The Pixel 6a, the latest in Google's A series of phones, packs the powerful Google Tensor processor of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro and adds a big 4,306mAh battery and a pretty 6.1-inch OLED display. This screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, but while the latter does a good job of protecting itself from everyday scratches and scrapes, it won't protect the phone against the worst kind of damage. For this reason, new owners might want to consider one of the best Google Pixel 6a screen protectors available right now.
If you struggle to see your phone's screen in direct sunlight or bright environments, this is the screen protector to get. Skinomi's Matte screen protector is made with an anti-glare-infused film that improves visibility on sunny days or in brightly lit environments. The smooth satin texture feels great, while the flexible yet tough film offers military-grade protection against smudges, scratches, and punctures. Self-healing technology helps the film recover from minor scratches over time. Bubble-free installation is a snip too thanks to the liquid solution. You get two screen protectors in the pack for under $10, which is a pretty good deal.
Keep your screen and your camera lens safe with this multipack of protection from iVoler. In the box, you get three tempered glass screen protectors, three camera lens protectors, and an alignment frame for easy installation. Each protector is made from 9H hardness tempered glass measuring just 0.33mm thick. This means they won't affect your phone's touchscreen responsiveness and accuracy, but they will provide excellent protection against dirt, chips, and scratches while repelling water, dust, and fingerprints.
The camera lens protector is also made from tempered glass and features a Night Circle function that stops the flash from reflecting off the protector at night or in dim environments, keeping your shots crystal clear.
While film screen protectors don't offer as much drop protection as tempered glass protectors, this two-pack of film protectors from IQ Shield is still a solid buy for the price.
In the box, you get two screen protectors, a lint-less cloth, a squeegee, and installation instructions. Application is easy thanks to the innovative anti-bubble adhesive and unique application method. The protector itself is made from a non-yellowing flexible yet tough smart film that won't affect your screen's accuracy or responsivness. It works with the Pixel 6a's fingerprint sensor — though you may need to re-scan your fingerprint after application — and is also compatible with most cases. Unfortunately, this does mean that there's a slight gap around the edges of your phone's screen, so you're not getting edge-to-edge coverage.
This two-pack of screen protectors from JETech includes two tempered glass camera lens protectors to keep your camera lens safe from harm. Made from 9H hardness tempered glass, your phone is protected against scratches, scuffs, bumps, and drops. All this protection is packed into an ultra-thin screen protector that doesn't impact touchscreen responsiveness and is ultra-clear, so you'll hardly even know it's there.
In the box, you get two screen protectors and two camera lens protectors, with the latter featuring 99% light transmittance for excellent, natural photos even when using the flash. These protectors are compatible with most phone cases. However, that does mean there's a small gap around the edges of your phone screen, so if you're after edge-to-edge coverage, you may need to look elsewhere.
This tempered glass screen protector from Spigen is made from 9H hardness tempered glass, providing excellent drop protection with a crystal-clear view. An oleophobic coating keeps fingerprints at bay, and this protector is compatible with all of Spigen's cases, too. It won't affect touch responsiveness, and it's easy to achieve a bubble-free installation thanks to the Smart Installer tray.
This set of screen protectors from LK offers excellent bang for your buck. In the box, you get two 9H hardness rated tempered glass screen protectors and two camera lens protectors. Each protector is scratch-resistant and protects your screen and camera lens from bumps, drops, and scrapes. With 99.99% light transmittance, everything on your screen looks crystal clear. These screen protectors are also compatible with most cases. An alignment frame is included in the box for installation, too, and there's a handy video to guide you through the process.
With this pack of screen protectors from Mr.Shield, you get three 9H hardness tempered glass protectors for under $10! These multilayer protectors have anti-scratch, anti-shatter, and anti-fingerprint layers for superior protection, with 2.5D rounded edges to ensure comfort. Each protector is also super thin at just 0.3mm thick. They won't affect your Pixel 6a's touchscreen responsiveness and offer 99.99% HD clarity, so you won't even know they're there. With these scratch-resistant protectors, you also get instructions, a dust collector, and a screen-cleaning cloth, plus a limited lifetime replacement warranty in the unlikely event the protectors don't fit your phone or if you have any installation problems. They're also easy to install and remove thanks to silicone adhesives that won't leave sticky residue behind.
Here's another tempered glass screen protector, this time from AmFilm. In the box, you get three screen protectors — so you can share with a friend or family member or keep two as spares — and two camera lens protectors. Each protector is made from 9H hardness rated tempered glass, measuring just 0.33mm thin. With 99.99% transparency, your screen looks and feels like it did out of the box, so you won't even know there's a protector in use. Scratch-resistant and durable, these protectors have an oleophobic coating to repel fingerprints and are easy and quick to install, thanks to the installation handles. In the box, you also get wet wipes, dust removal stickers, a microfiber cloth, and installation guide.
Olixar's screen protectors usually offer an ideal midpoint between affordability and reliability, and this Pixel 6a screen protector is no exception. Comprising high-tension 9H tempered glass, it will withstand the vast majority of shocks you'll likely experience, while the use of anti-shatter film means it won't smash into pieces even in worst-case scenarios. One of the best things about it is that it's only 0.26mm thick, something that enables it to achieve a 95% light-penetration ratio and provide maximum responsiveness. Olixar also promises that there's no risk of bubbles when installing it.
Here's a film-based protector that's made from a more sophisticated manufacturing process than the average run-of-the-mill film protector. Made in the United States, it has been precision laser cut to fit the Pixel 6a, with its material being scratch-proof and yellow-resistant, making it one of the most durable film protectors you can find. One property that sets it apart from other protectors in its category is that it harnesses self-repairing technology, so minor scratches on the film are gradually removed automatically. It has also been treated to reduce dust, oil, and fingerprint smudges.
Here's a PET film-based screen protector that provides solid protection on top of greater transparency and responsiveness than the average glass-based cover. Because it's film-based, it's much thinner than most other protectors, and so long as you install it correctly, you'll struggle to notice it's even there. The downside is that it may not be quite as durable as some of the strongest tempered glass pieces, although it will guard your Pixel 6a's screen against most scratches and knocks. Importantly, it comes in a pack of six, which is kind of incredible for the price, and enables you to replace any protectors that get damaged.
Only 0.33mm thick and boasting a 9H hardness rating, Omoton's Pixel 6a screen protector is another example of an affordable piece that also does its job very well. Its relative thinness provides 99% transparency, so you can continue using your Pixel 6a exactly as you would have without a protector. The 9H hardness rating also ensures that the protector will defend the phone's screen from serious damage and deprecation. One nice add-on of the protector is that Omoton has thrown in a couple of camera lens protectors, while the main protector itself comes in a group of three.
Simon Chandler is a journalist based in London, UK. He covers technology and finance, contributing to such titles as Digital Trends, Forbes, Business Insider, InsideBitcoins, Cryptonews.com, and CryptoVantage. He has also contributed to Wired, TechCrunch, TechRadar, the Daily Dot, the Verge, Cointelegraph, CCN.com, the New Internationalist, Bandcamp, the Sun, and numerous others.
He specializes in mobile technology for Digital Trends, covering smartphones, tablets, wearables, and games. Beyond consumer gadgets, his main interest is in how tech is changing the way we live and who we are, for better and for worse.
Freelance technology journalist and writer living in (somewhat) sunny Scotland. Gamer, tea addict, never without a good book.
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