Buying guide for Best iPad screen protectors
Since the first iPad, Apple has relied on Corning — the makers of Gorilla Glass — to provide the glass panel screens for their tablets. Although Apple and Corning don’t comment on the specific type of glass used in their production, iPad screens have long had a reputation of being damage and scratch-resistant. Unfortunately, regardless of how well-engineered it may be, glass is still glass. Even the toughest glass can still scratch or break.
Tablets are especially vulnerable since, unlike computers, touch is the primary form of interaction. Under the right circumstances, dirt or particulates on the tip of your finger, stylus, or an Apple Pencil can scratch your iPad screen. In addition, because the iPad doesn't come with a case, the screen is always exposed by default. Accidentally placing or dropping an iPad face-down on a rough, damaging surface is easy, and something can be placed or dropped on an iPad screen with similar results.
Many users want an extra layer of defense to help protect their iPad. Screen protectors are an excellent, low-cost way of doing that.
Key considerations
The single biggest consideration when choosing a screen protector for your iPad is the material it’s made of. The two types of material primarily used are glass and plastic, each with its own set of advantages.
Glass
The biggest advantage to glass screen protectors is how they look and feel. Similar to your iPad screen, a glass protector offers a high level of clarity, without washing out your device’s colors or HD. Similarly, glass protectors offer the best feel, in terms of the touch interface. Like the iPad display, your finger slides smoothly across a glass protector.
This material also lends itself well to edge-to-edge screen protection, although the added thickness may keep the iPad from fitting into some cases, since most glass protectors are 0.3mm to 0.5mm thick. (In contrast, plastic protectors are as little as 0.1mm.)
In general, glass is a sturdier material than plastic and offers a higher degree of protection — with some caveats. Specifically, glass protectors suffer from the same limitations as the glass they’re protecting. While there are different levels of quality and toughness, including ones made from Gorilla Glass, a glass protector can still be chipped or cracked. If it does crack, there’s a good chance the crack will rapidly spread, similar to a crack in an automobile windshield.
If the damage to the protector is severe enough, it may chip and fracture apart, causing even more damage to the screen.
Plastic
Plastic screen protectors offer a different type of durability. The thicker the material, the more durable they are and the more they protect your iPad from both scratches and impacts. In effect, a thicker, plastic protector provides a small degree of shock absorption. While they scratch much easier than glass protectors, there’s virtually no risk of a scratch to the protector damaging your iPad in any way.
On the downside, plastic protectors are known for being fingerprint magnets. Also, scratches can ensure they quickly take on a grungy look, which will detract from the appearance of your iPad.Another disadvantage of a plastic protector is the feel of it versus a naked screen or glass protector. Plastic protectors, especially low-end ones, aren’t as smooth as glass and your finger won’t track as easily.
When we research iPad screen protectors, we note whether the screen protector offers privacy protection. This makes it hard to see the screen unless you’re facing it squarely, and it can be a helpful feature for people who work with sensitive information.
One of our key considerations in researching iPad screen protectors is how well they prevent glare. An anti-glare coating is especially helpful if you plan to use your iPad outside.
We look for iPad screen protectors with high-quality, statically applied oleophobic coating that prevents finger smudges.
A good iPad screen protector should guard your screen without compromising picture quality. We prefer screen protectors made of ultra-clear materials to maximize visibility.
Touch sensitivity plays a key role in our selection of the best iPad screen protectors. Maintaining the original level of touch sensitivity is essential for activities like drawing.
We research glass iPad screen protectors to learn more about their clarity, scratch resistance, and thickness. Tempered glass screen protectors tend to cost more, but they generally have a smoother feel.
When we research iPad screen protectors, we want to know how effective they are at resisting scratches, which can affect the appearance of the iPad and contribute to damage later on.
Plastic screen protectors can be found in multipacks for only a few dollars, while glass screen protectors can cost $35 each. We look at screen protectors in all price ranges to find the best picks for every budget.
Before recommending a screen protector, we want to know how it is to install. For consumer convenience, some screen protectors even offer video-guided installation.
Plastic iPad screen protectors are durable, thin, and inexpensive, and they’re good at replicating the sensation of writing on paper with the Apple Pencil. However, our research suggests that these screen protectors are also more prone to scratches.
Features
Anti-glare
If you plan on using your iPad outdoors, or in areas with very bright lights, you should look for a screen protector with an anti-glare coating.
Privacy
Some screen protectors double as an added privacy feature by making it difficult to see what’s on the screen unless you’re looking directly at it. This is a good option if you’re frequently in situations where you need to look at sensitive information without the people next to you seeing it.
Ultra-clear
An ultra-clear protector is designed to be as transparent as possible, using the finest materials. As a result, these products are the best at maintaining the color, clarity, and HD of your naked screen, while still offering that added layer of protection.
Oleophobic coating
Oleophobic coating helps keep fingerprints from sticking to glass protectors. Not all oleophobic coatings are the same. Cheaper options have a coating that is sprayed on, while the coating on more expensive covers is statically applied. The difference is not as big as you may think, however, as the cheaper coatings last for a month, while the more expensive ones only last for three.
Did you know?
Some plastic protectors tout “self-healing” properties. This feature, usually found in TPU protectors, means the plastic is soft enough to absorb light scratches and slowly return to normal.
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Price
Because of the range of options and materials, the price of screen protectors can vary from $1 for a pack containing several to well over $35 for a single one.
Inexpensive
The quality of the plastic will be fairly low, with a noticeable reduction of the iPad screen color, clarity, and HD. These protectors often come in a pack of five for as little as $1, or a couple of dollars at most.
Most tempered glass protectors are multi-layered, containing silicon and PET layers for added protection.
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Mid-range
Mid-range options will have additional features designed to make using a screen protector more seamless. These products will run several dollars apiece for a plastic protector and in the mid-teens for a glass one.
Expensive
The most expensive options are upwards of $10 for a single plastic protector and $35 for a glass version. These are the best of the best, with the finest oleophobic coating, anti-glare, and the most transparent materials. Glass models will also be high-strength Gorilla Glass or another comparable technology.
Did you know?
Tempered glass is made by superheating and rapidly cooling glass. Because the outer surface is under compression and the inner surface is under tension, tempered glass breaks into chunks rather than shards.
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Tips
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If you use an Apple Pencil and miss the feel of writing on paper, a plastic protector may help. While nothing will perfectly mimic the feel of a pen on paper, a plastic screen protector offers more “grab” for your Pencil than a glass screen. This makes it a closer experience to pen and paper.
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Many glass screen protector kits will include a wet cleaning cloth to use before applying the protector. Be sure your iPad screen is completely dry before you put the screen protector on. Otherwise, the moisture strapped underneath will create a rainbow shimmering effect.
FAQ
Q. Can I reuse a screen protector?
A. That depends on the quality of the screen protector and the material it’s made from. Cheaper plastic protectors are often one-and-done applications, while thicker, more expensive plastic protectors can be reused. The same is true for more expensive glass products.
Q. What happens if my glass protector cracks or breaks?
A. More expensive products from reputable companies often come with a warranty and will replace the screen protector with a new one.
Q. Will a glass screen protector impact my Apple Pencil use?
A. It might, depending on how you use your Apple Pencil. Some users report lines that are wavy and not perfectly crisp in drawing apps when using a glass protector. Your mileage may vary, as much of this depends on the quality of the glass.
