Don’t avoid using a screen protector until it’s too late, and your fancy Pixel 9 Pro XL receives distracting cracks and scratches. There’s a wide selection of well-made glass options that ensure your display’s long life, as well as a small number of alternatives that have varying features, pros, and cons. After all, as strong as Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is, it’s still glass, and the 9 Pro XL’s screen costs a ton to replace.
The majority of top options essentially replicate the underlying, super-smooth glass, but some go a step further in filtering blue light, mitigating fingerprints, and in some cases, adding privacy or anti-glare filters. The few alternative materials aren’t nearly as smooth — which a non-zero number of users actually prefer. At the very least, rest assured that unless you demand specific, advanced features, none of these screen protectors cost much.
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Best overallSpigen GlassTR EZ Fit for Pixel 9 Pro XL
$19 $35 Save $16Trust is a big part of keeping a high-dollar device safe, and Spigen consistently uses the finest materials and manufacturing processes to produce high-quality screen protectors that work great and last a long time. It won’t interfere with visibility, touchscreen use, or fingerprint reader performance, and includes a precise installation bracket for easy application.
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Premium pick
Zagg Glass XTR3 for Pixel 9 Pro XL
Screen protectors are typically all pretty similar, but Zagg’s Glass XTR3 goes the extra mile with top-notch materials. This technologically advanced layer sports ten times the strength of common glass, along with a smooth surface imbued with silicon dioxide and moderate glare reduction, both of which promote the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s excellent touch and display performance.
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Best valueJETech Tempered Glass for Pixel 9 Pro XL
$7 $9 Save $2The smooth feel of glass beats most other materials, but glass can also be fragile. A low-cost, but reliable protector like these from JETech gives you peace of mind without wasting your money, especially if you’re among the many who tend to drop your phone a lot. It comes with a simple application bracket and is one of the few kits with camera visor protectors.
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ArmorSuit MilitaryShield Max Coverage for Pixel 9 Pro XL
The soft-touch TPU film that ArmorSuit’s great reputation rides on won’t add a ton of structural strength, but will protect from scratches, and it can heal itself over time or with minor heat application. We’ve highlighted the edge-to-edge Max Coverage version that’s perfect for case-free use, but the MilitaryShield Full Body wrap (in clear or matte) also gives size-conscious consumers an ultra-slim option for all-around safety.
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AmFilm Tempered Glass for Pixel 9 Pro XL
$6 $9 Save $3AmFilm’s tempered glass screen protector isn’t fancy, but you don’t need that to keep your high-end phone safe from scratches and nicks. It won’t get in the way of any cases, uses quality glass, includes a straightforward and effective applicator, and comes in a pack of three despite costing very little.
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Caseology Snap Fit for Pixel 9 Pro XL
US-based Caseology makes a decent selection of excellent cases, and its basic-but-dependable Snap Fit screen protector is no different. The name comes from the accompanying bracket and remarkably easy application process, which minimizes the risk of bubbles and ensures you get full use of the pair of glass units it comes with.
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OtterBox Premium Glass for Pixel 9 Pro XL
$28 $40 Save $12If you want the best, consider splurging a bit on OtterBox’s Premium Glass screen protector. It’s ideal for people with experience installing these things, since you only get one shot and it’s awfully expensive, but you can rest assured knowing you’re getting roughly the best-quality glass and most reliable adhesive possible.
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Zagg Fusion Privacy for Pixel 9 Pro XL
Privacy screen covers are a wildly mixed bag, but none do it as well as Zagg’s Fusion Privacy. Unlike most, it protects from off-angle viewing in both landscape and portrait orientations, and does so without drastically getting in the way of screen brightness and color. It’s still a bit less clear than tempered glass, but it’s as close as this kind of privacy filter allows.
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ArmorSuit MilitaryShield Matte for Pixel 9 Pro XL
There aren’t many non-glass protectors for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and ArmorSuit’s remain among the best. This one’s a little different from the rest, as it’s engineered to fight glare while also adding a slightly rougher texture than glass. Those features aren’t for everybody, but some users prefer the added touchscreen precision because the surface isn’t as slippery as normal.
Choosing the best Pixel 9 Pro XL screen protector
Materials and consistency make all the difference
Google’s biggest, best, most costly Pixel slab phone sports one of the best displays in the smartphone world. For a fraction of the cost of a screen replacement, screen protectors including the Spigen GlasTR EZ Fit prevent minor scratches and scuffs, and can save you from full-on cracks in the event of a drop. Spigen’s, in particular, is made from premium quality glass, and includes a user-friendly installation bracket that helps you get the alignment just right. The Caseology Snap Fit is right there with it, but its availability appears to be dwindling.
The only ones that use more premium glass are the OtterBox Premium, which promises perfect clarity, extreme smoothness, and top-of-the-line precision, and a few choices from Zagg. Zagg’s XTR3 is well-known for its thinness, oil-resistant layer, consistent adhesive, and OEM-level smoothness. Zagg also makes one of the few worthwhile polarized privacy protectors. The downside is that OtterBox and Zagg each only provide a single screen protector, and they’re pretty expensive to begin with.
You don’t need to spend a ton on glass that’s made to break, of course. JETech’s two-paclk includes camera visor protectors, and AmFilm’s three-pack doesn’t. Both are well-made to the point that you won’t miss the lack of high-end antimicrobial layers and other fancy features found on considerably more expensive screen protectors.
We’ve also pointed out a lineup from ArmorSuit that’s relatively straightforward, but has a twist. The MilitaryShield’s self-healing thermoplastic polyurethane comes in a few different cuts, including the standard case-friendly version and the slightly larger Max Coverage, in addition to transparent or anti-glare options. In fact, the paper-like MilitaryShield Matte is one of the incredibly few non-glass options that fights glare.
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Plastic screen protectors are back and better than ever
I ditched tempered glass for its thinner counterpart, and I couldn’t be happier
But its full body TPU wrap is arguably the most interesting, as it adds excellent scratch and nick resistance, minor crack protection, and soft-touch grip all around your Pixel, with decidedly less bulk than a case. Note, of course, that it prevents the use of the many great Pixel 9 Pro XL cases, so make sure that’s what you’re looking for before taking the plunge.
On the other hand, if you’re really not worried about bulk or weight, there are also several highly worthwhile heavy-duty 9 Pro XL cases. Some of them even offer integrated screen protectors, and while they’re likely not as smooth as glass, they go the distance in terms of durability.
