The best film and glass screen protectors for your Galaxy Note 9
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As usual with Samsung's curved, edgy AMOLED displays, the screen replacement prices for the Galaxy Note 9, won't be for the faint of heart, not to mention the trouble with restoring the IP68 water-tight certification. That's why we are rounding up some of the best screen protectors you can get for the big guy right now before it has landed on your porch.
Granted, the Note 9 has a thick Gorilla Glass 5 layer on top of its screen and a reinforced frame that is more resistant to bumps and scratches, but it's still going to cost you a good chunk of change if it hits the pavement unprotected. Samsung, after all, has a monopoly on these slightly curved flexible OLED displays sealed with copious amounts of adhesive to reach the IP68 waterproof rating that its recent flagships have.
Fret not, however, as even ahead of the Note 9 pre-order mania, there are already a few reputable accessory makers that offer screen protectors for your precious, unlike the times when the S6 edge took everybody by surprise, and it went a while to get a decent film protector for the device, let alone a tempered glass one. Here are your best options to cover your precious Galaxy Note 9 display from the get-go.
BodyGuardz PRTX
A new generation of screen protection for curved edge displays, the PRTX series from BodyGuardz is landing soon for the Galaxy Note 9, and provides the feel of glass, with the durability of acrylic and PET composites. That's the best of both worlds, as glass protectors are tough to master for curved edges, while film ones are scratch- and bubble-prone, plus they don't provide that extreme level of protection as the glass ones and are somewhat icky to the touch compared to real cover glass. The PRTX series from BodyGuardz aims to right all those wrongs in one fell swoop.
InvisibleShield Glass Curve ($49.99)
Curved glass protectors are a pain to get right, and most of them, even from reputable brands, are a tradeoff when it comes to side touch functionality or aesthetics. Most of the curved shields so far suffered from the usual touch sensitivity problems due to the adhesive being used at the edges only, or a certain amount of unpleasant shine when the adhesive was applied throughout.
Enter InvisibleShield's new Glass Curve series for handsets with flexible OLED displays that are sloping to the sides, such as the Galaxy Note 9. The brand's previous curved protector efforts were as good as anyone else's, barring those that have to be installed using ultraviolet baking.
The Glass Curve uses an all new type of gel glue that eliminates both issues and is arguably the toughest adhesive it has ever placed on a screen protector. For now, the new gel substance will be used only for the Galaxy S and Note line,s as these are the popular ones in dire need of curved protection for their expensive screens, but more models may be released down the road. The price? At $50 apiece for the Glass Curve covering, it is the same price it charged for its previous sloping OLED display protection efforts.
Whitestone Dome Glass ($44)
Its liquid adhesive spills underneath the glass all the way to the rimless, colorless edges, as you can see in the video below, thus avoiding both touch issues on the sides and the nasty reflections that most other tempered glass protectors for curved screen phones exhibit. Granted, the Whitestone Dome does have to be baked with a lamp afterward, but, hey, you will be doing something with your own hands in this day and age of digital complacency!
Olixar Invisible Protection ($10.99)
The film has been custom cut for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, and keeps it clear, scratch- and dirt-free. It's fairly easy to apply, though it won't offer the same protection and finger feel as the tempered glass ones, but is still way better than a naked Note 9 cover glass, plus it's a pretty good budget solution for the pack of two.
Spigen GLAS.tR Nano Liquid ($24.99)
Suitable for all touchscreens, Spigen's Nano Liquid protection adds an extra oleophobic layer on top of the Galaxy Note 9's Gorilla Glass 5 displays that serve against scratches, bumps, spills and various other facts of life that may happen to your new and expensive handset. It's very easy to apply, remains crystal clear, and, naturally, does not have the bubble-worry of the other film and glass solutions.
GPEL Full Coverage Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Galaxy Note 9 (2-PACK) - $35
We've saved the best for last, as GPEL's creations are perhaps the best value-for-money screen protectors for curved displays out there. The Koreans were quick to announce a Galaxy Note 9 model, available from 8/27 onwards.
At just $35 (even less on Amazon at the link below), the twofer pack is case-friendly, which can't be said for the majority of glass protectors on edgy screens. Well, it's not the Whitestone Dome UV baking process, but the installation earns points for simplicity, while the edges remain fully touch-able, again, unlike a lot of curved protectors out there.
The tough, ion-exchange processed Asahi Dragontrail glass comes with excellent oleophobic coating for a smooth finger feel, plus the GPEL protector comes in various subtle hues to match your phone's colors. GPEL also makes a $30 "Privacy" version of said protector, which will prevent peeping Tom's from peeking from the sides.
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