How do you protect the screen of your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6s? Until recently, Apple did not say a word about the existence of protective films and protective glasses for its smartphones, although they exist and are popular. Accessory only after the appearance of the oleophobic coating. However, I propose to forget about those films and glasses that owners of the iPhone 5s and older models use. Do owners of new iPhones need film, which, obviously, are not intended for sticking it on?
For the first time, glass with rounded edges appeared, which greatly complicated the life of screen protector manufacturers. Today, there are two types of screen protection for these smartphones: films and glass, which protect only the working surface, or protective glass with a painted frame, which extends over the curved edges of the screen. 
A screen protector or glass that doesn't completely cover the front of your smartphone doesn't look very attractive and, as you can imagine, isn't very effective when your phone is dropped on a corner. The second type of protective glass has another drawback. The edges of these glasses don't fit tightly against the curved edges of the iPhone screen, which can cause the glass to come off, especially if you're using a thick protective case. 
All this makes us think that Apple did not create its smartphone to use protective films and glass. However, Japanese blog MacOtakara reports that Apple has partnered with accessory maker Belkin to offer sticker screen protectors directly in the Apple Store.
An Apple retail store employee uses a Belkin TrueClear Pro kit to apply the sticker. This is a special machine that allows you to glue the film quickly and efficiently. If any debris does get underneath, an Apple Store employee is required to do the procedure again for free. The cost of such a service ranges from 19 to 37 dollars and depends on the diagonal of the smartphone screen, the thickness and material of the protective film.
If this device were dropped, the asphalt was more likely to crack than the screen. /thesun.co.ukThe miniature displays of the first phones did not need special protection. With the advent of touch screens in the late 2000s, screen protectors became widespread. Displays in those days were made of plastic and quickly became scratched to the point that the image was difficult to see.
The situation was corrected with protective accessories made of thin plastic, which absorbed a hail of scratches. The owner of the gadget only had to change the film every few months and the screen remained like new.
Why did they stop gluing the films?
techradar.net Since 2012, highly scratch-resistant, chemically tempered Gorilla Glass has been installed in smartphones. The hardness of this material is higher than that of metal and is 6–7 on the Mohs scale. In theory, this means that you won’t be able to damage the screen with keys, a nail, or even a knife.
In practice, the displays, although smaller, were still scratched. However, many have begun to abandon protection based on marketing claims.
To glue or not
moshi.com Despite the constant improvement in performance with each generation of Gorilla Glass, which is now installed not only on flagships, but also on mid- and even low-price smartphones, users are divided into two camps. Some continue to glue films and glass, others categorically refuse them. And, if you look at it, everyone is right in their own way.
What supporters of films and glasses say
The following arguments are most often given in favor of using protective accessories:
- The protection is guaranteed to protect you from any scratches.
- If dropped, glass or film will most likely protect the screen from cracks.
- With protection, the display will be like new and subsequently the smartphone can be sold at a higher price.
- Films and glass are much cheaper than replacing a broken screen.
- Accessories add new properties to the display: matte finish, anti-glare layer, anti-spying protection.
What opponents of the defense say
But those who prefer clean screens usually respond with these counterarguments:
- Films and glass spoil the design of a smartphone.
- Protection reduces the sensitivity of the sensor and worsens the tactile sensations of use.
- Thick glass protrudes above the Home button or the cutout for the camera module.
- The oleophobic coating on the protection is worse than on glass and wears off very quickly.
- Films and glass do not adhere to the curves of rounded displays, your finger catches on the edges, and dirt accumulates around the perimeter.
- Unpleasant rainbow distortions appear in places where the protection is scratched.
How to be
There is still no clear answer. Yes, the latest smartphones are much better at resisting screen scratches and can even survive a lucky fall. However, there is no 100% guarantee that everything will be fine with the gadget. And if you can still put up with scratches without spending money on replacing the display, then broken glass will inevitably entail considerable expenses.
Who should definitely use film or glass?
- Anyone who wants to maintain a presentable appearance for selling a smartphone before buying the next one.
- For owners of inexpensive gadgets with fragile screens.
- People who, due to their occupation, use a smartphone in an aggressive environment.
- Anyone who is afraid of breaking an expensive device and having to replace the display.
Who can get by
- Users who hate any changes to the original design of smartphones and are ready to replace the display in case of an unsuccessful fall.
- To everyone who took care of protection by putting the gadget in a reliable shockproof case.
- Neat and pedantic people who carry their smartphone in a separate pocket and never drop it on the floor.
- For owners who don’t bother about the appearance of gadgets and consider scratches as a kind of decoration.
The miniature displays of the first phones did not need special protection. With the advent of touch screens in the late 2000s, screen protectors became widespread. Displays in those days were made of plastic and quickly became scratched to the point that the image was difficult to see.
The situation was corrected with protective accessories made of thin plastic, which absorbed a hail of scratches. The owner of the gadget only had to change the film every few months and the screen remained like new.
Why did they stop gluing the films?
techradar.net Since 2012, highly scratch-resistant, chemically tempered Gorilla Glass has been installed in smartphones. The hardness of this material is higher than that of metal and is 6–7 on the Mohs scale. In theory, this means that you won’t be able to damage the screen with keys, a nail, or even a knife.
In practice, the displays, although smaller, were still scratched. However, many have begun to abandon protection based on marketing claims.
To glue or not
moshi.com Despite the constant improvement in performance with each generation of Gorilla Glass, which is now installed not only on flagships, but also on mid- and even low-price smartphones, users are divided into two camps. Some continue to glue films and glass, others categorically refuse them. And, if you look at it, everyone is right in their own way.
What supporters of films and glasses say
The following arguments are most often given in favor of using protective accessories:
- The protection is guaranteed to protect you from any scratches.
- If dropped, glass or film will most likely protect the screen from cracks.
- With protection, the display will be like new and subsequently the smartphone can be sold at a higher price.
- Films and glass are much cheaper than replacing a broken screen.
- Accessories add new properties to the display: matte finish, anti-glare layer, anti-spying protection.
What opponents of the defense say
But those who prefer clean screens usually respond with these counterarguments:
- Films and glass spoil the design of a smartphone.
- Protection reduces the sensitivity of the sensor and worsens the tactile sensations of use.
- Thick glass protrudes above the Home button or the cutout for the camera module.
- The oleophobic coating on the protection is worse than on glass and wears off very quickly.
- Films and glass do not adhere to the curves of rounded displays, your finger catches on the edges, and dirt accumulates around the perimeter.
- Unpleasant rainbow distortions appear in places where the protection is scratched.
How to be
There is still no clear answer. Yes, the latest smartphones are much better at resisting screen scratches and can even survive a lucky fall. However, there is no 100% guarantee that everything will be fine with the gadget. And if you can still put up with scratches without spending money on replacing the display, then broken glass will inevitably entail considerable expenses.
Who should definitely use film or glass?
- Anyone who wants to maintain a presentable appearance for selling a smartphone before buying the next one.
- For owners of inexpensive gadgets with fragile screens.
- People who, due to their occupation, use a smartphone in an aggressive environment.
- Anyone who is afraid of breaking an expensive device and having to replace the display.
Who can get by
- Users who hate any changes to the original design of smartphones and are ready to replace the display in case of an unsuccessful fall.
- To everyone who took care of protection by putting the gadget in a reliable shockproof case.
- Neat and pedantic people who carry their smartphone in a separate pocket and never drop it on the floor.
- For owners who don’t bother about the appearance of gadgets and consider scratches as a kind of decoration.
If you noticed, now almost every first person sticks a protective film or glass on their smartphone. But how important is this accessory for a modern device, because manufacturers assure us that smartphone displays are now protected as never before.
We all know that there are Gorilla Glass glasses, which are incredibly durable and the Internet is full of videos where they are tested by trying to break them with a hammer or throwing smartphones from a height onto the asphalt. So maybe additional accessories are not a concern for the safety of your device, but another attempt to siphon money out of the pockets of consumers? Let's figure this out.
Why glue protective glass or film?
Protective film It is a thin polymer coating with an applied silicone layer that acts as an adhesive base. Without experience, installing a protective film is quite difficult, since you need to simultaneously orient it on the surface of the display and ensure that dust does not get between the film and the screen.
The film is primarily designed to protect the screen from scratches and minor damage. If your smartphone falls face down, the film will most likely not help.
Strained glass(tempered glass), which is sold in stores, is nothing more than ordinary thin glass with a silicone adhesive layer. Silicone also prevents splinters from flying away if the glass breaks. Unlike film, tempered glass can protect the device screen from damage as a result of shocks, falls and other impacts.
And so, to summarize: the film protects from minor scratches, the glass from more serious damage. But, besides this, there are several more nuances when choosing between them.
What to choose: glass or film
From my own experience, I will say that glass is preferable to film, as it protects the display better. In addition, glass is easier to install and lasts much longer.
But, if you own a phone with rounded edges, you may have already encountered the problem that the glass does not stick to the edges and an unsightly white stripe forms.
If you have an iPhone, then everything is simple - buy 5D glass on Aliexpress and enjoy life. For owners of other brands, they also came up with similar glasses, but they are not glued over the entire surface, but only along the edges. Therefore, such glass holds very poorly and will most likely fall off with any awkward movement.
In this case, you can use a silicone protective film, which, due to its plasticity, perfectly covers displays even with very rounded screen edges, such as the Galaxy S8/S9 smartphones. But you can’t find such films for every model. Here the same aliexpress will come to the rescue.
Glasses for all models on AliexpressThere are several ways to protect your phone from unwanted damage. As a rule, these are all kinds of covers and protective films. I would like to dwell on the latter in more detail. Many of you are familiar with them firsthand and even use them currently. They are quite cheap and create an additional layer of protection between the smartphone screen and the cruel outside world, which is trying in every possible way to destroy it.
And yet I do not use protective films. Why you ask? Well, for several reasons. Firstly, I am very annoyed by the sticking process itself, and I am wildly indignant at the sight of air bubbles and dust particles leaking under the film. Familiar feeling, right? Secondly, I don't like the tactile feel of the film-protected screen. Believe me, even the most expensive film can change your experience with the device for the worse. Either of these, over time, causes content on the screen to appear less crisp and clear than if you were looking at an unprotected display. This comes from the constant interaction of the film with natural and other fats from our fingers. And finally, I just don't feel like I need it. After all, phone manufacturers used specially designed materials for screens, which in most cases are very difficult to scratch. 
Engineers all over the world use the concept of material hardness. To classify materials by hardness, various tests are carried out based on the ability of certain materials to influence each other, and in our case, with phone screens, to scratch each other. In general, in theory, a harder material cannot be scratched by a softer one. Usually smartphones these days have protective glass and usually it is Gorilla Glass. According to Corning specifications, Gorilla Glass 3 has a hardness of 534 - 649 kgf/mm2. This value can be compared to the hardness of tempered steel and means that objects such as household knives, keys or coins are unlikely to scratch the display. In addition to increased hardness, Gorilla Glass uses a special so-called oleophobic coating that reduces its ability to collect fingerprints.
There are actually a limited number of materials that your phone screen comes into contact with that can scratch it. By adopting a simple strategy for handling your mobile device, you can avoid scratches without resorting to protective films.
This is what I do. Every piece of my clothing has a “designated” pocket in which I carry my phone, and I know for sure that nothing but it will go there. This can be either a pocket of trousers or jeans, or any internal pocket in outerwear.
The main culprit for scratches on the screens of not only smartphones, but also watches is sand. Sand itself is a product of mechanical weathering of rocky soils, and grains of sand, as a rule, consist of the most unweathered particles, mainly quartz, which is used in glass production. As they say, I found a scythe on a stone. If you live on the coast or are just on vacation at the seaside, then you should get a small plastic container to store your phone when visiting the beach. I agree that the “naked option” of carrying phones is not for everyone. Maybe you are a sea rescuer or a builder, and your work takes place in an environment of “unfriendly” materials. 
This article was not written to discourage everyone from using mobile device protection, but only to raise awareness. I see a lot of people around who, almost on a subconscious level, feel a manic need for the screens of their smartphones. Believe me, companies have already spent a lot of time and money on research to make your phone's glass more durable and scratch-resistant. And I hope the information and tips above will help you save some money and the hassle of using screen protectors.
What do you think about it? Are you able to do without protective films on the screens of your devices? Tell us in the comments about your strategy for avoiding scratches on displays.
Smartphones aren't cheap, and you've probably spent hundreds of dollars on one. And the more expensive our device, the more carefully we treat it. After all, in essence, we are investing money in a product that can be resold after a certain time, and a phone “worn by life” is unlikely to arouse interest among a potential buyer. And for the owner himself, you will agree that it is much more pleasant to use a device that looks like new for a long time.
