screen protector

The first screen protector was designed and patented by Herbert Schlegel in 1968 for use on television screens.{{US Patent | 3418426 }}

In 1990s, the CRT screen protectors were used on CRT monitors for anti-glare and anti-radiation purposes. {{Citation needed|date=October 2024|reason=What kind of radiation? Needs evidence of science/advertising of screen protectors for this use}} Later, they were adapted for use on LCD monitors.

Screen protectors first entered the mobile-device market after the rise of personal digital assistants (PDAs). Since PDAs were often operated via a stylus,{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} the tip of the stylus could scratch the sensitive LCD screen surface. Therefore, screen protectors provided sacrificial protection from this damage. Since then, the ubiquity of mobile-devices have seen the screen protector become more widely used.

Screen protectors are made of either plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or of laminated tempered glass, similar to the device’s original screen they are meant to protect. Plastic screen protectors cost less than glass and are thinner (around {{cvt|0.1|mm|3}} thick, compared to {{cvt|0.3|to|0.5|mm|3}} for glass){{Citation |title= Are Glass Screen Protectors Better Than Plastic Ones? |first=Mihir |last= Patkar |date=July 28, 2014 |url= https://lifehacker.com/are-glass-screen-protectors-better-than-plastic-ones-1611904544 |website=Lifehacker }} and more flexible. At the same price, glass will resist scratches better than plastic, and feel more like the device's screen, though higher priced plastic protectors may be better than the cheapest tempered glass models, since glass will shatter or crack with sufficient impact force.

Screen protectors' surface can be glossy or matte. Glossy protectors retain the display's original clarity, while a matte ("anti-glare") surface facilitates readability in bright environments and mitigates stains such as finger prints.{{cite web |title=What Screen Protector is Right For You? |url=https://paperlike.com/blogs/paperlikers-insights/what-screen-protector-is-right-for-you |website=Paperlike |language=en |date=2020-01-29}}

Screen protectors have been known to interfere with the operation of some touchscreens.{{Cite web|title=Windows Mobile 6.1 Setup Notes|url=http://ssb22.user.srcf.net/gradint/wm61notes.html|first=Silas S.|last=Brown|accessdate=2014-12-05}}

Also, an existing oleophobic coating of a touchscreen will be covered, although some tempered glass screen protectors come with their own oleophobic coating.

On some devices, the thickness of screen protectors can affect the look and feel of the device.

{{Commons category|Screen protector}}

• Smartphone
• {{section link|Mobile_phone_accessories#Cases}}

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Category:Display technology