![Smart Film vs Smart Glass · The Complete Comparison · Which to Choose [2026] | InHouse](/assets/uploads/portfolio/aman-nai-lert-bangkok-bathroom-1/smart-film-aman-nai-lert-bangkok-bathroom-clear-glass-city-view-og.jpg)
The Summary Before the Long Read · Decide in 60 Seconds
Choose Smart Film if:
- · You already have glass and don't want to rebuild the structure
- · You want to switch to opaque on part of the pane only — the lower half, a middle band
- · Your budget is 6,700–14,800 THB/sqm
- · It's an older building or condo where you can't replace the glass
- · You want the option to repair / change / upgrade in the future (peel and replace in 1 day)
Choose Smart Glass if:
- · It's new construction where the glass can be designed from the start
- · It's a wet / outdoor area needing 100% water resistance
- · You want built-in sound dampening of 30–35 dB
- · Your budget is 14,500–22,500 THB/sqm
- · Laminated safety glass is already a safety requirement
* Both InHouse Smart Film and Smart Glass use the same PDLC/PNLC technology base — they differ in "how the liquid-crystal layer is bonded into the glass". See the full specs on the Smart Film page and the Smart Glass page.
What Are Smart Film and Smart Glass · Where Do They Differ
Smart Film (switchable film)
A retrofit PDLC film about 0.4 mm thick that bonds straight onto your existing glass, much like automotive window tint, but uses an electric current to control the dispersion of the liquid crystals and switch between clear and opaque. InHouse Smart Film comes in 3 Series (Indoor · Outdoor · Performance) according to the R&D enhancement layers Aquaris™ and Lucida™.
- · Thickness: 0.4 mm, bonded onto existing glass
- · Clarity: 98% (optical clarity · measured value)
- · Lifespan Indoor 12+ years · Outdoor/Performance +80% boost
- · Can switch to opaque on part of the pane only
- · Price 6,700–14,800 THB/sqm
Smart Glass (switchable glass)
Tempered Laminated glass with the PDLC film layer embedded inside at the factory — typically two glass panes bonding an EVA film + a PDLC layer, making it a finished "smart laminated safety glass" in a single pane. InHouse Smart Glass uses this structure as standard, with an IGU (Insulated Glass Unit) option for energy-efficiency projects.
- · Thickness: 9–13 mm (the whole pane)
- · Clarity: 98% (optical clarity · measured value)
- · Lifespan 15+ years base · with Aquaris/Lucida +50% boost
- · Must be full-pane — can't switch part of the pane to opaque
- · Price 14,500–22,500 THB/sqm
The Most Important Difference · "Partial Install"
This is why customers choose Smart Film over Smart Glass, even though Smart Glass is stronger and more durable — Smart Film can switch to opaque on part of the pane only (lower half / upper half / middle band / zone), whereas Smart Glass must be an entirely new pane and can only switch the whole pane at once.
Home · Bedroom
Apply Smart Film to the lower half for privacy while the upper half stays clear for light and views — saving 30–50% versus covering the whole pane.
Meeting Room
Apply it only to a middle band at eye level, leaving the top and bottom edges clear so the boardroom still gets natural light.
Bathroom
Apply Smart Film only at the eye-level band, leaving the floor and ceiling zones clear (a budget-friendly Sexy Bathroom solution).
Smart Film can be applied to specific zones for real-world use — the lower half, the upper half, or as a band — InHouse offers a full range of installation layouts to choose from.
Repair · Replace · Upgrade (Serviceability)
| Scenario | Smart Film | Smart Glass |
|---|---|---|
| Peel off / replace | Peel the old film, clean the glass, reapply — done in 1 day | You must remove the whole pane, affecting built-ins, ceilings and aluminium framing — 3–5 days |
| Technology upgrade | Just replace the film | Replace the whole pane = the budget of a fresh install |
| Move / relocate | The film can be moved to a new pane | Not possible (glass is cut to a specific size) |
This factor matters a great deal for condos and leased buildings that may need to be restored to original condition or refreshed periodically.
Durability and Safety
1) Lifespan
Standard market PDLC lasts 8–12 years, while InHouse Smart Film Indoor sits at 12+ years (matching the market maximum), and Outdoor/Performance gains a +80% boost from the Aquaris™ or Lucida™ layer under standard conditions, while Smart Glass is 15+ years at the base and gains a +50% boost with Aquaris/Lucida.
Head to head: at the premium level both gain a +50–80% boost (comparable) — Smart Glass has the edge because its PDLC layer is embedded in the glass, not directly exposed to air or UV · Smart Film (Performance + Lucida™) comes close thanks to its HC Armor Coating layer.
2) Scratch Risk
Smart Film has its film surface on the outside of the glass, especially the film edge that's directly exposed — clean it the wrong way, such as with glass cleaner or a coarse cloth, and you risk scratches · Smart Glass, meanwhile, has its PDLC layer embedded within the glass body, so it can be wiped with glass cleaner as usual like ordinary glass and is more scratch-resistant over the long term.
Note: Smart Film must be cleaned with a feather duster or regular alcohol. Never use glass cleaner.
3) Safety Glass
InHouse Smart Glass is Tempered Laminated, i.e. safety glass with two panes bonding an EVA interlayer, so on breakage the fragments stay held on the EVA and don't fall and cut — the same grade as an automotive windscreen · Smart Film, on the other hand, depends on the customer's existing glass — if that glass isn't Tempered/Laminated, the safety level equals the existing glass.
Sound Dampening
InHouse Smart Glass, being Tempered Laminated + an EVA interlayer, reduces noise by 30–35 dB — close to a basic recording room, making it ideal for boardrooms · hotel bedrooms · medical clinics that need privacy both visually and acoustically.
Smart Film is not a sound-absorbing material · it dampens sound only according to the properties of the existing glass — a single 6 mm pane typically reduces noise by ~25 dB. This aspect relies on Laminated glass or double glazing to level up.
In depth → Smart Glass Sound Dampening · What Is STC
Price Comparison (Installation Included)
InHouse Smart Film
6,700–14,800 THB/sqm
Depending on Series (Indoor/Outdoor/Performance) and the installation area
InHouse Smart Glass
14,500–22,500 THB/sqm
Depending on a single Tempered Laminated structure or IGU + Low-E
Example: a meeting room with 15 sqm of glass
· Smart Film on the lower half, 7.5 sqm ≈ 50,000–110,000 THB
(saving 30–50% versus covering the whole pane)
· Smart Glass full-pane, 15 sqm ≈ 217,000–337,000 THB
The figures above are estimated ranges · calculate your real budget from the Smart Film price and Smart Glass price · installation by the InHouse team included.
Decide with 5 Questions
-
1) Is the building finished, or under new construction?
Existing building → Film (no demolition) · new build + you can design the glass → both are possible
-
2) Do you need to switch part of the pane to opaque, or the whole pane?
Part of the pane → Film only (Glass doesn't support it)
-
3) Budget per sqm?
≤ 15,000 → Film · 15,000–22,500 → Glass
-
4) Do you need sound dampening?
Need 30 dB+ dampening → Glass · not required → Film is enough
-
5) A wet / outdoor area?
Wet bathroom / facade → Glass or Film Outdoor (Aquaris™)
Cases Where Smart Glass Is Not a Fit · Even When Budget Allows
- · Condo/lease — you can't change the glass under the juristic-person agreement
- · Older building — the frame and glass seals aren't designed for 10–13 mm glass
- · Frequent layout changes — moving walls/partitions every 2–3 years
- · Temporary / pop-up projects — investing in Glass isn't worth it
Why Choose InHouse for Both
InHouse is the only Thai brand doing R&D on both Smart Film and Smart Glass within one system — using the same PDLC/PNLC base formula — so customers never have to choose between two vendors and never have to worry that the film and the glass won't switch to the same shade.
R&D Brand Owner
Controls production at every stage · film and glass use the same Liquid Crystal formula
In-House Installation Crew
No middlemen · fully concealed wiring — no cables in sight · a finish so seamless it doesn't look like film at all
Confidence Policy
If the delivered work fails the agreed acceptance standard · we fix it or refund 100% per the agreed terms
Frequently Asked Questions · Smart Film vs Smart Glass
Which is clearer, Smart Film or Smart Glass?
Clarity is on the same level (Indoor: Clarity 98% · optical clarity · measured value), but Smart Glass often looks slightly clearer because its PDLC layer is inside the glass with no surface reflection · conversely, InHouse Smart Film Performance Series (the Lucida™ layer) reduces haze several-fold versus standard PDLC, nearly indistinguishable from bare glass — you can see the real clarity level in the Pure Clarity Test Video
For a bathroom, should I choose Smart Film or Smart Glass?
If it's a directly wet area (a shower screen) → Smart Glass is better because it seals the edges against water · if it's a bathroom where the glass is at eye level but not directly hit by water (a bathroom window, say) → Smart Film Outdoor (Aquaris™) is enough and saves 40–60% of the budget.
Do Smart Film and Smart Glass use different amounts of power?
They're comparable, both at ~3W/sqm/hr · a 1 sqm pane kept opaque 8 hours a day costs about 1 THB/day — very little, not a deciding factor.
How much does installation time differ between Smart Film and Smart Glass?
Smart Film takes ~30–45 minutes per sqm with a professional crew · a one-room home job is done in a single day · Smart Glass has to be made to size and shipped · on-site installation is 1–2 days (depending on the frame and existing built-ins).
How much does InHouse's warranty cover?
Per-project terms are stated in the contract — the website doesn't quote a fixed warranty period for accuracy · the InHouse Confidence Policy covers that if the delivered work fails the agreed acceptance standard, InHouse will remedy it or refund 100% per the agreed terms.
Can I use both Smart Film and Smart Glass in one project?
Yes, and it's common among InHouse customers — for example, Glass for the main meeting room and the facade · Film for bedrooms, condos and bathrooms where the glass is already in place · the control system (remote / Smart Home / Matter) can command the mix in a single app.
Still Not Sure? · Talk to an InHouse Engineer, Free
Send our team a photo or plan of your room — we'll analyze whether your project should be Smart Film, Smart Glass, or a mix of both · free of charge and no need to travel to a showroom.
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