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Matte Glass vs Film Screen Protector for iPhone 14 Pro Max!

11:12 video

I compared two matte screen protectors: the iCarez matte film and the Mothca matte glass. I’ve used iCarez films on all my iPhones and iPads since 2019 and really like them (I’ve bought a ton, and for some reason they’ve never sponsored me, the jerks). After my video on installing a matte protector on the iPhone 14 Pro, someone suggested a matte glass one, which blew my mind, since I didn’t know they existed, so I picked up a few Mothca ones.

Why matte

  1. Anti-glare. With a matte film on my iPhone 14 Pro, the light looks pretty diffused. On an iPhone XR with no protector, you can clearly see the camera, microphone and the light’s shape reflected. If you’ve used a phone, tablet or laptop in a bright place, you’ve seen yourself staring back. I use my devices everywhere, inside, outside, in bright and dark rooms, so I prefer the anti-glare.
  2. Fewer fingerprints. iPhones have an oleophobic coating, but they still get gross. Matte protectors mask the grease when you’re using the display, like scrolling a web page.
  3. Protection. It protects the display from scratches and dings, even a drop, and if the protector gets scratched, you take it off and put a new one on.

Casekoo sponsored this video, with its Magic Stand case for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max: a clean, modern case with a built-in magnetic stand that folds completely flush when not in use, with 48 magnets so it works with MagSafe chargers, wallets and other accessories. It props your phone for a video and angles anywhere from 20° to 140° for FaceTime or hands-free reading. It comes in several colors, and there was a 10% code in the description.

Installing the film

You place the protector on the phone and use stickers to make a hinge that keeps it centered. Use the pull tab to lift it, remove the bottom protective layer, slowly lay it onto the display, and let the air bubbles work themselves out. Then remove the hinge stickers and the top cover. It can be tricky, but you get multiple tries: three films in each iPhone pack (two for iPads). If dust gets under it, lift a corner with a sticker and use another sticker to pick it out. Wash your hands first and work somewhere dust-free.

Installing the glass

In the box: the glass protector, an installation frame and dust-removal stickers. Depending on preference, it may be easier.

  1. Clean the display with the alcohol pad, then the dry pad. Use a sticker to blot any dust.
  2. Snap on the correct frame for your iPhone, aligned to the “top” marking.
  3. Place the iPhone flat, peel back the film about halfway, center the glass inside the frame, hold it with your thumb, and slowly pull the film out, letting the glass settle. Slide your finger down so air bubbles work themselves out, and push out any small ones.
  4. I found a speck of dust: lift the corner with a fingernail, use the sticker to remove it, and push it back down. Finish with a microfiber cloth. Small bubbles should clear in a day or so as the adhesive dries.

The glass is perfectly aligned, fully flat across (with a non-matte area where the Dynamic Island cameras are), and feels good: a little matte, satin-like, and your fingers glide over it.

Comparing them

  • Matte finish: the Mothca glass is a bit more matte and diffused than the iCarez. My iCarez film is a couple of months old on a 14 Pro Max, and the finish wears over time, especially where you touch most, whether swiping, scrolling or typing, so you’ll replace it after months or a year or two. Either way, the reflection is diffused versus a clear reflection with no protector, and both look good in a bright room.
  • Fingerprints: both mask them well compared with a naked iPhone. Cleaning: the naked iPhone and the Mothca glass are easy to wipe, while the iCarez film takes more rubs.
  • Feel: I prefer the glass. My fingers glide more easily, and since the Mothca is a flat piece of glass, you don’t feel cutouts when swiping from the top. The iCarez film has cutouts for sensors and the camera that you feel when you drag your finger over them.
  • Rainbow and sparkle: the naked iPhone has the sharpest picture until you account for reflection. The iCarez looks pretty good with minimal rainbow effect, and the Mothca looks even better, with less of it.
  • Price: Mothca glass is about $8–12 for a single pack, depending on sales; iCarez is about $7–9, sometimes as low as $4, in a three-pack, so you can replace without spending more.

Verdict

For the iPhone, I like the Mothca glass: it feels and looks best of the two. For an iPad with an Apple Pencil, I’d prefer the matte film for better Pencil feel.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. See my ethics statement.

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