[Nexus 7 (2013) Accessories] lacrossev:
Hey guys, having been a die-hard fan of SGP ultra crystal screen protectors for all the devices in the home (Evo LTE, One, iPhone 4(s), Asus TF101), I was a little disappointed to learn from another thread here that SGP didn't have plans to bring their tempered glass screen protector to our shiny new N7 FHDs. I had checked out the SGP model on my friend's Note 2 and decided that on my next device i would give one of these a try. Luckily i-Blason came to the rescue with their version of a tempered glass screen protector and here's my review, I hope it will be helpful and perhaps answer some questions.

The protector was packaged in a plastic folder frame and came in a padded envelope. On the inside it had the regular microfiber square, squeegee, and the protector itself in a paper sleeve as well as the protective plastic on both sides.

Immediately I noticed how much thicker and stiffer it was compared to the dry apply plastic ones. I tried to flex it a bit and of course being at that thickness, it did have a small amount of give but overall pretty hard. I tried to get a picture of how thick it is compared to an SGP Ultra Crystal for the HTC One that i had lying around, but the photos don't really illustrate too well the difference between the two. The first is the i-Blason, second is the SGP.

Looking at the screen protector itself I thought there were holes for the camera and the sensors, however it was actually the case that it was actually just thinner at those parts in the back, the front is one continuous piece with no holes in it. This came as a surprise to me as I was expecting holes, but given how thick it is and its stiffness, it was a good call on their part.

I used the hinge method, and scotch taped any particles of dust out of the way. My house is pretty dusty so it actually seemed like the hover method might have worked better, ymmv. Once you get it in place, due to its stiffness its actually pretty easy to lift up without worrying about bending the corner.

I got it on there properly aligned, but as you can see in some of the photos there are some spots where the adhesive just didn't seem to want to stick too well. I've had this issue in the past with a few of my SGP protectors, so i would just guess its the silicone adhesive not being completely uniform on the underside. The issue is cosmetic and does not affect the display sensitivity or the quality once the screen is lit.

Heres some photos of the 4 corners after I was done. The cut was very precise and everything lined up perfectly.

Heres a picture of it from profile after installation. I am slightly worried about the fact that it does stick up a bit from the bezel, but given that my friend's Note 2 is pocketed and his is just as thick, there shouldn't be any problems with lifting, especially since I intend on having it in a case when I'm out and about. Something to think about though if you're the kind of user that doesn't like cases ruining the looks of your device.

And finally, I tried my best to take before and after photos of the same screen on max brightness. We all know that trying to take a photo of a screen is usually a futile endeavor in regards to showing distortion of screen protectors, but what the hell here they are for the sake of completeness.

Can you tell which is which? I can't so i guess thats a good thing.

I don't think I've seen many complaints if at all regarding the fact that the screen is too slippery. I know that at this dpi and this smaller screen size typing is more difficult as the already oversensitive screen registers even the tiniest movements as a swipe. This screen protector actually brings that slipperiness down, to about the same as all my other devices naked. Looking forward to using my device more now as I didn't care too much for the super slippery glass. I was in an excited hurry to write up this review as I know there are others that were curious about his product and I'm willing to bet they probably have only a smidge more patience than I.

TL;DR: I was skeptical of this screen protector as I have never heard of nor had any experience with the brand, however I wanted to try something new, and i'm glad it turned out well so far. If i had to give this thing a score, it would have to be a 4.5 out of 5 due to the spots on the screen that didn't quite stick completely and thus introduced some visual artifacts.

PROS:

Thick, the hardness probably won't do much against a drop on the side, but it might protect it better than a dry apply plastic protector and not have the orange peel or rubber feeling of wet apply protectors.

Easy to install: The stiffness makes installation via the hinge method a breeze. Lifting corners to get rid of dust after you get it aligned is also painless as theres little risk of bending it like with plasic protectors.

More scratch resistant? I didn't want to try it with a key test, but i'm hoping given its 8H rating that it will maintain its pristine appearence longer than my SGPs, which admittedly scratch when you breathe on them.

Its glass, you're basically putting another screen on top of your screen, thats like strapping another car in front of your car to protect its front.

CONS:

Price: when I bought this on amazon it was 20 bucks, it has since gone up to 25. Last time i checked the SGP crystal clear is priced at 13 per piece on their website. This is almost twice the price, but if it lasts through the life of 2 SGPs and still looks awesome, its totally worth it.

Thick: Its primary strength may prove to be a weakness. The screen protector MAY be subject to lateral forces which may start to lift it, time will tell.

Doesn't stick perfectly at some places: This could be my fault for having lifted it a few times to pick up dust, or it could be its too stiff and doesn't want to conform, or less than perfect adhesive application at the factory. Whosever fault it is, the problem is cosmetic and in no way affects the operation of the N7.

Not prime eligible: Not really a knock on the product itself, but i had to wait quite awhile for this.

Having just had a few hours with it, I can say that I would recommend this to any one who wants to try a glass screen protector. They could have priced it more ridiculously, but at the current price point it seems fair for what you're getting.

UPDATE: Those tiny little spots are gone now that ive spent a little bit of time applying regular finger pressure on them for a few minutes.