Screen Protectors For Garmin Units

There are lots of video in youtube in properly installing in screen protector. I put on my 785t and got no problem.

I always start at the and of one side and let the screen protector slowly lay against the surface until all the way set in place. Always works.

I always try to find screen protectors that go on "wet". If you're careful the water doesn't get where it shouldn't. Also, like window film, quite often the small air bubbles will go away on their own after a day or two.

My experience is to take it slow, whether applying to a GPS, cell phone or whatever. Some films come with a plastic piece to help smooth it out but I find the edge of a credit card also helps push out extra air.

You may want to remove the bezel first so you can actually push bubbles complete out. You may also choose to have a slightly bigger screen protector. Then, instead of edge to edge coverage, you will have over the edge coverage where the excess would be pressed down and covered by the bezel and the screen protector would stay on much longer as well as easier removal if needed.

Thanks for all the suggestions but nobody has offered a specific product, only appkication instructions. I don't want to use an appication that requires water, too risky for me.
I also don't want to remove the bezel although that would make it much easier in working the air bubbles out.

I did take it slow on prior attempts but still managed to misalign it and found myself pulling it up again and ultimately ruining it.

I wish there were a product that can be pulled up and reapplied without ruining it.
I just may not have the skills and patience to get the job done right.

You can get one with a lifetime guarantee at Zagg... Return it for a new one for any reason, even misapplication. They are pricey unless you watch for a coupon. Don't get the 'full body sheild' unless you want to spend a lot of time getting it straight. Zagg.com , they call it an invisibleshield.

Try a google search for 'washable' or 'reusable' screen savers. I've never tried one but if its reusable it sounds like you should be able to apply it over and over again.

I'm not good at installing one either, finally gave up on my Nook (a much larger screen than the Nuvi). My Nuvi has a Zagg, I was able to get it straight on the third try.

Good luck,
Larry

Larry,
Thanks for the reply and Zagg recommendation.
I have read about them and got some mixed reviews.
They don't offer one for a Nuvi 2460 but do have for a 1490 which has the same screen dimensions according to Garmin. 15.00 is quite pricey for a piece of film, I'll keep my eyes out for coupons.

As far as washable ones go, some reviews I've found
saying they are a waste of money and don't do what they claim.

not even sure why you bother. I am not trying to start a flame war but I have had 3 Garmins and 3 Tom Toms...all are still in use...have 2 gave 4 away to folks who didn't have or needed a second, etc. and I never used a screen protector on any of them. My C530, I just put in my GF's work truck and it was flawless...screen and all.

Ted

the ones to which you refer. They ARE a pain in the butt to put on, I have done 6 of them. I bought those because they are the best. I get very little reflection from that type of screen protector. I hold the little spray bottle about a foot out and spray. Just TAKE YOUR TIME. If you see it going badly, pull it off and attempt it again. The small bubbles will go after a few days, if you have squeegeed it enough. Good luck, because they are a pain to apply, but in the long run, well worth it!!

Never used a screen protector on my Garmins. You just need to be careful with the units.

Same here. When I had my first Garmin 660 I bought scren protectors and since then I have bought 2 other Garmins, I just clean the screen with distilled water and special cloth I use for my laptop

I personally use Zagg Shield, though applying it was a pain.

I do unprotected navigation

I guess the bad boys engage in unsafe gpx

I ONLY use the InvisibleShield from Zagg. I put them on all of my gps units and phones.

I once fell while geocaching and grabbed for a small oak tree to "save" myself. I ended up with my arm wrapped around the tree and the screen of my GPS firmly against the bark of the tree. I didn't quite manage to stay upright and ended up sliding down the entire length of the tree. Oak trees have rough bark. My arm was scratched all to heck (big time - ouch!) and the screen of the GPS was totally cloudy and milky. By the next morning the InvisibleShield had done it's "auto mending" thing and looked like new. The screen had been totally protected from scratches. The case of the unit around the screen - the part that didn't have the protector on it - got some deep scratches but the screen was totally protected.

I carried a phone in my pants pocket along with a pocket knife, a metal medication container, and even my keys sometimes. The screen didn't get scratched at all.

Like I said above, I use these things on all of my small electronic devices. They've saved my screens any number of times.

Install it in a area where there is NO dust. You can remove them and clean them with a VERY mild soap solution and reinstall them.

I've tried several types of screen protectors over the years (for various devices)... wet, dry, reusable, cheap, expensive, etc. Despite careful application (and a clean environment for application) I had mixed results with all of them.

A few years ago, while looking specifically for an "anti-glare" screen protector (for a cell phone screen that was entirely too reflective in sunlight), I stumbled upon one at Amazon.com (sold by Lexerd.com, who I now buy from directly). It's certainly not the cheapest (around $10 each w/shipping), but it's now the only protector I use for everything I own. Currently, I have them on two Droid X's, two Sony digital cameras, an iPod touch, and my nuvi 3790t (which, for me, also had too much glare in daylight). I've had the same one on my nuvi since July 2010 and it still looks like new (I'm relatively gentle with it, though). I buy them in pairs to get a discount (and have a spare/backup "on the shelf"). They go on dry and each comes with a cleaning cloth, a plastic applicator (which I've never needed), and two rubber finger cots (which I also don't use).

I can only speak to their anti-glare version, as that's the only one I've used. On the potential con side, the anti-glare version does change the display ever so slightly. It's not blurry (by any stretch) but maybe just a hair less, I don't know, "crisp" than the naked screen. it's hard to describe... hard to tell unless you're comparing it side-by-side... and was immediately a non-issue for me (although some have complained, confusing the "crystal clear" version with the "anti-glare" one, I suspect). You will also likely be able to "see" the very edges of the protector, as they are sized slightly smaller than the screen and have a visible "edge." Again, a non-issue for me, personally, and not something I ever notice unless I stop to look for it.

The pros, on the other hand, are significant. While not "thick" by any means, the protector has a slight "rigidity" to it that makes application MUCH easier. I'm exaggerating to make this point, but think of it as less like trying to apply plastic cling wrap to a screen and more like laying down a (clear) credit card on the screen. That slight rigidity translates into much easier "bubble free" installation. The surface also lets my finger glide over it much more easily than the bare screen (which seems to have more "bite" to it). And, not only does the "anti-glare" part do its job very well (in all environments), it's also fantastic at hiding fingerprints versus the glass of the bare screen (which was a huge plus, for me).

As far as application, I will echo Jery's advice. You need as clean an environment as you can get. If a piece of dust or hair or lint of any significant size gets between the screen and the protector, you're likely going to have a visible "bubble" with any screen protector application.

My application starts with an area of the house where there's not a lot of airflow or a lot of recent activity. I use a couple of lint-free cloths (microfiber highly recommended, Oakley sunglass bags are very good) and a cleaner that won't leave anything behind. I use isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol for application (but not for general day-to-day cleaning). Wash hands and clean the area immediately around the device as well as the device itself (not just the screen) with alcohol and a microfiber cloth. I usually clean the screen several times (looking for any dust) and then lay one of the cloths over it while I remove the protector from its bag. Peel one edge of the protector away from it's clear backing about a third or so (careful, NO fingers on the sticky side of it) and line it up to the corresponding edge of your device. At this point, the very edge of the protector is attached to the very edge of the device, the protective backing is curled back under and away from it, the cloth is still covering most of the screen, and no hands are touching the bottom of the protector or the screen itself . Check for alignment at the edge and reposition, as necessary. Unlike some protectors, you can lift and reposition as often as needed, but don't take all day, as there's dust floating around in the room just waiting to attach itself to the sticky side of the protector. Once you've got the edge aligned, slowly run your fingers (or the applicator) over the top as you slide the cloth and protective backing out from under the protector. If you see any bubbles form, back up a little and try again. At about the halfway point, you should be able to tell for sure if you've got the alignment right. If not, you can back up and start again, but you're risking dust every time you do. At completion, I rub the whole thing down with my fingers and do a final alcohol cleaning.

I cannot stress enough how much less prone this protector is to air bubbles than any other I've used. There really is no squeegee or credit card use necessary. It just lays on and it's done. And, once it's on, it doesn't change.

As an example, the last one I installed (digital camera) I got completely on before I realized the far edge was just slightly off and the bezel was keeping it from laying down on the screen completely. I used an edge of the protective backing to wedge under it and pull it completely back off and reapply, still with no bubbles. I've never had that kind of luck with any other protector.

Link to Lexerd page for the 2460LMT (in clear or anti-glare):
http://www.lexerd.com/shop/article_11-1s6-3qwhhc/Garmin-Nuvi...

I have had the same problem. I always get bubbles or a piece of dust caught under the film. I have the most problems with having to cut the piece to size. Are there shields made specifically for the Garmin Nuvi 765. It makes it a lot easier.

Yes. The company I mentioned in my post directly above (Lexerd.com) makes nuvi 765-specific protectors (as I'm sure many others do). Direct link should be: http://www.lexerd.com/shop/article_9-7s5-6nqkhc/Garmin-Nuvi-...

I use Invisible Shields on all my devices - Car GPS, Handheld GPS, iPad, iPod, Phone, etc.

They are much more expensive than the cheap ones, but if you can get them on right, they are amazing.

Very tricky and scary each time I do it, but the trick is to spray, spray, spray. Keep everything wet.

I've tried screen protectors in the past... but to me.... they have made the screen just a little to "blurry" for me.

So I roll the dice and hope I don't scratch the screen. I know one day it will catch up to me... but so far, I've been lucky.

Thank you for taking the time in writing such a comprehensive procedure and product recommendation.
I was about to give up but I think I'll give it a try
using the Lexard product. I'll print your instructions out as a reference. I hope your efforts can help others that experienced the same failures I did.

..the Boxwave brand. I have always had good luck with these. I have installed them on four different units and they work really well. They are removable so they can always be removed and cleaned.

I don't see the need for a screen protector, if you take reasonably good care of the unit.

I use PhantomSkinz as premier protection for my smartphones.

For my Garmin units I use generic screen protectors from Walmart.

I had purchased a screen protector for my 76csx but shortly afterward removed it. I use the 76csx on a bicycle and the screen protector really did degrade visibility under many lighting conditions. The GPS sees a lot of abuse. Its about 5 years old now and does have a few small scratches on the window, but they don't impair visibility as much as the screen protector did.

I use mine for glare and fingerprint reduction for the most part. The glass screen on the nuvi 3790 looks great on display in the store, but it had way too much glare for me in practical use. An "anti-glare" protector completely addressed the issue, as well as allowing my fingers to move on the surface more easily (it "feels" smoother than the glass). It also reduced visible fingerprints by about 95%. Admittedly, fingerprints aren't much of an issue when the display is on (and they're not really visible), but it looks distractingly bad (to me) when the unit is off. I've not experienced a reduction in visibility by using a screen protector on any of my devices and it's actually improved as it relates to glare.

If I remember correctly, my old nuvi 765 already had a matte finish screen (as well as a more protective raised bezel around the screen). I'm not positive, but I don't believe I used a protector on that one.

There is protective component to consider, though. Not so much on my GPS (which is most always either in the car cradle or in a dedicated case in my bag), but I've replaced the one on my cell phone a few times when it's been scratched up by errant items in my pocket... scratches that didn't end up a permanent part of the screen due to the protector.

On the other hand, my job-issued blackberry has never had a protector and has a ton of very noticeable scratches all over its face. None of them are really noticeable when the display is on, though, and its performance is obviously not affected.

It's a matter of personal preference whether to use or not to use. The screen on my Droid X is perfect. It will likely remain that way because, whenever it gets noticeably scratched up, I replace the screen with a new one (in the form of a new protector). It doesn't make it go any faster, or do anything extra, but it gives me peace of mind that there won't likely ever be a distracting scratch or nick that has become a permanent part of the display... one that I have to see every time I grab it.

Sure thing. I think you'll have much better luck with the Lexerd product (I definitely did), but do post your experience (good or bad) if you go that route. I like them by a factor of about 10 over anything else I've ever tried, but I've certainly not tried them all.

FYI, there appears to be a free shipping promotion going on now through Sunday on their website.

Get one at Best buy and they will install it for you.

Slow and steady protects the screen.

Prior to installing any screen protector, yes, use a micro fiber cloth to clean the screen...but even after doing so, use Scotch tape (the matte finish "Magic" tape works well) and create a loop with the sticky side facing out. Go over the entire screen with the tape loop (holding one end of the loop) to lift off any remaining dust particles immediately prior to installing the protector. You can get the corners with a piece of the tape applied directly to the screen in that area, then removing it. I've also used a magnifying glass to find these stray dust particles and lift them off individually. There's no way that any type of cloth (even micro fiber) will get all the particles off and they will often leave their own.

I installed it on a 765t and it worked fine. I eventually took it off so the touch screen would be more sensitive. So far, it still looks new. Short nails...

I agree. No screen protector needed. Why bother.

Yes I saw the free shipping offer and I ordered 2 anti glares yesterday morning for 16.00.
Received email in the late afternoon advising it has shipped, great service I must say.

Seems like dust is the worst enemy when applying.
I think what I'll try is to have my portable air compressor nearby, set it to a very low PSI, then have my wife give it bursts of air as I slowly apply.
Sounds a bit extreme but I want to do it right the first time. If I screw that one up with the compressor I always have the second one to try.

For those who say a screen protector is wasting money is fine, but the fingerprimts on the screen are bothersome to me. My eyes are not sharp to begin with, also I'm quite anal about my equipment. It is a wothwhile investment for me.

Yes, dust is definitely the enemy. That's why I also wipe down the surrounding area and the entire device with rubbing alcohol (my cleaner of choice) before getting to the actual cleaning of the screen (which I do a few times). I do blow gently over the screen several times (looking for any dust) during final cleaning, but I generally leave it alone once I begin application (I don't want to blow any dust ONTO the screen or the protector at that point). I'd be careful with the air compressor for the same reason. You don't want to introduce dust that wouldn't otherwise be there... nor do you want to stir up any unnecessary dust in the room. Oh, and mind the Lexerd cleaning cloth provided with the protector. While I have used it for cleaning (or covering the screen during prep), on one occasion it tried to leave behind a piece or two of lint from itself (which was fortunately easy to see and blow off due to the rather bright color of the cloth).

If your eyes aren't sharp, then I suspect that lining up that first edge may be a bit of a challenge. Bring some good light to the party.

Honestly, the first time I applied the Lexerd protector (anti-glare, on a Droid X) and it went on so well, without a single bubble or imperfection, I thought I'd just gotten lucky and that I'd never be able to repeat it. I've done at least 10 since then, though, so it wasn't a fluke.

FYI, I used to use a product called iClean (by Monster) for screen cleaning (and additional help with fingerprint reduction). Now, I use rubbing alcohol mixed with some distilled water (or just straight rubbing alcohol) to the same effect.

iClean is what I use to clean my LCD TV and computer monitor screens. It's practically a gel, cleans without residue. I never believed the ridiculous claims about Monster cables, power strips, etc but I do like iClean. One bottle is a lifetime supply.

If anyone here buys the protectors mentioned in one of the above posts, please post your results here. I'd like to hear if they are easy to apply (and if they can be removed and cleaned).

Larry

I bought a package of 10 "trim to fit" screen protector sheets at my T-Mobile store when I got my phone. They are roughly 3" x 4" and I have one on my phone and one on my 255W. Seems like the package was about $15.

I use to have them on my old palm but it made the screen darker and not as easy to see.

@barr88
A follow up to my install of the Lexerd 5" Screen protector. Sorry for the delayed reply but our efficient Postal Service managed to send to the wrong post office even though it was addressed properly. They sent it back to the hub and then to my post office, took two extra days.

It is now installed, not perfect, has two very small air bubbles that just won't come out. I can live with that and only visible with the GPS off.
I am pleased with the installation and no more fingerprints which drove me crazy.

Actually my wife installed it with my guidance since her fingers are far thinner and more sensitive than mine. I fond the most critical tools needed for the install were exceptional light, as dust free environment as possible, a source of air, and extreme patience. A helper would be beneficial in holding the flashlight and the GPS in place.

I used a lamp with two 100 watt bulbs, and a LCD flashlight, the flashlight was the biggest asset.
As clean as I thought it was the flashlight exposed some minute dust particles. I used the air compressor at 15PSI to blow them off.
The air compressor was in a different room with only the hose near the GPS. I suggest having a can of air to make things easier rather than a compressor.

Once again thank you for taking the time for your product suggestion and the detailed instructions.

@muell9k
Glad to hear the installation was at least acceptable for you. I must be getting a bit lucky with the air bubbles/dust on my installs. The initial line-up of the first edge can be a little trying...and I usually feel the dust clock "ticking" in my head from the moment I first expose the adhesive side of the protector to air until it's completely on the screen.

Now that Lexerd has their own website (I was ordering through Amazon until recently) I notice that they have a warranty (of sorts, anyway). It looks like $1.99 per unit (plus a stamp/envelope to return the old one) will get you replacements for life. Not a fantastic deal... and requires a little extra work (sending an email and mailing the old one back), but saves a few bucks if you decide to stick with the product and don't mind the hassle.