Two of this year's phones reuse last year's protectors: the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max take the same glass as the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. The iPhone 17e shares its body with the 16e. Everything else below needs new glass. The two to think hardest about are the Galaxy S26 Ultra (skip privacy glass) and the iPhone Duo (don't cover its matte inner screen).
2026 phones at a glance
| Phone | On sale | Does older glass fit? |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | 18 Sep 2026 | iPhone 17 Pro glass, when listed for both |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | 18 Sep 2026 | iPhone 17 Pro Max glass, when listed for both |
| iPhone Duo | 23 Oct 2026 | New: glass on the outer screen only |
| iPhone 17e | March 2026 | iPhone 16e glass, when listed for both |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | March 2026 | New. Clear only, no privacy glass |
| Galaxy S26+ | March 2026 | Check: same dimensions as S25+ |
| Galaxy S26 | March 2026 | New (bigger than the S25) |
| Galaxy Z Fold8 | Summer 2026 | New wider shape |
| Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra | Summer 2026 | Check: same screen sizes as the Fold7 |
| Galaxy Z Flip8 | 7 Aug 2026 | New FlexWindow glass |
| Pixel 11 | 20 Aug 2026 | New |
| Pixel 11 Pro | 20 Aug 2026 | New, not the same as the Pixel 11 |
| Pixel 11 Pro XL | 20 Aug 2026 | New |
"When listed for both" is doing real work in that table. Matching dimensions tell you a protector should fit. A manufacturer listing one product for both models means it has taken on the returns if it doesn't. We treat only the second as confirmation.
Three things that changed this year
1. Privacy moved into the display
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a built-in Privacy Display, and Samsung's support pages tell owners to avoid third-party privacy protectors. It's the first mainstream phone where the usual "get privacy glass for the commute" advice is wrong. Details on the S26 Ultra page.
2. Anti-reflective screens are now normal
The iPhone 17 family's Ceramic Shield 2 has an anti-reflective coating, and Samsung's Ultras use anti-reflective Gorilla Armor. A glossy protector covers those coatings, so the screen reflects more than it did out of the box. It's a fair trade for scratch protection, but you should know you're making it.
3. Apple made a foldable with a matte screen
The iPhone Duo's inner display has a nano-texture finish. Covering it with glossy film undoes the finish, and glass can't fold at all. See the iPhone Duo guide before buying anything for it.
Launch-season buying rules
- Brand cross-listing beats title keywords. Unbranded sellers add new model names to old listings within days of a launch.
- Be wary of protectors listed before launch day. They're cut from leaked dimensions, and leaks are sometimes wrong.
- Buy multipacks for new phones. Fitting early-production glass is less forgiving, and a spare costs little.
Browse by maker
iPhone
Every current iPhone, from the 17e to the Duo, plus older models.
Read the guide →SamsungGalaxy
S26 series, Z Fold8, Z Flip8, S25, A-series and older.
Read the guide →GooglePixel
Pixel 11 series, Pixel 10a, 10 series and the 9 family.
Read the guide →Questions people ask
Do iPhone 17 Pro screen protectors fit the iPhone 18 Pro?
Yes, when the maker lists both. Apple gives the two phones identical dimensions, and Spigen, Ailun and JETech sell single products for both.
Which 2026 phone should not get a privacy screen protector?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra. It has a built-in Privacy Display, and Samsung advises against third-party privacy protectors because they reduce brightness.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 14 September 2026: