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Recommended screen protectors, and also - tempered glass?

Hi everyone,
I'm planning on purchasing the Nexus 5X in a few days, just need to find the right accessories for it (cables, cases, screen protectors).
I was wondering if anyone can recommend a screen protector that has a cutout for the proximity sensor.
Also, I seriously only found out today there is such a thing as tempered glass. After researching a bit, I learned of it's pros (actually protects your screen if the phone falls) and it's cons (can crack easily for no reason ,poses somewhat of a health risk if breaks).
Pros: http://temperedglassscreenprotector.org/
Cons: http://www.clear-coat.com/blog/why-we-dont-sell-tempered-glass-screen-protectors/
Strangely, all the screen protectors I find on Amazon are tempered glass.
So, which one should I buy (tempered or plastic), and can you recommend a specific screen protector?

I wouldn't say they crack easily, but that'll depend on a bunch of variables. All I can say is it looks good and feels much nicer than the PET/non tempered glass screen protectors. Spigen is a good brand to go with.
Read the thread below:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3214188

I recommend the skinomi screen protector, it's not glass. It's the kind that feels like rubber and applied via water. I love these.

How you apply it with water? They can get to te mic's, no? You have safe way to do that?

Hi, Im very pleased with Nexus 5X Screen Protector, Spigen® [Crystal] Full HD, I used to have it on my Nexus 5 and I was so satisfied that I bought it again for my N5x. Feels like glass, perfecly cutted you have 3x screen protector included, dust removal and positionning tool to hlelp perfect use. At least two times saved my screen on my old nexus 5. And almost nobody noticed that Im using a screen protector....

I've played around with a few screen protectors over the years, including some tempered glass ones. I can show you some reviews I've written, if you're interested.
Most of the cheap glass options are /not/ multicoated. What that means is, while they might be very difficult to scratch, they will cause some reflections, way more than the bare screen. Also, one of the coatings applied in modern multicoating is an oleophobic coating. That means a layer which helps the glass reject oils, including the skin oils on your fingertips. So applying a glass screen protector usually means you'll have to clean your screen way more often, and also that it will be considerably more difficult to actually clean the screen.
If you're dead-set on a screen protector, I highly recommend you find yourself a multicoated option. These will be no less than $20 even on sale. They can be $30+ normally.
Personally, I trust Corning Gorilla Glass 3 as sufficient in this generation. You might get a scratch or two over a few year span, but, virtually everything your phone will meet won't be hard enough to damage the glass.

Pandages said:
I've played around with a few screen protectors over the years, including some tempered glass ones. I can show you some reviews I've written, if you're interested.
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I would love to.
Pandages said:
Most of the cheap glass options are /not/ multicoated. What that means is, while they might be very difficult to scratch, they will cause some reflections, way more than the bare screen. Also, one of the coatings applied in modern multicoating is an oleophobic coating. That means a layer which helps the glass reject oils, including the skin oils on your fingertips. So applying a glass screen protector usually means you'll have to clean your screen way more often, and also that it will be considerably more difficult to actually clean the screen.
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I don't really understand, you're talking about tempered glass screen protectors?
Pandages said:
If you're dead-set on a screen protector, I highly recommend you find yourself a multicoated option. These will be no less than $20 even on sale. They can be $30+ normally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you give me some examples? Are the products recommended to me here (like the Spigen) multicoated?

elyashiv1994 said:
How you apply it with water? They can get to te mic's, no? You have safe way to do that?
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You apply a thin layer them squeeze out the excess. It's incredibly easy to retry if you set it wrong the first time. You can push the water away from the mic and speaker and use a cloth to dab up any excess water.

buru898 said:
You apply a thin layer them squeeze out the excess. It's incredibly easy to retry if you set it wrong the first time. You can push the water away from the mic and speaker and use a cloth to dab up any excess water.
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There is something that I can put in the mic to seal it? I don't want to take risk(especially when you have holes in top and bottom)

glass screen protector http://dx-box.com/nillkin-amazing-h-pro-anti-explosion-tempered-glass-screen-protector.html

I've been using glass screen protectors since May 2014. I swear by them. They don't crack easily like Clear Coat claims. I've only had to replace them twice. Once because an edge got pulled up months later so there was a air gap on one side. The second time, it actually did crack but that was after falls with a TPU case on. As many others have stated, with tempered glass screen protectors, that will crack before the actual glass of the screen does. And good ones don't shatter into little pieces like Clear Coat says. On the two replacements, I broke them fully and the pieces stay together. Also I really like the glass feel. Not sure how non-glass screen protectors feel though. Back when invisibleSHIELD was popular, that tacky feel wasn't nice.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Jill McAuliffe said:
glass screen protector http://dx-box.com/nillkin-amazing-h-pro-anti-explosion-tempered-glass-screen-protector.html
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Thanks. Does it cover the proximity sensor?
Even though the image shows it is, some companies say that despite the image, their product does not cover the sensor.

EeZeEpEe said:
They don't crack easily like Clear Coat claims. ... And good ones don't shatter into little pieces like Clear Coat says.
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Yeah it was obvious Clear Coat exaggerated on purpose... Still, I wanted to check with people here what they think.
EeZeEpEe said:
As many others have stated, with tempered glass screen protectors, that will crack before the actual glass of the screen does.
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You mean, they will break before the screen glass when the phone falls?
A question for everyone... Is there a problem, with tempered glass of course, with seeing the screen outdoors when it's sunny, even in full brightness?

TheeWolf said:
Yeah it was obvious Clear Coat exaggerated on purpose... Still, I wanted to check with people here what they think.
You mean, they will break before the screen glass when the phone falls?
A question for everyone... Is there a problem, with tempered glass of course, with seeing the screen outdoors when it's sunny, even in full brightness?
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Exactly. I think of it similar to a crumple zone in a car. It will absorb some of the force before the phone's glass does. Now of course, with a great amount of force like dropping it from 10 feet or throwing it, I'm sure both the screen protector and the phone's glass would break. Regular accidental drops should work out the way I described.
As for outdoor visibility, there's no noticeable decrease in brightness or increase in glare. All of the manufactures usually advertise something like 99.9% transparency.
Here's an interesting tempered glass screen protector review. Cued up exactly on the drop test to rocks and removal:
https://youtu.be/UnvC6EERMyI?t=2m21s

Keep in mind that plastic protects better than glass and plastic does not need to be replaced where as most drops will break a glass protector. It is made from a thin easily breakable material after all.
The reason to pay roughly 10x as much for glass is because it feels much nicer on your finger. Plastic can also cause rainbow like reflections and can be a bit harder to apply than one solid piece.
However glass costs a lot more upfront and in the long run to replace. A plastic protector is about $1 and if applied properly won't ever need to be replaced.

bblzd said:
Keep in mind that plastic protects better than glass and plastic does not need to be replaced where as most drops will break a glass protector. It is made from a thin easily breakable material after all.
The reason to pay roughly 10x as much for glass is because it feels much nicer on your finger. Plastic can also cause rainbow like reflections and can be a bit harder to apply than one solid piece.
However glass costs a lot more upfront and in the long run to replace. A plastic protector is about $1 and if applied properly won't ever need to be replaced.
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Yes plastic ones don't break break or need to be replaced but I don't think they provide the same impact protection in absorbing drops. You'll probably have a screen broken under the intact plastic screen protector.

EeZeEpEe said:
Yes plastic ones don't break break or need to be replaced but I don't think they provide the same impact protection in absorbing drops. You'll probably have a screen broken under the intact plastic screen protector.
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I have no background on the subject but just thinking about it logically, I don't think glass can be as protective as plastic.
For instance RhinoShield only offers plastic screen protectors. Their test videos show how easily GG would break from certain impacts and how much plastic protects it. Even the best tempered glass can only hope to be as strong as GG.
My basic understanding of the situation is glass protectors work because it breaks and saves the screen underneath, where as plastic works by actually strengthening the glass itself.
However for each time the glass protector breaks and needs to be replaced, the plastic would keep on trucking.
I think the misunderstanding arises when a user drops their phone with a glass protector and it breaks thus "saving" their screen. But what if they had plastic? Would the screen of broken then? What if they had no protector? We can't say for sure what the results would have been. However to the user that is a clear indication of the glass protector working, where as I would say that's only a clear indication of the glass protector breaking easily.

bblzd said:
However to the user that is a clear indication of the glass protector working, where as I would say that's only a clear indication of the glass protector breaking easily.
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Right. That's how I see it as a user. Also, the clarity, feel, and scratch resistance can't be matched by plastic.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I've actually dropped my 5x naked just once so far and got lucky without any cracks, but I do believe if I had a glass SP it would've broken. In the end I think it's luck and a good case that will protect from a bad drop as the screen protector is mainly for scratch protection. I've kept my glass SP as a backup in case the factory oleophobic coating stops working as effectively.

Here.
IQ Shield LiQuidSkin - Huawei Nexus 6P Screen Protector (2015) & Warranty Replacements - HD Ultra Clear Film - Protective Guard - Extremely Smooth / Self-Healing / Bubble-Free Shield
They also have glass. Check em both.
http://www.amazon.com/B016CKR3QA/dp...055&sr=8-2&keywords=nexus+6p+screen+protector

Best screen protector? . And don't recommend whitestone dome (i will explain why)

So got my shiny new Note 8 week ago. Also with that got the Whitestone Dome screen protector and alcantara case.
Tried to install screen protector:
1st. attempt: The screen lined up incorrectly from the bottom, tried to "lift it up to the position" just created more airbubles and the glue poured out from the sides.
After cleaning my Note 8 with the alcohol swipes, (It was a mess to try to clean the phone AND the glass screen protector)
2. attempt with the second bottle of glue..... There was a dust particle on the glue itself. Great.
Wait for a week to mobilefun to ship me another one. (while doing so i was "dry- practicing" to get it 100% correct this time)
3. attempt was a charm.... until.... when the glue spread there was 2 small air bubbles... Take the second bottle and "tap" the small air bubbles away. (while doing so being extremely nervous about that the screen protector might move or great new bubbles). Managed to get the bigger one out but there was the small one... Didn't get that out.
Light up the UV light and call it a day. Only problem is now there is small air bubble that is pretttty distracting to say the least.
So, now i am with 50€ in my account from the order. (Because i demanded that they refund me this horrible product). I am left to choose new screen protector.
My options that i have read:
- Rearth invisible defender - The problem with this is that there is "snowfall" effect and the screen is too damn sticky (according to reviews)
- IQ Shield - The problem with this is that the S-pen (according to reviews) leaves trails to the TPU protector. Because it's so soft and it will not cure overtime.
-Zagg invisible shield - Unresponsivnes and the fact that it has "raimbow" -effect on the screen.
New one that i just founded out about:
-Powerpeak Base- According to this guy (Install Jimmy is Promo's "Base Screen protector for Samsung GALAXY S8 & Note 8 here) Its pretty good. Might be ad though... Does any of you have experience on this?
The whitstone does have pretty good responsiveness and all that good stuff. But the problem is the installation and even when i tried to be 100% accurate with the installation, it still greated air bubbles. And the fact that there is a HUGE risk that the glue when cured can cause damage to the screen.... More specifically if you manage to cure the glue when the glue is over the earpiece... you are ****ed with your 1000€ phone.

I am doing the poor mans whitestone. LOCA glue and cheap amazon tempered glass. Took me two tries to get it right. So with two screens and glue, out $20. I did buy a UV lamp for dual use. My phone and girlfriends nails. I had the ZAGG on my S8+, didn't like it at all, unresponsive. But i bet if you glued it on with LOCA it would be good.

Bullitt3309 said:
I am doing the poor mans whitestone. LOCA glue and cheap amazon tempered glass. Took me two tries to get it right. So with two screens and glue, out $20. I did buy a UV lamp for dual use. My phone and girlfriends nails. I had the ZAGG on my S8+, didn't like it at all, unresponsive. But i bet if you glued it on with LOCA it would be good.
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I am sort of guy, who can easily mess things like that up... So not going to risk it.

Galaxy Note 8 Screen Protector [2-Pack][Not Glass], Yootech [Case Friendly] Galaxy Note 8 Wet Applied Screen Protector BUBBLE-FREE for Samsung Galaxy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756DBXWP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_xFOJgXZGMrAdo
This one seems a little less rubbery imho.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

DAvid_B said:
Galaxy Note 8 Screen Protector [2-Pack][Not Glass], Yootech [Case Friendly] Galaxy Note 8 Wet Applied Screen Protector BUBBLE-FREE for Samsung Galaxy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756DBXWP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_xFOJgXZGMrAdo
This one seems a little less rubbery imho.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
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I did check that thanks! Only problem is that i live in EU (Finland) And Amazon will not ship that item to me.... Looked up in Ebay and they will add 20€+ to the original price...
Bummer tho,.

Hello, this is Whitestone.
I am so sorry that you had a terrible experience with our product. Air bubbles can be very frustrating on a new screen protector. We are constantly trying to solve the problem of air bubbles, and the seesaw type has drastically reduced it but not fully eliminated it.
I am very thankful for your patience to give our product three tries before you made your decision and also for a detailed feedback on what became wrong.
Since you have given a lot of effort on our product, we will try and help you out if you are willing to give our product another chance.
Feel free to contact us through here, or our homepage, or any social media.
Again I am terribly sorry.

Base TGSP is a piece of shot
That Jimmy guy sounds like an infomercial

Only use skinomi wet i stall protectors.
Use it before on my note edge 4. The spen did leave marks.
But with the note 8. I dont see any marks. So either the protector is better or the tips are softer

xile6 said:
Only use skinomi wet i stall protectors.
Use it before on my note edge 4. The spen did leave marks.
But with the note 8. I dont see any marks. So either the protector is better or the tips are softer
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do you forsee it lifting up on the edges? did you get the techskin one that comes in a twopack?

I'm currently going through a batch of clear protection film HD skins on my Note 8. Generally are average, but some dont cover the edges that well or some have too much orange peel, or some are not cut correctly. Typical chinese "dog" turd.
So far. Spigen, coverage is excellent, but suffer from a lot of orange peel. Illumi Shield , coverage is rubbish, one side ( left side ) is cut shorter than the other. But less orange peel.
Amovo front and back clear film, the worst ever. The pikeys didnt even inc a lubrication spray with their aggrssive adhesive film. Secondly the film that you remove to apply was stuck like gorilla glue to the actual film. You know, the tab that say "peel here first" and " peel here last".
I dont care less for the glass crap for curved screens, but in search of a half decent clear film currently. The search continues...

Limeybastard said:
I'm currently going through a batch of clear protection film HD skins on my Note 8. Generally are average, but some dont cover the edges that well or some have too much orange peel, or some are not cut correctly. Typical chinese "dog" turd.
So far. Spigen, coverage is excellent, but suffer from a lot of orange peel. Illumi Shield , coverage is rubbish, one side ( left side ) is cut shorter than the other. But less orange peel.
Amovo front and back clear film, the worst ever. The pikeys didnt even inc a lubrication spray with their aggrssive adhesive film. Secondly the film that you remove to apply was stuck like gorilla glue to the actual film. You know, the tab that say "peel here first" and " peel here last".
I dont care less for the glass crap for curved screens, but in search of a half decent clear film currently. The search continues...
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I'm looking at IQShield and Skinomi right now but don't have enough info to decide on one or the other. Would love to hear about your experiences with other non-TGSPs and if you ever come across one you would recommend.

KBeckett said:
I'm looking at IQShield and Skinomi right now but don't have enough info to decide on one or the other. Would love to hear about your experiences with other non-TGSPs and if you ever come across one you would recommend.
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Im primarily using and trying non glass type films, similar to the stuff used to protect car paint protection. My background includes being able to apply paint protection film on cars so these are all from the same mold that I have been trying. BTW, heat of a hairdryer will aid in adhering the curved edges once applied- slight tip.
I have not tried IQShield yet, sorry. So far the Spigen one fitted well coverage wise,but their film is very aggressive in the orange peel front,
I might try Skinomi next, but I have heard they cut their films short to save a few bucks.
Lets liase and share our experiences with these type of films, cheers.

Thanks for all of you for the help and responses.
Yes the IQshield and Skinomi are on the top of my list... They are around 20€ including shipping to Finland from Ebay. A bit expensive but lets see....

Im currently using IQshield version 2 (case friendly) for about a week now.
I've done a lot of wet install before so i know what to expect using this type of screen protector. Its been a week now and so far no lifting on the curve part of the screen. it is smooth to touch, sensitivity is normal and very good. Im using a VRSdesign slim case and it works well, all corners fitted very well.
I also used skinomi before and if i remember it right IQshield is more smoother than skinomi in-terms of orange peel feeling. The only problem that is s-pen will leave marks when used with this kind of screen protector. (i tried it at the very bottom and its still have mark after a week)
I can give this IQshield a 7.5/10 score. LOL

YesThisIs said:
The whitstone does have pretty good responsiveness and all that good stuff. But the problem is the installation and even when i tried to be 100% accurate with the installation, it still greated air bubbles. And the fact that there is a HUGE risk that the glue when cured can cause damage to the screen.... More specifically if you manage to cure the glue when the glue is over the earpiece... you are ****ed with your 1000€ phone.
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I used the tip of placing painter's tape over the speaker. I covered the speaker enough to not interfere with the glass. It worked great! I do have three small bubbles after two tries but can't see them unless I try. My wife's has one bubble in about the same spot as mine. The lower left corner about 1/3 up the screen where the curve starts. There a number of ways to avoid the creation of bubbles. I couldn't say them all because I'm not an expert in LOCA glue and it's properties. Experimentation is the only way to find out.

Whitestone Dome Glass said:
Hello, this is Whitestone.
I am so sorry that you had a terrible experience with our product. Air bubbles can be very frustrating on a new screen protector. We are constantly trying to solve the problem of air bubbles, and the seesaw type has drastically reduced it but not fully eliminated it.
I am very thankful for your patience to give our product three tries before you made your decision and also for a detailed feedback on what became wrong.
Since you have given a lot of effort on our product, we will try and help you out if you are willing to give our product another chance.
Feel free to contact us through here, or our homepage, or any social media.
Again I am terribly sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am glad that you have started beeing more on forums and social media. I want to thank you for sending me a new one. Now i am waiting for it. Hope this time works.

To be honest, it will be difficult to actually get most tempered glass protectors to stay on this curved glass.. Its a pain and it sucks because I would actually like to get one. I just ordered the whitestore myself..., but they wont be in stock again until the 30th...
I got the PowerPeak Base and it is utter garbage. I lost atleast 30% touch sensitivity and then it just eventually slid off of my phone from me trying to swipe so hard. The middle actually dried up and there was nothing holding the middle to the phone.
I despise the wet installs. They are too soft and will leave indents as you said.. So really its either try tempered glass protectors until you find the one you want, go with indents and wet installs, or just go no screen protector like me!
I have the wet install spigen ones but I tbh would rather go with no protector than use them.

I ordered and installed this on my Note 8 : https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B074G1W2RC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Along with a Spigen Tough Armor case. It seems to work well and no real screen sensitivity issues either.

twistanesh said:
do you forsee it lifting up on the edges? did you get the techskin one that comes in a twopack?
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I get the case friendly 2pack. And havent had problems with lifting.
Had my note 8 since sept 8 and been caseless and no lifting.

Anyone planning on using a cheap protector with LOCA glue needs to check the strength of the LOCA. Some have reported they were not able to remove the protector after using some LOCA glue.
I had 3 attempts at the Dome Glass myself. The first one I got had a broken bridge. I could not get the glue in the right spot. Whitestone refunded me. I bought the next set from Amazon. Everything was perfect until I peeled the plastic off the back of the protector. There must have been a fleck of dirt near the side. I did not see it as I did not have enough light.
I sent the second one back to Amazon and just had to pay return shipping. With the third one I took a different approach. I used a totally level counter top in the bathroom. I ran the shower with hot water for about 10 minutes so the whole bathroom was steamed up. This kept the dust down. I cleaned the phone screen and when I removed the plastic from the protector, it somehow grabbed another piece of dirt. Due to the extreme lighting, I saw it and removed it before installing. It installed perfectly with no dust/dirt or air bubbles. I did the first cure with the UV light then took it out of the jig and wiped the sides, top and bottom with an alcohol pad. I then did the final cure. Not one ounce of glue seeped out. I did not protect the speaker or anything else. If this is done perfectly, this is the absolute best protector available IMHO. The problem is anything short of a perfect install will drive many of us with OCD crazy.
On Monday we traded in my Mothers iPhone and she went with a Note 8. The Dome Glass arrived today. This time, perfect install the first time. I wish Whitestone would include 2 pieces of glass per package since this is the most expensive Note 8 protector. Their CS is a bit slow but they did take care of me in the end. It's a bit of a ripoff to sell the kit for 49 but then only sell the glass and one tube of glue for 39. The refill pack should be 15-20 at the highest.
After a week, none of my edges are lifting at all. Some may be using cases that are not compatible. My protector does not touch my case at anyplace. I think cases that touch the protector have a good chance of raising the edges. Even if the case looks fine after install, if grabbing it makes the case touch the glass, it will eventually lift and get bubbles.

beyond frustrated please help with a screen protector see below..

I've tried plastic, wet install, and glass..... Glass was the best in terms of clarity but much more of a finger print magnet than the original glass underneath. And more reflective... The wet install one showed the spent marks.. At this rate I'll spend more on screen protectors than a replacement screen.... Please send your recommendations. Thanks

Lol. There are like 10 screen protector threads here already !
Sent from my Galaxy Note8 using XDA Labs

Dejan Sathanas said:
Lol. There are like 10 screen protector threads here already !
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Click to collapse
But a lot of people are just looking for protection.... I am looking for more...

magichoward said:
I've tried plastic, wet install, and glass..... Glass was the best in terms of clarity but much more of a finger print magnet than the original glass underneath. And more reflective... The wet install one showed the spent marks.. At this rate I'll spend more on screen protectors than a replacement screen.... Please send your recommendations. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Feel your pain. I've done all what you have except for trying the glass ones.
Here is my experience. Get wet applied plastic one that is harder than the usual wet applied ones. A person on another thread recommend a Walmart Onn brand , I used it and it didn't leave S Pen marks at all. However, it was a ***** to fit correctly, so I being OCD I removed it and went back to the usual wet applied one again that does leave S Pen marks.
I believe Tech21 makes a screen protector similar in characteristics as the Walmart ONN one . Ain't tried that yet. But I can tell you that if the the Walmart ONN screen protector was applied correctly then I'd still be a fan.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

magichoward said:
But a lot of people are just looking for protection.... I am looking for more...
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So your criteria would be: best protection available without fingerprints, reflections, or s-pen marks? Might be tough without compromising a bit on one of those aspects. I've tried 2 cheap glass ones that I took off immediately, the Spigen film protectors that leave s-pen marks, and the Whitestone Dome which which was best for me of the bunch (no s-pen marks of course, and no fingerprint issues so far. Haven't paid attention to reflection issues as of yet). The new Zagg glass looks promising too...ymmv

I like Skinomi. You get some s pen marks but they go away overnight. I use the spen alot too, it's my preferred way to interact with the screen.

Go naked and live with it. I have been there, where you say to be and feel your pain. I just gave up and live with it. In case I really manage to break or badly scratch it, I will have to get a new one or live with it. All is better than the smudgy protectors giving a bad feeling to the touch and a bad view.

corwin_amber said:
Go naked and live with it. I have been there, where you say to be and feel your pain. I just gave up and live with it. In case I really manage to break or badly scratch it, I will have to get a new one or live with it. All is better than the smudgy protectors giving a bad feeling to the touch and a bad view.
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I'm so close to doing that but I live by the beach worried about scratches more than dropping it..

magichoward said:
I'm so close to doing that but I live by the beach worried about scratches more than dropping it..
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Beach and sand indeed is an issue. I do not live on the beach but was there last summer (S8+, no pen, easier situation) and was so glad to have a film protector on it.
Bite the bullet and get a Whitestone dome?

If I may offer an alternative suggestion? I did not even want to risk the screen protector lottery on this phone, so I took a different approach.
I have used a case with a built-in screen protector. I feel it gives me the best of both worlds; ultimate protection from drops and screen damage when out and about, and in a couple of seconds (when at home and the soft safety of my sofa), it can be out of its case and back to a slippery naked unblemished masterpiece.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/i-Blason-Galaxy-Note-Protection-Reduction/dp/B074W3WBVC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516792422&sr=8-1&keywords=i-blason+note+8
Cons:
Minor reduction in finger sensitivity at the edges.
Adds significant bulk, especially in width making one-handed use impractical
Screen protector picks up scratches after a few months
Wearing polarised sunglasses makes screen hard to see (rainbow effect)
Be certain inside of screen cover is clear of grit before fitting
Pros:
Zero reduction in S Pen sensitivity.
Phone is tank-like. Has survived drops onto solid concrete no problem.
Screen protector can be popped out and used just as case if desired.
Dust caps for charging and headphone sockets
Easy to take off and have naked phone
It all balances out IMO. It might not be a perfect solution, but it is mine and I am happy with it.

I would advise against it, especially in a sandy environment. It WILL find a way in and then have a party with your screen. Also, in my personal opinion, this is way too bulky.
Personally, I am using a pitaka case. I am also having a thin, blank film on the back because ofscrarch protecting the back.

i'm using the official one for S8+ and it's very good, the s-pen does not leave any mark

I have used all types and found my favorite to be the tech21. No sensitivity issues, screen is clear, no spen marks, and decent with dealing with fingerprints. I couldn't use another after using this one.

Wouldn't it be just nice if Samsung offered a factory glass screen protector as an option when buying these devices. I'm sure they are aware of customers concerns - surely they have the technology to be able to do this, albeit probably not financially viable hence no go.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Question Anyone found a good glass screen protector that doesnt screw with the fingerprint scanner?

I tried 2 before reading reviews....they make the fingerprint scanner almost useless. I tried looking up reviews of other alternatives and they all aren't great.
Even the more expensive choices. I'm now looking at full case (aka front and back covers) choices. I have typically hated them (like the Otterbox, etc). Anyone know of a full body case that doesn't add a ton of size to the phone.
I tried one of those ebay glass front/back cases and I love it but once you dropped the case it pretty much was useless (either glass screen cracked or they case never stayed together after a significant drop...magnets are what held the 2 examples I tried....clearly the quality was hit or miss).
Am I just being picky? I'm either looking looking a full body case that's mostly clear and doesn't a ton of size or a glass screen protector that actually works with the fingerprint scanner.
Never had this many issues trying to get something that works consistently.

When I had my note 20 ultra I bought tempered glass for it and I basically had to turn on increased touch sensitivity, and delete and readd all fingerprints and it kinda worked but was annoying as hell..
I then changed (and I use also for my s21 ultra) something called hydrogel which is not hard as temperedglass or ceramic shield, but it does a hell of a job protecting the screen AND doesn't affect fingerprints, I actually hit the screen against a table corner and nothing happened...

joancolmenares said:
When I had my note 20 ultra I bought tempered glass for it and I basically had to turn on increased touch sensitivity, and delete and readd all fingerprints and it kinda worked but was annoying as hell..
I then changed (and I use also for my s21 ultra) something called hydrogel which is not hard as temperedglass or ceramic shield, but it does a hell of a job protecting the screen AND doesn't affect fingerprints, I actually hit the screen against a table corner and nothing happened...
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I'll check out hydrogen. Thanks.

There are a few post already talking about glass screen protectors. White stone dome and amfilm seem to be good competitors. I have whitestone and love the feel. As far as a clear case, my wife has Speigen hybrid with a clear back but it will def scratch because it's plastic. I wanted to try your glass case but I knew better that it would crack or break when dropped

I've got the Whitestone Dome Glass and the fingerprint reader works fine. Don't forget to remove the factory-installed screen protector first. I forgot that the first time, and that screwed with the fingerprint reader.

Sonin66 said:
There are a few post already talking about glass screen protectors. White stone dome and amfilm seem to be good competitors. I have whitestone and love the feel. As far as a clear case, my wife has Speigen hybrid with a clear back but it will def scratch because it's plastic. I wanted to try your glass case but I knew better that it would crack or break when dropped
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I also use the Spigen Neo-Hybrid screen protector. It's clear, good quality and works just fine. I think the finger print sensor issues are more about Samsung's continued failure in this arena rather it being a screen protector issue.

LucoBuck said:
I've got the Whitestone Dome Glass and the fingerprint reader works fine. Don't forget to remove the factory-installed screen protector first. I forgot that the first time, and that screwed with the fingerprint reader.
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Same I also have the WSD glass protector and I love it I haven't had any finger print sensor issues. Been using 3 weeks now

lordandroid said:
Same I also have the WSD glass protector and I love it I haven't had any finger print sensor issues. Been using 3 weeks now
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That's good to know. I plan to get one, and there are quite a few people reporting that even Whitestone glass would make the finger print scanner work less well...
I think maybe it's due to improper installation steps

There was a time whitestone didn't work for me when I got my s10 plus. Bought it from samsung along with a whitestone from Amazon. Back when you had to tilt the tray and pull tab to drop the protector on. It went perfect 3 times I did it but the fingerprint scanner would barely recognize my print, had to go with a zagg. I don't know what the difference with their glass now, but my finger print is reading. I did hold down 30 secs after the initial 15 secs to cure it, but I didn't do it on my wife's and hers is working also. I also put my print scan more than once just so I wouldn't have a prob but it works unless my hands are dry

Are y'all remembering to delete and re-add your fingerprints after you put your protector on?

I don't know what's happened to Whitestone because I had it on my S8plus and it was great but the s21u one is trash. The first of the two I had chipped in the corner (no idea how) and when I tried to take it off it was stuck to the screen and was a nightmare to take off, I had to use a hairdryer and slowly pick it off. I put a new one on last Friday and now this one has chipped. I haven't dropped it or anything, it's almost like the glass is so thin it's crumbled away. The quality has gone downhill and the glass seems so thin now it's just not lasting long.

Maybe they are trying to get it as thin as possible to facilitate solid response of the FP sensor, thus the thin glass.... Just a thought, no excuse

s3axel said:
Maybe they are trying to get it as thin as possible to facilitate solid response of the FP sensor, thus the thin glass.... Just a thought, no excuse
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It's not that great the FP sensor either. I'd say it works about 30% of the time. It's a real disappointment overall and I paid a heck of a lot for it.

Sonin66 said:
There are a few post already talking about glass screen protectors. White stone dome and amfilm seem to be good competitors. I have whitestone and love the feel. As far as a clear case, my wife has Speigen hybrid with a clear back but it will def scratch because it's plastic. I wanted to try your glass case but I knew better that it would crack or break when dropped
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I had one of these on my s10+. It felt great and looked beautiful, but the finger on another thread here a discount for amfilm.
Sonin66 said:
There are a few post already talking about glass screen protectors. White stone dome and amfilm seem to be good competitors. I have whitestone and love the feel. As far as a clear case, my wife has Speigen hybrid with a clear back but it will def scratch because it's plastic. I wanted to try your glass case but I knew better that it would crack or break when dropped
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I used one of these on my s10+ and it felt great and looked beautiful. The FP sensor only worked 20% of the time, but ultimately I hardly needed to use it. I found a discount code on another thread. There were actually 2 codes, 1 for 30% off and another for 20% off the amfilm tempered glass. Amazon also had a $2 off coupon. It took it from $40 20 $17.99. For that price I will do it and try putting pressure on it after the initial uv.

Has anyone tried the new one from Spigen the Platinum?

Bsball721 said:
I had one of these on my s10+. It felt great and looked beautiful, but the finger on another thread here a discount for amfilm.
I used one of these on my s10+ and it felt great and looked beautiful. The FP sensor only worked 20% of the time, but ultimately I hardly needed to use it. I found a discount code on another thread. There were actually 2 codes, 1 for 30% off and another for 20% off the amfilm tempered glass. Amazon also had a $2 off coupon. It took it from $40 20 $17.99. For that price I will do it and try putting pressure on it after the initial uv.
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I think I saw a video, where it shows that AM film actually gives a little metal weight to place over the FP sensor when using the UV to put a bit of pressure on that point.

My Whitestone Dome is working just fine. Not 100% perfect but pretty close.

I love the amfilm one! A little bit more pricey than I'm used to paying, but it's 39.99 for 2 tempered glass screens and a UV light that works awesome. Only after effects was some of the liquid you use to cure the screen kinda didn't fully cure on the edges so a little bit liquid. That you could just wipe off, but other than that I love it and it works great!. Honestly tho my fingerprints are crap because I work in the field alot. But when my fingerprints are clean and warm lol it works great!

moraal said:
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Tldr: amFilm tempered glass screen protector

Question Can you rely on the screen protector that comes with the phone?

I am using the screen protector that came with the phone but I am worried that it might not be that good to rely on.
I am not taking about dropping the phone or something. All am I caring about is scratches from the pen or stuff in my pocket. Can this screen protector help against these or it is useless?
The reason I kept it, because it fit so well and it does not affect the screen quality.

Obviously experience may vary quite a bit due to different conditions. For me so far the stock protector works quite well and protects the screen from scratches.
But as I like the "Glass feeling" a bit more I'll fit a tempered glass protector sometime in the future....

Agree. I will do the same. It is just not easy to find a glass protector that actually fits

Khalid Madkour said:
Agree. I will do the same. It is just not easy to find a glass protector that actually fits
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Well, both Amfilm and Whitestone have UV-based tempered glass protectors that fit really good, but do you want to spend the money for those?
They're not like $10 for 3 pieces or something

MasterThiefGarrett said:
Well, both Amfilm and Whitestone have UV-based tempered glass protectors that fit really good, but do you want to spend the money for those?
They're not like $10 for 3 pieces or something
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Spending 70~100 USD to protect 1200$ is worth it but the problem these kind of screen protectors can not be found in Egypt I think so until I find a way to get them without paying much taxes and fees I will stick with the default S.protector

I remember Samsung saying that a glass screen cover would interfere with the fingerprint scanner. I'm curious as to whether or not that's actually the case...

I had problems with the finger reader. He caught the fourth, fifth time. (I added the same one a couple of times and it didn't help.) Today I took off the factory foil and magic. The reader catches off the shot every time!

NippleSauce said:
I remember Samsung saying that a glass screen cover would interfere with the fingerprint scanner. I'm curious as to whether or not that's actually the case...
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I tried a cheap UV-based tempered glass (10 euros) and on my Note 10 it works flawless every time.
And since the S21 series has a much bigger sensor I expect it to work fine as well, I know Whitestone Dome works fine, AND the AmFilm one too.

I used Note 8 for 3 years without screen protector and had maybe 1 micro scratch that was only visible when screen off. Now still using S21U with pre installed screen protector but the feeling of it is not so good, very rubbery especially if fingers are wet. Debetaing to take it of because I have some problems with fingerprint reader too, it's not bad but sometimes it's not detecting the finger.

Make sure your case has a lip guard. That has always worked for me.

I really liked the factory fitted screen protector.
It is more than adequate to protect the screen from scratches from everyday use. Unfortunately the corner peeled off after getting caught on some fabric on the couch so I had to replace it.
I decided against a tempered glass protector for the following reasons:
1. Regular tempered glass SP interfere with the ultrasonic fingerprint reader. Go to amazon and search for s21U TP screen protectors and you'll see what i mean.
2. There are some TG screen protectors that use UV light hardened resins to stick to screen. These are supposed to be fingerprint reader friendly but the good ones like Whitestone Dome are very expensive (for a disposable item) and you have to get a perfect installation, with the resin being a potential hazard if it seeps into the phone.
The cheap ones on the other hand are usually not very good and have a thinned out layer of glass overlying the fingerprint reader that is really irritating to look at.
3. I'm not sure what that UV hardening adhesive does to the oleophobic coating on the screen over a long time.
4. TG screen protectors do not have an anti-reflective coating like the phone screen. So once you apply it, the surface becomes shiny and reflective like glossy screens. This doesnt happen with the softer TPU protectors. Maybe someone who has recently applied a TG SP can post his experience here?
3. TG also adds thickness to the screen as compared to TPU screen protectors, and this is a pretty chunky phone already.
I moved away from tempered glass protectors about 3 years ago after trying a bunch of them and have been using TPU (liquid skin type) SP since then. They are cheap, easy to install, usually come in multi-packs so you can swap them out when it gets dirty or peels off or scratches etc, without breaking the bank or feeling sorry that you have to throw away a $30 - $50 tempered glass protector that you applied with utmost care. The newer materials are also very nice to touch, virtually indistinguishable from the underlying glass.
Having said all this, I have friends that swear by tempered glass protectors and are willing to pay anything to have the feel of glass under their fingers. There's no right or wrong answer here, just what works for you.

enigmaamit said:
I really liked the factory fitted screen protector.
It is more than adequate to protect the screen from scratches from everyday use. Unfortunately the corner peeled off after getting caught on some fabric on the couch so I had to replace it.
I decided against a tempered glass protector for the following reasons:
1. Regular tempered glass SP interfere with the ultrasonic fingerprint reader. Go to amazon and search for s21U TP screen protectors and you'll see what i mean.
2. There are some TG screen protectors that use UV light hardened resins to stick to screen. These are supposed to be fingerprint reader friendly but the good ones like Whitestone Dome are very expensive (for a disposable item) and you have to get a perfect installation, with the resin being a potential hazard if it seeps into the phone.
The cheap ones on the other hand are usually not very good and have a thinned out layer of glass overlying the fingerprint reader that is really irritating to look at.
3. I'm not sure what that UV hardening adhesive does to the oleophobic coating on the screen over a long time.
4. TG screen protectors do not have an anti-reflective coating like the phone screen. So once you apply it, the surface becomes shiny and reflective like glossy screens. This doesnt happen with the softer TPU protectors. Maybe someone who has recently applied a TG SP can post his experience here?
3. TG also adds thickness to the screen as compared to TPU screen protectors, and this is a pretty chunky phone already.
I moved away from tempered glass protectors about 3 years ago after trying a bunch of them and have been using TPU (liquid skin type) SP since then. They are cheap, easy to install, usually come in multi-packs so you can swap them out when it gets dirty or peels off or scratches etc, without breaking the bank or feeling sorry that you have to throw away a $30 - $50 tempered glass protector that you applied with utmost care. The newer materials are also very nice to touch, virtually indistinguishable from the underlying glass.
Having said all this, I have friends that swear by tempered glass protectors and are willing to pay anything to have the feel of glass under their fingers. There's no right or wrong answer here, just what works for you.
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A case with enough lip protection is good enough.

Thank you for sharing you experience. I decided to stay with the factory screen protector. It really love it as it fits the screen so well and is clear as if there was no screen protector.
enigmaamit said:
I really liked the factory fitted screen protector.
It is more than adequate to protect the screen from scratches from everyday use. Unfortunately the corner peeled off after getting caught on some fabric on the couch so I had to replace it.
I decided against a tempered glass protector for the following reasons:
1. Regular tempered glass SP interfere with the ultrasonic fingerprint reader. Go to amazon and search for s21U TP screen protectors and you'll see what i mean.
2. There are some TG screen protectors that use UV light hardened resins to stick to screen. These are supposed to be fingerprint reader friendly but the good ones like Whitestone Dome are very expensive (for a disposable item) and you have to get a perfect installation, with the resin being a potential hazard if it seeps into the phone.
The cheap ones on the other hand are usually not very good and have a thinned out layer of glass overlying the fingerprint reader that is really irritating to look at.
3. I'm not sure what that UV hardening adhesive does to the oleophobic coating on the screen over a long time.
4. TG screen protectors do not have an anti-reflective coating like the phone screen. So once you apply it, the surface becomes shiny and reflective like glossy screens. This doesnt happen with the softer TPU protectors. Maybe someone who has recently applied a TG SP can post his experience here?
3. TG also adds thickness to the screen as compared to TPU screen protectors, and this is a pretty chunky phone already.
I moved away from tempered glass protectors about 3 years ago after trying a bunch of them and have been using TPU (liquid skin type) SP since then. They are cheap, easy to install, usually come in multi-packs so you can swap them out when it gets dirty or peels off or scratches etc, without breaking the bank or feeling sorry that you have to throw away a $30 - $50 tempered glass protector that you applied with utmost care. The newer materials are also very nice to touch, virtually indistinguishable from the underlying glass.
Having said all this, I have friends that swear by tempered glass protectors and are willing to pay anything to have the feel of glass under their fingers. There's no right or wrong answer here, just what works for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

nixnixnixnix4 said:
A case with enough lip protection is good enough.
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Yes. For most purposes, I agree with you that it's enough. I used to think so too... Never used a screen protector on any of my phones. Tried the tempered glass one on my last phone but felt it was too thick and reflective, so there is away and went with a naked screen. The experience was amazing, interfacing with the screen without any barriers. At least until I got two mysterious scratches on my OnePlus 6 screen, about 2 months apart, one after the other. Never dropped the phone, didn't put it face down, just used it normally. Must've been a grain of sand in my pocket... I'm still not sure to this day what caused the scratches...
I was using a spigen case without a screen protector then. Had to live with those scratches for 2 years. It was heartbreaking to see them everytime... See attached pics.
Since that experience, I vowed never to go with the screen naked again. Maybe I was just unlucky. But the fact that it happened twice is something I cannot ignore, and cannot risk on this new phone. It's too beautiful and too expensive to gamble with, at least based on my personal experience.

Second day I had my Note 10+ it faceplanted on a rough piece of 1/8" thick aluminum angle from pocket height. The metal hit the curve portion of the screen. Oh Yeah... isn't that special?
The case soaked up some of the impact but the factory screen protect was hit and savaged.
It protected the screen, zero damage. gulp.
Been using wet apply Gorilla IQ Sheild after trying a bunch of products including Whitestone.
After 9 months it's still on and while it's due to be replaced it's held up amazing well for $5 a pop.
Unlike the other junk, it's easy to apply and line up properly
I use the Zizo Bolt case to provide to majority of the protection. Raised screen guards on all sides are needed as I learned earlier
After 1.5 years, zero damage.

enigmaamit said:
Must've been a grain of sand in my pocket... I'm still not sure to this day what caused the scratches...
I was using a spigen case without a screen protector then. Had to live with those scratches for 2 years. It was heartbreaking to see them everytime... See attached pics.
Since that experience, I vowed never to go with the screen naked again. Maybe I was just unlucky. But the fact that it happened twice is something I cannot ignore, and cannot risk on this new phone. It's too beautiful and too expensive to gamble with, at least based on my personal experience.
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Sand will do it every time. I tried the same experiment over 2 years ago with the same results. I always use a good case and screen protector because permanent scratches pi$$ me off.

Clarification: Case with a lip everywhere and a regular TPU screen protector is great for the majority of use-cases out there. And, it is the cheapest option.

nixnixnixnix4 said:
Clarification: Case with a lip everywhere and a regular TPU screen protector is great for the majority of use-cases out there. And, it is the cheapest option.
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And very effective when using a good case.
BDU upper pant leg cargo pockets are great for smartphones...just make sure to keep the rear facing button, buttoned or your will lose it