I applied the protector as soon as I got the phone and kept it on for 11 months. Applying the cover is not hard, but foes take some planning and careful attention. I avoided bubbles on my first try by following the included directions. (Hint: run a hot shower in the bathroom for a few minutes and apply it in there to get extra dust out of the air.)After 11 months with occasional drops and bumps, the protector was still free of scratches and cracks. Then the main event. I dropped my phone from about 2 feet onto gravel, and do my horror, I saw 4 cracks. I thought at first it was my screen, and to my delight, I removed the screen protector and the cracks were all just on the protector. My screen is still perfect, and I'm about to apply one of the extra protectors now.(The photo shows the protector with cracks. I put some packing tape on it before removing it from the phone to make sure it came off in one piece.)