I tested two privacy products for the iPhone Duo. The result is awkward: the clearly better of the two is currently unavailable, and with the other one I would leave half the set in the box. This page still tells you what you get from them and what to do instead.
Clearing up a misunderstanding first
Privacy films have nothing to do with protection. The iPhone Duo’s inner display already carries a factory film. If it gets scratched, Apple replaces it — around 20 euros with AppleCare, roughly 55 to 60 without. Nobody needs a second film on top, and applying one risks more than it gains.
What this is actually about is the privacy filter: stopping the person next to you on the train, or the colleague in the open-plan office, from reading along.
The drawback that applies to every privacy protector
You have to turn the display brightness up noticeably. The iPhone’s automatic brightness cannot cope with the filter layer, and without intervening everything looks too dark. That costs battery life, every day.
On top of that, almost all privacy protectors filter left and right only. From above and below people can still read along. There are so-called 360 degree versions that filter in all four directions, but they are rare — they usually carry „360“ in the name.
The honest market situation
The better privacy protector in this test is the Spigen, and it is currently not listed. The privacy effect is clearly the stronger of the two, two protectors and two application trays are included, and at 24.99 euros for two the price per piece is the lowest.
But on my unit the entire rim would not stick, with air bubbles at the top and bottom. Exactly that problem appeared repeatedly in the reviews. I suspect a faulty batch, and that is probably why Spigen pulled the product. I am not aware of a recall; it is simply no longer listed.
My advice: wait for it to come back. You can check here on Amazon whether the Spigen privacy protector is available again — the link goes to a search, because there is no fixed product page at the moment.
What you can buy right now
- Provide the Strongest Protection: Different from the ordinary screen protector in the market. Ferilinso's protector made with aerospace-grade materials and fuses nano-ceramics into the screen protector (Awarded SGS Certification), providing 10X stronger protection than normal materials for superior resistance to damage caused by scratches, bumps, and drops in daily use. Effectively shock resistance screen can help you save unnecessary and expensive repairs.
- Unmatched Lens Protection: The lens of the new iPhone Duo cell phone stands out in particular, and to better protect the exposed lens, you are provided with 2 Pack high-quality camera protectors. It is made of sapphire material and aluminum alloy with unparalleled resistance to daily wear and tear and impact, providing military-grade protection. The high light transmittance sapphire material ensures that your photography maintains its true essence, vibrant colors and crisp details.
- 1 Pack Back Tempered Glass: Advanced laser cutting creates 2.5D rounded edges that feel great in your hand. Aircraft grade 9H+ glass hardness protects the back screen from scratches and drops. Ultra HD ensures no eye fatigue even after prolonged use. What's even more special ...... Our glass is innovatively coated with 9th generation oleophobic nano-coating (top skin-friendly), which effectively reduces fingerprints and oil residue by 98%, making it smoother than the original screen!
- Easy to install: Comes with complete installation aids, even if you don't have any experience, they can help you to complete the installation easily. Warm Tip: Before installing the screen protector, please watch the installation video. The video is in the product gallery.
- Case Friendly & Good Service: We understand the significance of your phone's appearance to you. That's why our screen protectors and lens protectors seamlessly integrate with your phone through innovative bonding technology, maintaining the original elegance and beauty of your phone. They are suitable with 99.99% phone cases. Whatever problems, you can send us information through Amazon's Message Center, We will provide you with satisfactory service within 24 Hours.
The liilaa set. It contains a privacy film for the inner display, a privacy protector for the front display, basic camera protectors and cleaning supplies. The front protector is good, the inner display film I would avoid. The set I tested is sold in Europe; in the US the closest thing I can point you to costs 24.98 dollars, and I have not tested that version myself. See the privacy set on Amazon
If what you actually want is protection rather than privacy, take a normal full-size screen protector. It has none of the drawbacks above. Both of the ones I use as a reference are covered in detail in my iPhone Duo screen protector test.
Related tests
Pairs with this one: the iPhone Duo screen protector comparison, my camera protector test and the case test with nine models.
Spigen privacy screen protector
Front display only. 24.99 euros for two in Europe, so 12.50 per protector. In the set: two protectors, two application trays and unusually large dust stickers that clear the surface in a few passes.
The privacy effect is the stronger of the two tested. From the side the display is effectively unreadable. From above and below it is not — this is not a 360 degree version.
The problem: on my unit the entire rim would not stick, along with air bubbles that could not be pushed out. No squeegee is included. The fact that the same thing appeared repeatedly in the reviews argues against a one-off and for a faulty batch.
✓ Strongest privacy effect in the test
✓ Two protectors and two trays in the set
✓ Lowest price per protector
✓ Very large dust stickers, quick to apply
✗ The rim would not stick on my unit
✗ Air bubbles, no squeegee included
✗ No 360 degree privacy
✗ Currently not available
Verdict: This would be the recommendation if you could buy it and if it stuck reliably. Neither is true right now. Keep an eye on availability.
liilaa privacy set
14.99 euros in Europe. Contains a privacy film for the inner display, a privacy protector for the front display, two basic camera protectors and plenty of cleaning supplies — three wet wipes, which looks more like a standard kit carried over than a considered choice.
The front protector is the surprise. I applied it freehand and landed it cleanly, no air bubbles, neat rounded edges, you barely see it. The privacy effect kicks in at a shallower angle than the Spigen and is weaker — side by side you can still make out the bright background through the liilaa where the Spigen has already gone dark.
The inner display film I would avoid. No applicator is included, and freehand you cannot land a film that size straight on that surface. Mine slid several times, ended up crooked and had dust underneath. It also sticks so firmly that removing it takes real force, and the hinge was noticeably stiffer afterwards. The privacy effect works — but the inner display is glossy afterwards instead of matte.
✓ Front protector well made, applies cleanly
✓ Cheapest complete set in the test
✓ Plenty of cleaning supplies
✓ Actually available
✗ No applicator, for either protector
✗ Inner display film practically impossible to land straight
✗ Film sticks extremely firmly, hinge stiffer afterwards
✗ Weaker privacy effect than the Spigen
✗ Inner display goes glossy instead of matte
Verdict: The front protector on its own would be a decent product. Buying the whole set just for that does not add up, because Spigen gives you two protectors plus a tray for ten euros more. The inner display film I would leave in the box.
Common questions
Do I need a protective film for the inner display?
No. There is already one from the factory. If it gets scratched, Apple replaces it — around 20 euros with AppleCare, roughly 55 to 60 without. A second film on top achieves nothing and makes folding harder.
Does privacy work from above and below as well?
Not on either product tested. They filter left and right. If you want coverage from above and below you need a 360 degree version, and those are rare.
Does the display get darker?
Yes, noticeably. You have to turn brightness up, because the automatic setting cannot cope with the filter layer. That costs runtime.
Why is the Spigen no longer listed?
I do not know for certain. On my unit the rim would not stick, and the same appeared repeatedly in the reviews. A faulty batch is the obvious explanation. As far as I know there was no recall.
Is privacy glass worth it at all?
If you work on a train or in an open-plan office every day, yes. If you mostly use the device at home, you are paying in brightness and battery life for protection you do not need.
Who is testing here?
I am Sven and I run Case Tester. I buy every product myself, I am not sent anything, and I publish even when a test does not produce a buyable result — as here. Where I am guessing rather than knowing, I say so: that Spigen pulled the product over a faulty batch is my explanation, not a statement from the manufacturer. And where a product I tested is not sold in your country, I say that too instead of letting you assume I tested the substitute.