Dear Lifehacker,
I scratched the screen of my last phone and I want to avoid that on my new one. I’m not a fan of plastic screen guards, but I have been hearing a lot about glass screen protectors. Are they better than plastic?
I scratched the screen of my last phone and I want to avoid that on my new one. I’m not a fan of plastic screen guards, but I have been hearing a lot about glass screen protectors. Are they better than plastic?
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Thanks,
Screen Scratcher
Screen Scratcher
Dear Scratcher,
Yup, you can get screen protectors made out of tempered glass. Like with any technology, they have their own pros and cons. Let’s take a look at them:
Yup, you can get screen protectors made out of tempered glass. Like with any technology, they have their own pros and cons. Let’s take a look at them:
The Differences Between Plastic and Glass
Price: Plastic screen protectors are much cheaper than tempered glass ones. Depending on the quality, you will pay anywhere between $1 for a pack of five to $10 for a single plastic protector. Glass protectors again start at around $2 for the cheapest variant and go up to $35. The price difference is because of the quality of the plastic or glass, and technologies applied to it like an oleophobic coating (which reduces fingerprints).
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Toughness: Tempered glass is almost always sturdier than plastic at the same price. Plastic protectors—especially the cheap models—also get scratched easily, unlike glass ones. Glass protectors are generally around 0.3-0.5 mm in thickness; plastic is around 0.1mm.
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Feel: Most smartphones today have Gorilla Glass or some other scratch-resistant screen. When you add a plastic protector, you can feel the difference when you use your phone; especially in terms of how smoothly your finger glides. Tempered glass protectors feel more like the original screen.
Look: Because of their thickness, glass protectors will bulge out a bit more than plastic. This is especially noticeable on devices like the iPhone 5 or the HTC One. The protector is slightly raised from the flush finish of the sides, which can be an aesthetic issue for some. On the iPhone, this also means your Home button is recessed more than you’re used to. I know 0.5mm seems like a small number, but you can feel the difference.
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Installation: If you’ve installed a plastic screen protector, you know how difficult the process is. There are different kinds of glass protectors (full-adhesive or bezel-adhesive), but generally, they are easier to install if you use a quality product. Of course, you’ll still have to clean the screen first.
Do I Need a Protector on My Glass Screen?
Screen protectors aren’t as necessary as they once were , but they can still be useful. Your Gorilla Glass screen can still get scratched with the sand in your pocket , and can crack if you drop your phone. The bad news is that tempered glass protectors are also fallible to the same issues, but it’s far easier to replace the glass protector than your phone’s screen itself. If you’ve had one too many scratches in the past, it’s a good way to protect your phone and get that superior glass feel.
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Which Glass Protector Should I Get?
I’m not a fan of the cheaper variants (read: $10 and lesser) of tempered glass protectors because of bad experiences with them, but there are lots of people who are happy with those. Apart from the installation, I’ve found two problems with these. First, the oleophobic coating and the quality of the glass is just not good enough. You will see fingerprints, and you’ll be able to tell that it’s not as good as your actual phone. To me, that defeats the purpose of a glass protector. Second, I have trouble with multi-touch input while gaming when more than two fingers are involved. This isn’t a dealbreaker but it can be frustrating at times.
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If you are buying a tempered glass screen protector, it makes sense to spend a little money and go for the slightly expensive ones. In no particular order, my recommendations would be the Zagg InvisibleShield, the Spigen Glas.t, or the Armorz Stealth Extreme R, based on several reviews around the web. Of these, the Spigen Glas.t offers a low-cost replacement policy for a year.
$30ZAGG IP7LGC-F00 InvisibleShield Glass+ Screen Protector – Fits…
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No matter what you buy, you have to be careful about one thing: Buy a protector made for your device. The “it looks the same” or “it kind of fits” ideas are a trap and you’ll regret it. Those protectors will come loose eventually, or fit in a way where using them isn’t comfortable.
Sincerely,
Lifehacker
Lifehacker
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Photo by Spigen.
So you’ve just dropped big bucks on Apple’s iPhone 8 and you’re itching to test out the wireless charging, to put the A11 Bionic processor through its paces, and gawk at the device’s True Tone display. But as the screen goes dark, you stare into the abyss — and it stares into you. You suddenly remember all the broken screens of your past. How did that happen? How can you prevent it happening with your new phone? Pretty easily, as it turns out. But how do you find reliable protection that’s designed for safeguarding your phone’s display? This list of the best iPhone 8 screen protectors is a great place to start. We’ve screened the best screen protectors, so you can find the perfect offering for your iPhone 8. Read on for more details.
Tech21 Impact Shield ($35)
They’re not as tough, and they don’t protect as well against falls and blows, so film screen protectors may seem like the worse choice when compared to glass screen protectors. But they do have their advantages. The Impact Shield from Tech21 is one of the standout film screen protectors out there. It’s expensive, but for that price you get glare reduction, self-healing properties, and super-easy application. Tech21 also has an ace up its sleeve with Bulletshield — a unique material that helps to absorb force from blows. Placed between two other layers on the Impact Shield, it does a sterling job of resisting blows and helping keep your screen scratch-free. It might not be as strong as glass, but the Impact Shield is thin, heals itself, and barely feels like it’s there.
InvisibleShield Sapphire Defense ($50)
InvisibleShield touts this as the world’s most advanced screen protection, and based on the evidence on display it might be able to back that claim up. The Sapphire Defense screen protector begins life as a humble tempered glass screen protector, which is then infused with sapphire to add extra strength and scratch protection. It then gets yet another layer with self-healing properties and added impact protection, to really pile on the protection. According to InvisibleShield, this process adds up to seven times more shatter resistance than having an unprotected screen, so you can rest easy knowing your iPhone 8’s display is extremely well protected.
Belkin InvisiGlass Ultra ($40)
Belkin is Apple’s official partner for accessories, and the quality shows in each of its products. The InvisiGlass Ultra has been chemically strengthened by an Ion-Exchange process that allows it to be extremely strong, while also being very thin — just 0.21 inches thick. Belkin claims that the InvisiGlass Ultra adds three to five times more scratch resistance than an unprotected screen, as well as increasing drop performance by 25 percent. If you’re worried about applying it correctly — and who isn’t? — it also comes with an EasyAlign sticker for easy application. Just in case you’re on the fence, the glass used is the same glass used for the windows of a space shuttle — and who wouldn’t want that?
Whitestone Dome Full Cover ($45)
Worried about not getting the perfect fit for your device? Does the thought of air bubbles reducing touch sensitivity keep you up at night? Well, you’re a bit weird. But don’t worry, because Whitestone Dome‘s full-cover screen protector is here to put your fears to rest. This screen protector uses a unique wet application method that funnels the adhesive beneath the screen protector, forming a perfect seal between your display and the protector. Once fully adhered, the adhesive is then cured with the UV lamp, ensuring a perfect fit. It can be a little tricky to get right, but go slow and use the installation guide and you should be just fine.
Yakai Anti-Spy Screen Protector ($7)
Always feel like someone’s looking over your shoulder? Perhaps you regularly use your phone for business purposes, and having someone snooping on your use could be a disaster. In that case, check out this privacy-focused screen protector from Yakai. It comes with all the usual mod-cons for a tempered glass screen protector, and the 9H hardness glass should protect your glass well against scratches and drops — but turn it 45 degrees and the screen fades out to black, keeping any spying eyes away. It does cut down a little on the clarity of the screen, but when your privacy is at stake that’s a fair compromise. It’s a bargain too.
Otterbox Alpha Glass Screen Protector ($9)
Otterbox has long been associated with smartphone protection — and it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the iPhone 8. The Alpha Glass exhibits Otterbox’s usual penchant for quality with a super-thin, hardened layer of tempered glass that doesn’t reduce the clarity of your Retina display. This screen protector is hard enough to resist everyday scratches, contains an oleophobic layer to keep dirt and grease away, and is simply a great all-rounder.
Olixar Film Screen Protector – Twin Pack ($9)
An up-and-coming name in smartphone accessories, Olixar is dedicated to helping customers to “live smart, accessorize smarter” — and the company’s range of screen protectors is indicative of that philosophy. Olixar’s screen protector is a nonsense affair, and does exactly what it says on the tin. A thin layer of film that sits close to your phone’s screen, this screen protector keeps your iPhone 8 free of scratches and even comes with a replacement film, in case your first one gets battered.
Tech Armor HD Clear Film ($6)
This screen protector may only cover the flat surfaces of the iPhone 8, but despite this, the PET film on the Tech Armor HD Clear does a tremendous job of keeping your display scratch-free. While a film screen protector isn’t going to offer drop protection in the same way a glass protector would, the multilayer construction of the HD Clear does do a good job of keeping your device safe — and at this price, it keeps your wallet in decent shape, too.
Anker KARAPAX GlassGuard Screen Protector – Twin Pack ($8)
At first glance, the Karapax may seem like a traditional screen protector — and in a lot of respects, it is. The tempered glass doesn’t reduce the clarity of your screen or inhibit touch sensitivity, and it contains a similar shatter guard to the one in Otterbox’s Alpha Glass, which aims to keep glass shards together should the worst happen. But Anker’s Karapax also comes with its own surprises. A double layer of strengthened glass improves the protection it offers, effectively doubling its 9H rating. Sadly, however, it only covers the flat section of your phone’s display.
Bodyguardz UltraTough Clear ScreenGuardz ($20)
Last, but by no means least, we take a look at Bodyguardz’s screen protector. Made from a urethane film, the UltraTough Clear is specifically made to deflect scratches that would otherwise mar the surface of your phone’s screen. The urethane will even heal damage over time, essentially doing away with small scratches. If that isn’t enough, Bodyguardz‘s protector also offers edge-to-edge coverage and an anti-microbial coating that’ll keep germs from taking root on the front of your phone, which is perfect for a device you regularly hold up to your face.
Can’t get enough accessories or software for your new iPhone 8? Then check out our rundown of the best iPhone 8 cases, as well as our detailed roundup of the best iPhone apps.
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Want to protect screen of your iPhone or iPad? Get an expert view on merits and demerits of liquid screen protector and tempered glass.
They say, “Screen protector is the first line of defence for your device.” So, if you are all set to buy a protective and efficient shield for your iOS device (or any for that matter) and toying with the idea of choosing one between liquid screen protector and tempered glass defender, this article would help you in picking the better option—as per your specific needs.
First things first, both toughened glass and liquid screen are very useful and offer the required care to your device screen. They have different specialities which make them worth putting your money on. Again at the end of the day, what matters is what exactly you are looking for. So, let’s jump over to see which one is superior to the other!
Liquid Screen Protector vs Tempered Glass for iPhone
Liquid Screen Protector
Pros:
Very smooth
A liquid screen protector is pretty smooth. It’s easily installed on your device; providing the full-screen safeguard from scratch.
A liquid screen protector is pretty smooth. It’s easily installed on your device; providing the full-screen safeguard from scratch.
Highly transparent
It offers high transparency courtesy of the remarkably slim structure. You will have great viewing experience from all angles.
It offers high transparency courtesy of the remarkably slim structure. You will have great viewing experience from all angles.
Enormously responsive to the touch
Being very sensitive, it recognizes every subtle tap and touch. The key to its high responsiveness is the sleek material.
Being very sensitive, it recognizes every subtle tap and touch. The key to its high responsiveness is the sleek material.
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Extremely lightweight
It’s not just incredibly slim but also lightweight. The ultra-light design allows it to make a nice pair with the screen.
It’s not just incredibly slim but also lightweight. The ultra-light design allows it to make a nice pair with the screen.
Bubble Free, Easy to Clean
The liquid screen is able to keep bubbles away to a great extent. If you hate bubbles and can’t put up with them, it can be a good option. Moreover, you can comfortably clean it with a soft cloth.
The liquid screen is able to keep bubbles away to a great extent. If you hate bubbles and can’t put up with them, it can be a good option. Moreover, you can comfortably clean it with a soft cloth.
Cons:
Less Impact Protection
Simply put, liquid screen guard can’t go face to face with toughened glass when it comes to providing complete protection from impact is concerned. If much-required protection from accidental bumps is what you are after, tempered glass is a better option.
Simply put, liquid screen guard can’t go face to face with toughened glass when it comes to providing complete protection from impact is concerned. If much-required protection from accidental bumps is what you are after, tempered glass is a better option.
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Comparatively Less Scratch Resistance
It can’t defend your touchscreen beyond a distance. Your device display would be vulnerable to sharp scratch.
It can’t defend your touchscreen beyond a distance. Your device display would be vulnerable to sharp scratch.
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Gets Easily Discoloured from Sun and Oil
The other disadvantage of the liquid screen protector is that it doesn’t have enough resistance to ward off the sun, oil, and grime for too long. Comparatively, it’s more prone to fingerprint.
The other disadvantage of the liquid screen protector is that it doesn’t have enough resistance to ward off the sun, oil, and grime for too long. Comparatively, it’s more prone to fingerprint.
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Tempered Glass Screen Protector
Pros:
More protective
Thanks to having more strength, tempered glass is used in some applications like shower doors, passenger vehicle windows, mobile screen protectors, etc. With the muscular 9H hardness, it can even fight out the scratches by the knife; that itself speaks volume of how protective it is.
Thanks to having more strength, tempered glass is used in some applications like shower doors, passenger vehicle windows, mobile screen protectors, etc. With the muscular 9H hardness, it can even fight out the scratches by the knife; that itself speaks volume of how protective it is.
A Lot Safer
Tempering puts the exterior into compression and interior into tension. As a result, when the glass is broken, it crumbles into small granular chunks that cause less damage to your device.
Tempering puts the exterior into compression and interior into tension. As a result, when the glass is broken, it crumbles into small granular chunks that cause less damage to your device.
Boasts Four to Six Times the Strength to Normal Glass
Tempered glass generally has four to six times more strength than a normal glass. It’s very robust and fully capable of defending the screen from ugly scratches.
Tempered glass generally has four to six times more strength than a normal glass. It’s very robust and fully capable of defending the screen from ugly scratches.
Exceptionally Sensitive to the Touch
It is very sensitive to the touch. The ability to keep away fingerprint, oil, grime, and dust allows it to retain its top functionality for long. What helps it retain its top gear is the oleophobic coating.
It is very sensitive to the touch. The ability to keep away fingerprint, oil, grime, and dust allows it to retain its top functionality for long. What helps it retain its top gear is the oleophobic coating.
Incredibly Transparent
Tempered glass is very transparent and provides crystal clear display. With the HD clarity, you have optimum viewing experience—from all angles.
Tempered glass is very transparent and provides crystal clear display. With the HD clarity, you have optimum viewing experience—from all angles.
Cons:
Susceptible to Breakage
Toughened glass is susceptible to damage. If the edge of the glass, where the tensile stress is considered to be maximum, is damaged, the whole structure would eventually get shattered.
Toughened glass is susceptible to damage. If the edge of the glass, where the tensile stress is considered to be maximum, is damaged, the whole structure would eventually get shattered.
Can Pose Security Risk
Tempered glass could pose security risk in some cases. The tendency to get completely shattered upon hard impact might prove to be a dual-edged sword.
Tempered glass could pose security risk in some cases. The tendency to get completely shattered upon hard impact might prove to be a dual-edged sword.
The Verdict:
Toughened glass screen guard has clear edge over liquid screen defender. Whether it’s much needed safeguard from scratch or longevity, the former is superior to the latter. Though liquid guard can be a trusted shield for the touchscreen of your device—to some extent, it can’t go face to face with the tempered guard.
Tempered glass now flaunts curved edges which allow them to get installed with ease and provides full-screen safeguard. Besides, high quality toughened glass protectors are completely bubble-free, more convenient to remove and clean. So, liquid screen guards don’t have any edge over it in this regard either.
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So, liquid screen or tempered glass? Which one you prefer? Share your thoughts with us in comment, on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.
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