Why do screen protectors crack so easily?

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Some believe that screen protectors aren’t really necessary anymore, arguing that modern phone screens are much better than they were in the past. There is truth in that. When you compare, say, Ceramic Shield to Gorilla Glass, both types of screens can withstand drops of around six feet and offer significant scratch resistance (goodbye to scuffs from keys in your pocket). On the other hand, a screen protector can crack if you sneeze next to it. Sure, it’s a joke, but it illustrates how quickly they crack.

However, ask yourself: should a protector be unbreakable? Well no. You don’t want your screen protector to be bulletproof because its purpose is to absorb and disperse the energy of drops. If your phone collides with the ground, the thin film takes the brunt of the impact, spreading the energy across the entire surface of the phone. Without it, the energy would likely remain concentrated in a single point on the screen, strong enough to shatter even the toughest Gorilla Glass display. You can think of a screen protector as a crumple zone in a vehicle, an area designed to absorb all the energy of the impact instead of letting all the force be transferred to the passengers.

Certainly, if your screen protector cracks randomly, check to see if it was installed correctly. For example, if the person installing the film does not apply equal pressure to all surfaces of the protector, it could leave air bubbles, which could accelerate cracking. It’s also possible that the protector is incorrectly sized – which could also cause it to crack like an egg.

Is there a screen protector that won’t crack so easily? Yes, although that doesn’t make it the best, because cracking is better. A plastic/PET/TPU screen protector may be flexible and inexpensive, but its main purpose is to prevent scratches. Unfortunately, its foldable nature means its impact protection is almost non-existent. It won’t break if you drop your phone, but all that force might go straight to the screen. It is therefore wiser to choose a tempered glass screen protector rather than plastic.

Of course, the slightly higher price may discourage you from opting for tempered glass. A premium protector can cost around $26 a pop on Amazon, which could be a lot if you compare it to a $13 pack of plastic protectors, although that’s nothing compared to repairing the entire screen. If you’re using an iPhone, for example, Apple will charge upwards of $300 for repairs.

Other more specialized materials also exist. Manufacturers like Belkin produce UltraGlass, which is advertised as being twice as strong as regular tempered glass because it is chemically enhanced through dual ion exchange. Any way you cut it, a screen protector (especially glass that will crack) is something you should consider if you want to keep your phone’s screen intact. Even if you’re a careful user who also uses a case, Murphy’s Law is a reality, and a single drop can take $300 straight out of your wallet. And at that point, a $30 tempered glass protector becomes invaluable, even if it breaks.