Does a screen protector help prevent broken glass substrate?

jj2me · 08-07-2015, 10:30 PM

My carry-around 5" Sony PRS-350 is outfitted for minimal size, while still being protected against drops and hits. It's protection consists of
- a simple TPU case (protecting its back and sides), and
- a front screen protector to help protect the glass substrate from breaking (I'm not much concerned about screen scratches and scuffs).

Since the screen protector gives off a lot of annoying glare, I'd love to remove it. So I started wondering if maybe I'm mistaken in thinking a screen protector might offer a little more absorption to protect against breaking the screen, like it seems to do on cell phones. Does it actually offer such protection to an e-reader's glass substrate? Or is the glass substrate so fragile (e.g., it's easily broken just by torquing the device) that the screen protector is unlikely to help?

rkomar · 08-07-2015, 11:34 PM

The fragile glass substrate is behind the e-ink layer. It's not the stronger front layer that you contact. The substrate is often broken by bending or twisting the device. So, I'm not sure that a screen protector will do much to keep the substrate from breaking.

robko · 08-08-2015, 12:42 AM

Agree with rkomar. The screen protector is very unlikely to help protect the substrate.

HarryT · 08-08-2015, 04:05 AM

It'll do nothing whatsoever to protect the substrate. The substrate (as its name suggests) is below the outer screen. A decent case (which it sounds as if you're already using) is the best protection.

jj2me · 08-08-2015, 07:34 AM

rkomar, robko, HarryT,

Thanks much. Going naked after I type this!

I try not to be too picky about e-readers, as they're all great compared to the dull-screened and high-priced original set, like the Sony PRS-500 and Kindle 1. But the glare from the screen protector was getting to me, such that I've been avoiding using that device.

Thanks again, very grateful.

08-07-2015, 10:30 PM	#1
jj2me Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 8820388 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, -350; Kindle 3 3G, DX, PW 2; various tablets	Does a screen protector help prevent broken glass substrate? My carry-around 5" Sony PRS-350 is outfitted for minimal size, while still being protected against drops and hits. It's protection consists of - a simple TPU case (protecting its back and sides), and - a front screen protector to help protect the glass substrate from breaking (I'm not much concerned about screen scratches and scuffs). Since the screen protector gives off a lot of annoying glare, I'd love to remove it. So I started wondering if maybe I'm mistaken in thinking a screen protector might offer a little more absorption to protect against breaking the screen, like it seems to do on cell phones. Does it actually offer such protection to an e-reader's glass substrate? Or is the glass substrate so fragile (e.g., it's easily broken just by torquing the device) that the screen protector is unlikely to help?

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08-07-2015, 11:34 PM	#2
rkomar Wizard Posts: 2,986 Karma: 18343081 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	The fragile glass substrate is behind the e-ink layer. It's not the stronger front layer that you contact. The substrate is often broken by bending or twisting the device. So, I'm not sure that a screen protector will do much to keep the substrate from breaking.

08-08-2015, 12:42 AM	#3
robko Wizard Posts: 2,454 Karma: 5469320 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	Agree with rkomar. The screen protector is very unlikely to help protect the substrate.

08-08-2015, 04:05 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It'll do nothing whatsoever to protect the substrate. The substrate (as its name suggests) is below the outer screen. A decent case (which it sounds as if you're already using) is the best protection.

08-08-2015, 07:34 AM	#5
jj2me Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 8820388 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, -350; Kindle 3 3G, DX, PW 2; various tablets	rkomar, robko, HarryT, Thanks much. Going naked after I type this! I try not to be too picky about e-readers, as they're all great compared to the dull-screened and high-priced original set, like the Sony PRS-500 and Kindle 1. But the glare from the screen protector was getting to me, such that I've been avoiding using that device. Thanks again, very grateful.

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