Do you depend on your smartphone or tablet like oxygen? Have it by your side from the moment you wake up to the second you go to sleep?
You‘re not alone. Hundreds of millions feel the same bond with their precious devices.
And for good reason. Our phones and tablets connect us to everything important – friends, family, work, entertainment, and vital services. Losing access due to a damaged screen leaves us stranded on a deserted island.
A quality screen protector guards your lifeline. It‘s insurance to prevent the devastation of a cracked display rendering your device unusable.
Below we detail 6 reasons why a screen protector deserves a permanent spot atop your phone or tablet:
Overview: 6 Key Benefits
Before diving deeper, here‘s the 30 second overview on why screen protectors matter:
- Impact Protection: Absorb/disperse shock from drops to prevent cracked screens
- Scratch Protection: Shield displays from abrasions that undermine structure
- Antimicrobial: Kill bacteria and viruses swarming screens by the billions
- Eye Protection: Filter excessive blue light that strains eyes over time
- Privacy: Blackout displays when viewed from angles to prevent visual hacking
- Clarity: Repel oily fingerprints that smudge and obscure screens
Now let‘s explore each benefit more closely…
#1 Impact Protection: A Shield Against Shattering
Fumble a phone without a protector and disaster often ensues. Screen first collisions with the ground frequently end in heartbreak.
Repairing or replacing cracked touch displays costs Americans over $3 billion annually.
The glass used is deceptively fragile. Intense marketing hype often gives glass displays an aura of invincibility that reality betrays.
Without reinforcement, most fracture under minor stress. A protector acts like the bumper on a car – absorbing punishment so what‘s underneath stays structurally sound.
Quality tempered glass protectors can withstand over 6 foot drops to concrete without the screen underneath cracking. Rigorous stress tests confirm their life-saving support:
[insert extreme drop test gif]Plastic protectors cushion less severely but still dissipate damaging energy transmitted upon impact. This insulation provides a better chance of escaping unharmed.
Remember – $200+ repair bills haunt those who leave screens defenseless. Don‘t play such risky games with fragile smartphone glass.
#2 Scratch Protection: Preventing High-Risk Compromises
Many falsely believe scratches only damage aesthetics about as seriously as smeared make-up. In reality they:
- Destabilize structural integrity
- Increase susceptibility to shattering
- Lower resale value
Small abrasions create weaknesses prone to spreading over time. This comprises the screen’s durability long-term.
Think of scratches on a smartphone screen like cracks in a car‘s windshield. What begins harmless enough can end catastrophically.
Luckily quality protectors act like car bra protection against abrasions. TPU plastic shields exceptionally well against surface level marring. Glass resists deeper grooves from forming across extended use.
Guarding structure preserves function the same way defending chassis preserves drivers. Don‘t leave screens naked – expose them safely with smart accessories.
#3 Antimicrobial Protection: Stopping Germs in Their Tracks
Studies confirm smartphone screens now surpass even toilet seats for hazardous bacteria. Unwashed hands deposit infectious agents by the billions.
Top issues include:
- E.coli
- Salmonella
- Streptococci
Hourly swipes then transfer these pathogens from screen back to fingers and into bodies through eyes, nose and mouth.
Many modern screen protectors now integrate silver nano-particles that spontaneously disable harmful microorganisms. Cases exist of nurses recovering from recurrent infections after applying germ-killing guards.
Don‘t settle for bacteria playgrounds/cesspools on devices pressed against faces regularly. Seek antimicrobial protection critical for health in the 21st century.
#4 Eye Protection: Filtering Out Macular Degeneration
Smartphones and tablets deliver entertainment we can’t divert eyes from. Average users now spend 4+ hours daily staring at a glowing display.
And that intense exposure questions long-term ocular health.
Doctors link rampant myopia and devices use in young populations. But medical literature also connects electronics overload to retinal degradation and associated vision loss over decades.
The core culprit is excessive blue light bombardment studies show steadily erodes macular regions critical for clarity.
Quality screen protectors filter out this high frequency brightness to relieve strain. Think sunglasses for device displays that promote sustainable usage.
Protect fragile eyes against modern tech overindulgence. Help sustain checkups where optometrists beam “Looks great!” rather than “Let’s discuss options…”
#5 Privacy Protection: Thwarting Visual Hacking
Hackers steal identities not just digitally but physically too by peering over shoulders.
Visual hacking to gain usernames, passwords, messages, accounts numbers, etc. remains rampant in public spaces like coffee shops, airports, buses and more.
Special privacy screen protectors combat this violation. Optical filters black out displays beyond ~30° to safeguard sensitive information.
- 2-way filters block left and right periphery
- 4-way filters secure all angles
Fearlessly use devices in public without worrying who might be spying nearby. Protect exchanges meant for your eyes only.
#6 Fingerprint + Smudge Resistance
Cloudy fingerprints constantly clutter device screens after continual swiping. Both unsightly and aggravating, these oily smears degrade:
- Visual clarity
- Touch responsiveness
Quality screen protectors now integrate oleophobic (oil-repellent) coatings preventing accumulation. This maintains:
- Optical transparency for better display resolution
- Tactile precision for smoother user experience
Smudge resistance also lowers friction allowing fingers to glide cleanly across in buttery fashion. No frustration wiping foggy panels clear every 30 seconds either.
Not All Protectors Created Equal
- Hundreds of models exist
- Ranging from $5 to $50
- Varying enormously in quality
Confused what to choose? Let’s clarify differences between types so you buy best for your needs…
Tempered Glass
- Toughens display to withstand major impact
- Feels crisp like naked glass itself
- Repels grime/oil smears with oleophobic coatings
- Often adds bonus antimicrobial properties
- Downside = Glare + expensive replacements after shattering
PET Plastic Film
- Very thin for pocket-friendly portability
- Smooth delicate application to prevent bubbles
- Cheapest option but misses many bonus features
- Only shields against scratches – not drops
TPU Plastic Film
- Middle-ground between glass and PET plastic
- More protection cushioning drops than PET
- Safeguards against scratches nearly on par with glass
- Not as transparent clarity-wise as glass or PET
Liquid Film Solutions
- Applied by brushing on liquid that dries protective
- Ability to cover curved screens uniformly
- Too often applied unevenly leaving touchy areas
- Generally less protective than solid films
Best Screen Protectors
We distilled down the cluttered field to spotlight all-star options across categories:
Overall Winner
- Spigen EZ Fit tempered glass covers every base
- Flawless touchscreen compatibility
- Antimicrobial technology kills harmful bacteria
- $25 but worth every penny for total security
Best Budget
- Supershieldz PET plastic 2-pack under $10
- Smooth feel + tapered edges disappear visually
- Scratch protection punching above cheap price point
Best Anti-Glare
- TechMatte anti-glare guards excel even in direct sun
- Feature layered construction filtering reflected light
- specialized treatment dimming glare by ~25%
Best Antimicrobial
- Aqeiq built-in 24k gold nanoparticles annihilate microbes
- Silver alternative avoiding colored tinting over time
- Lab testing verifies 99.99% bacteria elimination
Best Privacy
- Roxfit privacy delivers uncompromised 360° protection
- Proprietary 4-way filtration foils visual hackers
- Tempered glass withstands repeated 6 ft drops
Don’t gamble with fate unprotected. Follow recommendations matching unique needs to find perfect pair. Then cover beloved screens in best-in-class armor.
Smartphones/tablets secure lives now like brake pads secure vehicles. Treat both as indispensable accessories because they are!
