Google has raised the bar again this year with its Pixel 9. It's simply one of the best phones Google has ever made by a wide margin, hitting all the right notes in terms of design and durability, performance, and battery life while preserving the class-leading camera system that the company's Pixel brand has become famous for.
The 6.3-inch Actua OLED display is also as gorgeous as ever — and it's worth adding a screen protector to keep it that way. However, it also doesn't get as bright as Google's higher-end Pixel 9 Pro models, so you'll want to be careful to pick a glass or film protector that lets through as much light and clarity as possible.
The good news is that the popularity of Google's Pixel phones gives us plenty of screen protectors to choose from. Some will also protect the cameras or even your privacy, and the best screen protectors are also compatible with the best cases, which means you don't need to forgo style or extra protection to keep your screen covered. We've rounded up a few of the best picks for a variety of needs.
The UltraGlass Unbreak is the toughest screen protector, to the point of being virtually unbreakable, as its name suggests. Its hardness rating of over 9H makes it durable against falls of up to eight feet, 10,000 scratches, and hits from objects weighing up to 220 pounds., so you won't see any cracks or edge chips on the screen if you drop your phone. It's the perfect screen protector for those who work in fields where their phones get caught in the crossfire of things falling and breaking, like construction and the military.
The tempered glass is so thin that no one will even notice your phone has a screen protector after you install it with the alignment frame. As a matter of fact, you won't see any air bubbles or dust when you're putting the protector on the screen.
If you want a screen protector that also protects your Google Pixel 9's camera lens, LK has you covered. This model brings two screen protectors and two camera lens protectors, all of which are military-grade shatterproof, scratch-proof, and explosion-proof. The screen side of the glass is smooth to the touch and provides rapid haptic feedback, which is necessary when you need to unlock your phone quickly or sign an e-document. On the camera side, the lens protector perfectly fits the lens so that it doesn't obstruct the view of the camera, nor the quality of the photo or video.
Our only qualm with this screen protector is that you need to take extra steps for your phone to recognize your fingerprints after applying the screen protector. You need to turn on screen protector mode, remove your preexisting fingerprints, and reenroll them to the new screen.
Spigen's tempered glass screen protector is the easiest screen protector to apply to your Google Pixel 9, and also the quickest. Its application speed comes courtesy of its special alignment tray called the Glas.tR EZ FIT, which you align by facing down on your Google Pixel 9. Then simply press and rub the application strip twice, and remove the tray for the screen protector to settle in 30 seconds or less.
Once the screen protector is applied, the display is as crystal clear as it would be if you decided to stick to the original phone screen, giving you a clear view of the photos and videos and you're taking without compromising protection. The glass is durable with a hardness rating of 9H, making it both scratch resistant and fingerprint resistant, leaving your screen crack and dirt free. It will also be dust free, thanks to the anti-dust coating.
Just like its phone cases, Caseology delivers in providing the best protection for your phone with the Snap Fit screen protector. Its name is derived from its Snap Fit tray that, like Spigen's Glas.tR EZ FIT tray, makes it quick and easy to apply the glass to your Google Pixel 9's screen in less than 30 seconds. The only difference is there's an extra alignment tray for the camera lens to ensure the screen protector doesn't look weird when it's placed on the camera.
It's difficult to tell what the protector's hardness level is, but the screen is still durable and thin enough to provide clarity and smoothness to the touch, with no lag in haptic feedback. If it does take some form of damage, you can use the squeegee to remove it so you don't have to ruin your manicured nails in the process.
Supershieldz makes some of the most affordable tempered glass screen protectors. Case in point: you can get a three-pack of these for under $10. Don't let that price fool you, though, as the company doesn't cut corners. These protectors are made from quality tempered glass that resists both scratches and impacts without affecting clarity. They also have 2.5D rounded edges, so they won't feel abrasive on your fingers.
The 9H hardness glass includes a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating that ensures sweat, fingerprints, and most other grime won't stick around, yet it won't get in the way of the Pixel's fingerprint sensor or touch sensitivity. It's also easy to install and and gets a good, bubble-free fit without too much effort.
Google's Pixel 9 features an excellent camera system that you'll want to take care of. While many cases offer raised edges to help ensure nothing comes into contact with the lenses, they can't match the protection that an extra layer of tempered glass provides. That's where JETech's screen protector kit comes in, as it provides all-around protection for both the front and back cameras.
The two-pack includes a tempered glass screen protector that fully covers the front camera without affecting the clarity of your selfies, plus form-fitting camera protectors for the rear lenses and flash. It's easy to get a bubble-free installation thanks to the provided tool, and the 9H tempered glass offers strong resistance against the bumps and scrapes of everyday life. JETech promises that its camera coverage lets 99% of the light through and doesn't get in the way of the flash. The only downside is that there's no oleophobic coating on the front protector, which means it can attract fingerprints more than most other protectors.
AACL's Google Pixel 9 screen protector may be made out of film, but it still protects your phone just as well as a glass one. Despite having a hardness rating of 7H, it manages to repel scratches from anything that rubs against it, even your own fingernails, giving you an ultra clear view of your photos, videos, and other media.
However, the film doesn't cover the entire phone screen even if you align it perfectly. The film facilitates fast unlocking, but you need to reregister your fingerprint twice after applying it.
Otterbox is one of the most trusted names in rugged cases, and the company brings that same reputation to bear on its lineup of screen protectors. While Otterbox's premium glass screen protector is pricier than most, that's because it's one of the few protectors that's actually tested to withstand drops of up to 3 feet without cracking.
That's thanks to its fortified tempered glass, a special enhanced formulation of 9H glass that will absorb stronger impacts than most other tempered glass screen protectors. The premium glass also promises visibility and touch sensitivity that's so clear you can almost forget it's there. It also has an oleophobic coating so that the few fingerprints and smudges that do collect on the surface can be easily wiped away.
Privacy may be dead in the digital age, but you can keep yours alive with the ZAGG Fusion Privacy screen protector. This glass has a two-way portrait view privacy filter that blocks both sides of your phone's screen from the prying eyes of anyone in your vicinity. The filter is excellent for those who are signing important documents, making online purchases, or viewing strictly confidential information.
If you get an important email, the screen protector works well with the Google Pixel 9's in-screen fingerprint scanner so you can access it immediately. There is no need to remove and r-enroll your fingerprint once you apply the screen protector. This piece of glass costs a whopping $55, but it's worth the money if you're extremely privacy-conscious.
ArmorSuit's screen protector film may not provide the same drop protection as most of the other screen protectors on this list, but it still has some other benefits. For instance, its MilitaryShield self-repairing technology gives it the ability to heal minor scratches and protects your phone from punctures, even if you're using a fine point stylus. It also helps reduce screen glare from any lighting and cuts down on blue light emissions, which is helpful if you're scrolling through your phone at night.
This film is not exactly the easiest to apply to your Google Pixel 9's screen because it doesn't come with an alignment frame. So, you'll need to be careful not to let the corners go over the edges.
Cristina Alexander is a gaming and mobile writer at Digital Trends. She blends fair coverage of games industry topics that matter the most to her with heart and sharp wit.
Cristina's favorite video game series is Sonic the Hedgehog. She was first introduced to the franchise when she played Sonic Adventure 2: Battle on the Nintendo GameCube as a demo in Circuit City at the age of 8. Her cousin reintroduced her to the game a year later, and she's played almost every Sonic game ever since. Before she fell head over heels for the blue hedgehog over 20 years ago, she loved playing other games on PlayStation and Nintendo, including Yoshi's Island, Mario Kart 64, Super Mario 64, 007 GoldenEye, Spyro the Dragon, Sly Cooper, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.
While attending Florida Atlantic University, Cristina contributed Sonic stories to Mega Visions Magazine, covering everything from gaming news to merchandise related to the. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies in 2018, she used this degree to work as a digital journalist at a local news station in Miami, writing local news stories and cutting videos on behalf of field journalists through the COVID-19 pandemic. From there, she freelanced for various gaming and tech sites, including TheGamer, SlashGear, Gamepur, IGN, and Digital Trends — the last of which she also writes mobile articles.
Cristina lives in South Florida. In her spare time, she loves to shop at Hot Topic, work out at the gym, travel to Disney World and other places with her partner, attend anime conventions in cosplay, play on her PS5, and create videos on TikTok.
Jesse has been a Mobile Writer for Digital Trends since 2021 and a technology enthusiast for his entire life — he was online in BBSes and Usenet when computer screens were green and modems made loud squealing noises. He probably would have been born with an iPhone in his hand had they existed then. Jesse began his career in technology fixing PCs and building small local area networks in his small hometown in the early 90s before moving to the big city (Toronto) and building his own small consulting practice doing enterprise-level network systems integration and project management.
A digital music fan from the earliest days of MP3s, Jesse gave up his Creative Nomad Jukebox for his first iPod in 2004 and quickly became a fan of all things Apple. Not long after, he switched gears to go into tech journalism by joining iLounge in 2007 and becoming a stay-at-home dad to his soon-to-be-born daughter. He spent the next 12 years covering all things iPhone and iPad, writing how-to guides and reviews of apps, accessories, headphones, speakers, smart home devices, and more. He also authored three editions of iPod & iTunes Portable Genius for Wiley Publishing and helped create the Apple-themed CES iLounge Pavilion in 2010.
After leaving iLounge in 2019, Jesse remained steeped in the world of Apple devices at iDrop News and covered networking gear as an editor for Lifewire before joining Digital Trends in late 2021. He's also contributed to SlashGear and still keeps his pulse on the Android world at Android Police. Beyond his interest in Apple and other mobile gear, Jesse's previous career in networking tech has given him a deep interest in 5G and related technologies like RCS. He also keeps a close eye on what the carriers are up to.
Jesse lives in a house that's fully tricked out with Apple HomeKit in Toronto with his iPhone-toting teenage daughter, Victoria, and his new wife, Nora. When he's not fiddling with the latest gadgets or tweaking his Plex library, you'll find him enjoying old movies and TV shows, reading, playing with a Mac Pro while coordinating the media team at his church, and adjusting to married life.
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