How to choose protective glass. Which safety glass company is better? How to choose a protective glass for a smartphone: criteria
The biggest fear of every smartphone owner is display damage. This can happen even if you fall from a small height, and repairs will be expensive. A solution to this problem was proposed by young startupers from Düsseldorf.
The founders of the project, Pascal Buchen and Anthony Filipiak, claimed that they had created a protective liquid for the display, which protects the screens of phones and tablets not only from scratches, but also from severe damage. You just need to apply nanoparticle-containing “ liquid glass", and after 12 hours of curing the material's strength increases by 600%.
The young people presented their project called ProtectPax during a TV show, showing how it works in practice. Very impressively, they hit the treated surface of smartphone screens with a hammer, which withstood the force. And one of the investors was so impressed that he decided to invest €150,000 in the project, subject to receiving a 20 percent share from participation in the enterprise.
Perhaps he was too hasty with his investment. When the product hit the market in mid-October, there were reports of legal problems due to overly promising advertising. On this basis, the ProtectPax advertisement, which used the wording “100% protection against damage and scratches” on the packaging, as well as a symbolic picture where ProtectPax protects against hammer blows, was replaced with a more modest version - without a hammer and with the promise of “easy to use.”
Pseudo-discovery and fake evidence
There can be no talk of startups’ own discovery, since almost identical products have been on the market for several years: the first videos about similar protective coatings for displays appeared on YouTube back in 2012.
CHIP magazine even found one foreign entrepreneur who several years ago offered very similar protection for phones, but due to lack of success, turned to creating other products. He didn't want to be quoted by name, but during the conversation he confirmed what we suspected: the hammer blow demonstration on TV was most likely fake.
But does ProtectPax have any effect at all? We took with us this protection and three other products for comparison to the test center and studied everything to the smallest detail.
For our test, we first used an iPad, where we coated half of the display with ProtectPax liquid exactly according to the instructions, and left the other half untreated. After scratching with scissors and a knife, the first impression simply amazed us. The untreated side appeared less damaged than the one coated with ProtectPax.
Checking with a scraper and kitchen sponge
To eliminate any chance of chance, we treated four identical new smartphones with ProtectPax and three other competitor products in the same manner as the iPad. For the scratch test, we used a professional sclerometer, used to test varnishes for wear and scratch resistance.
The device is a 0.5 mm wide tungsten carbide nozzle, which, through a spring mechanism, presses with a certain force on the surface under test and scratches it. Our engineers installed eleven stages with a pressure force interval of 3–30 MPa and began to mock the displays. In addition, they rubbed the glass surface with sand and tried to find out what marks the pressure of 1.5 MPa, created by the rough side of a kitchen sponge, left on the display.
The result was completely different than we expected. None of the four smartphones showed any difference between the treated and untreated sides after the scratch test. The entire surface of the displays was damaged in the same way. No protective fluid delivers on its promise of keeping your display scratch-free. We, of course, refused to test with a hammer.
Cases and real protective glass
We do not exclude the possibility that the so-called “liquid glass” protects phone displays from daily damage, for example, from keys or coins in a trouser pocket. But it cannot offer effective protection against strong mechanical influences. We didn't do a drop test, but it's thin protective film It's unlikely to be a reliable remedy against screen cracking if you drop your smartphone.
Protection for curved displays: Exactly sized lids made of artificial materials or glass protect mobile phones with a curved display.
Professional cases: Cases such as the OtterBox Strada, although they cost about 3,000 rubles, protect smartphones well from strong mechanical influences.
That's why we suggest the following: Use proven scratch protection films. For smartphones with a flat display, this is the number one choice. For curved displays around the edges, the film may quickly begin to peel off, in which case transparent display covers are recommended. They are available for all common phone models.
It's better to pay a little more money for these lids made of glass or artificial materials, but buy good protection. As practice shows, cheap products spoil quickly. Shock-absorbing cases are suitable for preventing damage from falls: these devices with a protective coating protect the display well. Although they are, perhaps, powerless against the blows of a hammer.
PHOTO: manufacturing companies; Fabian Vogl; Getty Images/Iaremenko
Smartphones are becoming thinner and sleeker, which has a positive effect on their aesthetic perception, but does not increase durability. Screens made of tempered glass, although superior in strength to ordinary glass, are not so susceptible to scratches and still remain fragile in some cases. For even greater protection from scratches, smartphone manufacturers have long used a film that protects the device during assembly and transportation. The enterprising Chinese saw this and quickly launched the production of films intended for everyday wear.
A few years later, polymer films were replaced by tempered glass, which is glued over the touchscreen. According to manufacturers, gluing such protection completely insures the screen from scratches and makes it shock-resistant. However, in fact, there are some nuances that you need to know when using such protection. How to choose a protective glass for your smartphone and what you need to know, read below.
Safety glass– this is not tank armor, so the simple principle “the harder and thicker the better” does not work here. First of all, several factors influence the choice of protective coating.
Thickness
Safety glasses are usually less than a millimeter thick. Of course, there are thicker ones, but rarely, since thick glass protrudes greatly and can reduce transparency. The thinnest protective coatings are about 100 microns (0.1 mm) thick. If the main purpose of buying glass is protection from scratches, then it is advisable to take a closer look at thinner options. They have minimal effect on the brightness and quality of picture transmission.
A thicker thickness is desirable if you want to increase resistance to flat impacts. This is usually necessary if there are doubts about the quality of the touchscreen hardening, since the original Corning glass can withstand plane impacts quite steadfastly. Thick glass is also useful for screens with an air gap, as it reduces the tendency for the sensor coating to sag.
A side effect of thick (about 1 mm) glass can be a decrease in sensor sensitivity. The optimal thickness of protective glass is from 0.3 to 0.5 mm.
Transparency and refraction
Unfortunately, manufacturers rarely write precise transparency and refractive index specifications. Usually, if this is mentioned, it is in the form of a proud inscription “100% transparency.” But even a slight lack of transparency can spoil the picture on the screen, and too high a refractive index can distort it. Under such glass, the screen will look like under a cheap matte film. Therefore, when choosing glass, it is advisable to visually inspect it. It’s worth looking at the light to see if it distorts the contours of objects, their colors, or if the picture looks very dull. The transparency of glass is clearly determined by looking at its end. If the end is yellowish, then the transparency is not ideal.
Oleophobic coating
For ease of finger sliding and ease of fingerprint removal, you should choose glass with an oleophobic coating for your smartphone. Before purchasing, check with the seller for availability. Of course, they are unlikely to tell you about the quality objectively, and if you take it from China, the Chinese will praise their product in every possible way. That's why It is advisable to read reviews from other users about the availability and quality of oleophobic glass.
Fit accuracy
Protective glasses contain cutouts for speakers, buttons, sensors and smartphone cameras. The quality and accuracy of their implementation determines how the device will look with the protection glued on, and this also affects ease of use. It is difficult to assess the quality of workmanship from a photo or by eye, so here you also need to take advantage of the experience of others. Read the reviews, find out if the selected product has curves or sloppy cutouts, and how well the protection fits on the screen.
Hardness
Hardness affects scratch resistance. The higher it is, the more resistant the surface is to small defects. Ideally, the higher the number in the characteristics, the better. However, we should not forget that the Chinese often come up with these values out of their heads or give them for “spherical conditions in a vacuum.” Even high-quality Gorilla Glass, used by smartphone manufacturers, in practice has a hardness on the Mohs scale of no more than 7, and therefore can be scratched by quartz sand (not to mention topazes or diamonds). So statements about hardness 9H on the Mohs scale is nothing more than marketing.
Materials used in the production of safety glass
Several types of materials are used to produce security glass. They differ in chemical and physical properties; the material determines how resistant the glass will be to scratches and impacts.
Polymer compounds
The cheapest and easiest to process material is organic compounds like polyvinyl chloride, which are transparent. In fact, such organic glass differs from film only in its greater hardness and rigidity. It provides a minimal level of protection from scratches (it can be scratched with a knife, even more so with sand), but thanks to the elasticity of the plastic, it absorbs impacts to the plane quite well.
Mineral glass
This is real glass in the original meaning of the word. For its smelting, mineral raw materials are used, with silicon dioxide (SiO 2) as a base, as well as additional impurities (oxides of aluminum, potassium, calcium, boron, magnesium, sodium, etc.). The final composition of glass is determined by the raw materials used for smelting (usually minerals such as quartz sand) and processing.
To impart strength, the workpieces are subjected to hardening - a procedure of heating and/or immersion in molten minerals. During the hardening process, atoms of one substance (for example, sodium) are displaced by another substance that has stronger atomic bonds (for example, potassium). Due to this, a layer is formed on the surface that is stronger than inside the glass. A cross-section of tempered glass under a microscope will look like a bun: a hard baked crust on top and soft dough inside.
Tempered glass structure. Arrows indicate internal stresses
Sapphire crystal
To produce such glass, synthetic sapphire is used - crystalline aluminum oxide, one of the varieties of corundum. Due to its crystalline structure, it is harder than glass, which is amorphous (atoms do not have a clear arrangement). But this material is expensive, and therefore the state for 2017 protective glasses There is no real synthetic sapphire available for sale.
Layer of protective glass
In order to provide the necessary consumer properties (adhesiveness and comfort of use), good glass is treated with special coatings. On the back side, a very thin (several nanometers) layer of a substance is applied to it, ensuring adhesion to the screen. On the front side there may be a grease-repellent coating (oleophobic coating) of the same thickness, but cheap products do not always have it. The glass itself is usually on a polymer film, which prevents scattering after damage and additionally cushions, ideally distributing the force of the impact over itself.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to know the exact composition of the glass. It is not written on the packaging; manufacturers tend to only use general marketing phrases about quality and reliability, or mention the names of patented technologies.
Price
You shouldn’t chase “golden” price tags and be fooled by the seller’s statements about the indestructibility of the accessory. All glass breaks; only the tensile strength depends on the quality. The cheapest ($1-2) glasses are made either from polymers or ordinary quartz glass that has undergone simplest procedure hardening They do not have an oleophobic layer; you should buy them only for protection against scratches and small chips. But if the smartphone often falls, such protection is not a pity.
More expensive glasses ($5-15) already have oleophobic coating applied, are almost 100% transparent (transmit more than 99% of light), and undergo more advanced tempering. They are hard, the best samples cannot be easily scratched even with sand. If you treat your device with care and do not want to sacrifice the comfort of its use, you should buy just such protection.
The most expensive glass is a lottery: they may actually be very durable, but they may also turn out to be ordinary tempered glass, the seller of which decided to profit from gullible customers. However, even very durable glass (which is stronger than the screen coating) is of little use. After all, it can remain intact when the screen underneath it breaks, since the thickness and mass are not enough to absorb the shock impulse. After all, glass is bought so that when it falls, it will absorb the impact, but the screen will remain intact, and not vice versa.
Test of glasses of different price categories, black iPhone 7 - under the most expensive:
Brand
There are a lot of safety glasses being sold. Chinese companies, sometimes they simply sell OEM products from the same manufacturer under different nameplates. The same company can simultaneously make both good and not so good safety glasses. Enterprising Chinese often imitate products from more well-known brands, and it is difficult to distinguish a fake. But In general, companies enjoy a proven reputationNillkin,Drobak,Mocolo.
What else you need to know about safety glass
When purchasing protective glass, it is important not to forget about some nuances, so as not to be mistaken as if it is a panacea for bumps and scratches.
Not all glass protects the end from impact
If the protective glass does not reach the edges of the smartphone, then it does not protect against a blow to the end. But his tempered glass touchscreens are feared most of all, due to the existing internal stresses in the structure of matter. In order for the glass to crack when hit at the end, it is enough to apply less force than with a plane impact. Therefore, even under glass protection, the smartphone is not fully protected. Rubber or silicone cases and bumpers covering the ends.
For effective 2.5D protection you need the “right” glass
Screens with polished edges () are now used everywhere, even in Chinese budget phones for $60. This solution decorates the device, makes it more pleasant to use, but can reduce the level of strength, since ordinary glass does not protect the ends (see the previous paragraph).
In order to better protect the screen from rounded edges(2.5D or 3D), you should choose a special glass that has a bend. It is capable of covering the edges and even with a frontal impact, it will redirect the impulse into the plane, or it will crack itself, but will leave the touchscreen intact.
When choosing protective glass, remember: it does not make the screen indestructible, but only slightly increases its strength. That is, if without glass the screen breaks when dropped on a pebble from a height of 1 meter, then with glass it will crack when dropped from 1.5 meters. So the main purpose of gluing protection is to insure the screen from scratches and small chips, and not to make the smartphone invulnerable. Don’t forget that glass is not a panacea; treat your smartphone with care and it won’t let you down.
Today we will tell you whether a smartphone really needs protective glass and whether it can protect the gadget if it falls. We will also tell you which glass to choose and how difficult it is to install it.
The need for glass
When buying a smartphone, sellers often offer to add a protective glass as an addition, assuring that you absolutely cannot live without it. If the display breaks, they continue, it will be easier to buy new phone, plus scratches.
They are right that the price tag for replacing the display can reach up to 60% of the cost of the device. But otherwise there are nuances. If the device is budget and does not have the so-called protective tempered glass, then yes, it is better to stick protection on it, otherwise scratches will not be avoided, and even if it falls, the glass will absorb a little.
But the devices are average price category with a screen made using Gorilla Glass or Asahi technology, you don’t need a piece of plastic 0.33 or even 0.22 millimeters thick, such a device is not afraid of scratches. Displays with Gorilla Glass are practically scratch-resistant.
Impact on sensor operation
A persistent myth is that glass impairs the performance of the sensor. In fact, this is not true. The only thing is that the protective glass may not have an oleophobic coating, and there will simply be a bunch of fingerprints on the display, and the finger will glide worse than on a “bare” screen. The smartphone sensor may not respond well if the glass is poorly glued.
Glass or film
Glass is a relatively recent phenomenon. At first they were popular on devices iPhone companies and Sony, but later the trend spread to all other models.
Of course, it is better to glue the glass. Firstly, it is much easier to glue than film, especially on new device. Secondly, it provides, albeit small, additional protection.
But there is an important clarification here. If you have a 2.5D display with rounded edges, then a regular protective glass will not adhere to the edges or will not be able to cover the entire screen. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify whether the glass will accurately cover the entire screen.
Real cost
Prices for glass sometimes reach up to 2000 rubles, which is not very cheap. Is the high price justified?
Not really. There are really expensive glasses from manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, etc. They are produced for curved displays, and there are also glasses with colored frames to match the color of the device. Their price tag can reach up to 1000 rubles. The purchase price of simple transparent glasses from little-known manufacturers is 50-150 rubles per piece.
Which glass to choose
There is a huge amount of glass on the market from different manufacturers, which one to choose?
Curved screen
If you have a smartphone with curved screen, then it is advisable to buy special glass with a 2.5D or 3D effect for it. Otherwise, it will not stick to the edges or will not cover the entire screen. Moreover, the inscription “2.5D” on the glass packaging does not mean anything. It is better to ask the seller whether it is exactly full screen or not.
Colored frame
It is better to avoid glass with colored frames. If transparent glasses are glued over the entire surface, then in colored glasses there is glue only at the edges. They also often have a “gasoline stain” on the screen that cannot be removed. .
Oleophobic coating
A good oleophobic coating prevents finger grease from remaining on the screen. The screen on such devices is always clean. For protective glass, this coating may be worse than that of a smartphone, or may be completely absent. Therefore, before buying glass, it is better to move it over it and see if there are any fingerprints and how easily your finger glides.
Matte or glossy
This is of course a matter of taste. In our opinion, glossy glass is better. Although it does glare in the sun, you don’t have to turn the brightness to maximum to see the image.
Thickness
In fact, it doesn’t really matter how thick the protective glass is - 0.22 or 0.33 millimeters, you won’t notice the difference.
Installation
Many people think that there is some special glue for installation or that it requires special equipment. In fact, there is nothing complicated about gluing, and the glass packaging usually contains instructions with pictures.
1) First, you need to degrease the surface of the screen and remove all debris from it. To do this, the manufacturer includes alcohol and dry wipes with the glasses.
2) After cleaning the screen, apply the glass, having first removed it from protective layer. There is a special sticker on the glass for this.
3) Carefully place the glass on the screen so that it does not go beyond the edges. That's all, actually. The glass is glued.
If it doesn't work out the first time, it's okay! You can pick up the glass with something, such as a toothpick, and try to re-glue it. If debris has managed to get under the screen, the glass can also be lifted and the debris removed using the adhesive side of the tape.
Despite the fact that modern phones They have long been equipped with reliable and durable displays, but I still want to somehow secure my device. However, hyper-accuracy awakens to all new things. Only after a while, when you get used to them a little, do you begin to love them less. Same with smartphones. Time passes - and they are already thrown, and not put down, they often sit down and put down cups of coffee. But that's all later.
Now that the brand new device has just been taken out of the box, it needs to be protected from all sorts of dangers. To do this, a case is put on the case, and a film is glued to the display. Which one is better will be discussed below.
What is a protective film?
There is no need to consider screen film as some kind of high-tech product. They learned how to produce plastic a long time ago, but it was simply not needed for such purposes. Typically, films have three layers, and the topmost layer provides protection. The middle layer should absorb ultraviolet radiation from the phone, and the bottom one - silicone - should stick to the screen.
It is very important to be able to properly stick the film if you decide to do it yourself. Just before doing this, it’s better to think several times, because you will have to carry out a whole range of measures. But more on that a little later. And now, in continuation of the topic of what is better - glass or film on a phone, let's figure out what types of soft plastic are found.
Types of protective film
So, there are three main types of such films: glossy, matte and mirror. Why so many types? After all, in fact, this accessory is a small piece, what are there to choose from? But the fact is that when films became popular, people began to buy them often, and there was a need to expand the range. Each of the existing films today has its own properties that need to be considered.
Glossy film
Many, thinking about what is better - film or glass for a smartphone, settle on this option. It is suitable for those who value practicality first of all, because as far as the protective function is concerned, it is fulfilled. By dressing your device with such an accessory, you can be sure that the image quality will not suffer. True, there are also disadvantages - glossy film can be very reflective, gets scratched quickly and really likes to collect fingerprints.
Matte film
As for this type of film, it is no less popular. Its main advantage is that it is able to absorb glare and hide fingerprints. But this is all her merit. Due to its unusual structure, image deterioration is often observed. But some people don’t notice this, which is why many choose this film option when they decide what is better - protective glass or protective film for a smartphone.
Mirror film
Unlike previous models, it does not often become a defender of displays. Its peculiarity is that it can reflect objects, i.e. turns the turned off screen into a mirror. But, like this accessory, it can also distort the image.
Safety glass
This screen protection option is considered more modern. It is obtained chemically from It is harder and thicker than conventional film, so it can provide protection not only from scratches and fingerprints, but also from impacts and even moisture. At the same time, the sensitivity, color and brightness of the display are maintained.
The thickness of the glass (0.25-0.50 mm) is explained by its multi-layer nature. Typically, the first layer is silicone based to adhere tightly to the screen. Next comes the fastening layer, which prevents fragments from scattering in the event of a violation of the integrity of the glass. The third layer is anti-reflective, its task is to maintain the visibility of the image in bright light. A protective layer will save you from bumps, falls and other types of damage. And finally, which provides protection against moisture, fingerprints, and also makes the screen easier to clean.
Protective glass or film - which will protect the front of your smartphone better? It is still difficult to answer this question, but it is already clear that the film comes in several types, of which each owner touch display will be able to choose the right one. True, you will have to sacrifice something - either the brightness of the image, or a clean, “unstained” screen.
In this regard, it is easier with glass. There is nothing to choose here, because in structure they are approximately the same. Only the name and manufacturer differ. But they retain the brightness of the picture and, due to the oleophobic coating, hide fingerprints. For the same reason, safety glass is easy to clean, although it requires some care.
Is it worth caring?
Glass or film for the phone? Let's continue to figure it out. As already noted, the film is softer than glass, which means its service life is shorter. In case of any contact with hard “sharp-like” objects, it becomes covered with scratches and eventually becomes unusable. There is no point in prolonging her life; it is easier to buy a new accessory.
The situation with glass is different. First of all, it has a protective layer that should protect against accidental falls or impacts. There is also an oleophobic coating that repels dirt from the display. Just wipe with a cloth. But such a coating wears out over time, this is inevitable. True, if you care for it properly, it will last longer.
It's time to clean the glass
Before you start cleaning the glass, it is advisable to first check its integrity. To do this, you can pour a little water on its surface. And if it starts to form into drops, then everything is normal. If the liquid spreads, then the coating is damaged or absent altogether.
You should not clean glass with alcohol solutions or other cleaning agents, even if this is their main area of application. They just contain certain compounds that can remove the grease-repellent coating. It is better to use water-based solutions, which must be applied to a cotton cloth and gently wipe the device screen.
However, you can correct the situation with the disappearance of the oleophobic layer. For such cases, special oleophobic coating kits are sold. The kit includes a soft substance and cloths for its application and distribution. Everything needs to be done quickly, as the product dries instantly. It is advisable to repeat the procedure the next day.
Film or glass for the screen? Now, when choosing between these accessories, it is necessary to take into account the fact that film protection does not require maintenance, but does not last long, and therefore must be replaced frequently.
Glass is a more durable accessory, but it can quickly lose its properties due to careless use. It needs to be looked after, which many mobile device owners may not agree to. True, for those who dare to do this, the glass will last for many years.
Preparation for gluing the film
Regardless of what is chosen - protective film or glass for the phone, each of the options will have to be “made friends” with the display. Therefore, it is necessary to know how this is done. And the film will be tested first.
It is worth noting that this procedure can be done in different ways. Of course, only one will be considered, but this does not mean that other options will not be suitable.
Film or glass for iPhone or any other mobile device usually glued using special objects that simplify the process. In this case, you will need the following things: a plastic card, a microfiber cloth, display cleaning liquid and a lot of patience.
You should also take workplace preparation seriously. You should sit comfortably, preferably at a table, remove everything extra items and be sure to wash your hands. This is very important point. If you do the work “on your knees” and with dirty hands, it will not be easy to achieve positive results.
Difficulty in gluing film
You need to stick the film on a clean surface, so next stage- cleaning the display. It is necessary to carefully inspect the screen, it must be perfectly clean. After all, dust, specks, fingerprints and other types of contamination will eventually manifest themselves in the form of bubbles. Suitable here special remedy for wiping LCD screens and the aforementioned microfiber cloth. Just please, no alcohol. It can have a bad effect on the display itself.
Protective glass or film, it doesn’t matter, has a sticky surface with which they come into contact with the display. To prevent dirt from getting on them, the accessories are covered with special stickers. And the film is usually protected on both sides. Therefore, before sticking, you need to remove the first sticker, holding the film by the sides.
It is advisable to start gluing from the side where it will be more difficult to align. For example, this could be the location of the Home button, which many devices have. After this, you need to use a plastic card to move to the top of the smartphone. The main thing is that there is no air left under the film, as this will cause the surface to bubble.
Okay, let's say bubbles appear. This means that there are small specks left on the display. In this case, we collect the remaining patience, take the tape, peel off the film until the right place and use adhesive tape to remove the cause of the bubbles. After that, we glue the accessory back in the same way.
Easy installation of protective glass
Protective glass or film? What is better - we continue to figure it out. So, the film is pasted, and now it’s time to install the glass. The beauty of this process is that it is non-irritating. There is no need to rub the display until it shines, removing the slightest particles from it, or tear off the accessory several times to remove bubbles. It will be enough to simply wipe the screen with a soft cloth, and you can begin installation.
Next, the glass is freed from the protective sticker and applied to the device display so that the holes for the speaker and the “Home” button are in their places. In this case, it is advisable to hold the glass by the sides, slightly bending the edges upward. It should be taken into account that the glass is up to 0.5 mm thick, due to which it may stand out a little from the background of the device’s body. Then you can correct the situation by rounding the edges using some small grinding tool. That's it. Protection is installed.
Summing up
Protective glass or film - which is better? It is quite difficult to determine the winner in this competition. There can be many opinions on this matter, and each of the contenders for the title “Best” will eventually gain many fans. Here you need to set your priorities correctly. Film is cheaper, varies in texture and can last for several months if used carefully. But it will not protect against serious damage, and it can be quite difficult to stick it on.
Glass, in turn, has an impact-resistant layer, a grease-repellent coating, can last a couple of years, and its installation leaves only a pleasant impression. But in appearance this accessory is not particularly different; its oleophobic coating requires proper care, and its price is much higher than the cost of the film. That seems to be it. It's time to choose what's right - a protective film or a protective glass for your smartphone.
In 2015 Motorola company conducted a special study showing that every second smartphone user broke its display. In half of the cases, the gadget fell out of hands, in thirty-two percent - out of pockets, in twenty-seven percent it slipped off the lap. When taking selfies, the display is broken in seven percent of cases. Five percent of phone owners abandon it in a state of frenzy.
The smartphone screen, even on the most secure models, is the most easily vulnerable component. Protective glass is your phone's body armor.
The glass structure of a smartphone consists of five layers:
- silicone base, provides reliable contact with display;
- the reinforced layer, upon impact, reliably protects against destruction and cracking;
- anti-glare layer;
- a layer that protects the screen from grooves and chips;
- a layer that repels fats and water.
What is better glass or film for a phone?
Wired glass is more reliable and durable than protective film. The hardness of glass is two to three times higher than the hardness of film.
Each smartphone model has its own protective glass. Universal Chinese glasses may not fit the diagonal size or their holes for the camera, speaker, and buttons may not match.
Important characteristics of glass
When choosing protective glass, you need to pay attention to two main characteristics:
- thickness of the main layer;
- strength indicators.
The glass must be flexible with good protection
The optimal thickness is selected in the range from zero point two tenths of a millimeter to zero point thirty-five hundredths of a millimeter. With a smaller thickness, the glass does not withstand frontal impacts; with a larger thickness, it does not withstand end impacts.
Resistance to chipping and cracking is characterized by the Mohs scale. 9 N is the most suitable strength value for safety glass. The strength of the glass is indicated on the packaging.
Aesthetic characteristics of glass:
- The matte finish provides protection against glare in bright light.
- The glossy finish does not distort the image and is not noticeable on the phone display.
The private cover protects the user from those who want to peep. The image on the gadget's display is visible only at a right angle.
The sharp edges of modern safety glass expose special treatment. 2D – removal of sharp edges without grinding. 2.5D – sharp edges removed, bevels ground and hardened. 3D – the protective glass is processed in such a way that the display is visually perceived as curved.
How to stick protective glass on a smartphone
If you follow a few rules and have patience, you can apply the protective glass yourself. With clean hands and a damp cloth, clean all surfaces of the phone. Dust particles are removed with adhesive tape. The protective film is removed from the reinforced glass and, aligning the glass with the phone buttons, it is pressed lightly. Bubbles under the film are removed by holding by bank card across the screen.