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Case, tempered glass or holder: kitting out your phone properly

A phone is expensive to repair, and it is often a small accessory that keeps it out of the repair shop: a case that absorbs the fall, a glass protector that takes the scratch instead of the screen, a holder that keeps it out of your hand in the car or on the bike. You still need to choose the right model. Here is how to find your way, and the mistakes that mean ordering again.

First of all: know your phone's exact model

A case or a screen protector is cut for one specific device. An “iPhone 13” and an “iPhone 13 Pro” do not have the same camera module; a Galaxy S24 and an S24 Ultra do not have the same screen. A protector designed for a similar model will not fit.

  • On iPhone: Settings, General, About, “Model Name” line.
  • On Android: Settings, About phone. The commercial name appears there, often with the model reference.

On our product pages, the model is chosen in the selector before adding to the basket: double-check it.

Tempered glass or film: which to choose?

  • Tempered glass is rigid. It protects against scratches and some impacts: when it cracks, you replace it, and the screen stays intact. It is the most common choice.
  • Black-edged glass goes right to the edges of the front. On an edge-to-edge screen, the black border hides the area where the glass ends, instead of leaving a visible ring.
  • Hydrogel film is flexible. It hugs curved screens, where rigid glass tends to lift at the edges. On the other hand, it protects against everyday scratches, not against a fall onto the screen.
  • Privacy glass keeps the screen readable from the front and darkens it as soon as it is viewed from the side: useful on the train, the underground or in meetings. The screen looks slightly darker, even from the front.
  • Matte glass diffuses light instead of reflecting it: fewer reflections in the sun, fewer fingerprints.

Think about the camera lens too: it sticks out from the back and touches the table first. A small glass protector fitted over the module can be changed when it gets scratched; the lens cannot.

Fitting a screen protector properly

  • Work in a room with little dust, for example a bathroom after a hot shower: the steam makes the dust settle.
  • Clean the screen with the wipe, dry it with the cloth, then remove the last specks of dust with the sticker supplied.
  • Line the glass up with the cut-outs at the top before letting it come down. An air bubble can be pushed out from the centre towards the edge; a speck of dust, however, only comes out by lifting the corner.

Which case?

  • Reinforced corners: the thickness is concentrated at the corners, where impacts most often land.
  • Full-body case with film: it encloses the device on all sides. More protective, it is also thicker and can get in the way of wireless charging or a magnetic holder.
  • A lip that rises above the screen: when the phone falls flat, face down, it is the lip that touches, not the glass.

Which holder, and for what use?

  • In the car, on the air vent: the simplest. Check that the slats of your vent are rigid enough; some models with a spiral hook also hold on round vents.
  • In the car, on the dashboard: with a clamp, on a suction base or on a non-slip gel base. Gel and suction need a fairly flat surface.
  • In every case, position the holder so that it does not block the road, a display or any of the vehicle's controls.
  • On a bike or motorbike: mechanical clamping, with claws or grips, holds better than a magnet on a bumpy track. Measure the width of the phone, case included, before ordering.
  • At the desk: a folding stand lifts the screen to eye level. A heavy or metal base stops it tipping over when you touch the screen.
  • In the hand: a ring or a kickstand on the back of the phone. Magnetic versions need a phone with built-in magnets (iPhone 12 and later) or a magnetic case. Adhesive versions are best stuck on the case, and prevent wireless charging.

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