Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The best iPad Air 4 screen protectors

Apple has opened the curtain on the iPad Air 4, and it really is one of the best tablets the tech giant has ever released. Featuring an edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display, as well as the highly powerful Apple A14 Bionic processor, it combines beauty and brains in equal measure. Of course, if you want it to remain beautiful, you should really consider providing it with a screen protector.

Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best iPad Air 4 screen protectors available right now. Regardless of your budget, these will keep that shiny touchscreen in one piece while also ensuring the fullest possible functionality and transparency.

Also, if you’re looking for a case, be sure to check out our separate article on the best iPad Air 4 cases as well.

Omoton Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

OMOTON Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

Omoton manufactures screen protectors for almost any major smartphone and tablet you can think of, and its protector for iPad Air 4 is one of the most popular and well-reviewed among users. Sold in a pack of two, its tempered glass provides the all-important 9H hardness rating, something which should prevent scratches even from metal objects. It’s also very thin, at only 0.3mm, indicating that it will maintain the responsiveness of the iPad Air 4’s screen while offering a very high level of transparency. Omoton also promises a bubble-free installation, with the protector having “2.5D” edges that help you grip it.

Supershieldz Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

Supershieldz Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

While most of the protectors on this list are made of tempered glass, Supershieldz Screen Protector for iPad Air 4 is made of PET film. This allows it to be thinner and less noticeable than most other protectors, with the film providing a more natural feel than glass alternatives. It has also been designed to reduce glare and fingerprints, and while it obviously isn’t as hard as glass protectors, it will still do a good job of keeping the iPad Air 4 out of harm’s way for the most part. However, while reviewers online have generally been very happy with it on the whole, a few have also complained that installation can be tricky, at least if you don’t take adequate time and care. Comes in a pack of three.

JETech 2-Pack Screen Protector

JETech 2-Pack Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

Here’s a strong all-around screen protector that combines tempered glass with a 9H hardness rating with a lightweight 0.33mm thickness. Its durability is enough to withstand scratches from household knives and other metal objects, while its thin dimensions retain a high level of transparency and sensitivity. The protector’s other main draw is that it comes with a hassle-free installation kit, including a cleaning cloth, dust-removal stick, guide stick, and instructions. If you usually have trouble with installing protectors, this may be the one for you.

Paperfeel Screen Protector

Paperfeel Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

This may come with only a 3H hardness rating (compared to a maximum 9H), yet Paperfeel’s screen protector is a great choice if you want a natural, responsive, and unobtrusive feel from your iPad Air 4’s screen. It’s built using Japanese PET film that offers a paper-style texture, making it more comfortable to handle than other protectors, while also making it ideal if you usually use a stylus with your iPad. The protector is also designed to eliminate glare and maintain the fullest possible responsiveness.

Olixar Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Olixar Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

Olixar’s iPad Air 4 screen protector is another cover that marries durability and thinness, so you can protect your display while also forgetting that you actually have a screen protector installed. It’s made with tempered glass with a 9H hardness rating, and it also includes an underlying anti-shatter film, so even if you suffer the worst-case scenario and drop it from a plane (okay, not quite a plane), it won’t break into multiple shards. It’s also only 0.33mm thick, giving it a light penetration ratio of around 95%, perfect for preserving the iPad Air 4’s display quality.

ESR HD Clear Tempered-Glass Screen Protector

ESR HD Clear Tempered-Glass Screen Protector

Another tempered glass protector with a 9H hardness rating, this item from ESR will protect your iPad from scratches and cracks as well as pretty much anything else on the market. It’s cut precisely to fit the iPad Air 4’s screen and its selfie camera, with the protector’s thinness making it highly discreet. It also comes with a very helpful installation frame and cleaning kit (and instruction manual) that makes fitting it pretty straightforward. Sold in a pack of two.

QHOHQ Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

QHOHQ Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

If you want a protector that’s tough and thin, then look no further than QHOHQ’s screen protector for the iPad Air 4. It’s made of tempered glass with a maximum hardness rating of 9H, which is strong enough to prevent scratches, drops, and impacts from damaging the tablet’s screen. It’s also only 0.33mm thick, retaining 100% of the screen’s sensitivity while also providing for 99.9% light transmission. If this wasn’t enough, the protector has been treated with an oleophobic coating, making it fingerprint- and grease-resistant. It’s also more straightforward to fit than other protectors, given that its rounded edges help you to grip it when applying it to the iPad. Comes in a pack of two.

Sparin Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

SPARIN Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

Offered as a pack of three, the Sparin Screen Protector for iPad Air 4 is the thinnest protector on this list, at a svelte 0.26mm. This should make it one of the most responsive protectors you can find, with Sparin claiming that it provides no interference whatsoever with Apple Pencil or any of the iPad’s functions. At the same time, the protector is built using tempered glass, with its 9H hardness rating making it around three times more durable than standard glass. It comes with an alignment frame for installation, which should also qualify it as one of the most user-friendly items on this list.

Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector for iPad Air 4

Spigen’s screen protector for the iPad Air 4 may only come in a single pack, but for those who want the highest level of protection, it’s hard to beat. It’s based on tempered glass with a 9H hardness rating, but is actually composed of multiple layers, heightening the durability of the protector. Its topmost layer is oleophobic, protecting your iPad from fingerprints and oil, while it comes with application wings which make installing it fairly straightforward. Spigen also claims it offers “extreme” clarity, although it hasn’t provided a specific figure for its level of transparency.

Simon Chandler
Simon Chandler is a journalist based in London, UK. He covers technology and finance, contributing to such titles as Digital…
The 16 best messaging apps for Android and iOS in 2023
The WhatsApp app icon on a phone with other messaging apps.

Most of us use our phones on a daily -- often near-constant -- basis to keep in touch with family, friends, and co-workers. Because the default messaging service on your phone isn't always the best option, how do you know which messaging apps are the most reliable and feature-packed? With so many apps out there offering everything from free video and voice calls to file sharing and photo sharing, finding the best one to suit your needs can be a challenge. We've taken time out to test some of the most popular options. Here are some of the best messaging apps for Android and iOS.

Concerned about privacy? Check out the best encrypted messaging apps around. Prefer chatting from your desktop at work rather than your smartphone? Our pick of the best chat clients for PC and Mac has you sorted.
WhatsApp

Read more
The best iPhone 14 Pro Max cases: top 15 you can buy
Nomad's Modern Leather case on an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is one of the best devices that Apple has ever produced, and it's been adopted by plenty of iPhone fans in the months following its launch.

While it's never fun to spend more money, especially after spending over $1,000 for the phone itself, picking up a case for the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a good idea since you don't want to risk scratching, chipping, or all-out smashing a brand new iPhone. Luckily, there are plenty of cases on the market — whether you're looking to fully protect your phone from the elements or if you simply want to turn the iPhone 14 Pro Max into a stylish accessory.

Read more
iPadOS 17 has a hidden surprise for fans of the original iPad
The original iPad wallpaper in iPadOS 17.

There were a lot of exciting announcements yesterday at WWDC 2023, Apple's yearly developer conference, especially with things coming to iPadOS 17. But one small Easter egg seems to have made its way in with the software update for longtime Apple fans.

Fans of the original iPad will remember the wallpaper that Apple's first tablet had by default that was used in all of the promotional ads and marketing. Now, with iPadOS 17, it seems to be making a comeback.

Read more