[Update: Google certified] Hands-on: Whitestone Dome Glass for Pixel 7 and seven Pro [Video]

Typically when individuals purchase a case for his or her brand-new smartphone, you’ll observe up with a display protector. Probably the most premium choice for many Android telephones together with the newly launched Pixel 7 and seven Pro comes from Korean agency Whitestone, and its Dome Glass is now accessible for Google’s handsets. Are they well worth the asking value? We’ve examined them to search out out.

Costly safety: What’s the deal?

Priced at roughly $50 for a two-pack – that’s round $20-25 per display protector. Within the chilly mild of day, that appears positively extortionate. When you think about {that a} Pixel 7 or 7 Pro display substitute starts at double or triple that cost, it’s simple to say that the prevention is cheaper than the treatment.

One of many main causes that folks swear by Whitestone Dome Glass is that it ought to higher mimic or really feel just like the high-quality glass display you’ll discover on the Pixel 7 and seven Pro shows. It’s true that every display protector does really feel like a step up over most inexpensive alternate options. I’d be hesitant to say it feels precisely just like the “real” show glass, however the Dome Glass feels about as shut as you’ll be able to presumably get.

[Update]: For the primary time, the Whitestone Dome Glass is an official “Made by Google” certified brand. There are a variety of different producers which have achieved related certification lately, however beforehand the official supported screen protector list has lacked Whitestone. Whereas we’ve got examined the tempered glass coverings for a number of years with no points, Google assessments to make sure that the in-display fingerprint scanner works appropriately and precisely.

Curiously, this doesn’t embody final 12 months’s Pixel 6 collection. Nonetheless, you probably have the Pixel 7 or 7 Pro, there may be further peace of thoughts as Google recommends the Whitestone Dome Glass – as can we right here at 9to5Google.

The adhesion course of is likely one of the key differentiators. Whitestone’s UV bonding course of makes use of liquid adhesive that’s utilized on to your smartphone display earlier than you place the precise glass display protector on prime. Due to that, if you would like simplicity and low prices, this isn’t the display accent to contemplate.

Undoubtedly another excuse that Whitestone jacks up the value is the lifetime guarantee supplied with every display protector. With exception of some different manufacturers, there are only a few display protector producers that supply a lifetime assure on any product, not to mention one thing that’s proper within the firing line like a display protector.

Set up course of

As talked about above, slapping a display protector in your smartphone show is usually a course of that’s fast and straightforward. Fairly just a few producers have began to offer guides or frames that will help you obtain excellent display alignment. Whitestone goes a step additional with the Dome Glass, because it requires adhesive liquid and UV mild to bond along with your Pixel 7 or 7 Pro show.

Following the directions requires a bit of persistence and, in some components, a gentle hand, however the finish result’s, at the least in our earlier expertise, value a bit of further effort. We’re not going to dive too deeply into the intricacies as Whitestone has a full in-depth information for final 12 months’s mannequin, which is an identical to the Pixel 7, and you could find (and observe alongside) beneath:

Right here’s every thing that comes within the field:

• UV curing mild (USB-C)
• Whitestone Dome Glass display protector
• Adhesive
• Adhesive absorption pads
• Mounting body
• Place bridge for adhesive
• Pin loaders
• Speaker masking movie
• Connector masking movie
• Alcohol wipes
• Cleansing fabric
• Mud removing stickers
• Display protector removing card
• Digicam module protector movie

One improve that’s vital is the transfer away from a micro USB-powered UV curing LED mild to a USB-C appropriate choice. It’s sure to be useful to have the ability to use your telephone charger cable fairly than a special older customary. One thing we must always be aware is that should you do require a substitute, a UV curing mild is not going to be included. With that in thoughts, we’d counsel holding on to this simply in case you ever want to assert towards Whitestone’s lifetime guarantee.

The match and end

When you’ve ever bought a Whitestone Dome Glass earlier than, then you’ll seemingly have some kind of concept of what to anticipate. The tempered glass reaches virtually all the best way to the sides however with sufficient room so that each one official and 99.9% of third-party circumstances will match with out pinching or overlapping the sides.

For a telephone just like the Pixel 7 with a flat-screen, this isn’t an issue however for curved screens — as discovered on the Pixel 7 Pro — a number of the edges are ever so barely uncovered. Which means actually full safety from angled drops isn’t going to be supplied as a result of you’ll be able to really feel the very edges of your show beneath. A direct nook drop might nonetheless show deadly for any curved display, so this isn’t a unfavorable. That stated, the majority or “main area” of your display is roofed and guarded and ought to be protected from direct dings, scuffs, and scrapes.

Provided you carefully observe the in-depth set up course of, the match and end you’ll attain in your smartphone is genuinely second to none. The “Dome Glass” additionally has its personal oleophobic coating that ought to deflect dust, grime, and fingerprints virtually in addition to the unique show. At first, your telephone might really feel a bit of sticky and smudges will likely be fairly seen, however simply use a microfiber cleansing fabric and any leftover alcohol pads to wipe away any residue and grease.

When fitted, the glass feels clean and like actual glass fairly than a muted, matte, tough, or cheesy texture that some low-cost alternate options are likely to edge towards. Given the issues many confronted with the Pixel 6 collection in-display fingerprint scanner, it’s in all probability good to know that the Whitestone Dome Glass works simply effective with the Pixel 7 and seven Pro in-screen fingerprint readers. Even with out re-registering digits, it seems to work simply effective in our expertise, however we’d suggest unregistering and re-enrolling your fingerprints for seamless unlocking.

Not like final 12 months, the Pixel 7 Pro selfie digital camera cutout is O-shaped and seems to line up nicely. It’s not fairly excellent, however the precise digital camera or the borders should not obscured. I’ve seen that mud and lint can get impacted on this part. Only a fast jet of air or a brush with my T-shirt or cleansing fabric and it’s simple to wash. However even with out this, registering Face Unlock and utilizing gave the impression to be effective with no points. The Pixel 7 Whitestone additionally has a hole-punch and works simply effective, too.

One thing that must be talked about right here is that in contrast to common display protectors with pre-applied adhesive, the bond right here is way more durable. There’s the added bonus that in case your display already has micro-abrasions or scratches, these will likely be much less seen because the liquid adhesive will fill gaps and make smaller scuffs much less noticeable as soon as the Whitestone Dome Glass is on there.

I’ve discovered the rear digital camera safety movie to be pretty poor high quality and never well worth the effort until you merely should have full system safety. The information tabs have been extra irritating than useful, and they might snag through the set up course of – which isn’t splendid. The weak adhesive implies that it barely sticks to the digital camera bar space, however the glue is powerful sufficient to draw mud, pocket lint, and dust in equal measure.

Whitestone Dome Glass for Pixel 7: Value $50?

At $50 for 2 display protectors and an set up equipment, plus a frightening and typically finicky course of that typically looks like performing surgical procedure in your smartphone, for most individuals the Whitestone Dome Glass is 100% not value it for the flat-screen Pixel 7.

I really feel that it’s a totally completely different reply solely after we focus on if it’s value $50 for 2 Pixel 7 Pro display protectors. Curved shows are problematic for cover. Most “standard” display protectors merely is not going to work. Which means discovering good high quality display safety that may precisely match the admittedly softer Pixel 7 Pro show curves is irritating. On-line storefronts are affected by poor-quality choices that try and trick you into buying with faux opinions and suggestions.

At current, Google solely presents two display protectors licensed to work with the Pixel 7 and seven Pro on their very own on-line retailer. The one tempered glass comes from Zagg and is priced at $50 for a 1-pack.

Whereas they’ve Google’s official seal of approval, it makes Whitestone’s providing look positively low-cost at virtually half the value per display protector. That is one thing to consider, as with all curved display smartphone, the standard of display protector diminishes rapidly the cheaper the entry value. In my very own expertise, should you don’t thoughts the cheesy really feel of a TPU display protector then you’ll be able to decide up a multi-pack for beneath $15.

The Whitestone Dome Glass is simply a lot more durable to suggest for the usual Pixel 7. As a result of it has a flat-screen, there’s a actual wealth of low-cost display protector choices already accessible that work simply effective, and we’ll seemingly see extra emerge over time. I’ve used an inexpensive no-brand choice from Amazon that supplied a information body and took seconds to use. It appears to work simply effective with the fingerprint scanner, and though it doesn’t really feel excellent, is ok for on a regular basis safety.

Once you begin to issue within the further bonus of a lifetime guarantee that comparatively excessive asking value actually does begin to make a bit of extra sense. Particularly you probably have a drop and the display protector does take the brunt after which turns into unusable. There aren’t many manufacturers that supply that stage of confidence of their product.

So as to add to that: I’ve stored the unique Whitestone Dome Glass on my Pixel 6 Pro since launch back in mid-January 2022, and it seems to be and feels nice regardless of loads of use and abuse over the previous 10 months. It has held up nicely and can proceed to take action for a while to come back I’m certain.

Purchase the Whitestone Dome Glass for Pixel 7/7 Pro

What cheaper alternate options ought to I check out?

Some premium circumstances can exceed the $40 mark, and whereas we’re certain some individuals will baulk at that, the thought of spending virtually $50 for a display protector two-pack looks like a painful expense. Having used the Whitestone Dome Glass with the Pixel 7 collection, it’s solely actually value it for those who need a “real” glass really feel on the smaller flat-screen mannequin. It’s about the one premium choice that works nicely with the curves on the Pro.

Once you’ve spent virtually $600 or $900 for your Pixel 7 or 7 Pro may be a painful potential value. So we totally perceive that you may want one thing a bit of extra wallet-friendly. Fortunately we’ve got some alternate options so that you can think about.

The draw back right here is that, like final 12 months, as a result of the Pixel 7 and seven Pro differ in each dimension and display kind, it’s simple to suggest extra inexpensive alternate options for the flat-screen system however a bit of more durable to search out good high quality curved glass display protectors. In our opinion, a mushy TPU protector is the one technique to acquire nice display protection even with the softer curves discovered on the Pixel 7 Pro.

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