The best iPad (2020) screen protectors

The eighth-generation iPad (2020) provides a great Apple tablet experience at a low price. It features possibly the best software you can find on any make of tablet anywhere, while its long-lasting battery and vast ecosystem of useful apps will certainly please the vast majority of users. It also boasts a very clear and colorful 10.2-inch display, which is satisfyingly rich and vibrant despite not being quite as sharp as the screen you can find on an iPad Pro. However, like any other touchscreen, it can be liable to crack if you accidentally drop or hit it.

Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best iPad (2020) screen protectors you can buy right now. These will keep the iPad’s pretty display in one piece, while they’ll also retain the screen’s responsiveness and detail.

Urban Armor Gear Glass Screen Shield

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Manufactured in Japan, this iPad screen protector from Urban Armor Gear is as tough as it gets. Made of tempered glass, it boasts the maximum 9H hardness rating, so you can rest assured it will withstand scratches from sharp metal objects and all but the most catastrophic of falls. Despite being enviably tough, it is impressively thin, with a maximum thickness of 0.2mm that means you should barely notice it. The protector also features an oleophobic coating, meaning it’s very hard to leave fingerprints and smudges on it. Sure, it may not be especially cheap, but it really is one of the best iPad screen protectors out there.

Spigen Screen Protector Glas.tr Slim

Image used with permission by copyright holder

This is a highly durable iPad screen protector from Spigen, which also makes some very good cases. It’s built from tempered glass with a 9H rating, so it’s going to be among the toughest protectors you can find for the iPad. It also incorporates an oleophobic coating for fingerprint resistance, so it should continue to look very sleek for the duration. On top of this, the protector is designed to be 100% compatible with all Spigen cases for the iPad. Its package also comes with a full installation kit, including wings for easy application.

OtterBox Amplify Glass Antimicrobial Screen Protector

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Here’s an iPad screen protector that pretty much goes all-out to provide the best all-round defense for your tablet. On the one hand, it’s made of hard aluminosilicate glass, and OtterBox claims it’s 5x more scratch-resistant than the average protector. On the other hand, it has been treated with antimicrobial materials, which restricts the growth of the bacteria on your tablet’s screen and also lasts for as long as you’re likely to use the protector. In addition, it has been designed to be 100% case-compatible regardless of your brand of case. It also comes with an installation kit.

JETech Glass Screen Protectors

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sold in a pack of two, the JETech Screen Protector for iPad (2020) boasts all the specs you’ll need from a protector. It’s made of glass with a hardness rating of 9H, which means it will resist the vast majority of scratches without so much as picking up a single blemish. Its tempered glass is also very thin at only 0.33m, allowing it to provide 100% transparency and a high level of responsiveness. The protector is also fingerprint-resistant and dust-resistant, while it has been designed for easy, bubble-free installation, given that it also comes with a guide stick. Highly recommended.

Apiker Glass Screen Protectors

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Also sold in a pack of two, the Apiker Screen Protector is another user-friendly and highly-reliable protector for the iPad (2020). It comes with a 9H hardness rating, providing your iPad with the fullest resistance against scratches and cracks that’s possible with tempered glass. It’s also extremely thin, with its 0.3mm thickness ensuring that it doesn’t affect the functionality of the touchscreen or interfere with how you use the Apple Pencil (if you have one). This also gives it 99% HD clarity and 99% transparency, while the hydrophobic coating protects your iPad from water and fingerprints. It helpfully comes with an alignment frame, making it easier for you to apply it properly.

Supershieldz Film Screen Protectors

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Here’s a screen protector for the iPad (2020) that comes in a high-value pack of three. It’s not quite as hard as other protectors on this list, given that it’s made of PET film rather than tempered glass. However, it will still protect the iPad from the vast majority of abuse you’re likely to hurl at it. The fact that it’s made of plastic rather than glass also means that it’s more transparent and sensitive than other protectors, allowing you to continue using your iPad as if it weren’t even there. Be warned, though, that some buyers have warned of the difficulty of applying this protector (at least in comparison to other products), with the use of PET film increasing the chances of bubbles if you don’t install it carefully enough.

Omoton Glass Screen Protectors

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Omoton’s Screen Protector for the iPad (2020) is the thinnest protector on this list that’s made of glass. At a thickness of only 0.26mm, it provides pretty much the maximum possible amount of transparency and responsiveness you could hope to find from a glass protector, ensuring full compatibility with the Apple Pencil. Not only that, but with a 9H hardness rating, it will guard your iPad against everyday damage. Unlike some protectors, it lacks a hole for the selfie camera, something that should help to protect the camera from dust and debris. It also has a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating, making it resistant to water and fingerprint smudges. As for anyone worried about installation, it’s designed to be bubble-free, while its slightly rounded edges make it easier to hold it while applying it to the iPad. Comes in a pack of two.

ZoneFoker Glass Screen Protectors

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rounding off this list, we have ZoneFoker with its iPad (2020) screen protector. Sold in a pack of two, it’s another piece of tempered glass with a 9H hardness rating, making it capable of resisting scratches from hard objects such as keys and knives. It also offers 99.99% transparency, ensuring that the iPad’s screen doesn’t lose any of its luster or color, while ZoneFoker also claims that it’s smoother than other protectors. One other nice feature is that it allows for repeat installation, meaning that if you have a bubble when first applying the protector, you can remove it and try again. Like other protectors on this list, it’s also hydrophobic and oleophobic. Very recommended, and also well-reviewed online.

Editors' Recommendations

Simon Chandler is a journalist based in London, UK. He covers technology and finance, contributing to such titles as Digital…
Apple has quietly killed its cheapest iPad

The iPad lineup has received a price bump after Apple quietly killed its cheapest iPad model. Apple’s 9th-generation iPad used to cost $329, but has been discontinued. At the same time, the company has reduced the 10th-gen iPad’s starting price by $100, which means it’s now priced at $349. As a result, getting the cheapest iPad means you'll now spend $20 more than before.

The 9th-gen Apple iPad was launched in 2021 with the A13 chipset and Apple's Center Stage featur,e but retained the same old design with the already-old Lightning port and home button. With Apple moving to a USB-C port on all devices to comply with EU laws, it was inevitable that Apple would discontinue the 9th-gen iPad this year. The iPhone SE remains the only Apple product with a home button and a Lightning port that's still available in the company's lineup.

Read more
Apple updated two of its biggest iPad apps, and they look amazing

Apple pulled off a surprise today with a pair of new iPad Pros that leverage the new M4 silicon. To go with it, the company has also revealed updated versions of the Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro apps that introduce a healthy bunch of new features to take advantage of all the firepower the M4 offers.

Starting with Final Cut Pro 2 for iPad, the app gains new tricks such as Live Multicam, external drive support, Live Drawing, and more. Apple claims that thanks to the M4 silicon, the updated app boosts rendering speeds by 2x and opens the doors for 4x higher streams for editing ProRES RAW content.

Read more
Apple’s new iPad Air is official, with a lot of big upgrades

Apple unveiled two new iPad Air models -- an 11-inch version and a 13-inch version -- at its May 7 "Let Loose" event. This is the first time that two iPad Air models have been launched simultaneously, and they're both packed with big upgrades.

The new iPad Air models still feature a Liquid Retina display. However, the 12MP front-facing ultrawide camera with Center Stage has been relocated to the landscape edge, making it perfect for video calls. The camera provides high-resolution photos and detailed 4K video, with support for 240 frames-per-second (fps) in slow-motion.

Read more