The screen is the most vulnerable part of a smartphone. Just one awkward movement can lead to noticeable scratches or, what is much worse, a breakdown of the display matrix. Protective glass helps to avoid these problems, allowing the gadget to retain its original appearance for as long as possible.
Today we’ll talk about the best protective glass for smartphones on the market, as well as how to choose them correctly.
How to choose a protective glass for your smartphone
The choice of armor should be taken responsibly, since its quality determines whether the mobile phone display will survive a fall or a strong impact. Let's consider the parameters that must be taken into account when purchasing:
- Smartphone model. Each tempered glass model is designed for a specific phone model. These devices are not universal. If you do not take this point into account, you can end up in an awkward situation: the glass does not completely cover the display, leaving vulnerable areas unprotected, or vice versa, when the armor covers the front camera and speaker openings.
- Appearance of the armor. Tempered glass is available with or without frame. Here everyone chooses the option that he likes. Some users prefer armor with frames, while others like the protective glass to be invisible on the screen. The absence of a bezel is especially important for owners of phones with edge-to-edge displays.
- Strength. This parameter is designated by the letter H. The level of hardness determines how strong the armor is and how it resists the appearance of cracks, chips and other defects. High-hardness glass protectors do a good job of protecting displays when dropped from the front, but such armor will crack if dropped on the side, while low-strength glass is more likely to withstand impact. Taking into account the above, the optimal strength parameter is considered to be an average value of 9H.
- Glass thickness. The design of the phone and the degree of protection depend on this indicator. Thick glass, of course, guarantees better protection for the display, but increases its size and makes the phone less beautiful in appearance. In addition, the thickness of the armor affects the sensitivity of the sensor: the thicker it is, the less responsive the screen. There are safety glasses on the market with thicknesses in the range of 0.15–1 mm. As in the previous case, we recommend choosing the average value – 0.3 mm.
Unlike conventional hydrogel film, armored glass should protect
- Armor coating. An important parameter on which the ease of use of the phone depends. There are several types of coatings.
- Matte – this coating copes well with bright light, and therefore is suitable for people who often use their smartphone in bright rooms and outdoors.
- Glossy is a regular option that does not have additional functions.
- Oleophobic is a practical coating that prevents the appearance of moisture, fingerprints and dirt stains on the gadget screen.
- Transparent – invisible coating on the screen.
- Private is a good option for those who are not used to sharing personal information. This coating prevents you from seeing what is happening on the screen when viewed from different angles.
- Glass volume. Many safety glasses are labeled 2.5D, 3D, 5D, or even 10D. Typically, these numbers don't mean much. But still, such glasses differ from standard models. They have rounded edges, and therefore are less likely to be scratched.
- Price. Reliable armor cannot be very cheap. For example, Aliexpress has a lot of glass at a price of 50–70 rubles per piece. Perhaps someone will be lucky to find a good model, but often such accessories wear out quickly and can fail at the right time. We recommend giving preference to products from trusted brands over little-known Chinese companies.
The best manufacturers of protective glasses for smartphones
There are dozens of reliable companies on the armored glass market that produce high-quality products. We have compiled a rating of the 10 best manufacturers of such products:
- Nillkin . A popular Chinese brand, one of the market leaders. The company creates glass itself rather than purchasing materials from other manufacturers. For this purpose, chemical hardening technologies are used. The result is high durability and protection from serious impacts and falls. Nillkin products use high-quality oleophobic coating to prevent screen contamination.
- Red Line . A young Russian brand founded in 2010. Red Line armored glass is produced by several enterprises located in different parts of the world: China, Vietnam, Japan and the USA. Red Line's advantage over its competitors is the combination of high quality products with reasonable prices.
- Deppa . Another Russian brand that has become famous abroad. The company's headquarters is located in St. Petersburg, while production facilities are concentrated in China. The company has been operating for about 15 years, and during this time it has gained the trust of millions of users. Deppa Hybrid armored glass is the most popular.
- Onext . The company's first branch opened in Hong Kong, and now it has entered the global market. Onext produces glass from high-quality Japanese raw materials using advanced equipment. All accessories are created according to the specifications of Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi and other phone manufacturers.
- Baseus . A popular Chinese brand that produces accessories of various types: from charging adapters to headphones and protective glasses. As for the latter, Baseus offers a huge range: laminated glass with polymer inserts, polarized coatings that hide information from strangers in the subway or a crowded office.
- Xiaomi _ Dozens of manufacturers produce protective glass for Xiaomi phones. However, the best compatibility with them is, of course, original products. The company offers glass at an adequate price and with good configurations. In addition to the armor itself, the kit includes microfiber, Velcro for adjustments and a card for removing static.
- Mobius . A young, fast-growing brand. The Mobius success formula is a combination of affordable cost and excellent product quality. The brand's glass is made from raw materials from well-known Japanese and American manufacturers. All accessories undergo a precision cutting procedure, which makes it possible to obtain perfectly smooth edges.
- Mocolo . A relatively young brand from China. Produces good quality armored glass. For production, the company uses high-quality Japanese raw materials. Reliable material and modern technologies make Mocolo armor durable and resistant to various impacts.
- D.F. _ A company with a worldwide reputation. It produces glass protectors for phones from almost 30 leading manufacturers, including not only iPhone or Huawei, but also Honor, Motorola, Poco and others. Among the advantages of DF is versatility. The company's assortment includes protectors not only for phones, but also for tablets with a screen diagonal of up to 10 inches.
- Samsung . A Korean company that needs no introduction. Samsung sells some of the most expensive glass protectors (only Apple accessories are more expensive). Of course, the build quality matches the cost. It is important to note not only the excellent strength of such glass, but also its unsurpassed design: the surface is flat, thin, and fits comfortably in the hand.
The main advantages of impact-resistant glass over conventional glass
Protective double-glazed windows have the same high noise and heat insulation as standard models, but surpass them in safety due to the following advantageous characteristics:
- strength – 5 times higher than that of the standard model;
- impact resistance - with numerous impacts from a freely falling heavy object;
- flexibility - due to the multilayer structure;
- the risk of destruction under extreme loads is practically absent;
- In case of damage, there are no sharp fragments that can cause injury.
Such protection is invisible, and therefore does not deteriorate the appearance of the facade like metal grilles. Upon request, branded transparent, frosted, tinted, stained glass can be installed in the package.
This is an excellent option for design solutions that require multifunctionality. The five-chamber Grazio system makes it easy to produce windows of any shape, be it simple or arched, to create sophisticated and elegant interior elements.
Nillkin Amazing, Solomon
This Japanese manufacturer is considered one of the best in the world among those producing products of this kind. Shockproof glass is made from AGC material using a special technology. As a result, it acquires high strength indicators. Another distinctive feature is the ultra-high light transmittance.
The coating is made of tempered glass, the hardness of which is 9 N. It is coated with nano-optical ultra-thin layers, due to which the surface reflects ultraviolet rays and repels grease stains and other contaminants. Its thickness does not exceed 0.2 mm, and the edging is made in such a way that it does not allow the edges to injure your hands.
Triplex price
Type of triplex | Thickness | Price |
Triplex 4.4 | 8 mm | from 1900 rub./m2 |
Triplex 5.5 | 10 mm | from 2300 rub./m2 |
Triplex 6.6 | 12 mm | from 2700 rub./m2 |
Thickness, mm | Transparent*, rub./m2 | Tsvetnoy*, rub./m2 | Decorative*, rub./m2 |
8 — 16 | from 1150 rub. | from 1700 rub. | from 2500 rub. |
17 — 24 | from 1150 rub. | from 1700 rub. | from 2500 rub. |
Maximum triplex size 2100x4500 mm | |||
Triplex made of tempered glass +100% |
*The cost of triplex depends on the thickness of the glass, its shape and dimensions, as well as on edge processing, decor and additional processing.
Triplex processing
Thickness, mm | Straight, rub./m2 | Figured, rub./m2 | Treatment with angle change, rub./m2 |
5 — 11 | 180 rub. | 480 rub. | 500 rub. |
12 — 17 | 320 rub. | 800 rub. | 700 rub. |
18 — 23 | 500 rub. | 1200 rub. | 900 rub. |
23 — 30 | 570 rub. | 1400 rub. | Calculated individually |
30 — 38 | 830 rub. | 2000 rub. | Calculated individually |
38 — 45 | 1400 rub. | 3500 rub. | Calculated individually |
46 — 50 | 2700 rub. | 4500 rub. | Calculated individually |
We manufacture custom laminated glass using cast and film technology. It is possible to produce canvases of any size, shape and thickness.
Three levels of anti-vandal window protection
Films can provide three levels of protection. It depends on their structure and composition. The film allows you to protect your premises from criminals entering it, and can also save a person from cutting fragments, explosions, flames, bullets and other objects.
According to statistics, 30% of broken windows cause injury to people nearby, so you shouldn’t take risks and skimp on your own safety.
Anti-vandal films are classified according to security levels into three types:
- Level K4 – is a polymer coating with a thickness of 112 microns. This is the lowest class, capable of saving from blows with a stick, stone, and various thrown items. Resists the appearance of a through hole in the opening.
- Level A1 - this class is issued to polymer coating with a thickness of 336 microns. This is an average indicator that can save your life or property in extreme situations. Successfully resists shots from traumatic weapons, blows from an ax, and a crowbar.
- Level A2 – coating thickness 448 microns. Withstands shots from pistols and automatic weapons.
Depending on the situation, different levels of film are used; for home use, regular K4 is enough. Armored windows are installed in enterprises, banks and other financial institutions.
Ringke
This company produces excellent accessories for mobile devices. However, one of the best products is the "invisible protector". It is made of polyurethane with an additionally reinforced film, and can take the shape of the curved edges of a 3D display. This option is suitable as shockproof glass for Samsung Galaxy, seventh and subsequent generations. The kit includes a pair of protective pads, a dust sticker, a scraper and instructions for use.
Notes
- ↑ 12
Jones, Christopher Transparent Ceramic Composite Armor – US Patent 7584689 - E. Strassburger. Ballistic testing of transparent armor ceramics. Journal of the European Ceramic Society. Volume 29, Issue 2, January 2009, Pages 267‒273
- Shavrov V. B. History of aircraft designs in the USSR. - M.: Mechanical Engineering, 1978, part 2, p. 417—429
- It was experimentally established that optimal resistance for the 7.62 mm caliber is ensured when the mass ratio of silicate and organic glass is approximately 50:50.
- Development of aviation science and technology in the USSR (Historical and technical essays). - M.: Nauka, 1980, p. 328
- Grinsell R. Focke-Wulf Fw-190. London/Sydney: Jane's Publ. Co. 1980
- Der Bruchvorgang beim Beschuss von Panzerglas. Bericht der TAL 14/43 Bearbeiter: Struth und Heitzmann
- Horas Alter. Aircraft Armor. - Army Ordnance, 1941, XXI, N 125, 497-498
- ↑ 12
O.V. Rastrenin “Flying Tanks” by Ilyushin. Heirs of IL-2. Heirs of IL-2. - “Yauza”, 2022 - (War and us. Aviation collection). ISBN 978-5-04-089216-7, p. 12, 31. - Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1945-1946, pp. 123
- Lei V. Rockets and space flights. - M.: Military Publishing House of the Ministry of Defense, 1961, p. 409
- Jeffrey L. Ethell. The German Jets in Combat. Jane's Publishing Co., London. 1980, pp. 56‒57
- Mi-24 Hind - Description (inaccessible link)
- Military Transparent Armor A4 GKN Data
- NATO Funds New Transparent Armor (unspecified)
(inaccessible link). Retrieved January 4, 2012. Archived February 24, 2012. - C. D. Jones, J. B. Rioux, J. W. Locher, Large-Area Saphire for Transparent Armor, Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites. The American Ceramic Society, pp. 113‒124, Jan. 2008.
- Advances in Ballistic of Commercially Available Saint-Gobain Sapphire Transparent Armor Composites
IQ Shield LiQuidSkin
This so-called smart film is distinguished by an unusual wet installation method. It effectively performs its protective functions and, according to manufacturers, is capable of recovery.
The delivery set includes two overlays at once, so if you fail to install the film the first time, you can try again. Since it is quite difficult to do this yourself, it is recommended to watch the video instructions first.
Anti-vandal films
Anti-vandal film is used in practice quite often.
It can be initially inserted into the glass or glued to the surface. The type of glass depends on this: Triplex is a multilayer product in which the sheets are connected through a protective film and a special liquid. If such material breaks, the fragments do not fly apart. It is also characterized by increased strength.
Shockproof films are a more economical option. Protects the surface from mechanical damage. Can be applied in several layers to increase resistance to damage.
When is it recommended to install armored windows in a house or apartment?
It is recommended to install armored double-glazed windows not only if you decide to turn your home into a treasury, but also when the house is located in an unreliable area or near a sports ground or bar. If you plan to glaze an apartment on the ground floor with armored windows, it is advisable to choose a vandal-proof double-glazed window with protection class A. When glazing a cottage, it makes sense to choose an armored double-glazed window of class B. In the same case, if the owners of the house are afraid of an armed attack, installing impact-resistant windows belonging to class IN.