I get it. You have just put your hands on the 7th-gen iPad and are excited to try out everything it features. And why not; despite coming at just $329, the tablet has most of the basics covered. The biggest highlight is the 10.2-inch Retina Display (2160 x 1620-pixel) that delivers the maximum brightness of 500 nits. Considering the high screen repair cost, you better slap a durable screen guard on the screen before taking the tablet for a full run. And for that, look no further than this roster of the 10 best 10.2-inch iPad screen protectors as they are fully equipped to safeguard the Retina Display.

Before exploring the roundup, it would be better to know a few important things that can help you buy a better screen guard for your iPad 2019.

While some screen guards are made of tempered glass, others are readied with PET film. The tempered glass screen protectors boast 9H hardness for additional safeguard against impact and scratches. The PET film screen guards offer better clarity and are more sensitive to the touch. Besides, it’s also more suitable for Apple Pencil.

  • amFilm
  • Tech Armor
  • Supershieldz
  • IVSO
  • ELTD
  • Zshion
  • KCT
  • Apiker
  • JETech
  • SPARIN
  • Frequently Asked Questions

1. amFilm

Whenever I have rounded up the top screen protectors for any tablets/smartphones (including iPad Mini 5), the one from amFilm has never failed to walk into the line. Well, that speaks volumes of the quality of the screen guards that this manufacturer produces.

Cons:

  • Not completely bubble-free

In terms of providing trusted protection from bumps or nasty scratches, this offering from Tech Armor is undoubtedly one of the best in the business.

Pros:

Cons:

When you talk about the most notable screen guard makers, the name Supershieldz comes into the mind straight away. And rightly so as this accessory maker has produced top-quality screen guards for long. Even this time, it has come up with a highly protective tempered glass screen protector for 10.2″ iPad.

I like its curved design that plays a key role in offering full coverage to the entire Retina Display. It’s bubble-free and comes with a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating to fight out fingerprints sternly so that they don’t destroy clarity and responsiveness of the screen. Moreover, it also offers a reliable lifetime replacement warranty. As far as pricing is concerned, the screen protector is available for $6.99 in three packs, which is a steal.

Cons: 

4. IVSO

In a cut-throat market, this offering from IVSO can hold the fort and even surpass many popular contenders. The best part about this screen guard is the maximum scratch resistance and true touch sensitivity. As someone who always prefers a more responsive screen protector to get the most out of Apple Pencil, I have found it up to the mark when it comes to responsiveness.

  • Provides high-clarity
  • Very responsive to the touch
  • Sweat resistance

Though not a well-known company ELTD has come up with a screen guard that can give strong competition to even the top offerings. And that’s the reason why I thought it deserves to get included in the list.

In a nutshell, ELTD is more than a decent protector for the touchscreen of your iPad 7.

At the end of this roundup, I would like to put Zshion’s screen guard that has looked promising to me. And I would like to mention three qualities that make it worth giving serious consideration. First and foremost, the screen guard is completely bubble-free which is great for painless installation experience.

  • Fingerprint resistance is slightly below par

For those looking for a screen guard that can perfectly work with Apple Pencil, this offering from KCT appears to be a better choice.Made of paper-like PET film, the screen protector is pretty sensitive to the touch. With the paper-like texture, it makes dropping, writing, and sketching smooth-sailing.

  • Paper-like texture
  • Matte surface
  • Very good at resisting fingerprints

Another screen guard that packs a solid punch way above its weight is Apiker. The tempered glass screen protector features laser-cut dimensions and offers full-screen coverage to the 10.2″ Retina Display. As for protection from scratches and impact, it has got industry-standard hardness which enables it to endure both scuffs and bumps.

Pros: 

JETech has long been a noted manufacturer of screen guards for smartphones and tablets. And this screen defender for iPad 7 looks in sync with its reputation. At 0.33mm thickness, it’s comparatively thicker than many other counterparts. Being thick, it’s slightly more equipped to fight out the challenges of impact.

Beyond impact resistance, JETech sports rounded edges and delivers top-notch clarity. Thanks largely to the HD clarity, it can get the most out of 10.2″ Retina Display. Transparency aside, it’s also up to the mark when it comes to touch sensitivity.

10. SPARIN

Rounding up this extensive lineup is SPARIN screen guard. Featuring neat cutouts, it fits precisely on the screen, ensuring there is no interference with the FaceTime camera and mic. With just 0.3mm thickness, it’s also one of the thinnest screen protectors for iPad 7.

  • Neat cutouts for precise installation
  • Offers reliable scratch resistance
  • Industry-standard hardness

Does iPad 7 Need a Screen Protector?

Yes, an iPad 7 needs a screen protector to endure impact and resist scratches. Considering the high screen repair cost, it’s always recommended to install a screen guard to ward off damage. After all, accidental falls and scratches are just the order of the day, aren’t they?

It’s understood. If you want the expensive Retina Display to remain protected from ugly scratches or accidental drops, a screen guard can be of great help. Consider this, if Apple didn’t recommend screen protectors, why would it sell them on its own online store?

The iPad screen is made of durable glass that can resist minor scratches. However, the screen can easily be scratched by objects like pens and keys. Besides, dropping the iPad can also cause damage to the screen.

Can Apple Pencil Work without a Screen Protector?

Yes, Apple Pencil can work with or without a screen protector.

It’s better to choose the needed protection upfront rather than repent later. A delicate thing like Retina Display must be given due safeguard without any compromise. Currently, Apple charges a whopping $249 to fix a broken 10.2-inch iPad screen (out of warranty).