Accessories Steinheil AF test

[CaptBananaPants]

When I ordered my Incredible, I got my son a Samsung Rogue - a touchscreen multimedia phone. While waiting for SGP to come out with our protectors, I went ahead and ordered the Rogue anti-fingerprint screens for him. Since I had a left-over, I thought I'd test it on my phone and compare it to the naked glass. As you can see by the photos below, I applied it over the top half, and left the bottom bare.

My impressions: first, the feel is NICE. It is actually slicker than the glass, and even the lightest touch registered on the screen. ZERO effect on the sensitivity - none at all. My problem with the AF screen, though, is that it does ever-so-slightly affect the image clarity. I'm afraid the photos don't quite do the experience justice, as my camera seems to add some noise to bare glass parts, but the images under the protector do seem a bit grainy. If you look at the home screen image at the oval around the word "Maps", you can get a good comparison between the bare glass and the AF screen. It is slightly less bright, too, but not adversely so, in my opinion.

Bottom line for me: I think I can live with the fingerprints more than I can the slight (and it is only slight - 5%-ish?) loss in clarity, so I'll be getting the Crystal Clear ones - as soon as they are back in stock.

 

[disciplined]

wow u can see a huge difference. The top row shortcuts look hazy compared to the bottom row. Definitely cant live with hurting the AMOLED like that.

Thanks for confirming that AF is a big thumbs down ;\

 

[WizeGuyDezignz]

Edit, nevermind.

 

[GAUG3]

Thanks for this thread! I don't think I will be getting the AF after seeing this.

 

[CaptBananaPants]

Thanks for confirming that AF is a big thumbs down ;\

It is definitely a visible difference, but it's not HORRIBLE bad. If I had never seen the AMOLED in all its glory first, I could've lived with this, and I don't think people who HATE HATE HATE fingerprints will be unhappy. But yeah, it is a definite thumbs down for me, too.

 

[sxshep]

I think the reason I'll be getting anti-fingerprint protectors is because of the glare, not so much for fingerprints... I can't stand this screen on a sunny day, I see myself in the reflection more so than I do what's on the screen

Thanks for the pictures... I think I may get a pack of Crystal Clear and a pack of Anti-Fingerprint ones from Steinheil and see what I like best

 

[CaptBananaPants]

I think the reason I'll be getting anti-fingerprint protectors is because of the glare, not so much for fingerprints... I can't stand this screen on a sunny day, I see myself in the reflection more so than I do what's on the screen

Thanks for the pictures... I think I may get a pack of Crystal Clear and a pack of Anti-Fingerprint ones from Steinheil and see what I like best

I think you'll be happy with the AFs, for sure, and I didn't mention that they ARE great on glare and fingerprints.

 

[RedCamaroZSS]

I got the AF since the CC was sold out.... The AF is ok, but I don't love it. The loss of visual "pop" is a real downer. I will most likely order the CC whenever they are available. I wonder if SGP is purposely keeping them out of stock for suckers like me to buy twice

 

[762x51]

I got the AF since the CC was sold out.... The AF is ok, but I don't love it. The loss of visual "pop" is a real downer. I will most likely order the CC whenever they are available.

I'm in the same boat. Got the AF because the other was out of stock, not sure I can live with the drop in clarity. I love that it doesnt show prints and has less glare, but it kind of defeats the purpose of having such a crisp, beautiful screen.


I have an extra since 2 came in the package. If anyone is interested in buying it from me, send me a PM.

 

[dibs ODDJOB]

Add me to the list of unhappy AF SGP owners. I really wanted to like it, and I knew it was going to hurt image quality. But I figured the DI screen was so crisp and vibrant that this screen wouldn't hurt it that much.

I took mine off after one minute and put another VZW screen back on. I shoudn't have bought in to the hype. Now the decision is to go with the CC or with Best Skins Ever, which was my previous favorite. I have tried Zagg, Phantom Skinz, VZW protectors, and some others, none have been that great.

 

[sxshep]

Add me to the list of unhappy AF SGP owners. I really wanted to like it, and I knew it was going to hurt image quality. But I figured the DI screen was so crisp and vibrant that this screen wouldn't hurt it that much.

I took mine off after one minute and put another VZW screen back on. I shoudn't have bought in to the hype. Now the decision is to go with the CC or with Best Skins Ever, which was my previous favorite. I have tried Zagg, Phantom Skinz, VZW protectors, and some others, none have been that great.

I pm'd the guy above you but I'd buy the other two off you for like $10 shipped if you want to part with them

 

[powdbyrice]

my friend has a similar one on her iphone and i like it. i suppose you just get accustomed to it. just like i got accustomed to the feel of the zagg

 

[absolution]

Unhappy AF owner here as well. Even after a perfectly-aligned and dust-free install, there's a tiny area near the trackpad that isn't sticking for me (looks like a little bubble). Maybe that part was user error, although I have heard of others with a similar issue.

The glide is fantastic; feels just like a trackpad on a laptop as has been described, and I like the matte finish on a blank screen. But when the screen is on -- OUCH. I almost went to look for my glasses because it looked pretty darn blurry to me, plus it gives that blue/pink speckle look across the screen. Maybe these things don't work as well with phones of this resolution, but for me the image quality was disappointing to say the least. I think I'm switching to crystal.

 

[jbdan]

Unhappy AF owner here as well. Even after a perfectly-aligned and dust-free install, there's a tiny area near the trackpad that isn't sticking for me (looks like a little bubble). Maybe that part was user error, although I have heard of others with a similar issue.

The glide is fantastic; feels just like a trackpad on a laptop as has been described, and I like the matte finish on a blank screen. But when the screen is on -- OUCH. I almost went to look for my glasses because it looked pretty darn blurry to me, plus it gives that blue/pink speckle look across the screen. Maybe these things don't work as well with phones of this resolution, but for me the image quality was disappointing to say the least. I think I'm switching to crystal.

Good to know I got both and from what I am reading I might have to go with the crystal. Any pics?

 

[soymilk]

wow, the homescreen picture shows the difference really well, thanks i'd been debating if i wanted to try the AF or CC ones, now im set on CC. although now the question is do i spend the 10 bucks at all, since i'm actually fairly content with the verizon ones, they just dont cover the entire face only the screen so im debating whether i'd want to spend the 10 bucks to cover the whole thing

pros: protects entire face, will notice even less since i wont see the edges of the protector like i do with the vzw ones

cons: costs money

:shrug:

 

[absolution]

Good to know I got both and from what I am reading I might have to go with the crystal. Any pics?

I'm in a good mood. Here are a couple snaps. You can see how nice it looks except right near the trackpad. You can also *sort of* see the blurriness, although it's definitely different in person. I'm not much of a photographer, this was handheld without flash indoors. Plus a very narrow field of focus (i.e. the status bar is obviously out of focus -- I tried to focus on the clock).

 

[daklepto]

I just posted some pictures of my install as well here:

http://androidforums.com/736096-post213.html

pretty much the same thing everyone else has been saying, I dont know if i'll be able to stand the loss in clarity

 

[Heelfan71]

I just posted some pictures of my install as well here:

http://androidforums.com/736096-post213.html

pretty much the same thing everyone else has been saying, I dont know if i'll be able to stand the loss in clarity

leave it on for a week or so and you will probably like it. Just seems odd at first.

 

[Mike_B]

Here's my comparison for anyone that cares. I started with my Inc. with the VZW clear screen protectors -- very clear, good feel, SUCKED with finger prints. The next week I got the SGP AF for my Moto DROID. Now remember, I am not comparing the displays of the two phones, but, the AF on the DROID definitely caused a clarity reduction. Now, if you want the AF/AG properties, it's awesome. I knew that wasn't what I wanted on my Inc., but I ordered both the Crystal and AF from SGP for the Inc.

I installed the Crystal on the Inc. last night. The texture is different from the VZW protector, but the clarity is the same. The best part: the finger print issue is gone! The Crystal still does not compare fingerprint-wise to the AF, but I'll take it over the VZW unit anyday.

So, if you don't mind the clarity loss, OR you are really concerned about prints, go AF. If you prefer clarity with a smaller level and AF, go Crystal. In the end I think most ppl will get used to the AF (I did on my DROID), and heck, I may swap them at some point.

 

[serpentine009]

Mike B, that's exactly what I was looking for. Gonna get me the crystal and remove my AF. I hated the greasyness of the VZW clear.

 

[ximfinity]

That is really noticeably blurrier. makes me feel like i need glasses and i could only imagine trying to read smaller text online with that on the phone..

Can't wait to get the crystal version.

 

[GAUG3]

Here's my comparison for anyone that cares. I started with my Inc. with the VZW clear screen protectors -- very clear, good feel, SUCKED with finger prints. The next week I got the SGP AF for my Moto DROID. Now remember, I am not comparing the displays of the two phones, but, the AF on the DROID definitely caused a clarity reduction. Now, if you want the AF/AG properties, it's awesome. I knew that wasn't what I wanted on my Inc., but I ordered both the Crystal and AF from SGP for the Inc.

I installed the Crystal on the Inc. last night. The texture is different from the VZW protector, but the clarity is the same. The best part: the finger print issue is gone! The Crystal still does not compare fingerprint-wise to the AF, but I'll take it over the VZW unit anyday.

So, if you don't mind the clarity loss, OR you are really concerned about prints, go AF. If you prefer clarity with a smaller level and AF, go Crystal. In the end I think most ppl will get used to the AF (I did on my DROID), and heck, I may swap them at some point.

Can you compare fingerprints on the CC and naked? Does it eliminate some fingerprints?

 

[Mike_B]

Can you compare fingerprints on the CC and naked? Does it eliminate some fingerprints?

I never used my Inc. (or DROID) naked. So I can't compare.

 

[CaptBananaPants]

I never used my Inc. (or DROID) naked. So I can't compare.

I can say that using the Incredible naked is...oh, wait, you meant the screen. Er, carry on.

 

[mac35]

Here's my comparison for anyone that cares. I started with my Inc. with the VZW clear screen protectors -- very clear, good feel, SUCKED with finger prints. The next week I got the SGP AF for my Moto DROID. Now remember, I am not comparing the displays of the two phones, but, the AF on the DROID definitely caused a clarity reduction. Now, if you want the AF/AG properties, it's awesome. I knew that wasn't what I wanted on my Inc., but I ordered both the Crystal and AF from SGP for the Inc.

I installed the Crystal on the Inc. last night. The texture is different from the VZW protector, but the clarity is the same. The best part: the finger print issue is gone! The Crystal still does not compare fingerprint-wise to the AF, but I'll take it over the VZW unit anyday.

So, if you don't mind the clarity loss, OR you are really concerned about prints, go AF. If you prefer clarity with a smaller level and AF, go Crystal. In the end I think most ppl will get used to the AF (I did on my DROID), and heck, I may swap them at some point.

How does the "feel" of the CC compare to the VZW protector? Easier or harder to drag your finger around?