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Rhino Shield Impact Resistant Screen Protector Kickstarter

I backed this Kickstarter for enough to get the bundle with a protector for both the front and back of my Nexus 4 and the front of my Nexus 7. Looks promising to me, anyone else know anything about this?
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1081571316/rhino-shield-the-impact-resistant-screen-protector
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

that video is making a lot of claims about what their screen protector can do...lol at the hammer part of the video, it looks like he was placing it on the screen. the drop test proved nothing too as they tried drop it flat instead of on an edge not to mention we dont know how many times the phone did break for them to get that shot. In real life situations most of the time when a phone drops it will hit an edge and this is also where the glass is most vulnerable. Screen protectors dont add any protection against drops, you need a case for that.
Wasnt there many screen protectors like this at CES? why not just get one those than risking losing your money on a kickstarter that never gets funded.

Seems like a great product,
21.52 USD for a Front and Back
That's heck of a deal

naruses said:
Seems like a great product,
21.52 USD for a Front and Back
That's heck of a deal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get a front and back from bestskinsever.com for $7.
http://www.bestskinsever.com/google-nexus-4-skin
I use these on all my devices and they are great!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Reminds me of the Amzer Shatterproof.
When they mentioned ASTM standards the engineer in me was like..woah.
http://youtu.be/pnqBqPfxnY4
Here's their video dropping bricks on their iphone. I cringe when watching it. At least they show damage to the screen. Makes it more believable.
I have one. It's $40 but I paid $15 with coupon, with a lifetime warranty. So whenever it starts peeling I just pay shipping to get a replacement.
EDIT: Here's their hammer test.
http://youtu.be/Hsxl1bRTldo
Why kickstart something where someone else already makes it?

neotekz said:
that video is making a lot of claims about what their screen protector can do...lol at the hammer part of the video, it looks like he was placing it on the screen. the drop test proved nothing too as they tried drop it flat instead of on an edge not to mention we dont know how many times the phone did break for them to get that shot. In real life situations most of the time when a phone drops it will hit an edge and this is also where the glass is most vulnerable. Screen protectors dont add any protection against drops, you need a case for that.
Wasnt there many screen protectors like this at CES? why not just get one those than risking losing your money on a kickstarter that never gets funded.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure you watched the entire video?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

juicyjones said:
Are you sure you watched the entire video?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope, i was just saying their drop test is misleading, but just went back and check out the rest of it. I assume you are referring to the "scientific" ball bearing drop. How is a steel ball dropping on a phone anything like a real life drop. Even their scientific test is misleading they should of put a cheap competitor screen protector instead of naked glass to prove that their screen protector is so much better.
I dont doubt that putting a layer of plastic over a screen makes it stronger against an impact at the center of the glass panel but this is not where a phone hits when it falls. Edges are weakest on glass screens, edges are where phones first hit when they are drop on a flat surface since screen protectors do not protect edges they do not protect against drops...If you dont believe me just search drop test on youtube and you will see that the vast majority if them break from the corner or edge.

neotekz said:
nope, i was just saying their drop test is misleading, but just went back and check out the rest of it. I assume you are referring to the "scientific" ball bearing drop. How is a steel ball dropping on a phone anything like a real life drop. Even their scientific test is misleading they should of put a cheap competitor screen protector instead of naked glass to prove that their screen protector is so much better.
I dont doubt that putting a layer of plastic over a screen makes it stronger against an impact at the center of the glass panel but this is not where a phone hits when it falls. Edges are weakest on glass screens, edges are where phones first hit when they are drop on a flat surface since screen protectors do not protect edges they do not protect against drops...If you dont believe me just search drop test on youtube and you will see that the vast majority if them break from the corner or edge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should take your threadcrapping general anger at screen protectors out on some other thread. Nobody here is some poor fool who needs you to clarify the physics of phone breakage. It's clear what they're selling, the question is whether it's better than tempered glass or something else. Some of us work in places where the environment itself is a hazard and who can use this sort of thing because an otterbox defender type case may not be enough.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

juicyjones said:
You should take your threadcrapping general anger at screen protectors out on some other thread. Nobody here is some poor fool who needs you to clarify the physics of phone breakage. It's clear what they're selling, the question is whether it's better than tempered glass or something else. Some of us work in places where the environment itself is a hazard and who can use this sort of thing because an otterbox defender type case may not be enough.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont have anything against screen protector just them claiming their screen protector protects against drops...If the question is if it is better against other protectors they should of tested it against other protectors.

Just backed this. Wish it receives 100% funding before the end date.
azsl1326 said:
You can get a front and back from bestskinsever.com for $7.
http://www.bestskinsever.com/google-nexus-4-skin
I use these on all my devices and they are great!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you had read their campaign, you wouldn't post this Rhino is not a regular screen proctector.
PcFish said:
Reminds me of the Amzer Shatterproof.
Why kickstart something where someone else already makes it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not?

PcFish said:
Why kickstart something where someone else already makes it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You realize that by that if the tech community thought that way practically nothing we use today would exist including smart phones and even computers or any kind of clothing or automobile or nearly anything after the fifth century?
Sent from my Paranoid Android Nexus 4.

PcFish said:
Reminds me of the Amzer Shatterproof.
When they mentioned ASTM standards the engineer in me was like..woah.
http://youtu.be/pnqBqPfxnY4
Here's their video dropping bricks on their iphone. I cringe when watching it. At least they show damage to the screen. Makes it more believable.
I have one. It's $40 but I paid $15 with coupon, with a lifetime warranty. So whenever it starts peeling I just pay shipping to get a replacement.
EDIT: Here's their hammer test.
http://youtu.be/Hsxl1bRTldo
Why kickstart something where someone else already makes it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I might have thought about Amzer...until I read the comments on their brick youtube video.

Backed this for the front + back covers... really hope they succeed.
Also ordered a Best Skins Ever for the time being...

I backed them for the combo pledge as well.

neotekz said:
i dont have anything against screen protector just them claiming their screen protector protects against drops...If the question is if it is better against other protectors they should of tested it against other protectors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
neotekz said:
nope, i was just saying their drop test is misleading, but just went back and check out the rest of it. I assume you are referring to the "scientific" ball bearing drop. How is a steel ball dropping on a phone anything like a real life drop. Even their scientific test is misleading they should of put a cheap competitor screen protector instead of naked glass to prove that their screen protector is so much better.
I dont doubt that putting a layer of plastic over a screen makes it stronger against an impact at the center of the glass panel but this is not where a phone hits when it falls. Edges are weakest on glass screens, edges are where phones first hit when they are drop on a flat surface since screen protectors do not protect edges they do not protect against drops...If you dont believe me just search drop test on youtube and you will see that the vast majority if them break from the corner or edge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No where did they claim that its a magical solution that will protect against all types of drops.
Here is their official reply about it.
Evolutive Labs says:
Hi,
Thanks for the interest
It all really depends on the orientation of the drops, if the first point of contact is protect by Rhino Shield i.e. land it on the face, then the screen would be fine. In another scenario, i.e. facedown but tilt, if the tilt angle is less than 30% (horizon is 0 degree), there is very high chance of survival rate. above this angle, the frame and casing plays more important role.
There will be FAQ upload soon.
Many thanks
Eric
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Backed
Just pledged 16 Pounds for front and back proctectors of my yet unarrived nexus 4. Hope they get to their goal

Looks interesting, ill probably back it.

I emailed them asking how much of the nexus 4 screen the rhino actually covers, I assume its like any dry SP that won't cover all of the screen but I just want confirmation before I pledge.

juicyjones said:
You should take your threadcrapping general anger at screen protectors out on some other thread. Nobody here is some poor fool who needs you to clarify the physics of phone breakage. It's clear what they're selling, the question is whether it's better than tempered glass or something else. Some of us work in places where the environment itself is a hazard and who can use this sort of thing because an otterbox defender type case may not be enough.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to relax and get your own anger checked. Neo is 100% right. This project is full of bs. As I stated in reddit thread
" This seems very sketchy as some one who worked in a research lab for 3 years the way they portray their data is not convincing in the video. 1.) Main reason.. After they banged on the glass with the magical screen protector they simply removed it.. Instead of then banging on the screen without a screen protector to show us that the screen can in fact break. They did this on all the occasions. Even the ball drop on the screen shows one screen breaking into a million pieces while the undamaged screen simply has its protector removed instead of a follow up test with another ball drop.
2.) Gorilla glass becomes more and more brittle as the hardness increases. Its main function is to prevent scratching. Thus a direct force can probably break the glass. I dont see how a screen protector can dissipate the energy from a force and leave the screen undamaged.
I call bull on this Rhino shield product. I'm no expert in the realm of screen protectors but no way can a thin layer of plastic with different layers protect your screen from shattering. Best it can do is prevent the debris from flying everywhere."
Unless these guys present their data better I'm calling bs on this chunk of plastic.

I got a reply for my question about how much of the screen the Rhino covers, here is their reply.
Hi Marco,
Thanks so much for the support!!!
first drop protection,
the drop protection all really depends on the orientation of the drops, if the first point of contact is protect by Rhino Shield i.e. land it on the face, then the screen would be fine. In another scenario, i.e. facedown but tilt, if the tilt angle is less than 30% (horizon is 0 degree), there is very high chance of survival rate. above this angle, the frame and casing plays more important role.
The fitting for nexus 4 would only cover the flat surface at the moment, we are trying very hard to try to get the curve covered as well.
We are waiting for a new batch of prototype being produced and also the tool being made (nexus 4 require different tool from all others phone because of the curvature).
Many Thanks

Gorilla Corning Glass 2

How strong is this suppise to be? My phone took a two inch fall and the screen is pretty much gone.
iTzAmazed

Normally its supposed to be decently strong. However, due to the design of the phone and the way the glass curves around the edges, it isn't uncommon for the point of impact to be directly on the glass. This creates a vulnerability for the device and is why you see so many broken S3s. This phone requires a case.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Had this phone for months with no case and it still looks great. Been through a couple medium drops (nothing too crazy, but a couple feet onto concrete from the car) and no marks at all.
I refuse to double the size of my phone, which i bought because it was so sleek and small

amazin1988 said:
How strong is this suppise to be? My phone took a two inch fall and the screen is pretty much gone.
iTzAmazed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think two inch fall will cause no damage don't you think? Unless you meant two feet.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

I have a uag case, too risky not to. I dropped mine from my mouth into the floor at the gas station. My only concern was getting it sanitized so I didn't get any germs.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

The problem with Gorilla Glass is the corners. From my experiences anyway. A short drop right on the corner completely wrecked my screen once. But I think two inches is quite an exaggeration. Had to be at least 2ft. Maybe a foot.

Digur said:
Had this phone for months with no case and it still looks great. Been through a couple medium drops (nothing too crazy, but a couple feet onto concrete from the car) and no marks at all.
I refuse to double the size of my phone, which i bought because it was so sleek and small
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find it hard to believe that you dropped your S3 a couple of feet, from a car and onto the concrete and didn't at least get a scuff mark?
Unless you drive hot wheels and your concrete is made of grass!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

amazin1988 said:
How strong is this suppise to be? My phone took a two inch fall and the screen is pretty much gone.
iTzAmazed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That must be some drop. My screen shattered but it was also 10 degrees outside.

I have replaced several gorilla glass screens. They are great for scratch resistance, almost indestructible that way, but hit them on the edge, or pry up on it and snap crackle pop. I don't care what phone I have had, it gets a case that comes over the front to keep glass off table etc when face down, and I use Phantom Skinz on all my screens. Never had a problem yet, but it is fun replacing friends screens who don't like cases and screen covers ;-0.

droped mine less than 18 inches but caught the corner just right and shattered. the one time i didn't get insurance:crying:

golfinglenn said:
I have replaced several gorilla glass screens. They are great for scratch resistance, almost indestructible that way, but hit them on the edge, or pry up on it and snap crackle pop. I don't care what phone I have had, it gets a case that comes over the front to keep glass off table etc when face down, and I use Phantom Skinz on all my screens. Never had a problem yet, but it is fun replacing friends screens who don't like cases and screen covers ;-0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly how strong is the screen protector. Like against good hits and stuff... I usually do the field goal catch when I drop my phone, where it flies across the room... Obviously that still might be too much, but do you think it would hold up pretty good?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

faehsemc said:
Honestly how strong is the screen protector. Like against good hits and stuff... I usually do the field goal catch when I drop my phone, where it flies across the room... Obviously that still might be too much, but do you think it would hold up pretty good?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the screen protector is pretty strong. I look at it as a thin plastic/rubbery barrier between the glass and any sharp objects that might impact the glass. I have never broken or cracked a screen myself and had some pretty good drops/punts when trying to catch with foot lol.

Scratchproof not crashproof
GG protects against scratches, that's about it. I don't believe its any more shatter resistant than other glass. I use a bumper case, which protects the edges but leaves the back largely uncovered. Best compromise I could find between protection and not adding bulk. I actually prefer it to uncovered because I always found that the GS3 was kind of slick and easy to drop without a case of any kind.

Agree
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

Mine screen got scratched pretty soon after I purchased it. I was pretty disappointed. Ended up getting a ZAG and it's held up nicely.

My screen scratched from my finger nail. My wife's screen is all scratched to hell. Yet she does nothing different than she did with her Fascinate with gg1. I think the coating on gg2 much softer.
I don't like it.
sent from CleanRom 6.0 lk2.0 1.21GW

rhamorsky said:
droped mine less than 18 inches but caught the corner just right and shattered. the one time i didn't get insurance:crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
700 phone and you didn't get insurance
I dont have insurance either but I do have one of those ebay TPU cases, seems to protect it from drops just fine

my friend's s3 hit a hardwood floor with the corner of his phone and a giant crack just appeared across his his screen

Here is a picture:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=37829485#post37829485
Blue6IX said:
It actually fell out of my pocket (pants pocket - lower cargo pocket so about knee height) as I was getting it out.
Thing is, this was new years eve, and it had been sitting in my car for a number of hours. It landed on the edge of a concrete walkway, so it was uneven pressure when it hit.
And being as there was snow on the ground, it was really cold - the phone being in my car (off by the way) for those hours meant it was just as cold (and brittle) when it hit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are two things on the screen in that picture - my customary piece of electrical tape over the front facing camera, and a screen protector.
The screen protector is why it's still usable. Without it, all the pieces of screen would have fallen out. The only thing that is broken, is the gorilla glass part of the screen.
It sucks trying to work through all the cracks and breakage, but because the screen protector keeps it all there and flat I can work through all that mess.
I bought another 32 gig model, so it's not the s3 I use day to day, but it does still have its role in my division of the android army.
I always use screen protectors, I don't care what claims are made about the screen. With it you have a chance to still use it in a worst case like this. Without it, this device would be relatively useless.
I'll eventually get around to buying another screen for it, but the screen protector held it together long enough for me to get another one, and now it's not such a priority on my list. Someday.

Here is a link with some pretty interesting info from Corning regarding Gorilla Glass, scratching, breaking, etc., including Gorilla Glass 3:
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Corn...-Glass-3-is-not-like-most-other-glass_id38494

Spigen glas tr help

So I just got this screen protector today and it does look amazing ill admit. The problem is it does not seem like the top part of the protector wants to attach to the phone as if there is no adhesive. This is mostly my fault ill admit. I put it on wrong and what i did was take the bottom of nail and peeled it up and tried to re apply to adjust it. Is there any way I can maybe re ad the adhesive and how can I safely get off any lint or w/e that may have gotten onto the bottom of the screen protector? I already opened a ticket to spigen but I heard that their customer service is crap so I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do in the mean time.

blackguy101 said:
So I just got this screen protector today and it does look amazing ill admit. The problem is it does not seem like the top part of the protector wants to attach to the phone as if there is no adhesive. This is mostly my fault ill admit. I put it on wrong and what i did was take the bottom of nail and peeled it up and tried to re apply to adjust it. Is there any way I can maybe re ad the adhesive and how can I safely get off any lint or w/e that may have gotten onto the bottom of the screen protector? I already opened a ticket to spigen but I heard that their customer service is crap so I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do in the mean time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No such luck. They uses special adhesive. No way to remove dust. You have to be extremely careful when applying this glass protector....
Sgp won't help you because it's your fault for applying it incorrectly.
Sent from my Galaxy S too!

lambstone said:
No such luck. They uses special adhesive. No way to remove dust. You have to be extremely careful when applying this glass protector....
Sgp won't help you because it's your fault for applying it incorrectly.
Sent from my Galaxy S too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if i just got the product there is nothing i can do to get a replacement? I mean isnt there like a 30 day thing if im not satisfied?

Yes there is, but you have to pay half of the price to get a new one
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

hmm ok well it cant be helped then :/ I really wanna like this product so i guess I dont mind doing that. sucks that they just take so damn long to ship -_- wish I could just pick it up at best buy or something

blackguy101 said:
hmm ok well it cant be helped then :/ I really wanna like this product so i guess I dont mind doing that. sucks that they just take so damn long to ship -_- wish I could just pick it up at best buy or something
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeap, http://www.spigen.com/need1more
You have to be quick, there is a 30days time frame from when you purchased.

I must be just as bad. This is the most frustrating screen protecter to apply. I've been known to mess up once but never had this much problems. It floats off center, fingers holding it and getting in the way. Front plastic made it hard to estimate the edge with the rounded corners, getting caught as well on fingers as I let go pushing it slightly to one side. Unable to pry it back up without barely scraping the adhesive ruining one corner if not multiple edges from micro fuzz etc. The squeegee is worthless on the glass, back protector is fine but just have to deal with it.
Must be me. Oh well. Good thing I get the cheap ass protector with my Neo Hybrid case.

You tried the masking tape method?
Align it the screen protector without peeling off the back cover. Once it's in place, use making tape to hold it in place, like a book. Put some a strip from the front down across onto the phone. You should be able to "open" it like the page from a book. Then apply it. Should make things easier.

a Good company will stand behind their products. After seeing my brother's Hybrid case and reading some things on their customer service, I chose to pass on Spigen.
The clear coat on his bumper part is already chipping way, the whole thing looks like a cheap Chinese knock off ( bought directly from Spigen).
Zagg for example, a product I don't recommend at all because 1) It's a horrible product 2) it's ridiculously expensive. But the only thing they have is pretty much unquestioned replacements. Which I'm sure they can do because of ridiculous markup.
BTW, it might not be your fault at all, because these are rigid glass pieces, they have to be flat in order to stick to the phone. a SLIGHT imperfection will cause it to not stick.
All that being said, I went with MIME glass protector.

I have the glas t and I love it. They are much easier to apply then typical plastic ones as they dont bend and flop around when applying. When I applied mine it lined up perfectly but I did get lint under it right in the middle of the damn screen. I tried dealing with it but couldn't take it so I lifted it half way up with my finger nail and used scotch tape to get the lint off... dropped it back down and it looked even worse. I thought i wasted 27 bucks until the morning when I looked at my screen and bubbles were gone. So it is possible to remove lint just dont touch the adhesive.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium

just pay the half price spigen charges to replace it and move on. sulk it up as paying for a learning experience.
they already mention that the best method for aligning the thing is to use scotch tape on the top and bottom aligning it then drop down.
if you dont want any dust trapped, well don't mind me for stating the obvious but... don't work in a dusty room, close windows/doors turn off fans... don't breathe too hard on it lol.
use a photo air duster like a Rocket blower, to remove any left over dust/lint from cleaning the screen. I find that camera lens solution and lens paper works perfectly for prepping the surface. use the included stickers to remove any left over dust that cannot be blown away by the rocket blower.
if you can do not reapply once completely set down, when applying make sure it's aligned, bottom edges, make sure the gaps are evenly distributed on all sides, cutout holes centered...
when applying and you notice it is not centered gently lift up but never touch the adhesive side. lift up with only scotch tape.
I've been applying screen protectors for years and have gotten it down to a science... everyone comes to me to get theirs installed haha...

Once any part of this is adhered scotch tape is useless as it's glass. you have to use a suction cup or your finger nail you just have to be careful.

I install mine in the bathroom with the shower on hot. Let the steam take care of all the dust particles. I have been doing it this way for a awhile now and i never get dust under the screen.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

i installed mines 5 days ago and got a 2mm air bubble on the right side of the home button i couldn't squeegee it out and doesn't seem to want to go away. has anyone else experienced this? is there anything i can do to get rid of it or will it eventually go away on its own? fortunately its not on the actual screen but its still an eyesore

i re applied my twice, wif no side effect, just dun touch the adhesive side, use industrial musking tape to lift it and for dust on under the screen, use scotch tape to remove it. key point is to never touch e adhesive side wif ur finger. nothing wrong wif this product, love it! its like the original screen, just tat if u really scratch it, u can remove it and there is the perfect screen below it.
btw for those tat claim it could b an production defects tat the glass is not perfectly straight, being in the glass industry for over 30 yrs, its actually easier and cheaper to create prefectly straight glass then any wif the slightest curve.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda premium

blackguy101 said:
So I just got this screen protector today and it does look amazing ill admit. The problem is it does not seem like the top part of the protector wants to attach to the phone as if there is no adhesive. This is mostly my fault ill admit. I put it on wrong and what i did was take the bottom of nail and peeled it up and tried to re apply to adjust it. Is there any way I can maybe re ad the adhesive and how can I safely get off any lint or w/e that may have gotten onto the bottom of the screen protector? I already opened a ticket to spigen but I heard that their customer service is crap so I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do in the mean time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing happened to me so I had to return it. The install came out perfect but the top left did not want to seal/adhere properly. I was so disappointed so I just went with the tried and true zagg. I purchased the protector from eBay so the return policy is different from their website.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

just tried lifting up that part of the screen for a few seconds and putting it back down. this air bubble is like a giant zit that wont go away

blackguy101 said:
I already opened a ticket to spigen but I heard that their customer service is crap so I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do in the mean time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is why I chose MIME. Email response is lightning quick and they include a hand written note in the package. Would definitely send you a new one without a question
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

The issue with it not laying after picking it up with your fingernail is not necessarily because the adhesive has gone bad. You need to level out the edge you stuck your nail under. Happened to me, fixed it with the squeege between the phone glass and the protector, prying up to level out the edge.

drbveb88 said:
I install mine in the bathroom with the shower on hot. Let the steam take care of all the dust particles. I have been doing it this way for a awhile now and i never get dust under the screen.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So installed my tr, first try no bubbles.Seriously looks and feels like the samsung glass. AMAZING!!!
The steam trick works. Its not like its a sauna and your phone is a steamy. The steam is like a static electricity to dust.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

After a little more than one week, the bezel lost a lot of its rotation resistance

After owning the Gear S2 Classic for a little over a week, I noticed yesterday that the bezel is now a lot easier to rotate then it used to. I am concerned that something is wrong or wearing out prematurely. I kinda liked the amount of resistance it had before. It is still functioning but the rotation clicks are less noticeable and it takes almost not effort to rotate the bezel, making it feel cheap compared to how it was initially. I am still under the 15 days return policies at Best Buy. I was wondering if anyone has noticed this kind of changes over time? For example I think I needed to grasp with two fingers to rotate before and now I can do it with just one.

I have the opposite problem. After owning the Gear S2 3G for several months, the bezel gets sticky after turning it a few times, like I'm tightening a screw. If I continue turning the bezel or reverse the direction, it becomes loose again. I put a few drops of 3-in-1 oil in the gap between the bezel and the watch, and it helped the problem. However, after a week it started feeling sticky again.

Dont you make it worser by putting oil in there? Dust can get everywhere. Dust and oil isnt really a good mixture.

Oxizee said:
Dont you make it worser by putting oil in there? Dust can get everywhere. Dust and oil isnt really a good mixture.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really. 3-in-1 oil is made to lubricate moving parts and clean tools/guns. The bezel turns nicely after applying a few drops of 3-in-1 oil, but it doesn't stay that way for more than a few weeks.
Another poster pointed out the Gear S2 is water resistant to level IP68. I tried cleaning it with warm water and some dish washing liquid, but I got the same result as using the 3-in-1 oil. I guess I just need to clean the watch every few weeks.

Zagzagel said:
Not really. 3-in-1 oil is made to lubricate moving parts and clean tools/guns. The bezel turns nicely after applying a few drops of 3-in-1 oil, but it doesn't stay that way for more than a few weeks.
Another poster pointed out the Gear S2 is water resistant to level IP68. I tried cleaning it with warm water and some dish washing liquid, but I got the same result as using the 3-in-1 oil. I guess I just need to clean the watch every few weeks.
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That was me
Given that we don't know anything about the materials or construction of the seals, I wouldn't put anything other than water -- which the watch it expressly designed to tolerate. 3-in-1 is great for lubricating metal bearings like door hinges; I wouldn't introduce it (or any other lubricant/solvent) into a mechanism sealed against water intrusion, where there will be rubber/silicone parts that might not tolerate the oil.

dwallersv said:
That was me
Given that we don't know anything about the materials or construction of the seals, I wouldn't put anything other than water -- which the watch it expressly designed to tolerate. 3-in-1 is great for lubricating metal bearings like door hinges; I wouldn't introduce it (or any other lubricant/solvent) into a mechanism sealed against water intrusion, where there will be rubber/silicone parts that might not tolerate the oil.
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Good point. If the waterproof seals are made of rubber or plastic, a silicone oil should be used instead of petroleum. However, I'm just going to follow your advice and use soap and water when it gets sticky.

Zagzagel said:
Good point. If the waterproof seals are made of rubber or plastic, a silicone oil should be used instead of petroleum. However, I'm just going to follow your advice and use soap and water when it gets sticky.
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I wouldn't even use any soap either unless necessary. While soap is far less risky than an oil, if water will do the trick alone that's the best answer.
Incrementalism, my friend Use a little soap only if necessary...

Glass back is too fragile.

The easy solution should be the back cover in plastic. But chinese makers are not making this. No idea why not. So we have to find solution our selves. Do you have a 3d printer? Or are you expert at doing craft projects? Can you make plastic back covers for those of us who want one?
Edit:
(anybody who wants to know - I made a cover with a plastic $1 folder. The plastic is soft but its tough stuff. Not easily punctured. Phone feels great on the hand and it feels slimmer. I still have to add some modifications to make it sturdier and make sure that it can withstand a fall without damaging the battery. No idea how to do that. I'll figure it out. The plastic works fine as a shock absorber but if something were to hit the battery area directly then that might transfer some force on the battery. So I'll have to find some way to make that area of the cover slightly more rigid. or place a shock absorbent material directly on top of the battery. Gotta find the right material that doesn't insulate the heat in.)

I'd buy a 3d printed plastic back cover if anyone made it available.

blueberry.sky said:
I'd buy a 3d printed plastic back cover if anyone made it available.
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replacement glass backs are like 10$, its probably going to cost more to get something designed and printed if you dont have the skills yourself.

Dadud said:
replacement glass backs are like 10$, its probably going to cost more to get something designed and printed if you dont have the skills yourself.
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They are $10. But we don't want the glass back. :S I can put a vinyl wrap on it and manage the slippery surface. But I also know how ridiculously fragile it is. It also shatters and you get glass particles everywhere. So its not usable. I have thought about reinforcing the glass back with some sort of specialized tape like gorilla tape or glass filament tape or tent repair tape. You could use it that way. The glass would still be fragile. It'll crack under the circumstances it would have cracked otherwise. Basically the glass is very low quality. Motorola is likely lying if they say its some sort gorilla glass or something.

e4noob said:
They are $10. But we don't want the glass back. :S I can put a vinyl wrap on it and manage the slippery surface. But I also know how ridiculously fragile it is. It also shatters and you get glass particles everywhere. So its not usable. I have thought about reinforcing the glass back with some sort of specialized tape like gorilla tape or glass filament tape or tent repair tape. You could use it that way. The glass would still be fragile. It'll crack under the circumstances it would have cracked otherwise. Basically the glass is very low quality. Motorola is likely lying if they say its some sort gorilla glass or something.
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I don't know what you mean by "we" don't want the glass back. I like the glass back. I think it looks good and provides a good surface with which to grip the phone.

Dadud said:
replacement glass backs are like 10$, its probably going to cost more to get something designed and printed if you dont have the skills yourself.
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Yeah, I would expect custom 3d print to cost more than the mass produced Chinese replacements.
It's worth it. Glass backs are insane imo. It pushes design over function much too far. I don't need to show off with a my phone. Rather have a phone that isn't so fragile.

case? seems to keep mine in one piece lol

TheDevl said:
I don't know what you mean by "we" don't want the glass back. I like the glass back. I think it looks good and provides a good surface with which to grip the phone.
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You know there are owners of this phone who don't like the glass back.
Also, there is a heat factor with the glass back. I removed the glass and using a poorly made plastic cover right now and heat dropped by like 10 degrees. lol. It charges with normal charger at below 30c. With turbo charger it goes up to around 35c. Phone running for hours streaming hulu or something at max may be 37c. What's the temp like with the glass back on? 45c+?

buschris said:
case? seems to keep mine in one piece lol
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True. But don't use a case a lot of the times.

e4noob said:
You know there are owners of this phone who don't like the glass back.
Also, there is a heat factor with the glass back. I removed the glass and using a poorly made plastic cover right now and heat dropped by like 10 degrees. lol. It charges with normal charger at below 30c. With turbo charger it goes up to around 35c. Phone running for hours streaming hulu or something at max may be 37c. What's the temp like with the glass back on? 45c+?
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But one man does not an entire consumer base make.
As for the temperatures, right now I'm at 28c with glass back and a case. Temperatures have never quite been a worry for me.

TheDevl said:
But one man does not an entire consumer base make.
As for the temperatures, right now I'm at 28c with glass back and a case. Temperatures have never quite been a worry for me.
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I guess you are saying not enough people demand it so its not a category of product yet.
Temp would be around 5-10c less than glass back the way I have it set up. One of the beneficial aspect I have seen is phone cools down much quicker. It'll have an effect on longevity of the phone but its really not that big of an issue anyway with the higher temps on a glass back. I think the most important factor is the satisfaction of not having that dumb fragile glass back.

e4noob said:
I guess you are saying not enough people demand it so its not a category of product yet.
Temp would be around 5-10c less than glass back the way I have it set up. One of the beneficial aspect I have seen is phone cools down much quicker. It'll have an effect on longevity of the phone but its really not that big of an issue anyway with the higher temps on a glass back. I think the most important factor is the satisfaction of not having that dumb fragile glass back.
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To each their own, apparently.

If you're treating your phone respectfully, then the glass back should not be an issue. It is, after all, gorilla-glass, not just ordinary window-glass. If you're treating your phone roughly, then get a case or buy a different non-glass phone.
Right now glass and ceramic is en vogue in phone design. (see the top-end S10+ with its custom ceramic backplate) Particularly because it enables wireless charging without a buildup of static electricity. In a year or two they'll probably be on to a new trend, maybe leather as foldable phones start to mature. I actually miss those leather-backed phones that were around about 5 odd years ago.

eoraptor said:
If you're treating your phone respectfully, then the glass back should not be an issue. It is, after all, gorilla-glass, not just ordinary window-glass. If you're treating your phone roughly, then get a case or buy a different non-glass phone.
Right now glass and ceramic is en vogue in phone design. (see the top-end S10+ with its custom ceramic backplate) Particularly because it enables wireless charging without a buildup of static electricity. In a year or two they'll probably be on to a new trend, maybe leather as foldable phones start to mature. I actually miss those leather-backed phones that were around about 5 odd years ago.
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You are right. But I'm not looking for top end glass back on my g6. :S TBH even on s10 I would probably want to switch out the glass back. It seems absurd to me that I'm carrying around something so fragile. I would predict if there is a new trend, it'll be some sort of durable material like plastic. When people hear plastic, they think its cheap and reduces the vibe of the device. But there are different types of plastic. Phone companies could do fancy and functional phone body and back covers easily. I have no idea why they don't. They could use tough rubbery material for the body too where you largely won't need a case. But they don't. Some aspects of design isn't evolving at all with phones.

Mine shattered after fall from stairs, but I won't expect any phone to survive this with no damage taken.

oposiasty said:
Mine shattered after fall from stairs, but I won't expect any phone to survive this with no damage taken.
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That's true. But a back cover made of any other material wouldn't shatter.