A crack or scratch to your iPhone’s screen is a magnet to the eye. A blemish on a glass surface is glaring, and despite the innovations brands like Apple have made in strengthening their devices, one drop onto concrete can spell still spell disaster. Choose security over regret, and invest in an iPhone screen protector.
Aside from a good case, the most important buy you can make for your cellphone is a screen protector. You could argue that it is the most important iPhone accessory because a case alone will not protect your screen from those cracks and dings.
As with all things iPhone, there are thousands of screen protectors available, with both prices and quality varying widely, so it’s easy to get stuck with a bad one that leaves your iPhone 14 vulnerable to a catastrophic screen break. The price tag isn’t an indication of a screen protector’s quality, it’s better to shop based for certain materials and, of course, a good fit.
What the Experts Say
Unlike iPhone cases, you don’t need to weigh the aesthetic appeal of a screen protector. They all look the same, with the exception of tinted privacy screen protectors that shield your phone from prying eyes. Rather, prioritize looking for the most durable material that doesn’t hinder your ability to use your phone’s touchscreen.
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“The best material for screen protectors is tempered glass,” says Casey Profita, CEO of Gophermods, a Minnesota-based tech repair company. “It should be just the right thickness, about 0.3mm. If it’s thicker, your digitizer might not work as well when you touch it. If it’s thinner, it might not protect your screen as much.”
Another number to look out for is hardness rating — if you’re shopping on Amazon, “item hardness” is one of the search filters. They’re scored on a scale of 1-10 hardness (H) on the Mohs hardness scale, which is used primarily for minerals, with the score ranging from diamonds (10H) to talc (1H). A 9H tempered glass screen protector will be an outstanding guard for your iPhone 14’s screen. Narrow your search to those parameters and then factor in price, and you’re in good hands.
Here are some of our experts’ picks:
amFilm One Touch (2-Pack)
$9.99$12.4920% off
Buy Now On Amazon
A 2-pack of 0.33-millimeter tempered glass screen protectors that cost less than $13 is a bargain. The pack comes with a plastic aligner for easy installation, and the quality makes them a favorite of TechiAid.com co-founder Suhel Rana. The amFilm One Touch also has an oleophobic coating that reduces fingerprints to keep your iPhone’s screen clear, easy to read, and protected from cracks and chips.
PanzerGlass SAFE Screen
$19.95
The PanzerGlass SAFE Screen is not a bargain buy, but it still has a home in the affordable category and brings a ton of quality for the price. “The tempered glass protection absorbs impact and protects from scratches,” says James Francis, consumer mobile expert at London-based mobile phone marketplace Mozillion. “They also have a smudge-free coating to reduce traces of fingerprints. And as a bonus, they come in nice eco-friendly sustainable packaging.” Another cool feature? PanzerGlass claims the SAFE Screen can be removed and reinstalled up to 200 times, which may come in handy if you’re especially bad at getting the alignment just right when you install it.
PERFECTSIGHT Anti Blue Light Screen Protector
$14.99
Buy Now On Amazon
The PERFECTSIGHT Anti Blue Light Screen Protector rates at a 9H on the hardness scale, is 0.33-millimeters thick (the ideal), and has built-in blue-light protection for your eyes. It’s also a great example of how even unfamiliar brands can deliver screen protectors that check off all the boxes for giving your iPhone’s screen the optimal amount of protection. “Brand doesn’t matter as much, it’s just marketing at the end of the day,” Profita says. “Stick to the 0.3-millimeter thickness for the best protection without losing touch sensitivity.”
EyeJust Blue Light Blocking Screen Protector
$40.00$50.0020% off
At $40, the EyeJust is at the high end of the price range for an iPhone screen protector, but it’s Rana’s choice for anyone looking to ease the damaging effects of blue light. EyeJust claims testing by doctors at the University of California at Irvine, and a study published in the Oxford Academic International Journal proving their screen protector’s ability to reduce eye strain and improve sleep. Add EyeJust’s 2-year warranty for cracked or damaged screen protectors, and suddenly that price tag doesn’t seem nearly as steep.
Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit (2-Pack)
$34.99
Rana’s choice for the best overall screen protector for the iPhone also comes with the convenient tray method for installation. It also checks off all of the other items on any iPhone 14 owner’s list of must-haves for their screen protector: 9H tempered glass, fingerprint-resistant coating, and is sold in a 2-pack. Cracked screen protectors do happen, but if they’re taking the brunt of the hit and leaving your iPhone 14 in pristine condition, it’s well worth having a backup handy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Screen Protectors
Are Cheap iPhone Screen Protectors Protective?
As Profita says, when it comes to screen protectors, brand names are mostly just marketing. But those ones with unknown names that sit in the bins at your local dollar store are unlikely to have the qualities you most need in an effective screen protector: tempered glass, 0.33-millimeter thickness (thick enough to protect, but not so thick that your touchscreen sensitivity diminishes), and a high hardness rating.
How Important Is It That I Use an iPhone Screen Protector for my Specific Model?
In other words, can you go bargain-hunting and pick up a screen protector for an older iPhone model? Inadvisable — those seemingly minute variances in the dimensions of Apple’s phone models make a world of difference when the screen is hurtling towards the ground and about to make contact. You want to make sure every inch is covered.
If I Have a Good Screen Protector for My iPhone, Do I Need a Case?
Sure, if you want a scratch-free screen on a phone that’s shattered and possibly inoperable because you didn’t have a case. And your screen might not be safe either, because a drop where your unprotected iPhone lands on one of its corners will likely shatter the glass back of the phone and the screen, protector or not. The case and the screen protector work together to seal off the phone from damage from drops. Use them both together.
