S you just got a Kindle and are mulling over whether to slap a screen protector on it. Let’s find out if you really need one.
If you’re using your Kindle like I do, you probably don’t need one
I bought my Kindle Paperwhite in August 2020. Since then, I’ve been using it for about an hour or so almost every day. Tallied up, that’s about 2,000 hours of usage, give or take a few hundred hours, which is a lot.
I’ve been using the Kindle naked all this time. Almost five and a half years later, it still looks more or less pristine. Aside from a few specks of dirt resting on it, its screen is spotless. Its back is also pretty much spotless; there’s a spot of slight discoloration on the lower part of the back, which is barely visible in the photo below, but other than that, it looks like new.
Now, I’m someone who takes pretty good care of my devices, but I don’t baby them. The Kindle is sitting on the nightstand next to the bed since I mostly read before bed, but I also read fairly frequently on the couch in the living room and occasionally on the balcony when the weather’s nice. I’ve dropped it on a hardwood floor a few times, but I’ve never dropped it on anything harder or coarser, like concrete or a tile floor.
I don’t have long nails, nor do I read while eating. I also don’t carry it with me when out and about, and I’ve never used it on the beach or when out camping. Most of the time, I use it inside. When I travel, I usually place it in a sleeve-like compartment inside my backpack that keeps it secure from other items.
In a nutshell, I’m not a careless owner or someone who uses his Kindle in places where its screen can get easily scratched. If you’re like me, you probably don’t need a screen protector for your Kindle.
What’s With All the Different Kindles? Each Kindle Type Explained
Different Kindles got you confused?
Here’s when a Kindle screen protector might come in handy
Kindles have plastic screen covers with a very thin layer of glass placed below the plastic layer. Their screens are pretty tough for the material they’re made of, but like all plastic, they can scuff pretty easily.
If you plan to take the eReader with you to the beach, where it may come into contact with sand, or if you want to read books while spending time in nature, getting a screen protector is a good idea.
You should also consider getting a screen protector if you plan on buying a Kindle Scribe, since you’ll likely use the stylus frequently, or if you have long nails. If you’re prone to dropping things, you should probably get one as well.
Another situation where getting a screen protector might be a good idea is if you have toddlers. They’re very unpredictable; losing sight of them for even a moment could result in your Kindle’s screen being covered in marker or the device being thrown onto the floor or against the nearest wall. In that case, it’s best to keep the screen extra protected with a layer you can easily peel away if it gets ruined.
Kindle screen protectors are made of PET plastic, a strong thermoplastic that’s reasonably scratch-resistant. Virtually every screen protector I’ve seen is matte and has a texture very similar to the plastic used on older Kindles, ably emulating that paper-like tactile feel when turning pages.
While they’re made of plastic, not glass like most screen protectors for phones and tablets, you need to be careful when applying a protector. A tiny speck of dirt or careless application can cause air bubbles to form, which are fairly easy to remove with a scraper. In other words, applying a screen protector to a Kindle is the same as applying one to your phone’s screen. Just be careful and methodical, and you should be golden.
For most people, a case should be more than enough
While you likely don’t need a screen protector for your Kindle, I recommend getting a case, regardless of how you plan to use it.
Any folio case can keep your Kindle protected from drops and other situations where its screen, or the rest of its body, might get damaged. That said, using a screen protector along with a folio case might be wise if you want an extra layer of protection for the screen.
A sleeve-like case is a great solution for frequent travelers, or anyone who carries their Kindle everywhere with them but prefers to use it bare.
There are excellent folio cases going for just a couple of dozen bucks that can protect your Kindle from drops and elements. Regarding envelope cases, you can get one for less than a folio case would cost.
Considering that even the regular Kindle costs north of $100 while the latest Paperwhite is selling for $160—and those are versions with ads—and that you’re likely going to use it for years and years, both folio and envelope cases are more than worth their price.
Kindles are great eReaders, but if you’ve never used one, you should know that you can enjoy it without ever buying books from Amazon. If you do end up buying books from Amazon, you can remove DRM from them and use them on any device, not just your Kindle.
8/10
- Storage
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16GB
- Screen Size
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6-inches
Even in the budget department, the Amazon Kindle is a stellar value, from its light and compact design, to its adjustable front light and 6-inch display.
7/10
- Brand
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Amazon
- Storage
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32GB
