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Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
I had the opportunity to review the ESR Camera Lens Protector for iPhone 15, which was provided to me for the purpose of this review.
Design & Build Quality:
The lens protector is designed to look appealing on any of the newest iPhone 15s with a range of color selections for the ring around the edge, and crafted from Armorite, which is the term for strong tempered glass. The build quality feels very solid.
Fit & Installation:
Attaching the lens protector was a mixed experience for me. My first attempt, the lens covers didn't fit into place immediately, and the result was the lens protectors did not firmly adhere to the lens's such that there was a translucent haze. Because of the way the adhesive works, this meant I had to throw the first set of protectors out and try again. Fortunately it came with two sets. The second set applied well, and the protectors fit snugly over the camera lens, with no issues with the second installation. It also comes with a plastic spudger or pry to help you remove the camera protector caps, which was very helpful during my failed installation.
Protection:
The protector offers high protection against scratches and damage. The adhesive design doesn't allow dust to collect between the lens and the cover. The lens protectors do tend to gather smudges, oils, and need to be cleaned more often than the actual lens's, but you have no worries about scratching your lens when you clean the protectors. The Armorite tempered glass is rated to sustain 110 lbs of force resistance and is marketed with powerful scratch resistance. Additionally it has MIL-STD-810H 516.8 rated "Millitary Grade Protection." According to cursory internet searches, here is a quote regarding this certification: "The purpose of MIL-STD-810 shock testing, or Method 516.8, is to assess a system’s resilience to physical impact in handling, transportation and service environments, according to the standard’s latest revision." Shock in this case refers to mechanical shock not electrical. So these lens protectors seem very protective for this type of product.
Functionality & Image Quality:
I noticed that the lens protector doesn't usually affect the quality of photos or videos, but it does cause glare spots or floating lights when you are aiming directly at a light source. Otherwise I noticed no difference in the picture quality on my iPhone 15 Pro Max
Price & Value:
Priced at 14.99 at the time of this review, this lens protector does provide good value for the money due to strong protection, a second set of protectors in order to factor in for possible installation issues, as well as only affecting picture quality aimed at bright lights.
Pros:
Scratch resistance, impact resistance, good accent appearance to the phone (virtually unnoticeable depending on color preference), price, enough cleaning and removing supplies for both sets of protectors, and has two sets of protectors. It is case compatible, and consequently also works with my case, which is not ESR branded. Additionally it is marketed as carbon neutral, for those who value that.
Cons:
For perfect photography, the glare from lights would probably not be tolerable for semi-professional to professional level photographers who want to use their phone for content. The adhesive design on the lens covers are unforgiving for a mis-step in installation. The lens material does require more frequent cleaning than the lens materials.
Conclusion:
Considering the low price, two sets of protectors, and good trade-off level for protection to quality ratio, I would recommend this camera lens protector for those looking to safeguard their phone's camera without compromising very much photo quality. I rarely try to focus on bright lights, so the glare isn't an issue. Avid content creators need to evaluate their use case here, as the protectors do have glare spots if you are aiming right at a light source.
Design & Build Quality:
The lens protector is designed to look appealing on any of the newest iPhone 15s with a range of color selections for the ring around the edge, and crafted from Armorite, which is the term for strong tempered glass. The build quality feels very solid.
Fit & Installation:
Attaching the lens protector was a mixed experience for me. My first attempt, the lens covers didn't fit into place immediately, and the result was the lens protectors did not firmly adhere to the lens's such that there was a translucent haze. Because of the way the adhesive works, this meant I had to throw the first set of protectors out and try again. Fortunately it came with two sets. The second set applied well, and the protectors fit snugly over the camera lens, with no issues with the second installation. It also comes with a plastic spudger or pry to help you remove the camera protector caps, which was very helpful during my failed installation.
Protection:
The protector offers high protection against scratches and damage. The adhesive design doesn't allow dust to collect between the lens and the cover. The lens protectors do tend to gather smudges, oils, and need to be cleaned more often than the actual lens's, but you have no worries about scratching your lens when you clean the protectors. The Armorite tempered glass is rated to sustain 110 lbs of force resistance and is marketed with powerful scratch resistance. Additionally it has MIL-STD-810H 516.8 rated "Millitary Grade Protection." According to cursory internet searches, here is a quote regarding this certification: "The purpose of MIL-STD-810 shock testing, or Method 516.8, is to assess a system’s resilience to physical impact in handling, transportation and service environments, according to the standard’s latest revision." Shock in this case refers to mechanical shock not electrical. So these lens protectors seem very protective for this type of product.
Functionality & Image Quality:
I noticed that the lens protector doesn't usually affect the quality of photos or videos, but it does cause glare spots or floating lights when you are aiming directly at a light source. Otherwise I noticed no difference in the picture quality on my iPhone 15 Pro Max
Price & Value:
Priced at 14.99 at the time of this review, this lens protector does provide good value for the money due to strong protection, a second set of protectors in order to factor in for possible installation issues, as well as only affecting picture quality aimed at bright lights.
Pros:
Scratch resistance, impact resistance, good accent appearance to the phone (virtually unnoticeable depending on color preference), price, enough cleaning and removing supplies for both sets of protectors, and has two sets of protectors. It is case compatible, and consequently also works with my case, which is not ESR branded. Additionally it is marketed as carbon neutral, for those who value that.
Cons:
For perfect photography, the glare from lights would probably not be tolerable for semi-professional to professional level photographers who want to use their phone for content. The adhesive design on the lens covers are unforgiving for a mis-step in installation. The lens material does require more frequent cleaning than the lens materials.
Conclusion:
Considering the low price, two sets of protectors, and good trade-off level for protection to quality ratio, I would recommend this camera lens protector for those looking to safeguard their phone's camera without compromising very much photo quality. I rarely try to focus on bright lights, so the glare isn't an issue. Avid content creators need to evaluate their use case here, as the protectors do have glare spots if you are aiming right at a light source.
