This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan. BENKS provided the screen protector for this review (sponsored).
Quick take
BENKS’s sapphire-coated glass screen protector for the iPhone 17 Pro Max costs 6,000 yen for a single sheet, which is a lot. But thanks to the included alignment kit and roller, it went on perfectly straight, and the result looks almost like a bare iPhone. It reaches right to the edge of the screen without clashing with any of the cases I tried.
What I tested
- BENKS GlassWarrior sapphire-coated screen protector for iPhone 17 Pro Max (0.25 mm, black frame; the previous version was 0.3 mm)
- My iPhone 17 Pro Max, previously fitted with a protector made for the 16 Pro Max
- Cases: Apple’s own case, a rugged case, and a BENKS case with a lip that wraps inward
- For comparison: NIMASO’s roller-applied glass protector on my iPhone 17
What I found
- Application: hook the glass into the kit in the order shown, seat the iPhone, pull the tab while pressing down with the roller, then roll again. My unit had no Japanese instructions, but the illustrations were enough. It still took care — I had failed once before with a similar kit.
- A little dust is hard to avoid completely, but I ended up with no visible specks. A tiny bubble at the edge was not dust; with the NIMASO protector, similar bubbles disappeared within about half a day.
- It looks almost bare: the glass appears to flow straight from the frame. Only a slight rise above the bumper gives it away.
- The glass is larger than most protectors, so no light leaks around the black frame at an angle — and still no case pushed it up.
- Look and ease of application are almost the same as NIMASO’s roller kit. The difference is the sapphire coating, which I expect to resist scratches better (I didn’t test this).
| BENKS sapphire-coated | NIMASO roller kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price at the time of recording | 6,000 yen (1 sheet) | About 3,000 yen (about 2,500 yen on sale) |
| Surface | Sapphire coating | Standard glass |
| Application | Alignment kit + roller | Alignment kit + roller |
| Look / ease of application | Almost identical | Almost identical |
Who it’s for
People who want a scratch-resistant protector and don’t want to risk a crooked application. If ordinary glass is enough for you, the NIMASO kit gives a very similar result for about half the price (less on sale).
Watch the review
The video is in Japanese; YouTube’s auto-translated captions can help. The application with the kit starts around 04:10, and the case tests around 08:40.
Limitations
This was a sponsored review, recorded right after application, so it says nothing about long-term scratch resistance. Prices were Amazon Japan’s at the time of recording. BENKS also sells other versions, such as an AR-coated one.
Products
BENKS GlassWarrior sapphire-coated screen protector (iPhone 17 Pro Max): on Amazon Japan
NIMASO roller-applied glass screen protector: on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Screen & Lens Protectors (27) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.