iPad Screen Protector Reviews

Personally I don’t worry all that much about my iPad screen getting a bit scratched over its lifetime. I think it gives the whole thing some character. You’d also be surprised at how good the latest glass they use for screens has become; I have an article elsewhere on the site that talks about what makes one brand of this glass, Corning Gorilla Glass, so special.

Still, if you are 100% determined to keep your device’s screen pristine or you are very concerned about impact damage to the screen, a good screen protector may be just the thing to calm your nerves.

Screen protectors have also come a long way in the past few years. You can now get products that also take advantage of specialized manufacturing methods such as those that produce Gorilla glass and are now easier to install than ever. If you can follow instructions well and aren’t too clumsy, that is.

To be honest, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between one protector and the next and if you are lucky you will never be in a position to find out if you bought a good one or not. But here I’ve paid special attention to people who have had accidents and how each product apparently held up.

I’ve chosen products based on how popular they are and have put the ones that I think are the best first. The rest are in no particular order.

Second Best Pick: Anker iPad Mini 1-3 Scratch Terminator

My respect for Anker’s products has been growing for quite some time and I’ve noticed that more and more people regard the brand as one that represents quality. While tempered glass protectors are not hard to find for the larger iPad models, I haven’t seen all that many good ones for the smaller iPad models. So this product by Anker is very welcome indeed, although if you own the Mini 4 or newer you are out of luck and can move on to the next product.

Like many premium tempered glass protectors, the Scratch Terminator is pretty damn hard. Anker claims it’s harder than a knife, but I’m certainly not going to test that claim myself. At a third of one millimeter this is definitely a very thin product and Anker claims that 94% of the original light comes through, which means that you won’t notice the difference.

Like the screen that it covers, this protector is also resistant to smudging and fingerprints.

The package is surprisingly complete. It comes with the protector itself as well as an alcohol towelette, a microfiber cloth, dust removal strip, and two home buttons stickers – one for each possible face color, either black or white. It also has that all important rounded edge feature, pretty important on a sheet of ultra-hard glass a fraction of a millimeter in thickness.

The price is not the lowest I’ve seen, but I think given the satisfaction level of people who have bought this, and the reputation of Anker, it is probably worth it. The thing about screen protectors is that you can’t wait for them to go on special; you need them when you need them. It would be nice if one’s need coincided with a sale though. If I had an iPad Mini, this is my choice of protector.

Tech Armor Apple iPad Air 2 / iPad Air Screen Protector

This is one of the most popular and best-selling screen protectors out there. Tech Armor says that their product caused almost no distortion, no rainbow effect, and no bubbles. To this effect they offer a lifetime warranty.

According to the marketing materials there are five layers that make up this screen protector, the thickest being the optical bit. There are different variations on this screen. You can have it in “HD Clear” or with an anti-glare surface. If you find glare is an issue in the environment that you use your iPad Air, then that may be a good choice.

As to the actual protection level of the product, people seem to like it. Those who have dropped or otherwise suffered a misfortune say that it did its job with no trouble – which is really all you want.

The other part of the puzzle is whether it really is hard to apply. I have a terrible time applying these things and many have gone straight to the bin before I decided I didn’t care, but hats off to Tech Armor. Their customers seem to fit the protector without any hassle, and apparently the company has some of the best after-market service in the business.

OMOTON Tempered Glass Protector 9.7”

OMOTON is a brand I have never heard of personally, but this product has all the same claims as other tempered glass protectors in this size. Oil resistant, harder than a knife – you’ve heard it all before at this point. OMOTON claims a slightly higher clarity rating at 96%, but other than that I would have a hard time telling the difference between this and the 94% protectors.

I can’t say more than buyers rate it very highly and I can’t tell the difference between this and anything else on the market. Should you buy it? Why not, it’s only 10 bucks.

Wax On Wax Off

I have to say that screen protectors have come a long way since the last time I have given them a serious look-in. The ease of application has gone up a lot, prices are down, and static cling products have basically made sticky protectors a thing of the past.

While I still think that most people shouldn’t bother with a protector unless they are obsessed with getting every last dollar of resale value, if you are going to get a protector at least it isn’t the frustrating chore it used to be to get it on the tablet.

It seems that issues around picture distortion and clarity have also been resolved by the advent of affordable tempered glass materials. You’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference with the protector on and off.

So I guess for the paranoid or the clumsy or the “actually I have to work somewhere rough and dangerous” people out there, now is the best time to buy a screen protector. The good news is that, if it turns out you don’t like it you can just take it off again.