Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsState of the Art! Glad someone figured out how to do this.
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2020
This will be the longest screen protector review ever so I will divide it in sections so you can skip to what interests you.
About me: I’ve been using PDAs and mobile computing since ~1999 and learned the importance of screen protection early on with one of my Palms. I worked in an environment with air and waterborne abrasives and screens would get ruined. My wife and children use mobile devices and I have applied hundreds of screen protectors for our family and friends.
Apple Watch screen protection: The problem is the curves. Despite using some kind of miracle glass the Apple Watch gets scratched pretty easily. My wife works in an office and when we got ours I trusted that there would be no way she would need a screen protecor. Boy was I wrong! I looked at hers after a couple months and it already had some nicks and abrasions. So now everyone is on the screen protector schedule. We started with the model 3 and then gifted ours to our 2 children when the Model 4 was released so I’ve been keeping up with four of them. I have used many screen protectors and all of them “work”, but the only *problem* is that the edges will come up with the brush of a sleeve or any other friction along the edge. Always, without fail. If you can remain aware of that failing there are ways of preventing the peel, but that means living with yet another worry. I’ve managed a couple months without the peel, but it eventually shows up. Why do they peel? Probably because of low-tac adhesive and the other ones I’ve tried are thicker. That thickness gives them a bigger edge to grab and are harder to hold down on the curved section.
*(I used some glass protectors with curved edges and couldn’t get a bubble-free installation)
Installation: I’m not sure if alcohol will sufficiently remove all oils so I cleaned mine with a very diluted Dawn/water solution followed by a water rinse, then alcohol wipe.
Shining a flashlight across the surface of the Watch will reveal any dust that doesn’t show up with perpendicular lighting.
I watched the video twice and followed the application instructions exactly, (except for my additional cleaning step), and the first protector went on perfectly. It was ready instantly, no overnight curing time or incessantly keeping up with the sides and corners wanting to lift up until “cured”.
Screen protectors - The Hidden Cost: The Watch is sold with fanfare regarding their special glass formulation to keep it scratch-free. If you are lucky enough to live a life surrounded by soft things and never get out in the real world then that may be enough. It wasn’t for me, my wife, or my children. So we buy screen protectors. I was going to include a list of the various protectors I’ve purchased, but it is embarrassing. Some lasted longer than others but in the end they all died of the dreaded Peel. Some lasted longer than others, but results varied even within protectors from the same package. I try to reduce variables by having a consistent application method but nothing can stop the inevitable peel. I’ve used BestSkinsEver protectors on devices in the past with great results before the tempered glass protector revolution but even they failed on the Watch. Additionally; people have different skill levels and dexterity so applying these finicky things can often end in failure. This application system greatly reduces failure if you follow the instructions.
Another “cost” is application time. With the other protectors I have to wait until the end of the day and spend time applying and tending to the watches. With my very first installation of these I was done in under 10 minutes and popped the Watch back on my arm. Subsequent applications should be under 5 minutes.
Conclusion: These may eventually peel off like all the rest, I will update accordingly. But even if they do I will continue to use them because they are the best of the MANY screen protectors I’ve used if only for the ease of installation. I am confident these will greatly reduce “The Peel”, but time will tell. Because these are noticeably thinner than all of the others I’ve tried it’s hard to tell that there’s even a screen protector on the Watch!
Sensitivity is fine, nothing weird about the surface, I am so happy to have finally found these because it’s been a pain in the neck keeping up with these darn things. Even if they only last as long as the others the cost is about the same but installation is a breeze.
I will definitely update as time goes by.
For the record: I have no affiliation with this company and receive no compensation or benefit of any kind for this positive review. I am writing in an effort to share my experience with this frustrating aspect of Apple Watch ownership.
Update 04/02/2020 - It's been a little over a month and I think I'm gonna put on a new one. I could probably get another month out of this one but it's getting chewed up. I work machine maintenance and am always scraping my watch across something. It's held up admirably and even a section on the side that I've scraped and lifted doesn't want to pop up like the thicker screen protectors do. My wife's looks as good as new, this may be a record!