The Google Pixel 8 has taken center stage with its 6.2-inch, 120Hz OLED display and mighty AI-powered features. The screen is a particular highlight for many Pixel lovers, the display offering pristine visuals — as is to be expected with one of Google's flagship devices. But a smartphone screen is only as good as its glass.

The Pixel 8 utilizes Gorilla Glass Victus, a strong shield, to be sure. But even with solid construction and a durable face, the screen's outer layer is still just glass. This makes it prone to scratches, smudges, and cracks if you aren't careful.

The best way to prevent that is a good quality screen protector. It will add a layer of protection beyond what you'd get from a good protective case. Here are the best screen protectors for your Pixel 8.

  • A render of Spigen's Pixel 8 screen protector, its installation frame, and its box
    Spigen GlasTR AlignMaster for Pixel 8
    Best overall

    Spigen makes great screen protectors, but its offering for the Pixel 8 got low marks for having a black border that stood out and obscured a sliver of the display. This updated version lacks that border, but sports the same precise build, high-quality glass, and helpful installation frame. It's also not terribly expensive.

  • Whitestone Dome for Pixel 8
    Whitestone Dome Glass for Pixel 8
    Premium pick

    Whitestone Dome's luxury screen protector uses a liquid adhesive that covers up existing scratches and creates an edge-to-edge seal for ultimate protection. The company even includes a UV-curing light and an installation jig, guaranteeing the best possible fit with minimal hassle. Add to that a spare tempered glass sheet in case you do mess up the installation, and the Whitestone Dome Glass Screen Protector for the Google Pixel 8 starts looking like a very good deal.

  • supershieldz-screen-protector-for-pixel-8
    Supershieldz Screen Protector for Pixel 8
    Best value
    $8 $10 Save $2

    These Supershieldz screen protectors sport slightly rounded edges so you won't feel a sudden, sharp drop-off between them and the Pixel 8's glass. They also cost next to nothing and come in a pack of three, making them perfect for taking the brunt of the fall damage if you happen to drop your phone a lot.

  • A render of the Skinomi TechSkin Google Pixel 8 TPU screen protector
    Skinomi TechSkin for Pixel 8
    Best film

    Also used to enhance stealth capabilities of fighter jets, TPU posseses the ability to healitself of minor scratches over time. It's also highly flexible, so you won't have to worry about it peeling away from a phone's edges, like you would an imperfectly installed glass screen protector. The TechSkin film for the Pixel 8 is yet another crystal clear winner from Skinomi.

  • Render of the Ringke Dual Eays Flim for Google Pixel 8
    Ringke Dual Easy Film for Pixel 8

    The Ringke Dual Easy Film is a PET film protector that doesn't add unnecessary bulk to your device while still providing maximum protection by covering the entire screen. Its big advantage is ensuring your fingerprint sensor works every time without fault. Plus, it's compatible with almost all phone cases, so you can switch up your style without sacrificing safety.

  • Otterbox screen protector for Pixel 8, angled view
    Otterbox Screen Protector for Pixel 8

    The Otterbox screen protector offers incredible scratch and crack protection, as well as shatter resistance and flawless clarity. It's a single glass screen protector, but a little goes a long way when it comes to this legend of phone protection products. For those looking to take their screen protector up a notch, Otterbox also offers an antimicrobial version of the tempered glass protector.

  • A render of the full-coverage FloLab NanoArmor screen protector for the Pixel 8
    FloLab NanoArmour for Pixel 8

    Let's say you love the look and feel of your naked Pixel 8, but want to make sure you keep the front glass in one piece. Where most others leave just under a millimeter of space around the edges to accommodate a case, the FloLab NanoArmour stretches from edge to edge, offering complete protection from nicks and cracks. Just take extra caution to perform a perfect installation.

  • Render of the amFLim screen protector for Pixel 8
    amFilm Screen Protector for Pixel 8

    AmFilm's Pixel 8 screen protector features the same premium glass and precision engineering we've come to expect, and the three pieces included give you a couple extra chances to get right the difficult job of installing a glass protector on the Pixel 8. There's also a glass protector for the rear camera visor, but that one's simple to get right the first time.

  • IMBZBK Privacy Screen Protector for Pixel 8 on a white background
    IMBZBK Privacy Screen Protector for Pixel 8

    Although not widely known, IMBZBK offers an exceptional screen protector for the Google Pixel 8 with privacy in mind. It's as hard as they get, and has an oleophobic coating on its surface to keep fingerprint smudges at bay. And, since it's polarized glass, people won't be able to see the content on your phone screen at an angle from the side, when viewed in portrait orientation.

  • ArmorSuit for Pixel 8 on a white background
    Armorsuit Anti-Glare for Pixel 8

    Using your phone outdoors or under bright lights? Look no further than Armorsuit's anti-glare screen protector for the Google Pixel 8. The anti-yellowing film is made in the USA and offers a self-healing formulation that can magically repair minor scratches. Need more peace of mind? Armorsuit's lifetime replacement warranty has you covered, making the matte screen protector two-pack an incredible value for your money.

  • Mr.Shield screen protector for Pixel 8 on a white background
    Mr.Shield Screen Protector for Pixel 8

    This Mr. Shield three-pack has a lot going for it, as long as you're not attached to perfect, glass-like smoothness. Since it's flexible, it's easy to install securely and get bubbles out of. But its biggest plus is the complete edge-to-edge protection, covering your screen glass all the way to the edges, where others usually fall short by a fraction of a millimeter.

  • A render of the four-pack of Fangtian Film screen protectors for the Pixel 8
    Fangtian Film for Pixel 8

    The Pixel 8's barely curved edges make glass installation difficult, but not everybody likes the rubbery feel of TPU. Instead, consider this PET hybrid, which installs easily, won't peel off the corners or produce a halo effect, and doesn't make it difficult or uncomfortable to slide your fingers across the screen. Plus, it costs next to nothing.

Picking the right kind of screen protector for the Pixel 8

Or, what's the deal with the Pixel 8 screen's edges?

Tempered glass delivers the closest approximation of the Pixel 8's high-quality Gorilla Glass Victus 2, making for the most premium experience. But there's a microscopic curve to the edges of said display glass, so you'll need to be extremely careful when installing a glass screen protector. Anything less than perfect alignment can result in a halo effect around the edges, or peeling that leads to the screen protector falling off.

This is true of pretty much every glass protector for the Pixel 8, even the best ones like the Spigen GlassTR and WhiteStone Dome. For what it's worth, the Whitestone Dome and its UV-cured LOCA glue gives you a little time to ensure the installation's perfect, even if it does add a degree of difficulty.

Instead, you could consider one made from soft TPU film or a PET plastic hybrid. TPU films like the Skinomi TechSkin are durable and a snap to install, but they add a touch of resistance when sliding your finger across the screen. Some people don't mind that, some people like it, and it really turns some people off.

If you're in the latter camp, take a look at the Fangtian Film, which uses a special PET formula that combines glass-like clarity, TPU-like flexibility, and smoothness about halfway between the two. A film protector also has the benefit of guaranteeing non-interference with the Pixel 8's optical fingerprint reader.

We'll also point out a couple of extended-coverage options in the FloLab NanoArmour glass and Mr. Shield PET hybrid. Most screen protectors leave a fraction of a millimeter of screen glass uncovered, to account for the protective lip of a good phone case. Both of these models extend all the way to the very edge. The FloLab's the best choice if you don't plan to wrap your Pixel 8 in a protective case, while the Mr. Shield should still accommodate most cases due to the relative thinness of its material.

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