Screen protector required?

[Roy]

My deck is on the way and im starting to wonder if i need to buy a screen protector and/or case.

Does the screen itself have any form of protection vs scratches or would it be foolish not to put a screen protector on it?

I've never dropped my nintendo switch and i haven't been super careful with it either, but i feel like the Deck might be a bit more fragile?

[invision2212]

this is how i look at it for my own devices. By adding a protector i at least know it wont get any nicks or scratches on it from normal use and it will be pristine when i remove it.

HOWEVER the moment i feel confident and tell myself i dont need one, an asteroid will come blazing across the sky right into my device.

[Mahjik]

I had the non-matte screen on the LCD and put a protector on it. Didn't impact anything using indoors, but outdoor it was unusable. Everything reflected. There are now some "anti-glare protectors" but I don't know how effective they are..

Now on my OLED, I got the matte screen and will not put a protector on it.

[Zef]

If you have the 1TB etched glass oled model a screen protector isn't really needed.

[batsai]

I put a screen protector on my glossy 512 GB OLED. It doesn’t impact my daily use, and the added peace of mind is reassuring. It doesn’t matter how careful you are, the screen is glass and it will scratch eventually.

If screen scratches don’t bother you, then you don’t need a screen protector. There are some good ones out there with installation frames that are very easy to apply and I don’t even notice it anymore.

[That Fish Guy]

Screen gets scratchy (2 options):

No screen protector, scratched screen, live with it or buy a new one.

Screen protector, replace screen protector with new one, no more scratched screen.

I've had my deck for... 18 months now, it's just about time to replace the screen protector, soon I'll have a practically brand new screen! (I take very good care of my deck, but it's a travel tool, and occasionally ♥♥♥♥ happens during travel)

[Stanto]

Originally posted by Roy:

My deck is on the way and im starting to wonder if i need to buy a screen protector .

In the years since the LCD deck came out, my screen isn't scratched.

Nor have I read anywhere about people even needing to replace their screen protector.

I've only read about people having issues removing their screen protector to then sell their steam deck.

Unless you're really going to carry it mixed in with your keys or with an airtag pushed up against the screen, I really doubt you're going to have issue at all with the screen.

Originally posted by Roy:

and/or case

You get a case with it when you buy it.

Originally posted by Roy:

but i feel like the Deck might be a bit more fragile?

In my experience it isn't, and I've dropped it twice.

[nicoper]

Originally posted by Roy:

I've never dropped my nintendo switch and i haven't been super careful with it either, but i feel like the Deck might be a bit more fragile?

I dunno, my Switch feels like a flimsy piece of garbage compared to my Steam Deck. It's a large part of why I've only used it handheld for maybe half a dozen hours or so in the seven years I've owned it.

As for if you need a screen protector, I guess it depends on what you do. I barely use the touch screen and don't have a habit of flinging handfuls of gravel at it so don't see a reason to use one, but your use case may be different.

I think the last device I put a screen protector on was my DS Lite nearly two decades ago.

[Prezidentas]

it might save you from some freak accident but it's not something you carry in a pocket. and if you drop it, stuff WILL break since it's heavy.

[Roy]

Originally posted by nicoper:

Originally posted by Roy:

I've never dropped my nintendo switch and i haven't been super careful with it either, but i feel like the Deck might be a bit more fragile?

As for if you need a screen protector, I guess it depends on what you do. I barely use the touch screen and don't have a habit of flinging handfuls of gravel at it so don't see a reason to use one, but your use case may be different.

This cracked me up lmao..

Yeah i guess a screen protector is overkill for the way i'll be using it.
It might serve as extra safety like some people say, but i don't want sunlight to ruin my image if i decide to play a game in the sun.

I made the mistake of buying an LCD switch a week before the release of the OLED switch and i pay the price every time i try to play a game in the backyard, even when it's cloudy.
I'll be staring at a 50/50 mix of my own reflection and the game, so i'll probably just stick with the untampered OLED screen.

[[?]legit]

How would a screen protector save you from falling damage? I personally only use screen protectors as a protection against scratches on the screen, so on my smartphone when I put it in my bag for example, when something can rub against the screen which can potentially scratch it.

But since I always put the deck in the bag, it doesn't even get in the situation to get scratched.

If you plan to stow the deck without its bag, definitely go for a good protector, because the glass will scratch.

[1337Dude]

Naw. I passed the "dropping expensive electronics like a spazz" phase when I was 12. The sticks prevent the screen from taking a hard hit anyways.

[M͂͒̀λgi͡caℓ Ήo͓̽ﻇo̴]

[Carinthian Oak]

You don't need any protection on the etched glass version. My OG Steam Deck has no Scratches or anything since release. I have also kids playing with it. My 1TB OLED Version does the job the same as i expected. The Etched glass is built for that, but on the glossy models i would put a screen protector on it as soon as i get it.