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Quick answer: For most iPhones, the Ailun privacy screen protector is the safe pick: tempered glass with an installation frame, made in versions for each iPhone model, and one of the most-reviewed protectors on its listing. If you’ve struggled to put on a protector before, the ESR Align Frame privacy protector is the easiest to line up. For the Galaxy S25 Ultra, look at WILLONE. Privacy protectors really do hide your screen from people beside you, but they dim your display a little, and Apple says they can interfere with Face ID on iPhone 18 Pro models.
Table of Contents
Best Privacy Screen Protectors at a Glance
Buy the version made for your exact phone model. A protector cut for a different model won’t line up with the camera and sensors. Prices change often, so check the current price on each product page.
| Protector | Phones | Privacy angle (maker claim) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailun Privacy Glass | iPhone 17 and 16 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 18 Pro Max and other models | Not stated | Most iPhone owners |
| ESR Align Frame Privacy | iPhone 17 and 16 Pro | Blocks views beyond 28° | Easy, straight installation |
| JETech Privacy 2-Pack | iPhone 17 | Not stated | Lowest cost |
| WILLONE Privacy Glass | Galaxy S25 Ultra | 24° | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
1. Ailun Privacy Glass: Best for Most iPhones
Ailun makes its privacy glass in separate versions for each iPhone, including the iPhone 17 (which also fits the iPhone 16 Pro), the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the new iPhone 18 Pro Max. Its listings show a very large number of reviews, though that count is shared across many Ailun models.
- Installation frame included, so the glass lines up with the edges and camera cutout.
- Honest about dimming: Ailun’s own listing says you “might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit.”
- Multi-packs: most versions come with more than one sheet, so a bad first try isn’t the end.
Good to know: on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, read our Face ID section below before you buy any privacy glass.
2. ESR Align Frame Privacy: Easiest to Install
The ESR Align Frame privacy protector for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 Pro is built around its alignment frame, which makes it hard to put on crooked. According to its listing:
- Privacy angle: blocks views “from angles over 28°.”
- Face ID: ESR says the glass supports Face ID.
- Three sheets in the pack.
Good to know: stock looked limited when we checked, and it was sold by a third-party seller rather than ESR directly.
3. JETech Privacy 2-Pack: Budget Pick
The JETech privacy screen protector for the iPhone 17 is a simple two-pack with an installation tool and an anti-fingerprint coating, according to its listing. It has a large number of reviews and a solid rating. Pick it if you just want basic side-angle privacy for less.
4. WILLONE Privacy Glass: Best for Galaxy S25 Ultra
For the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the WILLONE privacy screen protector three-pack had the strongest rating of the S25 Ultra privacy protectors we looked at. Its listing claims “24° privacy protection” from micro-louver glass and includes an alignment frame. Samsung phones read your fingerprint through the screen, so after installing any protector, re-register your fingerprint and test it before you rely on it.
Skipped: we left out Belkin’s privacy protectors. Belkin is a big brand, but the privacy versions we checked had weak listing reviews.
Do Privacy Screen Protectors Actually Work?
Yes, against people beside you. A privacy protector has a layer of tiny vertical blinds, sometimes called micro-louvers. Light coming straight out of the screen passes through, but light going sideways is blocked, so the screen looks dark from an angle. Makers usually quote the angle where it goes dark: ESR says beyond 28 degrees and WILLONE says 24 degrees.
- 2-way vs 4-way: most phone protectors are 2-way, which blocks the left and right sides in portrait mode. A 4-way filter also blocks views from above and below, but it costs more clarity.
- What they don’t stop: someone standing directly behind you, looking over your shoulder at the same angle you are, can still see your screen.
- Turn it sideways and it changes: a 2-way filter used in landscape mode blocks top and bottom views instead of the sides.
If you want the same idea for bigger screens, see our guides to laptop privacy screens and monitor privacy screens.
The Downsides Nobody Mentions
- A dimmer screen. The blinds also block some light coming at you. Ailun admits you may need to raise your brightness, and a brighter screen uses more battery. Samsung, which sells a built-in alternative, says privacy screen protectors permanently reduce brightness and clarity.
- Harder to share. Showing a photo to the friend next to you becomes awkward, because they see a dark screen too.
- Sensor problems on some phones. Face ID on iPhone 18 Pro models and under-screen fingerprint readers can be less reliable with extra layers on top.
- Fit matters more than brand. A protector for the wrong model can cover the camera cutout or lift at the edges.
Privacy Protectors and Face ID on iPhone 18 Pro
On the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple moved the Face ID camera to the top-left corner of the screen. Apple’s Face ID help page (published September 17, 2026) says that if you can’t get Face ID to work on iPhone 18 Pro models, try “Removing privacy screen protectors.” BGR also reported that some matte protectors caused Face ID failures on the new models, while clear protectors didn’t.
What to do: if you own an iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max, buy a privacy protector made for that exact model, re-set up Face ID after installing it, and keep the receipt in case it doesn’t work well for you. If Face ID matters more than privacy, a clear protector is the safer choice.
Galaxy S26 Ultra: You May Not Need One
Samsung built a Privacy Display into the Galaxy S26 Ultra. According to Samsung, you can switch it on to limit what people beside you can see, or set it to turn on only at certain moments, like when you enter a password, or for content like pop-up notifications. Unlike a stick-on film, you can turn it off when you want to share your screen. Samsung’s own fine print says some content may still be visible depending on the viewing angle and brightness.
How to Install One Without Bubbles
- Use the frame. Most privacy protectors now include an alignment frame. Watch the maker’s video first.
- Clean in a steamy bathroom. Running a hot shower for a few minutes first helps keep dust out of the air.
- Wipe, then dust-sticker. Clean with the wet wipe, dry with the cloth, then lift any dust with the sticker.
- Press from the middle out to push air to the edges.
- Re-set up Face ID or your fingerprint afterward, and test it a few times.
How We Chose These Protectors
We didn’t test these protectors in a lab or install them ourselves. We compared product listings for model fit, privacy angle claims, review counts and ratings, and checked that each was in stock for US delivery on October 13, 2026. We also read Apple’s Face ID guidance and Samsung’s Privacy Display information. If something has changed, tell us and we’ll update this page.
Want more small privacy upgrades? See our list of privacy gadgets worth having.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do privacy screen protectors really work?
Yes, from the side. They use tiny vertical blinds, so the screen goes dark for people looking from an angle. ESR says its glass blocks views from more than 28 degrees and WILLONE says 24 degrees. They don’t stop someone standing directly behind you and looking over your shoulder.
Do privacy screen protectors affect Face ID?
They can on the newest iPhones. For iPhone 18 Pro models, Apple’s Face ID help page lists removing privacy screen protectors as a fix if Face ID won’t work. On other iPhones, buy a protector made for your exact model and set up Face ID again if it gets less reliable.
Are privacy screen protectors worth it?
If you often use your phone on trains, planes, in offices or in lines, yes. They are cheap and make it much harder for strangers to read your messages or see your PIN. Skip one if you mostly use your phone at home, share your screen with friends a lot, or want the brightest possible display.
Do privacy screen protectors make the screen darker?
Yes, a little. The same blinds that block side views also block some light coming straight at you. Ailun’s own listing says you might need to turn your brightness up a bit, and a brighter screen uses more battery.
Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra need a privacy screen protector?
Probably not. Samsung built a Privacy Display into the Galaxy S26 Ultra that you can switch on when you need it, for example when you enter a password or for pop-up notifications. Samsung notes some content may still be visible depending on the angle and brightness.
Sources
- Apple Support: If Face ID isn’t working on your iPhone or iPad Pro (published September 17, 2026)
- BGR: You need to know this before buying a screen protector for your iPhone 18 Pro (September 19, 2026)
- Samsung Newsroom: Share on Your Terms with Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Product listings for Ailun, ESR, JETech and WILLONE privacy protectors, checked October 13, 2026
