Do you have a phone screen protector?

[croks]

In the three years my son has owned his current phone, we've had to get the screen replaced 3 times. He is convinced that a screen protector is the answer, but I'm not so sure. I'm getting him a new phone for Xmas (Moto G73) so I've been tentatively looking at screen protectors too. However, Moto don't sell own-brand protectors for the G73 and all the G73 protectors on Amazon have poor reviews - either they don't fit properly, don't have camera holes, or shatter easily. I can't help thinking that if screen protectors were considered necessary and effective they would be easier to buy. But am I missing something?

We have screen protectors and phone covers which are a little raised above the screen. The latter is the most helpful, I suspect. We didn't used to replace damaged screens unless vital, so our teens learned to be more careful, and agree to covers.

I always have a screen protector on my phone. Sometimes it takes me less than a day to crack it, and other times the same one lasts months, but eventually they all do chip/crack, which is damage that my phone would have taken.

It seems mad to not have a protector.

I had a complete butterfingers moment the other day and sort of threw my phone and it landed face down on some paving slabs. Completely fine! I have a sturdy but thin silicone case and a tempered glass screen protector. The screen protector is great, doesn't interfere with how the phone works at all.

@Everydayisanewday

I use the JETech glass ones, they are easy to apply. The screen kind of sucks them in, it's fun to watch. I think my last pair (new iPhone 15) were about £11 for the pair& you know the quality of the product.

@croks absolutely. I ordered mine before I went to buy the one! It doesn't spoil the look or the experience & then I can throw it on my bag without worrying about it.

I don't drop it much at all, but screen protectors have saves my arse when I have. Far easier & cheaper to replace than the screen!

There's hundreds for sale on eBay and I'm sure there's loads on Amazon too, just gotta search for it "Motorola G73 Tempered Glass Screen Protector".

Any phone with a glass screen should have a screen protector on it. It's just the basics of looking after your phone 💁

Maybe read the OP and you'll see I did exactly that, with disappointing results. 🙄

When I got my new iPhone I had a Belkin glass screen protector installed straight away at the store - I’d done that for my previous phone and it was definitely worth it.

Before writing my post I literally just went onto eBay and found hundreds of them for sale for that model phone, with decent reviews - hence why I said it!
All in the range of £3- £5 each. So not sure why you're having "disappointing results".

Oh look, I just searched the same on Amazon and there's a few hundred more for sale on there between £5 - £8, with 4.5 - 5 star reviews!

Anyway, I wouldn't trust the reviews on Amazon, they're either
A) Written by competitors to try to slate their competition, or B) Written by incompetent buyer's who ordered the wrong size for their phone model, and/or couldn't grasp how to install the protector.

Nothing in the OP explains to me why a screen protector wasn't purchased for the child's current phone, after the first screen replacement if not before!

Can I ask why you’re so against something so basic and low cost? It doesn’t make logical sense. It’s a few quid, just get one, he can put it on himself. Worst case you lost a few quid, best case you save yourself hundreds in replacement screens.

The only time I've smashed a screen was when I was using a flip case with a magnetic clasp. One of the kids knocked it off the shelf, I tried to catch it, the case opened and the screen hit the floor. DH has a similiar incident, fell out of his jacket pocket and the case didn't stay closed, screen hit the corner of a kerb and smashed.

I have never had one, but I do have good protective cases. Occasionally have dropped the phone, but never damaged a screen in any way. I am a bit perplexed as to how one drops the phone so much.

Screen protectors have saved my screen countless times and are worth their weight in gold. A cheap preventative measure, I don't understand people who don't get them.

I’m the same. I have a case which closes over the screen and holds cards etc, so it doesn’t get scratched in a bag/pocket. I drop it a fair bit. No damage.

I’ve never had one and never (yet - touch wood) had to replace my screen. Or had any damage at all, to be honest. That’s why I don’t.

I’ve managed to look after my phones for years without buying one, so, no, not necessarily ‘the basics’ of it. A good case and a bit of care, on the other hand…

A tempered glass screen protector is essential. There are services that will install them for ridiculous sums. You can buy kits on Amazon that are ridiculously easy to install. Then add a simple case. The pairing will take the brunt of damage and are cheap and easy to replace.

Just be sure to replace them if they get damaged. It’s a bit like a bike helmet, it can take one good hit, not two.

i highly recommend the Spigen brand for ease of install. Maxboost is not bad either.

I agree... I can't see any negative side to having one at all, other than spending a tenner for two screen protectors every so often (annually, for me)

Yes of course!

Ooo i need a camera protector! Where d'you get those?

I went off screen protectors because I used to have the soft plastic ones, they scratch instantly and look bloody awful, so you either have a constantly scratched phone, probably with bubbles in it or you have to replace them every five seconds. And they don't feel as nice to use as the proper screen. There is something that feels really nice about using the glass screen.

I had a phone with gorilla glass, without protector (just bumper case) for about 4 years and had no issues. That said, my current phone is a total mess, mainly because I ran it over with the buggy wheel though it does have some general other scratches too. I have just looked up and it only has Gorilla glass 3, whereas my previous phone had gorilla glass 5. However, despite being a mess if you look at it sideways, when you look at it face on it looks fine, you can't see the damage at all. It's also taken about 2.5 years for this to happen, and has been fine up until now.

I might try the tempered glass ones next time I get a new phone, but I still think they ruin the look and feel of the phone. I know that's silly, because cracks/scratches directly on the glass also do, I just think I would rather keep the actual screen for as long as possible rather than deal with a screen protector that breaks all the time and then needs instant replacement. I am vv clumsy and tend to prioritise features on the phone itself that help protect it from damage.

Huh? it's a screen...... protector. It protects the screen. Why would anyone think it doesn't?

I've never had a mobile without one and neither have my kids. It takes a hell of a lot of abuse to break through the tempered glass screen protector to damage the actual screen.