Pros and cons of using tempered glass protectors for iPhone

1. Price Difference – Plastic screen protectors are much cheaper than tempered glass ones. Depending on the quality, you will pay anywhere between $1 for a pack of five to $10 for a single plastic protector. Glass protectors again start at around $2 for the cheapest variant and go up to $35. The price difference is because of the quality of the plastic or glass, and technologies applied to it like an oleophobic coating (which reduces fingerprints).

2. Toughness of Material – Tempered glass is almost always sturdier than plastic at the same price. Plastic protectors—especially the cheap models—also get scratched easily, unlike glass ones. Glass protectors are generally around 0.3-0.5 mm in thickness; plastic is around 0.1mm.

3. Ergonomics – Most smartphones today have Gorilla Glass or some other scratch-resistant screen. When you add a plastic protector, you can feel the difference when you use your phone; especially in terms of how smoothly your finger glides. Tempered glass protectors feel more like the original screen.

4. Aesthetics – Because of their thickness, glass protectors will bulge out a bit more than plastic. This is especially noticeable on devices like the iPhone 5 or the HTC One. The protector is slightly raised from the flush finish of the sides, which can be an aesthetic issue for some. On the iPhone, this also means your Home button is recessed more than you’re used to. I know 0.5mm seems like a small number, but you can feel the difference.

5. Ease of Installation – If you’ve installed a plastic screen protector, you know how difficult the process is. There are different kinds of glass protectors (full-adhesive or bezel-adhesive), but generally, they are easier to install if you use a quality product. Of course, you’ll still have to clean the screen first.