[Review] SGP Brand Screen Protectors
Here is my review on the SGP Steinheil LCD Protection Film.
www.SGPSTORE.com
I bought the MATTE ANTI FINGERPRINT type.
Now many people may ask why I didn't opt for the clear ones that cost more on the website. Maybe they are better!
Maybe. But personally what I look for in a protector is 1) texture and 2) how it looks over the screen. That why I prefer Matte. Its personal preference.
Packaging
Bought from the website. This set costs roughly $26 SGD including shipping.
The packaging contains the following:
2x Screen protectors for screen (yes 2)
3x Camera screen protectors for the Back camera
1x Squeegee (its really just a rectangle piece of plastic)
1x Micro Fiber Cloth
Cutting & Coverage
The screen real estate covered by the screen protector is literally everything. Only 2 areas are not covered. The first is the front facing camera and the second is the home button. The
cutting of the protector is as perfect as it an be. Areas like cutout for the front speakers are not excessively large and has just enough allowance for very slight mis-alignment. The edges
of the screen protector cover up nicely and exposed areas are reduced to a minimal ~0.5 to 1mm.
There is a tiny cutout provided to cover up the camera lens at the back of the phone. That cutout is crystal clear and not matte because well, it's a camera.
My only gripe is that they did not create an extra cutout for us to cover the center button.
*Cutting of most screen protectors out there*
*Cutting of SGP Screen Protector I bought*
Hardness and protection against scratches
Since putting on the protector last night, I have used my fingernails to scratch out air bubbles and is happy to report that no visible marks were left although I did use a fair bit of
force. Before putting on the protector, I bent it slightly and found the material to be much harder than the cheap $10 clear protector that can be found in 90% of the shops in Singapore.
(forgot what brand it is but the packaging is blue and ugly). I would estimate the material to be 1x harder than my previous protector yet not thicker.
Overall, while I can't speak for how scratch resistant it is until I've had time to use it longer, initial impressions are good.
Anti Fingerprint qualities
The anti fingerprint qualities simply work although I dont' know how. As long as your fingers are dry, you will find no visible fingerprints on the screen from normal swiping. This is in
contrast to normal clear screen protectors that would leave fingerprints behind due to oil and residue on our fingers. I did notice that if you make a call and there is oil transfer from
your face, it has to be wiped away with your shirt or a cloth for the screen to be anti-fingerprint again.
Clarity of screen
There is obviously going to be some form of quality degradation due to the matte nature of the film. However, whatever contrast or brightness (very minimal) that you lose, you gain back in
clarity due to the screen's newly gained anti glare capabilities. Due to this, there seems to have been an improvement in screen clarity (for me at least). This is probably due to a wider
viewing angle.
Screen sensitivity
One key part that I have to mention is that I personally felt an increase in screen sensitivity after I applied the protector. The film gives the screen a sort of rough texture that doesn't
impede swiping, but instead acts as an extra sensitivity feedback for your fingers. Due to this, the screen somehow feels more responsive due to your fingers being able to slide more
precisely across the screen. Its hard to describe but take it as very very tiny invisible bumps that helps your fingers know where to stop when swiping around your screen.
Another thing I want to mention is that the screen also now feels "softer" to touch compared to when the screen was bare.
Summary
Overall I would say the protection is simply fantastic compared to the "cheap" protectors that is currently available in stores in Singapore. I have personally used martin's fields and
while the martin's field screen protectors are clear and quite scratch resistant, doesn't provide the improved sensitivity and wider viewing angle of the screen. Martin's field is also a
finger print magnet.
In terms of value, I actually got 2 protectors for $26SGD~ which means it only costs about $13 dollars each. This is in contrast to the $15SGD that shops are asking for unbranded matte screen
protectors.
Pros
Value for money (your get 2)
Very good cutting
Improved screen sensitivity
Perfect if you like matte screens
Cons
No protection for front button
Shipping took 6 weeks for me. I do not know if this is normal but it's a tad too long for me