Clear Solar Window Films Compared: Prestige 70, CA80, ULR 80 and Legacy 70

3M Prestige 70, 3M Ceramic Architectural 80, Solar Gard ULR 80 and ASWF Legacy 70 are designed for windows where solar control matters but maintaining natural light, views and the original appearance of the glass is equally important. They look broadly similar once installed, but their construction, solar performance, application options, warranty backing and price differ. This comparison uses published figures for film installed on 6 mm clear glass wherever equivalent data is available. Actual performance changes with the glass type, thickness, coatings and whether the film is installed internally or externally. If you are deciding between different types of solar window film, this guide explains where each of these four products fits.

The measurements used in this comparison

Two measurements are particularly useful when comparing these films.

• Visible light transmission (VLT) is the percentage of visible daylight that passes through the filmed glass. A higher figure means a brighter, lighter appearance.
• Total solar energy rejected (TSER) is the percentage of the sun's total energy, including visible light, infrared and ultraviolet, that the filmed glass rejects rather than transmits.

Visible reflectivity describes how much visible light bounces off the surface. It is published separately for the interior and exterior faces of the glass. For a fuller explanation of these measurements, see our guide to visible light, total solar energy and window film specifications.

Quick comparison

These are nominal manufacturer figures. The applicable values and warranty should be confirmed for the actual glass before a product is selected.

What these films look like after installation

All four products are designed to retain a bright, natural appearance. There may be subtle differences when samples are placed directly beside one another, but colour is unlikely to be the deciding factor for most customers. The following photographs show completed installations in different properties and lighting conditions. They demonstrate the general installed appearance, but they are not a controlled side by side comparison. The Prestige 70 example appears at the top of this article.

Solar Gard ULR 80 in Southbank

ASWF Legacy 70 in Balwyn

3M Prestige 70

3M Prestige 70 is made from more than 200 micro thin optical layers. It does not rely on metal or ceramic particles to control solar energy. This multilayer construction allows Prestige 70 to transmit a high level of natural light while rejecting more total solar energy than the other three films on the published clear glass figures. Because it is non metallised, it does not create the signal interference or corrosion concerns associated with some traditional metallised films.

The importance of the 59% figure

On 6 mm clear glass, Prestige 70 rejects 50% of total solar energy when sunlight is measured perpendicular to the glass. At a 60 degree incidence angle, the published figure rises to 59%. That 59% figure is an important advantage of Prestige 70. It shows how its multilayer optical construction performs as sunlight meets the glass at an angle. Sunlight does not remain perpendicular to a window throughout the day. Its angle changes according to the time, season and direction the window faces. Prestige is designed to increase its solar performance as that angle changes, helping it perform strongly during periods of demanding sun exposure. The 59% figure is total solar energy rejected at a 60 degree incidence angle. It should not be described as a general 59% reduction in room temperature, cooling costs or air conditioning use.

Exterior installation option

Prestige is also available as a dedicated Prestige Exterior product. An exterior film may be recommended where:

• Interior access is restricted or impractical
• The approved glass-and-film combination requires exterior application
• Existing coatings or insulated glazing require a different application approach
• The window configuration is unsuitable for the preferred interior film
• A site-specific assessment identifies Prestige Exterior as the appropriate product

The exterior version is a separately engineered product. Standard interior Prestige 70 should not simply be installed outside. Prestige Exterior has different warranty terms because it is exposed to weather. Under the current 3M Flat Glass Warranty Bulletin, qualifying vertical applications carry a 10-year performance warranty and qualifying sloped applications carry a 7-year performance warranty. Approved removal and reapplication labour is covered for the first year. Eligibility depends on the glass, installation angle, application and compliance with 3M's installation requirements.

Best suited to

Prestige 70 is particularly well suited to:

• Premium homes and apartments
• Large windows where the view matters
• North and west facing rooms
• Properties with demanding solar exposure
• Projects requiring an exterior option
• Customers who value warranty support from 3M
• Glass where minimal reflectivity is important

3M Ceramic Architectural 80

3M Ceramic Architectural 80 uses non metallised ceramic nanoparticles rather than the multilayer optical construction used by Prestige. On 6 mm clear glass, Ceramic 80 transmits 77% of visible light, rejects 43% of total solar energy and has approximately 8% visible reflectivity on both sides. Its specifications place it extremely close to Solar Gard ULR 80. Both are high light transmission ceramic films with low reflectivity and similar total solar performance. Ceramic 80 provides a useful middle position in the 3M range. It retains more natural light than Prestige 70 and costs less, although it does not equal Prestige 70 for total solar energy rejected. It is also backed by 3M and installed by UV Window Coatings as a 3M Platinum Select Partner.

Best suited to

Ceramic 80 is particularly well suited to:

• Customers wanting a clear 3M film below Prestige pricing
• Apartments where natural light and views are priorities
• Homes and offices with reflectivity restrictions
• Projects requiring a non metallised, signal friendly film
• Interior applications where 43% total solar energy rejection is sufficient
• Customers comparing ULR 80 with a similar 3M product

Solar Gard ULR 80

Solar Gard ULR 80 uses advanced ceramic technology to provide solar control with very high visible light transmission and low reflectivity. ULR stands for ultra low reflectivity. Its approximately 8% interior and exterior visible reflectivity is effectively the same as Ceramic 80 and Legacy 70, and only one percentage point below the published Prestige 70 figure. ULR 80 transmits approximately 78% of visible light, the highest figure in this comparison. Its published total solar energy rejection is approximately 42%, placing it almost level with Ceramic 80. The choice between ULR 80 and Ceramic 80 is therefore unlikely to be determined by headline specifications alone. Product availability, warranty, price, glass compatibility and the samples viewed against the actual windows may be more important.

Best suited to

ULR 80 is particularly well suited to:

• Apartments with large windows
• Living areas where natural light is the highest priority
• Customers wanting a nearly invisible installation
• Projects requiring very low reflectivity
• Interior applications where Prestige performance is unnecessary
• Homes and offices seeking balanced performance at a mid range price

ULR 80 is an interior film. Unlike Prestige 70, there is no equivalent ULR 80 exterior version in this comparison.

ASWF Legacy 70

ASWF Legacy 70 uses a pure sputtered titanium nitride nano ceramic construction. It is not made using the same multilayer optical technology as Prestige 70. Its titanium nitride construction provides a clear, stable and low-reflection appearance. Legacy 70 transmits 66% of visible light and has published interior and exterior visible reflectivity of 8%. Its total solar energy rejection is 38% on 6 mm clear glass. Although its solar performance is lower than the other three products in this comparison, it provides a similarly natural installed appearance at a more accessible price.

Best suited to

Legacy 70 is particularly well suited to:

• Budget conscious residential projects
• Investment properties and rentals
• Whole home installations where total coverage matters
• Customers wanting low reflectivity without paying for a premium option
• Rooms where moderate rather than maximum solar control is sufficient

Legacy 70 is designed for interior installation. ASWF makes some exterior products, but Legacy 70 itself should not be presented as the direct equivalent of Prestige 70 Exterior.

Is there much difference in reflectivity?

Very little, based on the published figures.

A difference of one percentage point is unlikely to be obvious in most completed installations. The existing glass, surrounding buildings, sky conditions, interior lighting and viewing angle may affect what a customer sees more than the nominal difference between these films. None should create the strongly mirrored appearance associated with conventional reflective solar film.

Is there much difference in colour?

Not enough to make colour the main basis for choosing between them. All four films are intended to maintain a clear and natural view. Small differences may be visible when samples are held directly beside one another, particularly under changing daylight, but they are broadly similar once installed across a complete window. The more meaningful differences are:

• Total solar energy rejected
• Visible light transmission
• Performance at changing sun angles
• Interior or exterior application
• Manufacturer and warranty backing
• Installed price

During an assessment, we hold samples against the customer's actual glass. This is more reliable than judging colour from photographs taken in different properties.

How do the warranties compare?

Warranty length is not a major point of difference between these products. All four have substantial manufacturer warranties when professionally installed on approved glazing.

The final warranty depends on the product supplied, glass type, installation surface, building use, professional installation and the current written Australian warranty documentation. Prestige does not win simply because the other products have short warranties. They do not. All four provide meaningful long term coverage. The additional distinction for Prestige and Ceramic 80 is that their warranties are backed by 3M. Some customers value the reassurance of dealing with a large, established manufacturer that has operated across many industries for decades. Solar Gard is also part of a major international manufacturer, Saint-Gobain. ASWF provides lifetime residential coverage and a 10 year commercial term for Legacy. Warranty should therefore be considered alongside performance and suitability rather than used as the only reason to select a product.

Which film rejects the most total solar energy?

On the published figures for 6 mm clear glass:

• Prestige 70 rejects 50% of total solar energy at normal incidence
• Ceramic 80 rejects 43%
• ULR 80 rejects approximately 42%
• Legacy 70 rejects 38%

Prestige 70 also has a separately published figure of 59% total solar energy rejected at a 60 degree incidence angle. This makes Prestige 70 the strongest performer when total solar energy rejection is the priority. Ceramic 80 and ULR 80 are extremely close to one another.

Which film lets in the most natural light?

ULR 80 has the highest published visible light transmission at approximately 78%. Ceramic 80 follows at 77%, Prestige 70 at 69% and Legacy 70 at 66%. All four retain a substantial amount of daylight. The differences are more likely to be noticed when samples are placed beside one another than after one product is installed across an entire room.

Which film offers the best value?

That depends on what the room needs. Legacy 70 is generally the most accessible option. It suits projects where a clear appearance, ultraviolet protection and moderate solar control are required across a larger area. Ceramic 80 and ULR 80 occupy the middle position. Their specifications are extremely similar, with high visible light transmission, low reflectivity and approximately 42% to 43% total solar energy rejection. Prestige 70 costs more but provides the highest total solar energy rejection of the four, publishes stronger performance at an angled incidence and has a dedicated exterior version. It also carries 3M manufacturer backing. For broader budgeting information, see our guide to window tinting prices in Melbourne.

Which film would we recommend?

Choose 3M Prestige 70 when maximum solar performance within this clear film group, angled sun performance, an exterior option or premium 3M positioning is important. Choose 3M Ceramic Architectural 80 when you want very high natural light transmission, low reflectivity and 3M backing without moving to Prestige pricing. Choose Solar Gard ULR 80 when retaining the highest possible level of natural light and achieving very low reflectivity are the priorities. Choose ASWF Legacy 70 when you want a clear, low reflection solar film at a more accessible price. There is no poor option among the four. Each can be used where sun control is important but maintaining natural light, views and the existing appearance of the glass also matters. The correct recommendation depends on:

• The type and thickness of the glass
• Whether the windows are single or double glazed
• Window direction and sun exposure
• Internal or external installation requirements
• Owners corporation or façade restrictions
• The balance between performance and budget

This is why we assess the glass and hold samples against the actual windows before recommending a product. For homes, see our residential window tinting service. For high rise and owners corporation considerations, see apartment window tinting.

Compare the films on your own windows

Specifications help narrow the choice, but the final result depends on the film and the glass working together. UV Window Coatings can inspect the glass, identify compatible products, hold samples against the windows and provide the applicable performance and warranty information in writing.