Galaxy S21 Screen Protector for Fingerprint Sensor

furyou on 06/10/2021 - 22:05

You guys got a Screen Protector for your S21? I've been using the installed one, it feels quite good for a plastic film. Thought they couldn't do that.

I got a UV glue one from ali for $5ish. Tried to put it on. I'd done one other b4, and it went fine. But it wasn't a screen Fingerprint Sensor.

With the S21, I found the uv glue just wants to run via the guids stickers down the sides of the case. It was a terrible cleanup, the glue doesn't soak into tissue well.

Finally got it, but the Fingerprint Sensor seemed dull. Ie register new Fingerprint - each press took ages, and half wouldn't register. The surface of it was also easy to scratch. I mean micro scratches that you see from angles from tissues.

I ripped it off, got the spare and tried again. This time as soon as I put the 'glass' down the glue created tons of bubbles. I just gave up.

Now w/o the Screen Protector the Fingerprint Sensor works so well. So the installed one actually did affect it a bit.

I have a case with raised lip, but wonder what I should do with the front. Since it's a flat screen, does a normal TG one work?

Mobile Samsung Screen Protector

Comments

  • DannyC on 06/10/2021 - 22:39
    +1

    Whitestone Dome glass screen protectors are the only ones I use, currently have one installed on my S21 Ultra. The factory protector is fine but if U want to up your game get the Whitestone. Pricey @ $70… Yes but worth it.

    • bdl on 06/10/2021 - 23:45

      If you need to replace them, is it easy to remove a broken one? And what happens with camera, is there a cutout? Never used them before, so I'm curious!

    • furyou on 07/10/2021 - 08:58

      You had to install it yourself right? The problem with these UV ones is that the glue is so messy and so hard to clean up. It runs into the buttons even though I have a sticker there to protect it and it's not easy to wipe away from the surfaces

      • DannyC on 07/10/2021 - 09:06

        Comes with a installation kit with all the stickers to protect your ports. The adhesive after being UV cured is good. Fairly easy to replace if you crack it.

        • furyou on 07/10/2021 - 09:22

          Obs the ali one is a cheap imitation. But I had trouble with those guide stickers. I used them to align the glass, but if I bend it to cover the buttons they would come off.

          They also wick the glue out over the side. Leaving me with a messy sticky like when you rip a sticker off and bits left behind.

          Must be a difference in glue quality

        • bdl on 07/10/2021 - 09:39

          So it's a piece of glass with runny glue that cures using UV light?

          • furyou on 07/10/2021 - 13:17
            +1

            @bdl: yes runny but sticky liquid. Once cured it's exactly like the old TP glass ones, a slightly sticky surface.

      • yippy on 07/10/2021 - 10:25
        +1

        I had no issues cleaning the UV glue when I did my P30 Pro with the White Stone kit. I used isopropyl and it wipes off easily.

        • furyou on 07/10/2021 - 12:23

          My problem was trying to absorb overflow. How do you drop enough clue so that you don't get the ton of run off? I couldn't absorb it out of the cracks

          • yippy on 07/10/2021 - 12:47

            @furyou: There wasn't much overflow because the Whitestone kit came with 2 white spongy strips that you put in the frame that runs along the sides of the phone, it absorbs most of the excess glue.

            It also came with 2 vials of glue, 1 vial is just enough to cover the phone so you have a spare in case you butcher it the first time.

    • ozprash on 08/10/2021 - 11:33

      How's the fingerprint recognition with this? I read and re-read so many reviews. Almost all of them mentioned poor fingerprint recognition, like success in only 20% of the tries.

      • DannyC on 08/10/2021 - 13:21

        Mines fine. I've registered my thumb n my other finger twice after application of the protector. Works well for me.

  • crentist on 06/10/2021 - 23:30
    +1

    Hydrogel screen protectors are the way to go. I used to used UV glass on my mate 20 pro with curved screen and in display fingerprint, but I really prefer the hydrogel

    • Kangal on 07/10/2021 - 00:02
      +1

      This depends on your usage.
      Hydrogel only protects from scratches, not impact.

      And a phone's display/Gorilla Glass is generally scratch-resistant anyway. You need something pretty darn hard to get scratches at a Level 6, with deeper grooves at a Level 7. So most screen protectors will actually be pretty close to this level of protection too. Some screen protectors (eg Plastic) are actually lower scratch-resistant, but they achieve their goal of protecting the display by sacrificing themselves to become scratched.

      The bigger issue imho is impact resistance.
      In general, there are no products out there that achieve this. Many (eg Plastic) will just let the display get cracked. Whereas others (eg Glass) will become broken themselves, but will succeed their protection by sacrificing themselves.

      Honestly, I subscribe to the latter gang. Phones are too weirdly shaped, too large, too heavy, too slippery. They are more prone to drops (and you're not getting any younger). So drop protection should be pretty high on everyone's list. Not to mention phones themselves are getting more expensive, more fragile, and harder to repair. And if your phone does get a scratch, that can usually be overlooked easily… not so with a crack :(

      I found this video interesting:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9aMdlaha9U

      • bdl on 07/10/2021 - 00:19

        Do the Whitestone Dome ones behave like glass or plastic?

        • yippy on 07/10/2021 - 10:36
          +1

          Feels like a normal glass screen protector to me.

        • Kangal on 07/10/2021 - 22:10
          +1

          It acts like a very-thin glass.
          So there is some impact protection, unlike hydrogel. So I would still go for a proper Glass Protector if you can, but the reality is that this is not an option on many of the luxury phones of today. So WhiteDome may be your only choice, but it is expensive. So if you pick one up, get the pack with extra screen protectors, and when your WhiteDome gets a little scratched, scuffed, and cracked… do not replace it. Daily drive it as much as possible. Then replace it with the extra WhiteDome you have. That way the price would be more bearable.

    • furyou on 07/10/2021 - 08:59

      I don't really like the feel of those. I want the smooth feel of glass

  • theknight27 on 07/10/2021 - 03:22

    I've been using this one with no issues - cheap and easy to apply!

    https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08RYV6PD5/ref=ppx_yo_d…

    • furyou on 07/10/2021 - 09:02

      What kind of surface does it have? Are they smooth like glass or do they have a little bit of grip like plastic

      • theknight27 on 07/10/2021 - 15:50

        Smooth with maybe a tiny bit of grip? It doesn't feel like those cheap plastic ones I've had before.

  • Love a bargain on 07/10/2021 - 13:16

    Given that S21 has a flat screen, I just use a good old tempered glass screen protector. Yes, it doesn't go all the way to the edge and you can see the edge of the protector but it's easy to put on and remove (no mess at all). It's stayed on pretty well so far.

    & yes, I've had to re-register my fingerprints after putting it on and it does dull the fingerprint sensor a bit (as compared to how it was with just the plastic film that came with the phone). However, it's a small price I'm willing to pay to avoid cracking the screen.

    • furyou on 07/10/2021 - 13:19

      I had expected the UV one to go to edge, but it doesn't.
      I'm having a hard time finding good old tempered glass ones, I see those ones with NO sticky underneath then just a circle at the fingerprint sensor

      • Love a bargain on 07/10/2021 - 13:22

        I got mine from eBay. No glue underneath (no need for that given the screen is flat) but also no cut out for the fingerprint sensor either - i.e. covering the entire screen except for the front camera on the top.

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