Skip to main content

Screenflex’s glass screen protector bends like plastic film to protect your LG G5

If you own a smartphone, you’ve probably noticed that many phone cases don’t protect your screen from getting scratched or smashed. Unless you’re willing to use a bulky “everything-proof” case, you probably add an additional layer of protection with stick-on plastic film or tempered glass screen protectors.

There are, of course, advantages and disadvantages for either option. For example, plastic film screen protectors are inexpensive and do prevent your keys from scratching up your phone’s screen, but they provide little impact resistance and also tend to cling to the oils in your skin, which means you have to clean them often. On the other hand, some glass screen protectors may have oleophobic coatings that deter fingerprints and provide great transparency, however, these can chip and crack under pressure or impact.

Recommended Videos

Caseco’s Screenflex combines the protective attributes of these two materials with a hybrid plastic/glass substrate material that has the optical clarity of pure glass and the flexibility of PET film. The Screenflex is available for the LG G5, which we tested, and several iPhone and Samsung Galaxy smartphones as well.

The Screenflex is accompanied by a few accessories for installation including a microfiber cloth, a set of wet and dry wipes, and a dust removal sticker. However, precise installation still requires a bit of patience and a few tries. There isn’t a guide for placing the screen protector perfectly, so if you don’t get the alignment right, you’ll have to pull up the screen and try again. Trial and error could result in dust and air bubbles under the screen protector, so be careful.

Screenflex-1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Since most of the phones have a slightly curved edge these days, expect the Screenflex to be a bit short in both height and width to cover only the flat portions of the touchscreen. the protector leaves noticeable edges at the sides, top, and bottom when you slide your finger across the entire screen, although this could be mitigated somewhat by a case that wraps over the edges of the phone.

The protective performance, however, is solid. The oleophobic coating doesn’t stick to fingerprints or facial oils easily and the screen only managed to pick up a few super small scratches during testing. In general, they’re not visible while using the phone. The other nice thing about this screen is that if the glass substrate does crack or break, it doesn’t send shards of glass and glass dust flying. Instead, the glass appears to be sandwiched between two layers of plastic film, so you can safely continue using it for a time.

While we still prefer screen protectors that have full edge-to-edge coverage, the Screenflex is heaps better than using nothing. Regardless of which model phone you buy it for, the Screenflex goes for $35 on Caseco’s website, and that’s a relatively small price to pay for some peace of mind.

Philip Chung
Former Video Contributor
Philip is an industrial engineer who truly enjoys writing and exploring new tech products. He started writing reviews in 2010…
Watch this durability test on an ‘iPhone Ultra Mini’
A mock-up of a tiny iPhone.

Tech YouTuber Zack Nelson -- he of the popular JerryRigEverything channel -- recently mused about whether folks would spend less time on their smartphones if the display were much smaller. He revealed how he once tried to reduce his own smartphone use with Samsung’s Z Flip 5, but soon realized that because he did so much of his work on a smartphone, trying to use a smaller screen the whole time just turned out to be a hassle.  

In his latest video, Nelson pondered whether a tiny iPhone would be popular with people wanting to cut down on screen time. He then produces a 3.8-inch “iPhone Ultra Mini,” which is in fact a $59 Android phone made to look like the latest iPhone -- only it’s much, much smaller. 

Read more
OnePlus says small watch ‘sweet spot’ is 43mm, but it’s bigger than Apple, Samsung and Google
We find out why this smartwatch is on the larger side of small
OnePlus Watch 3 43mm worn on a wrist

We loved the OnePlus Watch 3, it's our best Android smartwatch, but for all its excellent attributes there was one disappointment. The size.

More specifically, the lack of size options. The Watch 3 arrived in a single, 47mm body size. Great for those with large wrists looking for a sizable timepiece, but it alienated buyers looking for a compact offering.

Read more
Baseus power banks are the best way to charge your phone after these discounts
A woman holding a phone with a Baseus Am41 Magnetic Power Bank attached to it.

One of the worst things about being a doomscroller isn't the information you're getting, it's the fear that your battery will die and the scrolling will have to end. This is especially true if you're stuck without power, waiting for the doctor or dentist to finally call your name, or have any other sort of emergency. But, Baseus has you covered with their excellent selection of on-the-go power banks made for your iPhone. Since they're small and fit directly to your phone's magnet charging area, you can think of them more as battery extenders than anything. Plus, if your phone's internal battery is starting to have battery trouble, a Baseus charger is a great way to avoid an annoying battery change session. The best news, however, is that they're all on sale. Here's what you can expect to see coming up:

Baseus Am31 Mini Power Bank — Was $70, Now $50

Read more