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Best screen protectors for iPad 3

Looking for a screen protector for your third-generation iPad? With only a handful worth considering, here are CNET's top choices. All of these screen protectors also work with the iPad 2.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
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David Carnoy
Wrapsol's Ultra polyurethane screen protector film is designed to actively release any air bubbles trapped during installation. David Carnoy/CNET

The new iPad's glass screen is tough and scratch-resistant, but a lot of people still choose to buy a screen protector to be safe and potentially help cut down on glare.

The truth is, I don't know how necessary screen protectors really are, and many don't help with glare quite as much as they promise. "Film" protectors can be a challenge for many people to install and "bubble-free" protectors can reduce the crispness of the new iPad's Retina Display.

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Most also cost more than they probably should, ranging in price from $10 to around $30.

But putting those caveats aside, I've pulled together a small selection of screen protectors (they're also compatible with the iPad 2) but will be updating the list as promising products come out. Some are in the works, such as Spigen/SGP's Glas.t tempered glass screen cover that's available for the iPhone 4/4S now but will be coming to the iPad in the next few months.

Click on any image to see picks.

Best screen protectors for iPad 3 (photos)

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Editors' note: This post originally posted on March 16, 2011. It was updated on April 5, 2012, with three new screen protectors.