This will be a post that compares 4 different types of screen protectors:
3M Vikuiti ADQC27
Ebay Cheapo 10 for $3 ultra clear stuff
Just like Glass
IQ Shield LIQuidSkin
I have ordered and used:
3x 3M Vikuiti, I must have 20 or so of the ebay ones, I had 4 Just like Glass, and 2 IQ shield LIQuidSkin.
My application procedure is as follows:
For the dry screen protectors:
Wash hands, steam up bathroom, vacuum bath room, clean surface that the phone will be sitting on, wipe phone with microfiber cloth designed for glasses (can be obtained at any store that sells glasses), apply screen protector, push out air
For the wet:
Wash hands, clean bathroom, clean surface, wipe phone with microfiber cloth, use or create solution as recommended by the manufacture, apply the screen protector, then use a squeegee to push out excess liquid.
Lets start with my personal favorite out of the four:
The 3M Vikuiti, this is hands down the best film screen protector I have used on the note 2, and I think the only other one I would replace it with is a tempered glass one. It's smooth, very smooth, very clear, no spen marks, easy to clean, seems to have an oleophobic layer, because out of the 4 it's the easiest one to clean, and after a while in my pocket, it's the only one that has not developed any fine scratches.
With my technique, I found it very easy to apply and get a bubble free finish, not all is perfect though, the screen protector's width is just slightly larger than the display it self, so you must take care in lining it up, but I found it very easy to remove and reapply. Also the packaging really just comes with the screen protector no cloth.
Overall I give this 4.5/5 it's the most durable, really bubble free (seriously I haven't used a screen protector that gets rid of bubbles so easy), optically clear, no marks, only hindered by the width.
2nd Place:
Ebay screen protectors:
They are cheap, they are easy to apply, however, compared to the 3M bubbles are harder to remove, and I find they do not clean nearly as well as the 3M, and oil gets stuck on sometimes, requiring some cleaning with a microfiber cloth. Durability is also only meh, they tend to get fine scratches quite easily, but it'll protect the screen, the ones I've gotten are very clear (I have tried 4 different ebay brands, all are basically the same), smoothness is worse than the glass, but as you use it, smoothness tends to go up, I guess due to the oils on your hand. No spen marks. Packaging is meh, tends to come with the screen protectors and a crap cloth.
Overall 2.75/5 an average screen protector, which is combined with a cheap price, literally for the price of one of the other screen protectors listed, you can get 10 or more depending on the seller.
3rd Place:
Just Like Glass:
I really wanted to like this one, I really did, I like wet screen protectors they tend to be easier to apply than dry to me. JLG is the most expensive out of the 4. Overall I think it has been over hyped by SSHGuru (Scott the owner of DBA cases, and creator of JLG). Lets start with some positives, it's thick, the thickest out of the screen protectors, which means it should also offer the most protection, it's also VERY smooth, but I don't think it's any more smooth than the 3M, this is IMO, and when the screen is on, it's very clear, just the same as every other screen protector here. However, the cons out weigh the pros, lets start with the application, the included "spray" solution bottle is very small, but it is enough, but I've used 4 of these things (yes I have applied and used 4 JLG screen protectors), and even if I get all the moisture out using a squeegie, even after a few weeks, there will be air bubbles, or some dust, or something that doesn't allow it to adhere fully to the screen, which causes bubbles, and in some cases, a "sparkling" effect near those bubbles when on a white screen. This is the only wet screen protector I have ever used that has frustrated me to no end in this regards, I have contacted Scott, and I have been blamed that my installation technique is to blame, and no blame can be given to his screen protector what so ever. Reading on the forums though, it seems I'm not the only one that has had this problem. Another issue is when the screen is off there is a rainbowy haze (which is normal) it also appears under certain lighting with the screen on, this is apparently the UV coating. That didn't bother me nearly as much as the bubbles though. It is the second most durable screen protector on this list, getting only a very few fine scratches after weeks in my pocket.
Overall: 1.5/5 I cannot recommend this one at all, it's over hyped, too expensive, plagued with adhesion and hazing problems. I hope the JLG dry and tempered glass are much better.
IQSkinz:
This one was promising, promising full screen coverage, easy install, clarity and smoothness, and a very attractive price (2nd most affordable, only behind the ebay ones). Lets say it delivers on everything it promised, it is the only screen protector that has full screen and I mean the entire glass front of the note 2 is covered (including the home button). IMO it was also the easiest one to install, I had no issues with bubbles, adhesion, dust, or really any installation issues. Optically it's clear, very clear, and yes it's smooth to the touch...so where does it go wrong...it's just not durable at all, it's a very soft material (similar to zagg, but without the grippyness) after putting it in my pocket for a day, there were marks in it, and even after waiting for the "self healing" properties they never went away, and you could feel them. Not durable at all, very useless IMO for a screen protector, also allowed for a very fine tiny scratch on my note 2's screen where one of the larger marks were, so didn't really protect either! only other issue was when it's off it had an orange peel effect.
Overall 1/5 again can't really recommend this one only due to it's lack of durability. Fix the durability and it would easily be on top.