The iPhone 8 may no longer be Apple’s flagship, but that doesn’t mean it’s a second-rate device. Despite being on the market for a couple of years, the iPhone 8 still boasts a host of impressive features, including a stunning True Tone Retina display.
If you want to ensure the longevity of your device, however, there’s no better pick-up than a screen protector. Not only do they safeguard your phone’s display, but they also improve its overall look and feel. Below, we’ve rounded up a few of the best.
Tech21 Impact Shield ($35)
They’re not as tough, and they don’t protect as well against falls and blows, so film screen protectors may seem like the worse choice when compared to glass screen protectors. But they do have their advantages. The Impact Shield from Tech21 is one of the standout film screen protectors out there. It’s expensive, but for that price you get glare reduction, self-healing properties, and super-easy application. Tech21 also has an ace up its sleeve with Bulletshield — a unique material that helps to absorb force from blows. Placed between two other layers on the Impact Shield, it does a sterling job of resisting blows and helping keep your screen scratch-free. It might not be as strong as glass, but the Impact Shield is thin, heals itself, and barely feels like it’s there.
InvisibleShield Sapphire Defense ($50)
InvisibleShield touts this as the world’s most advanced screen protection, and based on the evidence on display it might be able to back that claim up. The Sapphire Defense screen protector begins life as a humble tempered glass screen protector, which is then infused with sapphire to add extra strength and scratch protection. It then gets yet another layer with self-healing properties and added impact protection, to really pile on the protection. According to InvisibleShield, this process adds up to seven times more shatter resistance than having an unprotected screen, so you can rest easy knowing your iPhone 8’s display is extremely well protected.
Belkin InvisiGlass Ultra ($40)
Belkin is Apple’s official partner for accessories, and the quality shows in each of its products. The InvisiGlass Ultra has been chemically strengthened by an Ion-Exchange process that allows it to be extremely strong, while also being very thin — just 0.21 inches thick. Belkin claims that the InvisiGlass Ultra adds three to five times more scratch resistance than an unprotected screen, as well as increasing drop performance by 25 percent. If you’re worried about applying it correctly — and who isn’t? — it also comes with an EasyAlign sticker for easy application. Just in case you’re on the fence, the glass used is the same glass used for the windows of a space shuttle — and who wouldn’t want that?
Whitestone Dome Full Cover ($45)
Worried about not getting the perfect fit for your device? Does the thought of air bubbles reducing touch sensitivity keep you up at night? Well, you’re a bit weird. But don’t worry, because Whitestone Dome‘s full-cover screen protector is here to put your fears to rest. This screen protector uses a unique wet application method that funnels the adhesive beneath the screen protector, forming a perfect seal between your display and the protector. Once fully adhered, the adhesive is then cured with the UV lamp, ensuring a perfect fit. It can be a little tricky to get right, but go slow and use the installation guide and you should be just fine.
Yakai Anti-Spy Screen Protector ($7)
Always feel like someone’s looking over your shoulder? Perhaps you regularly use your phone for business purposes, and having someone snooping on your use could be a disaster. In that case, check out this privacy-focused screen protector from Yakai. It comes with all the usual mod-cons for a tempered glass screen protector, and the 9H hardness glass should protect your glass well against scratches and drops — but turn it 45 degrees and the screen fades out to black, keeping any spying eyes away. It does cut down a little on the clarity of the screen, but when your privacy is at stake that’s a fair compromise. It’s a bargain too.
Otterbox Alpha Glass Screen Protector ($9)
Otterbox has long been associated with smartphone protection — and it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the iPhone 8. The Alpha Glass exhibits Otterbox’s usual penchant for quality with a super-thin, hardened layer of tempered glass that doesn’t reduce the clarity of your Retina display. This screen protector is hard enough to resist everyday scratches, contains an oleophobic layer to keep dirt and grease away, and is simply a great all-rounder.
Olixar Film Screen Protector – Twin Pack ($9)
An up-and-coming name in smartphone accessories, Olixar is dedicated to helping customers to “live smart, accessorize smarter” — and the company’s range of screen protectors is indicative of that philosophy. Olixar’s screen protector is a nonsense affair, and does exactly what it says on the tin. A thin layer of film that sits close to your phone’s screen, this screen protector keeps your iPhone 8 free of scratches and even comes with a replacement film, in case your first one gets battered.
Tech Armor HD Clear Film ($6)
This screen protector may only cover the flat surfaces of the iPhone 8, but despite this, the PET film on the Tech Armor HD Clear does a tremendous job of keeping your display scratch-free. While a film screen protector isn’t going to offer drop protection in the same way a glass protector would, the multilayer construction of the HD Clear does do a good job of keeping your device safe — and at this price, it keeps your wallet in decent shape, too.
Anker KARAPAX GlassGuard Screen Protector – Twin Pack ($8)
At first glance, the Karapax may seem like a traditional screen protector — and in a lot of respects, it is. The tempered glass doesn’t reduce the clarity of your screen or inhibit touch sensitivity, and it contains a similar shatter guard to the one in Otterbox’s Alpha Glass, which aims to keep glass shards together should the worst happen. But Anker’s Karapax also comes with its own surprises. A double layer of strengthened glass improves the protection it offers, effectively doubling its 9H rating. Sadly, however, it only covers the flat section of your phone’s display.
Bodyguardz UltraTough Clear ScreenGuardz ($20)
Last, but by no means least, we take a look at Bodyguardz’s screen protector. Made from a urethane film, the UltraTough Clear is specifically made to deflect scratches that would otherwise mar the surface of your phone’s screen. The urethane will even heal damage over time, essentially doing away with small scratches. If that isn’t enough, Bodyguardz‘s protector also offers edge-to-edge coverage and an anti-microbial coating that’ll keep germs from taking root on the front of your phone, which is perfect for a device you regularly hold up to your face.
Can’t get enough accessories or software for your new iPhone 8? Then check out our rundown of the best iPhone 8 cases, as well as our detailed roundup of the best iPhone apps.
