How to keep your smartphone screen scratch-free
No matter how hard you try to avoid it, your phone will get scratched from time to time. Luckily, there are some easy measures you can take to protect your screen.
Image by Getty/Phamai Techapan
No matter how hard you try to avoid it, your phone will get scratched from time to time. Luckily, there are some easy measures you can take to protect your screen.
Let’s talk about the scratch-resistant basics first.
While tough, your phone’s Gorilla Glass or iPhone version is not as invincible as you might think. On the Mohs scale, created to measure which materials can be scratched with other materials, your screen rates about 7. This is a pretty good result, given that regular glass or a knife is around 5.5, while diamond sits at the top with a 10/10 score.
However, the Mohs hardness scale isn’t the only factor to consider. It doesn’t take into account the force with which you scratch the item (or drop it on the floor). So, if you’re carrying your phone in your pocket or a bag next to a set of keys or other sharp objects, you’ve really only got yourself to blame.
But the biggest issue turns out to be the smallest culprit. Sand particles, including microscopic dust, are hard enough to leave marks and sneaky enough to enter your pockets without you ever noticing. Thus, sand-free trousers are key for keeping your screen scratch-free, which means regularly cleaning out those pockets or wearing a new pair every day.
Therefore, the only viable solution against sand and dust at the moment is coating your screen with scratch-resistant fabric, such as tempered glass. While it adds weight to your smartphone, you can forget shoveling dust out of your pockets for good.