The other day I saw a buyer have a nice matte film on his iPhone 13 Pro. Neat, well glued, does not ripple over the content. I ask where did you get it?
It turned out this not a film, but very thin glass by Belkin, purchased from the Apple Store for 1700 rubles. And this is not the limit, there is a hill.
I have never been a fan of expensive display protection, when you can order a hydrogel film on AliExpress for 150 rubles a piece. Or glass for the same money (just delivered).
Below weighed per and vs, I thought, what is the point of overpaying 11 times more and is there any at all. It was difficult to draw a clear conclusion, but I did it.
Comparing Belkin and Miniso kits. First with key difference
American Belkin glass
Belkin Glass Kit Mold
Frosted glass is purchased from the Apple Store. It was planned to install it right there, but Apple consultants offer such a service only with the purchase of the most expensive OtterBox Amplify Glass Glare Guard for 4000 rubles (999 lire).
Therefore, on a black iPhone 13 Pro, we have a matte Belkin Anti-Glare Screen Protector for 1700 rubles.
It comes with an alcohol swab, anti-print microfiber, anti-dust sticker and an individual mold for your iPhone model to set the glass evenly.
Chinese glass from Miniso
I got the cheap one from Miniso, a Japanese store from China for cute household trifles. Accessories are sold there for a penny.
On a silver iPhone 13 Pro, our favorite 2.5D HD transparent screen protector for 150 rubles (40 lire).
The kit comes with an alcohol cloth, microfiber from fingerprints and a dust sticker. It was necessary to make sure that the glass was applied evenly. Even there are no fixation stickers, as in AliExpress products.
Having a comfortable shape does not win back the actual price of Belkin, although it does add ease of installation.
First of all, he laid his cheap glass unevenly, got up and accidentally pushed it behind the granite dust. With Belkin, this is probably impossible.
The cover does not interfere, but Belkin is more confident
The main problem of all Chinese is glasses in their parameters. My friends often came back with the results to stick a new one, because even the original cases from Apple “hooked” the edges and tried air pockets that clogged with dust.
I tried on a leather iPhone case with glass from Miniso, and there were no problems. Sunset gap, but there. If he had left it lying crookedly after the appearance, he would probably have completely ruined it with a case, and he would have had to change it.
The option from Belkin is noticeably smaller, although it still illuminates the entire display. Untouched fields are larger, here even the fattest armor with 3 mm sides will do. In addition, the glass itself is glued evenly and symmetrically due to the installation form from the kit, it will be much more difficult to accidentally pry it off. Take off and put on as much as you want.
Matte equals premium. Apple learned
How chic looks Belkin version. I had a bad experience with frosted insoles, but now I know why.
For the first time I see that anti-glare roughness does not create pixel grain in the image, like cheap counterparts. At the same time, during collection it does not differ from gloss, but at angles it scatters light better and gives better viewing angles. Especially in bright daylight, like in the photos in the post.
Especially suitable for any black iPhone Pro series, because both of its glasses have become the same color and one expensive textures.
I can not say that the prints do not fall out. They are, clearly visible on the off screen. They look more like streaks than greasy smears.
The most magical thing is that it feels like ordinary glossy glass.. The furrows are so shallow that the explosive tension is tactilely indistinguishable from a smooth surface.
This is how the imprint on Belkin frosted glass is written
If you look straight ahead, you can’t find
Prints on the Miniso gloss fall out instantly, but they are not very visible when playing
The Miniso version doesn’t look dramatically worse, but certainly not as good.
Reflection in direct sunlight makes the picture less readable.
But the material was clean and transparent enough that it was not noticed during viewing.
But it collects prints only in this way. Haven’t heard of an oleophobic coating. At the same time, it touches the surface pleasantly, much better than a hydrogel film. It seems to slow down a little, but here it swims nicely.
Expensive glass shocks the thickness
Well film film
I could not (and still find it difficult) that there was no film on this screen. Belkin is excellent from afar, almost like a glove.
If not for the haze, then the first time you might not see that there is something else behind the screen. The finger easily passes by the edges when you make gestures. For example, from the bottom edge with a screen lock.
In Miniso, the glass for 150 rubles is thick, it noticeably rises above the entire iPhone.
The acquisition of the iPhone 12 Pro Max two years ago disappeared from the glasses for this very reason: they noticeably spoil the look of an expensive smartphone, all the magic of flat edges disappears. I switched to hydrogel films, which are not visible after application.
Looks like an opportunity from Miniso usually, not to praise. I’ve come across much older options. The packaging does not lie, the edges are indeed “2.5D”, that is, slightly smoothed.
The films, often used for two years, were always observed as something sharp, and here the pad glides smoothly. Such concern from Japan was not expected.
Only a hydrogel imitates this, and even then not in everything.
If you need thin and cheap, you can buy a film. iPhone as if with a bare display
Anyone who also wants thin protection, but is not ready to feel the money for a plate of melted sand, it is advisable to buy a hydrogel film. After installation, it is completely invisible from afar.
The second non-obvious plus of the hydrogel: you can safely put your smartphone face down and know that it will “stick” to the surface, it will not move anywhere from it. What on expensive glass, what on cheap, this trick does not always roll.
My phone keeps coming back from the couch. In addition, it is somehow more comfortable when a thin layer of plastic, rather than glass, comes into contact with the surface.
But it also has many downsides.
Three months later, the screen with a hydrogel surface looks like this
The texture of the film is always visible
For example, it seems to stick slightly when touched and slows down due to a different surface surface.
You can also immediately see that the image is more “plasticine”, softer. As if there is a treatment between the pixels.
Well, unlike other glasses, the hydrogel film lives much less. During the first month, air currents with dirt are already spreading along the edges. The properties of the characteristics that are so fond of advertising in AliExpress do not exist. All grooves are visible, and after six months the surface becomes similar to a 3D frequency map.
I finally understand why they pay for glass
As a result, glass from Belkin, in my opinion, is better in everything. Apply printed images, look graceful, not as conspicuous as looking at the appearance more, better compatible with cases.. Judging by the reviews, even after 7 months it holds up perfectly. In the photo, he is about one month old, it seems as if he was pasted yesterday.
But I perfectly understand those who do not appreciate the pluses.
Glass for 150 rubles can be bought for oneself, but only every desperate connoisseur and lover of the beautiful will want to give 1,700 rubles or, moreover, 4,000 rubles.
I am not one of them. My glass from Miniso costs 11 times cheaper, and the quality is worse only for its thickness and the fact that it protrudes strongly on the edge. I still wear the phone without a case, it’s not risky to spoil the time protection earlier.
But as I didn’t take glasses on AliExpress, I won’t. They are bad at all.
And if you still want the incredible thinness from Belkin for a penny, try the hydrogel film. True, live coverage is much less. But it will cost 100, not 1700 rubles.
📸 All photos in the article:
Source: Iphones RU
