Tempered glass screen protectors - are they all made the same?

Forums › Mobile handsets › Tempered glass screen protectors - are they all made the same?

Batman

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#169799 26-Mar-2015 09:57

Got a middle priced one (US5) on DX for wife's iphone 6 plus.

within a couple of weeks it started chipping, then now it's cracking etc etc ...

should i buy another one of better build? or are they all the same? which one to buy if there are better ones?

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#1268173 26-Mar-2015 10:11

I don't bother with a screen protector anymore.

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Batman

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#1268188 26-Mar-2015 10:21

thanks, very helpful

trig42

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#1268193 26-Mar-2015 10:24

I have an OMP one.

Been in my pocket everytime I am out for about 5 months now. No signs of cracking or scratching. I now put my keys in that pocket too (iPhone6 with Logitech case+ as well )

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#1268196 26-Mar-2015 10:26

so i guess they are not all made the same

tanivula

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#1268198 26-Mar-2015 10:27

I've had a el cheapo one from aliexpress on my S4 for over a year now. Over Christmas, the MIL managed to drop my phone over some tiles in the kitchen (shock horror). The screen protector took the impact, she thought she'd cracked the screen, but I assured her it was just the protector. I have another at home, but haven't bothered to replace it, as the crack is only visible in some light conditions and I can't feel it much.

One of these days I'll get around to replacing it!!
There must be some differentiation in el cheapo vs premium stuff, but sometimes it's not much... I guess sometimes it depends on luck! But I'm def a big fan of the tempered glass protectors and recommend them to family, so much nicer than cheap PET that gets scratched up and looks and feels god awful.

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#1268253 26-Mar-2015 11:14

I bought a glass protector off eBay for my G3 - apparently a Nilkin but knowing eBay, and that I'm always looking for the cheap offerings, there's no assurance it's genuine. That was under $10 with free postage I think, and it's performed perfectly for the three months I've had the phone. Going by this, I'd once again risk the cheaper end (and ideally buy from the same dealer).

Agree re the usefulness of responses from the 'I don't use one' brigade. That's great for them - but I for one would never risk having my phone without a screen protector, and really even a full case (I use a knock-off Quick Circle case on my G3, which is brilliant). It's a bit like insurance - it may not be needed but you'll be glad you had it if you do!

I compare the condition of our devices which are all in close-to-perfect order (including two tablets the kids use - and they're hard on them!) to those of friend whose iPad screen is cracked and whose previous phone (an iPhone) was similarly damaged to the point shards of glass were falling off. I pursuaded him to buy a case for his new phone, but it arrived a week after he started using the phone, by which stage he'd already chipped the side!

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#1268293 26-Mar-2015 11:28

there's nothing wrong with not using it. but when someone asks to compare and a reply says i don't use one full stop - i get a bit confused to why it was posted ;p

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#1268325 26-Mar-2015 11:45

joker97: there's nothing wrong with not using it. but when someone asks to compare and a reply says i don't use one full stop - i get a bit confused to why it was posted ;p

Perhaps I should have added more to my post rather than just saying I don't use one. I was inferring a screen protector was a waste of time.

I should have explained my reasoning I guess.

I used to use screen protectors, admittedly the plastic ones. While they were useful on the old resistive screens, I found they ruined the experience on the capacitive screens and haven't use them for over two years and not had any issues with screen damage in that time.

While I have no experience with the tempered glass protectors, based on my experience without any screen protector I wouldn't bother with one. However as evidenced by other posts, YMMV applies.

I see I wasn't the only one to think this way with the Plus 1 on my original post.

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Niel

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#1286501 17-Apr-2015 18:33

The extremely thin film of glass is nothing compared to the thick glass optically bonded to the LCD glass. The screen" protector" is not bonded to the glass, provides little strength. So for those reasons, I'd say both the cheap and expensive "protectors" are of similar usefulness.

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#1286511 17-Apr-2015 18:49

I bought a Nillkin Nano glass one for my Nexus 5 in November last year and its held up fantastically. I got it from a NZ store so i assume its genuine and it was around $20. I would definitely get another one as the glass has held up much better than original screen which i managed to scratch at some point.

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#1286552 17-Apr-2015 20:55

Nuglas from ebay on my sony Z2. Front and back. Saved the back once when Mrs dropped my phone. It cracked, the back is still fine.
Saved my Z1 too.

blakamin

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#1286553 17-Apr-2015 20:56

Niel: The extremely thin film of glass is nothing compared to the thick glass optically bonded to the LCD glass.

Which is why, in a harsh environment, they crack first. Quite handy.

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#1286577 17-Apr-2015 21:21

anyway, DX gave me a refund, bought another off aliexpress (so much cheaper!) ....

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#1286578 17-Apr-2015 21:22

(when you have 2 - 6 year olds treating a phone like a hammer ... every micron of protection helps)

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#1289372 22-Apr-2015 14:25

I have used a few different glass screen protectors. The very best from my experience is the iloome flex with 8H hardness. I currently have a generic thicker 9H hardness on my phone, but it doesn't have the flex to fit my curved edge glass (note2) as well as the iloome flex did.
I bought a cheap aliexpress 0.8mm thick 9H glass for my Sony Smartwatch, and because of it's hardness it cracked the first day I put it on when I leaned on it then it chipped badly when I dropped my watch some time later.
From my materials science training at uni I can tell you that hardness and toughness are inversely proportional for a given material, i.e. if you make something harder (like glass or steel) then it will chip or crack more easily But be more wear resistant. But if you toughen it then it will be more flexible, resistant to breakage but will wear faster, less scratch resistant.
So to answer your question, no not all glass screen protectors are equal.
I primarily have one on my screen to mask the pre-existing scratches and restore the oliophobic coating on an old device, the added protection is a bonus.

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