Panzer Glass has 100% recycled plastic screen protectors that feel like glass

Screen protectors are important. If you plan to keep your smartphone for many years, you will want to take care of the display, and the easiest way to do that is to cover it up with some protection. Tempered glass has traditionally been considered the best for protection and ease of use. However, those with the environment on their mind have a new option.

Panzer Glass now has a screen protector that is made using 100% recycled plastic. The company launched the MATRIX Hybrid Glass Screen Protector in tandem with the Samsung Galaxy S23 series but was showing it off for the first time to the smartphone industry at Mobile World Congress 2023.

There are some distinct advantages to choosing this protector over others. Obviously, the environmental impact is much lower with a recycled product than with something made brand new. Additionally, being made of plastic, this protector works better for curved displays, such as the one on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Now, if you think you’ve tried plastic protectors in the past and hated them, this one is different. When we gave it a shot on the MWC show floor, we were surprised at how glass-like it is. Sure, it’s not quite glass, but it avoids that sticky-strange texture you get with most plastic protectors. We were quite impressed.

Of course, there are still some drawbacks to this product.

Panzer Glass MATRIX 100% recycled plastic screen protector

The most glaring issue with a protector like this new one from Panzer Glass is that it just isn’t as durable as tempered glass. At Panzer’s MWC booth, it was making a big to-do about using hammers and even sledgehammers on phones with tempered glass protectors to prove just how indestructible they really are. The company was very open with us in admitting that the MATRIX protector will not be as strong. However, it’s still plenty strong enough to ward off the usual issues consumers face, such as scratches from keys and other objects in your pocket, the average drop, etc.

The other problem with protectors like these is they are a bit tricky to apply. When you first put it on, it will probably have bubbles. These will dissipate after a day or two, but someone who doesn’t read the instructions might be dismayed by how it looks right after application.

Despite these issues, the Panzer Glass MATRIX Screen Protector gives you all the information and tools you need to get the best results from your installation. We put one on our Galaxy S23 Ultra, and it was easy. One just needs a little patience.

For now, the MATRIX Screen Protector is only available for the Galaxy S23 series. It is also only available in Europe and the United Kingdom, at least for now.