This is something that has bothered me for a while. Why don’t phones come with screen protectors? Actually, why doesn’t any touch screen device come with a screen protector?
I’ve asked this before and many people have given me responses that make no sense. Most of them just spout “costs costs costs!” but a high quality screen protector costs like $2 to make. A reason why you see them for sale at $5-8. That’s pure profit. Cheap ones cost like $.70. Besides if you are paying for premium phones those companies can spare the $2 of profit.
Another thing about this that makes no sense to me is how every company talks about how they want to reduce “e-waste” by removing essential things like a charger. Also just say waste. You want to reduce waste. “e-waste” is a BS term and it bugs me. Any who, putting a screen protector on the phone would actually help cut down on waste. How? Well, all the companies that sell screen protectors for every phone would need to reduce inventory drastically.
When you buy a screen protector you often get it in a cardboard/paper package, extra plastic covering, a plastic bag, two peel-able plastics, paper instructions, and sometimes hard plastic to level it. So, by providing a screen protector the companies are cutting down on all of this waste.
“Oh but it’ll just be in the box!” No it won’t. Just apply the screen protector at the factory when you are making the phone. No more extra crap with your cheaply made screen protector. Not only that you don’t have to apply it anymore, or ask that one friend who can actually do it.
The funny thing is I said “why does no phone” but my phone did. I know it did because the screen protector is applied correctly on it. Also because I was amazed at it. It saved me $5 and reduced waste. Then I remember my old Blu phone. It came with a screen protector too and two cases. One shock absorbing case and one flip case. Both cases were hella ugly but I used that fold one. Man did that one help my screen drastically and also reduce waste too. This Blu phone had third party cases but they were rare because everyone had two with the phone. So, it was just the pretty ones not a generic black like I have on my current phone. Screen protectors were impossible for find for it, however. Waste reduced.
I understand that if phones came with a case they wouldn’t really stop much waste because people aren’t like me. A lot of people buy cases to customize their phones. I just buy a shock absorbing one and call it a day. Usually they are black but that is because the black ones are cheaper. However, for people like me including this cheap plastic to just absorb some shock would reduce waste too. That’s less plastic cases being made which means less packaging to go with them. I don’t know the costs but for my current phone I paid $5 for its case. They can’t be a lot.
It sounds weird when you think about it, but why don’t they come with a screen protector? It’s simple and would reduce waste, sorry “e-waste”. Which the tech industry loves to say they are doing their best to reduce.