Why covers and protective glasses on a smartphone are ridiculous. Recipes for choosing the right smartphone: which material is better? Glass cell phone

Yesterday - a bed, today - a mobile phone. Obviously, glass is becoming more and more popular material for design inventions. But if in the case of the bed, the glass was used the most real, then for conceptual mobile phones a special, "smart" glass is required.

The idea to create an unusual table, called "Glassy Glassy", belongs to the designer Mac Funamizu. He is confident that the phones of the future will be thin, light, transparent plates, enclosed in a thin frame, or even without it. However, the author of the concept does not yet know how exactly to implement the plan.
And Mac Funamizu dreams that a piece of "smart" glass can be both a display and a keyboard, obeying the wishes of its owner. When folded, the device will have to turn into a two-sided display, and the wallpaper pictures decorating each of them will create a stunning 3D effect.

Needless to say, the project of glass phones is very nice, despite the fact that it is still far from implementation, because modern technologies are not yet capable of fulfilling all the ideas of a designer-dreamer. And from the point of view of practicality, they are unlikely to be convenient in everyday use: glass, even high-tech, is still an extremely fragile material and can be broken or scratched. So there is no talk of a quick implementation of this idea yet. But you can already admire the outlandish devices, albeit in visualization, right now.

But at the same time, they are also boring. It is rather difficult to build something special out of metal, so it turns out that almost all metal models on the back are similar to each other. Glass is another matter: smartphones that have both the front and the back made of Gorilla Glass or something similar look very fresh and pretty. Yes, there are certain questions about the reliability of this material (nevertheless, it is much easier to damage glass than metal), but this is a price to pay for that very beauty and uniqueness.

The first smartphone with a glass body was released by Apple - we are talking about the iPhone 4 of the 2010 model.

Then there was some lull, and even the Cupertino company itself switched to metal in the following devices, but by 2017 glass models appeared in the lines of most manufacturers. In this article, we have collected ten decent smartphones in transparent cases.

(11,990 rubles, glass manufacturer is not specified)

The U20 model is analogous. The main difference between them is precisely in the case material: in the latter case we are talking about metal, but in the case of Meizu U20 we have glass. The device is quite good for its price: a high-quality Full HD screen with a diagonal of 5.5 inches, a 3260 mAh battery, a rather nimble MediaTek chipset with an 8-core central processor.

Alternatives from the Meizu line: - the essence is the same, but more compact and slightly cheaper.

(51,990 rubles, Gorilla Glass 3 and Gorilla Glass 5)

LG used glass for the first time in this model, earlier it gave preference to plastic (G, and), leather () and metal (). Curiously, the front of the smartphone is covered with Gorilla Glass 3, and the back is covered with more modern Gorilla Glass 5. The most interesting thing is that the G6 complies with the American military standard MIL-STD-810G. This means that the smartphone can be dropped on a hard surface from a height of a meter, and the body will not fly apart into thousands of fragments. It is clear that it is better not to experiment (out of sin), and yet this fact enhances the feeling of reliability.

Alternatives from the LG line: absent.

(24 990 rubles, Gorilla Glass 3)

Perhaps one of the best mid-range smartphones available today. On the back there is a dual camera with shooting quality similar to the flagship, in front there is an excellent 5.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Inside - quite a powerful 8-core platform Kirin 950. Plus RAM is not 3 GB, as one might assume, but all 4. In general, almost a flagship at the price of the middle class. And yes, the blue version of the Honor 8 is better than the rest. Just remember.

Alternatives from the Huawei line: the same, for example. Simpler and cheaper. And here is the third model of this family, not glass, but metal. So you should only look in its direction if the glass case is not important for you.

(54,990 rubles, Gorilla Glass 5)

The most flagship flagship to date. It contains all possible and impossible options - we will not even list them, they are described in the most detailed way in and in, dedicated to the announcement of the "eights". And yes, don't be intimidated by the lack of a dual camera on the back: the Galaxy S8 (as well as the Galaxy S7) can blur the background in pictures with one lens.

Alternatives from the Samsung line: also glass - and quite actual. Moreover, the housings are also made of this material. And they are even cheaper than "sevens". In general, Samsung has a wagon and a small cart.

(47 990 rubles, Gorilla Glass 5)

This device is interesting for the presence of an additional screen intended for displaying notifications and service information (HTC clearly spied on the idea). As for the rest, HTC U Ultra - as well as LG G6 - can be ranked among the flagships of the previous generation: these devices use not the latest, but a little outdated (though never slow). Well, one more thing: there is a special version of HTC U Ultra, in which the memory capacity has been increased from 64 to 128 GB, and Gorilla Glass 5 has been replaced with sapphire glass. This version costs 54,990 rubles in Russia.

Alternatives from the HTC line: model. Yes, it does not have a second screen, and the characteristics are simpler, but it costs significantly less. Offering exactly the same design.

(19,990 rubles, glass manufacturer is not specified)

By smartphone standards, this is already an old man (announced in February 2016), but the old man is cheerful. Largely because today the official Xiaomi Mi 5 costs only 19,990 rubles, offering for this money both a glass case and a still quite productive platform, a high-quality screen, and a good camera. And also Xiaomi Mi 5 for more than a year managed to cure childhood diseases, which are often found in fresh models of the Chinese company. In general, quite an option.

Alternatives from the Xiaomi line: a new flagship, which is not yet officially on sale in Russia, and a huge one, which is still available to us. The latter, however, is not entirely glass - the back panel of the device is ceramic. But the tactile sensation is the same as glass.

(about $ 400 on AliExpress, Gorilla Glass without specifying the generation)

Despite the name, the screen of the model is not curved, like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones, but the usual flat one. The chipset is Snapdragon 821, that is, nothing unusual, but the amount of RAM pleases: as much as 6 GB. (However, there is a version with 4 GB, it is a little cheaper.) In general, the device is interesting, but remember that the owner of ZUK - Lenovo company - brings only the model to us. But all other ZUK devices, including Edge, are not supplied to Russia.

Alternatives from the ZUK line: the same . But this is all temporary, soon the ZUK brand.

(26,990 rubles, DragonTrail)

On the pleasant side, we note the AMOLED screen and virtual reality glasses included in the package. Not very pleasant - the Snapdragon 652 chipset (it is weak for this price) and the lack of a fingerprint scanner. As for the rest, we repeat, the device is pleasant and unusual in its own way. Just what are the JBL speakers, which go to both the front and rear. Thanks to this, a) the smartphone is very loud and b) you can talk on it by putting it to your ear, at least in front, at least in the back. And even upside down.

Alternatives from the Alcatel line: worth looking at. It is both more compact and cheaper.

(from $ 649, Gorilla Glass 4)

Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL models have large glass inserts on the rear panels, so you can't tell right away which material prevails. This is what makes the devices interesting. And in general they are interesting in many ways: direct Android updates from Google, good cameras, long battery life and all that. There is essentially one minus. More precisely, two: first - they are not officially supplied to Russia, second - they are not that very cheap. Much more expensive than models of the Nexus family, which have gained some popularity primarily due to low prices.

Alternatives from the Google ruler: absent. The only models in the line.

Bonus: (if only we knew Gorilla Glass 5)

Sony was one of the pioneers of glass smartphones - just think of the 2013 Xperia Z. However, at some point, the company returned to plastic and metal. Only the flagship Xperia XZ Premium will be made of glass, which will go on sale in the summer and it is not clear at what price. However, there will be those who want to buy in any case: the device will be one of the first on the Snapdragon 835 platform and the second with a 4K screen (the first, by the way, is also Sony).

Alternatives from the Sony range: there are no modern ones, but let us not list the old models.

Currently, smartphones are valued not only for performance, but also for quality. The main thing in smartphones is resistance to drops, scratches, water. Therefore, protective glass is gaining popularity. The most famous protective glass is Gorilla Glass. It is used in the manufacture of telephones. Protective glass is also used in tablets.

According to statistics, each person drops his device about 10 times a year. For so many falls, you can smash your tablet / phone to smithereens. Gorilla Glass really helps you deal with the fear of breaking your phone.

For example, Nokia Lumia smartphones have Gorilla coverage. The smartphone falls at a distance of 1.5 meters onto the asphalt, but remains completely intact. This is far from the only example proving the effectiveness of such protection. A large number of experiments have been carried out to test the effect of glass. It successfully passed all the tests. Many users are specifically looking for smartphones with this particular coverage.

The first mobile phone with such a protective glass is Nokia N8 (2008). It became especially important to use protection on the screen after the appearance of touchscreen phones. This is because the touch screen is highly susceptible to mechanical damage. This glass is made from aluminum silicates.

There are currently six generations of Gorilla Glass:

1. Gorilla Glass 1(2008).
2. Gorilla Glass 2(year 2012). The glass is 20% thinner and is difficult but possible to scratch.
3. Gorilla Glass 3(year 2013). It is 40% more resistant to mechanical damage, 50% more resistant to impact.
4. Gorilla Glass 4(2015).
5. Gorilla Glass 5 falls without damage from a distance of up to 1.6 m.
6. Gorilla Glass 6 has two times better performance than the fifth generation. At the moment, glass of this generation is the best, most reliable and strongest. But the manufacturers don't stop there! They keep looking for new combinations, experimenting to create even more perfect glass.

Many manufacturers of both expensive and budget brands use Gorilla Glass, which has proven itself to be excellent.

List of budget smartphones with Gorilla Glass protection:

1. Ulefone Amor

A budget phone for people who love extreme sports. The smartphone is able to withstand a drop from a height, immersion in water. There are metal inserts in the case, which attracts many people.

Main characteristics:

• Screen: 4.7 inches.
• OS: Android 6.0.
• RAM: 3 GB.
• Main camera: 13 MP.
• Selfie camera: 5MP.
• Battery: 3000mAh.

2. DOOGEE Mix Lite

A budget edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass phone. It stands out for its low price and beautiful frameless design. The screen is large enough, but it is comfortable for the user to hold in his hand.

Main characteristics:

• 5.2-inch screen.
• OS: Android 6.0.
• RAM: 2 GB.
• Main camera: 13 MP.
• Selfie camera: 8MP.
• Battery: 3080 mAh.

A very nice phone that looks expensive. The black metal body lends strength to the design. A real courageous smartphone is suitable for life in a metropolis, for long journeys! Coating the screen Gorilla Glass 3. You can use two SIM cards.

Main characteristics:

• 5.0-inch screen.
• OS: Android 6.0.
• RAM: 2 GB.
• Main camera: 8 MP.
• Selfie camera: 2 MP.
• Battery: 3050 mAh.

Frameless smartphone with a fingerprint scanner. Has all the necessary qualities of a modern smartphone.

Main characteristics:

• 5.5-inch screen.
• OS: Android 7.0.
• RAM: 3 GB.
• Main camera: 13 MP.
• Selfie camera: 13 MP.
• Battery: 3000mAh.

Chinese frameless smartphone with dual camera. Differs in excellent quality and inexpensive price.

Main characteristics:

• 5.7-inch screen.
• OS: Android 7.0.
• RAM: 2 GB.
• Main camera: 8 MP.
• Selfie camera: 5MP.
• Battery: 3000mAh.

6.Xiaomi Redmi 5

Smartphone with an incredibly beautiful design in a modern style. A slim smartphone that meets all the requirements of the users.

Main characteristics:

• 5.7-inch screen.
• OS: Android 7.1.2.
• RAM: 2/3 GB.
• Main camera: 12 MP.
• Selfie camera: 5MP.
• Battery: 3300 mAh.

A beautiful thin smartphone, the body combines metal and plastic, which especially captivates buyers. The screen is covered with Gorilla Glass 3. Supports two SIM cards.

Main characteristics:

• 5.5-inch screen.
• OS: Android 6.0.
• RAM: 4 GB.
• Main camera: 13 MP.
• Selfie camera: 8MP.
• Battery: 3000mAh.

8.Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

One of the new smartphones from the Chinese company. Very stylish and beautiful, it has a scanner of an individual hand pattern. Aluminum body with plastic parts. The huge screen opens up great technical possibilities for watching movies, TV series or just video. Several colors allow everyone to choose a smartphone to their liking.

Main characteristics:

• 5.99-inch screen.
• OS: Android 7.1.2.
• Memory: 3/4 GB.
• Main camera: 12 MP.
• Selfie camera: 5MP.
• Battery: 4000mAh.

One of the essential components of our smartphones is glass, which covers the display and protects it from bumps and scratches. Glasses are different. We will try to tell you if they differ from each other, and how big the difference is. If there is a difference, which glass is the safest.

Gorilla Glass

Glass from the company has existed since 2007. In 2012, the second generation Gorilla Glass was introduced. A year later, the third generation appeared. Most flagship smartphones today use Gorilla Glass 5, introduced in 2016. Sixth generation glass was recently announced.

The glass making process does not change much from year to year. Glass becomes stronger by being in a molten salt bath at 400 degrees Celsius. Potassium ions create a layer that adds strength to the glass.

The scratch resistance does not change from year to year, but the shock and drop resistance grows with each generation of Gorilla Glass. According to Corning, the latest generation of their glass can withstand up to 15 drops from a height of one meter. That's twice as many drops as Gorilla Glass 5 can handle.

Dragontrail

Another popular glass comes from the Japanese manufacturer Asahi. It can be called the second most popular. There are Dragontrail, Dragontrail X and Dragontrail Pro. The last variety was released in 2016. No new glass from Asahi has been announced yet.

Tempered safety glass

There are glasses that many stick on over the main glass of their smartphone. It is difficult to be sure that all of these glasses are made to the same standard, but hopefully most of them are tempered at 600 degrees Celsius. These tempered glasses are the most readily available.

Sapphire crystal

The least available are sapphire crystals. They are made from cultured crystals in a barrel that is exposed to 2,200 degrees Celsius. The process takes about 16-17 days. This is why sapphire crystals are so expensive. Sapphire has a Mohs hardness of 9, while Gorilla Glass can withstand scratches from objects with a Mohs 5 or less.

Which glass is better

There is practically no difference in scratch resistance between Corning and Asahi glasses. Sapphire crystal can only be scratched by a diamond, and this is where it wins. Regular tempered glass will lose the battle.

When it comes to flexibility and strength, this is not the case. Sapphire crystal will shatter rather than bend. Gorilla Glass is significantly more flexible. This means that the glass is able to withstand higher pressure. Corning assures that the sapphire crystal will not be able to withstand 73 kilograms above it, while their solution is kept under 195 kilograms. Dragontrail glasses catch up with Corning and bypass sapphire crystals. Tempered safety glass doesn't even need to be considered.

And it turns out that you have to choose between more scratch resistance and more shock tolerance. Manufacturers today are choosing a lower cost and installing glasses from Corning and Asahi. Sapphire crystals are not used in all products, and they are not necessarily used to protect the screen, but many consumers would not mind having a smartphone that does not scratch the screen. True, smartphone users have found their way out. They buy smartphones with Gorilla Glass and cover it with tempered protective glass.

A metal smartphone looks solid and expensive. So it was before, so it is to this day, although the metal has already descended from the top segment to the budget one and, in general, does not add much value to the smartphone.

pros

1. Looks expensive. If you have a metal smartphone, then you are definitely not a poor man. At least many will think that way.
2. Fashionable. Metal has become the main material of current industrial design. It is a thing in itself. If the body is made of metal, then no additional elements and stress of design thought are required. Metal is beautiful and so.
3. Thermal conductivity. The metal is cold. The same feeling when you hold your smartphone and feel how it pleasantly cools your palm. Tactile sensation is also important.

From these advantages, a feeling of high cost is created.

Minuses

1. Bends and deforms. Moreover, in order to bend the smartphone, you don't need to mock it at all - just put it in the back pocket of your jeans and sit down. Thus, many smartphones turn into the iPhone 6 Plus. Remember what a bendgate is? Exactly.
2. Shields. Metal does not transmit radio waves. LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth - all these signals are not easy to break through the metal case, so you have to make ugly external leads for the antennas. For the first time this became clear even under Steve Jobs, when Apple released the iPhone 4 and it did not catch the network well. A few years later, Samsung stepped on the same rake, launching the Galaxy A line of all-metal smartphones. The new products received the network 20% worse than the plastic Samsung Galaxy S5. Also, the all-metal body does not allow wireless charging.
3. Thermal conductivity. The plus easily turns into a minus. When powerful metal smartphones are working at full strength, the case can get hot enough to fry eggs on it!

So, the paradox: the very material that makes a smartphone premium does not allow premium functions to be implemented in the device. Yes, and bends!

Plastic

LG G Flex. theverge.com

Plastic smartphones can be of any color and, in general, any shape, for example, curved, which was at one time LG G Flex. Also, plastic opens the way to a variety of finishes. Glossy, matte, leather-like, metal-like - with plastic, designers get absolute freedom. Despite the fact that plastic is cheaper than other materials, the smartphone itself can be more expensive than metal and even glass competitors.

pros

1. Price. Plastic smartphones are cheaper to manufacture.
2. Elasticity. In general, plastic is a very durable material, it is resistant to bending, twisting, and perfectly absorbs impact energy. Sony has used this property in many smartphones, such as the Sony Xperia Z5. Its body was made of metal and the corners were plastic. When the smartphone fell to an angle, the energy was not transferred to the internal components of the device, but was extinguished by plastic. Note that complex composite materials, such as fiberglass-reinforced plastic, have even greater strength. Designed for the military industry, it is now being used to build smartphones as well. For example, the new Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact.
3. Doesn't shield. Plastic perfectly conducts radio waves, regardless of thickness and strength. That is why we see plastic cables for antennas in metal smartphones.
4. Color. Plastic can be of any color, and this was used by Nokia, releasing orange, light green and yellow smartphones.

Plastic gives the manufacturer more freedom when creating a design, and besides, the material is interesting enough to be used even in expensive top-end smartphones.

Minuses

1. Feels cheap. Many plastic smartphones are perceived as uncomplicated crafts, although they can be expensive.
2. Looks cheap. Making a plastic smartphone look expensive is not so easy.
3. Colored. Plastic may change color on contact with other colored surfaces. For example, a white smartphone, having been in a jeans pocket, can become denim.

As a rule, a plastic smartphone is a cheap device in every sense.

Glass

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

For the first time glass appeared in the iPhone 4 and Nexus 4, but the real boom began after the release of the Samsung Galaxy S6. Glass smartphones look expensive, expensive, but fragile. Glass backdrops break just as well as glass screens. Even with Gorilla Glass 5.

pros

1. Doesn't shield. Glass does not interfere with radio waves, therefore, unlike metal smartphones, glass does not need any plastic inserts for antennas.
2. Looks awesome. Glass allows you to create beautiful visual effects, such as a sense of depth, change the color of the panel depending on the angle of incidence of light, catch light spots and reflect them in the form of rays.
3. Feels expensive. Like metal smartphones, glass smartphones pleasantly cool the palm, delight with the smoothness of the surface and awaken the feeling that you are holding a luxury item in your hand.

A glass smartphone is usually an expensive device with a claim to premium status.

Minuses

1. Fragile. No one has yet succeeded in creating indestructible glass, so dropping a glass smartphone is strictly prohibited.
2. Scratched. It doesn't matter what the manufacturer says, but the glass is covered with scratches once or twice.
3. Slippery. Glass smartphones slip out of your hands like an ice cube.

You need to be extremely careful with a glass smartphone, because it is not only an expensive thing, but also very fragile.

So which is better?

Aesthetes will love glass smartphones, no matter how fragile they are. Plastic is versatile, found in all segments and can be presented both in the form of a budget material and an expensive high-tech composite. But metal is the worst thing that can be. It deforms and does not transmit radio waves. However, it is metal smartphones that are especially popular today.