Have you ever accidentally dropped your screen and picked it up to find it cracked? Or put your phone in your pocket to find scratches later? It’s a terrible feeling that many of us have experienced. Thankfully, it’s completely preventable. Although manufacturers are making screens a little more durable and phone cases can help to take preventative measures when it comes to protecting your device, it may not suffice alone.

Phone cases typically protect the camera and edges of the phone from drops or shocks but not the screen and manufacturer screens do not provide the same protection that a screen protector can. This leaves the screen vulnerable and unprotected from scratches, cracks and dirt which makes screen protectors an absolute must! 

When it comes to screen protectors, there are usually two types that you can choose from; glass and plastic. But which one is better? Let’s take a look…

Glass Screen Protector vs Plastic Screen Protector: Pros and Cons

There are pros and cons to both types of screen protectors but we have compiled a list that may help you with making a choice between the two. 

What is the difference between glass and plastic screen protectors?

You’ve read the pros and cons that we put together for you but let’s go into more detail to help you choose which screen protector is right for you. 

Price

Plastic tends to be a cheaper option than glass when it comes to a screen protector but only by a few euros. This is due to the quality of materials used to make the glass screen protector versus plastic. You can, of course, buy plastic screens in bulk which could save you even more money in the long run. 

Durability

Glass typically tends to be more durable and sturdy due its thickness but it does require you to be cautious as once it’s cracked, it’ll need to be replaced as it will break into chunks where you may risk hurting yourself from the broken glass. 

Unlike plastic screen protectors, glass doesn’t protect your screen from impact. Plastic screen protectors tend to be extremely resilient where they passed experiments including the hammer test and drop test with no effect. 

User experience

Glass protectors are much like the original screen which makes them feel more comfortable and natural. They also offer better sensitivity which means it’s a lot smoother to touch when navigating your device. Unlike plastic screens, glass protectors are easier to clean and are difficult to scratch but they aren’t protective against impact. Plastic screen protectors are great with absorbing impact, as per the hammer test, but are easily scratched. 

The Look 

As mentioned, glass screen protectors are much like the original glass of your device which gives your phone a sleek and natural look. Glass protectors offer maximum clarity but plastic, due to its material nature, loses clarity overtime leaving your screen to look unattractive or unappealing.

Thickness

Glass screen protectors are made with several layers which make them thicker than plastic. Although the thickness allows the glass screen protector to be oil and fingerprint resistant, it makes your glass screen easily noticeable. Plastic screen protectors are thin and flexible, making responsiveness a little easier and hardly noticeable. 

Installation 

Plastic screen protectors are a little more tedious and difficult to install onto your phone. Even though manufacturers usually provide a toolkit to help you with the application of the screen protector, you could still end up with hard to remove air bubbles that make your screen bumpy. Glass screen protectors are much easier to install and can be applied in less time as they are not as thin.

We conclude that the glass screen protector is the better option for your phone as it provides overall protection for the screen of your device. It may completely break when you drop it but it will protect your phone’s screen completely, without any risk of damage. Plastic screen protectors will offer basic protection and will resist impact but the thin body makes scratches easily noticeable and will eventually lose its clarity. 

Ultimately the purpose of a screen protector is to protect your screen and as long as it’s doing just that then it really doesn’t matter which you opt for. But if you want the best protection, then your best bet is to choose the glass screen protector.