Tech 21 IPad Mini Screen Protector Rear Case Review
Lutero Chaloux
Has anyone used one of these tempered glass screen protectors from the Dollar Store? When I peruse the Internet, they seem to get pretty good reviews. Even when compared to the much more expensive models and brands? I am considering one for my I Phone?
There is some truth to the old maxim, "you get what you pay for". Tempered glass screen protectors from manufacturers like Zagg come with replacement warranties. Does the brand you're looking at have a warranty?
I agree completely. I was just curious as to if anyone else had used them. I picked up a couple because of their price. I haven't applied one yet. I'm not prone to dropping my phone. I've been using the Otterbox Commuter cases for years now, and my phone are in great condition. With the screen protectors costing $1.00 each, I'm not concerned with their replacement policy.
They're better than the plastic film was and much easier to apply. However, I've yet to find one that doesn't leave bit of a ridge around the edge. At a dollar a pop, you might as well apply one and see if you like it.
I think your right. The plastic shield on my I phone is in pristine condition. Maybe I'll just slap the tempered glass one over it, and if I don't like it, I can remove it? My phone is currently in an Otterbox Commuter case.
Yes. The Otterbox Commuter case comes with a cheap plastic protector that you apply onto the screen. I'm going to peel it off and apply a tempered glass screen protector today. It has to be better than the cheap, thin plastic one they provided with the case? This will be my first try at one of these. Hope I don't screw it up. :-O
Thanks. I just completed the glass screen protector application. Very easy and it looks great. MUCH easier than applying those crappy film protectors. I rarely, if ever drop my phone. But the peace of mind will be nice. :-)
So I tend to overthink these things (I'm an engineer). Curious if most people use screen protectors on the new iPad Pro 12.9 and if so is it tempered glass or matte and why did you make your selection?
Years ago I decided to remove all screen protectors from all of my Apple devices. As the argument goes, I wanted the "experience the devices as they were designed." Within one week, my iPad had a huge scratch running across the entire screen. I have no idea how it got there, I am extremely careful with my devices and use folio cases. My best guess was that a piece of sand or something similar had worked it's way in between the case and the screen. One week after that, my iPhone X screen cracked. Now bear in mind I've never cracked a device screen in over 15 years with screen protectors.
Coincidence? Probably. But from that point forward I used screen protectors on all of my devices including my Apple Watch. I've heard all the arguments against them, read several articles like this one:
In this article, his primary argument is that if you'd just be more careful, you wouldn't damage your screens. Well, I feel that I am extremely careful with all of my valuable electronics and still they manage to sustain some damages. He even goes as far to suggest wiping down your fingers and Apple Pencil before each use. Really? That takes away from the "genuine experience" much more than having a slightly elevated screen that's just as responsive and arguably shows fewer fingerprints. I'd rather just have a sacrificial screen that I don't worry about damaging instead of trying to remember to bust out my lint-free microfiber cloth 40 times a day.
And besides all that, I just can't get past my personal experiences, as anecdotal as they may be. I recently took the tempered glass screen protector off of my iPad Pro 12.9. The picture was slightly better, but I think that was because the screen protector I removed had fingerprints on it that I hadn't wiped clean yet (I was now staring at basically a brand new ipad screen). I also felt like it was being covered in micro scratches every time I would use my Apple Pencil. I know that part was in my head, but the pencil was making a squeaking sound when running across the screen (I draw and take notes a lot). On the plus side, I suppose the screen felt a bit more responsive (could have been in my head) and a bit easier to take notes with - mainly because I was writing directly on the surface instead of .33mm away. Not enough to really make any difference in my opinion.
In fact, I actually found that writing on the slick tempered glass was easier and more enjoyable than the naked iPad screen. The Apple Pencil felt too "grippy" with the unprotected screen, but perhaps that's because I'm used to the glass now. In terms of drawing, I felt like the unprotected screen actually hindered me because I couldn't swipe my lines as fast.
So the same day I trashed my screen protector, tried it for an hour or so, I went ahead and bought another tempered glass one from Amazon. Now here I am, like a typical engineer, second-guessing myself again.
iPad screens are robust, but the anti-reflection treatment and oleophobic coating can be easily damaged by tiny grit/dust particles that are unavoidable in many environments. The oleophobic coating is a chemical sacrificial layer that will wear-out over time.
A Screen Protector provides an additional defensive barrier - protecting both the original screen finish and the oleophobic coating. For tempered glass, the downside is perhaps an increase in screen reflectivity and a slight reduction in contrast. For textured plastic film, you can expect reduced image clarity/definition and reduction in relative contrast.
Your iPad screen is an expensive component of your iPad; a screen protector is a sacrificial layer that is easy and relatively cheap to replace. Once damaged by grit or an abrasive particle, frequently found in dust and other environmental contaminants, screen replacement is the only remedy for a damaged screen.
3) AppleCare+ does not repair (i.e., replace the screen) of your iPad. Instead the iPad is permanently exchanged for a reconditioned iPad of the same specification and model as the damaged iPad. Your own lovingly protected iPad is replaced by another device that, by definition, had a fault that required repair. If the original iPad was itself purchased as a reconditioned model, this may not be of any concern - but for a device purchased new (potentially very recently), in otherwise pristine condition, you may not be so keen.
A screen protector does not detract from the overall protection offered by AppleCare+, but augments this insurance product. The screen protector will offer considerable protection from damage - and extend resistance to impact damage. If the very worst should occur, and the iPad screen is actually broken, then AppleCare+ can step-in to avoid a total loss or uneconomic repair.
Hopefully this thread is helpful to others who are in this dilemma. I am extremely happy I went back to having a tempered glass screen protector. Peace of mind, better Apple Pencil experience, and allows me to be a bit more aggressive when cleaning the screen (no anxieties about trapped sand/dust to cause micro scratching).
Consider also that Zagg protectors have a lifetime warranty against damage or breakage for as long as you own the device. This more than offsets any additional cost - for an already superior product. You break it - they replace it.
Best of both worlds in my opinion is the thin, plastic, film screen protector (kinda like the film you initially pull off of all new Apple device screens) that provides just enough protection to prevent scratches, but preserves the original look and feel of the iPad.
You are quite correct in that manufactures screen protector products vary both in quality and performance. While respecting your observations concerning the low cost products with which you have been experimenting, many users report seeing no adverse or reduced performance when using more expensive products - such as Zagg.
As with most products that you will encounter, very often you get exactly what you pay for. In context of a screen protector that interfaces directly with your primary User Interface, high quality (at potentially higher cost) pays dividends.
Your post has given me a bit more peace of mind about the decision to use a screen protector. As you say, it's an expensive product that's worth protecting, especially given how much it gets used (versus a non-touch computer screen, which is never touched by a finger or pencil).
One other comment I'd add. I've seen a lot of folks say "Apple Care is my screen protector." I think that's a fair argument, and I have Apple Care for my iPad Pro. However, I think most people who are in this dilemma are concerned about scratches, not necessarily cracks (as I say, my old iPad had a very pronounced scratch that I don't believe would have been covered by Apple Care).
Now perhaps some simply don't care as much about the preserved quality of their screen in the long run. I'm simply not one of those people. I like to maintain (within reason) as close to the original quality of an expensive product as possible, without bordering on OCD. All things in moderation I suppose.
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