Screen protection 2022: Comparison

First of all, choosing a screen protector is the obligatory step after buying a new smartphone.

It must be said that today's mobile phones are more and more expensive, due to their embedded technologies but also the materials used for their designs.

What is a screen protector?

A screen protector is:

• A resistant and transparent film or glass that you place on the screen of your phone, to protect it.

What is a screen protector used for?

Protect your device screen against:

• The cracks
• Scratches from keys or coins
• Falls, when your phone falls out of your pocket, for example.

Its role is to preserve your screen intact and save you repair costs, because more than 30% of smartphone owners break their screens during the first year. This protection also helps keep a phone looking like new for resale.

Which screen protector to choose?

First of all there are 5 different types of screen protector:

• Tempered Glass Screen Protector
• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) screen protector
• Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) Screen Protector
• Privacy screen protection (known as Anti-spyware)
• Hydrogel screen protector.

Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Tempered Glass undergoes various thermal and chemical treatments which increase its resistance. It is commonly used to make screen protectors. High quality tempered glass is considered one of the best screen protectors. It lacks the self-healing ability of TPU, but it is stronger.

Benefits :

1. Protection against falls
2. Fairly inexpensive
3. Easy to lay

Disadvantages:

1. Must be replaced after a fall
2. Sensitive to scratches
3. Does not fit curved screens
4. Distorts the aesthetics of the phone

Polyethylene Terephthalate Screen Protector

Polyethylene Terephthalate or PET plastic screen protectors are made of a polyester film that has a matte coating on one side and a silicone adhesive on the other side. High quality PET screen protectors are known for their anti-scratch quality. They are clear and prevent a smartphone screen from getting scratched by adding a layer. 

Benefits :

1. Excellent clarity
2. Very cheap, light and thin
3. Decent soft feel, unlike the more durable but rubbery TPU.
4. Preserves touch function

Inconvenience :

1. Less impact protection
2. Less durable
3. Not compatible with curved screens.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane Screen Protector

TPU or TPU screen protectors use chemically enhanced, scratch-resistant plastic. TPU protectors are flexible and have maximum toughness. They also have oil and grease resistant properties. Plus, they have a kind of rubbery plastic that can go from edge to edge on any phone.

Benefits :

1. Flexible adapts to curved screens
2. Better impact protection than PET
3. Limited "self-healing" power for small scratches.

Inconvenience :

1. Very complicated to install (it involves using a spray solution and removing a lot of bubbles)
2. Not very smooth.

Privacy Screen Protector (Anti-Spy)

If you don't like people staring at your screen while you use your phone in public, a privacy screen protector is one of the best choices for your phone .

Benefits :

1. Preserve your privacy
2. Reduce blue light
3. Can be made in Tempered Glass, PET or Hydrogel

Inconvenience :

1. Not compatible with the fingerprint under the screen
2. Reduced screen visibility in direct sunlight.

Hydrogel screen protector

It is the latest generation of ultra-thin screen protectors. What characterizes the hydrogel protective film is that it has shock absorption properties, distributing them over the surface of the screen. Moreover thanks to its manufacture, the light scratches will be regenerated automatically. It also offers the advantage of lasting longer than tempered glass, since a shock on the tempered glass will crack it, which can interfere with the use of your smartphone on a daily basis, while the hydrogel film will not break. .

Benefits :

1. Unbreakable and Anti-scratch
2. Easy to lay
3. Fits curved screens
4. Ultra thin does not distort the aesthetics of the phone.
5. Limited "self-healing" power for small scratches.

Disadvantages:

1. More expensive than tempered glass
2. More sensitive to big impacts
3. More frequent dirt on the screen.

Consult Our Blog Articles:

• TEST: Anti-Spy Hydrogel Film
• Film Hydrogel Max
• What is 9H Hardness Rating for Screen Protectors?
• How to protect the screen of your Iphone 14?
• How to protect your curved screen?
• Hydrogel Film Against Tempered Glass
• How to Protect Curved Screen Phones?
• Hydrogel Better Than Tempered Glass Why?
• The Best Privacy Protection For iPhone 11