The 9 Best Laptop Privacy Screens
Special Honors
HP Elite x360 PC If you're in the market for a new laptop anyway, you can take advantage of the HP Elite x360 PCs and their built-in Sure View technology. All you have to do is push a button to protect your screen, which means there is nothing to mount, install, or position. hp.com
Editor's Notes
January 08, 2021:
The main function of these privacy screens is to prevent sensitive material from being viewed by others, either intentionally or by accident. Additionally, they may provide some form of eye protection from blue light, or have a matte finish to reduce glare.
The method of attaching them to your laptop screen is the most important consideration, as this determines whether the filter is semi-permanent or easily removable. Many options, such as the SightPro Anti-Glare, the Akamai Office Products 14.0 Inch, and the AmazonBasics Filter, offer twin installation methods, either using adhesive tape, which is fine if you don't need to remove it very often, or side tabs, which remain affixed to the bezel, allowing the privacy screen to be slid in and out as necessary.
Other methods include magnetic strips, such as those found on the Akamai Office Products Easy On/Off. These make for easy installation, however, they may prevent the laptop from fully closing. The 3M Gold utilizes a hinged design that allows for easy screen sharing by flipping the filter up. Finally, the Pixelro Acrylic needs no adhesive or tabs, as its solid panel design allows it to be hung from the top of the computer screen and simply lifted off after use.
November 26, 2019:
Whether you're jetting around the globe or working out of your local coffee shop, you'll want to keep your data secure from peeping eyes. We've kept a wide range of options to help you do so, but note that most are designed to stop people who are seated next to you, not someone looking directly over your shoulder.
With that said, we still like options from Akamai, including the Akamai Office Products Easy On/Off and the Akamai Office Products 14.0 Inch. The former is designed specifically for MacBook users and boasts magnetic installation, but this model can make it tough to actually close the computer, a small annoyance. We've added the SightPro Anti-Glare, as well, a double-sided, dual installation choice that isn't unnecessarily pricey. And speaking of price, we've kept the 3M Gold, which is more expensive than most others. It's very thin and comes in touchscreen and non-touch versions, but not everyone likes how eye-catching it is. Finally, we've added the affordable AmazonBasics Filter, which is sized for everything from budget laptops to desktop monitors.