HTC EVO 4G subjected to harrowing barrage of scratch tests, holds its own
By Chris Ziegler 
posted June 11th 2010 4:44PM
posted June 11th 2010 4:44PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted June 11th 2010 4:44PM
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Good to know. I'm still getting a ZAGG protector, though
@r34p3r
ZAGG has a rubbery feel and makes your finger drag more then you want. I took my ZAGG off and put on Ghost Armour. Pretty please with that one.
@rutter9 I've found that just putting my phone in my pocket without my keys, pennies or razorblades keeps my screen rather scratch free without the need for screen protectors...
@r34p3r I got a full body zagg protector for my nexus, and after installing the screen part, it was unbearable to look at. It totally messes up the picture, as if water was under it (yes, i applied it correctly and this was after the 24h drying). So I took off the screen part, and left the rest of the body covered.. so far so good, adds a lot of grip to the slippery nexus one back.
@r34p3r
Try a Martin Fields screen protector, you can't tell it's there.
@gargle
That's strange...
With the screen protector properly applied, you shouldn't be able to see it unless the screen is turned off, with direct light hitting it at a certain angle. Otherwise it is almost completely invisible.
I have one on my TP2 and the only way people notice it is because they ask me if there is a screen protector on, or if the screen naturally feels a bit more "tactile".
@rutter9 The rubbery feel goes away after a week as well as any micro bubbles or blur. I was pretty unhappy at first as well but am glad I listened to the advice to wait. I've had it on for seven months and it still looks great!
@MrFluffyThing +1 I've become much more aware of what's in my pockets now. But I can't do much more to prevent a drop, or an accident. Cases/Screen Protectors still work pretty well for that.
@r34p3r
I agree with rutter9. You should go to a Sprint store, they carry fantastic screen protectors. I got an Anti-Glare protector and it has a nice matte feeling to it. It does the same job as a ZAGG.
@r34p3r hum.. maybe I should have been more patient :-/
@r34p3r
Nothing beats the Gorilla Glass scratch test of Dell Streak! That was so scary for a sec.
@gargle
Brilliant! It looks like i'd still be able to use the desktop dock with that particular "case".. i guess i'd call it more like armor. does it do anything to cover the 3 contacts on the bottom or impede using the N1 dock?
@r34p3r
I'm with you. On my TP2 you cannot see the ZAGG Invisible Shield until you hold the phone at an angle. For general use you would never know it's there until you touch the screen. Now, if only the back went on as nice as the front ...
It's such a small investment on something really important. I don't understand why more people don't get a decent screen protector.
One thing you didn't test, which might be common ;D.
That is finger nails.
@r34p3r
EVO is the best Android phone according to this http://www.epinions.com/content_513931382404
@r34p3r
ZAGG is so "2000-late" :)
I've installed them on 10s of gadgets, but after trying PhantomSkinz, I can't go back to the thick, yellowish, orange-peel feel of ZAGG. And their fit has just gotten worse through the years; in an effort to cover every single surface of a gadget, they've made their patterns too difficult to apply. If you're off by a fraction of a mm, good luck.
@MrFluffyThing
Specially razor blades. They do nasty stuff to flesh looool
@krishansy
Yep, seems like this is just a series of light taps not like the actual blunt force trauma inflicted on the Dell Streak, still not convinced.
@r34p3r
You can directly apply keys and nails to the screen and get no scratches but for some reason you feel you still need a screen protector? Somehow I think you are missing out on what the durability tests are trying to tell you. I also think Monster is currently putting down their cables and working on a screen protector just for you.
@hfm ive also got a dock and it fits in, but when taking the nexus out of the dock, due to the rubbery finish of the protector you have to pull a little more than normal, but thats no complaint. Other than that and the extra grip and protection its as if it wasnt there, and all ports have their own separate holes cut out in the protectors, along with holes for the speaker, camera and flash.
OMG
@Mind the Gap
That was just hard to watch.......
This is why the Motorola Droid's screen is so great.
Gorilla Glass FTW!
I love my phone :)
>>just handle your multi-hundred-dollar gadgets with care.
Bingo.
@DirtyVegas 4chan much?
(i mean the >>)
@semperverus No?
It's a slightly standard text based emoticon. Now if one were to say "THE SPRINT STORE IS CLOSED DUE TO AIDS... FROM CONTAMINATED RAZOR BLADES..." Then the "4Chan much?" comment would be appropriate.
nexus ones glass does the same
It was just me who almost puked watching this? It's like watching the chainsaw massacre all over again...
@DeuX
No its like watching a chainsaw take out a room full of cute fuzzy kittens :(
@Chaosdivine Why would someone want to use a chainsaw on little kitty's? They have done no harm except bring us joy and pleasure :(
@Chaosdivine True that, there's no fun and pleasure that can replace a warm and furry pussy - just saying :)
@DeuX I think I'm more of a dog person
@Broderbund Yeah I likes me sum bit*hes too.
@DeuX Actually it pissed me off because he didn't put any pressure behind it. With that little effort it wouldn't even scratch a normal screen.
Gorilla?
@CaryHiroyuki Tagawa
= 50 Cent?
@CaryHiroyuki Tagawa
Some people e-mailed HTC and some reps say it uses Gorilla Glass, some say it doesn't. So I'm not sure.
@einhanderkiller
This is what's confusing me too.
@CaryHiroyuki Tagawa
If it scratches at all, there's NO WAY it uses Gorilla Glass. The guys from Anything but iPod website tested Gorilla Glass on the COWON s9, and not even an industrial grade kitchen knife could so much as put a single scratch into the surface.
Phone and wallet in one pocket, keys and change and such in the other. Not that difficult.
@DWells55
You have some mighty big pockets if you can fit the Evo and your wallet in there. Also why would you have a wallet and seperate change? :-\
Ouch, I'm hearing fingernails to chalkboard sounds~
And tomorrow we'll get a story about how one man's Evo "accidentally" broke after "playing around" with it.
I already have scratches on my camera lens. can't figure out a way to protect it without diminishing the picture quality. The lens plastic/glass is flush with the metal ring so the metal ring doesn't offer any protection.
@freddyace
Get a Seidio Innocase for your EVO, when it lays flat on a table the cam is not on the surface, minimal bulk too. Mine is working great.
@freddyace
No, the glass is NOT flush with the ring. There is a very slight lip of metal surrounding the camera so that the phone rests on that ring and NOT on the glass when you lay it flat.
Even so, the ring surrounding the lense won't protect it from a piece of grit or sand lying on a table.
@NemZero seido is excellent. I have used them for two phones. Best buy has a case with a clip that reminds me of the seido cases and it has been great for my evo so far. EVO lies flat on the table and protects the camera lenses , good grip too. I am using a Sprint store screen protector works great. I had a zagg on my pre. You do have to wait, but its great
Nice lol
I may not have seen the scratches, but I certainly HEARD them. Listen during the penny test, you can hear it catching on something as it glides over the surface.
I suspect that given a dirt and a little time for real pocket wear and tear, you'll start what I am hearing.