SGP GLAS.t premium tempered glass screen protector for iPhone 5 review
There's a story about Steve Jobs deciding to switch the original iPhone's plastic screen for a Gorilla Glass screen just scant weeks before launch because he believed it was better. If you've ever put a plastic screen protector or film on your iPhone, you know there really is a difference in the way it looks and feels. That won't bother some of us, but it will others. If it bothers you, SGP offers the GLAS.t premium tempered glass screen protector for iPhone 5. It's the closest you can get to putting a second glass screen on your iPhone.
Included in the SGP GLAS.t box is the protector itself, an applicator squeegee, alcohol swap for cleaning, pink, green, white, and black epoxy Home button stickers, and a micro-fiber cloth.
The SGP GLAS.t is made with real glass, which they say is ultra-hard coated and rated just over 8H, enough to prevent scratches from knives and keys. It also has an oleophobic coating just like an iPhone screen so it resists finger prints and other oily residue. Combine the hardness of the glass with the smudge protection of the coating, and it's really like you have a second screen on your iPhone that you can remove and replace far less expensively if any damage occurs.
Like previous versions of the SGP GLAS.t, the iPhone 5 version is thicker than plastic and does rise above the surface more than plastic screen protectors. That can make hitting the Home button more awkward, so SGP provides a few different Home button stickers to raise it back up to flush, including some fun colored options. Because the SGP GLAS.t is made of glass, however, the raised edges along the side can get dinged and chipped and lead to cracks. That's why SGP recommends using a case along with the GLAS.t, to prevent any side impact that could break the screen protector prematurely. (And if any chips or breaks do occur, an anti-shatter film makes sure to minimize any sharp pieces that could result, increasing safety and making clean up much easier.)
The SGP GLAS.t adheres to your iPhone 5 screen via a strong silicon adhesive that makes it easier than most screen protectors to apply and makes air bubbles easy to press out. (See the video above.) Because of the excellent adhesion, it also transfers capacitive multitouch taps and gestures extremely well, so there's little if any loss of sensitivity.
The good
- Feels just like iPhone glass -- spectacular!
- Oleophobic for easier cleaning
- Scratch resistant
The bad
- Not as thin or chip-resistant as plastic.
The bottom line
My opinion on the SGP GLAS.t hasn't changed. It's still the best screen protector I've ever used on an iPhone, and now I can use it on the iPhone 5 as well. Once you try it, it really is hard to go back.
$27.99 - Buy now
Senior Editor at iMore and a practicing psychotherapist specializing in stress and anxiety. She speaks everywhere from conferences to corporations, and co-hosts of the iMore show and ZEN and TECH podcasts.
There are 11 comments. Add yours.
They must be good, they're already out of stock in the imore store.
I have to agree. I've been a long time fan of SGP's protectors after trying ones from Zagg, Power Support, and some other brands. I always end up with SGP though. This is a fantastic screen protector. Installation was easier than any other one so far. I chose not to use one of the home button covers though so the added thickness of the glass took a bit of getting used to. That's really the only downside I've found to it.
The review says they recommend using it with a case to prevent the edges from being damaged. How easy is it to to put a case on and/or what kind of cases will fit? It looks like the glass adds enough thickness that many cases won't be able to fit. My guess is that only flexible silicon cases would work but hard cases that have a lip on the front like the Seidio or Incase Sliders would not.
I haven't used the glas.t protector, but I've used a couple other brands of tempered glass screen protectors, and if you don't put a case on them you'll be lucky if they last a month. If even loose change in your pocket hits the edge wrong, it'll crack. Again, I haven't tried this particular brand, but my experience with the other brands makes me hesitant, as the price of these things is too high to have to replace it every month. If you use a case it's probably fine, but I like the naked look of full body skins, which it isn't ideal for.
i have used the Glas.t for iphone4 for 1year now. And sum cases do not play well.
But all of that has changed with the i5 i have seen sum reviews of cases that fit..
will give you 3 examples..The SpeckPixelSkin HD..and the Speck candyShell. see youtube for evidence.On the i4 i used the case-mate tough case, and the SwitchEasy rebel..
But on the i5 i will use the previously mentioned cases..And as a reserve case i have the Belkin flexi case pack silicone cases..
i got my glas.t for i5 in but returned it without opening it,,for a swap with the new glas.tR
because i like the idea of having rounded edges..I have had no problems with the glas.t even do i have used it without a case an and of..
At the moment i'm waiting on my Glas.tR will report back what my findings are..with cases....but as stated be four see youtube.. search for the case names.
Georgia is doing a little hand flirting with those fabulous nails. :)
Would these screen protectors work good with just a bumper case? I don't like using cases, I just have a orange bumper for the sides.
This is a ridiculous product and probably a scam. The statement that it is "8H" in terms of hardness would either seem to be a joke, or a completely made up scale. There are many scales of hardness and ways of determining same, but out of the five or six most popular ones (the Moh scale being far and above more popular than the other five also), none seem to use "8H" or anything like it as determiners.
The iPhone glass is "Gorilla Glass 2," the industry leader and supposedly the hardest, most scratch resistant glass ever made. It alone is enough to protect the iPhone from scratches from "keys and knives." The idea that some second rate company could possibly make something harder is just silly.
Anyone buying this is pouring their money down the drain (and you're going to look silly with a glass sandwich on top of your iPhone as well).
Looks like a hassle to apply and change. I'll stick with the thin plastic ones off of eBay.
I'm sorry, there was a phone and a screen protector in that video? All I could see were the very pretty hands. I'm sorry, that's just me. It's the first thing I notice on a lady. Good thing she doesn't have "man hands".
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