Even if you’re the most careful person with your tech gadgets, accidents happen — and seeing a crack on your phone screen after a particularly hard fall can be frustrating. To help you choose the right screen protector for your phone, no matter which brand or model you have, we consulted various tech experts on the differences in materials, features and application methods. We also rounded up some top-rated shopping options, including NBC Select staff favorites.
SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best screen protectors | The best screen protectors in 2025 | How to shop for screen protectors | Why trust NBC Select?
How we picked the best screen protectors
A good quality phone case can only do so much to help you avoid smudges or a broken screen, and most cases will leave your glass screen vulnerable to damage — which is where a screen protector comes in. We spoke with technology experts about what makes a good screen protector and got recommendations from their top brands. We’re also including NBC Select staff favorites. Here’s what we kept in mind when sourcing products:
- Material: We included screen protectors made from tempered glass, which provides the best scratch and fall resistance, according to our experts.
- Size availability: A screen protector is only useful if it fits the entirety of your phone screen. For this reason, every screen protector we recommend is available in various sizes, for both Apple and Android smartphones.
- Water resistant: Some of our top picks are water resistant, which means they can withstand the occasional water droplet from sudden weather changes or bathroom mishaps.
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The best screen protectors of 2025
The options below are direct recommendations from NBC Select staff or our experts. We’ve included only options made from some tempered glass, as experts agree this material offers the best protection for your screen.
Best overall screen protector: Spigen Glas.TR EZ Fit iPhone Screen Protector
- Durable glass
- Alignment tray included
- Easy to install
- Not scratch-proof
Our experts recommend Spigen as a top brand. Arthur Zilberman, president of laptop repair company Laptop MD, notes the Spigen EZ Fit tempered glass screen protector is case-friendly, affordable and durable. It’s also easy to install, he says: It includes an alignment tray that you place on top of your phone screen and press down on to secure the glass in place. You get two screen protectors with each purchase, in case you ever need to replace the first one.
Spigen offers the EZ Fit screen protector for the iPad, Apple Watch and all iPhone models (including the latest iPhone 16 series). It’s also available for some Galaxy watch and phone models and other smartphone models.
Best screen protector for iPhone: Zagg InvisibleShield Glass XTR4 Screen Protector
- Anti-reflective screen
- Lifetime warranty
- The edges may lift over time
- More expensive
Zagg is a favorite of Mac Frederick, the owner of Phone Repair Philly, due to its “price and value.” It offers several durable, shatterproof tempered glass options through its InvisibleShield line, which is available for iPhone devices, Android devices, tablets, smartwatches and more. The one we’ve chosen to highlight works with the iPhone 14 Pro, but you can also shop for other iPhone sizes. The Glass XTR2’s protective layer hides the visibility of fingerprints smudges on your screen and filters out blue light, according to the brand. You can use the included apply tabs and installation tray to best align the protector with your screen. The brand says it contains an antimicrobial treatment to prevent odor-causing bacteria. NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider and former NBC Select audience development editor McKenna Moore also love the brand’s free replacement policy, which acts as a lifetime warranty for your screen protector.
Best scratch-resistant screen protector: Supershieldz 3-Pack Screen Protector
- Pack of 3
- Repels sweat and oil
- Anti-scratch
- Nothing to note at this time
Frederick says Supershieldz is one of his favorite brands for tempered glass phone cases due to its durability and affordability — it’s one of the cheapest screen protectors on our list. This pack comes with three screen protectors, all made with scratch-resistant tempered glass, according to Supershieldz. The screen protectors have rounded edges for comfort and feature an oleophobic coating that repels sweat and oil from your fingers, according to the brand.
Supershieldz’s tempered glass screen protectors are available for devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, LG and more
Best budget screen protector: Ailun Glass Screen Protector
- Great value
- Easy to apply
- Not as long-lasting
If you’re looking for a relatively affordable option, Zilberman recommends this tempered glass screen protector from Ailun, which works for the iPhone 15. It has a clear, water-resistant and oleophobic (or oil-resistant) screen coating that protects against sweat and oil residue from your fingerprints, according to the brand. The box comes with three screen protectors — the downside is that the product includes guide stickers rather than an installation tray, so it may be a little trickier to get the product on your screen.
Ailun screen protectors are currently available for several devices, including Samsung’s Galaxy devices, older iPhones and more.
Best screen protector for privacy: Zagg InvisibleShield Glass Elite Privacy 360 Screen Protector
- Privacy shield
- Screen cloth included
- Pricey
Another screen protector from Zagg’s Invisible Shield line, this privacy screen protector is NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio’s favorite. Thanks to its stealthy privacy shield, it effectively protects her phone from constant drops on hardwood and tiled floors and keeps others from peeking into it. The screen looks black if you look at it from the side, even if the display is on — which means she can look at work emails peacefully in crowded areas like airports. Thanks to the brand’s oil diffusion technology, fingerprints are also barely visible. You’ll also receive a microfiber cloth to wipe down your screen before installation and apply tabs to help align this protector. Godio owns it for the iPhone 14 Pro, but you can also shop it for other iPhone, Google and Samsung models.
Best screen protector bundle: amFilm OneTouch 2+2 Pack Screen Protector
- Two of everything included
- Anti-fingerprint
- May be harder to align/install
NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz has used these screen protectors for years, first on his iPhone SE, and now on his iPhone 15 Pro. He doesn’t drop his phone much, so he can’t confirm the protector’s durability, but the set has great value for cost. It comes with two screen protectors, both made from tempered, scratch-resistant glass with an anti-fingerprint, oleophobic coating, according to the brand. It also includes two auto-alignment tools, installation accessory kits to make placement easier and two lens protectors for your phone’s camera. The brand offers protectors compatible with a range of Samsung and Apple smartphones.
Best splurge screen protector: Otterbox Premium Pro Glass Blue Light Antimicrobial Screen Protector
- Lifetime warranty
- Very durable
- More expensive than others
NBC Select associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris and NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin both use this protector — Malin for her iPhone 15 Pro, and Morris for her iPhone 12. Morris has been using Otterbox’s Premium Blue Light protectors for years and finds them very durable and easy to install. As someone who drops their phone a lot (as in multiple times a day at minimum), her protectors tend to get a bit banged up over time, so she also loves that their warranty program allows her to replace the protector free of charge, excluding the shipping cost.
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