Do you need a screen protector for s21 ultra

There appears to be some confusion over whether Samsung's Galaxy S21 smartphones come with a screen protector or not, but all indications point to no protector included in the box. With devices costing as much as they do these days, ensuring a smartphone is protected can go a long way to making sure that investment is not wasted.

Samsung announced the Galaxy S21 series earlier this month. Similar to last year's Galaxy S offerings, there’s a standard version, a Plus version and an Ultra version. However, there are some notable differences in the displays this time. Not only is the Ultra model the only one with a QHD display, but it also has a curved screen while the standard and Plus models both feature a flat glass panel.

There have been multiple comments in various forums online contradicting each other on whether there is a screen protector included with the Galaxy S21 series, including on Samsung's official forums. However, if going by Samsung itself, then there is no screen protector included with the purchase. Samsung’s official specs page for the Galaxy S21 does not mention a protector is included ‘in the box' while the same page for the Galaxy S20 series explicitly states a “protective film” is included. In addition, a screen protector was not included with the unit reviewed by Screen Rant. As a result, buyers should assume they will need to buy one separately, if they want to add an extra layer of protection to their phone.

Although the Galaxy S21 seemingly ships without a screen protector, that’s not the only missing extra in the box. For example, the Galaxy S21 series also doesn’t come with microSD card support, any headphones, or even a charger. The actual charging cable is included, but the wall socket is not. With the screen protector also absent, it looks like buyers of the Galaxy S21 will be getting far fewer extras than buyers of the Galaxy S20 got last year.

This is not simply a matter of Samsung offering less than it did before. To begin with the standard Galaxy S21 model is considerably cheaper than the standard Galaxy S20 was at launch. While there are some hardware compromises in comparison, the lack of accessories and extras is also likely to have contributed to the lower overall cost. Not to mention, Samsung’s official word on some of these absentees is that it wants to help with sustainability and recycling efforts by limiting the number of extras that are included with a purchase. Although there is the argument to be made that a screen protector is actually a necessity, it probably isn’t in Samsung’s eyes.

Next: Samsung Galaxy S21 Hands-On Camera Review: Great New Software & Features

Source: Samsung

Most modern smartphones have strong enough glass that they don't need a screen protector — but does this same rule apply to the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE? There are a lot of things to consider when buying a new phone. More often than not, people place the most emphasis on a phone's display quality, processor speed, camera performance, and battery life. These are all essential components of any smartphone, but they're far from the only things to look at when buying a new handset.

What else should you be considering? Lots of things! Anyone who spends a lot of time near the water should have an IP68 rating at the top of their must-haves. Also important are charging speeds. For folks who are constantly on the move and need their phone to refuel as quickly as possible, fast charging should be a necessity. Another factor to keep on your radar is the toughness of a phone's screen. Some phones can withstand cracks and display scratches better than others.

In the case of the Galaxy S21 FE, Samsung made sure to give it the best smartphone glass on the market. Like other flagship smartphones, the S21 FE has Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus covering its display. Gorilla Glass Victus is one of the toughest smartphone glasses available today. It can survive drops on hard/rough surfaces up to 2-meters high, compared to competing smartphone glass which typically fails around the 0.8-meter mark. Gorilla Glass Victus also has scratch resistance up to 4x stronger than said competitors. The result is glass that's durable against both cracks and scratches — and ultimately means that the Galaxy S21 FE does not need a screen protector. While you shouldn't go out and try to damage the phone's display intentionally, it should be strong enough to survive everyday use without any significant issues.

Why It's Still A Good Idea To Get A Screen Protector

With all of that said, it's never a bad idea to put a screen protector on any phone — even if it doesn't necessarily need one. Even as strong as Gorilla Glass Victus is, it's still just glass. No matter how durable, all glass is susceptible to breaking if pushed to its limits. This is true of Gorilla Glass Victus on the Galaxy S21 FE. Light drops and other accidents should be fine, but if it gets dropped too high or too often, there's bound to come a time where the glass eventually gives up.

There's also the fact that screen protectors aren't daunting purchases. Tempered glass screen protectors can often be found for $10 or less. They're easy to install, instantly add another full layer of protection, and often come bundled with two or three protectors in one package. For anyone buying the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, this is something we'd recommend doing. The phone should be fine without a screen protector, but if you want to ensure it stays in the best shape possible for years to come, adding one to the mix is never a bad idea.

Next: Galaxy S21 FE Vs. Galaxy S20 FE

Source: Samsung