While there are legitimate arguments for why screen protectors are no longer necessary, many people still use them on their phones. A recent survey of over 5,000 Android Authority participants showed that around 64% of people use a screen protector.
Before you learn how to protect your screen without a protector, it may help to understand exactly how this device works. It is a thin piece of plastic or glass that sticks to the tempered glass screen of the smartphone. The protector should have the same dimensions as your phone’s screen, providing full coverage. The protector acts as a shield to protect the tempered glass screen from scratches or cracks, absorbing any potentially damaging impact. If the protector becomes damaged, simply remove it and replace it, which is much less expensive than replacing a damaged phone screen.
Premium glass screen protectors can be made of multiple layers that absorb impact and damage. The top layer protects against oils from fingerprints, while the tempered glass layer is extremely hard and absorbs impacts. Some models use an adhesive layer behind the tempered glass that holds the glass securely in place in case it breaks. If you choose a cheaper plastic version, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has scratch resistance but almost no impact resistance. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) has better impact resistance than PET, but it is not as durable as glass.
Why the touchscreen still works with a protector in place
One of the downsides of using a phone screen protector is that you lose some of the touch sensitivity used to operate your smartphone. It seems logical that a thicker protector would at least slightly decrease the phone’s touch sensitivity.
Most smartphones use a capacitive touchscreen covered in a conductive material. The phone measures changes in electrostatic fields caused by a finger when it comes into contact with the conductive material of the screen. This type of touchscreen system is preferred because it provides precise localization and maximum sensitivity measurements while supporting multiple touchpoint gestures.
As long as the protector is made of high-quality materials and is installed correctly, it should not significantly affect the performance of the capacitive touchscreen. Bubbles or dust between the protector and the screen, however, are more likely to affect touch performance. However, even when using a properly installed, high-quality protector, you may notice a slight delay in touchscreen performance if your protector uses multiple layers to provide impact protection. A glass protector can be up to 0.5mm thick, while a plastic protector can only be 0.1mm thick. Thin guards generally create less or no lag. To minimize the risk of lag with a thick glass protector, select one compatible with your phone.
