Stop spam calls with the best call- and text-blocker apps

Unwanted calls and texts are a serious problem. There were almost 30 billion robocalls in the U.S. last year according to YouMail research. Thankfully, the Federal Communications Commission is acting to try and protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls and text messages, and manufacturers and service providers are offering various options to help you block nuisance callers on your smartphone, but it’s not always enough.

We’ve looked at how to block calls on an iPhone and how to block a number in Android before, but in this article, we’re going to highlight the best call and text blocker apps for Android and iOS. These apps are easy to use, they draw on large databases of spam numbers, and they’ll help you rid yourself of spam callers once and for all.

Should I Answer?

Relying on a community-generated and fully evaluated database of problem numbers, Should I Answer provides you with the information you need to decide whether to take an incoming call or not. Telemarketers, scammers, and other unsolicited calls are divided into categories and assigned ratings, so you can see at-a-glance, as your phone is ringing, how legitimate the incoming call is likely to be. User reviews provide more detail and you can submit your own ratings and reviews on the calls you receive.

It’s easy to block numbers, so all future calls are rejected, and there are lots of useful configuration options, including the ability to block outgoing calls to premium numbers. More reasons to recommend this app include the fact that it allows you to decide what information you submit to the database, it doesn’t access your contacts, and it works offline. This is our favorite call blocking app for Android, but sadly it isn’t available for the iPhone.

Download now for:

Android

Hiya Caller ID and Block

This a straightforward call blocking app that’s easy to use. It automatically identifies callers and flags robocalls, telemarketers, debt collectors and known fraudsters based on a huge database containing hundreds of millions of numbers. Because the app draws on such a large database of numbers it can often identify legitimate callers as well, so that you know when you should answer. You can build a block list easily and there’s a facility to reverse look-up numbers from your call log.

What we don’t like about Hiya is the fact that it accesses your contacts and uploads them to the database, albeit in encrypted form. The company promises they’re only used to match information and build a whitelist, and that it will never sell them on, but you should check out the privacy policy and decide for yourself before you install. Hiya is available for both Android and iOS, and it’s made by the same developer behind Mr. Number.

Download now for:

iPhone Android

More call and text blocker apps

Having tried a few different call blocking apps, we can recommend Should I Answer for Android users without any caveats. Hiya is very good for iOS, but you do need to consider the privacy issue. If you’re wondering about alternatives, here’s a quick look at some of your options.

If you want a call blocking app for your iPhone, but you aren’t prepared to share your contacts with the developer, then you might want to check out Nomorobo. It can identify and block known robocalls and scammers, but it costs $2 per month after the free 30-day trial period and a lot of users have encountered bugs.

Probably the biggest name in the call blocking app arena is Truecaller, which is available for Android and iOS. It has a community built database and millions of users, so it does identify spam calls quite accurately and it can block unwanted calls, but the privacy policy is a cause for concern. It collects a lot of personal information, accesses your contacts, and, rather ironically, shares that data with third parties, which is why we can’t recommend it.

There are many other highly-rated call and text blocker apps in the Play Store and the App Store, but we advise you to proceed with caution and read the privacy policies before you install. If you’re serious about protecting your privacy, then you might also be interested in the best Android security apps or the best iPhone security apps.

Classic fighting game ‘Tekken’ is now available on mobile

Why it matters to you

If you’re a big fan of the series and are looking for more mobile games, this release is going to be perfect for you.

The classic fighting series Tekken has been a fan favorite for nearly a couple of decades. The first game debuted way back in 1994, and Tekken 7 was the latest release in 2015 — with a re-release earlier this summer. Originally starting out as a PlayStation release, other games in the series eventually became available on Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U and PC. Now the game will be making its way to the mobile world.

Japanese game publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment has just announced that the popular game will be coming to both Android and iOS very soon, according to AndroidHeadlines. The game is open for pre-registration today, and iOS users in Canada have already been given a preview of the game. Special in-app bonuses will also be given to anyone who pre-registers for the game. As more and more people pre-register, more and more content as well as in-game rewards will be made available during the global launch of the game. You might want to get your pre-registration done today!

There’s going to be a lot to unpack and plenty of fun things for fans to look forward to in Tekken Mobile. You’ll have a vast selection of fighters to choose from, as the game will allow you to collect over 100 playable characters, all of which will have upgrades and new moves to unlock. You’ll even be able to create an original play style for them. Players will have to choose a team of three different fighters, much like Mortal Kombat X and Injustice 2 for mobile, to compete in online matches or Story Mode.

In Story Mode, you will create a team of three to help Kazuya Mishima defeat a new enemy named Revenant, a character created just for the mobile game. Bandai Namco is also going to be hosting live events with different-themed content, and you’ll even be able to challenge other players in Dojo Mode.

Players will need Android 4.4 and more than 1GB of RAM to be able to play the game on your phone or tablet device. The game will have plenty of other titles to compete with, so it will be free to play once it launches globally.

Sheeple, scuzzballs, and BFFs — See the words first used the year you were born

Why it matters to you

Tracking when words and phrases were first used is a way to understand the progression of pop culture.

Merriam-Webster has unveiled a new addition to its site, which is sure to delight amateur etymologists everywhere — a Time Traveler dictionary that lists words that were created during a specific year.

Are you older than “air guitar”? How about “cybersex,” “junk food,” or “elevator music”? Simply plug in the year of your birth to reveal a list of words that can trace their first known use back to that date.

Etymology is an inexact science, as Merriam-Webster points out in their explanation of “First Known Use” dates. Many words were used as slang in spoken language long before they made their way to a printed publication. The dates given in the Time Traveler generally refer to the earliest written use that the editors have been able to uncover. New discoveries about the nature of language and the first use of certain words or phrases will undoubtedly lead to updates in the list.

The latest Time Traveler entries are from 2010 (Arab Spring, gamification), but these lists are sure to grow in the decades ahead. Dictionary editors add thousands of new words to their lists every year, much to the consternation of Scrabble aficionados. Not only that, but etymologists do like to have some highbrow fun from time to time, such as their veiled dig at Apple when they added “sheeple” to their dictionary in 2017.

For word nerds, the Time Traveler is an interesting look back at the development of pop culture as reflected in language throughout the decades. If you were born in 1990, you’re the same age as tighty-whiteys, spam, and velociraptor. 1980 babies can count ziplock, comb-over, and high-five among their brethren. Meanwhile older folk born in 1970 welcomed love handles, beeper, and granola to the Merriam-Webster lexicon. Users on Twitter (first known use: 14th century) are already having a lot of fun with the new tool.

So, take a trip down memory lane with the Time Traveler and find out what words were brand new back when you were a mere youngling.

Essential wants your attention as much as your money (for now)

Essential isn’t even trying to compete with Samsung or even LG with their first phone.

You’ve probably read at least one “first look” at the Essential Phone. They all have a few things in common, and mostly leave us with the impression that it’s an interesting first try from a new company. It’s definitely an ambitious device in some ways, especially in the looks department. What you’re probably not going to see is the Essential Phone at the top of any “must buy” lists beside the Samsung Galaxy S8 or LG G6. And I think that’s just fine with Andy Rubin (the founder of Android) and company.

At least for now.

It’s almost impossible for a new company to come along and make any headway in the Android world. Samsung takes almost all the business, and long-established brands like Motorola, HTC, and LG fight over the scraps, hoping to turn a profit. It takes three things to compete: a good product, agreements with U.S. carriers, and millions of dollars in advertising. At first glance, Essential has a good product, but that’s where its competitiveness ends. Partnering with Sprint and TELUS alone and relying on word-of-mouth advertising just isn’t good enough if you want to move a lot of product.

Andy Rubin knows this. Jason Mackenzie, head of sales for Essential and former president of HTC America, knows this. Everyone involved with the Essential Phone knows this. And while the company wouldn’t complain if it ended up selling 20 million Essential Phones, it probably has simple, more focused goals right now: getting enthusiasts and industry people to talk about something new and grabbing our attention. That’s a safe play and a smart play for the first phone from a brand new company. It costs money to build phones that have to sit in a warehouse waiting to be bought. It takes compromise (at least initially) to get companies like Verizon and AT&T to put your phones on their shelves and in their warehouses because that means they have less room for iPhones and Galaxy phones. And we all know how expensive advertising can be. A new company, no matter how well-known the people who built it are, has to be very careful.

Essential doesn’t want to be a company that sells phones; it wants to be a company that also sells phones.

Essential has another trick up its sleeve, too — plans for a whole-house automation line. That’s probably a harder sell than a phone, but that market doesn’t have a Samsung to run away with all the numbers and Essential has one awesome thing to show people with a phone that looks very different and will act as a universal remote for everything in your house. Rubin and his team are wizards at smart machines, automation, and robotics. If they can catch your eye with a slick device like the Essential Phone, they can continue to impress with a line of home products that are attractive and work as advertised. Rather, if they can catch the eye of a non-enthusiast who only knows about Amazon’s Echo and Alexa when it comes to doing things like switching their lights or locking their doors.

I’m not suggesting that Essential doesn’t care about the phone segment of the market, just that they have a bigger picture and a multi-year plan for their company. Or maybe I’m wrong and they just want to sell as many phones as they can. Either way, it’s going to be interesting to watch.

Essential Phone

• Essential Phone review: First impressions
• Essential Phone specs
• The latest Essential Phone news
• Join our Essential Phone forums!

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Download the Essential Phone wallpapers here!

You don’t have to spend $699 to get these wallpapers.

The new Essential Phone has a pretty mind-bending screen with super-tiny bezels, and it just looks even better with one of its default wallpapers loaded. Those wallpapers have picked up some attention, and that’s to be expected — so that’s why we want to offer them up for anyone to use.

Here are six different wallpapers that come pre-loaded on the Essential Phone. A couple of them actually aren’t super-high resolution, but a few of them are. In either case, these wallpapers will surely look great on your phone if you’re looking for something simple, elegant and dark for a wallpaper. Enjoy!

(If you’re viewing this on our mobile app, open the article in a web browser to download to your phone directly!)

Default

Default 2

Default 3

‘Champagne’

‘Jaune’

‘Noir’

Which of this small crop of wallpapers is your favorite? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

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• Essential Phone review: First impressions
• Essential Phone specs
• The latest Essential Phone news
• Join our Essential Phone forums!

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Recommended Reading: Netflix’s heroes return in ‘The Defenders’

‘The Defenders’ Is
Thrilling Superhero
Team-Up Entertainment
Mark Hughes,
Forbes

Netflix’s last Marvel series, Iron Fist, didn’t quite offer the same thrills as its previous three original series. Its fourth installment that unites all four heroes debuted today, and so far, the reviews are mostly positive. Forbes details how the streaming service returns to form with The Defenders miniseries. Even though the latest show may not be the best of the Marvel options on Netflix thus far, it’s an improvement after the disappointment of Iron Fist and shows potential for future team-ups with the foursome.

Dell founder offers low-key response to Charlottesville violence

Tech giants like Apple and Intel have vocally opposed both the racist violence in Charlottesville and President Trump’s equivocating response to it, but former manufacturing council member Dell has remained silent. Where’s its statement? Well, company founder Michael Dell has finally spoken. The CEO has sent a brief email to employees condemning both the Charlottesville violence and the terrorist attack in Barcelona, but in generic terms. His message declares that “hate is evil” and stresses that Dell is a company where “everyone is welcome,” pointing to the company’s culture code. And… that’s it.

The low-key message stands in contrast to Apple chief Tim Cook’s email to staff, which specifically addressed the President’s remarks and vowed concrete action by donating to anti-racism causes. Uber offered its own modest statement (it only promised customers that it would uphold its existing guidelines and support), but it backed out of the economic advisory council months ago — Dell stuck to the manufacturing council until its disbanding.

We’ve asked Dell if it can provide additional insight for the email. However, the PC maker is already drawing flak from those who see the response as too little, too late. It came days after other tech companies made their views known, and avoids any kind of pointed criticism. Companies like Dell often have to walk a fine to please both the public (on all sides of the political spectrum) and the powers that be, but there are concerns that it’s trying too hard to be inoffensive.

Via: Gizmodo

Source: Axios

Uber favors former GE leader as its next CEO

Ever since Uber ousted CEO Travis Kalanick, there’s been one overriding question: just who would be daring enough to replace him and salvage the ridesharing outfit’s tattered reputation? At last, an answer is emerging. Recode sources hear that former GE chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt (above) is the “frontrunner” out of the three candidates to lead Uber out of the darkness. Reportedly, the company’s board of directors believes Immelt is the most capable of quickly fixing Uber’s toxic culture, including sagging employee morale and abundant legal troubles.

There’s no certainty that Immelt will take the top spot. The other two (as yet unnamed) candidates are still under consideration. If the report is accurate, however, Uber’s board is expected to vote on a new CEO within two weeks.

We’ve asked Uber for comment. However, Immelt could be one of the better choices. A Recode insider notes that Immelt isn’t someone you can “push around easily,” so he could take a firm course of action rather than bow to pressure from insiders. He’s also a well-known industry figure, and isn’t shy about cutting initiatives that don’t fit into his vision. When GE made a big push toward the ‘industrial internet’ under Immelt’s tenure, it ditched or downplayed numerous businesses, including NBC and light blubs. That nothing-is-sacred mentality may be helpful at Uber, where some problems seem deeply entrenched.

Source: Recode

We can dream, can’t we? Here’s what our staff wants in the perfect phone

Here at Digital Trends we pride ourselves on being able to spot a great product — and every month we come out with more smartphone reviews that are aimed at helping you decide whether or not you should buy a device. But not everyone is looking for the same thing in a smartphone, and while we can all tell when a phone is a quality device, that doesn’t mean that we don’t have our own preferences.

So what are our preferences? What exactly are we looking for in a great smartphone? We asked each of the members of the Digital Trends mobile team for their thoughts on what the perfect phone would look like. Here’s what the team members said.

Get the basics right

By Adam Ismail
Freelance Staff Writer

When I think of the best phones I’ve ever owned, the story typically goes something like this: Tasteful design, excellent build quality, dependable performance, and software that manages to be both beautiful and functional. I don’t feel that’s too much to ask for.

I’ve never romanticized new technology for its own sake. It’s more important that my phone be there right when I need it, than have a battery-guzzling 4K display. If three or four gigabytes of RAM is enough, why bother spending money on more? If I can unlock my iPhone 7 in what feels like milliseconds with a regular old fingerprint sensor, what good is an iris scanner?

I’ve been through six phones in the last eight years, and my favorite is still the Nexus 4. I bought mine in late 2013 — a year after it launched — and it rarely disappointed. It looked gorgeous, with that shimmering, reflective glass back. The size was just right, fitting my hand perfectly. The power was beyond adequate, and the lovely pulsating multicolored LED below the screen ensured I never had to wake the display to know exactly what kind of notifications I was getting.

It wasn’t flashy, and it didn’t have any back-of-the-box marketing buzzwords to attract early adopters. What it did have, however, was an excellent OS — Android 4.2 Jelly Bean — and two modest features that have come to define modern expectations: NFC and wireless charging. Bear in mind this was 2012, a handful of years before the masses knew how either worked.

Plus, it was the right price — just $250 by the time I picked mine up, right before a trip across the pond for a semester abroad in England. I needed an unlocked phone to get me through my three months overseas. To this day, I don’t think I’ve ever had a better travel companion in my pocket.

Convenience, usefulness, and usability

By Andy Boxall
Contributing Editor

For the truly geeky, the ultimate phone is likely to be all about the specification. Processors that are faster than light, more RAM than a crash of rhinos, the ability to run every app thrown at it regardless of operating system, and a massive retina-searing screen. The resulting device would certainly be exciting, and almost certainly incredibly expensive. But my ultimate phone doesn’t need to be “ultimate” in that way. Instead, my ultimate phone is a template. The basis on which other awesome phones can be built; but not a specific model, range, or collection of components. More a smartphone ethos to which everyone subscribes.

The ultimate phone should be about convenience, usefulness, and usability. The hardware should be light at under 150 grams, attractive but not derivative, strong so I’m not sobbing if it falls, and durable so it won’t matter if it gets wet. The software needs to be perfectly stable, with useful apps — that means quality over quantity too — and must receive regular security and version updates, without delay. The convenience factor means it needs to be easy to use, and that includes seamless biometric security systems, a simple yet powerful user interface, and cohesive, genuinely useful features. I never want to Google for how to use something, or miss out on a cool feature because it’s hidden away beneath umpteen menus. Battery life is important, but because the system will be perfectly optimized, and the apps well curated, the phone will run like a well-oiled machine and the capacity won’t need to be monstrous. Besides, 24 hours normal use is more than enough, and achievable without turning the phone into a brick.

Get the underlying platform exactly right, and everything else should fall into place. Stuffing a phone full of features isn’t the answer, nor is thinking up something interesting and then trying to crowbar it into a device while the marketing team figures out who the hell is actually going to use it. I’m not Jony Ive, despite my British accent. That means I’ll leave ideas for breakthrough tech to him and other generously brained individuals. The ultimate phone is about getting all the basics right first, then adding the best camera, a beautiful screen, and a ultra-fast processor to the package. That’s the phone I want to buy. Rather frustratingly it’s arguably achievable now, yet I still can’t do so.

A shatterproof phone

By Brenda Stolyar
Staff Writer

My ideal phone is one that can keep up with my ever-changing lifestyle, and packs everything I’ll ever need while on-the-go into one device. For starters, the phone would have a battery that lasts an entire day after a full charge. Wireless charging capability is also a must, because it means finding an outlet is one less thing I have to worry about.

As for hardware, it needs to be shatterproof but also scratch-proof — especially when hiding in the deep dark depths of my bag, or on concrete thanks to my clumsy nature. It still needs to be bezel-less, super thin, and sleek. It could also support my love for capturing photos with a DSLR-quality camera, that doesn’t require downloading an app to use certain camera modes. I’d also appreciate speakers with amazing sound quality – similar to the stereo sound on the JBL Soundboost 2 Moto Mod, but actually built into the phone.

I know I can get some of what I’m looking for on Android, but as a loyal iPhone user I can’t let go of iMessage – even if my life depended on it. Even though I’m asking to pack a lot into one phone, being the millennial that I am, if we’re talking about “ideal” the price point would be $400 or lower.

Software and hardware optimization

By Christian de Looper
Staff Writer

For me, an ideal phone is only partially about great hardware. I see hardware as a way to facilitate great software — and great software is what I’m looking for in my ultimate phone. That’s why my favorite phone to date is still the Google Pixel, even in the era of the bezel-less and technically more powerful Samsung Galaxy S8.

That’s not to say hardware isn’t important — the latest processor, plenty of RAM, and enough storage is all very helpful in creating a seamless software experience. The display is becoming increasingly important, especially in a time when mobile VR is picking up speed. Durability is up there too — who wants to cover their phone in a case?

All this culminates into a list of ideals rather than a list of specifications — a phone needs to be powerful, durable, and attractive, with classy and un-bloated software and a nice, crisp display. Oh, and I’d love a headphone jack.

Better low-light camera

By Julian Chokkattu
Mobile Editor

As a photographer, my perfect smartphone revolves around the camera. While I very much enjoy using my DSLR, it’s becoming easier and easier for me to opt for my smartphone camera in certain instances. But before I jump into my dream mobile camera, the phone has to get some basics right.

The latest high-end processor, plenty of RAM and internal storage, a MicroSD card slot, a headphone jack — essentially everything the Samsung Galaxy S8 offers, with a similar edge-to-edge display. I’m fully on-board with the bezel-less trend. A big battery enough for the phone to last a little more than a day would satisfy me, but software optimization is more important. Apple’s harmony between software and hardware is near perfect, and Google comes incredibly close with the Pixel. It not only keeps the phone running smoothly for a long time, but also ensures fast version and security updates. I’m not a fan of glass backs or glossy devices that easily attract fingerprints, so I would prefer a matte, aluminum unibody with plenty of colorful options. The display would ideally also be akin to Motorola’s Shattershield glass, but it shouldn’t easily scratch.

For the camera, I want the ability to take better low-light images. Daylight photos are more than satisfactory these days, but a larger image sensor on smartphones would help all around, especially in low-light environments. This would require a thicker phone for heat dissipation, but ideally we would have figured a way to keep the phone thin and cool. That’s it, really. There are a lot of phones and apps that offer manual controls to make low-light photography a reality, but it often requires tripod and a lot of tinkering. It would be very interesting to see how a smartphone fares with a larger image sensor, with familiar features like 2x optical zoom, and a wide-angle camera like the one on the LG G6.

A cheaper Galaxy S8, please

By Kyle Wiggers
Staff Writer

Some futurists predict that the phones of tomorrow will roll up like a sheet of newspaper, download apps faster than home fiber connections, and anticipate our needs before we ourselves do. That all sounds good and fine, but when it comes to smartphones, I’ve never been about the bells and whistles.

My ideal phone is beautiful. It’s functional. It’s something I’m proud to tout around when I slide it out of my pocket, but it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Of all the phones I’ve owned, borrowed, and reviewed, the Galaxy S8 Plus comes the closest. Even after three weeks of carrying it around pretty much nonstop, I’m still enamored by its curved, colorful screen and fast-as-lightning facial detection. Its camera captures the clearest images of any phone I’ve used by far, and even its low light performance, an Achilles heel for the best of camera sensors, trades blows with my former Pixel XL. Its battery lasts a whole day, easily.

The only sore point is the price. At more than $800 MSRP, Samsung’s commanding a premium for the Galaxy S8’s design and features. But for phones that break the mold, like the S8, I’m willing to bend my rules a little. I’m not sure what my next phone will look like, or who will make it. But I know what I want: An eye-catching design, a great camera, and a long-lasting battery. Everything else is window dressing.

Perfect in every way

By Simon Hill
Contributing Editor

The design has to be attractive, but it should also feel great in hand. We touch our phones so many times in an average day that it really matters how a phone feels. The screen should be bright, sharp, and as large as possible without making the phone comically big. An expanding display, so that the phone is compact in your pocket, or when you want to use it one-handed, but can be much larger for gaming or watching movies, would be great, but it’s difficult to imagine an elegant design that would accommodate this.

The phone should be capable of instantly recognizing you for rapid secure unlocking that works flawlessly every time. Performance has to be fast, fluid, and responsive with minimal load times. It needs to have a high-quality camera that’s very fast, to help you capture spontaneous moments. If we can’t have week-long battery life, without brick-sized batteries, then our phones should be able to charge themselves wirelessly in our pockets or bags (without risk) and charge super-fast when plugged in. It should be virtually indestructible, able to take a dip in the bath or a tumble onto concrete without chipping or cracking. It should not have any bloatware. When required, it should seamlessly, wirelessly and securely connect to all the other phones, tablets, TVs, computers, and laptops in my home (regardless of manufacturer) for easy content and file sharing.

Best Screen Protectors for Galaxy S7

What are the best screen protectors for the GS7?

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is still of the best phones you can buy, and with the Galaxy S8 and upcoming Note 8 stealing everyone’s attention, you should be able to pick up an S7 for a pretty great deal. With its beautiful glass screen, you’ll want to try and protect it from scuffs and scratches.

We’ve included some decent options for film screen protectors — not as tough as the tempered glass, but still providing good protection for your screen.

• amFilm Galaxy S7 Screen Protector Glass
• OtterBox Alpha Glass Screen Protector
• Maxboost Liquid Skin Samsung Galaxy S7 Screen Protector
• IQ Shield LiQuidSkin 2-pack

amFilm Galaxy S7 Screen Protector Glass

When you’re looking for a tempered glass screen protector, you ideally want edge-to-edge coverage. Otherwise you’re left with an ugly edge around the perimeter of your phone. For a while, there simply wasn’t a decent option available for the rounded edges on the sides of the Galaxy S7’s screen.

Enter this option from amFilm. This tempered glass screen protector is scratch resistant and only 0.3 mm thick, featuring slight curves designed to contour right to the edge of the screen and offering the best edge-to-edge screen protection you’ll find for the Galaxy S7.

Installation is easy thanks to the precise cutouts and solid border around the bezel of the phone, and you shouldn’t notice any difference in the phone’s touch sensitivity. It’s only $9 on Amazon and available in three colors — Black, Gold and White — so you can match the style of your phone while keeping it well protected.

See at Amazon

OtterBox Alpha Glass Screen Protector

OtterBox offers a tempered glass screen protector that is case compatible with all of their cases for the Galaxy S7, so if you’re a fan of OtterBox’s product this is definitely the screen protector you want to try.

Some things to note about the Alpha Glass are the black sections at the top and bottom — they are precisely designed to match the phone which is a great look if you can line things up perfectly. There’s also only adhesive on the top and bottom which, if you’re not careful, can lead to dust getting in between the screen and the tempered glass. There are two options, Clear and Privacy, with the latter including the added feature of preventing people sitting next to you from glancing over at your phone and seeing what you’re looking at.

You can grab the Clear protector at the link below for $8, or check out the Privacy model for $24. This one has gotten fairly mixed reviews mostly because of the difficult installation process, but since it’s backed by OtterBox’s great customer service and one-year warranty you can try it and reach out if any issues should arise.

See at Amazon

Maxboost Liquid Skin Samsung Galaxy S7 Screen Protector

The Maxboost Liquid Skin protector includes two screen protectors for the screen — one with precise cutouts around the bits you want to be exposed, and the other a case-friendly option with cutouts from the edge around the top and bottom of the screen. It also includes a protector film for the back panel of your phone, because it’s made of glass to and susceptible to scratches and scuffs too!

As you may have gathered from the name, these protectors require a wet installation with the included spray bottle. You spray down the sticky side of the screen protector, place it down on your cleaned screen and adjust it until it’s just right. Then you’ll want to use the squeegee card to clear out any bubbles then leave it to dry overnight. You’ll want to be careful with it for the first few days, too, especially if you plan to slap a case on your phone too. Get a kit that includes everything you need for a successful, clean installation for just $9.99.

See at Amazon

IQ Shield LiQuidSkin 2-pack

Another wet installation option, the IQ Shield LiQuidSkin includes two screen protectors that IQ Shield claims each screen protector consists of four layers of protection. Cutting through the marketing buzzwords, these screen protectors feature a layer of TPU, will adhere well to your phone and should provide durable, transparent protection without yellowing over time.

Installation requires you to spray the adhesive side of the screen with the included spray bottle, then squeegee out the excess and any bubbles then leave it to dry for a few hours. The benefits of a wet install over a dry install include crystal clear transparency, and you’re able to adhere the protector around the rounded screen edges better. Keep your screen protected with IQ Shield for just $8.

See at Amazon

Which screen protectors do you trust?

If the screen protector brand you use isn’t on our list, let us know in the comments!

Update August 2017: Added the OtterBox Alpha Glass to our list to replace the Yootech 3-pack which is no longer available on Amazon.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

• Galaxy S7 review
• Galaxy S7 edge review
• U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7
• Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
• Best SD cards for Galaxy S7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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