Since the days of the first touchscreen phones, one of the most popular methods of protecting the touchscreen has been the use of protective film or glass. The first gadgets without buttons were resistive and their plastic layer quickly wore out and became scratched. It was at this moment that the first films appeared, which were replaced by protective glasses. According to manufacturers, such coatings can protect the device not only from scratches and abrasions on the display, but also from shocks and falls on a hard surface. This material will tell you how to apply protective glass to an iPhone of new and old models and what types of protective coatings there are for Apple smartphones.
How effective is protective glass, what is it for?
It is ordinary glass that has been tempered through chemical and physical processing. During its production, the material is subjected to intense heating and etching in chemical compounds. During this processing, the composition of the substance changes slightly, as does its structure. This consists in replacing weak ions of the crystal lattice with stronger ones. As a result, the glass becomes stronger and less susceptible to scratches.
Gorilla Glass can withstand drops from arm's length
Despite all the advantages, the protective coating has one drawback: the stronger it resists impacts and damage to the plane, the more susceptible it is to splitting at the end.
Important! A phone's touch screen, which can easily withstand being hit flat on the ground, can completely crumble when dropped on a corner or edge of the device. This fact is recorded by technicians working in service centers.
It turns out that the only 100% effect of such a coating is protection from scratches and abrasions, but you should not neglect it, because it can save the “life” of the display if dropped from a small height.
Gluing the coating at home is easy
Varieties
There are many protective glasses for iPhone. All of them are designed for specific smartphone models. The protectors are thick and durable. Premium safety glasses are usually very thin, around 3 millimeters. At the same time, they have increased strength, which allows you to protect your phone screen from dirt, dust, water and scratches. The glued glass in no way affects the performance or sensitivity of the iPhone's touch screen and sensors. The kit usually includes a glass screen protector, a surface cleaning cloth, a dust removal tape, and a microfiber cloth.
For iPhones with a curved display, such as the iPhone 7s, the protective glass is made in such a way that it covers not only the flat part of the screen, but also the side panels. The curved edge closes completely and remains protected.
What types of protective glass are there for iPhone?
How to remove protective glass from an iPhone - detailed instructions
In modern phones, the most expensive part is the screen. Its replacement cost can be close to half the price of the gadget. That is why it is important to be as careful as possible with it and protect yourself by installing protective glass, of which there are many types:
- Two-dimensional (transparent and not full-size). It is suitable for phones with a flat display (older models and some new budget options). The glass is completely transparent and invisible to the eye, but if there are scratches on the screen, this can cause air bubbles to appear.
- Full size glass of Full Cover type. It is usually used for smartphones with rounded edges. Sticks to the entire surface or just to the frame.
- Three-dimensional. Such glass is curved in a physical sense. It follows the curves of the screen and differs from other analogues in its rounded edges.
Important! Each of the presented types has its own disadvantages and advantages. Most of the negative aspects are related to the price of the glass and the fact that it is quite difficult to stick them on yourself.
There is one more parameter according to which protective surfaces are usually divided into types - this is the coating. At the moment there are about a dozen different variations, sometimes combined with each other:
- glossy;
- matte;
- oleophobic (prevents fingerprints);
- has protection against peeking into the screen from the side;
- vision protection;
- anti-glare;
- antibacterial;
- mirror;
- colored;
- shiny.
Sticking protection avoids accidental scratches
Features of gluing protective edged glass
Today, most safety glasses are produced with cut edges. Such 2.5D sensors are completely adjacent to the screen. But due to their smaller size, they do not cover the entire visible area of the display. It is easier to eliminate deficiencies during the installation process. It is enough to hook the edge of the glass with a bank card.
Original glasses are produced as close as possible to the dimensions of the screen. They cover the entire display. But there are always unglued edges that are visible when the display is turned off.
Full Cover glass with painted frames around the display is made especially for the Apple iPhone. The glass is glued to the screen, completely repeating the shape of the smartphone.
Full Cover glass is also produced for popular items on Android. It is glued around the perimeter and held along the edge. This affects the responsiveness of the display; dust quickly gets under it.
How to properly stick a protective glass on an iPhone
How to restore an iPhone via iTunes - detailed instructions
Before gluing the protective glass, you need to remove the case from your iPhone. If the screen has already been protected by an old and scratched surface, then it should be carefully removed. It is also important to wash your hands so that no dirt gets under the protection. Pasting should be done on a table with good lighting. This will allow you to see every speck of dust and get rid of it. Next, you are invited to view instructions for working with several popular iPhone models.
How to install a protective glass on iPhone 5s
In general, the process will be like this:
- Remove the case from the phone.
- Place it on a clean surface that is well lit.
- Wipe with a soft cloth or napkin, which often comes with a protective coating. In some cases, special adhesive tape is used to collect dust.
- Take the glass and remove the protective film.
- Bring the cover to the phone, aligning the cutouts for the speaker, camera and Home button.
- Place glass protection on the speaker side and gradually lower it to the other side.
- Give a little time for the adhesive layer to come apart.
- Wipe the surface with a cloth and press the glass even harder.
- Check screen operation.
You need to stick the film or glass in a well-lit room.
How to stick glass protection on iPhone 6
Sometimes even professionals fail to glue the protection evenly and without air bubbles, aligning all the cutouts. To avoid mistakes, you need to follow the instructions that are suitable for iPhone 6:
- Wipe the display with an alcohol wipe to remove fingerprints, dirt and dust from the surface.
- Do the same, but with a dry microfiber cloth.
- Apply a special blue tape to the phone, which helps remove particles invisible to the eye, and then remove it.
- Take the glass in your hands along the edges and peel off the film with the adhesive layer.
- Bring the cover as close to the screen as possible, align all the cutouts and carefully place it on the display.
- Press lightly in the middle with your finger to start the gluing process automatically.
- Remove air, if any.
Important! Never press the edges of the protective surface if there is still air underneath it. First of all, you need to squeeze it out from there, and only then finally press along the edges.
The kit will help to glue the protection many times faster
How to stick protection on iPhone 7
The process of gluing protection to iPhone 7 is no different from the previous point with the sixth model. Provided that a person doubts his capabilities, it is better to entrust this to a professional. If not, then the process is as follows:
- Clean the screen.
- Remove dust from it with a special tape.
- Place the cover onto the screen carefully and without excessive force.
- Allow the glue to disperse and wipe it, pressing firmly along the edges.
How to stick glass on new models: iPhone 8, iPhone X and XR
With new models, things are the same as with older ones. Modern coating kits may include a slightly different set of devices for cleaning the screen, but in general the process is the same:
- Clean the display with an alcohol wipe or a special cloth.
- Perform additional cleaning with the tape provided in the kit.
- Remove the film and bring the coating close to the touchscreen.
- Align all the cutouts and lower the glass.
- Get rid of air bubbles, if any.
Removal of damaged or old glass must be done carefully
Advantages
How much does it cost to glue glass on an iPhone? It can be completely free if you apply the protective protector yourself. You will only need to purchase it. All gluing accessories are included.
What are the advantages of safety glass? Plastic films cost slightly less than tempered glass. However, they are inferior to the protective properties of protectors. Thanks to the multi-layer structure using tempered glass, the screen of the device is protected. You don't have to worry about your phone falling and breaking. In this case, the tread will suffer. It is worth noting that it is necessary to buy high-quality glass from trusted suppliers. These are the ones that can provide reliable protection for your phone.
How to remove protective glass from iPhone
How to set up an iPhone like new - detailed instructions
It is necessary to remove protective coatings in several cases: if the display needs to be repaired, replacing old glass with new glass, plus re-gluing a surface that is crooked and has a lot of air bubbles.
In any of these cases, it is worth performing the process carefully. The first method is to use special plastic spatulas, sharpened picks, or old credit cards with sharpened edges. The second involves prying up the protection with dental floss or thin fishing line.
The process consists of gradually prying the glass with thin, flat and non-damaging objects. If the protective glass is broken, then you need to start from the edge that suffered the least damage.
Thus, gluing protective film or glass will not be difficult. You just need to be as careful as possible, strictly follow the instructions, or entrust the work to professionals if you are not confident in your abilities.
Service life and operation
The lifespan of the protective glass depends on how you use your phone. If the device is constantly located with sharp objects. for example, in a bag next to your keys, the screen quickly gets scratched. This will not render it unusable, but the aesthetic appearance will be compromised.
Small particles and metal dust can not only clog the ports on the case, but also get under the glass. Dust and dirt accumulate under the unadhered edges. These particles can scratch the display itself.
In general, if you store your smartphone in a closed case, the glass will last for several years, ensuring not only the safety of the gadget, but its aesthetic appearance.
Adviсe
If you want to stick glass on an iPhone for the first time, it is recommended to use some tools. Before removing the protective film from the protector, first try placing the glass directly on the screen. Align it with the Home button and the speaker cutout as a guide. After that, stick the tape on top of the glass, grabbing the side of the phone. Hold the protector during this time so that it does not move. Then flip the protective glass from the glued side to the left or right. Next, remove the film from the inside of the protector. Return it to its original position. Level it out. After this, you can remove the second film from the outer working surface of the protector.
Personal experience
After the drop test, I took the iPhone 13 Pro and walked around with it for a few days - it was interesting to see what impressions I would get from a phone with a very durable protective layer on the screen.
I didn’t check for falls and impacts - this has already been proven and shown previously. I liked that Face ID and sensors work correctly; the X-ONE Extreme 7H Shock Eliminator protective armor film does not affect their operation. The glass has a cutout at the top. Let me remind you that the location of the earpiece speaker has changed in the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro.
A film with an oleophobic coating is a very nice feature, since after two or three months of active use of the iPhone it disappears. And if you use protective glass or film, then by regularly updating the accessory, you can always feel the smooth and pleasant surface.
Let's go further - the film is barely noticeable, I would even say invisible. I remember well how the glass looked on the iPhone X or 11 Pro with sloping edges. The glass was breaking, the edges were crumbling, your finger could feel the boundary between the glass and the screen - what can you do, the costs of curved surfaces. But in iPhone 12 and 13 this problem no longer exists. The armored film is not noticeable; it is almost invisible, but reliable protection for such an expensive screen to repair.
Illustration: Svetlana Chuvileva / Wylsacom Media
I’ll also add that the film glued to the display does not affect the weight of the phone, it is very, very light. In addition, there are no problems with cases, it looks neat and in combination with very thin accessories. In general, the armored film impressed with its durability, which is combined with a minimalist appearance.
I note that scratches still appear on the protective film when using the phone - but this is the cost of a soft, shock-absorbing coating.
Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
Recommendations
If you can’t glue the glass evenly or are afraid that you won’t succeed, you can contact cell phone stores. Sales consultants have encountered such situations more than once and will help you stick on the protective protector without any problems. You can find out how much it costs to replace glass on an iPhone by contacting the manager. These services are paid. You must be presented with a cash receipt for the work done. Regardless of which method you choose, now you know how to glue glass on your iPhone.
Test by combat
First up was a very tough nail driving test using the iPhone 13 Pro. The phone passed the test calmly - the screen is intact and unharmed, only the X-ONE protective armor film was slightly scratched. But behind the scenes there were nerves and worries - I couldn’t even believe that the film, and at the same time the screen of the new iPhone, would withstand.
Another, no less severe test involved experimentally dropping an iPhone on bare cold asphalt. Moreover, we checked on several phones at the same time. For this, we used an iPhone 13 Pro with an X-ONE Extreme 7H Shock Eliminator armor film and a protective case, an iPhone 13 with the same protective armor film, and the iPhone 13 was chosen as a victim. The latter was dropped just like that, without any means of protection.
As a result, the screens of phones with X-ONE armored film were not damaged, but the unfortunate red iPhone 13 suffered from the entire program. The price of the experiment is 79,990 rubles. I don't think anyone will want to test it for themselves. But after a clear demonstration of its useful properties, you immediately want to buy a protective film.
