Looking for a tempered glass screen protector? Here are six tips for buying a tempered glass screen protector.

Smartphone screens make or break your experience. It is also the second most expensive part of the phone to replace. If you value your device, apply screen protection to prevent scratches and other damage.

What may be problematic for you is deciding which screen protector to use. There are a wide variety of them online, ranging from around 2 to 50 euros. Jargon like “9H hardness” and “tempered glass” will confuse you further. So what should you buy? Here's a quick guide to understanding screen protectors.

1. Do you need a screen protector?

You have seen the ads for screen protectors on your phone. So does your smartphone still need a screen protector? Yes.

Today, most smartphones have scratch-resistant glass. This type of glass is scratch and crack resistant, but it is not foolproof. However, certain objects such as beach sand can quickly damage your screen. And unless you have a repairable phone, you will have to spend a significant amount of money.

Screen protectors are just as vulnerable to these scratches and cracks. But they provide an extra layer of security, which is sometimes all you need.

1. Plastic or tempered glass

Most of the time, you will find two types of screen protectors: plastic film and tempered glass. For example, you can opt for a Jaym tempered glass screen protector which will be reliable and solid.

Plastic film protectors have been around for a long time now, and you've probably seen or applied them to your phone. They look like a small sheet of plastic. You have to glue them carefully, because they roll up easily. Plastic protectors are quite inexpensive, and you can find a pack of five for two euros. That said, the plastic protectors are not very strong and are of no use in the event of a fall. They are decent for ordinary scratches, but tempered glass will be much stronger. There are two types of plastic films: wet-laid films and dry-laid films. Wet application provides more resistance, but after a while it will look pitted, like orange peel.

Tempered glass protectors have become more popular over the past couple of years, thanks in part to a major price drop. You can now find them from $5, which is a small investment to protect a phone worth hundreds of dollars. Tempered glass protectors offer better scratch resistance and, above all, insulate your screen a little in the event of a fall. Tempered glass also more closely mimics the feel of your real screen, making it much more pleasant to use.

Of the two, it makes more sense to buy a tempered glass protector today. You will only spend a few euros more to get much better protection.

1. What is a tempered glass protector?

Tempered glass protectors, as the name suggests, are made of glass. Tempering is a process of heating glass to form a sheet and then rapidly cooling it. The result is a piece of glass that's a bit more durable.

The telltale sign of a tempered glass protector is that it is tough and holds its shape. Its rigidity makes it easy to apply, as you can carefully align and glue it. Also, removing a tempered glass screen protector is much easier than replacing a damaged phone screen.

1. Can tempered glass protectors bend?

Hold one in your hand and you'll feel it bend a bit. Your mind races to ask, "Wait a minute, if it's glass, how come it's flexible?" ".

Flash info: the glass can be deformed.

Want to know something shocking? Your iPhone, iPad, Android, Nintendo Switch screen can bend.

Of course, you definitely shouldn't try this at home. In fact, there are handy things to do if you break your screen.

Don't think of these pieces of glass in the same way as the glasses in your kitchen or on your coffee table. They are much thicker than what you have here. The fineness and the tempering process make these glasses stronger, which is why they can withstand a little more pressure before cracking.

1. What is 9H hardness? What really matters?

When you start buying glass screen protectors online, you will see a few specs. Things like 9H hardness, military-grade protection, oleophobic nano-coating, and more. Here's a quick rundown of what they mean and what really matters.

9H Hardness – Contrary to popular opinion, this is not a measurement of the Mohs hardness test. 9H hardness refers to the screen that cannot be scratched by a 9H pencil, the hardest of all standard pencils. It's not a great test, to be honest, but it's a decent metric to know if the manufacturer cares enough to test the protector. Oleophobic nano-coating: This is the only spec you have to look for, to be honest. Unlike plastic film protectors, tempered glass retains fingerprints. An oleophobic coating repels oil, which basically means your fingerprints won't stick. A wipe of a microfiber cloth is enough to make them disappear.

Military-Grade Protection - We talk about this a lot, but it's a gimmick. The strength of the screen protector will not always prevent your screen from cracking under the impact of a drop.

Privacy Layer - Apparently reducing the viewing angles of a screen is now a "feature", since people next to you can't read it. Don't fall for it, friends.

Matte screen — Ah, the good old matte vs. glossy screen argument. Depending on the type of screen you prefer, choose the protector. Matte covers aren't as common as glossy ones, but they're available for most popular phones.

In summary, choosing the right protector can be a long quest, but it's worth it once you find the right one.

1. The reality of screen protectors

Remember that the protectors are above the screen, even if it is edge-to-edge protection. They don't wrap around the entire phone like a case does. So if your phone falls on a corner, both the screen and the protection will crack from there.

The four corners of your phone are the most vulnerable parts of your device. Just because the screen protector won't be damaged by this drop doesn't mean the screen itself won't. The screen is held by the body of your phone. When it suffers an impact, the screen does the same.

The protectors help protect the screen from daily scratches and face-down drops. A tempered glass protector will crack before the screen cracks, if the front hits the ground first. More importantly, that $5 piece of glass will protect the screen from keys in your pocket or other such accidental scratches.

Whether you buy tempered glass or plastic, protectors are not a replacement for cases.