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Best iPhone XS Max screen protectors

By Daniel Petrov

Updated: Sep 16, 2019, 5:38 AM

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Apple raised the prices for replacing a broken screen on your iPhone, and the new XS and XS Max will set you back $279 and $329, respectively. That's way more than what Apple used to charge for the screen swaps on its previous iPhones, even the X, so if you know you can't be bothered caring for your phone, better put a case on it... and a screen protector.

Granted, Apple says it is using its most durable glass ever both for the screen cover layer, and for the chassis, but until drop tests definitely prove the iPhone XS and XS Max as hard nuts to crack, we'd put at least a film protector on their displays, and would advise going with tempered glass for extra safety and clarity.

That's why we are rounding up a few of the better screen protectors you can find out there for your XS Max, so it can be protected from day one, as the iPhone XS can use the iPhone X protectors, too. As you can see, those little investments can save you at least $279 in the longer run, unless you splurge for AppleCare insurance... which is also more expensive now.

Best film and glass screen protectors for the iPhone XS and XS Max

Belkin Anti-Glare ($19.99)

Buy from Apple

Engineered for extra 3H hardness, this budget option of a film protector provides clear viewing and scuff-resistance and has earned its mettle enough to be featured by Apple itself as a third-party screen protector for your iPhone XS Max over at the Apple Store.

Belkin ScreenForce InvisiGlass ($39.99)

Belkin's ScreenForce is thinner - 0.33 vs 0.29mm - and stronger than your usual tempered glass screen protectors. The so-called InvisiGlass Ultra model here is strengthened with an ion-exchange process, and tested against key, coin, and other everyday onjects' scratching.

The highest-level 9H hardness is complemented by superior touch sensitivity and clearer visibility due to the thinner glass stack. Last but not least, if you can't have it applied in an Apple Store, you can simply order from the Amazon link here, and the EasyAlign sticker will help you install it at home with a relative ease.

Moshi IonGlass ($44.95)

Buy from Moshi

Another in the "atomically-strengthened" IonGlass series, Moshi's offering is not only tough and durable, but it also comes with extra cover space that extends to the whole front of your iPhone XS or XS Max, including the notch and TrueDepth camera area.

Thus, the possibility that your iPhone's front will be the one that shatters instead of the protector is diminished significantly, but Moshi's layer costs a bit more than Belkin's ion-exchanged glass.

TechMatte amFilm ($7.99)

If you are the rare cheapskate breed who buys a $1099 iPhone XS Max, the TechMatte amFilm series is not with one of the highest ratings on Amazon for no reason. It glues to the whole of the active iPhone screen canvas and is as good in scratch-resistance and oleophobic coating as anything else out there.

It is currently just eight bucks for a pack of two tempered glass protectors and comes with cleaning and application tools for easier installation. Needless to say, at this price, it is thicker than our previous offerings and is "mere" tempered glass, no ion-exchanged shenanigans here.

Whitestone Dome Glass iPhone XS Max Full Cover Screen Protector ($49.49)

Buy from MobileFun

Have you heard of "ultraviolet baking" when applying screen protectors? Well, that's Whitestone's Dome Glass we were referring to, with 9H hardness for utmost protection, 0.3mm thickness, and 100% touch sensitivity retention, and that is a big deal for the curved glass phones of late.

The Dome Glass' liquid adhesive spills underneath the layer all the way to the rimless, colorless edges, as you can see in the video below, thus avoiding both touch issues on the sides and the nasty reflections that most other tempered glass protectors exhibit. Granted, the Whitestone Dome does have to be baked with a lamp afterward, but, hey, you will be doing something with your own hands in this day and age of digital complacency!

The sad part is that it will be available later on in the XS Max life cycle, and is pretty expensive, but if you are willing to wait on your bake sesh for a protector that "cuts blue light by 25% to protect your eyes," the Dome Glass is a pretty stellar alternative.

InvisibleShield Glass+ Visionguard ($44.99)

If you aren't a fan of ultraviolet baking (or wait times), you can't do much better than InvisibleShield's Glass+ Visionguard series, as these combine extreme clarity with a blue light filter to protect your eyes.

When we add the Glass+ part, which means ion-exchanged material for strengthening on the molecular level, to the Visionguard option, it's no wonder that InvisibleShield's relatively affordable screen protector offering for your XS Max is currently sold out on its website, but fret not, you can still order from the link below.

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.