Your tablet display is probably the most important piece of hardware on your device. After all, it’s how you view your tablet and interact with it. Without it, your tablet is pretty much useless. Unfortunately, the tablet display is also the most fragile part of any tablet. I mean, how hard can glass get.
Sure with things such as Gorilla Glass, glass has become even stronger and more scratch resistant than ever before. But, despite these improvements, one drop and it’s over. But even if you don’t drop it, if you don’t properly care for your tablet display, you could be in for a world of problems down the road. Today, let’s examine what you need to do to properly care for your tablet display. Keep in mind I’m speaking specifically about your tablet display today, although some of what I discuss can be used to help you care for your tablet as a whole.
Step 1: Protecting the Display
The first thing you need to do is protect the display. That means buying a good quality case when you first purchase your new tablet. Try going for tablet cases that offer screen protection such as bumpers that prevent the display from landing flat on the ground or even some with complete covers to give the display an added layer to absorb potential damage.
After you buy a case, you may also want to consider a screen protector. This is a bigger deal on smartphones, but they do make larger protectors for tablets and iPads as well. Although I admit they aren’t as popular as screen protectors for smartphones. But, adding this protector could mean the difference from a tablet display that survives a fall and one that doesn’t. So ift may be worth the added cost. I know I believe it is.
Step 2: Cleaning the Display
Unless you have your display inside a case with a cover over the tablet display or you use a screen protector, you are going to have to clean your display from time to time. This will keep dust and dirt from work its way under your tablet display and into your tablet as well as make viewing and controlling your tablet much easier.
When cleaning your display, use a soft, lint free cloth for cleaning. Never use paper towels, as they could scratch the display. In most cases, you can probably just use a dry cloth to do all the work, but if your tablet display is really dirty, you may need to use a cleaning agent for it. I would recommend using one designed specifically for tablet displays and always turn off your tablet while you clean it. After you are done, allow it time to dry properly. This shouldn’t take too long as the chemicals evaporate pretty quickly, but give it at least an hour just to be safe.
Step 3: Basic Care
Honestly, this is a step that I believe I shouldn’t even have to discuss, but unfortunately I do. The fact is that many people don’t take care of their tablets, and then they wonder why things go wrong with them. I know, I probably sound a bit harsh here, but I’m right.
To properly care for your tablet and your tablet display, there are a few basic care items that we need to check off the list.
- Update your tablet. Tablet updates are essential for your tablet. Hardware manufacturers release software updates to fix bugs with the mobile operating systems, but also release software improvements for the hardware. This can include software that powers your display. These updates have a variety of uses, ranging from display operation, screen brightness issues, touch responsiveness, and more. Always keep your tablet up to date if you want to ensure your table display functions in tip top shape.
- Don’t use it as a table. Your tablet is not a table, so why would you ever consider setting something on it. But, believe it or not, people do, and they put almost anything you can think of on it. From books to papers, and even drinks. Yes I said drinks. Now we all know how well tablets and liquid like each other. Remember, the weight you put on your tablet could damage the display or other components, and liquid could quickly turn your device into a paperweight faster than you can say iPad.
- Don’t leave it in extreme temperatures. Tablets are electronics, and electronics prefer to operate in normal, room temperature environments. Both extreme heat during the summer or even the cold of winter can damage the sensitive components inside, including the tablet display. So try to limit its exposure as best as you can.
- Keep it charged. Remember, batteries prefer to operate between 20 and 80 percent. While you can fully charge it, don’t leave it plugged in for hours on end and don’t regularly allow it to completely discharge. Occasionally, you should discharge the battery completely, but remember your battery life is based on recharge cycles, so if you can keep it in range you will increase the file of your battery, and a healthy battery is also good for a healthy tablet display.
The bottom line is try to take care of your tablet. These devices are very expensive and repairs can add a lot of the cost. So why not take care of something that you have spent so much on?
What If I Break My Tablet Display?
No matter how careful you are and how much care you put into your tablet, accidents do happen. If you drop your tablet, you could crack or shatter your tablet display. If this happens, you need to know what your options are. In many cases, it will come down to the type of tablet you have. Premium devices such as the Galaxy Tab’s from Samsung or the iPad from Apple can often be repaired, but some cheaper devices may not have any options for repair. Still, here are your options if you do break your tablet display.
- Leave It As It Is – If you drop it and get a simple crack in the corner or a very small crack that you hardly notice, you may want to just leave it alone and live with it. Chances are a screen is going to run you at least $100 and maybe even a lot more than that, so is that worth fixing for a small crack?
- Replace the Display – If the cracks are bad or if the display is completely shattered, you don’t have much choice. You need to get it repaired. As I said, some devices may offer no options for repair, especially if you payed very little for the tablet to begin with. Still, in other cases, you could have dropped a big chunk of change on your device, so unless you want to do that again, you need to get it replaced.
- Buy a New Tablet – If your tablet isn’t under warranty or the crack/shatter isn’t covered and is going to cost more than the device is worth to fix, your best option is probably to replace the tablet with a new one. While it’s not ideal, it still may be the best choice based on your situation.
Final Thoughts
Your tablet display is very important to the overall usability of your tablet. So why not take proper care for it? After all, you will be using to view everything and you will be controlling it at the same time. Without it, your tablet won’t be very much fun to use.
Have you ever cracked or shattered your tablet display? If so, what did you do to remedy the problem? Did you replace it, live with it, or get a new tablet? Tell me about your experience in the comments below.