The best iPhone 15 screen protectors you can buy: Expert tested

We chose the Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit screen protector for its overall balance of features and price. You get two top-quality screen protectors that safeguard your new iPhone from edge-to-edge with an anti-smudge coating and quick-touch responsiveness. The auto-alignment tray is an added bonus allowing for quick and easy installation.  

 *Lowest non-discounted price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.

While many of these screen protectors are great options, it ultimately comes down to what type of screen protector you want, how many you want, and how much you are willing to spend on one.

It's probably helpful to consider the following factors when searching for the perfect screen protector for you:

• Material: When selecting the best screen protectors, we chose ones that were made of 9H Tempered Glass since this material does better against different drops or scratches than plastic. Consider what your protection needs are to decide the best material for your screen and your lifestyle.
  
• Count: We see the value in buying a protector that includes more than one protector. A higher count means you have an extra screen protector for another iPhone, or you have a spare as a backup. If you want more bang for your buck, look for multipack options. 
• Price: Screen protectors can vary dramatically in price depending on their design, features, and count. The ones on this list range from $7 to over $50 to suit a variety of different budgets. Set a budget for yourself to help narrow down your search. 
• Features: Screen protectors can do more than just protect your screen from scratches, bumps, or cracks. That is why we included different options with features, such as anti-smudge technology, blue light filtering, or even privacy screen protection. Decide what features are a must for you to help narrow your search. 

ZDNET conducted expert research using our hands-own knowledge with various iPhone 15 models and prior experience with screen protectors for other devices. We spent time considering individual needs and wants for screen protectors, and prioritizing elements like cost, material, durability, extra features, and more. We considered the screen protectors we're currently using, ones we've used before, and options that we haven't personally tested, to provide a curated list of both hands-on tested and expert researched picks. 

If we think another product is worth your money, we'll update this list or write up a spotlight review highlighting its best qualities and specifying who it's for.

Plus, we are routinely scouring the web for new products that are worthy of testing, and following news on product rollouts and upgrades, and sourcing the best deals. We know buying anything in the current economy is not just for your whims, and that's why we build our lists to match different needs and budgets -- and why our picks are expert-tested or expert-vetted.

Unless you like living on the edge, we recommend getting a screen protector for your iPhone 15 (or any phone model). While the iPhone 15 Pro is made of titanium, which is a lighter and more durable material, your phone can still crack if left bare and without a case. 

Smartphones are hefty investments these days, and if you want your phone to look brand new, the best option is to add both a screen protector and a case.

Once you have a break or crack on your screen protector, you should ideally replace your screen protector.  Doing so maintains the integrity of your phone's screen, since a damaged protector provides diminished protection to your phone. You wouldn't drive miles on a flat tire, so it's best not to sport a cracked screen protector any longer than necessary. 

If you're a clumsy person or are prone to broken screens, look for a screen protector that offers a warranty, like Zagg, which will replace your broken screen protector for free (plus the cost of shipping). 

While most screen protectors can protect from cracks and scratches, you can now use screen protectors to upgrade your device's functionality too. Here are a few common iterations of screen protectors we've seen across multiple brands that you can shop for: 

• Privacy protector
• Anti-glare protector
• Anti-rainbow protector
• Blue light blocking 
• Anti-yellowing protector 

Many iPhone screen protectors are, on average, 0.33mm thick, which according to Belkin, is about the equivalent of three sheets of paper. In other words, slim and fairly unnoticeable. However, screen protectors can range in thickness, with some thinner than average and others thicker than average. The Shellrus Sapphire for example, is only 0.3mm thick. 

All iPhone 15 models have curved edges. This design makes it incredibly difficult to achieve a true "perfect" fit, but tons of screen protectors on the market come pretty close, and several on our list bill themselves as having edge-to-edge protection. Some protectors might leave space between the end of the screen protector and the edge of your phone, often to account for differing iPhone case models, many of which bump up over the top of the screen. Several companies, like Spigen, offer protectors with black-lined edges to minimize this look and cut back on a rainbow glare. 

Likewise, some -- but not all --  protectors feature a notched space for the speaker or front camera. If you feel strongly about screen overhang or notches, be sure to keep that in mind while you shop. 

Screen protectors aren't just limited to tempered glass options, though they remain popular for the added drop and crack protection plastic based protectors can't offer. Common materials screen protectors include:

• Tempered glass
• Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
• Ceramic
• Nano liquid
• Sapphire 

Let's start by acknowledging that any screen protector is better than nothing at all. That said, not all screen protectors provide the same level of damage control and protection. Ceramic and plastic-based screen protectors are typically good choices for safeguarding against everyday scratches, imperfections, and minor-impact related screen blemishes. If you're not accident-prone, a simple protector like this might work great for you. 

For more robust protection, look for a screen protector made from either tempered glass or sapphire. Tempered glass protectors are usually rated a 9H for their surface hardness, and they are much better options for preventing the scratches, cracks, and breaks that result from impacts and rougher use. Sapphire screen protectors have a surface hardness that bests typical tempered glass options, which makes sapphire a great material to protect against deep cuts, scratches, and more. Sapphire has a more brittle composition, though, which makes it less fit for impact and drop-related screen protection. 

Many iPhone screen protectors are advertised to offer oleophobic coatings, more colloquially known as "anti-smudge" or "anti-fingerprint" technology. Per Merriam-Webster, oleophobic simply refers to a lack of strong affinity to oils. In terms of your phone screen, this just means that some screen protectors can aid in fighting off the smudges, prints, and marks caused by oil on the surface of your fingertips.

The best type of screen protector is one made with tempered glass since this material carries a 9H hardness rating and is much sturdier and more robust than plastic or ceramic. Tempered glass screens also better prevent excessive fingerprints and oil smudges. 

However, the best screen protector for you is one that works for your lifestyle, so be sure to consider if you're looking for features like added privacy or blue light blocking. 

iPhone screen protectors are available at most major retailers today, including Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and more. You also have the options of purchasing screen protectors online directly from the manufacturers or from the same retailers. Amazon additionally has several of the picks on this list for purchase. 

While we think Apple would probably agree with our team here at ZDNET that any type of screen protector is better than none at all, the tech giant does seem to favor one particular screen protector. On Apple's website, you'll only find several model iterations of the Belkin UltraGlass 2 screen protector available for purchase for Apple's iPhone lineup. And although it doesn't mean it's the only screen protector that works, it is the only option Apple is choosing to carry for customers -- do with that information what you will. 

Yes, online and in-store carriers like AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and more will often sell screen protectors for the same model phones they carry. Some carriers, like AT&T offer a lifetime warranty on their protectors. That means they'll replace it for free if it wears down, cracks, or scratches. 

Additionally, you can often have these screen protectors put on for you at a carrier store, which is helpful if you don't trust yourself to nail a seamless application. It's also convenient, too.