A Guide To Tell Difference Between AG, AR, AF Coatings In Cover Glass Industry

When a new display project or solution launching, the egineers and design teams usually meet light reflection issues and need to purchase suitable cover glas OEM. When buyers and engineers are new to optical glass, the cover glass industry terms aren’t familiar. Possibly they will search vague keywords like “anti reflection glass” or “non glare glass”, which leads to ambiguous communication with glass OEM.

So let’s focus on the principles, applications and identification methods of AG, AR and AF glass coatings to help you quickly tell their differences and locate the correct OEM.

First, AG Glass(Anti glare glass), also known as non glare glass

Definition

Under chemical etching or spraying, the mirror smooth glass surface transformed into a matte texture with tiny uneven particles. The adjusted surface roughness diffuses incident light to achieve anti-glare effects.
AG treatment can be applied on single or double sides of glass. The AG matte side must face outwards during assembly. Lower gloss delivers better light diffusion and less harsh glare.

Functions & Applications

The AG scatters ambient reflected light to eliminate dazzling glare and deliver comfortable view experience, it widely used for displays which expose to strong sunlight or bright environments: Outdoor machine screens, ATM machines, POS terminals, medical B-ultrasound monitors, E-readers, gas station displays, subway ticket validator screen etc.

Quick identification method

Place the glass under a fluorescent lamp and observe the lamp reflection from front:

Blurred, scattered lamp refletion=AG treated surface
Clear, sharp lamp mirror image=Untreated smooth surface

Non AG VS. AG

Second, AR Glass(Anti reflection glass), also know as high transmittance glass

Applications

All touchscreen cover glass including mobile phones, tablets, vehicle central control screens, industrial touch panels and smart home touch displays.

Composite Processing Combinations

Multiple treatments can be stacked: AG+AF, AR+AF, AG+AR+AF (3A full-function glass)

Quick Identification Methods

Water drop test: Water beads up and rolls freely without spreading on AF-coated surface.

Oil pen test: Oil ink cannot adhere firmly and wipes away easily on AF coating.

Core Differences Summary

AG: Matte textured surface, scatters harsh ambient light for outdoor anti-glare use

AR: Optical film to maximize light transmission, delivers ultra-clear indoor visuals

AF: Nano hydrophobic-oleophobic coating, prevents fingerprints for touch screens

Selection Tips

Outdoor / high-brightness viewing environment: Choose AG glass

Indoor scenes requiring high definition and minimal light loss: Choose AR glass

Frequently touched panels prone to fingerprints: AF coating is mandatory

Outdoor high-definition touch devices: Adopt triple treatment AG+AR+AF glass