As I was having lunch, a friend approached me and asked about a foreign term he found from a device’s product page. He asked me what Oleophobic means and what it does on your Android device.
So to answer that question, I wrote this article to help my confused friend and you, our readers, about what is Oleophobic, what it does, and how is it beneficial to your Android device.
What is Oleophobic?
We use our hands to interact with our Android device. Our human hands release oil and sweat, creating smudges and fingerprints to smear as we use our device. Plus with some dirt and dust in your environment, you get a messy screen. What’s the solution to this greasy problem? Oleophobic coating!
The term Oleophobic came from the latin word oleous meaning oil and phobos meaning fear. This refers to a chemical component that doesn’t dwell together with oil. Screen having this capability doesn’t allow oil or water to adhere to the screen.
Most of the oleophobic component used on mobile devices are fluoropolymer-based which not only deters oil, but also water as well.
A screen with oleophobic coating doesn’t mean that it’s 100% fingerprint free. You will be able to see fingerprints but less likely compared to a screen without oleophobic coating on it. And an oleophobic coated screen is easier to clean than a bare screen. With one or two swipe, your greasy screen is back to is pristine state. With a bare screen, however, wiping fingerprints will cause it to smear on the screen. You will need to wipe it thoroughly with a cloth or use a screen cleaner to clear your screen.
The first devices to feature an oleophobic screen was the iPhone 3GS. Afterwards, other manufacturers like Samsung and HTC added this grease-repellent coat on their devices.
Oleophobic coating also gives a slippery touch on the screen. If you can remember the first time you used your Android device and it feels slippery, that would be the oleophobic coating that was added on top of your screen. This slippery surface also lessens friction, minimizing scratches when sharp objects touch the screen.
Does an Oleophobic layer wears off?
Oleophobic coating, however, doesn’t last forever and will wear off over time. The grease-repellent coat could last for about 2 years. The duration how long the coat will last depends on several factors such as the user’s usage, the oleophobic material used, the binding process on the screen, and the acidity of the user’s sweat.
Cleaning your screen with an alcohol-based cleaner or using common household detergents can deteriorate the oleophobic coat. Wiping the oleophobic coated screen with only a soft cloth will mostly suffice to remove the grease off. If you really need to use a screen cleaner, use one that is water-based such as the Peerless Oneclean Screen Cleaner.
So to answer that question, I wrote this article to help my confused friend and you, our readers, about what is Oleophobic, what it does, and how is it beneficial to your Android device.
What is Oleophobic?
We use our hands to interact with our Android device. Our human hands release oil and sweat, creating smudges and fingerprints to smear as we use our device. Plus with some dirt and dust in your environment, you get a messy screen. What’s the solution to this greasy problem? Oleophobic coating!
The term Oleophobic came from the latin word oleous meaning oil and phobos meaning fear. This refers to a chemical component that doesn’t dwell together with oil. Screen having this capability doesn’t allow oil or water to adhere to the screen.
Most of the oleophobic component used on mobile devices are fluoropolymer-based which not only deters oil, but also water as well.
A screen with oleophobic coating doesn’t mean that it’s 100% fingerprint free. You will be able to see fingerprints but less likely compared to a screen without oleophobic coating on it. And an oleophobic coated screen is easier to clean than a bare screen. With one or two swipe, your greasy screen is back to is pristine state. With a bare screen, however, wiping fingerprints will cause it to smear on the screen. You will need to wipe it thoroughly with a cloth or use a screen cleaner to clear your screen.
The first devices to feature an oleophobic screen was the iPhone 3GS. Afterwards, other manufacturers like Samsung and HTC added this grease-repellent coat on their devices.
Oleophobic coating also gives a slippery touch on the screen. If you can remember the first time you used your Android device and it feels slippery, that would be the oleophobic coating that was added on top of your screen. This slippery surface also lessens friction, minimizing scratches when sharp objects touch the screen.
Does an Oleophobic layer wears off?
Oleophobic coating, however, doesn’t last forever and will wear off over time. The grease-repellent coat could last for about 2 years. The duration how long the coat will last depends on several factors such as the user’s usage, the oleophobic material used, the binding process on the screen, and the acidity of the user’s sweat.
Cleaning your screen with an alcohol-based cleaner or using common household detergents can deteriorate the oleophobic coat. Wiping the oleophobic coated screen with only a soft cloth will mostly suffice to remove the grease off. If you really need to use a screen cleaner, use one that is water-based such as the Peerless Oneclean Screen Cleaner.
How do you know if the Oleophobic coat is still there?
Well that’s simple. Just drop a few drops of water on the screen. If you notice that the water maintains its spherical form, then the oleophobic coat is still in good condition.
On the contrary, if the water splatters and spreads on the screen, then it’s likely that the grease-repellent coat has faded away.
You can also try using oil instead of water, but oil is messier and difficult to clean up than water.
How to restore Oleophobic barrier
If your screen’s oil repellant barrier has totally worn off, don’t fret because you can restore it in two ways: apply a oleophobic agent or apply a screen protector with oleophobic coat or fingerprint resistant properties.
You can apply an oleophobic agent for smartphone
or oleophobic agent for tablet
to restore its oil resistant capabilities or add it if your device doesn’t have it in the first place. The process involves applying the oleophobic agent evenly on the screen and letting the solution settle in. Be sure to read the instructions included in the kit on how to apply the agent. Also have a backup phone or tablet because you can't use your device while you let the oleophobic agent settle on your device's screen
Well that’s simple. Just drop a few drops of water on the screen. If you notice that the water maintains its spherical form, then the oleophobic coat is still in good condition.
On the contrary, if the water splatters and spreads on the screen, then it’s likely that the grease-repellent coat has faded away.
You can also try using oil instead of water, but oil is messier and difficult to clean up than water.
How to restore Oleophobic barrier
If your screen’s oil repellant barrier has totally worn off, don’t fret because you can restore it in two ways: apply a oleophobic agent or apply a screen protector with oleophobic coat or fingerprint resistant properties.
You can apply an oleophobic agent for smartphone
or oleophobic agent for tabletto restore its oil resistant capabilities or add it if your device doesn’t have it in the first place. The process involves applying the oleophobic agent evenly on the screen and letting the solution settle in. Be sure to read the instructions included in the kit on how to apply the agent. Also have a backup phone or tablet because you can't use your device while you let the oleophobic agent settle on your device's screen
Another way is to purchase a screen protector with oleophobic coat or finger resistant capabilities. Adding a screen protector not only prevents fingerprints but also add an additional layer of protection for your device's display. There are a variety of screen protectors that has anti-fingerprint property.
You need to careful though because some protectors can totally block fingerprints but has less clear film and is not smooth to touch. Choose a screen protector from a trusted brand or has good rating and reviews. It’s wise to read the product info page or customer reviews before purchasing a screen protector. Some protectors may be cheap but may hinder your screen responsiveness or its oleophobic coat doesn’t last that long.
Is Oleophobic a must have feature?
It depends on personal preferences and how you use your Android device. If you’re the type of user that wants to keep your screen always clean and in a pristine condition, then an oleophobic coat can help you with that. On the other hand, if you don’t mind those smudges on your screen and can deal with just thoroughly cleaning your screen with a cloth or a screen cleaner, a grease-resistant layer may or may not be needed.
Personally, smears and fingerprints on my screen doesn’t really bother me that much. Oleophobic capability is a nice add-on my phone or tablet, but it is something I can live without. I’m more concerned with my devices’ performance such as processing power, battery life, display and such rather than focus on the screen’s ability to deter fingerprints.
What do you think of an oleophobic layer on your device's screen? Is it a must-have feature for your Android device? Share your thoughts in a comment below.
*Credit to ifixit for supporting images.
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