In our experience, scratching or damaging your screen is easier than you might think. If you carry your phone in your purse, backpack or pocket with change or keys, the screen “can easily get visible scratches from [those] hard surfaces,” which can “weaken the integrity of the original display and cause cracks more easily,” says Zilberman.

According to our experts, screen protectors are the best way to minimize cracks, scratches and shattering of your physical screen. While they vary in price, most aren’t terribly expensive: Plastic ones typically cost less than $15, while glass screen protectors range from around $10 to upwards of $50.

There are limitations to what a screen protector can do, though: “It isn’t going to cover every square millimeter of the glass display,” said Frederick. The protector also usually won’t protect the back, edges and corners of your phone — the experts we spoke to suggested pairing a screen protector with a heavy-duty case from brands like Casetify or Lifeproof , preferably one with rubber edges that’ll absorb the impact of a drop and prevent damage.

Experts say that the best material for screen protection is tempered glass, which is resistant to scratches and phone drops. While some screen protectors may be made from plastic or even gel, tempered glass screen protectors provide the most protection from cracking and also maintain the texture and look of a phone screen’s glass.