Can smart glass/film be remotely activated?

Yes, smart glass/film can be remotely activated. Transformer can be integrated with various controls as you like: remote contol, wall switch control, dimmer control, wifi-App control, etc.

?

what is the difference between self-adhesive smart film and smart glass

1. What is self-adhesive smart film and smart glass

Self-Adhesive Smart Film:

A flexible polymer-based film (typically PDLC: Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) with an adhesive layer on one side. It is applied directly to existing glass surfaces like a sticker.

Smart Glass:

A laminated glass unit where PDLC film is permanently sandwiched between two layers of glass using EVA or PVB interlayers under high pressure/temperature. This creates a solid, structural glazing product.


2. Installation & Application

Feature Self-Adhesive Smart Film Smart Glass
Installation Peel-and-stick onto existing glass; DIY-friendly. Requires professional glazing; replaces entire glass unit.
Best For Retrofitting existing windows/glass partitions. New constructions or full renovations.
Complexity Some skill is needed:
1. How to install the film;
2. How to deal with the edge sealant;
3. How to hide the wire.

How to install the self-adhesive smart film?

Install the glass as the normal glass except for considering how to hide the wire.
How to make smart glass?

3. Functionality & Performance

• Optical Clarity:
Both switch between transparent (ON) and opaque (OFF) via electricity. Smart Glass often has higher clarity due to glass encapsulation.

• Energy Efficiency:
Identical function: Blocks ~99% UV rays and reduces heat gain.
Power consumption is low (~5W/m²/hour).

• Durability:
Smart Glass is more robust (scratch resistant, impact-resistant, safety-glass properties, longer life time). Film is vulnerable to peeling/scratches comparing with smart glass.

• Safety:
Smart glass remains secure after breaking. Film lacks structural security but can prevent glass from shattering.


4. Applications

• Film: Ideal for retrofitting offices, shower doors, storefronts, or rental properties.

• Glass: Suited for high-end architectural projects (facades, security rooms, partitions), automotive sunroofs, and aviation.


5. Pros vs. Cons Summary

Type ✅ Pros ❌ Cons
Self-Adhesive Film Affordable, easy install, UV/heat blocking, retrofit-friendly Less durable, no structural safety, prone to air bubbles, Lower clarity than smart glass.
Smart Glass Premium finish, enhanced safety/durability, seamless integration, higher clarity and performance than film. High cost, inflexible for existing spaces, complex replacement.

Conclusion

Choose self-adhesive smart film for cost-effective, non-invasive upgrades to existing glass. Opt for smart glass in new builds or high-traffic areas demanding durability and safety. Both deliver dynamic privacy/energy savings but cater to different project scales and budgets.

FAQ >>>

?

What is smart glass/film?

Smart glass/film is a switchable light control glass that turns a transparent glass to opaque instantaneously and vice versa.

FAQ >>>

?

How Much Do Smart Glass Windows Cost?

The following information is from homeadvisor.com.

Smart Glass Cost
Smart glass costs $25 to $150 per square foot. Glass with film pre-installed is $50 to $150 per square foot, compared to $25 to $50 per square foot for the film alone. Price depends on the total square footage, with single units running up to $50 per square foot more than you’d pay to install several.

Smart glass makes it easy to change the look of your windows in an instant. You can make them completely opaque for privacy or add tinting to shade a home and cut your energy consumption. There are a few different types with unique benefits, so you’ll need to choose the one that’s right for you. Keep these cost factors in mind as you browse.

    Average Smart Glass Price    

    Average Cost        $100 Per Square Foot    
    High Cost        $150 Per Square Foot    
    Low Cost        $25 Per Square Foot    

Smart Glass Cost Per Square Foot
Smart glass costs $50 to $150 per square foot. Installers usually set rates by the project, offering a lower price per square foot if you replace several windows. One piece runs $125 to $150 per square foot, compared to $50 to $100 per square foot for 100 or more square feet. The cost to install a window with standard glass is $15 to $30 per square foot.

Smart Glass Pricing by Type
Smart glass prices are $50 to $150 per square foot, depending on the total square footage and type:
PDLC: Privacy, frosted, tinting
SPD: Tinting in an instant
Electrochromic: Gradual tinting to a set level

PDLC
PDLC glass tends to be the most expensive option. It offers privacy at the touch of a button, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor applications. This technology is the only type that turns completely opaque, which means you can use it for bathrooms, showers, private offices and more. You can also turn it into a television projector.

PDLC has crystals that are both liquid and solid, similar to what you’d get in an LCD television or monitor. It has a lot of names, including:

Electric privacy glass

LCD glass

Electric frosted glass

The crystals are inactive when turned off, which makes the glass appear frosted or dark. Once you turn it on, the window is completely clear or dimmable.

SPD
SPD glass is the middle-of-the road cost option, with pricing a little lower than PDLC. This type allows you to select the level of tinting from minimally shading to full darkness, although it can’t provide complete privacy. Its heat-blocking features make it a great choice for exterior windows. You can also use it for any interior room that needs additional darkness in daytime, like a home theater or child’s bedroom.

SPD suspends particles in a liquid. When you turn on the device, it brings those particles in line and allows you to the control the level of tinting. Like PDLC, these windows are dimmable.

Electrochromic
Electrochromic glass is the cheapest option. This type allows you to change the tinting over the course of a few minutes. It uses ions to force particles to the inside or outside of the window, making the material clear or tinted. Those particles stay in position until you use the control to move them again.

Electrochromic glass is similar to photochromic or thermochromic tinting, but it’s important to understand the difference. Photochromic and thermochromic products, like Transitions eyeglass lenses, tint based on light or heat. They don’t require energy to change, but you can’t control them. Electrochromic options use energy comparable to a single LED lightbulb, and make it easy to change whenever you want.

Switchable Glass Prices vs. Smart Window Film
Switchable glass, which may refer to PDLC, SPD or electrochromic products, costs $50 to $150 per square foot and includes all materials and installation. If you want to buy smart film that you can have a pro apply to your existing windows, you’ll pay $25 to $50 per square foot.

    Brand        Glass        Film    
    Smart Tint        N        Y    
    Invisishade        Y        Y    
    Sonte Film        N        Y    
    Smart Film        N        Y    
    View        Y        N    
    Gauzy        Y        N    
    GlobalSmartGlass.com        Y        Y    

FAQ >>>

?

Does PDLC smart glass become opaque?

No, the correct term is translucent, since light still gets through, albeit scattered in many directions. The glass would be opaque only if the light was blocked or absorbed.

FAQ >>>

?

Can smart glass/film be used as display screens?

Yes, smart glass/film is a rear projector screen with wide viewing angles. Even from the side one can enjoy clear, beautiful images and also in bright locations with high functional projectors.

FAQ >>>

?

Why does PDLC glass scatter light?

The liquid crystals change their refractive index in relation to the isotropically transparent polymer in which they are immersed, thereby creating multiple step boundaries throughout the PDLC.
It is this change in refractive index at each boundary which causes light to change course. Since the PDLC material contains millions of liquid crystals, each with a boundary facing a slightly different way, the light is scattered in many directions.
The net effect is to hide whatever is behind the PDLC smart glass.

FAQ >>>

Send Your Message Us


Please leave your message here, we or our local dealer will contact you soon!



Your Contact

Sales Department: