With the influx of new smartphone accessory brands, the discussion about tempered glass versus plastic screen protectors is heating up, causing confusion among consumers about which material provides superior protection and value.
Are you looking to protect your smartphone screen, but unsure whether to choose tempered glass or plastic?
Keep scrolling to find out which option is best for you.
What is a Glass Screen Protector?
A tempered glass screen protector consists of several layers of specially treated glass to boost durability. These protectors provide outstanding scratch resistance and can withstand more severe impacts than plastic options.
Many users favour them for their superior feel and clarity.
Benefits Of A Glass Screen Protector
Discover the fantastic benefits of using a glass screen protector:
1. Easy To Install
Unlike plastic ones, tempered glass screen protectors are easy to install without bubbles. You can apply them yourself without needing a store visit.
2. Recyclable
Screen protectors are eco-friendly because their glass can be recycled. Recyclers sort and clean the glass before melting it. Tempered glass is used for better protection. Using these protectors with mobile cases is good for the environment.
3. Shatterproof
Tempered glass screen protectors, while seemingly risky due to shattering, break into granular chunks instead of sharp pieces, making cuts from debris nearly impossible. This safety feature contributes to the popularity of phones.
4. Extremely Hard To Damage
Tempered glass is durable and resistant to breaking or scratching. While plastic protectors are about 0.1 mm thick, tempered glass options are between 0.3 and 0.5 mm thick, offering superior protection for screens.
5. Super Responsive
Don’t worry about responsiveness; tempered glass screen protectors offer excellent touch sensitivity for dialling, messaging, taking photos, and emailing. Enjoy smooth phone management and enhance your experience for both business and pleasure.
6. The Light Transmission Is Great
Switching to a new screen protector can raise questions. If you’re worried about image distortion, don’t worry: it has 98% light transmission, preserving original colours. Changing your screen protection won’t mean losing anything; instead, you’ll enhance your daily experience with this great material.
7. Full-Screen Coverage
Unlike plastic protectors, these offer full-screen coverage that reduces damage risks. Without it, the exposed screen is at risk from drops and spills. Full-screen protection not only preserves quality but also saves money by minimising damage.
8. Cleaning Is Easier
Cleaning your phone is crucial, just like brushing your teeth. Use antibacterial wipes or alcohol to easily clean the tempered glass, which resists fingerprints and keeps your screen looking great.
9. Durable
This durable phone protector features easy installation, a hard surface, and high-quality material. It can be recycled or gifted, and if intact, it lasts a lifetime.
What is a Plastic Screen Protector?
A plastic screen protector is usually crafted from materials such as PET or TPU. These flexible and lightweight protectors provide a sleek and subtle way to keep your screen safe.
Many people opt for these because they value affordability and straightforwardness in their protection solutions.
Benefits Of A Plastic Screen Protector
Read about the benefits of a plastic screen protector:
1. Affordability
They offer a budget-friendly option that is significantly more affordable than tempered glass.
2. Thin Profile
Plastic protectors are often slimmer, making it easier to keep your device looking sleek and stylish.
3. Flexibility
Their flexibility helps prevent cracking or shattering when something hits them and makes installation a breeze.
4. Self-Healing
Some plastic protectors, especially those made from TPU, come with self-healing properties that can gently repair minor scratches.
5. Lightweight
Plastic protectors are lighter than tempered glass, adding minimal weight to your device.
6. Easy To Replace
If a plastic protector gets scratched or damaged, it’s easy and inexpensive to replace.
7. Shatter Resistance
Unlike tempered glass, plastic won’t shatter upon impact, potentially preventing shards of glass from causing further damage.
8. Enhanced Clarity:
Many plastic protectors offer clarity and transparency, allowing a clear viewing experience.
9. Smudge And Fingerprint Resistance:
Some plastic protectors, especially those with oleophobic coatings, can repel smudges and fingerprints, keeping your screen clean.
If your phone screen isn’t working properly after a drop, and you were using a plastic screen protector, the screen itself may be damaged. But there’s no need to panic! Fone World Hove offers fast screen replacements in Hove, so you can get your phone sorted and back to normal in no time.
Difference between Tempered Glass Protectors and Plastic Protectors
Read about the difference between tempered glass and plastic phone protectors. Also, you will learn about their pros and cons:
| Feature | Glass Screen Protector | Plastic Screen Protector |
| Material | Tempered glass | PET or TPU plastic |
| Durability | ✅ Extremely durable, resistant to scratches and cracks | ❌ Less durable, more prone to scratches |
| Impact Resistance | ✅ Shatterproof (breaks into safe chunks) | ✅ Flexible, resists cracking but may dent |
| Clarity & Light Transmission | ✅ 98% light transmission for vivid visuals | ✅ Good clarity, but slightly less than glass |
| Touch Sensitivity | ✅ Super responsive, smooth feel | ✅ Responsive, but slightly less smooth |
| Thickness | ❌ Thicker (0.3–0.5 mm) | ✅ Slimmer (around 0.1 mm) |
| Installation | ✅ Easy, bubble-free application | ✅ Flexible and simple to install |
| Weight | ❌ Slightly heavier | ✅ Lightweight |
| Eco-Friendliness | ✅ Recyclable material | ❌ Not always recyclable |
| Maintenance | ✅ Easy to clean, resists fingerprints | ✅ Some come with smudge-resistant coatings |
| Full-Screen Coverage | ✅ Often offers edge-to-edge protection | ❌ May not cover curved edges completely |
| Self-Healing | ❌ Not self-healing | ✅ Some TPU versions self-heal minor scratches |
| Replacement Cost | ❌ More expensive to replace | ✅ Inexpensive and easy to replace |
| Shatter Risk | ❌ Can shatter (safely) under high impact | ✅ Won’t shatter at all |
Pros & Cons of Glass Protectors and Plastic Protectors
| Protector Type | Pros | Cons |
| Glass Screen Protector | – High durability and hardness
– Shatterproof design – Excellent touch response – Great clarity and full coverage – Easy to clean and install – Recyclable |
– Slightly thicker and heavier
– Higher cost – Can shatter (in granular form) |
| Plastic Screen Protector | – Budget-friendly
– Thin and lightweight – Flexible and shatter-resistant – Self-healing in some versions – Easy to replace |
– Less durable
– Prone to scratches – May offer less screen clarity – Not as eco-friendly |
Final Thoughts
So, which one will you choose for your phone next, a tempered glass protector or a plastic one? It’s entirely up to you.
You have everything you need right in front of you, from the features and benefits of each type of protector, to the pros and cons of plastic screen protectors and glass ones.
Take your time to decide wisely because if you invest hundreds or even thousands in your phone, you want to ensure its safety.
We’re always here when you need reliable phone repairs, whether your screen has stopped responding or your battery just isn’t keeping up. Count on us for expert phone repair services that get your device back to working like new.