Hello - I like tempered glass protectors a lot because I feel they protect from shatters well. Was wondering if there's any difference between name brands for abt 29£ (like spigen) or generic ones on amazon or eBay for like £5. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Tempered glass - name brands or generic?
- Thread starter TorontoSS
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
InvisibleShield glass is the best one I have every used. I hate putting them on, so I have a mall kiosk guy install it. It anything happens to it, you just go back to the kiosk and they replace it for $5. Rounded edges. Feels great.
Has saved my screen with a few drops
Has saved my screen with a few drops
I can't agree with you 110%! I got the zagg glass and omg it is fantastic, can't even notice it's there and like you said, the warranty just adds amazing value
iloome ScreenMate Flex (0.12mm). It's flexible and the thinnest or one of the thinnest flexible glass in the market.
Well I had to use the warranty recently and Zagg actually waived the shipping costs so I revived a brand new replacement free just had to mail back the defective one
I used the ZAGG GLASS on my dad's iPad mini and it is far superior then any other screen protector I've used. I loved it so much, I ordered one for my iPhone.
I did almost buy an off brand from Monoprice last week. I was really tempted. It was $15, but I'm glad I waited since ZAGG has a sale and its only $17.
I did almost buy an off brand from Monoprice last week. I was really tempted. It was $15, but I'm glad I waited since ZAGG has a sale and its only $17.
In general, what you're paying for with a brand name is service and support.
Is a sheet of thin, coated tempered glass really worth $40, like some of these companies charge? Of course not.
Built into that price is a healthy margin that provides support, and covers the cost of sending out replacements in case of defects, accidents, and even user installation error. Plus the marketing and fancy packaging.
Is a sheet of thin, coated tempered glass really worth $40, like some of these companies charge? Of course not.
Built into that price is a healthy margin that provides support, and covers the cost of sending out replacements in case of defects, accidents, and even user installation error. Plus the marketing and fancy packaging.
But still, $40 is way too much for any screen protector. I got mine for $20, and it's fine, customer support fine, etc fine. Since most of these screen protectors are made in China, you know that the production cost is fairly low, as well as all the customer support stuff. I would say that $20 is a good ballpark.
There is absolutely a difference. Since glass was introduced we've seen thousands of new products introduced. Thin stuff, thick stuff, rounded edges, non-rounded edges. The truth is tempered glass can absorb impact and save a screen from breaking after taking a fall - something a regular PET screen protector cannot.
I've said this numerous times - it really comes down to what you want the glass to do. If it's just protect the phone from scratches without getting the screen protector too scratched up in the process, any glass screen protector will do.
However if you are one of the people looking to really protect your device and not just your screen if definitely makes a difference. Two things to me matter. Thickness and edges. In independent testing we found as little as .08 mm difference in thickness means a whole lot in terms of impact protection. (Full disclosure I work for BodyGuardz). .4 mm thickness nearly doubled frontal impact protection as compared to .32 mm (Average break height of 86 cm vs 46 cm).
The popular thing right now is a rounded edge. This looks awesome. But the process for creating a rounded edge involves grinding and polishing which creates micro fractures and weakens the glass and reduces the amount of impact it can receive. Again, it comes down to what your asking the screen protector to do. The rounded edge is also present around the home button.
It comes down to what you want. And while the price point is higher than plastic screen protection, the margins are smaller than you'd think for the good stuff. The cost to get quality glass isn't cheap.
Hope this helps.
I've said this numerous times - it really comes down to what you want the glass to do. If it's just protect the phone from scratches without getting the screen protector too scratched up in the process, any glass screen protector will do.
However if you are one of the people looking to really protect your device and not just your screen if definitely makes a difference. Two things to me matter. Thickness and edges. In independent testing we found as little as .08 mm difference in thickness means a whole lot in terms of impact protection. (Full disclosure I work for BodyGuardz). .4 mm thickness nearly doubled frontal impact protection as compared to .32 mm (Average break height of 86 cm vs 46 cm).
The popular thing right now is a rounded edge. This looks awesome. But the process for creating a rounded edge involves grinding and polishing which creates micro fractures and weakens the glass and reduces the amount of impact it can receive. Again, it comes down to what your asking the screen protector to do. The rounded edge is also present around the home button.
It comes down to what you want. And while the price point is higher than plastic screen protection, the margins are smaller than you'd think for the good stuff. The cost to get quality glass isn't cheap.
Hope this helps.
Hey, since you work for Boduguardz, thought I'd make a suggestion. I love Bodyguardz and the customer service. Have a carbon from BG on my iPhone 5S and a Pure on my Air. I had a Pure on my 5S until Zagg released their glass. I am now replacing my Pure with Zagg glass on my Air. My Air Pure has some scratches on it from a keyboard case...but it would cost me $30 to replace it.
Zagg's replacement policy is second to none. I went from their HD protectors to the Pure simply because I wanted glass. Now that Zagg has glass, I'm going back because of their warranty. BG would do well to at LEAST revisit the warranty/replacement policy.
IMO, all these companies should be able to offer free replacements for at least a year, no questions asked. There are lots of things that can go wrong with them. Im not too sure about BG's policies, but if they do not accept returns/replacements, then that is pretty uncool in my eyes.
I've owned bodyguardz, invisible shield and tech pro. All are good but tech pro is my new favorite because it's a lot cheaper ($17 on amazon) and it's very similar in quality to invisible shield. It has the same thickness and has the same beveled edges. The tech pro is actually on a htc one while the other two were on iPhones, but they do make it for the iPhone. The only thing it doesn't have is the lifetime warranty.
Don't just buy any of the generic ones, because some are pretty awful, but the tech pro is very good.
BG does replacements, but it's $12.95 (or so) for 5S and $29.99 for the Air. Then again, BG's prices are higher than Zagg's too.
Firstly, thank you for all of your posts. It's really appreciated and I learn quite a bit. I should update you on my thoughts.
A day after posting this - I went ahead and bought a generic tempered glass protector which I think is .33 thick. It cost about £4. This is down from £29 which I've paid twice from Spigen - it broke twice after my phone dropped etc. It definitely protected the phone and that's great. However I asked myself, if I do this every 6 months, is it work spending £29 every 6 months over the course of two years?
So I spent £3.59. It went on properly, it went on easily just like spigen but I have to admit it doesn't feel like a spigen. it's not as smooth but seems as clear. Will it protect the phone? Will it protect the screen from damage if it falls? I suspect it should (right?) because it is still glass over glass and it would ****ter first. IF it protects the same as the other ones I had - I think it's worth it for £3.59. If not, I've been ripped off.
A day after posting this - I went ahead and bought a generic tempered glass protector which I think is .33 thick. It cost about £4. This is down from £29 which I've paid twice from Spigen - it broke twice after my phone dropped etc. It definitely protected the phone and that's great. However I asked myself, if I do this every 6 months, is it work spending £29 every 6 months over the course of two years?
So I spent £3.59. It went on properly, it went on easily just like spigen but I have to admit it doesn't feel like a spigen. it's not as smooth but seems as clear. Will it protect the phone? Will it protect the screen from damage if it falls? I suspect it should (right?) because it is still glass over glass and it would ****ter first. IF it protects the same as the other ones I had - I think it's worth it for £3.59. If not, I've been ripped off.
For that much (six american dollars) I would say that you are probably fine. I wouldn't worry too much about anything there. I think that brand is fine.