[cSurfr]

First off, I apologize if there is already a thread covering this topic, but I didn't see it in my search.

I picked up the new 3GS last night, and when I took the film that covers the phone, I was surprised to see that the screen is indeed glossy, just like the original 3G. The store didn't have any on display, so I wasn't able to check out wether or not they had a matte coating on the screen. That said, all of the pictures that I have seen in reviews of the phone, the screen looks as if it has a matte coating. Has anyone else seen this, or is the screen of the new iPhone indeed glossy like the original? I do know that my original iPhone, and then my 3G were fingerprint magnets, and this one seems to resist them quite a bit more. I was just wondering about the matte coating I've seen at several media sites.

Thanks all!
-Dann

[kylef]

The screen was updated slightly to make it easier to clean and more resistant to smudges. A welcome change.

[cSurfr]

You're right about that. . . I can tell it's less prone to being a magnet. I just thought the screen was going to be matte from the factory. I guess they had to keep power support in business

I do with they would have applied the same coating to the back of the phone as well!

I can say without a doubt, the phone is MUCH faster than the original 3G.

[kylef]

Yep - my brother just got the 3GS and we've been doing side-by-side comparisons on most applications. Noticeable differences in even the simplest of tasks - eg. opening photos.

[cSurfr]

Do you or your bother have any kind of protection on your iphones? I'm thinking of going with an invisible shield this afternoon, only because it seems that every single case that I have seen scratches the chrome bezel within a few days of being installed.

[Bearsfan34]

I wouldn't bother with a screen protector on the 3GS personally...that would negate the oleophobic coating.

If you're speaking more of the bezel/back/sides of the iPhone protection, that's not a bad idea. I'd shy away from Bodyguardz, unfortunately. I got Bodyguardz protectors for the original iPhone, and it worked GREAT. Then I got a 3G, bought Bodyguardz again...and the screen protector was great, but the rest of the 3G plastic covering sucked HARD. It was not cut correctly or something, but everything I tried simply didn't work. I even had someone in my family who has a much more steady hand than me who's done stuff like this before try with the 2nd set of Bodyguardz, and it was almost worse than my attempt.

Invisible Shield I've heard is "good." It's cut better, but is more of a pain to put on than Bodyguardz. Application of Bodyguardz is no big deal, but a friend of mine who's done Invisible Shield said it was NOT easy to put on, FWIW.

I just went with an iSkin solo FX case.

[Big Mac]

Won't your screen get scratched all to hell without screen protection?

[::maroma::]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

Won't your screen get scratched all to hell without screen protection?

Not at all actually. The screen has proven to be the most durable of the shell as far as I've seen. I had my original iPhone for 2 years with no protection at all, and I dropped it quite a bit. The screen is still perfect with zero scratches. The back was the only part that got scratched but even then it was just a few scratches.

You can find all sorts of videos of people trying to scratch the screen. Putting the iPhone in a baggie with rocks/keys/etc and shaking it. The screen comes out unharmed.

[kylef]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

Won't your screen get scratched all to hell without screen protection?

It's surprisingly difficult to scratch the screen itself. I don't use any protection and have only one noticeable scratch, which I didn't cause.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

Won't your screen get scratched all to hell without screen protection?

Nope, like others said.

I had my 3G for a year, not protection, and I have not even a scratch on my screen.

-t

[ibook_steve]

Sing it with me: "Bill Nye the Science Guy!"

Giz Bill Nye Explains: The iPhone 3GS's Oleophobic Screen

Steve

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

Won't your screen get scratched all to hell without screen protection?

Not at all.

In fact when the iPhone came out I remember some guy did a Youtube clip where he put the iPhone in a bag together with some coins and keys. He shook the bag for a while to 'emulate' regular wear and tear. He took the iPhone out of the bag and it looked absolutely perfect, no scratches, nothing. At the time I didn't really believe it would hold up that well. I have now had a 3G for a year and never used any kind of protective case. I just carried it around in my pocket. And indeed, it still looks as good as new.

[JKT]

Well, I do have a case for my iPhone 3G and the one and only time I forgot to put it back in it, I ended up with a scratch on the screen

[Maflynn]

While the screen is quite scratch resistant, I've been reading reports that the coating can be scratched. People who treat their 3Gs as they did with their 3G only to have some scratches which is presumably the coating.

Since it is a coating and there's little history on the durability of the coating, I'm getting a case that includes a flap on it, so when its in my pocket it will be that much more protected.