If you want to protect the display of your smartphone from damage, you are spoiled for choice: glass, plastic film or a spray-on solution.
But what is the best screen protector? It depends. Each variant offers advantages, but also has its pitfalls.
“Simple plastic films are pleasantly thin and inexpensive, but they only protect the smartphone from scratches and light impacts,” says Sebastian Klöß from the IT industry association Bitkom. Such a film could not hold back much more.
Even key scratches are already too much for many plastic films. Basically, the following applies: Films made of polyethylene are stronger than those made of polypropylene. Furthermore, plastic films have to be replaced quite regularly, as they scratch quickly, says Klöß.
Another disadvantage is that plastic films are usually not grease-repellent: “Protective layers made of glass usually have this property.” – Similar to smartphone displays without the extra protection applied. “Fingerprints on them don’t remain visible, but disappear again immediately,” says Klöß.
Plastic films for the smartphone can be matt or clear. According to Ulrike Kuhlmann from the “c’t” trade magazine, which option you choose is a matter of taste: “With clear films you have all the reflections that you would otherwise have on the display, also on the film. Sometimes even more.”
A matt surface prevents this, according to Kuhlmann. At the same time, however, the display appears somewhat more diffuse and less rich in contrast due to the frosted foils.
So if you like to read in sunlight, you are better off with a matte protective film. And if you often look at color-intensive photos on your smartphone, it is probably better to use a clear film.
Protective glass is much harder than simple plastic films. This is usually a composite of glass and foil. Such protective glasses for the mobile phone display are available in different hardnesses.
Hardnesses are given in H (Mohs hardness). “The highest level is ten H – that’s as hard as diamond,” explains Kuhlmann.
For comparison: the factory-fitted front protective glass for the mobile phone display is mainly made of so-called gorilla glass and has a hardness of about seven H. Sapphire glass is even harder with nine H. “But sapphire glass is expensive to produce,” explains Kuhlmann. “So if someone sells a protective glass for 6.99 euros and claims that it has a hardness of nine H, that’s definitely not true.”
Furthermore, when buying a glass screen protector, you should pay attention to its thickness. “Some modern smartphones have the fingerprint sensor under their display,” says Kuhlmann. “If you put too thick protective glass on the display, this sensor may no longer work.”
In fact, a glass screen protector is usually much more expensive than a plastic one. According to Sebastian Klöß, however, this is justified: “There is a price difference. But that’s a difference that’s worth it – simply because the protection performance is significantly better.”
Due to the greater hardness, glass not only protects very effectively against scratches, but also to a certain extent against knocks and falls. According to Klöß, the sensitivity of the display is also better: “The haptic feeling of the smartphone is transmitted completely differently with glass.”
There are also spray-on liquids that can protect the smartphone screen once it has cured. A first advantage of these liquids is the application, explains Sebastian Klöß. This is very uncomplicated in contrast to foils and glass: simply spray on. Annoying bubble formation or crooked slides are not an issue here.
The spray-on protection is quite effective in preventing scratches and offers limited protection in the event of a fall. But if a scratch makes it through the protective layer or a fall causes cracks in the front glass, these blemishes are irrevocably in the display.
“With protective glasses, the scratches or cracks are only in the protective layer – and that can be easily replaced,” says Klöß. The situation is similar with plastic foils. In addition, the protective layer for spraying on has to be renewed about every twelve months, explains the expert.
In addition to thickness, hardness and material, the degree of coverage also plays a role when choosing the right film, says Ulrike Kuhlmann: “2D films don’t go all the way to the edge of the smartphone.” This way, they don’t get in the way of any case. “2.5D films are the right films for curved edges and 3D films cover the entire display and extend slightly beyond the edge,” explains Kuhlmann.
If you really want to protect your smartphone effectively, you shouldn’t just rely on the screen protector, Kuhlmann knows: “If you drop your cell phone more often, you should definitely protect it with a case.” Ultimately, the choice of protective material should be based on your own Orientation to usage habits and wallet.
And if you don’t feel calm or are rather clumsy, you should perhaps save yourself the annoying application of plastic film or protective glass and have it done in the shop where you bought the film.
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