built inside the screen, which will make sensitivity even more important, and so the need of really good screen protectors. Thinking about the possibility of replacing the screen gives us another choice if we don't want to use these SP's or pay for costly ones.
Well, about the possibility of replacing the Edge's front glass, I did a fast research on Ebay and found an item that the seller claim is original, for just $19.99:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Fr...hash=item35f722b753:m:m_MYRYEwbj9-1tKN3fQP5MA
And also another one, unbranded, for $15.70:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Glass...373893?hash=item3cfb40ecc5:g:XB0AAOSwrklVbrar
I'm sure that with a lot more research and time we can find many other items.
Of course, the procedure to replace it requires a lot of effort and is kinda risky, but we can find some tutorials on Youtube, like this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_OPjGnaIy0
What do you guys think? I just wanted to post this as I saw many users concerned over the protection of their screens, and with it bring some sort of second option for you.
I'm really looking forward to your opinions around this and some sort of feedback from my thoughts would be really nice.
As a user of screen protectors (not necessarily tempered glass, I've always has plastic protectors), I feel that the trade offs from aesthetics (a little misaligned cutout here, etc.) to cost are nowhere near as much as the repair costs for replacing screen parts. It gives me peace of mind knowing that I have at least /some/ protection on the screen. I'm very careful with my devices but there are just times where a protector would come in handy for things that are beyond my control (like getting your phone knocked off your hand by some random passerby, kids running, those kinds of things.) I think I'd also rather have the trade offs than endure the struggle of trying to replace the screen by myself. Plus, if you're planning on reselling the phone in the future, phones with the original parts tend to be valued higher.
Now while replacement screens are readily available, as with the case of some third-party supplies, quality problems such as color casts, etc. are problems for meticulous users. From personal experience, I've had phones break and had fixed elsewhere aside from the manufacturer's service center only to regret it by getting darker screens, lesser color vibrance, etc. compared to the original. Often times, when the glass breaks, it takes the screen and other parts down with it; thus costing you well more than just the 15 USD for the glass replacement, so I guess that's also another way to look at it.
I've had various mobiles for many many years (I'm 64) and have always used a case and a protector for the screen, and never had a damaged phone. I order all three at the same time and don't use the phone until everything has been delivered.
The edge presented a problem that we're all familiar with so I went for this one despite the £18+ cost. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B014CE6CL0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00
Everything was great, easy to apply, no bubbles and looked great..... then I fitted the Otterbox case! Disaster, cracked protector and £18+ down the drain.
Currently, and for the first time ever, I'm using the phone with no screen cover. I feel naked, but don't feel like risking another glass one.
Any answers welcome?
Zagg just confirmed a tempered glass by February; the problem is that it may have to be installed at the kiosk.
I just use cheap TPU screen protectors from ebay, they require soapy water to be mounted so you get them in the exact place, then you squeegee the water out and let the edges to dry up so you can stick them down, they settle fully after a few hours and look great. they can be a nightmare to put on and I would say they have around slightly less clarity than glass but they cover the whole screen and do they're job just fine.
TPU has very good shock absorbing properties so I think they will help resist screen cracks like tempered glass.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=221893323852&alt=web
no matter how careful you are , the phone will still hit the ground somehow , always happen when you just woke up , glue to the screen and some dude bang onto you , off the phone flys , fyi most shops dont replace the glass alone , its comes as a set (much easier and fuss free ) , also direct impact drops can crack the lcd internally without glass cracking .
I need to vent, I'm so pissed off. Back in January I got a Whitestone Dome when they were on sale. I was happy with my plastic protector at the time, so I didn't install it right away. Fast forward to last night...
I watched a solid dozen Note8 install videos on YouTube, have been reading for months on reddit and xda all the other threads, and executed my installation perfectly according to the directions. I even taped off the earpiece just in case. Not to brag, but I'm usually really good with this sort of stuff. It ended in disaster due to the poor quality control of this product and its company.
I have read quite a few horror stories on social media about Whitestone's products, but I assumed if I was very careful I could do a successful install. WRONG. The supplied vial of glue was way too much, and after perfectly applying the glue and dropping the glass on top, capillary action pulled the glue nicely across the screen and I was very pleased. It looked beautiful. After waiting the full 15 seconds top and 15 seconds bottom, I removed my Note8 from the tray as instructed. To my horror, TONS of liquid excess glue was dripping down the sides. My S-Pen was DRIPPING with glue! There was glue everywhere, even in the bottom of the plastic jig. AND THE SCREEN WAS STILL LOOSE! After trying my best to clean up that huge mess, I followed the instructions to do the "secondary" cure. AFTER MULTIPLE MINUTES UNDER THE SUPPLIED UV LIGHT, THE GLUE IS STILL WET! My phone STINKS of this chemical, and every crevice of it is oozing this glue that will not cure under the UV light. I was meticulous about everything, there is nothing I did wrong. And besides WHY WON'T THE GLUE FULLY CURE UNDER UV!? I used the supplied USB cable, and a powerful Samsung USB wall charger so I know the light isn't "weak." I will admit that the screen has stopped moving around as of today, so something has sorta cured. But the edges are still wet, and leave an oily residue when touched, and look furry because there is so much tacky, sticky residue still oozing out.
What a horrible mess. It took me hours to clean everything up, and there is still glue in every tiny crevice of my Note8. I hope I got my S-Pen out and wiped off in time - it's still working, for now.
Always take your S-Pen out first!
ffolkes said:
I need to vent, I'm so pissed off. Back in January I got a Whitestone Dome when they were on sale. I was happy with my plastic protector at the time, so I didn't install it right away. Fast forward to last night...
I watched a solid dozen Note8 install videos on YouTube, have been reading for months on reddit and xda all the other threads, and executed my installation perfectly according to the directions. I even taped off the earpiece just in case. Not to brag, but I'm usually really good with this sort of stuff. It ended in disaster due to the poor quality control of this product and its company.
I have read quite a few horror stories on social media about Whitestone's products, but I assumed if I was very careful I could do a successful install. WRONG. The supplied vial of glue was way too much, and after perfectly applying the glue and dropping the glass on top, capillary action pulled the glue nicely across the screen and I was very pleased. It looked beautiful. After waiting the full 15 seconds top and 15 seconds bottom, I removed my Note8 from the tray as instructed. To my horror, TONS of liquid excess glue was dripping down the sides. My S-Pen was DRIPPING with glue! There was glue everywhere, even in the bottom of the plastic jig. AND THE SCREEN WAS STILL LOOSE! After trying my best to clean up that huge mess, I followed the instructions to do the "secondary" cure. AFTER MULTIPLE MINUTES UNDER THE SUPPLIED UV LIGHT, THE GLUE IS STILL WET! My phone STINKS of this chemical, and every crevice of it is oozing this glue that will not cure under the UV light. I was meticulous about everything, there is nothing I did wrong. And besides WHY WON'T THE GLUE FULLY CURE UNDER UV!? I used the supplied USB cable, and a powerful Samsung USB wall charger so I know the light isn't "weak." I will admit that the screen has stopped moving around as of today, so something has sorta cured. But the edges are still wet, and leave an oily residue when touched, and look furry because there is so much tacky, sticky residue still oozing out.
What a horrible mess. It took me hours to clean everything up, and there is still glue in every tiny crevice of my Note8. I hope I got my S-Pen out and wiped off in time - it's still working, for now.
Always take your S-Pen out first!
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Click to collapse
My s-pen was in the whole time too, nothing got in mine so not sure why it did with yours. You're right though, even with the tape/sponges the glue still goes everywhere. I cured it a little before moving it, and that did help keep the screen in place. Then I cured a little more afterwards and let it sit for a while... You can just carefully rinse/wash off the excess glue after. End result was good in my case, but the process can definitely be a messy experience.
sefrcoko said:
My s-pen was in the whole time too, nothing got in mine so not sure why it did with yours. You're right though, even with the tape/sponges the glue still goes everywhere. I cured it a little before moving it, and that did help keep the screen in place. Then I cured a little more afterwards and let it sit for a while... You can just carefully rinse/wash off the excess glue after. End result was good in my case, but the process can definitely be a messy experience.
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I know I read you can wash it off somewhere else, but I thought it was oily. Is it really water soluble? I feel like bathing my phone is only going to make things worse right now haha.
ffolkes said:
I know I read you can wash it off somewhere else, but I thought it was oily. Is it really water soluble? I feel like bathing my phone is only going to make things worse right now haha.
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Click to collapse
It definitely feels oily, but I didn't end up having too much trouble getting it off in the end. I just ran the faucet and used my hand to wipe away what I could, rinsed hand, and repeated. Maybe a drop of hand soap at the worst, but I don't remember now. Never put the phone directly under water though...why tempt fate .Thankfully I don't have to do that more often lol
ffolkes said:
I need to vent, I'm so pissed off. Back in January I got a Whitestone Dome when they were on sale. I was happy with my plastic protector at the time, so I didn't install it right away. Fast forward to last night...
I watched a solid dozen Note8 install videos on YouTube, have been reading for months on reddit and xda all the other threads, and executed my installation perfectly according to the directions. I even taped off the earpiece just in case. Not to brag, but I'm usually really good with this sort of stuff. It ended in disaster due to the poor quality control of this product and its company.
I have read quite a few horror stories on social media about Whitestone's products, but I assumed if I was very careful I could do a successful install. WRONG. The supplied vial of glue was way too much, and after perfectly applying the glue and dropping the glass on top, capillary action pulled the glue nicely across the screen and I was very pleased. It looked beautiful. After waiting the full 15 seconds top and 15 seconds bottom, I removed my Note8 from the tray as instructed. To my horror, TONS of liquid excess glue was dripping down the sides. My S-Pen was DRIPPING with glue! There was glue everywhere, even in the bottom of the plastic jig. AND THE SCREEN WAS STILL LOOSE! After trying my best to clean up that huge mess, I followed the instructions to do the "secondary" cure. AFTER MULTIPLE MINUTES UNDER THE SUPPLIED UV LIGHT, THE GLUE IS STILL WET! My phone STINKS of this chemical, and every crevice of it is oozing this glue that will not cure under the UV light. I was meticulous about everything, there is nothing I did wrong. And besides WHY WON'T THE GLUE FULLY CURE UNDER UV!? I used the supplied USB cable, and a powerful Samsung USB wall charger so I know the light isn't "weak." I will admit that the screen has stopped moving around as of today, so something has sorta cured. But the edges are still wet, and leave an oily residue when touched, and look furry because there is so much tacky, sticky residue still oozing out.
What a horrible mess. It took me hours to clean everything up, and there is still glue in every tiny crevice of my Note8. I hope I got my S-Pen out and wiped off in time - it's still working, for now.
Always take your S-Pen out first!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a nightmare. I fear using glue that might run down and block all my holes and crevices LOL.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
I had this issue when I was installing the Whitestone Dome on my S8+.
The sides and back of the phone were dripping with the greasy ass glue.
However, I've had no issues since with my Note 8.
I would like to add that when i was applying it to the S8+ I don't think the surface was entirely flat- the tip I saw was to use the glue vials and put them on the table to see if they'd roll; I did this until I had a perfectly level table.
I managed to install the protector flawlessly on my Note 8 without any issues.
I'm sure if you contact Whitestone they'll be able to provide you with another vial if you've used both.
Are you certain that the screen was dry before you applied it?
Definitely not trying to be contradictory
But for my Note 8 the install was easy, no mess, no problems...... Went just like instructions
S-Pen still works, and I must say the glass looks fantastic. Edges aren't great, but I vigorously rubbed the sides in one direction with a cloth. Over and over, until eventually the ragged glue on the edges sorta wiped away. I'm sure there will be problems down the road, but it's good for now at least. I also used some scraps of tape to try to remove the excess tacky glue that didn't wipe away. Just have to remember to use 1/3 less glue next time. Maybe remove the vial right after removing the second cap, rather than waiting for it to completely empty out.
ive replace my whitestone twice already. never any issue with the install. I wish the glass was stronger though. First crack was a legit saved my phone. someone bumped me on accident and screen down onto a bunch of pebbles. left junks missing from the protector but totally safe screen. last one was fell of my bed and chipped of the whole top edges and a nice crack across. but.... still saved the phone so i'm loyal
I hate to necro this thread considering its two years old but I just had the same painful experience on my Note 10+ 5G LOCA somehow managed to leak into my SPen slot. If you're thinking of buying this screen protector. Don't. You're better off with nothing.
Edit: After re-registering my fingerprints for the 3rd time it is working much faster and the SPen has seemed to loosen up after repeatedly taking it out and putting it back in and now appears to charge just fine.
Installed the Whitestone dome and it came out perfect.
Just wondering if it makes any difference to use the curing light more than recommended?
Will too much UV light damage the adhesive or glass?
I've already done a few extra minutes.
Just don't look at it...
blackhawk said:
Just don't look at it...
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Click to collapse
I don't understand?
It's fine.
Short wavelength UV can damage your eyes... never look at it. Including the light reflected of objects illuminated by it.
Welder's flash is painful... think sand in your eyes.
The extra uv light will do nothing to the adhesive. The recommended ammount of uv blue light by White Stone is more then enough to make a great fit.
bartjeh1991 said:
The extra uv light will do nothing to the adhesive. The recommended ammount of uv blue light by White Stone is more then enough to make a great fit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Their switches are cheap so sometimes the diode flickers. Overkill may be the best solution.
I'm not impressed with Whitestone at all. Their customer support is terrible and it's all off shore shipped and "supported". No phone support and rude, slow email support.
A wretched company to deal with, one of the worst.
Been there, done that... to hell with Whitestone.
Does the adhesive become stronger with more exposure time?
Super strong adhesive can be a problem in the future when you try to remove an old tempered glass screen protector.
I've heard horror stories where people have trouble with trying to chisel away at the old adhesive and glass mess. I wonder if their problem was over-curing the adhesive by using the light too long?
I went by the book for exposure curing time, and it was very easy to remove the cracked screen protector - even with a crack in it, I could still easily peel it off because the adhesive was willing to let go.
However, I've never tested this. But it just seems like the time limits are provided for a reason, and are not given in terms of "at least" but rather "for this long".
When it's cured it's cured. The polymerization is done. Under curing however would be an issue.
UV does degrade many materials over time but this isn't near a strong enough source and a few extra minutes is insignificant.
As the polymer adhesive ages it may degrade making removal more difficult than when it was first applied.
Personally I don't like this protector at all. It's a pain from start to finish including removal at times. My stupid cheap easy wet apply urethane screen protector has been on for over 9 months. It's kept the screen from being marred.
It's can be easily removed and is much easier to apply. Only $5 a pop. I still have 3 left because I never thought they be so easy to apply (expected to destroy one) and that even if the application went well it would only last 2 or months. Not.
I have the Whitestone Dome Glass on my s21U and got a chip on it yesterday and tried to take it off. It was a horror show and a large part of it stuck to the middle of the screen. I thought my phone was ruined. I had to take a hot hairdryer which softened the glue and slowly pick bits of it off. This is the first time I've ever had this happen after using many different UV protector on different phones! I did put a new one on but when I take this one off I'll be much more cautious to use a hairdryer and try and remove it all in one piece .
Batfink33 said:
I have the Whitestone Dome Glass on my s21U and got a chip on it yesterday and tried to take it off. It was a horror show and a large part of it stuck to the middle of the screen. I thought my phone was ruined. I had to take a hot hairdryer which softened the glue and slowly pick bits of it off. This is the first time I've ever had this happen after using many different UV protector on different phones! I did put a new one on but when I take this one off I'll be much more cautious to use a hairdryer and try and remove it all in one piece .
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Click to collapse
That's nasty.
How long was it on?
99% Isopropyl alcohol be worth a shot but probably be ineffective.
Be real careful when using heat guns. I've used them a lot for electronic assembly and things can heat up quick, too quick.
The display is literally tens of thousands of heat sensitive semiconductors.
My solution is to use a case with slightly raised guards around the whole display. The Zizo Bolt has protected my 10+ very well. The Gorilla IQ Sheild has done the rest to protect the screen. The screen is fairly robust but needs protection from scratches. Urethane does a surprisingly good job at this. It's self healing to a certain extent so it actually looks better after a night's rest in areas of high usage ie the keyboard. Rather strange to observe.
blackhawk said:
That's nasty.
How long was it on?
99% Isopropyl alcohol be worth a shot but probably be ineffective.
Be real careful when using heat guns. I've used them a lot for electronic assembly and things can heat up quick, too quick.
The display is literally tens of thousands of heat sensitive semiconductors.
My solution is to use a case with slightly raised guards around the whole display. The Zizo Bolt has protected my 10+ very well. The Gorilla IQ Sheild has done the rest to protect the screen. The screen is fairly robust but needs protection from scratches. Urethane does a surprisingly good job at this.
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Click to collapse
It was only on for 3 weeks. I maybe didn't remove it properly as I just tried to lift it off rather than put some card or something under it and prise it off but as I said, I've never had any problems like that before with UV glue protectors, they always usually easily come off.
Batfink33 said:
It was only on for 3 weeks. I maybe didn't remove it properly as I just tried to lift it off rather than put some card or something under it and prise it off but as I said, I've never had any problems like that before with UV glue protectors, they always usually easily come off.
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Click to collapse
The damage may have scored it leaving a weak spot.
Glass is a very strange substance; neither a true solid nor liquid. An amorphous solid.
It can behave in seemingly unpredictable ways. The Pascal's law applies to it. Glazer's can use this to their advantage to cut glass.