Apple has opened the curtain on the iPad Air 4, and it really is one of the best tablets the tech giant has ever released. Featuring an edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display, as well as the highly powerful Apple A14 Bionic processor, it combines beauty and brains in equal measure. Of course, if you want it to remain beautiful, you should really consider providing it with a screen protector.
Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best iPad Air 4 screen protectors available right now. Regardless of your budget, these will keep that shiny touchscreen in one piece while also ensuring the fullest possible functionality and transparency.
Also, if you’re looking for a case, be sure to check out our separate article on the best iPad Air 4 cases as well.
Omoton Screen Protector for iPad Air 4
Omoton manufactures screen protectors for almost any major smartphone and tablet you can think of, and its protector for iPad Air 4 is one of the most popular and well-reviewed among users. Sold in a pack of two, its tempered glass provides the all-important 9H hardness rating, something which should prevent scratches even from metal objects. It’s also very thin, at only 0.3mm, indicating that it will maintain the responsiveness of the iPad Air 4’s screen while offering a very high level of transparency. Omoton also promises a bubble-free installation, with the protector having “2.5D” edges that help you grip it.
Supershieldz Screen Protector for iPad Air 4
While most of the protectors on this list are made of tempered glass, Supershieldz Screen Protector for iPad Air 4 is made of PET film. This allows it to be thinner and less noticeable than most other protectors, with the film providing a more natural feel than glass alternatives. It has also been designed to reduce glare and fingerprints, and while it obviously isn’t as hard as glass protectors, it will still do a good job of keeping the iPad Air 4 out of harm’s way for the most part. However, while reviewers online have generally been very happy with it on the whole, a few have also complained that installation can be tricky, at least if you don’t take adequate time and care. Comes in a pack of three.
JETech 2-Pack Screen Protector
Here’s a strong all-around screen protector that combines tempered glass with a 9H hardness rating with a lightweight 0.33mm thickness. Its durability is enough to withstand scratches from household knives and other metal objects, while its thin dimensions retain a high level of transparency and sensitivity. The protector’s other main draw is that it comes with a hassle-free installation kit, including a cleaning cloth, dust-removal stick, guide stick, and instructions. If you usually have trouble with installing protectors, this may be the one for you.
Paperfeel Screen Protector
This may come with only a 3H hardness rating (compared to a maximum 9H), yet Paperfeel’s screen protector is a great choice if you want a natural, responsive, and unobtrusive feel from your iPad Air 4’s screen. It’s built using Japanese PET film that offers a paper-style texture, making it more comfortable to handle than other protectors, while also making it ideal if you usually use a stylus with your iPad. The protector is also designed to eliminate glare and maintain the fullest possible responsiveness.
Olixar Tempered Glass Screen Protector
Olixar’s iPad Air 4 screen protector is another cover that marries durability and thinness, so you can protect your display while also forgetting that you actually have a screen protector installed. It’s made with tempered glass with a 9H hardness rating, and it also includes an underlying anti-shatter film, so even if you suffer the worst-case scenario and drop it from a plane (okay, not quite a plane), it won’t break into multiple shards. It’s also only 0.33mm thick, giving it a light penetration ratio of around 95%, perfect for preserving the iPad Air 4’s display quality.
ESR HD Clear Tempered-Glass Screen Protector
Another tempered glass protector with a 9H hardness rating, this item from ESR will protect your iPad from scratches and cracks as well as pretty much anything else on the market. It’s cut precisely to fit the iPad Air 4’s screen and its selfie camera, with the protector’s thinness making it highly discreet. It also comes with a very helpful installation frame and cleaning kit (and instruction manual) that makes fitting it pretty straightforward. Sold in a pack of two.
QHOHQ Screen Protector for iPad Air 4
If you want a protector that’s tough and thin, then look no further than QHOHQ’s screen protector for the iPad Air 4. It’s made of tempered glass with a maximum hardness rating of 9H, which is strong enough to prevent scratches, drops, and impacts from damaging the tablet’s screen. It’s also only 0.33mm thick, retaining 100% of the screen’s sensitivity while also providing for 99.9% light transmission. If this wasn’t enough, the protector has been treated with an oleophobic coating, making it fingerprint- and grease-resistant. It’s also more straightforward to fit than other protectors, given that its rounded edges help you to grip it when applying it to the iPad. Comes in a pack of two.
Sparin Screen Protector for iPad Air 4
Offered as a pack of three, the Sparin Screen Protector for iPad Air 4 is the thinnest protector on this list, at a svelte 0.26mm. This should make it one of the most responsive protectors you can find, with Sparin claiming that it provides no interference whatsoever with Apple Pencil or any of the iPad’s functions. At the same time, the protector is built using tempered glass, with its 9H hardness rating making it around three times more durable than standard glass. It comes with an alignment frame for installation, which should also qualify it as one of the most user-friendly items on this list.
Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPad Air 4
Spigen’s screen protector for the iPad Air 4 may only come in a single pack, but for those who want the highest level of protection, it’s hard to beat. It’s based on tempered glass with a 9H hardness rating, but is actually composed of multiple layers, heightening the durability of the protector. Its topmost layer is oleophobic, protecting your iPad from fingerprints and oil, while it comes with application wings which make installing it fairly straightforward. Spigen also claims it offers “extreme” clarity, although it hasn’t provided a specific figure for its level of transparency.
