We are already familiar with tempered glass screen protectors. It is quite common and does its job considerably well but not every tempered glass is exactly the same. You should not take any tempered glass and start using it. It does not only impact the protection of your smartphone but also your health. So, if you really value your device then you should use the right tempered glass. If you’re facing problems choosing the right tempered glass then let me brief all the points for you that might help to get the best possible protection.
What is a Tempered Glass Screen Protector?
As its name says, Tempered Glass is a type of glass that is processed either thermally or chemically. A very thin glass is rapidly heated up and cooled down which makes the glass durable. However, if the glass is processed chemically it becomes much more durable than the high-temperature option. In this process, glass is bathed with potassium nitrate. This process is called ion exchange – the sodium ion of the glass surface is exchanged with potassium ions of the potassium nitrate. Both toughening processes create a strong bond between the glass molecules, making them stronger than standard glass.
Plastic Vs Tempered Glass
Tempered Glass protectors are scratch resistant, smooth, easy to apply, long-lasting, and definitely offer drop protection. However cheap and low-quality tempered glass is really injurious to health. Their sides aka edges are not properly trimmed down so it is easily shattered and people do not immediately replace the tempered glass as it breaks. So glass particles come in contact with the face area and skin.
Whereas with plastic screen guards, there are no issues with the glass shutter but they aren’t last long. Plastic can be easily scratched with keys, coins, and even fingernails so plastic screen guards need to be replaced soon to maintain the proper transparency of the screen. We have an in-depth article on that topic. Check it out.
How to Purchase a Tempered Glass Screen Protector?
As I have mentioned before purchasing a tempered glass screen protector you have to keep the upcoming 9 things in mind.
Edge to Edge Protection – Quite Important
If you are looking for real protection then I would recommend edge-to-edge protection. In which, the screen guard fully covered the display even all the edges including the curved ones. This not only protects the edges from dust and scratches but offers fewer visual distractions. Just think of it, when you are applying a screen guard, it is not possible that it will not reduce the visibility of the display. So two portion with two different transparency creates issues. If You can’t find full-coverage tempered glass, especially for edge-display smartphones then at least find that one which at least offers full front-side coverage.
There’s a Proper Earpiece and Front Camera Cut
Stupid! But the fact, some screen protectors don’t offer the right size of the earpiece cut and some totally miss it. If the earpiece cut is bigger than what is actually required then it unnecessarily accumulates more and more dust on the opening and you know what will happen if there’s no opening for the earpiece you can’t hear properly on calls.
When it comes to the front camera, the cutout is essential especially if the screen guard will set on the screen with AV glue. With UV glue though it is not necessary. However, if there’s no cut for the front camera it would be great because now there’s one less problem of dust accumulation but the tempered glass should have transparency of more than 90% (Written on the Tempered Glass packaging) otherwise the quality of the photos taken with the front camera might decrease.
What is 9H Hardness?
You may have seen the term 9H hardness on tempered glass. It doesn’t mean to the Mohs scale of Hardness. The 9H actually a marketing gimmick actually showcases that the screen guard can’t be scratched with a 9H pencil which is the hardest pencil after 10H on the market. Mentioning this is actually pointless though the hardest pencil can go up to 3 Mohs on the Mohs scale of hardness and a human fingernail is around 2.5 Mohs by the way. Generally, glass can be scratched at 6 Mohs or higher than that. Basically, companies are referencing that level in which no glass can be scratched that’s why I said 9H is completely a marketing gimmick.
What is 2D, 2.5D, 3D….9D? 9D Vs 9H Possible
The “D” here stands for Dimensional. That actually represents the amount of protection that you can get on the edges of the tempered glass. As the number increases the very edges of the tempered glass become curved and curved. 2D refers to a pure flat screen protector. The edge is not treated or smoothed down. These glasses can easily be shattered. 2.5D means that the very edge of the screen protector is slightly curved, but it is still a flat glass panel. Read More about x.x D Right Here.
The 3D and 5D tempered screen protectors have larger, more prominent curved edges. 11D curved edges provide full coverage over the screen. As ‘D’ goes higher the problem of chipping or shattering will decrease and also there would be less chance of having air gap on the edges between the display and tempered glass.
The other question’s answer is yes one tempered glass can both be 9D and 9H. Both represent completely different things. 9D represents the curved nature of the tempered glass whereas 9H represents hardness. So, ofcourse 9D vs. 9H tempered glass question is inaccurate, tempered glass can be 9D and 9H simultaneously.
Oleophobic Nano-coating is a necessity
Having an Oleophobic coating is a great bonus. It will improve the user experience because the oil of our skin wouldn’t stick with the glass and reduce the visibility. Also, it will reduce fingerprint smudges. An oleophobic coating repels oil. So, a swipe with a micro-fiber cloth will get rid of them. Thankfully nowadays most of the standard tempered screen guards have the Oleophobic coating. You can check the features to verify whether a certain tempered glass has this coating or not.
Privacy Layer: One Of The Worst Feature
A feature that will reduce the viewing angle so that nobody can see from your side what you are seeing on your smartphone – a hilarious feature. For a few moments or a few days, it may look cool but as time passes you will realize the problem of a narrow viewing angle. You can only see your phone’s screen from the front. I would recommend don’t go with such rubbish technology when display manufacturers try hard and soul to expand the viewing angle.
Glue Type Matters: UV Glue Vs AB Glue
In tempered screen protectors, there are two types of glue is commonly used UV Glue and AB Glue. AB glue is commonly used in all types of screen protectors. One of the biggest advantages is the glue is already pre-applied on the back of the tempered glass. Just pill the protection film and stick the tempered glass on the display. The UV glue on the other hand doesn’t come pre-applied. You got the glue in a container in liquid form. You have to pour the glue on the screen and place the tempered glass on top of it. Then either you need a UV lamp or place the phone in the sunlight for 2 to 5 minutes to cure the glue. AB glue however doesn’t need much time to cure. It is just almost instant. To be on the safe side just left the phone untouched for 5 minutes after applying the tempered glass with AB Glue.
The biggest advantage of one over another is that UV glue offers higher transparency and a higher lifetime. The only disadvantage is that tempered glass with UV glue is a bit expensive.
Screen Protector With Matt Finish: Cool
This is completely your decision. You can choose a matt finish that will definitely reduce all the reflections or you can use the normal one with a glossy finish. The matt finish isn’t widely available so you have to find it for your smartphone.
In the Concluding lines…
That’s all guys now you know how to how to pick the best-tempered glass screen protector for your precious smartphone. If you find this article helpful then don’t forget to express your thoughts in the comments below thanks for visiting.