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Cloth screen protector for 16' MBP?

H

hky740

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 20, 2019
64
6
I'm looking for a cloth screen protector for my 16 inch MBP, something to lay on the keyboard when I close to lid to add a layer of protection from the screen. I recently had the screen replaced after a cleaning attempt went wrong, and the repair note also noted a keyboard imprint on the screen.

Any recommendations?
 
I purchased the RadTech keyboard cover or my 16" MBP. It's EXCELLENT! It fits perfectly in the keyboard tray of the MBP. It's about 9 months old now and looks like the day I bought it. It does its job perfectly – no keyboard residue on the screen. Ever.
 
Limeybastid said:
So the keys on the MBP touch the screen when lid is closed?
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If you don't have something like the RadTech Keyboard Cover, yes, they typically do. After a while, you start to see the outline of the keys on the screen when you open it up. The keyboard covers prevent the oils left on the keys, and the keys themselves, from touching the screen.
 
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hky740 said:
I'm looking for a cloth screen protector for my 16 inch MBP, something to lay on the keyboard when I close to lid to add a layer of protection from the screen. I recently had the screen replaced after a cleaning attempt went wrong, and the repair note also noted a keyboard imprint on the screen.

Any recommendations?
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I can't imagine why any piece of cloth more substantial than tissue paper would not do the job. Any rag cut in a rectangle should work.
 
chrfr said:
Anything you put in there runs a high risk of cracking the glass.
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Do you mean the risk is increased when something is put along the edge of the screen, OR if something is put on the keyboard/body of the laptop when the screen is closed?
 
Redneck1089 said:
Do you mean the risk is increased when something is put along the edge of the screen, OR if something is put on the keyboard/body of the laptop when the screen is closed?
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There's almost no part of the display assembly that isn't glass- just a very thin rubber lip around the edge. All of the rest of it is glass, so putting pressure on the glass by putting anything on the keyboard or on the display assembly itself has a high likelihood of breaking the glass.
 
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Ok thanks. Those microfiber keyboard covers I read about on here, do they need to cover the whole top cover or just keyboard area? I ask because some were also complaining that the trackpad and palm rest areas also marred the screen. Cheers.

edit. Also would those hard case covers like the incase brand prevent this issue by creating a slightly larger space between the lid and top cover when it’s closed. ?
 
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I remember with from previous MacBook Pro purchases that Apple puts a thin rice-paper or styrofoam cover between the screen and the body.

Does Apple still do that?

If so, I may just keep using that rather than trying to purchase a separate cover.

Honestly, it sounds like with way these current laptops are designed screen marks from the keyboard and track pad are inevitable; it's just a fact of life while using these machines.
 
Redneck1089 said:
I remember with from previous MacBook Pro purchases that Apple puts a thin rice-paper or styrofoam cover between the screen and the body.

Does Apple still do that?

If so, I may just keep using that rather than trying to purchase a separate cover.

Honestly, it sounds like with way these current laptops are designed screen marks from the keyboard and track pad are inevitable; it's just a fact of life while using these machines.
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I’ll find out mines being delivered later this week.
 
Limeybastid said:
it came today. It has a very thin piece of rice paper lol on the display when I unboxed it. I’m still researching screen protectors and keyboard cheese cloths 🤣😂
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The paper is so thin because anything thicker is going to place pressure on that glass, which is really, really bad. As #chrfr noted, that rubber/silicone O-ring on the outside of the bezel is where the weight is placed when the clamshell is closed, and it is connected to the aluminum back of the display (i.e., NOT the glass) to transfer the force of closing and the pressures encountered when inside of a bag to the aluminum frame. If you put something like a microfiber cover on the keyboard and then close the clamshell, that weight might no longer be placed on that O-ring, and instead be placed on the glass itself. Should considerable shock or pressure then be applied to the laptop when it is shut or when it is closed (as can happen when inside a laptop bag), bad things can happen as that glass is not designed to withstand those forces.

Apple states:
Leaving any material on the top case (keyboard and palm rest area) could result in damage to the display when you close it.

To enable the thin design of Mac notebook computers with a Retina display, the clearance between the display and the top case is engineered to tight tolerances. Do not use palm rest covers or keycap covers, as the additional thickness may interfere with the designed closed position of the display.



IMO, a microfiber and a gentle screen cleaner to periodically wipe the top case down is all you need. Just a few sprays on the cloth and a wipe of the top case removes oils as well as particles that might cause an issue. Cleaning the screen properly is also paramount to avoiding damage, as improperly cleaning anything with an AR coating can ultimately cause issues.
 
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Redneck1089 said:
Please let me know when you get your new laptop. Congratulations! I hope you enjoy it
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This is what it came with. PS I don’t run my MacBook on the bed normally re heat distribution. Lol.
 

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Redneck1089 said:
Thanks for posting that. Do you think that sheet is reusable/worth keeping for protection?
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I don’t think the sheet will last to be honest. Worst case scenario use perhaps a few thin sheets of lens fabric or one of those ones that are sold specifically for the MBP. Personally I like the brush method. Use soft brush to remove dust and lint. Man that rubber seal around the screen is tiny. Once it’s gone it’ll just rest in the top cover. No wonder the screens get etched up. Of course putting weight on it also causes marring.
 
Limeybastid said:
I don’t think the sheet will last to be honest. Worst case scenario use perhaps a few thin sheets of lens fabric or one of those ones that are sold specifically for the MBP. Personally I like the brush method. Use soft brush to remove dust and lint. Man that rubber seal around the screen is tiny. Once it’s gone it’ll just rest in the top cover. No wonder the screens get etched up. Of course putting weight on it also causes marring.
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Thanks for the information.

It's a shame that it seems Apple has never addressed this. I've had a 15" PowerBook G4 (titanium), a 15" MacBook Pro CoreDuo, a MacBook Air 11", and two MacBook Pro 13" i5s...and they've all had their screens marred over time by the keyboard and track pad. I'm quite particular about my belongings, and I take care never to put anything heavy on top of the computers when they're closed.

It seems like this is just a fact of life with these computers. I agree, as well, that the thin sheet that comes with the computer likely won't last; it looks quite fragile. From the pictures and unboxing videos I've seen on here and YouTube, the sheet looks even thinner than what Apple used to include to protect the screen during shipping.
 
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