The three numbers that matter
- IR rejection is how much infrared the film stops. It's the heat you feel on your skin through the glass.
- UV blocked protects your skin and stops seats and trim from fading. Most good films block 99% or more.
- TSER (total solar energy rejected) counts all of the sun's energy together: infrared, visible light and UV. It's the best single measure of how much cooler the car stays.
Why 99% infrared isn't 99% of the heat
Sunlight at ground level carries around 52–55% of its energy as infrared, 42–43% as visible light and 3–5% as UV. A film can stop almost all the infrared and still let visible light through, and visible light warms the cabin too.
That's why TRORO MQ Premium rejects 99.8% of infrared but 65% of total solar energy. Both numbers are true. When a shop quotes only an infrared figure, ask for the TSER as well, measured at the shade you're buying.
Types of window film compared
| Type | How it works | Heat rejection | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyed | Dye absorbs light | Low | Can fade. Mostly adds privacy |
| Carbon | Carbon particles absorb heat | Medium | Less heat rejection than ceramic |
| Metalised, including titanium | A metal layer reflects heat | Medium to high | Reflective films are banned in several GCC countries, and metal can affect phone and GPS signals |
| Ceramic | Non-metal particles absorb infrared | High | Costs more, and quality varies by brand |
| Multi-layer | Many thin layers tuned to reject heat | High | Compare TSER at your shade. TRORO's MQ Series is multi-layer |
General guide to film types. Always compare the data sheets of the exact films you're quoted.
As a price guide, dubizzle puts quality ceramic film at about AED 800–2,000 for a car in Dubai.
Does darker mean cooler?
No. Darkness tells you how much visible light gets through, not how much heat. A cheap dark film can feel hot, while a lighter multi-layer film can reject most of the infrared. That matters here, because most of the GCC limits how dark you can go. Check the tint law for your country first, then choose the highest TSER you can get at that shade.
Clear and non-reflective tint
If you want the windows to stay light, choose a film sold for visibility rather than privacy, such as TRORO's Premium GS Series. Avoid mirror-like films: they're banned in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain and in Abu Dhabi. A non-reflective film gives you heat rejection without the mirror effect.
TRORO window films side by side
| Film | Infrared rejected | UV blocked | TSER | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MQ Premium | 99.8% | 100% to 400 nm | 65% | 2 mil |
| Premium MQ Series | 99% | 100% to 400 nm | 65% | 2 mil |
| GS Premium | 97% | 99% | 59% | 2 mil |
| Premium GS Series | 96% | 99% | 59% | 2 mil |
Figures from the TRORO brochure.
The MQ Series is colour-stable for over 8 years and also blocks blue light. See the full range on our car window tinting page.