The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are now available, and with the holiday season approaching, lots of people will be unboxing a new iPhone soon, if they haven't already. One of the most essential iPhone accessories, in our opinion, is a screen protector. Even though Apple devotes plenty of time into research to improve the quality and durability of its display glass a little more every generation, its touch screen isn’t bulletproof. It’s still incredibly easy to damage your iPhone by accident, but a screen protector can prevent any unwanted scratches, cracks, or damage to your display, keeping your iPhone in pristine condition. After years of crooked screen protectors, we are finally in an era with seamless screen protectors, as companies have adopted new installation methods. Below, we’ve outlined the best screen protectors for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Order a screen protector to keep your display safe before it’s too late.
Best Screen Protectors for iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max
Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector
Best Overall
Our pick for the best iPhone 16 Pro screen protector is the Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 16 Pro. Its best feature is its simple installation. The package includes a plastic overlay that aligns with the edges of your phone. Put it on top of a clean phone screen, press down and pull on the exterior plastic, and you’re done. The install kit also comes with a small squeegee sponge to push out any air bubbles that might form.
Spigen utilizes a special formula inside the tempered glass to not diminish any of the iPhone 16 Pro’s display quality as some screen protectors tend to do. This can be a godsend if you regularly watch video content on your iPhone, as the colors will not be washed out. Additionally, this screen protector features an anti-dust nano coating, which prevents dust from clinging to your display when in your pocket. This specific model is a two-pack, so you can easily replace your old screen protector once it is either cracked or worn out.
ESR Screen Protector
Best Budget Option
The ESR iPhone 16 Pro screen protector is a great, inexpensive choice. This model also features an easy installation with a plastic housing that clips over your phone, so you only have to pull a tab to apply the screen protector. According to ESR, this glass can withstand up to 33 pounds of force, which is essential to prevent damage from drops.
Although this is a solid pick, keep in mind that the quality of the glass is worse than other selections on this list due to the price. Since this is a three-pack, the tempered glass will likely break more easily than other brands, but at least re-upping on these screen protectors isn’t a major investment.
UltraGlass Top 9H+ Glass Privacy Screen Protector
Best Privacy Screen Protector
A privacy screen protector is essential to keep prying eyes from reading over your shoulder. This UltraGlass Top 9H+ screen protector features a 25-degree privacy angle, with 130-degree anti-peep coverage to protect your iPhone 16 Pro’s display from any potential onlookers. Even with these privacy features, there’s no effect on the display quality or visuals when looking head-on.
Beyond the privacy features, the UltraGlass Top 9H+ screen protector is authorized by the International Military Standard, meaning the glass is tested and in line with military requirements in harsh conditions. Over 50 engineering tests have been performed to ensure the glass is fully protected against any scratching, cracking, or shattering.
AntShare iPhone 16 Pro Case
Best Screen Protector Case
Finally, for those looking for a screen protector and phone case without having to buy two separate products, look no further than the AntShare iPhone 16 Pro case. This has a built-in tempered glass screen protector with privacy features at a 45-degree viewing range. The case is installed in two pieces, with the display piece snapping in underneath the TPU Bumper piece. Since the display protection is directly on top of your iPhone display, this case will protect your display from any damage possibly sustained if you drop your iPhone.
The case itself features 360-degree protection with shock-absorbing bumpers. Additionally, MagSafe is supported, so you can still wirelessly charge your iPhone at up to 45W. If you aren’t keen on installing a screen protector by itself, this AntShare case can be a great alternative.
iPhone Screen Protector FAQ
What is the best screen protector brand for iPhones?
Overall, the best screen protector brand for iPhones is Spigen. It uses a refined process to create strong tempered glass that can protect your iPhone through multiple drops. While you might end up paying more for these brands, the quality ensures that the average iPhone user will purchase a screen protector less often.
Do new iPhones come with screen protectors?
Unfortunately, Apple does not offer a free screen protector with a new iPhone. In the box, you will receive an iPhone 16 Pro and a braided USB-C charger. Throughout the entire history of the iPhone, Apple has never offered a screen protector.
Do you actually need a screen protector?
Yes, you should purchase a screen protector. The iPhone 16 Pro screen is resistant to many materials, but it can still scratch or crack. Simply putting your iPhone in the same pocket as your car keys can sometimes be enough to chip or scratch the display. It’s always better to be safe than sorry with a device as expensive as a brand-new iPhone, so we recommend purchasing a screen protector to avoid any damage.
The iPhone 16 Pro uses the same Ceramic Shield technology used on the iPhone 14 and 15, but Apple claims that this year’s model is 50% stronger. This process involves injecting ceramic into the glass itself to create a stronger display that resists shattering. As a result, the glass is engineered to be 4x stronger than regular glass, but this leaves the display more prone to scratches.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium. His favorite series include Xeno, Fate, and Final Fantasy.
