Best Screen Protectors

While Smartphones screens are becoming more robust, even the strongest glass is susceptible to shattering when dropped. To prevent avoidable damage, it’s worth investing in a screen protector. The sheer number of screen protectors available, however, can blur what should be a crystal-clear decision.

That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you! See below for our top screen protector buying tips and handy list of the best available on the market today. 

What kind of screen protector should I look for?

The two main types of screen protector are made of different materials. Plastic protectors offer an inexpensive way to protect your device, while tempered glass varieties are harder and provide more robust protection, albeit at a higher price. Nevertheless, for both types, you should expect to pay between £2-15, which is very reasonable considering the cost of some smartphone repairs.

Premium screen protectors usually try to justify their lofty price tags with lifetime guarantees. In such cases, reading the small print is essential. Some manufacturers require return postage for the damaged protector, for instance, when it may actually be cheaper to buy a new protector.

Types of plastic screen protector

There are two main types of screen protector in the plastic category: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). The former is made from flexible material and costs less than TPU, but TPU offers more robust protection despite being more difficult to apply correctly.

Which screen protector offers the best protection?

For ultimate damage resistance, opt for tempered glass. Being considerably thicker than plastic (0.3-0.5mm compared to 0.1mm), it offers greater protection against cracks, scratches and bends. Plastic protectors, on the other hand, can provide adequate temporary protection on holiday, for example, or for your second or spare handset.

Finally, bear in mind that most screen protectors are designed to match specific devices. This includes cut-outs for components, such as headphone jacks, fingerprint readers, the screen etc. So be sure to check if the protector is compatible with your handset before buying.