Is there a film on the protective glass? Is it worth putting a protective film on your phone, smartphone or tablet?

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

First, let's remember how history developed mobile devices. For a while 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 road surface would have cracked rather than damaged the phone.

Later, the size of mobile phones decreased, and the LCD display moved from monochrome to color. But nothing has changed - most phones successfully withstood external influences. If scratches appeared 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 becoming lower and lower, which made it possible to replace the old device with a new one almost at any time.

At the end of the 2000s, completely unexpectedly, push-button Cell phones began to yield to sensory analogues. Smartphones also gradually began to switch to touch controls. 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. 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 display itself - sometimes with an air gap, sometimes without it. But glass was the most common, and in some cases transparent plastic was used. 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 the same 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? A lot, actually. Standard glass now covers only the front panels of the cheapest Chinese smartphones, whose names no one remembers. If the cost of the device exceeds 5,000 rubles, then its display must be covered with special protected glass. He is being released Corning, Asahi and some other companies. It is tempered, making it very difficult to damage such glass even on purpose.

But in fact, the answer to the question “Do I need protective film?” not so clear cut. The fact is that safety glasses are divided into generations. Initially, the same company Corning produced very unreliable first-generation Gorilla Glass.

And if in your hands there is very old smartphone, then it still makes sense to buy.

Well, now devices are coming off assembly lines that are equipped with one of the latest generations of protective glass. He is not afraid of the metals from which keys are made. And some glasses have no consequences even after using a kitchen knife!

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

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 leaves scratches on any device. It is in such cases that the film comes to the rescue - after a trip to the beach, you can remove it, getting rid of any scratches.

Which is better: film or glass?

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

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

If your smartphone regularly falls on a hard surface, then you need to get glass, since film does not protect against this.

But at the same time, you may encounter not the best sensor performance, since the glass is thicker than any film. If you are very afraid of this, then it is better to opt for 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, this trick will not work, because it cannot be cut. Therefore, you can easily find glass for sale for many models from, 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 could use additional protection. You will read more about it 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 photo, but also the type of photo paper. It's about the same story with films - they come in matte and glossy. Let's 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 sun glare.

The image becomes slightly grainier.

Glossy film:

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

Sun glare may appear;
Fingerprints are clearly visible on the gloss.

Additional explanations are unnecessary here. All you have to do is decide which shortcomings are less significant for you, after which you can go to the store to make a purchase. Note that expensive glossy films have a special coating at their disposal (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 for a smartphone screen has a number of disadvantages. You will have to come to terms with them. But it’s better not to buy such an accessory. Especially if you have it in stock good smartphone, released in 2015 or later. You can safely put it in the same pocket with your keys; this will not affect its appearance at all.

A smartphone is not the cheapest device. Not everyone can afford to buy it regularly. Most often, a smartphone is used for a couple of years. At the same time, the device is protected in every possible way so as not to accidentally damage it. Among standard means protection - sticker of a special film. It is believed that this The best way protect the screen from scratches. But is this film really needed in our time? After all, the screens of many smartphones are covered with protective glass.

What is a protective film?

Some people think protective film high-tech detail. Meanwhile, such film could have been produced decades ago, if only there was a need. Most often, the film is a clear sheet of plastic that is held onto the screen. Mobile device display sizes now vary from 3.5 to 10.5 inches. This forces the buyer to look for a film designed specifically for his smartphone or tablet. Or you have to cut the film yourself from a large sheet, risking making a mistake. What saves the situation is that the protective film is relatively cheap; no one bothers you to buy a couple of sheets just in case.

Not everyone knows about the correct method of applying protective film. It is not enough to simply clean the screen of dust first. It is advisable to wash it lightly with soapy water. Only after this the protective film is carefully applied to the device, starting from its upper part. Most often, after this there are no bubbles or extra specks left. The film may well protect the phone from scratches. Replacing it is much easier than replacing the display.

Gorilla Glass

With the advent of the first tablet computers on Android based the question arose of protecting their 10-inch screen. Protective film is good, but I would like a more radical solution. The new technology was introduced by Corning. It was a protective glass that was applied to the screen by the manufacturer. In this case, there is no air gap, so there is no image distortion.

First and second versions tempered glass were too difficult to install, which is why they were mainly equipped only with tablets. But everything changed with the advent of Gorilla Glass 3 in 2013. This glass is 40% more resistant than the previous version. And the ease of installation allowed smartphone manufacturers to pay attention to Corning products. Now almost every smartphone is equipped with protective glass, unless we are talking about a Chinese device for 3-4 thousand rubles.

Owners of smartphones with protective film know cases when scratches remained on the film. They believe that this part protected the screen from damage. But this is a misconception, since it is much easier to leave a scratch on the film than on a protective screen. If you do not carry a stationery knife, blade or scalpel in your pocket, then there is nothing to fear. A modern display with Gorilla Glass cannot be scratched by keys, coins and other similar objects. You can easily verify this by watching videos on YouTube. People use screwdrivers and nails, but even with these items they cannot scratch the screen.

Disadvantages of protective films

Protective film has many disadvantages. A cheap sheet of plastic negatively affects the touch qualities of the display. The screen begins to perceive your touch worse. Only more expensive films do not have this drawback. But even they can affect the image quality. Plastic is called transparent, but in reality this is not entirely true. It can only be 99% transparent, which is why some of the light is still hidden. In many cases, the image begins to appear too cloudy or blurry - this is also the fault of the protective film.

And we must not forget about the difficulties of applying film to the screen of a mobile device. Not everyone will be able to complete this process on the first try. Many people get air bubbles under the film, which is why they have to make a second attempt. And the protective film can quickly collect several scratches from those objects that actually could not harm the screen. After this, a new film will again need to be applied, or you will have to be content with an unpresentable appearance smartphone.

When is protective film still needed?

Now we can conclude that modern smartphones and tablets do not need a protective film. But this is not entirely true. The latest generation of Gorilla Glass copes well with man-made materials. But sand can cause scratches on this glass. Microscopic grains of sand can have any shape; protective glass cannot be adjusted to billions of options. That is why electronic devices With LCD display it is not recommended to take it to the beach. If you decide to do this, then first apply a protective film. It will certainly save you from unforeseen consequences.

The film can also save you if your smartphone falls on hard rocks. But in this case, you will be more concerned not with scratches on the display, but with other damage received by the phone.

conclusions

The conclusion after all this is very simple. If you buy a smartphone for 6 thousand rubles or more, then do not run to the store for a protective film. You will need it, but only if you go to the beach. The most expensive smartphones In general, they are terribly afraid of any foreign films. Their screens are equipped with an oleophobic coating that fights moisture and fingerprints. By applying a film you can permanently remove this coating.

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

Often, when buying a smartphone, consultants suggest that we buy a special film to protect the screen from scratches. But we think that this is just pumping money out of our pocket, or we simply don’t have extra money for it, since it’s relatively expensive (although this rule is not always true).

Let's try to figure out whether a protective film is needed on your device. We’ll also dispel a couple of myths that I personally often hear from my friends.

The film does not stick 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. Tell me dearly. Let's calculate what you save on: firstly, the person himself will stick it on for you, with high quality, without bubbles and dirt. Secondly, a high-quality 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 adhesive 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. 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 actually saw this, the film was so scratched that it hurt to look at the phone. And it scratched even from simply rubbing a finger over it. But the only thing here is that the owner of the phone simply saved money and bought a cheap film that no one needed.

I have Gorilla Glass or other protective glass.

I must disappoint you - your glass is also scratched. But I want to admit that it scratches much harder than usual. It all depends on what else you carry in the same pocket with your smartphone. There are some craftsmen who put the keys to the apartment in the same pocket with the phone, and they say that there is no need to glue the film to the screen. Yes, I know people like that myself.

A case is better than a protective film.

I can’t argue with you, the case is a really necessary thing. And it protects the phone and body well, especially if it is made of glossy material. But if it goes like this, then the phone is not always in a case and then the film will not hurt you in any way. In addition, there are people who find the case inconvenient; they have so many calls and things to do with their smartphone that they don’t have time to take 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 rendition is important to you, then buy transparent and glossy film. There is no need to buy matte and then talk about it.

I have a resistive screen, it doesn’t work well with film.

Not true! The film will not impair the performance of your sensor in any way. Moreover, a resistive screen requires more, because such a screen uses a stylus, 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 is of good quality, and if it is applied 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 glued. Whatever you say, it’s cheaper than a new screen. So, friends, if you have already decided to buy a new one, do not cheap phone, also decide to stick the film...

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

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

Everyone knows that a smartphone, especially from leading manufacturers, costs a lot of money, so immediately after purchasing it, many begin to think about how best to protect it in order to preserve its appearance for a longer time. After all, you don’t want to spend a significant amount and soon have a scratched screen. Therefore, most often they stick a protective film on top to protect the display, but is this necessary? Now such a precaution is losing relevance, although until recently it was considered a necessary accessory. Changes occurred after the development of new types of coatings and glass, the availability of which makes the purchase of film unnecessary.

It can't be said that this type protection has completely exhausted itself, it is possible that in some cases this will not be such a bad option, so let us remind you how to use the film correctly. First of all, the film is a sheet of transparent synthetic material, which is usually purchased separately from the smartphone and glued over its screen. Accordingly, for various gadgets There are different films that differ in size and location of cutouts for the speaker, microphone and control buttons.

To apply such a protective film, you must first thoroughly clean the surface of the display with a special cloth, possibly adding a small amount of soapy water. Then you need to lean the film against it and smooth it out, pressing on the surface of the screen and making sure that the film fits tightly to the display without the formation of cracks or bubbles. Thus, as a result of a simple operation that does not require large expenses, some additional protection of the screen from accidental damage appears. And if now the display gets scratched, it will not be the damaged display, but most likely the film, which can be easily replaced.

Although this operation is simple, it will be even easier to buy a smartphone with “built-in protection”, which the developers of modern mobile devices have provided, equipping most of them with a new product called “Gorilla Glass”, a material from the company “Corning”. This innovation has a very high strength that protects screens from scratches due to its special physical structure. Gorilla Glass screens are made from tempered glass. Therefore, new displays are replacing the technology of gluing protective films, since they are no longer particularly necessary.

The contents of pockets and handbags (coins, keys, etc.) will not damage Gorilla Glass screens. While earlier designs were designed to withstand the impact of a kitchen knife blade, the latest generation of coating from Corning, introduced last year, is 40% more resistant to external influences. And now preparations are being made for the introduction of Gorilla Glass 3.

Those who still use protective films are sure that they are doing the right thing, because sometimes they notice new scratches that appear on them. Users believe that if they had not protected their phone, the damage would have been on the display. But Gorilla Glass is stronger than thin plastic, and besides this obvious advantage over using film, there are a number of others.

Even if you applied the film properly, after a while you will still find that you are the owner of a phone that has a couple of scratches on the screen (these are just damage to the film). Another disadvantage is the change in color rendition, since the film will distort real colors. And yet - with long-term use the film may fade. Finally, if you were unable to stick it evenly, then in addition you will observe bubbles, irregularities and sharp edges of the film on the screen every time you bring the phone to your ear.

And although all the disadvantages of protective films are described, there is still no clear answer. It’s not entirely fair to call for people to stop sticking plastic, since “Gorilla Glass” is also not a super-strong material: for example, even ordinary sand can damage it, particles of which on your hands, if they hit the surface of the display, can leave quite noticeable scratches. Therefore, when going to the beach, you can remember the outdated method of protection.

Gorilla Glass is resistant to most metals, but screens can be damaged by impacts from rocks and other types of glass or very durable alloys. For lovers of extreme pastimes, it would not be a bad idea to remember the existence of a protective film, because if the screen of your gadget is exposed to atypical influences, then, most likely, a trace of it will remain on the surface of the plastic, which can later be replaced.

Films have one more good quality– there are no hand marks left on them. Modern smartphones are also made using oleophobic materials, that is, capable of repelling fat on the hands of users. Thus, the screen of your phone only needs to be wiped to get rid of noticeable fingerprints, but the user is psychologically calmer if he knows that the replacement film will be exposed to grease, and not the screen of his precious smartphone.

Protective film today is not an essential purchase. Modern smartphone has built-in protection. And, nevertheless, the film, sometimes, may not be superfluous: replacing it is much cheaper and easier than an expensive screen.