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

Often when folks purchase a case for their brand-new smartphone, you’ll comply with up with a display protector. The most premium possibility for most Android telephones together with the newly launched Pixel 7 and 7 Pro comes from Korean agency Whitestone, and its Dome Glass is now obtainable for Google’s handsets. Are they definitely worth the asking value? We’ve examined them to search out out.

Expensive safety: What’s the deal?

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

One of the 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 7 Pro shows. It’s true that every display protector does really feel like a step up over most inexpensive 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 possibly can probably get.

[Update]: For the primary time, the Whitestone Dome Glass is an official “Made by Google” licensed model. There are various different producers which have achieved related certification in recent times, however beforehand the official supported display protector listing has lacked Whitestone. While now we have 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.

Interestingly, this doesn’t embody final yr’s Pixel 6 sequence. However, if in case you have the Pixel 7 or 7 Pro, there may be additional peace of thoughts as Google recommends the Whitestone Dome Glass – as will we right here at 9to5Google.

The adhesion course of is among 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 high. Because of that, if you would like simplicity and low prices, this isn’t the display accent to think about.

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

Installation course of

As talked about above, slapping a display protector in your smartphone show is usually a course of that’s fast and straightforward. Quite a couple of producers have began to supply guides or frames that can assist you obtain good display alignment. Whitestone goes a step additional with the Dome Glass, because it requires adhesive liquid and UV gentle to bond together with your Pixel 7 or 7 Pro show.

Following the directions requires just a little endurance and, in some components, a gradual hand, however the finish result’s, not less than in our earlier expertise, value just a little additional effort. We’re not going to dive too deeply into the intricacies as Whitestone has a full in-depth information for final yr’s mannequin, which is similar to the Pixel 7, and you’ll find (and comply with alongside) beneath:

Here’s all the things that comes within the field:

• UV curing gentle (USB-C)
• Whitestone Dome Glass display protector
• Adhesive
• Adhesive absorption pads
• Mounting body
• Position bridge for adhesive
• Pin loaders
• Speaker masking movie
• Connector masking movie
• Alcohol wipes
• Cleaning material
• Dust elimination stickers
• Screen protector elimination card
• Camera module protector movie

One improve that’s vital is the transfer away from a micro USB-powered UV curing LED gentle to a USB-C suitable possibility. It’s sure to be useful to have the ability to use your telephone charger cable relatively than a unique older customary. Something we must always word is that for those who do require a substitute, a UV curing gentle won’t be included. With that in thoughts, we’d recommend holding on to this simply in case you ever want to say towards Whitestone’s lifetime guarantee.

The match and end

If you’ve ever bought a Whitestone Dome Glass earlier than, then you’ll probably 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 every one official and 99.9% of third-party instances 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 — among the edges are ever so barely uncovered. This implies that really full safety from angled drops isn’t going to be provided as a result of you possibly can really feel the very edges of your show beneath. A direct nook drop may nonetheless show deadly for any curved display, so this isn’t a adverse. That mentioned, the majority or “main area” of your display is roofed and protected and must be protected from direct dings, scuffs, and scrapes.

Provided you carefully 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 might really feel just a little sticky and smudges will likely be fairly seen, however simply use a microfiber cleansing material and any leftover alcohol pads to wipe away any residue and grease.

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

Unlike final yr, the Pixel 7 Pro selfie digital camera cutout is O-shaped and seems to line up effectively. It’s not fairly good, however the precise digital camera or the borders usually are not obscured. I’ve seen that mud and lint can get impacted on this part. Just a fast jet of air or a brush with my T-shirt or cleansing material and it’s straightforward to scrub. But even with out this, registering Face Unlock and utilizing appeared to be positive with no points. The Pixel 7 Whitestone additionally has a hole-punch and works simply positive, too.

Something that must be talked about right here is that not like common display protectors with pre-applied adhesive, the bond right here is way tougher. 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 not definitely worth the effort until you merely should have full machine safety. The information tabs have been extra irritating than useful, and they might snag through the set up course of – which isn’t supreme. 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 grime in equal measure.

Whitestone Dome Glass for Pixel 7: Worth $50?

At $50 for two display protectors and an set up package, 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 very totally different reply completely after we focus on if it’s value $50 for two Pixel 7 Pro display protectors. Curved shows are problematic for safety. Most “standard” display protectors merely won’t work. This implies that discovering good high quality display safety that may precisely match the admittedly softer Pixel 7 Pro show curves is irritating. Online storefronts are plagued by poor-quality choices that try and trick you into buying with pretend opinions and suggestions.

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

While 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. This is one thing to consider, as with every curved display smartphone, the standard of display protector diminishes rapidly the cheaper the entry value. In my very own expertise, for those who don’t thoughts the cheesy really feel of a TPU display protector then you possibly can choose up a multi-pack for underneath $15.

The Whitestone Dome Glass is simply a lot tougher to suggest for the usual Pixel 7. Because it has a flat-screen, there’s a actual wealth of low cost display protector choices already obtainable that work simply positive, and we’ll probably see extra emerge over time. I’ve used an affordable no-brand possibility from Amazon that supplied 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 good, is ok for on a regular basis safety.

When you begin to issue within the additional bonus of a lifetime guarantee that comparatively excessive asking value actually does begin to make just a little extra sense. Especially if in case you have a drop and the display protector does take the brunt and then turns into unusable. There aren’t many manufacturers that provide that degree of confidence of their product.

To add to that: I’ve stored the unique Whitestone Dome Glass on my Pixel 6 Pro since launch again 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 effectively and will proceed to take action for a while to come back I’m positive.

Buy the Whitestone Dome Glass for Pixel 7/7 Pro

What cheaper options ought to I check out?

Some premium instances can exceed the $40 mark, and whereas we’re positive some folks will baulk at that, the concept 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 sequence, it’s solely actually value it for those who desire a “real” glass really feel on the smaller flat-screen mannequin. It’s about the one premium possibility that works effectively with the curves on the Pro.

When 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 just a little extra wallet-friendly. Luckily now we have some options for you to think about.

The draw back right here is that, like final yr, as a result of the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro differ in each measurement and display sort, it’s straightforward to suggest extra reasonably priced options for the flat-screen machine however just a little tougher to search out good high quality curved glass display protectors. In our opinion, a gentle TPU protector is the one option to receive nice display protection even with the softer curves discovered on the Pixel 7 Pro.

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