The Most Common Types of Screen Protectors

A screen protector is among the most valuable smartphone accessories that offer an extra layer of protection to prevent scratches and other severe damages. 

A cracked screen is among the leading causes of smartphone repairs. The screen of any electronic device is susceptible to cracks, scratches, and even total damage. Even the most robust phone screen can suffer damage due to an impact. A screen protector is among the most valuable smartphone accessories that offer an extra layer of protection to prevent scratches and other severe damages. 

What is a screen protector?

A screen protector is a transparent film that can be attached to a smartphone or tablet screen to protect it from physical damage like shattering or cracking. Several types of screen protectors are available in the market. However, they consist of different materials, each with its advantages, which makes a choice difficult. 

This post discusses the most common types of screen protectors to guide the choice of the best option that meets one's budget, preferences, and device:

Tempered glass

Tempered glass is among the most common screen protectors that offer superior, multi-level protection against cracks, scratches, and routine wear and tear. It is durable and easy to install. The glass undergoes different treatments to elevate its strength to make tempered screen protectors. Tempered glass screen protectors have a clear look, offer a smooth finish, are anti-reflective, and reduce glare.

TPU plastic

TPU film or thermoplastic polyurethane screen protectors are flexible and transparent with excellent toughness and provide essential screen protection. They come with scratch-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and oil- and grease-resistant properties and do not interfere with touch resistance. In addition, TPU has natural elasticity and offers full-screen coverage. However, TPU films are more challenging to apply than their counterparts, making them a hassle.

PET plastic

Polyurethane terephthalate, or PET, is another type of plastic screen protector made of polyester film. One side of the screen has a scratch-resistant matte coating, and the other side has a silicone adhesive. These are clear, flexible, do not shatter, and add a protective layer to protect from scratches. Since PET screen protectors do not protrude much, the impact protection is significantly less. 

Privacy screen protector

A privacy screen protector benefits people who want to protect their screen from prying eyes when in a public space. These can consist of tempered glass with a bit of polarization to restrict the viewable angle or PET plastic with an anti-spy layer. With this protector, someone has to look directly at the screen to read the information. The phone appears black from all the other angles. 

Anti-glare

Anti-glare screen protectors have a matte finish coating to minimize glare from the sun's UV rays. It benefits people who remain outside and use their phones in the bright sunlight for extended periods. They come in plastic or tempered glass, reduce fingerprints, and protect the screen from scratches.

Hydrogel

Hydrogel is another popular material used for screen protectors. This rubbery plastic is elastic, scratch-resistant, less vulnerable to cracks, self-healing, and fixes minor scratches. However, its tricky application makes it less desirable.

Protect the screens

A cracked or scratched screen looks terrible, diminishes the user experience, and lowers the device's value. A screen protector helps in preventing avoidable costly damages. Consider features like anti-fingerprint, anti-glare or anti-reflective, and antimicrobial coating before buying a screen protector. Contact a local phone repair company to learn more about screen protectors.

Call us at 480-435-9330 if you need a highly-rated, expert cell phone repair company to repair your iPhone, Samsung, PS4, XBox, iPad or tablet.