Are tempered glass screen protectors truly worth the price?

A smartphone is a pricey purchase. When you get a new phone, you naturally have a protective attitude towards it similar to that of a parent towards a newborn child, and you will do all it takes to keep it safe from any form of harm. Your new smartphone will receive lots of care and attention as soon as it is taken out of the box, from the best antivirus software to a new glass custom screen protector.

Even though the majority of today’s smartphones are constructed of glass which is getting stronger all the time, many of us still think it’s vital to acquire screen protectors for our gadgets. The features and functionalities of each screen protector vary, though. This has the significant benefit that if you instal a high-quality screen protector, your phone’s display will maintain its excellent looks for a longer period of time.

What matters is if you have all the knowledge required to choose the finest screen protector for your smartphone.

What materials are used in phone screen protectors?

You will come across a wide range of terminology and descriptions when looking for screen protectors online, including Gorilla Glass, 9H hardness, oleophobic coating, TPU, and many more.

That will be covered in more detail later.

But now that we’ve cleared things up, let’s talk about the two most popular screen protector categories based on the type of material.

TPU plastic screen

TPU, also known as thermoplastic polyurethane, is a form of plastic that has been chemically created to offer hardness, scratch resistance, oil and grease resistance, and flexibility. As a result, this material has a unique “self-healing” potential.

On the other hand, the TPU screen protector is more likely to sustain irreversible breaks if your phone falls on any hard surface. They frequently do not cover the entire screen and are more likely to have poor resistance to fingerprints.

The fact that these screen protectors are quite inexpensive is one of the main factors contributing to their popularity. A TPU plastic screen protector should cost no more than $10 NZ. Therefore, if you want to save money while still providing your gadget with some kind of protection, you should buy a plastic screen protector.

Tempered Glass Screen Protector

The best options for screen protectors in New Zealand right now are without a doubt those made of tempered glass, which does a fantastic job of shielding your phone’s display from scuffs and drops.

In any event, the tempered glass screen protector typically offers considerably better resistance against scratches and drops and even has the same feel as the screen of your smartphone, even though they might not last as long as the plastic ones. How awesome is that?

However, plastic screen protectors typically provide less protection against drops and scratches. It should now be obvious that choosing a tempered glass screen protector is the best choice for your smartphone if you only take these two advantages into account.

Even yet, it might be challenging to pick the best tempered glass screen protector in New Zealand because there are so many different varieties. Take note of the following concepts that we covered: What do the terms “oleophobic coating,” “Gorilla Glass,” and “2.5D/3D/5D screen protectors” mean?

What elements should you take into account while buying the best tempered glass screen protector?

Mohs Hardness

The Mohs scale evaluates how resistant certain materials are to scratching. It will inform you of the material’s hardness and whether any of the materials could scratch the phone’s screen.

Let’s compare the toughness of glass and a diamond to better grasp this idea. Glass has a hardness of roughly 5.5 compared to the hardness of a diamond, which is 10. If you were to scratch a diamond along a piece of glass, the glass would be harmed but the diamond would be unaffected.

The Mohs scale score a screen protector achieves during testing will reveal how well it can withstand scratches.

The 9H Hardness

The most durable of all conventional pencils that don’t scratch the screen is a 9H pencil, which is referred to as having a 9H hardness. The hardness offers additional protection for the phone screen even though it might not be able to survive a razor-sharp knife blade.

2D, 2.5D, 3D, and 5D screen protectors

A 2D glass screen is transparent and flat, similar to the first smartphone displays, which were likewise two-dimensional and flat. While the middle of a 2.5D glass screen is identical to a flat 2D screen, the edges of the screen have very little curvature. A 2D screen, in contrast, has zero curvature. Despite the fact that the edges of a 3D screen protector are entirely curved, the top and bottom are still squarely cut. A 5D screen protector is curved from top to bottom and in all other directions.

Screen protectors in 5D vs. 3D

Smartphones with rounded corners frequently have screen covers with a 3D look. Whether the phone’s edges are curved or flat, screen protectors with a 5D design shield the display to the very edge of the device. Despite being rather expensive, they also offer a better touchscreen experience and more sensitivity.

There is a common fallacy that if the screen protector covers more of your phone’s screen, it will continue to be protected. Really, it depends. A case will always offer your phone and its corners greater protection than a screen protector ever could. Your phone is most vulnerable to damage on its four corners.

The oil-repellent surface

The tempered glass retains fingerprints unlike screen protectors made of plastic, necessitating an additional coating to prevent them from being visible. Your fingerprints won’t stick to an oleophobic coating because it is resistant to oil. They can also be taken off with just one swipe with a microfiber cloth.

The ability of high-quality tempered screen glass protectors to keep fingerprints from adhering to the screen is superior to that of a less expensive one, which allows the fingerprints to remain on the screen. This depends on the kind of polymer employed as well as how well the coating adheres to the glass.

How can a tempered glass screen protector be applied quickly?

Clean your hands and your phone (ideally with a microfiber towel), then check the screen protector’s position, carefully place the glass on your screen, and then let the glass do its work. It should progressively appear on the screen. You may read our blog post on safe screen protector installation here.

To make sure there are no dust particles hiding on the surface of the screen, it is crucial to clean your phone before applying the screen protector.

The Screenshield experience, which aims to be as seamless as possible, includes safeguarding your phone and its screen.

In conclusion, a screen protector is necessary if you want to save your favourite phone from becoming scratched; a tempered glass screen protector is among the most popular.

I hope I’ve given you enough information regarding tempered glasses in this blog post. Click this link right away to view the high-quality yet budget-friendly selection of Screenshield products.