[HTC Droid DNA] uppon2:
In my experience I think screen protectors are the biggest waste of time (for protection) - The only real benefit is it can sometimes make the screen feel easier to touch and less fingerprints.

I am a very active phone user. I have an SGS 3 for business and DNA for daily use. I have also owned lots of high end smartphones. The only time I ever used a screen protector was with a business original iPhone 3G (was already on) after it becoming annoying to me I ripped it off. Not once have I ever encountered scratches that I can notice without having the screen off and on some crazy angle with with a completely blank screen. Yes there are extremely light scratches that are only noticeable under these angles but anybody upset about this is simply nitpicking or being a princess.

I used to work for a Telco company dealing with repairs and I can tell you this much. If your screen is going to get a deep scratch from something it won't matter if you use one or not, however if you are always taking your phone to the beach and rolling around in sand, filling your pockets with sand and jamming your phone against the granules then a screen protector might reduce the impact. Other than that it is a complete waste of time when it comes down to protection.

I also think it is absolutely ridiculous when people try to argue this and show me there phone with a screen protector on it covered in tiny scratches. Firstly screen protectors (Unless you buy glass ones) are going to scratch easier than the your screen, but the funny thing is, people actually leave the protector on with these scratches present and don't seem to complain about the look of it? 90% of people I know never change their screen protector and it totally defeats the purpose of having one if it is more scratched than what it would be without one.

What do you think that when you sell the phone that you will pull that screen protector off and suddenly the phone is worth more money because it doesn't have those tiny scratches that nobody can notice? In most cases you are selling an outdated phone and considering I have sold hundreds of phones second hand, the last thing people are worried about with a second hand phone is turning the screen off and examining minuscule scratches on weird angles. You do realise that people actually have the screen on when they use the phone?

So my advice to anybody who uses or is looking to use a screen protector is if you think this is going to save your phone against "noticeable scratches" then you are 100% wrong - If you use one that reduces fingerprints, has a likeable sensitivity and you like the look and feel of it than I understand, that is simply your preference and I can respect that. In any other scenario I think it is time to grow a pair and rip that stupid thing off and try it for yourself.

Pros:

Might reduce light scratches directly to the screen that you would need to search for on certain angles with a blank screen, lol

If you roll in sand you might have a reduction in the depth of the scratch

Some people prefer the feel of a protector

Some might offer less fingerprints

Cons:

Makes screen duller, even if some offer 99% clearness it is still duller

Can reduce screen sensitivity

Unless you put it on perfectly it will be noticeable due to peeling up, bubbles, dirt or just the plain visuals of the material

If you have paid for it than you have most likely wasted your money

As for cases, the best protection with the least bulk would be one of the TPU cases with the S design on the back. You can get better protection but it will be twice if not thrice as bulky