Find out the hidden tricks to impact protection for your miracles! In this insightful blog, we explore the diverse landscape of screen protectors to understand their functionality and determine which ones provide the most effective protection.
Whether it’s the science of impact resistance, the variety of materials in use or the words seasoned “screen protection” professionals use to describe the performance of different screen protectors, we’ll aim to shed some light on the myths, facts and actual performance of screen protectors in the wild. So, get ready to understand impact-protective products, and arm yourself with data to make informed decisions to protect your devices!
Understanding Impact Protection and Phone Screen Protectors
In the fast-paced world of today, our smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices are inseparable, whether for work or pleasure. But these devices aren't indestructible, and unintentional drops or bumps can cause several expensive damages. This is where impact protection and screen protectors have an important role.
What we mean by impact protection is specifically the things we do to prevent our devices from falling, getting bumped in transit, or scratched as they get dropped off of a counter. Learn more Screen protectors, for one, are front-line defenders, acting as sacrificial barriers between the sensitive display of the device and the potentially abrasive external environment.
There exists a number of various screen protectors, which use different materials and technologies, offering different levels of protection. We guide you through denser tempered glass and skinny plastic film protectors up to new-age nano liquid solutions.
Screen Protector: Materials Explained
There are different types of materials a screen protector can come in, and each has its own benefits and performance features. We will dive into the three most popular types: Tempered Glass Protectors, Plastic/Polymer Film Protectors and Nano Liquid Protectors.
Tempered Glass Screen Protectors
You will find the tempered glass protectors to be the most common and widely used type there is. These are made from numerous sheets of specially treated glass, which is thermally processed to make it stronger. The result is an extremely tough, stiff material with superior scratch, crack, and impact resistance.
Tempered glass screen protectors can also offer a smooth touch response, delivering the device's existing clarity and reproduction quality. They're one of our top recommendations for anyone looking for solid protection that's low-fuss and effective, because they're so easy to install and virtually bubble-free.
Film protectors for plastic/polymer
Plastic or polymer film protectors are made from flexible materials such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). These are thinner and light weight and provide less rigid surface unlike tempered glass.
Though not as impact resistant as tempered glass, they still help protect the screen from scratches, dust and light scuffs. Film protectors are also frequently more affordable and simpler to swap out than glass, making them an ideal economical solution for light users.
Nano Glass Screen Protectors
Nano glass screen protector is a thin protective layer that is applied to the front of smartphones and tablet devices to help absorb the impact of a drop or scratch. Unlike standard tempered glass screen protectors which use glass that is both thicker and less malleable, they are constructed of a different sort of glass.
This makes them simpler to install and more resistant to cracking if the device is dropped. The nano glass screen protectors are also claimed to be more resistant to scratches and fingerprints in comparison to tempered glass.
Here’s a look at the science behind impact resistance.
The effectiveness of screen protectors in absorbing shock and protecting the underlying devices rely on the principles of absorption and dispersion. In addition, they use strict testing methods to properly assess the impact resistance of each screen protector.
Absorption vs. Dispersion
Screen protectors can either absorb or disperse damage to your device's screen. An absorption screen protector absorbs the force of a fall, and a dispersion screen protector distributes the impact force over a wider area.
Absorption Screen Protectors
Made from a substance that absorbs impact, absorption screen protectors prevent you from dropping your device. The materials used here is typically a tougher, stiffer material, for instance tempered glass. When the screen protector drops, its material shatters from the impact. This shatters the energy of the impact, which can prevent damage to the screen.
Dispersion Screen Protectors
This is done using a dispersion screen protector, which consists of a material that disperses the energy from a drop over a larger area. This material is often a housing material, such as plastic. The impact causes the material to flex when the screen protector falls. This flexing helps to dissipate some of the impact force over a larger area, reducing the chance of damage to the screen.
What is the Better Kind of Screen Protector?
There is no solid agreement as to which type of screen protector is superior. They're more durable and able to absorb a greater impact, even with the tradeoff that they might break more readily when dropped. Dispersion screen protectors are more fragile but break less easily upon dropping.
The screen protector that's right for you may differ based on your needs and preferences. An absorption screen protector is a great solution if you require a very strong screen protector which could take a lot of impacts. A dispersion screen protector is a good option if you are looking for a screen protector that won't shatter when dropped.
Impact Testing Procedures: The Outcome Of Various Screen Protectors
Tempered glass: The most resilient variety of screen protector are tempered glass screen guards. They are constructed out of a very durable material that can take a massive beat down. A study found that tempered glass screen protectors can suffer drops of up to 10 feet from breaking (Benedictine University).
Plastic: Plastic screen protectors are not as durable as tempered glass screen protectors, but they are also less expensive. They are built from a flexible material that can absorb some impact but are vulnerable to shattering when dropped from a great height.
Hydrogel: Hydrogel screen protectors are a newer type of screen protector made from a water-based material. They are less subject to scratches than other types of screen protectors due to their very thin and flexible nature. However, they are not quite as durable as tempered glass screen protectors and might not be able to survive a high-impact drop.
Our whole range of Screenshield protectors goes through a rigorous process of quality assurance and is thoroughly impact tested. They provide good protection from scrapes and bumps after they have been tested and evaluated with extensive drop tests. The good part is that you can now very easily buy Screenshield screen protectors with utmost reliability as they are tested to protect your devices from the major dangers of daily life.
image source: Freepik
