Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Computing
  4. Emerging Tech
  5. Mobile
  6. News

Defang your keys: This liquid makes your phone screen as hard as sapphire

Add as a preferred source on Google
MWC 2026
Read our complete coverage of Mobile World Congress

If you want to reduce the risk of scratches and the accumulation of smudges on your smartphone or tablet screen, then you need a screen protector. The problem with almost all the options on the market is that you virtually have to be in a vacuum environment if you expect to be able to apply them without any bubbles, trapped dust, or wrinkles. You also need really steady hands or the whole thing can prove to be an exercise in frustration.

Enter the Kristall liquid screen protector, from Malaysian company E-Mark Global Trade, with a clever liquid solution. Pop open the kit, clean your phone’s screen with the provided alcohol wipe, dry it off, and then apply the magic solution with the provided pad. Polish it on evenly, leave to dry for a couple of minutes, polish with the cloth again, and a minute later you have a protective layer on your screen that’s completely invisible.

Recommended Videos

The majority of the top screen protectors on the market boast a hardness rating of 9H and Kristall’s liquid solution matches that. It will safeguard your screen from minor scratches, of the kind typically caused by keys in the pocket, and it could prevent much worse. Our demonstrator at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona attacked his iPhone 6 with some gusto using scissors and keys and there was no scarring whatsoever. Emboldened by the display we agreed to have our phones coated and we’re pleased with the results so far, though we skipped the homicidal scissors attack.

 

The liquid screen protector does make the screen feel a little different once applied, but not in a bad way. It leaves a really nice gloss finish, and it also makes the screen a great deal less prone to fingerprints, smudges, and greasy smears. There’s no visible sign of it at all other than an enhanced glossy sheen.

You can choose from two sizes with the Kristall Liquid Screen Protector: there’s a smartphone pack or a tablet pack. You can do two screens with the smartphone pack — or one front and rear if you have a phone with a glass back like the new Galaxy S6. The tablet pack will cover a 10-inch screen with change and the coating is guaranteed to protect your screen for at least a year after application.

If you head over to Amazon you’ll find the Kristall Smartphone Liquid Screen Protector for just $15, but it’s usually $30. The tablet version has a suggested retail price of $50, but you can get it for closer to $30 if you shop around.

Simon Hill
Former Associate Mobile Editor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
Battery life is the only iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo upgrade I care about. Apple didn’t disappoint
iPhones that spend more time away from the charger is what we needed.
Photography, Electronics, Mobile Phone

Apple's recent announcement has been one of the most talked-about in recent years, with plenty to unpack in Apple's newest iPhones. The iPhone 18 Pro gets variable aperture, more camera controls, and much more, while the iPhone Duo is easily the biggest change to the iPhone's shape in years.

I can appreciate a faster processor or another camera feature, but neither matters much when I'm looking for a charger halfway through a busy day. Apple made a big jump with the iPhone 17 Pro generation last year, and the 18 Pro lineup thankfully keeps moving in the same direction.

Read more
Snapchat launches Plans to help friends organize meetups and events
The new feature lets users invite up to 200 friends, track RSVPs, set reminders, and keep event details in one place.
Snapchat logo on iPhone

Snap Map and Group Chats have already given Snapchat users ways to coordinate meetups, but they were never built to handle the full planning process. Details such as the date, time, guest list, and RSVPs could still end up scattered across conversations.

A new feature called Snapchat Plans is meant to fix that by giving users a dedicated place to create an event, send invitations, track RSVPs, and keep everything organized in one place.

Read more
Android can now move your passkeys between password managers in just a few clicks
Google makes transfering passkeys among password managers much easier featured

Password managers have become a necessity in this day and age, where one person has to juggle dozens of login details. But moving between different password managers is a bit of a hassle. While the process should feel pretty mundane, it has often meant temporarily turning your carefully protected passwords into one of the least protected files on your device.

Google is finally giving Android users a better option. A new Android transfer experience lets you move passwords and passkeys directly between supported password managers in a few clicks, without first downloading your credentials into an unencrypted file. Google designed the feature to make changing providers easier while keeping sensitive information protected throughout the move.

Read more