Unnecessary low quality screen protector (ASF)

[ASFBEGONE]

The Z1 Compact has the same rubbish and unnecessary anti shatter film as the the Z1. On the Japanese Z1f, if you remove the film, you loose the Docomo and Sony lettering. On the international version you loose the Sony lettering AND the screen warranty. But wait, we have a solution; Apply a screen protector over the screen protector. Ridiculous. This ASF is just a low quality piece of plastic glued to the phone´s screen that gets scratched easily and ruins the phone aesthetics. How is a thin layer of plastic, placed on the main interaction point, supposed to withstand hundreds of touches and slides, daily, througout the entire life of the device? It will never hold out. Sony, are you skimping on quality control? Other manufacturers apply the adhesive on the back side of the screen, so, if the screen gets broken, it´s kept in place by the adhesive. How ingenious. Sony has some really bad issues with their displays, taking by what it seems, the cheapest route. Had a Galaxy S2 with a perfect screen for 2 years but, on the day the screen broke, guess what? Not a single glass shard went out. NO ASF nor anykind of "protectors".

Now the bad news; Ordered a Z1 Compact and this was going to be my first Sony device but, nah, after these findings, the phone IS going back. I´ll wait for the MWC 2014 and see what the (no plastic asf bs) players will bring to the market.

[Thommo]

The ASF is not there for protection against scratches - It is there so if you break your screen the glass is kept together and you don't have bits of glass falling off which could cause injury to people - You have the same priciple in a car - You break the windscreen and the glass stays in place

[ASFBEGONE]

I know. Actually, i´ll start throwing my phone against people and say; see that, the glass didn´t break. That´s what i call safety.

The thing is the quality of the ASF. It could and should be made of better and harder materials. Afterall, It´s the main medium that you use to interact with the phone and, there´s no replacement, as of now, for it. There are thousands of complaints about this but, while the average and uninformed consumer does not know or understand what´s happening, and the phones keep flying of the shelves, it´s all good.

[Thommo]

As for your statement in your 1st post ref your GS2 the reason for the glass and no shards etc is because the glass sits on top of clear glue thus keeping it intact with no shards - Don't know where in the world you are from but here in the UK we get a screen protector in the box and are informed why it's there or atleast everytime I have bought a Sony phone I have been informed so can't speak for the selling practices for other places in the world - However a simple internet search as you did would bring you to places like this which explain screen protectors - There's a hint in the name Screen protector against Anti Shatter Film, Totally different

[ASFBEGONE]

One can also be both. The latest LG´s, Samsung´s or HTC´s don´t use ASF´s nor equivalent. They use the latest and greatest in mobile display technology. Guess Sony will have to wait in line to know what that is.

Best  wishes to all.

[Richdog]

Just out of interest, which protector do you mean? I know the phone came with two screen guards... but the one on my screen was very low quality and even had small marks/defects on it, so I presumed it was simply there to keep it safe in the box and removed it. I have now replaced it with some new ones.

Other than the initial one I removed, I looked and couldn't see any other protector between it and the screen. 

[Wah007]

There is one on the screen already (not the one what's on it when you buy a new phone), if you look closely at the edges of the screen you can notice it, another one is included in the box.