Keeping a phone's glass whole
A phone's screen and camera lenses are the parts most often scratched or cracked, and the most costly to put right. This department is for everything that takes those knocks in their place: protectors for the screen, covers for the camera lenses, films and skins for the back, and the tools that put them on straight. Most are made for one phone model, so choose your model on each product page.
Screen protectors: glass or film
- Tempered glass is the everyday choice: hard, clear and smooth under the finger. The glass here comes in packs for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy S and A, and Redmi Note phones.
- Full-cover glass reaches the edges of the screen, curved edges included.
- Privacy screen protectors darken the screen to anyone looking from the side.
- Anti-glare protectors have a matte finish that cuts reflections and fingerprints.
- Hydrogel film is thin and flexible, and follows curved screens closely.
The camera, the back and the fitting
Camera lens protectors cover the lenses on the back with glass. Back films and skins protect the back and sides from scratches without the bulk of a case, and change the look: the skins here include carbon-fibre texture, solid colours and faux leather. Phone stickers decorate the phone or its case. Fitting kits and alignment tools are trays and frames that line a protector up, so it goes on straight and without bubbles.
Choosing the right protection
Start with the phone model, including Pro, Plus, Max or Ultra, because protectors are cut to one screen. Then think about your case. A protector that reaches the very edge can be lifted by a tight case, so glass that stops just short of the edge goes better with a thick case. The "9H" printed on many boxes is a pencil hardness test, not the mineral scale, so it does not mean the glass resists sand, which is harder. The guide to screen protectors explains the differences.
Questions people ask about screen and camera protection
Will a protector stop my fingerprint or face unlock working?
Samsung advises registering your fingerprints again after fitting a new protector, and says thick or patterned protectors can stop prints being read. Apple says to remove anything covering the TrueDepth camera at the top of the screen if Face ID stops working.
Can I fit a protector to a folding phone?
The outer screen takes glass like any phone. Samsung says not to remove the film fitted to the inner, folding screen of a Galaxy Z Fold or Z Flip, and points owners to a service centre to replace it.
More to look at
