[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 comply with up with a display screen 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 obtainable for Google’s handsets. Are they well worth the asking value? We’ve examined them to seek out out.

Costly safety: What’s the deal?

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

One of many main causes that individuals swear by Whitestone Dome Glass is that it ought to higher mimic or really feel just like the high-quality glass display screen you’ll discover on the Pixel 7 and seven Pro shows. It’s true that every display screen 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 probably get.

[Update]: For the primary time, the Whitestone Dome Glass is an official “Made by Google” certified brand. There are a selection 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 checks to make sure that the in-display fingerprint scanner works accurately and precisely.

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

The adhesion course of is without doubt one of the key differentiators. Whitestone’s UV bonding course of makes use of liquid adhesive that’s utilized on to your smartphone display screen earlier than you place the precise glass display screen protector on high. Due to that, in order for you simplicity and low prices, this isn’t the display screen accent to contemplate.

Undoubtedly one more reason that Whitestone jacks up the value is the lifetime guarantee supplied with every display screen protector. With exception of some different manufacturers, there are only a few display screen 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 screen protector.

Set up course of

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

Following the directions requires somewhat endurance and, in some components, a gradual hand, however the finish result’s, at the very least in our earlier expertise, value somewhat 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 similar to the Pixel 7, and you could find (and comply with alongside) beneath:

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

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

One improve that’s necessary is the transfer away from a micro USB-powered UV curing LED gentle to a USB-C appropriate choice. It’s sure to be useful to have the ability to use your telephone charger cable reasonably than a special older normal. One thing we should always word is that if you happen to do require a substitute, a UV curing gentle is not going to be included. With that in thoughts, we’d recommend holding on to this simply in case you ever want to say in opposition to Whitestone’s lifetime guarantee.

The match and end

In case you’ve ever bought a Whitestone Dome Glass earlier than, then you’ll seemingly have some kind of thought 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 few of the edges are ever so barely uncovered. Which means that really 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 may nonetheless show deadly for any curved display screen, so this isn’t a detrimental. That stated, the majority or “main area” of your display screen is roofed and guarded and needs to be secure from direct dings, scuffs, and scrapes.

Provided you intently comply with 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 grime, grime, and fingerprints virtually in addition to the unique show. At first, your telephone could really feel somewhat 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 reasonably 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 positive with the Pixel 7 and seven Pro in-screen fingerprint readers. Even with out re-registering digits, it seems to work simply positive in our expertise, however we might advocate unregistering and re-enrolling your fingerprints for seamless unlocking.

In contrast to final 12 months, the Pixel 7 Pro selfie digicam cutout is O-shaped and seems to line up effectively. It’s not fairly excellent, however the precise digicam or the borders should not obscured. I’ve observed 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 straightforward to wash. However even with out this, registering Face Unlock and utilizing gave the impression to be positive with no points. The Pixel 7 Whitestone additionally has a hole-punch and works simply positive, too.

One thing that must be talked about right here is that in contrast to common display screen protectors with pre-applied adhesive, the bond right here is far more durable. There’s the added bonus that in case your display screen 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 digicam safety movie to be pretty poor high quality and never well worth the effort until you merely should have full gadget safety. The information tabs had been extra irritating than useful, and they’d snag throughout the set up course of – which isn’t supreme. The weak adhesive signifies that it barely sticks to the digicam bar space, however the glue is powerful sufficient to draw mud, pocket lint, and grime in equal measure.

Whitestone Dome Glass for Pixel 7: Value $50?

At $50 for 2 display screen protectors and an set up equipment, plus a frightening and typically finicky course of that typically seems 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 totally different reply totally once we talk about if it’s value $50 for 2 Pixel 7 Pro display screen protectors. Curved shows are problematic for cover. Most “standard” display screen protectors merely is not going to work. Which means that discovering good high quality display screen 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 to trick you into buying with faux opinions and suggestions.

At current, Google solely provides two display screen 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 screen protector. That is one thing to consider, as with every curved display screen smartphone, the standard of display screen protector diminishes rapidly the cheaper the entry value. In my very own expertise, if you happen to don’t thoughts the cheesy really feel of a TPU display screen 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 advocate for the usual Pixel 7. As a result of it has a flat-screen, there’s a actual wealth of low-cost display screen protector choices already obtainable that work simply positive, and we’ll seemingly see extra emerge over time. I’ve used an affordable no-brand choice from Amazon that offered a information body and took seconds to use. It appears to work simply positive with the fingerprint scanner, and though it doesn’t really feel excellent, is okay for on a regular basis safety.

If you begin to issue within the further bonus of a lifetime guarantee that comparatively excessive asking value actually does begin to make somewhat extra sense. Particularly when you have a drop and the display screen 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 and feels nice regardless of loads of use and abuse over the previous 10 months. It has held up effectively and can proceed to take action for a while to return 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 screen protector two-pack looks as if a painful expense. Having used the Whitestone Dome Glass with the Pixel 7 collection, it’s solely actually value it for people who desire a “real” glass really feel on the smaller flat-screen mannequin. It’s about the one premium choice that works effectively with the curves on the Pro.

If you’ve spent virtually $600 or $900 for your Pixel 7 or 7 Pro may be a painful potential price. So we totally perceive that you may want one thing somewhat 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 screen kind, it’s straightforward to advocate extra reasonably priced alternate options for the flat-screen gadget however somewhat more durable to seek out good high quality curved glass display screen protectors. In our opinion, a smooth TPU protector is the one method to receive nice display screen protection even with the softer curves discovered on the Pixel 7 Pro.

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