Select is editorially independent.Our editors have picked these deals and items because we think you'll enjoy them at these prices.We may earn commissions if you purchase items through our links.Pricing and availability are accurate at time of publication. If you just bought an expensive smartphone from Apple, Google, or Samsung, you might want to consider protective accessories to protect your phone from wear and tear.A phone case is a start, but most phone cases leave your glass screen vulnerable to damage.Experts say screen protectors are an affordable way to keep your phone from cracking or shattering when you drop it — but with so many options on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one to buy. To help you choose the right screen protector for your phone (regardless of make or model), we consulted with technical experts on the differences in material, function and application of the various protectors available.Experts also shared their favorite screen protectors for various smartphone models. Scratching or damaging your screen is easier than you might think.If you put the phone in a purse, backpack or pocket with change or keys, the screen "is easily visible from [those] hard surfaces with visible scratches" which "weakens the integrity of the original display and is more likely to cause cracks," said Arthur Zilberman, president of tech repair company Laptop MD. Experts tell us that screen protectors are the best way to reduce cracks, scratches or shatters on your physical screen.While they vary in price, most aren't very expensive: Plastic screen protectors typically cost less than $15, while glass screen protectors can range from around $10 to over $50. Tech Gear Talk editor Sagi Shilo points out that it's also worth buying a good screen protector to avoid spending hundreds of dollars on replacing a broken monitor.Additionally, he points out that a full display is one of the main factors in determining the value of a used device if you want to resell or trade in a model in the future. However, screen protectors have limitations: "It doesn't cover every square millimeter of the glass display," says Mac Frederick, owner of Phone Repair Philly.Protectors also typically don't protect the back, edges, and corners of your phone—experts we spoke to recommend pairing screen protectors with heavy-duty cases from brands like Otterbox or Lifeproof, preferably ones with rubberized edges that can absorb drops affect and prevent damage. "People forget that the backs of many phones are made of glass, and once the backs are damaged, people are shocked by the cost of replacement," Shilo said. Since we don't test screen protectors ourselves, we rely on expert guidance on how to buy them.The tech experts we interviewed recommended each of the glass screen protector brands and products below—they've listed features consistent with our research, and each was rated highly. Spigen is the top brand recommended by our experts.Zilberman points out that the Spigen EZ Fit Tempered Glass Screen Protector is case-friendly and affordable.Its ease of installation is also worth considering, he adds: It includes an alignment tray that you can place on top of your phone's screen and press down to hold the glass in place.You get two screen protectors with every purchase in case you need to replace the first one. Spigen offers EZ Fit screen protectors for iPad, Apple Watch and all iPhone models, including the new iPhone 13 series.It also works on some Galaxy watch and phone models, as well as other smartphone models. If you're looking for a relatively affordable option, Zilberman recommends this tempered glass screen protector from Ailun.According to the brand, it has a clear, water-repellent and oleophobic screen coating that prevents sweat and oil residue from fingerprints.The box comes with three screen protectors - the downside is that the product contains guide stickers instead of a mounting tray, so it can be a little tricky to place the product on the screen. Ailun screen protectors are currently available for a variety of devices, including Apple's iPad, Samsung's Galaxy devices, Amazon's Kindle, and more. Recommended by Frederick for "price and value," ZAGG offers a variety of durable tempered glass options through its InvisibleShield line for iPhone devices, Android devices, tablets, smartwatches, and more.According to the brand, the Glass Elite VisionGuard protector hides the visibility of fingerprints on the screen and uses a protective layer to filter out blue light.You can optimally align the protector with the screen using the included app label and mounting tray, and the brand says it includes an antibacterial treatment to keep odor-causing bacteria at bay. Sean Agnew, a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Virginia, noted that the Belkin screen protector uses a material called lithium aluminosilicate, which is the basis for some glass-ceramic products. , such as shockproof cookware and glass top cooktops.According to the brand, the material is double ion-exchanged, which means it "allows extremely high levels of residual stress [to] provide very good protection against cracking," Agnew said.However, he added that, like most screen protectors, this isn't an indestructible product. Belkin's UltraGlass Protector is currently only available for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series.However, Belkin also offers several other highly rated options for devices like Apple's Macbook and Samsung's Galaxy devices. Frederick says Supershieldz is one of his favorite brands of tempered glass phone cases because of the product's durability and affordability.The package comes with three screen protectors, all made of high-quality tempered glass.According to the brand, the screen protector has rounded edges for comfort and an oleophobic coating to keep sweat and oil from your fingers. Tempered glass screen protectors from Supershieldz are suitable for devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, LG, and more. Privacy screen protectors can be a good option for people who do business on their phone or who don't want others to see what's on their screen - ZAGG offers a variety of options for you to choose from devices from Apple and Samsung to make a selection.According to the brand, the brand's privacy protector is made of a hybrid glass material that adds a two-way filter that prevents others from viewing your phone screen from the side. When shopping for a screen protector, Shilo recommends considering properties like material, comfort, and ease of installation.Zilberman points out that while you can get plenty of high-quality protectors at affordable prices, he doesn't recommend sacrificing performance for cheaper options. Screen protectors come in a variety of materials—plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and tempered glass (some even chemically strengthened glass, like Corning’s Gorilla Glass) protective film). The experts we consulted agreed that premium tempered glass protectors are the most effective at protecting your display compared to plastic protectors.Tempered glass is a stronger material because it absorbs the shock of a phone being dropped and "understands higher levels of stress on its surface," Agnew said. Plastic screen protectors are great at preventing surface scratches and similar defects, and "they're inexpensive and easy to replace," Agnew says.For example, the soft and stretchy TPU material has self-healing properties, allowing it to withstand low impact and minor scratches without damaging its composition.In general, though, plastic films are neither hard nor strong, so they don't provide adequate protection from high-impact drops and scratches. Since we interact with our phones by touch, the feel and comfort of using a screen protector needs to be considered.Screen protectors can sometimes change the sensitivity of the touchscreen, Zilberman said—some smartphone models will ask you to enter whether to use a screen protector on the device to better calibrate the sensitivity. According to the experts we spoke to, tempered glass is designed to be smoother than other types of screen protectors and doesn't affect the sensitivity of the touchscreen.Unlike plastic protectors, tempered glass feels "exactly the same as without a screen protector," Shilo said. Tempered glass mimics the original display and provides good clarity, while plastic screen protectors create unsightly glare and affect screen quality by adding a "darker, grayer tint" to the screen, Zilberman said.Both plastic and tempered glass protectors are available with privacy and anti-glare filters to suit your preferences.However, experts point out that tempered glass protectors stand out more on the screen because they're thicker—the plastic protector blends perfectly with the original display. Installing a screen protector can be difficult, especially if the protector may be misaligned or have annoying air bubbles and specks of dust underneath the film.Most screen protectors include a plastic mounting tray that goes straight through your phone's screen to align the protector, or to hold the phone while the screen is booted.Some protectors come with "guide stickers" that tell you where the screen protector is on the screen, but Shilo says he prefers trays because they're easier to line up and don't require multiple attempts. According to Frederick, the effectiveness of screen protectors doesn't vary much from one smartphone brand to another.However, the shape and size of a screen protector will vary depending on your phone, so it's a good idea to check its compatibility. Get Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, technology and tools, health and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates. © 2022 Choice | All Rights Reserved.By using this website, you accept the confidentiality provisions and conditions of service.