Screen protectors an absolutely massive market. It’s one of the first things we look for when buying a new device and sometimes, it’s the only accessory we end up buying. I mean, who wants to cover up that pretty new phone with a case right? Well, The Puregear AF Screen Protector has really done something to stand out in a crowded market. The application technique it uses is truly frustration free. Applying a plastic screen protector like this used to be a gigantic hassle but with the alignment tray that Puregear includes, it’s a breeze.

Protection

The Puregear AF Screen Protector is a plastic screen protector. It’s mainly for those of us that want to avoid scratches to our screen but refuse to pay much higher prices for tempered glass screen protectors. On the anti-scratch front, you’re going to be good to go here. The Puregear AF doesn’t reach 100% of the screen but it’s pretty close so the few millimeters that are exposed may be at risk but depending on what case you’re using, this may not be an issue at all. If you throw your phone in your pocket with your keys or a credit card with raised numbers, you should be able to pull your phone out with no noticeable effects.

Since this is plastic and glass, you’re not going to get the advantages of tempered glass like protection from impacts. Shatterproof is a commonly misunderstood marketing buzzword. Shatterproof doesn’t mean that your screen isn’t going to get shattered, it just means that when your screen breaks, it’s not going to come flying at you. Now, the Puregear AF isn’t marketed as shatterproof but I don’t have much doubt that if my screen broke while this was on it, I should be safe. It feels thick enough that loose pieces are going to get through. This is also helpful for deep scratches. Sometimes if a sharp object hits your screen with enough force it’ll still scratch but the Puregear AF seems deep enough to protect against that.

Feel

I’ve often said that if you’ve used one plastic screen protector, you’ve used them all. To a degree, that statement stands but the Puregear AF does get some points here for how it feels after use. I’ve used some really sticky screen protectors that barely let you move your finger across the screen after application, the Puregear AF is not one of them. There is a noticeable difference in smoothness before and after application but I think it’s less of an issue than some other screen protectors. I was really bummed for about an hour after applying the Puregear AF because of how much an impact it had but after a little bit of use it got a little better and I got more used to it.

Application

This is where the Puregear AF scores a ton of points. The Puregear AF package includes the “PureTEK Roll-On Kit” and it is awesome. As I stated above, applying plastic screen protectors flat out sucks when you’re just trying to line it up by eyeing it. The Puregear AF and PureTEK Roll-On Kit definitely fix this. All you need to do is place your phone in the alignment tray, clean it off with the included cleaning cloth, slide the roller over the shield onto the phone from the top and remove the shield tabs. The inclusion of the roller in the package was a genius move. It makes applying this with no bubble a breeze. My screen protector was applied perfectly in the first try. I didn’t even know that was possible.

Conclusion

I still don’t have a lot of love for plastic screen protectors. I’ve called them jelly protectors in the past because I generally think that’s what they feel like. However if I’m going to use one, the Puregear AF definitely gets my vote. After a bit of use I got used to a bit of reduced smoothness and it started to smooth out a bit to make it a usable experience. It does pick up some natural finger grease that we all have but it’s a quick wipe off back to normal. I didn’t notice any fingerprints so I guess the Puregear AF, or Anti-Fingerprint does live up to it’s name.

You can pick up the Puregear AF for $24.99. Puregear also offers HD Impact and Flexible Glass versions for the Samsung Galaxy S6.

Product Page: Puregear AF Screen Protector