If you’ve just spent a hefty sum of money buying yourself a new smartphone, chances are you want to buy accessories to protect it and keep it in pristine condition.

Or maybe you’re simply a self-confessed klutz who knows that your phone will benefit from an extra layer of protection.

Aside from buying your phone a case, you’re perhaps considering putting a screen protector on your smartphone too. Below are reasons why you should consider a screen protector for your smartphone.

1. It Reduces Eye Strain

Screen protectors with a matte finish make reflections less distinct, diffusing the glare. However, newer screen protectors use chemical treatments to provide an additional screen protector layer.

These anti-reflective (AR) screen protectors bend light, resulting in less glare and reflected light, both those that come from the smartphone itself and the environment, such as sunlight. The light cancellation improves screen visibility and decreases the need to squint to see what’s on the screen.

2. It Protects Against Dirt Accumulation

Due to constant use, smartphones accumulate bacteria. Some screen protectors have antimicrobial properties embedded in the glass that gets rid of bacteria from the screen. Furthermore, some screen protectors also have a coating that repels dust.

Screen protectors also have surface coatings: a lipophobic layer that protects against the natural oils in your fingers accumulating on the screen and a hydrophobic coating that repels water.

3. It Provides Privacy

Some screen protectors have a tint-like coating that ensures that the screen can only be visible to the person in front of the screen. When the screen is viewed from a different angle, all the person will see is a tinted screen—an excellent way to keep prying eyes at bay.

4. It Protects From Wear and Tear

Most new models of smartphones are already made of Corning’s Gorilla Glass or other similar protection. While they are scratch-resistant, they are not scratch-proof. Using a screen protector will not provide 100 percent security that your screen won’t break when it falls, but it does provide an extra layer of protection.

While all smartphones will accumulate scratches eventually, a screen protector will protect your smartphone from your daily grind—like getting scratches from the keys in your pocket. This is especially true for thicker glass types compared to thinner plastic ones.

If you really want an extra level of protection, you might want to look for a glass protector made of sapphire. Sapphires rank a little bit higher than Gorilla Glass on the Mohs scale of hardness.

5. It Keeps Your Phone in Pristine Condition

If you plan to trade your phone for a future upgrade or sell it to fund a new smartphone, it is best to use a screen protector. Having even the slightest speck or scratch on your smartphone’s screen will significantly diminish its value.

6. It Serves as a Mirror

A side benefit of reflective glass screen protectors is that they can serve as mirrors when your smartphone’s screen is off. While this is not directly going to benefit your phone, it will be helpful for you, one way or the other.

There’s Nothing to Lose

Smartphones are expensive. While there are many contentions online as to whether buying a screen protector is worth it, there is really nothing much to lose. A small price in exchange for comfort, convenience, and a screen full of micro-scratches is still a good deal.

Source: MUO