Hydrogel screen protectors work by absorbing the impact of a fall or collision, which can help to prevent damage to your device's screen.
When it comes to protecting your mobile device screen, there are a few different types available. One of the most popular choices is hydrogel screen protectors, which are made up of a water-based polymer. Hydrogel screen protectors offer a lot of benefits over other materials like tempered glass, including being thinner and more flexible. This makes it less likely to shatter if it's dropped, and it can also be curved to match the contours of your device. Tempered glass protectors are another option for protecting your device's screen. It's made from regular glass that has been treated with heat, making it stronger and more shatter-resistant than regular glass. While tempered glass protectors offer some protection against drops and scratches, but when it is more prone to shattering than hydrogel. They are both great options for protecting your device's screen.
In general, you can put a tempered glass screen protector on top of a hydrogel one. However, since the two materials aren't exactly the same and most likely won't match up very well with each other, it may be hard to get them both to stay in place at once. Generally speaking though, if you want extra protection or plan on using your phone in an area where it might be dropped or scratched (like construction zones), then adding another layer of screen protection like tempered glass is always a good idea. Of course, it is possible that you could damage your hydrogel screen protector by putting another one on top of it, but this will depend greatly on which type of tempered glass is used and how well it is applied.
Hydrogel screen protectors work by absorbing the impact of a fall or collision, which can help to prevent damage to your device's screen. They also protect against scratches and other forms of wear and tear. A hydrogel screen protector has self-healing technology, which means it can repair itself from minor scratches. So, a hydrogel protector provides maximum protection against scratches.
Hydrogel screen protectors provide a smooth experience because of their elastic nature, as they are made of TPU materials (thermoplastic polyurethane). They have many advantages, starting from the simple installation process, ease of removal of air bubbles, and resistance to fingerprints. There are multiple benefits to using a hydrogel screen protector, including:
Being thin and flexible, making them less likely to shatter if the mobile device is dropped.
Able to curve to match the contours of curved screens because of its elastic nature.
Easy to apply and remove.
Able to absorb the impact of falls and collisions.
Blocking out scratches and other forms of wear and tear.
Tempered glass screen protectors are made of many layers like anti-shattered film and oleophobic nano-coating, which prevents oil smudging and fingerprints. Tempered glass screen protectors work by creating a barrier between your device's screen and the ground, which means that if it collides with the ground while you're using it, chances are that there won't be any damage to your original screen. They are also effective at blocking out scratches and other forms of wear and tear. However, tempered glass protectors are not as flexible or thin as hydrogel screen protectors. This means that if the screen glass is dropped on hard surfaces like tile or pavement, the tempered glass breaks.
Being thicker than hydrogel makes them more durable even when dropped on harder surfaces.
Able to protect from scratches and other forms of wear and tear as it has the highest hardness level in the market.
Oleophobic coating makes it resistant to fingerprints and can be easily cleaned with a soft cloth.
The best screen protector when it comes to clarity, providing a crystal clear view for your mobile screen.
Easy to apply and remove.
As with any other product, tempered glass screen protectors do have some cons, including the below.
More likely to shatter than hydrogel.
Not being as flexible as hydrogel protectors so less likely to curve to the edges of curved screens than hydrogel protectors.
Thickness of tempered glass might slightly affect the touch sensitivity of your mobile screen.
The price of hydrogel and tempered glass screen protectors can vary depending on the brand, type, and size. Hydrogel screen protectors are generally more affordable than tempered glass.
PET is a type of plastic film that is designed to protect your device's screen from scratches, fingerprints, dirt buildup, and other forms of wear and tear. It can also help absorb the shock or impact of falls or collisions. Though it may not be as effective as hydrogel or tempered glass screen protector at blocking out scratches, some people find that it offers just enough protection for them. It's also very thin and affordable, which makes it more appealing than hydrogel for some users.
Being thin and flexible, so less likely to shatter if dropped
Easy to apply and remove
Able to absorb the impact of falls and collisions
Blocks out scratches and other forms of wear and tear
Not being as effective as hydrogel protectors or tempered glass at blocking out scratches.
Fingerprints and dirt can build up over time, making the screen protector harder to see through.
May not be as durable as some of the other screen protectors available, so it is not the best option to give maximum protection.
If you use a phone case, then it doesn't matter whether you have a hydrogel screen protector or tempered glass protector, because your device will be guarded against falls no matter what type of screen protector you have installed. You may even want to consider installing a thin plastic film to guard against scratches when the phone is in the case.
If you are buying a new mobile, take a look at this handy guide from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.