The Switch 2 is a fun piece of hardware with a lot of cool features and games, but it wouldn’t be a Nintendo console without some kind of goofy flaw that makes it susceptible to damage. This time, you have to be a bit careful not to scratch your screen from docking the console. Even if you’re taking extra care to slide it into the dock, you should probably throw a screen protector on your Switch 2 to shield that crispy IPS display. You never know what can happen with the handheld knocking around your bag or when playing it in tabletop mode with the kickstand.
Screen protectors are the kind of essential Switch 2 accessory you shouldn’t wait to pick up, not unlike a microSD express card to expand the internal storage. With tons of high-end hardware manufacturers throwing their hats in the ring, screen protectors aren’t the annoyance they used to be – new applicators make them much easier to stick onto the screen without air bubbles or bad fits. And if you go with a matte screen protector as opposed to a glossy one, it can help mitigate glare when playing outside or in settings with beaming light sources.
I’ve tested out a handful of options on my Switch 2 and seen others applied on my friends’ systems, so I’ve been looking at factors such as easy application process, image quality, price, and their protective ability. And I have my own recommendations from first-hand experience. Here are the best screen protectors for Nintendo Switch 2.
Best Switch 2 Screen Protector
Best Value Switch 2 Screen Protector
Best Budget Switch 2 Screen Protector
Best Matte Switch 2 Screen Protector
Do you actually need a screen protector for Switch 2?
While you can probably get through an eight-year console life cycle without a screen protector, you really should invest in one. Take it from someone who refused to buy one for their launch-edition Switch 1 and regrets it: A high-quality screen protector doesn’t just keep your screen from getting scratched, it can actually improve the viewing experience. Not to mention the many scrapes and scratches I’ve had to deal with for years, special oleophobic coatings make the touchscreen less smudgy and will help prevent your dock from scratching up your console.
What’s the deal with Switch 2’s built-in screen protector?
The Switch 2’s built-in screen protector isn’t actually there to guard your screen like a standard screen protector would. Instead, it’s designed to prevent shards of the screen’s glass from flying out of the console if it gets shattered. An applied screen protector is useful for avoiding cracking or shattering, whereas the Switch 2’s built-in one will only keep a cracked screen from posing a safety risk. Please, don’t peel it off before putting on an external screen protector.
Is there a major difference between my options?
Yes and no. While our budget pick (Lmcpa) isn’t as thick as the other screen protectors we’ve chosen, it should probably be fine for most use cases. Beyond that, they’re mostly pretty similar once they’re actually applied to your Switch 2. But there’s the rub: Genki and DBrand offer a top-notch application process that makes applying a screen protector fast and bubble-free. That application process is the main difference here. It’s also why AmFilm is so much cheaper than DBrand and Genki despite offering a similar quality of protection.
Charlie's a freelance contributor for IGN. You can reach them via Twitter or Instagram at the handle @chas_mke.
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