Question fold 3 durability question - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3

I work in a shop environment with lots of titanium, magnesium, steel, and aluminum dust. Would this be an issue with the fold 3's inner screen or is it stong enough to withstand the metal dust being in my pocket Tweakbox Appvalley https://vlc.onl.

You said the keyword "dust." I don't think the screen would be the prime victim-- but if you are concerned about the abrasive properties of fine particles, I'd probably want to have a source of compressed air to sweep the surface. I get to the more concerning elements below-- but I suspect that those can be addressed.
I don't think the display itself is more fragile than any other modern phone's coated surface. But I might be concerned about abrasive particles resting on the inner display surface while open and then being "stored" there when the clamshell is closed. You'd be a better judge of whether static electricity would make these particles more stubborn to blow away. And also you'd have to judge how profuse those particles are in the working environment.
I'd also have the same concern-- but to a lesser extent-- about the hinge area. The Z Fold 3 has a pretty good hinge cover. But I can't guess whether particles measured in microns might be a stubborn problem. You use the word dust rather than shavings so this might be a concern. Some cases have hinge covers. Mine does not*. I was not impressed by the design and protection offered by the ones I saw when I researched them. (Extensively before I actually had experience with my own Z Fold 3.)
Now on to that keyword "dust." I have had my Z Fold 3 for four weeks now. I flew from the US to Asia and I noticed an increasing tendency for incoming calls to be muffled and ultimately barely audible. I brought the device to the local Samsung Customer Service Center. (That's something that hardly exists in the US except in Glendale, CA and maybe in the NY Metro area.) The associate took my Z Fold 3 and went into the back room-- presumably where the techs are sweating away. She came back and had my hubby call me. Sure enough the sound was back to it's pristine state. She told me the problem was due to dust in the narrow slot just above the top of the phone's inner display. (And I have not been in an environment like your workplace-- but I live in a US desert city.)
I asked her whether canned air would work in the future. She seemed skeptical but I cannot be sure whether it was a language comprehension issue, a lack of experience with the Fold series-- or both. But I can tell you: whatever they did in the back room must have been simple because she was only back there for 2 minutes or so. Half of that must have been describing the customer complaint.
Can you think of a simple air flow chamber you could create or repurpose to periodically "freshen up" the phone?
* I got the very pricey Supcase Unicorn Beetle case. I never heard of this supplier before. But after reading customer reviews on that "smiley" site and looking at YouTube reviews/demos, I concluded that it provided good solid protection on everything other than the hinge. And as a bonus it has a well situated compartment for the Z Fold Edition S Pen. It's easy to access. So clever that I ordered the S Pen even though I am not a very stylus-oriented person. The stylus stays snugly in the compartment so I won't lose it even when the compartment is open.
I hope I gave you enough to reflect on. Feel free to probe more.
Oh-- here's another thing you didn't ask about: am I sorry I spent that much? OK-- I got a great deal from Samsung with tradein so it made the price more palatable. But nevertheless-- I traveled to Asia over 22 hours with my brand new toy. Left my laptop, mini tablet and old phone home. I discovered that the Z Fold 3 will work nicely with the Logitech K400 series keyboards-- and their embedded touchpads. Wow!
Signing off for now...

Related

*Updated* Hav'nt had a Screen Protector or Case on my Note 7 since the recall ...

Welp ... Fast forward 5 days, and I caught it in direct sunlight and this phone is just riddled with light scratches, you have to hold the phone just right and have the perfect lighting to see. But they're definitely there. Especially the curved edges for the phone goes from flat to curved, almost as if right before the glass curves down the glass is right up just a fraction of a mm ...
I apologize to anyone I doubted!
I coddle this phone like an egg ... and still scratches .... The places I have scratches are the bottom back center (looks like a popular place if you search Note 7 scratches) and the bottom left corner of the front down by the capacitive button.
Both "patches" of scratches looks like they were rubbed off something rough, the scratches aren't deep, but you can still feel them with your nail ever so slightly and in the light the patches look dull compared to the rest of the phone. I'd bet they'd probably buff out, but I'm not gonna bother trying at least with this phone.
Never dropped, always in my pocket by itself, never slide it across the table or my desk or anything. I usually set it on something on my desk like a piece of paper and then slide the piece of paper around instead of the phone, so the back doesnt rub off anything, the paper eats the friction and not the phone.
Sad ... for sure, But luckily I have a replacement that just came in this morning sitting at home that i haven't opened yet, I think before I even set it up or anything I will protect it front and back ... damn shame, I had so much faith in this phones durability and didn't want to believe it was so scratch prone, but I was wrong.
Looks like Cases and Protectors from here on out!
I advise everyone who cares about their phone to do the same.
I'll slap some pictures up of my scratches as soon as I can get some taken.
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ORIGINAL POST:
So ...
Since the day or so after the initial recall I decided for once in my life I'll throw caution to the wind and take the plunge of no case or screen protector on my phone, It made me a little sick to my stomach to peel off the screen protector and case and take off for a busy day of work and school with nothing protecting my phone from damage. I figured I'd see a plethora of scratches by the end of the day, and I was able to try this test out because of the recall and Samsung promising to take the phone back regardless of the condition. To my surprise, nothing, not a single scratch, day 2, same and so on.
Fast forward a few weeks, recall phone is traded - STILL IN PERFECT CONDITION, not a screen protector or case has touched it in weeks. Granted I still coddled it, but no different than I would any phone I've had, and I treated the phone like it had a Screen Protector and case on it. Threw it in my pocket, laid it on my desk at work, sat it in my center console in my truck etc. Not a single scratch or dent.
Trade the phone in on Sept 21st and got my new "Safe" Note7, decided that I finally felt comfortable with going "Naked" on my phone after the recall device and have since, so about another week with my "Safe" device and still not a single mark or scratch to be found. I'm actually in the process of getting a replacement for my replacement through Samsung, nothing major, just a lack of quality control on Samsung's part that I have an issue with with this replacement device and Samsung is giving me no hassle about it. I assume my phone suffered from the rush of trying to fix the recall ... but who knows.
Anyways, I will continue going "naked" on this phone, I have no reason not to. And a screen protector just destroys the feeling of this beautiful phones feel and functionality, and really so does a case. i own the LED Wallet case which I love and plan to use here and there, and I probably own around 20 other various cases that I'm sure I will use for fun here and there, But for the most part I've felt the "Naked" feeling and there's no going back lol.
Point of this thread is, I'm not sure how people that are complaining about this phone being "easily scratched" are treating their phones, or if they maybe got defective glass or something. I haven't had a single problem, and when i say I'm anal about my phones it's an understatement, and I feel 100% confident in using this phone protection-free on a daily basis. Obviously you still have to take care of this phone and be extremely careful .... it's made of glass after all. And I cant endorse its drop capabilities lol, That i have no idea of, and hope i never do. But for anyone wondering how this phone holds up with no protection and a pretty active daily use ... so far with my Note7 ... perfectly fine, still looks like the day I opened it.
What issues did you have with your replacement that has caused them to replace the replacement?
This is an interesting test to run - i still have my original one, and the replacement, because Samsung decided the closest drop-off location for me is about 3.5-4 hours away without traffic... I'll be waiting until they call and give me another method to return it. Think I might carry it around and see how it holds up... would be an interesting test, as I'm pretty hard on my devices.
really good to hear your note 7 not scratching easily, I think most ef the people posting geting scratches out of the blue, were careless, honestly not remembering what could have probably scratched their phone, it just takes 2 or 3 people reporting the same thing to drive many others real paranoid, I got my note7 on 29th Aug, and not a single scratch, I treat my phone as any other one, if you spend a sizeable ammount of money, the best way to do is use common sense, and normal level of care
I've never used a screen protector on my original and now replacement Note and all is fine. Now I definitely use a case cause i find this phone too slippery without one... I do take caution, always put it down/away if distracted with something else and never place it in my pocket with anything else like your supposed to.
Sent from my SM-N930P using Tapatalk
asaqwert said:
What issues did you have with your replacement that has caused them to replace the replacement?
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The metal bezel on the left hand side of the phone is sharp, like almost razor-blade sharp. You cant see if from looking at it, but you can scrap your hand off it and it feels sharp and uncomfortable to hold. and the corners of the phone where the back glass meet the metal is also sharp on all 4 corners, the right side of the phone is smooth as silk though. very weird, but almost seems like it was clued together fast and off centered and shipped out to meet demand. $900 for a phone i HAS to be as perfect as possible, but this one wasn't forgivable.
winol said:
really good to hear your note 7 not scratching easily, I think most ef the people posting geting scratches out of the blue, were careless, honestly not remembering what could have probably scratched their phone, it just takes 2 or 3 people reporting the same thing to drive many others real paranoid, I got my note7 on 29th Aug, and not a single scratch, I treat my phone as any other one, if you spend a sizeable ammount of money, the best way to do is use common sense, and normal level of care
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Yep, just be careful, life happens and that's not up to you, but if you're careful and conscious of your phone on you you should be alright, my wife is horrible about that, I drive a beefed up semi-lifted truck and EVERY time she goes anywhere with me, she places her phone on her lap and then hops out of my truck forgetting the phone was sitting on her lap. Drives me nuts. Her Note 4 has seen some shxt in its day, but still looks good and functions perfect, she wants to upgrade to a Note 7 which i hope she does, but shes gonna have to start paying more attention, because one of those falls out of my truck is going to destroy a Note 7 lol. Clumsiness for the most part can be prevented, just being aware, my phone is the most expensive thing I carry on me, so I always make sure its protected, and to be honest I've seen people smash phones wrapped in tempered glass screen protectors and otter-boxes, stuff happens, but I do my best to avoid it.
Itchiee said:
I've never used a screen protector on my original and now replacement Note and all is fine. Now I definitely use a case cause i find this phone too slippery without one... I do take caution, always put it down/away if distracted with something else and never place it in my pocket with anything else like your supposed to.
Sent from my SM-N930P using Tapatalk
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Oh this phone naked is like holding a wet bar of soap, its horribly slippery, But I guess that's the price you pay for a beautiful glass device lol I enjoy the way the glass looks and feels, but I do fear the slipperiness of it, so for me again anytime I pull mine out of my pocket I always ensure my grip is on point, anytime I feel the need to "whip" my phone out really fast I take a breath and realize that i don't actually need to lol, and when I hold the phone, i comfortably hold it with my pinkie finger under it so the phone rests on my finger. Bottom line ... take care of your stuff and be mindful and you should be alright, people treat phones like crap then complain that it cant take a beating ... drives me nuts ... its glass. Treat it like a $900 piece of glass lol.
Welp ... Fast forward 5 days, and I caught it in direct sunlight and this phone is just riddled with light scratches, you have to hold the phone just right and have the perfect lighting to see. But they're definitely there. Especially the curved edges for the phone goes from flat to curved, almost as if right before the glass curves down the glass is right up just a fraction of a mm ...
I apologize to anyone I doubted!
I coddle this phone like an egg ... and still scratches .... The places I have scratches are the bottom back center (looks like a popular place if you search Note 7 scratches) and the bottom left corner of the front down by the capacitive button.
Both "patches" of scratches looks like they were rubbed off something rough, the scratches aren't deep, but you can still feel them with your nail ever so slightly and in the light the patches look dull compared to the rest of the phone. I'd bet they'd probably buff out, but I'm not gonna bother trying at least with this phone.
Never dropped, always in my pocket by itself, never slide it across the table or my desk or anything. I usually set it on something on my desk like a piece of paper and then slide the piece of paper around instead of the phone, so the back doesnt rub off anything, the paper eats the friction and not the phone.
Sad ... for sure, But luckily I have a replacement that just came in this morning sitting at home that i haven't opened yet, I think before I even set it up or anything I will protect it front and back ... damn shame, I had so much faith in this phones durability and didn't want to believe it was so scratch prone, but I was wrong.
Looks like Cases and Protectors from here on out!
I advise everyone who cares about their phone to do the same.
I'll slap some pictures up of my scratches as soon as I can get some taken.
Dmac1984 said:
Welp ... Fast forward 5 days, and I caught it in direct sunlight and this phone is just riddled with light scratches, you have to hold the phone just right and have the perfect lighting to see. But they're definitely there. Especially the curved edges for the phone goes from flat to curved, almost as if right before the glass curves down the glass is right up just a fraction of a mm ...
I apologize to anyone I doubted!
I coddle this phone like an egg ... and still scratches .... The places I have scratches are the bottom back center (looks like a popular place if you search Note 7 scratches) and the bottom left corner of the front down by the capacitive button.
Both "patches" of scratches looks like they were rubbed off something rough, the scratches aren't deep, but you can still feel them with your nail ever so slightly and in the light the patches look dull compared to the rest of the phone. I'd bet they'd probably buff out, but I'm not gonna bother trying at least with this phone.
Never dropped, always in my pocket by itself, never slide it across the table or my desk or anything. I usually set it on something on my desk like a piece of paper and then slide the piece of paper around instead of the phone, so the back doesnt rub off anything, the paper eats the friction and not the phone.
Sad ... for sure, But luckily I have a replacement that just came in this morning sitting at home that i haven't opened yet, I think before I even set it up or anything I will protect it front and back ... damn shame, I had so much faith in this phones durability and didn't want to believe it was so scratch prone, but I was wrong.
Looks like Cases and Protectors from here on out!
I advise everyone who cares about their phone to do the same.
I'll slap some pictures up of my scratches as soon as I can get some taken.
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At least you have a replacement! I put a clear skin on the front and back of mine before I ever powered it on. I'm OCD and any scratches would annoy me and plus I want to keep it in mint condition so if I ever go to sell it on swappa it will be in like new condition. Even with the skin on it, I'm still babying it. What's crazy is my mother had an S4 and she is not easy on phones and after almost 2 years of use on that phone the sides and screen had not a scratch, not even a slight one (I know because I just sold it on swappa and inspected it very close). The screen and edges were still in like new mint condition. Only the removable plastic back had signs of wear. That's kind of sad when you think that a 3+ year old device made by the same company as the note 7 has a more durable screen. I replaced my V10 with the Note 7 and after months of use on my V10 with no protection it still looks new. I stopped using screen protectors and cases 3 years ago because I just hate the added bulk but unfortunately I'm not taking the chance with the Note 7. The clear skin doesn't really bother me though. And I'm thinking about also getting a calicase.
Anyway, thanks for the update. I'm glad I read all the post and not just the first one lol. I think you should edit post 1 so others who are lazy and only read post one don't go and take off their protection and then end up with scratched phones
P.S. I almost forgot. I'm actually on my second note 7 because the first one never made it out the store without getting scratched up. I had them put a screen protector on it for me and they took my phone in the back of the store for like 20 minutes and then come out with a poorly attached protector and then I inspected the phone and they had scratched the back up bad. So I made them replace it.
imucarmen said:
At least you have a replacement! I put a clear skin on the front and back of mine before I ever powered it on. I'm OCD and any scratches would annoy me and plus I want to keep it in mint condition so if I ever go to sell it on swappa it will be in like new condition. Even with the skin on it, I'm still babying it. What's crazy is my mother had an S4 and she is not easy on phones and after almost 2 years of use on that phone the sides and screen had not a scratch, not even a slight one (I know because I just sold it on swappa and inspected it very close). The screen and edges were still in like new mint condition. Only the removable plastic back had signs of wear. That's kind of sad when you think that a 3+ year old device made by the same company as the note 7 has a more durable screen. I replaced my V10 with the Note 7 and after months of use on my V10 with no protection it still looks new. I stopped using screen protectors and cases 3 years ago because I just hate the added bulk but unfortunately I'm not taking the chance with the Note 7. The clear skin doesn't really bother me though. And I'm thinking about also getting a calicase.
Anyway, thanks for the update. I'm glad I read all the post and not just the first one lol. I think you should edit post 1 so others who are lazy and only read post one don't go and take off their protection and then end up with scratched phones
P.S. I almost forgot. I'm actually on my second note 7 because the first one never made it out the store without getting scratched up. I had them put a screen protector on it for me and they took my phone in the back of the store for like 20 minutes and then come out with a poorly attached protector and then I inspected the phone and they had scratched the back up bad. So I made them replace it.
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Lol good point, I updated the first post. And yeah I'm ridiculously anal with my devices, But i'm wondering if I need to start loosening up lol. I keep these phones pristine for a year then trade them in (AT&T) my last phone the S6 Edge + (Miss that phone) was M-I-N-T when I turned it in, protector on the front and back, which looking back at it now I realized that i suffered not having the full feel of the phone so that AT&T can sell it top dollar and the next person gets a great deal on a mint phone, who for all I know will; not care and destroy it. Now I'm not saying I'm gonna start being rough with my phone, gonna use my LED case more, and I just ordered a Skinomi Full body protector (we'll see how that goes, I don't have much faith in it) and if it feels like shxt, it's coming off and I'm gonna enjoy the phone as I have been, and get my moneys worth, and AT&T can figure out to do with it when I upgrade.
The Note 7 was designed to be naked, no doubt about it ... but the execution was botched and going naked comes with a price, which sucks, but again the fact is, this isn't my phone in the end, and as much as I love it, I know i wont pay it off once the Note 8 rears its head next year lol so screw it, I'll give the Skinomi Protector a shot, if it's crap, them I'm not gonna sweat the phone getting light scratches ... I'm having a bit of an anxiety attack just typing that, But i'll just have to work at it and get through it lol
Dmac1984 said:
Lol good point, I updated the first post. And yeah I'm ridiculously anal with my devices, But i'm wondering if I need to start loosening up lol. I keep these phones pristine for a year then trade them in (AT&T) my last phone the S6 Edge + (Miss that phone) was M-I-N-T when I turned it in, protector on the front and back, which looking back at it now I realized that i suffered not having the full feel of the phone so that AT&T can sell it top dollar and the next person gets a great deal on a mint phone, who for all I know will; not care and destroy it. Now I'm not saying I'm gonna start being rough with my phone, gonna use my LED case more, and I just ordered a Skinomi Full body protector (we'll see how that goes, I don't have much faith in it) and if it feels like shxt, it's coming off and I'm gonna enjoy the phone as I have been, and get my moneys worth, and AT&T can figure out to do with it when I upgrade.
The Note 7 was designed to be naked, no doubt about it ... but the execution was botched and going naked comes with a price, which sucks, but again the fact is, this isn't my phone in the end, and as much as I love it, I know i wont pay it off once the Note 8 rears its head next year lol so screw it, I'll give the Skinomi Protector a shot, if it's crap, them I'm not gonna sweat the phone getting light scratches ... I'm having a bit of an anxiety attack just typing that, But i'll just have to work at it and get through it lol
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I got the Skinomi clear skin and its been great so far. After you attach it give it a day to settle onto the phone because at first it doesn't look good but after a few hours I noticed it looked a lot better and the next day it looked perfect. The only problem I had was getting the sides to stick. I even used a blow dryer and I just couldn't get them to stay down but I ended up using the top burners on my stove to heat the edges up and then they stuck and they haven't come up since. The s-pen still slides smooth as well with the white inserts. It does have a bit of a texture which I could see would annoy some people but it doesn't really bother me.
What material are your pockets made out of, sandpaper? My original Note 7 (recall replacement arrives today) has never seen a case or screen protector and is completely unscathed. I have not even been as gentle as you described. So weird.
Dmac1984 said:
Welp ... Fast forward 5 days, and I caught it in direct sunlight and this phone is just riddled with light scratches, you have to hold the phone just right and have the perfect lighting to see.
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I certainly believe your report of your observations and recollections, but your experience differs sharply from my own. I've been using unprotected Note 7s heavily (pre- and post-recall) for about a month, and I've acquired no scratches whatsoever.
When I check for scratches, I always use direct sunlight or a comparably bright source, and I rotate the phone through a range of angles in order to see any subtle defects. It sounds like that's not something you've been doing routinely, but rather something that just recently happened by chance. If that's the case, you may not really know when your scratches arose (or even whether your previous devices might have had similar scratches), which may complicate the diagnosis of how they occurred.
I trust we agree that the careful treatment you described could not have scratched even ordinary glass, let alone Gorilla Glass 5. So there are several possibilities. Perhaps the phone scraped against something sharp (even while it was in your pocket) without your noticing. Perhaps the process of applying or removing the case or screen protector scratched it somehow. Perhaps it came with subtle, hard-to-notice scratches already on it. Or could it even be that the phone isn't scratched, but rather has some sort of residue that rubbed off on it? (Have you tried washing it off with a wet paper towel and substantial pressure?)
Again, I trust your observations, but I'm curious as to how your scratches arose, and how your experience diverged from my own. I appreciate your taking the time to update everyone on your situation. And regardless of how the scratches happened, I'm glad you're getting a replacement.
Like i said, being so anal i looked at the phone everyday after naked use, never noticed any scratches, but last night I caught direct light at a side angle and saw the back bottom scratched, from 2 feet away from your eyes looking straight at the phone, looks perfect, up close and examining it with angled light it's def scratched.
When i say im careful, I'm careful... I got the cold sweats when i saw the scratches lol I've coddled thus phone with mittens since i got it, like i said I lay it on tbings and then move that whenever I set my phobe on my desk for no otger reason but to avoid sliding my phone on any surfaces ... pocket always empty and clean, I don't play in the dirt or go to the beach, pockets feel like normal clean pockets lol. I mean people can make excuses for tge glass, he'll i did too when i saw the initial scratch posts, even started a thread praising the scratch resistance ... I seriously don't know how much more careful you can be with a phone as i have been with this one and it still scuffed. I'll grab some pictures with the wife's phone and post them.
It almost seems like theres a raised lips right before the glass dipps down.
Attached is a pic illustrating the damage on my phone almost exactly (until i can grab a few pics) ... and also attached is why I think its happening.
Dmac1984 said:
Attached is a pic illustrating the damage on my phone almost exactly (until i can grab a few pics) ... and also attached is why I think its happening.
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You just wanted to use the fancy s-pen features and that drawing was your excuse. ;P
And I don't blame you :laugh:
Dmac1984 said:
Like i said, being so anal i looked at the phone everyday after naked use, never noticed any scratches, but last night I caught direct light at a side angle and saw the back bottom scratched, from 2 feet away from your eyes looking straight at the phone, looks perfect, up close and examining it with angled light it's def scratched.
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Right, that was my point. Until last night, your inspections didn't include checking the surfaces through a wide range of different illumination angles. As a result, subtle scratches went unnoticed and you don't know when they happened (or even if the phone came with them).
When i say im careful, I'm careful...
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I believe you. But something nevertheless scratched your phone--any idea what it could have been? You and I are both careful with our phones, yet only one of us acquired any scratches. There has to be some explanation for that difference. Figuring out what it is might help us, and others, to avoid scratches in the future.
It almost seems like theres a raised lips right before the glass dipps down.
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Hm, I don't see that on mine. May I ask what kind of screen protector(s) you had been using? If liquid, could it have left a residue? If solid, could the protector itself have scratched the glass that it was in contact with?
Or another possibility: if you used a case initially, could a few sand or grit particles have gotten lodged between the case and the phone? It looks as though the scratches may have been in areas that a case would have contact with. That's one of several reasons that I'd be reluctant to use a case with an all-glass phone.
Gary02468 said:
Right, that was my point. Until last night, your inspections didn't include checking the surfaces through a wide range of different illumination angles. As a result, subtle scratches went unnoticed and you don't know when they happened (or even if the phone came with them).
I believe you. But something nevertheless scratched your phone--any idea what it could have been? You and I are both careful with our phones, yet only one of us acquired any scratches. There has to be some explanation for that difference. Figuring out what it is might help us, and others, to avoid scratches in the future.
Hm, I don't see that on mine. May I ask what kind of screen protector(s) you had been using? If liquid, could it have left a residue? If solid, could the protector itself have scratched the glass that it was in contact with?
Or another possibility: if you used a case initially, could a few sand or grit particles have gotten lodged between the case and the phone? It looks as though the scratches may have been in areas that a case would have contact with. That's one of several reasons that I'd be reluctant to use a case with an all-glass phone.
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No case or screen protectors since I got this phone last Sunday (Oct 25th) I didn't recall any scratches on my recalled unit so I didn't bother with protecting the replacement. But regardless, I don't recalled a single incident in which would result in these scratches, so they must have happened during light use of the phone, how they happened? I don't know ... but they did .... The glass just seems soft and easily scratch-able. It shouldn't be, but unfortunately it is. And agreed, I've seen scratches come up from case use on my phones before so that is always a concern, but I didn't use a case on this phone, and I never sat the phone down on a hard surface, and never in a pocket with anything else, and the weird isolated scratched areas don't show signs of "pocket damage" ... they came from somewhere I get that, but wherever they came from, they happened with no effort or force.
Inspected my new phone that came in yesterday. Not a single scratch to be found in any light ... Screen protector should be in today so it'll get wrapped before I even use it and we'll try again ... I recommend to anyone who has a Note 7, wrap it up and keep it clean, this issue just may not be avoidable with everyday use.
Is GG5 on the back as well as the front? My rear is scratched only after 2 weeks replacement and general it wears a case. NOT impressed.
Dmac1984 said:
But regardless, I don't recalled a single incident in which would result in these scratches, so they must have happened during light use of the phone
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Well, the phone wasn't scratched by the skin of your hand, the cloth of your pocket, or the piece of paper you rested it on, so there must have been some other contact that you're unaware of. (I'll occasionally notice a small cut or bruise on my arm without recalling what contact was responsible. It happens.)
Regardless, thanks again for the update you posted, and good luck with your new Note 7. If my Note 7 ever suffers the slightest scratch, I will follow your example and post an update here too. So far, a month of heavy, unprotected use has not resulted in any visible imperfection.
I don't get why people are nitpicking this. I get this tone of "maybe you were careful but not careful enough". It sounds like we are discussing handling an egg.
The physics of it are simple and irrefutable, this thing will scratch, there is no way around it. And just because one hasn't scratched yet, or appears that way, doesn't mean it won't.
At this point, regardless of what anyone says or who wants to debate, it's safe to say yhe phone WILL scratch with normal, even careful use. I was one who thought "well the people with scratches must be abusing their phones" but as i type this on a scuffed, yet coddled Note7 I stand corrected. It doesn't affect my love for the phone but it should be noted that it WILL scratch easily regardless of how you treat it, i wish it didn't ... but it does. And I don't think it's batched based, pretty sure maybe even if you dont see any scratches there are probably some on your phone as I found by badically doing a microscopic forensic look at my phone the other day, the shinyness of thr glass seems to hide a lot of imperfections.

Going naked with the Note 7

For years now, starting with the 1st gen Galaxy Note, I've not used any protection on my phones. Other than paint chipping (Note 3) or the rubber backing on my LG V10 pealing away, I've not had any issues.
Are any of you going naked with the Note 7? I'm about to get mine. Am a bit concerned because of the "premium" materials used on the Note 7. Is the phone liable to cracking? Or will it withstand the rare drop out of a trouser pocket onto a wooden/carpeted floor?
You will see reports here from people whose phones mysteriously acquired scratches. My own experience is that in the month that I've heavily used two Note 7s (pre- and post-replacement) with no protection, there have been no cracks, scratches, or other blemishes, either front or back, despite a couple of minor drops/bangs.
I'll put my 2 cents in as someone who goes nuts and buys 20 cases and all sorts of screen protectors before I even my new phone, to say im anal about keeping my device in perfect condition is an understatment, but after the recall I said "screw it" and went naked on my Note 7, felt amazing, liberating even lol, exchanged it, didnt notice a scratch or anything, but I didnt really fully inspect it either. And keep in mind even though I knew the phone was going back i coddled it like a baby. Got my exchange and couldn't bring myself to put a case or screen protector on, 5 days later, I was looking at my phone and caught some good light and the glass was all rashed up on the bottom back as well as the front bottom left.
You can check my post here for more details and people trying to argue that the Note 7 getting scratched is impossible.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-7/help/havnt-screen-protector-case-note-7-t3470482
Anyways, I have another new device I got in the day before yesterday, attempted to get a screen protector on, wouldnt stick on the corners so I said screw it, although the back protector stuck perfectly fine, as I type this my Note 7 is sitting next to me in its LED case, protector on the back glass, nothing on the front, after going naked for a while, it def hurt to see scratches, but the feeling of the phone with nothing on it was awesome, and I'm thinking of just continuing to go naked with it, the phone will get scratched but its not the end of the world, i need to loosen up with that, especially since I'm on AT&T next and the phone isn't mine after a year, which is what i want, i always want the newest phone.
I recommend reading my thread and gathering a conclusion from there.
Hope this helps!
Yes, feels incredible. I have almost never dropped a phone, and have never cracked anything on a phone. I use Jump on Demand, so as long as it isn't cracked/damaged, they don't care. Scratches do not matter during my trade-in. So off the case went (except when in the gym since it is much more likely to slip out of my pocket) and haven't looked back. I am a little more careful of where I put it down, but it feels incredible in the hand, and looks DAMN good with those curved edges... it's like the sides don't have bezels.
I've always had a case on this phone but never a screen protector.....
I have dropped it three times (i know), twice from the nightstand, and once from a low profile bed, all times onto a wooden floor.
I have had it in my pocket while on Transformers the ride at Universal Studios.
I have competed in a series of field games at work (tug o' war, volleyball) with it in my pocket.
Yesterday was at the driving range hitting a few dozen golf balls.
And so far so good.
Now that this recall nonsense might possibly continue I may need to find another phone as durable.... :angel:
Always naked. This phone is too nice to cover with an ugly case.
Just got my Note 7 Office Keyboard case in today (Never thought I'd own one of these) But im trying to find that happy medium between naked and protected and saw this case, the back reminded me a lot of my S6 Edge + Official case that was just a thin piece of plastic that snapped onto the phone by the corners, sp i grabbed it, not caring about the keyboard part at all, welp snapped it on and my expectations were exceeded! This is jusg like the S6 Edge + case I had except i like this cases textured back even more, looks and feels premium and is THIN so the phone maintains its beauty and feel, you don't have to keep the keyboard on it at all, but i will say im really enjoy the look and feel of the phone with the keyboard Attached too, functions great and protects half of the screen and wont allow the other half of the screen to touch anything.
For all you nudists out there looking for a middle ground like me, i definitely recommend The official Note 7 Keyboard case.

Back glass

In Google's launch day blog post, it stated that both the front display and the back glass are constructed from 2.5D Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4.
There seems to be a large number of people who have received their devices complaining that the back glass scratches surprisingly easily, and a number of reviews (both written and video) cite the same, such as shown in JerryRigEverything's video review at 1:44.
This has me concerned that we're not actually getting Gorilla Glass 4 for the back glass, or if we are, it may be a defective batch. I'll be the first to proclaim my lack of knowledge on the stuff, but shouldn't the actual hardness, i.e. resistance to scratching, be the same regardless of shape, thickness, etc? I could easily understand a difference in brittleness if it is thinner, for example, but these reports have me concerned.
Any thoughts?
well i case my phones right away and have never had any scratches on the back of my phones .... jump to today i too my pixel out of my otterbox defender case to return the case for a slightly thinner case and guess what the back glass has a scratch in it that wasn't there before it went in, i checked the inside of the case and couldnt find anything that would have done that. not a big deal since its going back in a case but im a little ocd so it does bother me a bit that its there
Yeah I had heard the same thing in some reviews.
I can tell you first hand that it does seem to mark easily. I have two fine hairline scratches on the back on min. I assume from keys in my pocket.
I have been using it without a case because I can't seem to find one I like. They all seem too bulky.
My front glass also has a tiny mark on it, from a key I assume. My Note 7 had the same thing within days as well. First time in the last several phones that have gotten scratches in the glass. I either have a really hard and sharp new key or the properties of the glass has changed. I know that impact resistant does not mean scratch resistant. Take a look at the Moto Z force to find that out! For what it is worth I do not think you are alone.
I understand that scratch-resistant ≠ scratch-proof, but for those who prefer to carry a phone naked (I'm talking about the phone!) it would be a pretty big letdown to find out Google didn't provide the product as it advertised it, whether it be failure on part of someone responsible for final production spec letting the marketing group know if there were a change in the glass, an issue of Corning sending the wrong glass, a defective production run, etc.
I suppose my concern is that if there is, as there appears to be, some legitimate issue, they 'fix' it with later production runs and ship the phone with glass to spec going forward, with my only recourse being to deal with it or maybe have them replace it with what would likely be a refurbished phone, either event seriously deteriorating the phone's residual value down the road should I choose to sell it.
Just putting it out there, I have Google Clear cased my phone from new, and I a few small marks now. Assume it's bits caught in the case.
jp712 said:
Yeah I had heard the same thing in some reviews.
I can tell you first hand that it does seem to mark easily. I have two fine hairline scratches on the back on min. I assume from keys in my pocket.
I have been using it without a case because I can't seem to find one I like. They all seem too bulky.
My front glass also has a tiny mark on it, from a key I assume. My Note 7 had the same thing within days as well. First time in the last several phones that have gotten scratches in the glass. I either have a really hard and sharp new key or the properties of the glass has changed. I know that impact resistant does not mean scratch resistant. Take a look at the Moto Z force to find that out! For what it is worth I do not think you are alone.
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I cringed twice while reading this. I too carry my phone in my left pocket, which is exclusive. I don't even stick my hand into the pocket if my hand is dirty. I also don't wipe off the screen on my shirt. Sand is a killer!
Also on that note higher number Corning Gorilla glass doesn't necessarily mean it's "better" more resistant..
jeremy8000 said:
I understand that scratch-resistant ≠ scratch-proof, but for those who prefer to carry a phone naked (I'm talking about the phone!) it would be a pretty big letdown to find out Google didn't provide the product as it advertised it, whether it be failure on part of someone responsible for final production spec letting the marketing group know if there were a change in the glass, an issue of Corning sending the wrong glass, a defective production run, etc.
I suppose my concern is that if there is, as there appears to be, some legitimate issue, they 'fix' it with later production runs and ship the phone with glass to spec going forward, with my only recourse being to deal with it or maybe have them replace it with what would likely be a refurbished phone, either event seriously deteriorating the phone's residual value down the road should I choose to sell it.
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Click to collapse
I completely agree with you. I had hoped to carry the phone without a case since it was't as slippery as the all glass Samsung.
I usually keep it in its own pocket but not a particular one, its a product of having your hands full put the keys in the same pocket long enough to walk to the door. I try to keep it separate, but screw it up from time to time. Like with gym shorts, does it go with the magnetic money clip or the keys? Keys don't go with the magnet bc I don't want to kill the battery in my truck remote.. Talk about 1st world problems
jp712 said:
I completely agree with you. I had hoped to carry the phone without a case since it was't as slippery as the all glass Samsung.
I usually keep it in its own pocket but not a particular one, its a product of having your hands full put the keys in the same pocket long enough to walk to the door. I try to keep it separate, but screw it up from time to time. Like with gym shorts, does it go with the magnetic money clip or the keys? Keys don't go with the magnet bc I don't want to kill the battery in my truck remote.. Talk about 1st world problems
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I don't think magnets mess with batteries but if that were true the magnet would mess with your phone's battery plus its internal components

This is a tough phone

Had my phone since it was released and I've just dropped it again, for the 3rd time, on hard kitchen tiles. Amazingly, it still shows no damage and everything works perfectly, 1 drop on previous phones has always meant cracks on screen, dents, scratches etc. I'm so impressed that it's as tough as HTC says.
Sent from my HTC 10 using XDA-Developers mobile app
This may have been pointed out to you already, but ... it might be wise to invest in a case or some kind of screen protection Unless you already have, but from what you said
" 1 drop on previous phones has always meant cracks on screen, dents, scratches etc"
Its is better to be safe than sorry. Adertised toughness is not a garuntee of no damage, and in my experience, Gorrilla Glass is one of the easiest things to break. Having tempered glass on top at least saves you from the worst case scenario.
I managed to pull mine of the kitchen table onto the hard tiles, got an impressive dent in the corner. Really surprised the screen survived. My son dropped my wife's G4 from a distance of about 1 foot on the same floor and totally destroyed the screen.
http://imgur.com/a/bXOYo
Dropped mine off of a work platform under a bridge at work. Fell about 30', survived. The one corner got buggered up a little, but it's in a hybrid hard plastic\tpu case never see it. I was completely dumbfounded when I picked it up and the screen wasn't broke. Phone works fine.
Yep. The day I got it I dropped it onto my hardwood floor so I quickly picked up the phone and checked for dings and dents. The phone was fine but the floor had a dent in it lmao.
It depends on where it lands, I must be unlucky as I dropped it from about 2ft with a gel case on it, It landed right on the top corner. I have a single crack going from where speaker is cut out to the side. its not too bad as its a tiny portion of the glass but annoying..
It's 99% random seriously.
Its saying safety belts are uneccary because you came out of a high speed accident without injuries..
jmkhenka said:
It's 99% random seriously.
Its saying safety belts are uneccary because you came out of a high speed accident without injuries..
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Totally agree with this point, it's totally random (well to a degree)
For example there's a video of the One X with a user hammering a nail through a 2 x 4, really gives it the beans too (i'm sure you've all seen the video)
However the same phone my friend dropped his from hand to elbow height and the phone's screen cracked, little more than a month later i dropped a One S onto ceramic tiles from around 10 feet, nothing but a small dent, it's luck how it lands and as such it's luck as to what happens.
Not saying it's not a tough phone but it's completely unique in each case.
Grab a tech 21 and worry less.
In had great luck with drops also
Had mine slip from my hands and cartwheel down a flight of steps. Screen intact. A minor scuff on the corner. Most wiped away as of it were dust. Like some kind of self healing metal. Something I noticed, it would do this flip everytime the back touched the floor, made me think of how parkour runners tumble as they land. The chamfered edges I think we're designed to not only make it structurally sound, but also disperse fall damage. Why you barely see dings on it because it has the tendency to want to roll onto that curved back and when it does it just actually rolls, into the chamfered edge where it promotes a tumble. Without slow motion video I can't know for sure, but if I'm right, this is masterful engineering at work here. This is HTC engineers running virtual simulations at the design level for something most phone manufacturers never even dream of factoring in. .. And they get no love.
I would never try to purposely drop my phone, but it was dropped by my butterfinger hands and it still stayed intact so I agree... this phone is durable. All their years of experience has been shown because of their build quality.
I have dropped this phone so many times, its not funny. The bugger keeps going. This is the toughest phone I have seen. The solid build is why I chose HTC 10, and it has lived up to that every day. After having used this phone for last so many months, I can definitely say that this is one of the most underrated phones ever.
Lol @ all, just pop a tech 21 case on it and be worry free. No case means risk. Like I said before you can use a one X as a hammer but I've seen them break from less than 2 feet in height. It is complete luck. Of course the strength of the phone plays a part and the htc 10 is built like a rock, just don't risk it.. Plus it will scratch like hell including the screen.
HTC phones are tanks. I only put a case on if I'm partying lol. I've had 4 HTC phones and I've only broke my Evo 3d screen. cracked my galaxy s3 and iPhone 6 (3 times). I stopped using cases the entire time on HTC's since the m8 because I don't feel the need to, dropped both plenty of times without any damage.
my 10 may be 20 or more times dropped to ground on screen and back and edges nothing effected the screen and performances but cracks on edges
EDit: forget to mention beside these drops another phones dropped down on it from 2 meters nothing happned to screen just little cracks on sim tray .
I've dropped mine about 7x, mostly from standing height and left only a few dents here and there. The last one though, I had it in my inside coat pocked and leaned over and it slipped out (was only about 2-3' from the ground) but hit right where the front / selfie camera is at and cracked the screen from there all the way down. It was still fully usable which gave me enough time to do the uh-oh protection replacement. Definitely would agree with the 99% random comment.
Structural soundness is not random
I would argue that it is highly unfair to say that it is random chance that a phone breaks or not. Yes, it is random in the sense that you don't control how it lands. For example, it could land face down, or it could land on the side, which would stress the phone in completely different ways and maybe break it. However, whether it breaks, for every possible impact combination, depends entirely on the engineering of the phone.
If you randomly drop a hundred phones of the same model, on average, you would definitely see the difference between a well-engineered phone a poorly engineered phone.
Check out related YouTube videos:
HTC 10 vs. Galaxy S7 Drop Test!
Most Durable Smartphone of 2016 - Year End Summary Awards

"New" and perfect Note 10+ "refurb" - phone perfect but is there any way to test if the factory screen skin is installed?

I ost my Note 10+ a few days ago, a first for me. I immediately considered it found and stolen as I could see the person who found it via GPS, driving about the area where it fell off of my truck. So after two unanswered calls to said phone? I immediately wiped it and so at least my very minor personal data is secured. Whomever it as, *did* happen to get a very extensive, 40,000+ file .flac/.mp3 library on my spare SD Card but that's quite redundantly maintained/backed up so no real loss.
I immediately bought an exact replica of the lost Note 10+ from the same great seller as before, an ebay "excellent" condition refurb. The phone was here in 2 days then a quick visit to the local ATT store and I'm now back in business as usual, taking literally about 20 minutes to have the exact same phone/usage apps/settings and basically a Note 10+ set up precisely as my former phone had been. This is a relative topic with most users, myself included, as each of us may more or less appeciate any given app or feature ... but for me? Google sync and restore is a metaphorical Golden Unicorn(tm) lol.
But to my main question...
How can I determine if the Samsung default screen protector/film is installed on this new "refurb."
The screen on this unit is flawless, having no discernable marks or scratches, not even of the micro variety. But I have noticed that the thumbprint sensor is quite more responsive than my previous Note 10+ which definitely had the stock screen protector as, over the years, it had began to bubble ever so slightly and in certain places.
I've examined the edges of the new screen at great length under more than ample lighting and with very good magnification equipment and can find no visible "seam" or otherwise around the edges and where one would expect to find such a seam for any phone panel that had one of those super thin, super transparent protectors installed.
I will say that I found the stock Samsung protector on my first Note 10+ to be quite good, as good as any of the "tempered glass" varieties I'd used with previous phones though after two years of fairly rough use, there were small areas appearing where the Samsung factory screen film was beginning to show it's natural limitations.
So any ideas short of close examination with a good light source and high quality magnifying glasses would be welcome. If I do determine it is completely lacking in the inclusion of the factory installed panel film/protector (only reason I can imagine is if the previous user had removed it) then I will of course want to begin researching an appropriate 3rd party option that works well while maintaining solid use of the fingerprint sensor...
So any tips would be welcome...
Thanks in advance,
Joel Harris
The front cam hole will likely have a cut out in the screen protector if present. Slight seams are visible on one or more of the edges. Also the glass feels different than any plastic protector. Gorilla IQ Sheild is a good wet apply protector.
s1rrah said:
I ost my Note 10+ a few days ago, a first for me. I immediately considered it found and stolen as I could see the person who found it via GPS, driving about the area where it fell off of my truck. So after two unanswered calls to said phone? I immediately wiped it and so at least my very minor personal data is secured. Whomever it as, *did* happen to get a very extensive, 40,000+ file .flac/.mp3 library on my spare SD Card but that's quite redundantly maintained/backed up so no real loss.
I immediately bought an exact replica of the lost Note 10+ from the same great seller as before, an ebay "excellent" condition refurb. The phone was here in 2 days then a quick visit to the local ATT store and I'm now back in business as usual, taking literally about 20 minutes to have the exact same phone/usage apps/settings and basically a Note 10+ set up precisely as my former phone had been. This is a relative topic with most users, myself included, as each of us may more or less appeciate any given app or feature ... but for me? Google sync and restore is a metaphorical Golden Unicorn(tm) lol.
But to my main question...
How can I determine if the Samsung default screen protector/film is installed on this new "refurb."
The screen on this unit is flawless, having no discernable marks or scratches, not even of the micro variety. But I have noticed that the thumbprint sensor is quite more responsive than my previous Note 10+ which definitely had the stock screen protector as, over the years, it had began to bubble ever so slightly and in certain places.
I've examined the edges of the new screen at great length under more than ample lighting and with very good magnification equipment and can find no visible "seam" or otherwise around the edges and where one would expect to find such a seam for any phone panel that had one of those super thin, super transparent protectors installed.
I will say that I found the stock Samsung protector on my first Note 10+ to be quite good, as good as any of the "tempered glass" varieties I'd used with previous phones though after two years of fairly rough use, there were small areas appearing where the Samsung factory screen film was beginning to show it's natural limitations.
So any ideas short of close examination with a good light source and high quality magnifying glasses would be welcome. If I do determine it is completely lacking in the inclusion of the factory installed panel film/protector (only reason I can imagine is if the previous user had removed it) then I will of course want to begin researching an appropriate 3rd party option that works well while maintaining solid use of the fingerprint sensor...
So any tips would be welcome...
Thanks in advance,
Joel Harris
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most likely, Being a refurb with flawless screen, it probably had it's screen replaced and replacement screens don't ship with that Samsung factory screen protector on them. Most likely no screen protector in place
blackhawk said:
The front cam hole will likely have a cut out in the screen protector if present. Slight seams are visible on one or more of the edges. Also the glass feels different than any plastic protector. Gorilla IQ Sheild is a good wet apply protector.
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Click to collapse
Thanks mate ...
Checked all the obvious variables and there's def no protector on the screen.
I found tons of "IQ Shield" variants on Amazon but none specifically made by Gorilla, which is a brand I tend to trust. Any further info?
In the interim, I bought this uber cheap but very well reviewed cheapo. If it works half as good as the reviews seem to indicate then it should be fine.
Thanks again ....
s1rrah said:
Thanks mate ...
Checked all the obvious variables and there's def no protector on the screen.
I found tons of "IQ Shield" variants on Amazon but none specifically made by Gorilla, which is a brand I tend to trust. Any further info?
In the interim, I bought this uber cheap but very well reviewed cheapo. If it works half as good as the reviews seem to indicate then it should be fine.
Thanks again ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get a couple, just in case. Things must be as dust free as possible ie spotless on the glass and room where applied. Don't touch the glass or back surface of the protector. Use enough of the fluid to get it aligned spot then work the air bubbles out. Watch it to make sure it stays adhered to the curve portions of the screen.
Just press and briefly hold if it lifts up. Use a little of the fluid if needed. If it ever lifts up on the sides later as long as no dust or dirt get under it, it can be reattached with a little water and pressing it down.
Leave it set up for at least a couple hours before using if possible. Mind the edges don't lift, usually after 10 minutes that's no longer an issue. Any small micro bubbles will be absorb in a few days... not big air bubbles though.
The Zizo Bolt is an excellent case for it.
That's all I use, zero damage in almost 3 years.
Enjoy, the Beast is a great phone!
blackhawk said:
Get a couple, just in case. Things must be as dust free as possible ie spotless on the glass and room where applied. Don't touch the glass or back surface of the protector. Use enough of the fluid to get it aligned spot then work the air bubbles out. Watch it to make sure it stays adhered to the curve portions of the screen.
Just press and briefly hold if it lifts up. Use a little of the fluid if needed. If it ever lifts up on the sides later as long as no dust or dirt get under it, it can be reattached with a little water and pressing it down.
Leave it set up for at least a couple hours before using if possible. Mind the edges don't lift, usually after 10 minutes that's no longer an issue. Any small micro bubbles will be absorb in a few days... not big air bubbles though.
The Zizo Bolt is an excellent case for it.
That's all I use, zero damage in almost 3 years.
Enjoy, the Beast is a great phone!
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the detailed tips, friend. Much appreciated. But exactly what screen protector are you referring to? The originally mentioned "Q Shield" variant? Or the one I mentioned already ordering, which is the Apiker random find off of Amazon.
If you're referring to a specific brand/model of protector, be it of the "Q Shield" sort or otherwise? Please send me a link if your able to do so.
As it turns out? The randomly ordered Apiker kit I bought from Amazon based solely on user reviews alone, has turned out to be pretty okay. As with many such products, especially those for phones with curved edges, there really is value in going over some install videos and what not but the first application turned out pretty damn good.
The kit came with 4 of everything so for the money and the fact that 2nd and further applications would of course be more intuitive, makes it a decent value.
Also, the Apiker screen kit I bought is not tempered glass but some other sort of material but still has a decent feel overall. The main thing I like is the thumb sensor is still every bit as sensitive/responsive as it was when using the naked, glass screen.
But send me some info on the kit you were referring to that uses what you called "fluid" ... I'll get one of those too lol!
And yeah, mang. Note10+ FTW! Mine was stolen about a week ago .. only time I've ever lost it ... but it wasn't 20 minutes before I'd ordered a new "refurb" off Ebay which I'm currently using now.
I tend to always buy whatever the flagship Sammy was 3 or so years ago and always end up saving tons of money and being very happy with whatever that ends up being. I bought a 1 day temp new Galaxy A12 at the local ATT shop to use till the Note10+ replacement came in and the Note10+ processing speed is WAY better than the A12, which frankly was just a sluggish dog in comparison.
Thanks again for the info..
"IQ Shield"

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