Tempered Glass vs Plastic Screen Protectors 2023: Who Wins?!

  

Which Screen Protector Do YOU Choose?!

Tempered glass vs plastic screen protectors…we’ve all dropped our phone and picked it up as fast as we could or even sat there and not really wanted to look at it from being afraid that the screen was cracked all up! We have went through different cases, different protectors, or maybe didn’t even use any of those at all! Today we are giving you the insight when it comes down to the debate on tempered glass vs plastic screen protectors.

2023 Screen Protection Showdown: Tempered Glass vs Plastic Screen Protectors

Tempered glass vs plastic screen protectors…who wins?! In today’s age, smartphones and other electronic devices have become almost necessary in our daily lives, from communicating with others to staying organized to taking pictures and videos for memories and more. As a result, screen protectors have become necessary in protecting these crucial tools from damage. Unfortunately, with frequent usage comes inevitable mishaps that may cause irreparable harm to our devices, including scratches, cracks, and dents in the phone screen, which may prove costly to repair or even irreversible in certain instances. Screen protectors provide an essential defense against such damages by covering devices’ screens with a thin film to shield them from scratches and cracks caused by everyday use. Protective cases also help minimize glare from bright lights or sunlight, keeping your phone looking brand new while protecting its resale value if you decide to sell it later.

Tempered Glass vs Plastic Screen Protectors

When selecting the ideal screen protector for your device, there are two main choices – tempered glass and plastic. Tempered glass is made by heating up the regular glass until it becomes soft before rapidly cooling it with compressed air to form its form. Plastic screen protectors comprise thin layers of plastic film applied directly onto your device’s screen to strengthen it and make it more impact resistant. Plastic screen protectors are less costly than their glass counterparts and provide essential protection from scratches and minor drops while helping reduce glare caused by bright lights or sunlight. Both tempered glass and plastic offer critical protection for smartphones’ screens from everyday wear-and-tear accidents; each offers different advantages depending on personal preferences or lifestyle demands, such as heavy usage or outdoor activities that demand added durability over clear visibility afforded by plastic equivalents – ultimately leading us down an interesting debate:

Tempered Glass Screen Protectors

Tempered glass screen protectors are created by heating regular glass to high temperatures before rapidly cooling it back down. This process results in more substantial and resilient glass that can withstand more impact than standard glass. One of the main note advantages of using tempered glass screen protectors is their strength; these covers provide your phone with maximum protection from scratches, cracks, and other forms of damage. Due to being thicker than plastic screen protectors, tempered glass screen protectors offer excellent protection without impacting image clarity or touch sensitivity. Furthermore, using one makes cleaning simple! Plastic screen protectors can be difficult to keep clean due to being scratched easily and collecting fingerprints. At the same time, tempered glass makes cleaning much more straightforward and maintains its clarity for extended periods.

Drawbacks of using Tempered Glass Screen Protectors

Although tempered glass screen protectors can bring many advantages, they also present drawbacks. One such drawback is costs – these protectors tend to be more expensive than plastic screen protectors, and while they provide adequate protection from scratches and cracks, they may need to stand up better against things such as extreme pressure or drops from higher heights. Installation can also be tricky for those not used to using them – applying a tempered glass protector requires precise attention if you’re unfamiliar with its process, so make sure your surface area is entirely free from dust before placing the protector – otherwise, any leftover debris on your phone’s surface could get trapped between your screen and protector and become an obstacle to viewing your content.

 

Spigen EZ FIT GLAS.tR Screen Protector for iPhone 13/13 Pro/14

The Spigen EZ FIT GLAS.tR Screen Protector offers comprehensive protection for iPhone 13, 13 Pro, and the newer iPhone 14 models. Renowned for their quality, Spigen ensures that this product lives up to their reputation, providing solid resistance against scratches, impacts, and smudges.

The EZ FIT GLAS.tR Screen Protector stands out with its easy installation feature. It includes an innovative auto-alignment installation kit, allowing users to apply the protector quickly and efficiently, without any hassles or bubbles.

Made from top-quality tempered glass, this screen protector provides excellent clarity, ensuring that the display’s vibrant colors and sharpness remain unaffected. It’s also case-friendly, allowing you to use most iPhone cases without issues.

Pros:

• Comprehensive protection
• Easy installation with the auto-alignment kit
• Excellent display clarity

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than other screen protectors
• Some users may prefer a full-coverage design

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Ailun Glass Screen Protectors for iPhone 12 and 12 Pro

The Ailun Glass Screen Protectors for iPhone 12 and 12 Pro is a popular choice for users seeking high-quality protection without breaking the bank. This product offers robust shielding against scratches, impacts, and fingerprints, helping maintain your device’s pristine condition.

One of Ailun’s key strengths lies in its affordable price, yet it does not compromise on quality. The tempered glass used is 0.33mm thick, offering high transparency for an unobstructed viewing experience while still providing reliable protection.

Its rounded edges ensure a comfortable grip and help prevent chipping, making this protector not only functional but also user-friendly. Moreover, this package comes with three screen protectors, providing excellent value for money.

Pros:

• Affordable and good value for money
• High transparency and thickness for optimal protection
• User-friendly with rounded edges

Cons:

• May require precision during installation to avoid bubbles
• Doesn’t include installation frame

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Supershieldz 3-Pack Anti-Spy Screen Protector for iPhone 14 Pro

The Supershieldz Anti-Spy Screen Protector offers robust protection with a privacy feature for the iPhone 14 Pro. If you’re a privacy-conscious user, this product provides a two-way, left and right 180-degree privacy screen, ensuring your phone’s content remains visible only to you.

Besides its privacy feature, the Supershieldz Screen Protector also delivers strong protection. Made from quality tempered glass, it shields your device from scratches, drops, and daily wear and tear. It also boasts an oleophobic and hydrophobic coating to reduce sweat and fingerprints, keeping your screen clear and clean.

The package includes three screen protectors, an installation guide, cleaning cloth, and dust removal stickers, making the installation process easier and offering excellent value for money.

Pros:

• Two-way privacy feature
• Strong protection with oleophobic and hydrophobic coating
• Value pack with three protectors and installation tools

Cons:

• The privacy feature may reduce screen brightness
• Might not be case-friendly with some designs

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amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector

The amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector offers high-quality and reliable protection for your device. It’s designed to safeguard against scratches, impacts, and daily wear and tear, ensuring your phone’s screen stays in pristine condition.

A key feature of the amFilm protector is its high transparency, ensuring that your screen’s vibrancy and sharpness remain unaffected. The tempered glass has a thickness of 0.33mm, maintaining touch responsiveness while providing strong protection.

The protector comes with an installation kit that includes a tray, making application simple and bubble-free. Its rounded edges are designed for comfort and to resist chipping, offering a seamless fit onto your device.

Pros:

• High transparency maintains screen clarity
• Robust protection with 0.33mm thickness
• Installation kit included for ease of application

Cons:

• May be challenging to install for some users
• Potential compatibility issues with some phone cases

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Defenslim Tempered Glass Screen Protector

The Defenslim Tempered Glass Screen Protector delivers solid protection for your device while maintaining its aesthetic appeal. Its ultra-thin design ensures that the beauty of your phone isn’t compromised while offering excellent protection against scratches, drops, and everyday wear and tear.

The Defenslim protector features a 9H hardness rating, the highest possible level in the industry, giving your screen optimal protection. Despite its durability, the protector is only 0.3mm thick, ensuring that your touchscreen sensitivity and clarity aren’t affected.

It comes with an easy installation kit, including a guide, cleaning wipes, and dust removal stickers, ensuring a hassle-free, bubble-free application. This product also promises full compatibility with most phone cases.

Pros:

• 9H hardness rating for optimal protection
• Ultra-thin design that doesn’t compromise touch sensitivity
• Easy installation kit included

Cons:

• Might not provide edge-to-edge protection for some phones
• The ultra-thin design may affect durability

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ESR Tempered Glass Screen Protector

The ESR Tempered Glass Screen Protector provides a comprehensive protection solution for your device. This screen protector has been specifically designed to prevent damage from drops, scratches, and other common hazards, ensuring your screen stays as fresh as the day you bought it.

One standout feature of the ESR protector is its ultra-clear, high definition transparency. It preserves the original viewing quality of your screen while also being ultra-thin, at 0.3mm, to maintain touch sensitivity. It is crafted with a special oleophobic coating which repels fingerprints and smudges, ensuring your screen always looks clean and clear.

The protector comes with an installation kit, which includes cleaning cloths and dust removal stickers, enabling a clean, hassle-free application. Its design also ensures that it is compatible with most phone cases, providing continuous protection for your device.

Pros:

• High-definition clarity
• Oleophobic coating to repel fingerprints and smudges
• Compatibility with most phone cases

Cons:

• Might not provide full edge-to-edge coverage
• Installation process may be tricky for some users

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 Plastic Screen Protectors

Plastic screen protectors are thin films of polyurethane or similar materials that adhere to your smartphone screen and offer extra protection from scratches, smudges, and minor impacts. Available as clear or tinted versions for greater affordability than tempered glass options. Plastic screen protectors tend to be more flexible than their tempered glass counterparts, so they can fit more closely around curved screens without

lifting at their edges. As plastic is more malleable than glass, it won’t shatter upon impact like tempered glass may. Instead, minor scratches or dents might develop, which can easily be fixed with new protectors when necessary. Plastic screen protectors may not interfere with touchscreen sensitivity as much as their glass counterparts due to being thinner and smoother than their glass equivalents, providing a closer feel of using your phone without protection.

Plastic Screen Protectors

A plastic screen protector’s primary drawback is that it cannot provide as much impact protection as its tempered glass counterpart due to its lower thickness and hardness. Furthermore, dirt and dust accumulate between it and your phone display over time, causing bubbles or ripples, which make them look unsightly, leading to an early replacement, thus increasing costs overall.

 

Tempered Glass vs Plastic Screen Protectors: Comparisons

Durability: Proven Protection

Screen protector durability is one of the critical factors in keeping your phone secure. Tempered glass screen protectors offer extra layers of protection made from scratch-resistant and impact-proof tempered glass material, helping them withstand drops, scratches, and other impact damage without shattering under pressure. In addition, they provide additional layers that absorb shock to protect and shield your phone’s screen against potential screen damage. Plastic screen protectors, however, are designed to be lightweight and thin for easy portability. As a result, although they provide some scratch protection, their durability cannot compare to tempered glass screen protectors.

Clarity: Maximum Visual Fidelity

When it comes to clarity, both tempered glass and plastic screen protectors have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Tempered glass protectors offer greater transparency levels that enable users to view the display clearly without distortion or haziness; plastic screen protectors may have lower clarity levels but come equipped with other benefits – some models even feature anti-glare properties, which make outdoor phone use simpler by minimizing reflections off the screen.

Sensitivity: Keep Your Touches Smooth

Screen protector sensitivity refers to how smoothly they allow you to access the touch features on your phone without any lag or delays in response time. The tempered glass again proves superior as its thicker construction and more advanced manufacturing process allow it to retain the tactile sensitivity of an open display panel.

Ease of Installation: No More Frustration

Applying a screen protector may be daunting or frustrating with traditional adhesive methods; however, newer models that offer easy installation, such as snap-on cases or ones built directly into displays, offer more accessible solutions that simplify installation, such as snap-on cases or display protectors that snap into place. In addition, tempered glass protectors tend to be easier to place accurately due to their rigid nature. In contrast, plastic ones have become increasingly user-friendly thanks to tools like dust-removing stickers that facilitate successful installation.

Real World Testing

Drop Test Comparison between Both Types

Now that we have went over most of the pros and cons of tempered glass and plastic screen protectors, let’s put them through their paces by conducting a drop test. For this experiment, we applied two identical smartphones with both types of protectors – one with tempered glass and the other with plastic. Once again, we experimented by dropping both phones from approximately 4 feet onto hard surfaces to test how each type of screen protector would perform under pressure – the results were incredible!

A phone with a tempered glass screen protector survived without cracks or scratches on its actual phone display. However, its protector did shatter upon impact, protecting its original screen from potential damage. However, the phone with a plastic screen protector was more severely damaged by its implications, suffering severe cracking to its protector and the screen underneath it. As it is evident that those who frequently drop their phone or work in environments where drops are likely, investing in a tempered glass screen protector would undoubtedly pay dividends. Although it may shatter under the impact, it will protect your original screen from damage while potentially saving hundreds in repair costs.

Conclusion

After thoroughly considering both tempered glass and plastic screen protectors, it can be challenging to identify a clear winner in the tempered glass vs plastic screen protector standoff. It ultimately comes down to what you prefer and the level of protection desired. Investing in a tempered glass screen protector may provide extra peace of mind for those prone to dropping their phone or using it roughly. Tempered glass offers unparalleled durability and scratch resistance compared to plastic screen protectors, yet plastic may provide thinner, lighter options that protect from everyday scratches and cracks. Ultimately, the overall choice depends on your specific needs and priorities.

What is certain is that having a screen protector on your device is better than not having one at all. Replacing or repairing a cracked phone screen far outweighs the cost of adding a protective layer. So, consider your lifestyle and phone usage when selecting an ideal screen protector type. And remember, even with a screen protector, accidents may still happen, so handle your device carefully and consider using both a case and screen protector together for maximum protection. Investing in a quality screen protector is an easy decision to save you time, money, and hassle in the long run. Give your device the protection it needs, and enjoy a peaceful mind knowing that your screen is safeguarded!