On my previous touchscreen smartphones I used the Fellowes, sp?, ones from walmart where you cut them to the right size. They always kept my screens from getting scratched up, which I appreciated, but the screens never looked quite right and also they smudges and smears show up too well on them. Not to mention the scratches on them are very noticeable. So when I got my Hero I decided to try going naked for a bit to see the difference and it was night and day. When my screen is off I can see smudges and smears but once I turn on the screen it is crystal clear. Also, I use the phone the same way I did my other phones that had scratches on the screen protectors but my Hero doesn't scratch at all. Use it in my pocket all day and it works great. I do have a cleaning cloth and wipe off my screen once every day or two but there is no way I'll put a screen protector on it now. The screen is way more responsive without the cheap screen protectors, they always made it so I had to press harder on other phones.