New leak re-visits Samsung Galaxy S10+'s potential screen-protection issue

Recently, a specialist case-maker named Armadillotek caused a stir on Twitter by claiming that their screen protectors would not work with the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+. This is because the two higher-end variants of the upcoming flagship series have become strongly linked with the ultrasonic fingerprint reader. This is a next-gen component rumored to be located in or under the display of the Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+ or both.

A more recent video released by the accessory retailed MobileFun shows what the outlet claims to be a live version of the Samsung Galaxy S10+. The mobile device had been fitted with a screen protector with unmistakably distinct holes in the bottom half of the screen and along the top edge. A viewer familiar with the leaks concerning the phone to date may infer that they are for the fingerprint sensor and selfie camera (which is also purported to be integrated into the S10+'s display) respectively.

However, the respected tipster IceUniverse has a different perspective on the video. This Twitter-based leaker appears to believe that this protector is a design prototype, and not the final product. Should the rumors about the S10+ and its biometrics prove true, it is reasonable to expect that third-party manufacturers would have had a little more trouble getting their screen protectors for this device right than normal.

A giant hole in the lower third of a screen protector may be a drawback for many reasons, the most immediate being the increased risk of damage to this part of the display glass and the decreased accuracy of the sensor should its placement on the phone become mis-aligned. The company Whitestone, however, claims that its protector for the S10+ will come with none of these disadvantages.

This is because the proprietary nature of its Dome-series protector and its application (which requires its own mini UV light for adhesive-curing) should result in coverage that is powerful yet thin enough to allow the US scanner to work. However, this selling point comes at a premium: US$60, to be exact. Considering the projected price of the S10 line, its potential new-fangled screen features are making it seem like a super-expensive liability, even though it hasn't been released yet.