A protective film can help to shield your smartphone screen from day-to-day damage. It won’t stop you from using the touchscreen functions and your display will be just as clear. The films are made from polycarbonate foil and have to be stuck onto your screen.
Although they are simple to apply, the process can be a little fiddly. That’s why we’ve produced this guide to take you step-by-step through how to apply a protective film to make sure you get a professional-looking finish.
1. First, clean the area where you’re going to apply the protective film. Remove all traces of dust or dirt and wash your hands thoroughly. This will help to prevent dirt and grime from getting trapped between your screen and the film.
2. Next, get a dry microfiber cloth and use it to thoroughly clean your smartphone screen. This step is very important as even minor specks of dust can lead to air bubbles under the foil. After you’ve cleaned and degreased the screen, take care that you don’t accidentally touch it with your fingers.
3. Now you’re ready to get the foil film that you want to stick on the phone screen.
4. If you’ve bought a universal polycarbonate foil you’ll need to cut it to the correct size for your phone. To do this, all you need to do is download a template from the manufacturer's website using the code attached to the foil and then draw it. When you have the right size, remove the first layer from the protective foil.
5. Now you’re ready to place the foil against your phone screen. Take care to match the edges exactly to the edges of the display.
6. When you’re happy it is correctly placed, you’re ready to stick it down.
7. Use a microfiber cloth to press the cover evenly against the surface of the screen to stick it down.
8. If there are large air bubbles under the foil, you can gently peel off the foil and repeat the process of pressing with a microfiber cloth to try to squeeze the air out.
9. The next step is to remove any small air bubbles under the cover.
Continue to use the cloth to press the foil against the screen to remove any air.
10. If the film had a protective top layer, remove it.
11. You’re done!
How does a foil protect your phone screen?
One of the benefits of a protective film is that it is thin and almost invisible. It also has a matte surface, so you do not see greasy marks on it. It’s also useful if you have a curved screen, with products designed specifically for this type of screen. For example, the 3MK arc film, which protects the entire surface of a curved screen.
A good quality polycarbonate cover will protect your phone from minor scratches and can help mask any exiting small scratches on the screen. However, be aware that it will not protect the screen from breaking if it is dropped or banged. If your phone only has a foil cover, it’s wise to avoid contact with sharp objects. For example, don’t place it in a backpack or bag.
What are the alternatives?
Alternatives to protective film are toughed glass and foil glass covers. These are thicker and can protect your phone screen against more serious damage.
For complete phone protection, don’t forget to buy a smartphone case. Choose from a wide range of designs to protect your phone from damage and give your phone a unique look.
Enthusiast of new technologies and modern mobile devices. An avid gadgeteer and GSM accessories tester. More recently, an electronic equipment reviewer and editor. In his free time, he tinkers and plays console. On the etuo blog, he deals with problems faced by smartphone users on a daily basis.