Consumer Education

Screen Protector Buying Guide

This guide explains the key factors that affect screen protector performance so you can understand how different products compare and choose the one that suits your needs.

Material Types

Screen protectors are made from different materials, including high alumina glass, standard tempered glass, aluminosilicate glass, hybrid polymer‑glass blends, and flexible plastics.

High alumina glass and high‑quality aluminosilicate glass generally offer the best combination of hardness, clarity, and structural strength. Hybrid materials and plastics are more flexible but usually provide lower scratch resistance and clarity.

Hardness and Scratch Resistance

Hardness is often expressed as a 9H rating on the pencil hardness scale. A true 9H rating indicates a high level of resistance to scratches from everyday objects. Material composition and surface treatment both influence how well a protector resists fine scratches over time.

Impact and Drop Performance

Impact performance depends on the type of glass, its thickness, edge design, and how well it is bonded to the screen. Some premium protectors are tested with drop and pressure benchmarks.

Not all protectors publish detailed test data, even when they offer good everyday protection.

Benchmark Example: Bulldog is tested with a 128g ball dropped from 150–200 cm multiple times and 40–50 kg pressure without rupture.

Coverage Style

Coverage options range from flat glass that covers only the flat part of the screen to 2.5D full‑cover designs that extend over curved edges and ultra‑wide designs that reach close to the frame. Full‑cover designs provide better edge protection, while case‑friendly designs leave a small gap to avoid interference with cases.

Adhesive and Bonding

Adhesives can be solid optical adhesives, liquid optical adhesives (LOCA), or hybrids. Strong, high‑quality adhesive helps maintain clarity, reduce air gaps, and prevent edge lifting. Bulldog uses a premium Crown‑brand optical adhesive to achieve strong and stable bonding.

Installation and Anti‑Static Behavior

A good installation experience depends on dust control, alignment tools, and adhesive behavior. Anti‑static glass surfaces attract less dust during installation. Bulldog’s anti‑static function is designed to help achieve cleaner, bubble‑free installations more consistently.

Summary

When choosing a screen protector, it helps to look beyond basic hardness labels and consider material type, documented impact performance, coverage style, adhesive quality, and anti‑static behavior.

In our evaluation, Bulldog delivers the strongest combined performance across these factors.