Okay, so I finally decided to slap a privacy screen protector on my iPhone 12. Been meaning to do it for ages, honestly. Got tired of feeling like people on the train could read my messages over my shoulder.
Getting Started
First thing, I bought one online. Didn’t go for anything fancy, just a standard privacy screen protector advertised for the iPhone 12. It arrived in a small packet, you know the type, with the screen itself, a couple of wipes (one wet, one dry), and those little dust-removing stickers.
The Process – Trying Not to Mess Up
Right, so I found a clean spot on my desk, trying to avoid any dust floating around, which is basically impossible in my house.
- Cleaning the screen: I took the wet wipe first, gave the iPhone screen a good cleaning. It looked pretty clean already, but you gotta follow the steps, right? Then, used the dry wipe to get rid of any streaks.
- Fighting the dust: This is always the annoying part. I held the phone up to the light and saw tiny specks. Used that sticky blue film thing they give you. Dab, dab, dab. Got most of them, I think. You never really know until the screen protector is on.
- Lining it up: Peeled the backing off the protector itself. Tried really hard to hold it just by the edges. Then, the tricky bit – aligning it with the screen, the notch, the edges. I kind of hovered it over the screen for a bit, trying to get it perfect. Didn’t have one of those plastic guide frames this time, so just had to eyeball it. Took a deep breath.
- Sticking it down: Placed one edge down gently and let it kind of… fall into place. Watched it stick from one side to the other. It mostly adhered by itself, which was cool.
Dealing with Bubbles
Of course, there were a few bubbles. Always happens. Got out the little cardboard squeegee thing (or sometimes I just use a credit card wrapped in the cleaning cloth). Started pushing the bubbles from the center out towards the edges. Most of them went away pretty easily. There was one stubborn one near the corner, had to lift the edge slightly, push it out, and press it back down. Seemed to work.
The Result
Okay, so it’s on. Looks pretty straight, I gotta say. Maybe a tiny bit off on one side if you look super close, but good enough for me. The privacy part definitely works. Looking straight on, the screen is clear. But if you tilt it side to side, yeah, it darkens up real quick. Someone next to me won’t see much at all. Success!
Screen brightness seems slightly dimmer maybe? But not really noticeable unless you’re comparing side-by-side with another phone. Touch sensitivity feels fine, no issues tapping or swiping. Face ID also works just like before.
So yeah, that was my little adventure putting on a privacy screen. Took maybe 10 minutes total, mostly spent stressing about dust and alignment. But it’s on now, and does what it’s supposed to do. Feeling a bit more secure using my phone in public now.