best screen protector for apple pencil

The Best Screen Protectors for iPads

@OliverJHaslam
May 29, 2019, 10:24 am EDT | 3 min read

Man using Apple Pencil with iPad Pro — Denys Prykhodov/Shutterstock

Want to protect your iPad and even make it more pleasant to draw on? We've rounded up the best screen protectors for everyone, including artists, to help keep your favorite tablet safe and sound.

Depending on how you use your iPad, there are a few different things you should look for when choosing which screen protector to buy. Big doodlers or note-takers might want one that feels like paper, whereas parents looking to protect their iPads from an overzealous toddler armed with some Hot Wheels will want a different type of protector altogether.

There are so many screen protectors available that it can be challenging to know where to start. The market is a sea of sameness, but some still manage to stand out. Here, we'll run through our top picks, arranged by type and need.

Best Tempered Glass Screen Protector: amFilm Glass Screen Protector (From $10)

Screen protectors can be costly, but it's possible to get a quality product without spending big. The amFilm Glass Screen Protector is one such example of that. It ships with two protectors in the box, which can be of real benefit if you are concerned about getting the application right the first time. It also gives you a backup when the original is damaged.

The amFilm screen protectors are very popular and with good reason. At less than $10 for two and 99.99% clarity, it's difficult to knock. It's super thin at just 0.33mm thick as well, ensuring reliable protection without removing you from your apps and content.

Ultimately, this is the best iPad screen protector for most people, and if you have two iPads to protect, it's even more of a bargain. We like tempered glass screen protectors because they retain the firm smooth feel of the iPad beneath, but if you'd prefer something made of film, read on.

The button below will take you to the screen protector for 9.7-inch iPads, but you can also get the same protector for the iPad Pro in both 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, as well as the iPad mini.

Best Film Screen Protector: amFilm Flex Film (From $7)

Not everyone wants to affix a sheet of glass to the front of their iPad. It can add weight—although not a lot—and some might be concerned about them breaking. We've never seen a tempered glass screen protector shatter to bits (without taking the rest of the iPad with it, that is) but if that's a concern for you, the amFilm Flex Film is the way to go.

You may notice this is amFilm's second appearance in our list, and it's with good reason—their film screen protectors are just as great a value as their glass ones. The flexible film works perfectly with the Apple Pencil, and with great clarity and high-quality materials, it's easy to recommend amFilm once again.

By throwing two screen protectors into the box, amFilm sweetens a deal that's already pretty sweet indeed. You even get some accessories to help with the application of your new screen protector, including dust removal stickers and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

Our button below takes you to the iPad mini screen protector, but it's also available for the 11-inch iPad Pro, 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and 9.7-inch iPads.

Best for Note Takers and Artists: PaperLike ($36)

Not all screen protectors are there just to protect your screen. The PaperLike screen protectors will help keep scratches at bay, but as the name suggests, their real job is to make your screen feel like paper.

Writing and drawing on a glass screen is a very different experience than doing so on paper, and that's why the PaperLike screen protector is popular with artists. By providing extra friction and resistance, this film makes the iPad's screen less slippy when using an Apple Pencil and the tip of the stylus doesn't feel like it's perpetually gliding away from you.

Anyone who has been put off by the Apple Pencil feels would do well to give one of these a try.

You can click our button below and select the right size for your iPad.