Is Iphone X Worth Repairing Screen
The research
- Why you should trust us
- Who should become this
- How nosotros picked and tested
- Our pick for any iPhone 12 or iPhone 13: Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit (Sensor Protection) Tempered Drinking glass Screen Protector
- Runner-upwards for any iPhone 12 or iPhone 13: amFilm OneTouch Glass Screen Protector
- What nigh older iPhones, or the iPhone SE?
- The competition
Why you should trust u.s.
I've tested screen protectors for Wirecutter since 2016 and other protection accessories since 2014. Before that, I was the accessories editor at iLounge for more than than three years. During my tenure, I reviewed more than 1,000 products—including dozens of screen protectors across multiple models and generations of Apple devices—as well as the first glass screen protector (Spigen's Glas.t for iPhone 4/4S).
While researching this guide, we interviewed Matt Ham, who has a master'southward in mechanical engineering science and is the founder and president of Computer Repair Doctor; Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, probable the most well-known technology-repair abet; Timothy Katsch, vice president of iDropped; and Mario Haas, head of development and application at Schott, which makes ultrathin glass.
Who should go this
A drinking glass screen protector is no guarantee against cracks. A number of factors can lead to a screen keen—everything from the height of the driblet to the angle at which the phone lands to the cloth it lands on to humidity (actually!). And so it'due south impossible to make this hope. Even the tougher "ceramic shield" glass on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 isn't unbreakable or unscratchable. Given that, is a screen protector worth your money?
"While screen protectors aren't perfect, they definitely assist," said Estimator Repair Doctor's Matt Ham. "The bones science is elementary. Adding an extra layer of tempered glass protects the original screen. The tempered-glass screen protector is non an impenetrable force field of protection; information technology's an added layer of defense."
That final point is central: A screen protector may help prevent damage from a directly touch to the face of your phone (though it'due south not clear how much the protector does to absorber blows, rather than just assistance avoid scratches). But information technology's but a bit of added protection—not an impenetrable shield. And a screen protector won't do much to baby-sit against blows to the corner or edge of the phone'southward trunk, which are far more than common: Our friends at iFixit tallied the broken screens they had on mitt and concluded that 75% of them had been damaged at the corner or edge. This means that when it comes to protecting confronting a ending, a skillful case is even more important than a screen protector.
Just scratch protection is worthwhile too. A telephone with a scratched screen is less pleasant to use, and it will exist worth less if you e'er decide to sell it. More importantly, scratches weaken the structural integrity of glass. "A major gene in glass breaking is if anything has already scratched it," Kyle Wiens of iFixit told united states. "It's much easier to break scratched drinking glass. So if the screen protector takes the scratch instead of your screen, and then it reduces the likelihood the screen volition break." Timothy Katsch of iDropped also said that microcracks can deteriorate glass. So information technology's better for an inexpensive and disposable glass screen protector to take this damage rather than the phone itself.
"I exercise think glass protection glass films are a great invention," Mario Haas of Schott told us. "Such spectacles form an additional protection shield against outside influences. … If the protection glass film cracks, the brandish glass underneath stays intact. When that occurs, the protector can be easily replaced."
How we picked and tested
We focused on glass screen protectors because protective plastic films are less scratch resistant, and detract from the look and feel of the iPhone's display. As well, plastic films have been largely supplanted by affordable glass protectors.
We skipped testing glass from well-known brands, including Belkin, BodyGuardz, and Zagg (Zagg as well owns the InvisibleShield line). These protectors are widely available, but they're almost always expensive. And over years of testing, we've found their drinking glass to be of the same quality at best—and sometimes worse. Pricier protectors offer no benefits over the cheaper ones nosotros recommend.
For each screen-protector model we tested, we followed the instructions in the box to install it on the iPhone 13, 13 mini, and 13 Pro Max. We evaluated how clear the instructions were and how helpful any installation tools proved to be. One time the screen protector was in place, we visually inspected it to look for any obvious degradation of screen quality or brightness, and we ran our fingers along the perimeter, checking for obnoxiously sharp edges. We used the phone in a normal fashion to confirm that the protector didn't interfere with the touchscreen. During this use, we too observed how readily fingerprints showed on the protector, and and then wiped off the screen (using a cotton T-shirt) to see how hands nosotros could remove those fingerprints.
Nosotros then bankrupt out our Mohs hardness exam kit. The Mohs test evaluates the hardness of a mineral based on whether it can be scratched by a set of reference minerals, each rated on a scale from 1 (talc, the softest) to ten (diamond, the hardest). This isn't the test that screen-protector manufacturers employ or annunciate. Instead, they rely on something called the ASTM Film Hardness past Pencil Examination, which is designed for coated materials. Nosotros don't think the pencil test is the all-time way to evaluate screen hardness because even the hardest pencil in this examination (9H) is softer than tempered drinking glass. So any decent glass screen protector will get a 9H rating, and thus won't reveal differences in scratch resistance amidst models. More important, many of the things that might scratch a screen or a screen protector are harder than a 9H pencil. The Mohs kit includes materials that can scratch tempered glass.
To ostend that the Mohs test would be valid, we spoke with Ivar Reimanis, PhD, Herman F. Coors Distinguished Professor of Ceramic Applied science and professor of metallurgical and materials engineering at the Colorado Schoolhouse of Mines. Although Reimanis said the Mohs examination wasn't a perfect counterpart to the pencil exam, he concluded that "the ranking would be like, since you are just evaluating the resistance to scratching with two dissimilar probes."
In the Mohs test, we started with the number-1 stylus, holding information technology at about a 70-degree angle and applying a moderate amount of forcefulness as we dragged it down the drinking glass protector multiple times in varied directions. (We couldn't guarantee precisely consequent pressure beyond trials, but we did our best to use a similar amount of strength each time. Unless two protectors were very close in hardness, the variance in pressure was unlikely to hide the divergence, as we saw petty ambiguity in the tests: When something scratched, it was very evident.) For each screen protector, we repeated this test with increasing reference picks until a pick scratched the glass. Nosotros then recorded the number of the hardest stylus that didn't scratch the glass, along with the number of the stylus that did. Because nosotros didn't have styluses with hardness ratings between integers, in this guide nosotros annotation for each protector the range of hardness (for case, "between 6 and 7"), which includes the bodily scratch resistance of that model.
Nosotros didn't do whatsoever sort of drop tests with the screen protectors considering we don't think such tests are particularly relevant. Tests in which a heavy object, such as a ball begetting, is dropped directly onto the screen don't represent real-world scenarios—not to mention that an impact that breaks a screen protector may non have broken the phone'due south unprotected screen. (We couldn't easily measure out the strength and hardness of that screen, and proprietary data on screen drinking glass isn't available.) In addition, it'due south impossible to copy every kind of impact a phone may suffer. And then the results of a particular type of drop exam can't be generalized to cover all scenarios.
Our pick for any iPhone 12 or iPhone thirteen: Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit (Sensor Protection) Tempered Glass Screen Protector
Our pick
Also available for these iPhones:
- Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit (Sensor Protection) Tempered Drinking glass Screen Protector for iPhone 13 mini
- Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit (Sensor Protection) Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit (Sensor Protection) Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 12 and 12 Pro
- Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit (Sensor Protection) Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 12 mini
- Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit (Sensor Protection) Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 12 Pro Max
The Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit (Sensor Protection) Tempered Drinking glass Screen Protector is the best screen protector we've constitute. It'due south as clear and stiff every bit any glass protector we've ever tested, and the nigh foolproof installation system is better than any other. Likewise, the Spigen protector covers the front-facing cameras, providing as much protection every bit possible (unlike some models that leave the iPhone thirteen'due south notch exposed). Plus, you get two protectors in each cheap package.
It's much more difficult to install a screen protector on the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 than information technology is on previous iPhone models: The edge-to-border brandish has fewer features (like a Home push) that you can use to marshal the protector, so an alignment tool is essential for good installation. The Spigen model is the absolute all-time we've found, and the included visual instructions brand the procedure articulate. Each box includes ii plastic installation trays, with the glass already in place. In one case you've cleaned your phone's glass with the included booze wipe, dry wipe, and dust-removal sticker (if necessary), you pare off the backing from the screen protector and snap the frame onto your phone. This design ensures you lot can't misalign the drinking glass. The instructions guide yous to press and slide forth a sticker on the front of the protector, and and then remove the frame.
I've installed hundreds of glass screen protectors over the past ten-plus years, and the contempo innovation of this frame has completely changed how I think about screen protectors. At present anyone—not just those with experience and a steady hand—can line up a protector perfectly every time. As long as you clean the screen well earlier installation, there won't exist any air bubbles underneath.
The Glas.tR EZ Fit (Sensor Protection) covers the iPhone'south display nevertheless leaves enough room that information technology won't interfere with about cases. We appreciate that the glass's edges aren't precipitous—something we've seen with several drinking glass screen protectors—since that can make a phone uncomfortable to employ. This protector matches the size and shape of the iPhone'due south display, and on the iPhone 13 models, it leaves just the earpiece exposed. The rest of the "notch," the black area where the Face up ID system is located, is covered and protected. We tested extensively to ensure the cameras and sensors wouldn't be impacted past being covered with glass, and we found no issues. Even a selfie taken with the dominicus glaring over my shoulder looked the aforementioned every bit one taken with an uncovered phone.
Spigen's glass is as clear as it gets. Nosotros saw no problems with clarity or effulgence, and we quickly got used to the Glas.tR EZ Fit existence on the phone. Although any glass surface will accumulate fingerprints and oil from skin, we constitute that this 1 didn't evidence them as well readily, and they wiped off easily. The touchscreen'south responsiveness was unaffected, since it still recognized even the slightest brush of a finger (and still worked with touchscreen gloves).
In our Mohs hardness tests, the Glas.tR EZ Fit measured between 7 and eight. That's every bit high a rating as we establish with whatever other glass screen protector we've tested, and it's significantly college than with some of the competition. Nosotros also didn't run across any damage when we tested the Glas.tR EZ Fit using house keys, a proficient sign of real-world protection. And after carrying the phone in a pocket for a few weeks, we didn't see whatever significant buildup of grit around the glass'south edges, which is a problem with some adhesive protectors.
Not only is the Glas.tR EZ Fit much less expensive than the big brands, but the depression-priced bundle also includes two screen protectors. And since information technology'south unlikely that you'll mess upwardly the installation, y'all'll have a backup or an extra protector to share with a friend.
The Glas.tR EZ Fit's installation tray makes the procedure simple, but information technology also creates waste. (This is mutual amongst similar models.) You end up throwing away single-use plastic, and that'south a existent problem. We hope to see the concept evolve into something less wasteful in the future.
Runner-upwardly for any iPhone 12 or iPhone 13: amFilm OneTouch Glass Screen Protector
What about older iPhones, or the iPhone SE?
For whatsoever iPhone 11 or iPhone X (including the XS and XR)
Our choice
Too bachelor for these iPhones:
- Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 11 Pro/XS/Ten
- Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit Tempered Drinking glass Screen Protector for iPhone 11 Pro Max/XS Max
Spigen makes the aforementioned great glass, with the same great installation tray we recommend in our top choice, for all iPhones without the Home button.
For the iPhone SE, 8, 7, 6S, and half-dozen
Our pick
As well available for these iPhones:
- amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 8 Plus/vii Plus/6S Plus/6 Plus
The Home button on iPhones that have one—including 2020'south iPhone SE and older models—makes installation easier than on the iPhone X and the models that came later on it. For these phones, amFilm offers the best screen protector, with the same high-quality glass as that of our runner-up picks. Be sure to get the right version, though: Some screen protectors originally designed for older iPhones won't attach properly to the iPhone SE's edges, leaving a raised halo effectually the perimeter. But we have tested the amFilm model, and we tin confirm that the ones sold on Amazon labeled "for iPhone SE 2020" fit properly.
The contest
You shouldn't spend more than $10 on a drinking glass screen protector, or buy whatsoever model that doesn't include a bang-up installation arrangement. The post-obit either price too much or lack an alignment tool (or both), and therefore there'south no reason to consider them over our picks.
Amazon sells two kinds of AmazonBasics screen protectors: one made with "AGC soda lime" and one with "premium aluminosilicate glass." Other than the AGC soda-lime version coming with two protectors in the pack, nosotros didn't detect any obvious differences between them. In some of our tests, the protector didn't stick to our phone'southward screen—an automatic disqualification. Additionally, we found the installation tray inferior to amFilm'southward and Spigen'southward. As well, both of these versions get out the iPhone'due south notch exposed, and both were scratched by our level-8 stylus.
Based on our experience with the following companies' iPhone 12 products, we didn't exam iPhone 13 screen protectors from whatever of them.
Zagg's InvisibleShield Drinking glass Aristocracy VisionGuard+ is too very expensive, and it has just i piece of glass, which is not demonstrably better than that of our pick. We found its installation frame to exist like to that of cheaper models—and far inferior to Spigen's. And there's room for confusion, since this model needs to be flipped over to adjust either the iPhone 11 or iPhone XR on one side, or the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Plus on the other.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-iphone-x-screen-protectors/
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