Okay Geek Farm
SGP GLAS.t glass screen protector for iPhone 4 / 4S in-depth review
Jason Tsay
The concept of a screen protector made of glass is an interesting one. The proposition is that the glass screen protector is much more durable than a plastic one, has better optical clarity, and offers the same smooth feel of the iPhone’s glass screen. SGP is the first company to implement this idea and after a month of extensive testing, we’re convinced this is the best screen protector we’ve ever used. Period. What makes the GLAS.t so incredible?
Features
- 0.4mm think and made with chemically treated transparent tempered glass.
- surface hardness: 8-9 H
- oleophobic coating
- coated with a strong silicone adhesive that makes installation easy and attaches the film firmly which does not affect the touch screen’s sensitivity
- anti-shatter film
Our Impressions
The SGP GLAS.t comes in a pretty large box (for a screen protector) containing the screen protector in an envelope, 6 epoxy coated home button stickers, an alcohol swab, a squeegee, microfiber cloth, and SGP registration card.
Installation
Application of the GLAS.t is a little different from your traditional screen protector. Its being made of glass means two things - you can’t bend it into a “taco” shape when you apply it and it doesn’t use the standard type of adhesive on plastic screen protectors. The GLAS.t has a special silicone adhesive that begins to spread the second it touches the iPhone’s surface. If you have any dust under the surface, you won’t be able to remove the screen shield and reapply it. Basically, you get one shot to apply the GLAS.t so make sure you work in a dust free environment. Besides that, the rigid piece of glass is pretty simple to align.
The GLAS.t has two cutouts - the home button and earpiece. You’ll notice that there is no hole for the front camera and that’s because the material is clear enough to not interfere with its operation. We actually prefer this design because dust and lint won’t collect on the sides of the now non-existent camera cutout.
The GLAS.t comes with 6 epoxy coated home button stickers because the screen protector is so thick, the home button becomes deeply recessed and hard to press. There are two black stickers, two white, one yellow-green, and one pink. In our opinion, the yellow-green looks nice on a black iPhone while the pink matches the white iPhone. The black and white stickers are self explanatory but the color choice is really up to you. Either way, we’d recommend putting on the home button stickers before the screen protector; we did the opposite and had to use tweezers to lower the sticker and align it properly. The stickers are a useful addition to make the home button easier to access but they feel ridiculously cheap. Besides that, they actually do make the home button easier to press (The SwitchEasy Colors case has the same raised home button design).
Screen Clarity/Feel
So how’s the GLAS.t itself? Put simply, this is the best screen protector we’ve ever used and that money can buy. Once you go glass, you never go back. The feel of the surface is nearly identical to the iPhone’s glass screen as opposed to cheap feeling plastic screen protectors. The GLAS.t is also treated with an oleophobic coating so any fingerprints can be easily wiped off in the rare occasion that they stay on the screen. Obviously, the screen protector is a lot thicker than every other plastic screen protector out there but this doesn’t affect touch operation at all and is quite nice in terms of durability. Screen visibility is stunning - the Retina Display looks clearer and brighter than ever under the GLAS.t - and the front facing camera works just fine.
Durability
During our month long test, we tried to abuse the GLAS.t as much as possible in daily use. We always placed our iPhone face down on all surfaces and were generally more harsh on the surface of the screen protector. At one point, we even took a quarter and starting scratching at the GLAS.t and we’re glad to report it exited our testing without a scratch. A quick wipe with a cloth restored it to its original state. Now having a sheet of glass on a glass screen seems counter productive in the case of a drop. However, SGP claims that the GLAS.t doesn’t shatter and will safely break into pieces on heavy impact.
Accessory Compatibility
Here’s the one downside of the GLAS.t - it may not be compatible with some of your cases. The screen protector is simply too thick and won’t work with cases that wrap around the edge of the screen too much. We tried with a couple of cases and as long as the border of the case doesn’t pass the plastic rim around the screen, you should be fine. We would recommend doing a quick online search to see if anyone has reported compatibility issues with your case before buying a GLAS.t.
Overall
Let’s get down to brass tacks here. Do you really need a $28 screen protector made of glass? For the Average Joe, the answer would most likely be no. Do we recommend the GLAS.t? Heck yes. While it does cost a significant amount more than plastic screen protectors, the quality and longevity justify the cost. If plastic screen shields just aren’t doing it for you in terms of scratch resistance or you despise the cheap feel of plastic film, the GLAS.t is a no brainer. We seriously could not recommend this screen protector more and won’t be going back to plastic screen protectors any time soon.
Pro’s
- incredibly durable
- great screen clarity
- glass surface feels great
Con’s
- not compatible with some cases
- expensive (no back protector)
Where to buy
CreTouch — MSRP: $27.99
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