In most cases, the film is a transparent plastic that has the ability to stick to the screen. Although this material is relatively inexpensive, there is one caveat: the diagonal of the screen of a mobile device can be from 3.5 to 10.5 inches, which implies the need to find a film that is suitable in size. Another option is also available - buying a large sheet of plastic, from which the desired piece is subsequently cut.

Disadvantages of transparent plastic

It seems to many that a transparent film is an ideal element of protection. touch screen. This is not true. Problems can begin even at the stage of sticking plastic on the screen. Under the film, after its application, air bubbles may appear, which will lead to the need to do the procedure again.

Another disadvantage of the material is the appearance of scratches from objects that could not harm the screen itself. A lot of such damage leads to the need to remove the old layer and apply a new one, otherwise the appearance of the smartphone will be completely unpresentable.

Not ideal at all specifications films. It is advisable to keep in mind the following nuances:

• Cheap material has a negative effect on the touch properties of the screen;
• The plastic is 99% transparent, which makes the image slightly blurry and cloudy.

If the decision to use the film as a display protection is nevertheless made, the recommendations for its application should be taken into account. Step by step, this procedure may look like this:

1. The screen must not only be cleaned of dust, but wiped with soapy water;
2. Starting from the top of the device, apply the film to the touch surface.

Gorilla Glass from Corning is a new technology

Question about touchscreen protection mobile devices has been taken more seriously with the advent of Android tablets. In the situation, Corning quickly got its bearings, providing gadget manufacturers with the opportunity to apply a coating to the display even at the stage of manufacturing the device. A novelty was a protective glass, during the application of which there was no air cushion, the image was not distorted.

The new technology, although used by tablet manufacturers, still had one drawback - the complexity of tempered glass in installation. Everything changed in 2013 with the advent of Gorilla Glass 3, an even more advanced product from the same Corning. The glass is 40% more resistant, and the relative ease of installation has drawn attention to the smartphone company's products. Now, if we are not talking about a cheap Chinese fake, almost all mobile devices of this category are equipped with such protection.

As practice shows, the Gorilla Glass screen cannot be scratched with a coin, key, screwdriver, or other similar object. Any doubts? This is easy to verify by searching the web for videos on the relevant topic.

When you still cannot do without a protective film

Gorilla Glass is able to withstand the effects of man-made materials almost flawlessly. The conclusion suggests itself: a protective film is not needed. This is not entirely true. There is also sand - a substance that can leave scratches even on a screen with such a serious coating. This is the reason why mobile devices with liquid crystal displays are not recommended to be taken to the beach. If, nevertheless, there is no choice, in this case it is worth sticking a protective plastic on the display, which will save you from scratches.

The American company Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers conducted a study in which they found out how often people use smartphones. It turned out that the average user looks at the smartphone screen about 150 times a day. If we subtract eight hours of sleep from the day, it turns out that a person looks at his gadget on average every 5–8 minutes. At the same time, it is unlikely that someone always holds a smartphone in their hand: these devices are stored in a bag, in a pocket, placed on various surfaces, regularly falling. All this fatally affects the safety of the appearance of the gadget in good condition. This is especially true of the screen, which is the most fragile part of the device.

After buying a new smartphone, we are pleased to look at the screen, run our fingers along it, because it is new, smooth, perfectly even. But within just a few days, the first scratch appears on the screen - an unpleasant moment, you must agree. And if you carry the device in your pocket or bag with keys, change, key rings and other hard objects, the screen quickly becomes scuffed and scratched. After falling, cracks and chips remain on it. As a result of active use, the smartphone begins to look "old" after a few weeks. Unfortunately, none of the latest developments of engineers in the field of glass manufacturing and advertising tricks will save gadgets from such an unenviable fate. However, users can independently extend the life of their devices by resorting to a number of tricks: buying a case, installing a protective glass, or sticking a protective film.

Protective films for smartphones are designed to protect the screen of the device from mechanical damage, primarily scratches, scuffs and chips. They are made from high quality polymer with special strength. Of course, the film is unlikely to be able to save from falling or hitting, but for those who carry a smartphone in their pocket or bag, this option is perfect. The main advantage of screen protectors over other screen protection options is that they are almost invisible on a smartphone. In addition, they almost do not weigh at all and thus do not weigh down the already not easy modern smartphones, which will also be a plus for many. But before you press the coveted “buy” button, you need to figure out how to choose protective film for your smartphone.

What is the difference between protective films

Smartphone model and screen size

Modern protective films are three types: dimensionless, for fixed screen sizes, for a specific smartphone model.

Dimensionless films are a rectangular plastic sheet of a certain diagonal with a marking grid, from which the user can independently cut out the desired shape. The advantage of this option is its versatility: such a film is suitable for any smartphone, and it is not even necessary to know its diagonal. Minus - it is not always possible to cut a perfectly even rectangle. And if you want to cover the entire surface of the glass with a film, including the speaker and buttons, it is unlikely that such a complex shape can be cut evenly and beautifully.

Protective films for fixed screen sizes are polymer rectangles of a certain diagonal, suitable for screens of the same diagonal. They are quite versatile if you know this parameter of your smartphone.

Screen protectors for a specific smartphone model are ideal for those who want to cover the entire surface of the glass with a film, as well as for those who do not want to choose for a long time. The disadvantage of this option will be the high cost of protective films for top models.

Film type

Protective films come in three main types: glossy, matte and mirror. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Glossy films are the most common. They best convey the color of the image, almost without distorting it. Such films perfectly hide small scratches on the screen surface and resist the appearance of new damage. There are glossy films marked "transparent" and "super transparent" - they are completely invisible on the screen.

However, glossy films have a number of disadvantages. Firstly, in the sun and in bright light, glare appears on them, which interferes with viewing the image. Exit - turn on the brightness to the maximum. Secondly, fingerprints remain on them, so the film will have to be wiped regularly. Thirdly, the effect of sticking fingers may appear. In this regard, glossy films should not be glued to game lovers. Fourth, due to their minimal thickness, they provide protection worse than other types of films.

Matte films are characterized by increased density, so they better protect against scratches and scuffs. Thanks to the matte surface, light is scattered on them, almost without reflection, which helps to avoid glare. Some models are listed as "anti-reflective", meaning improved glare resistance. Also, dirt sticks to such films worse, and fingerprints do not remain at all. It is also important that their surface provides smooth sliding of the finger.

However, among the numerous advantages, matte films have a big drawback: the image with them is slightly blurred and becomes grainy. These days, when many users buy smartphones for the sake of a perfect image, this is really a significant disadvantage. But the problem is still partially solved by increasing the brightness to the maximum. Another drawback for many may be the thickness of such films - they are immediately visible on the screen.

Mirror protective films are similar in their characteristics to glossy ones, but they have interesting feature: When the screen is off, they reflect the image, allowing you to use your smartphone as a mirror. At the same time, such films “glare” even more than glossy ones, which makes them not very popular among users.

Fixation method

There are films with two ways of fixing on the screen: static and adhesive-based. Static films have a thin silicone layer. This allows them to be easily and tightly attached to the glass without the formation of bubbles. The main thing is that they can be removed and cleaned many times. Adhesive films are difficult to stick a second time, as bubbles will appear.

The number of films in the set

The protective film does not serve the smartphone forever - with the active use of the gadget, it will need to be changed after a few months. Therefore, many manufacturers put two or more films in the kit for the convenience of users.

Is it worth gluing a protective film on a phone, smartphone or tablet. Many of us after we bought a new expensive device with a touch screen, more than once thought about how to keep it looking as beautiful as long as possible. So that there are no scratches on the screen, but it looks bright and natural.

Often, when buying a smartphone, consultants offer us to buy a special film in order to protect the screen from scratches. But we think that this is just pumping money out of our pocket, or we simply do not have extra money for it, since it is relatively not cheap (although this rule is not always true).

Let's try to figure out if you need a protective film on your device. And also dispel a couple of myths that I personally often hear from my friends.

The film does not adhere well to the screen and leaves a lot of bubbles that only interfere and spoil the picture.

This factor depends only on you, if you do not have experience in the field, entrust this matter to a professional. Expensive say you. Let's calculate what you save on: firstly, the person himself will paste it on you, qualitatively, without bubbles and dirt. Secondly, a high-quality pasted film will not fall off in a couple of days, and you will not need to buy another one.

The film leaves a layer of glue on the screen. And spoils it.

Perhaps, but friends, here again everything depends on you. If you buy an expensive smartphone, then buy a film of decent quality already. Which is easy to stick and when you remove it, it will not leave any traces behind. In addition, now, as far as I know, not a single film leaves marks, and the layer adjacent to the screen is made of silicone.

The film is scratched more than the screen.

I really saw this, the film was so scratched that it hurt to look at the phone. And she scratched even from the fact that she was simply rubbed with a finger. But here the point is only that the owner of the phone simply saved money and bought a cheap, useless film.

I have Gorilla Glass or other protective glass.

I must disappoint you - and your glass is also scratched. But I want to admit it scratches much harder than usual. It all depends on what else you carry in the same pocket with your smartphone. There are such craftsmen who put the keys to the apartment in one pocket with the phone, and say that it is not necessary to glue the film on the screen. Yes, I know them myself.

Better case than screen protector.

I can not argue with you, the cover is really a necessary thing. And it protects the phone well and the body, especially if it is made of glossy material. But if it went like this, then the phone is not always in a case, and then the film will not bother you in any way. In addition, there are people for whom the case is uncomfortable, they have a lot of calls and cases related to the smartphone, so they don’t have time to get it out of the case.

The film spoils the colors of the screen, the picture becomes less bright.

Again, it all depends on which one you choose. If good color reproduction is important to you, then buy a transparent and glossy film. No need to buy matte and then slander her.

I have a resistive screen, it does not work well with a film.

Not true! The film will not impair the performance of your sensor in any way. Moreover, a resistive screen needs more, because for such a screen a stylus is used, which scratches faster than a soft finger.

Conclusion. Do I need to put a protective film on the screen?

I think it's definitely worth it. Since the film good quality, and if it is pasted by a person who knows how to do this - it really fulfills its purpose - it protects the screen from scratches and other damage. Ask which ones? I personally know a person who managed to put a boiler on his smartphone, it's good that the film was pasted. Like it or not, it's cheaper than new screen. So, friends, if you have already decided to buy a new one, do not cheap phone, decide also on the sticker of the film ...

You can write your opinions on this matter in the comments to the article. Good luck to you!

Yes, many thanks to the commentators for pointing out a bunch of errors in the article - I corrected many of them.

Protective films became popular in the late 2000s, when touchscreen smartphones began to appear on store shelves. But now the need for sticking such films looks very doubtful. After all, modern devices are not those pieces of plastic with fragile glass on the front panel. Let's see if it's worth gluing something on a brand new smartphone now.

First, let's remember how the history of mobile devices has developed. some time Cell Phones did not have any screen, and therefore there was nothing to protect. And if the first device had fallen on the asphalt, the roadway would have cracked rather than the phone would have been damaged.

Later, the size of mobile phones decreased, and the LCD moved from monochrome to color type. But nothing has changed - most phones successfully resisted external influences. If there were scratches on the glass, they did not bother the owner at all. There were two reasons for this:

• The screen did not occupy the largest area of ​​the front panel; the appearance of the keyboard and other parts of the case was much more important;
• The cost of a mobile phone was getting lower and lower, which made it possible to replace the old device with a new one almost at any time.

In the late 2000s, completely unexpectedly push-button mobile phones began to yield to sensory counterparts. Smartphones also gradually began to switch to touch control. As a result, the keyboard was almost completely replaced. If there were any controls under the screen, they were represented by only three or four buttons. Yes, and they soon became sensory. From now on, most of the front panel was occupied by the screen. Of course, glass was applied on top of the LCD itself - sometimes with an air gap, sometimes without it. But glass was the most common, and in some cases transparent plastic was used at all. It was possible to break such glass without any difficulty, especially if there was air under it. And it was completely impossible to carry a phone in one pocket with keys, since deep scratches immediately appeared on it. At this moment, a new accessory appeared in stores: a protective film for a smartphone.

Do modern devices need a protective film?

What has changed in seven or eight years? In fact, a lot. Standard glasses now cover only the front panels of the cheapest Chinese smartphones whose names no one remembers. If the cost of the device exceeds 5000 rubles, then its display must be covered with a special protected glass. They let him out Corning, Asahi and some other companies. It is tempered, as a result of which it is very difficult to damage such glass even on purpose.

But in fact, the answer to the question "Do I need a protective film?" not so clear. The fact is that protective glasses divided into generations. Initially, the very unreliable Gorilla Glass of the first generation was produced by the same company Corning.

And if you have a very old smartphone in your hands, then it makes sense to buy and apply protective film yet there is.

Well, now devices are leaving the assembly lines, which are equipped with protective glass of one of the most latest generations. He is not afraid of the metals from which the keys are made. And some glasses do not have consequences even after using a kitchen knife!

Note: glass is not designed to withstand falls from great heights. But the film in such cases will not help.

There is one material that protective glass is still afraid of. This is sand. If you are going to the beach, it is better to put your smartphone in your bag, taking it out only in case of urgent need.

Sand easily scratches any device. It is in such cases that the film saves - after a trip to the beach it can be removed, getting rid of the scratches that have appeared.

Which is better: film or glass?

Any protective film is a piece of very thin plastic with varying degrees of transparency. It is the minimum thickness that allows it to be flexible. But now another accessory is gaining popularity: protective glass. At first, users asked themselves the question: “Why do we need an additional protective glass if the smartphone already has it?”. Time has shown that there is a sense in using such an accessory. In some cases, he saves from falling, taking the blow on himself. But this does not happen in 100% of cases - sometimes the screen still gets some kind of damage.

Another question is which is better: glass or film? It all depends on how actively you use your device.

If the smartphone regularly falls on a hard surface, then you need to get glass, since the film does not save you from this.

But at the same time, you may encounter not the most best job sensor, as the glass is thicker than any film. If you are very afraid of this, then it is better to opt for a film, or do without a protective accessory altogether.

It should be noted that there is a universal film that needs to be cut according to a specific pattern, as a result of which it will be suitable for your smartphone. This is true for little-known models for which separate accessories are not available. In the case of glass, such a trick will not work, because it cannot be cut. Therefore, you can easily find glasses for sale for iPhone, many models from Samsung, Huawei, HTC and. But if you have some rare device at your disposal, then there is a high probability that you will not find glass for it. And practice shows that it is precisely such devices that would benefit from additional protection. More about protective glasses for smartphones you will read in a separate article.

Which film is better: matte or glossy?

At the end of the 20th century, we regularly printed photographs. Usually at such moments we chose not only the size of the picture, but also the type of photo paper. With films about the same story - they are matte and glossy. Consider the main advantages and disadvantages of such surfaces.

Matte film:

• It is much more difficult to leave fingerprints on it;
• Almost complete absence of solar glare.

• The image becomes slightly grainier.

Glossy film:

• The picture is practically not distorted, its brightness is reduced by only 1%;
• Such a film is much easier to find on sale.

• Possible sun glare.
• Fingerprints are clearly visible on the gloss.

Additional explanations are unnecessary here. You just have to decide which disadvantages are less significant for you, after which you can go to the store for a purchase. Note that expensive glossy films have at their disposal a special coating (in the manner of an oleophobic one), as a result of which fingerprints accumulate a little more slowly.

Summarizing

Be that as it may, any protective film on the smartphone screen has a number of disadvantages. You will have to come to terms with them. But it's better just not to buy such an accessory. Especially if you have good smartphone, released in 2015 or later. You can safely put it in one pocket with keys, on his appearance it won't affect anything.

Modern smartphones are equipped with high-quality protective glass. Most recent flagships feature durable Gorilla Glass (currently in their fourth generation) or sapphire crystal. Is it worth sticking an additional protective coating? And if additional protection is needed, then which of these two means to choose: glass or film?

Why the screen of modern smartphones needs additional protection

The displays of flagship gadgets are much better protected from scratches than the first models of phones with plastic or ordinary glass. To assess how much protection has become more reliable, let's give a few numbers.

• The hardness of ordinary glass on the Mohs scale is not more than 5 units.
• The hardness of the metal is 5.5, which allows keys or a knife to leave scratches on the phone screen with ordinary glass.
• The fourth generation Gorilla Glass has a hardness of about 6 units (according to some sources - 6.5H). He is not afraid of metal objects.

But the strength of quartz, the main element of ordinary sand, is 7 units on the Mohs scale. Is it any wonder that scratches even on the most durable protective coating screen become noticeable over time?

The second aspect of the problem is the fall of the smartphone on the floor. It is especially dangerous if the gadget fell screen down. In this case, the expensive unit of the display and touchscreen must be replaced. And you are left without a phone for a period of a week to 1.5 months. Exact time required for replacement depends on the availability of spare screens for your gadget model in service center. Waiting for new models, which are still few in Russia, can be seriously delayed.

Protective film for smartphone

A special film can protect the glass of the phone from scratches. It is made of a fairly durable polymer that does not break down when in contact with metal keys and other blunt metal objects.

Benefits of smartphone screen protectors:

• Low price. Manufacturers offer to purchase them in sets of 3-10 pieces per pack. As soon as one fails, you stick a new one.
• Perfect fit for popular phone models. For example, in Novosibirsk you can buy in our online store.
• Reliably protect the screen from scratches during domestic use.
• Do not require special skills to sticker on the phone. The adhesive layer is covered with a special technological film. Clean the display from dirt, remove the technological layer and stick the film.

Protective glass for smartphone

Tempered glass is another modern way to protect your gadget screen from scratches. During production, it is heated up to 600 °C and then cooled down. This makes tempered glass very durable, up to 9 on the Mohs scale. In theory, it can only be scratched with a diamond - the most durable mineral. Recall that the sand has a hardness of only 7H, which does not allow it to leave scratches on such a protective coating.

If the films only prevent scratches, then protective glasses can also help if the gadget falls to the floor. The additional hardened coating breaks, but the display itself remains intact.

Advantages of protective glasses:

• The price is 8-10 times less than the cost of replacing a display with a touchscreen.
• Protect your display from scratches and drops. The extra coating breaks but saves a costly screen unit.
• Possibility to order in Novosibirsk, Meizu other models, precisely fitted to the size of the phone, the location of its holes for the camera and speaker.
• Do not spoil the image on the screen and do not reduce the brightness of colors. Moreover, some manufacturers claim that the colors become more saturated.

How to stick glass on a smartphone

The sticker is made in four stages.

First you remove all dirt from the display. To do this, the kit comes with two napkins: wet and dry.

Now we remove the technological film.

And paste the tempered glass on the smartphone.

We remove air bubbles from under it for better fastening.

For questions about the choice and purchase of protective films and glasses in Novosibirsk, please contact the managers of the SibDroid store. They will give professional advice and select the appropriate protection for your phone model.