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Even Longer

macrumors 6502
Dec 12, 2012
486
440
Heidelberg
Great comparison. I’ve looked at both of them in store side by side multiple times and this’d has been my experience also (I went with the standard glass).

Can you also comment on the experience of viewing text? That’s what I found most off-putting on the nano-texture display. When reading text on white / light backgrounds, say on a webpage of a pdf, the nano texture has this moire / dirty screen effect that I found incredibly distracting.
Hi, thanks.
I replied you there on Reddit regarding text. Essentially I don’t find it too disturbing myself, but it is quite subjective I guess... 🙂
 

Macintosh101

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 23, 2017
660
1,136
Hi, thanks.
I replied you there on Reddit regarding text. Essentially I don’t find it too disturbing myself, but it is quite subjective I guess... 🙂
Agree, it’s veery subjective. What bothers some people won’t bother others, for sure.
 

Ianblackburn

macrumors member
Feb 21, 2011
72
34
I don't know if you've looked at these displays in person but the increase in black levels is not tiny. IMO it's quite significant in a normally lit room.
My experience of this after a few days with the nano is it depends on the environment- if you are in darkness then the screen is black as black and I don’t think you would tell the difference. Add some light, then the nano diffusion spreads that across the screen and the blacks look a little lighter. So far for my uses cases of using for work stuff and general browsing/email in a sunny office and outside then nano has been great for that - I love it, and it has made the iPad useable in some places my m1 pro 1TB would not have been. and the matte look I really love for working in Lightroom and photoshop. If I was watching a movie then I may consider darkening the room to get the blackest of black (though honestly probably wouldn’t bother 😂)
 

Allen_Wentz

macrumors 68040
Dec 3, 2016
3,329
3,763
USA
I just got back from visiting my local Apple Store. For background, I picked up my 11 inch M4 iPad Pro with a regular display on launch date. However, after watching various videos and hearing about the nano-texture display, I wanted to check it out further for myself, to see if it would be of use to me. I spent 45 minutes using the nano display. For anybody wondering about whether this display is for them, here are my observations:

  • The most noticeable thing when using the nano display is how text appears. It is not that the text is necessary less sharp or blurry, but the text doesn’t pop as much, and any dark text on a white background looks degraded. The nano texture display gives the white screen a kind of hazy, shimmering appearance. It was incredibly distracting. The best way I can describe it was that I constantly felt like I wanted to clean the screen. This issue goes away in Dark Mode - i.e with white text on a dark background. So this will be less of an issue if you’re willing to use Dark Mode all the time.
  • There is noticeably less contrast with the nano texture display, as others have pointed out. The benefits of the new OLED screen are entirely negated IMO. You only need to put the two iPad M4s side-by-side to see the difference between these displays in terms of contrast and blacks. The level of blacks on the nano-display is almost like looking at a regular LCD panel (think of an iPad Air or a MacBook Air)
  • The screen feels different under your fingers. It does feel smoother.
  • Photographs look stunning on the nano texture display. Absolutely stunning. Whilst they pop more on the regular glossy screen, photos (and drawings) on the nano display have the appearance of printed photographs.
  • Obviously glare is much reduced (this is the main selling point).
  • Fingerprints show far more on the nano display. They can leave a noticeable grey smudge, particularly when there is a white background.

A member of staff at the Apple Store told me that they had a lot of returns of the nano texture display - he said that many customers had bought the nano texture display and then returned it for the standard display. He said there was a subset of people, mainly designers and illustrators, who knew they wanted the matte display due to its benefits when working with photos and drawings. They were delighted with it because they had been asking for it for a long time.

Ultimately of course, so much of this is going to have to do with people’s perception (and their eyesight). The degradation in reading quality (for me) was stark. In my work I need to read a lot of text and write a lot of text, and I don’t always want to be doing this in dark mode. I also enjoy the deep inky blacks of the glossy OLED panel. For this reason the trade-offs are not worth it. To me the nano texture display is clearly for professionals who need to specific use case. Remember you have to pay to get the 1TB model and then an extra 100 to get the nano texture display. If there was a nano-texture option for the 256 GB model, I would not get it due to the trade-off in display quality. Even if the nano display was $100 cheaper than the regular display, I would not get it.

As always YMMV. Hope this helps some of you 👍🏼
This, like in the OP:
"...a subset of people, mainly designers and illustrators, who knew they wanted the matte display due to its benefits when working with photos and drawings. They were delighted with it because they had been asking for it for a long time."

Those for whom nano is inappropriate can simply not choose that option. Me, I am one of the delighted ones.
 
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GMShadow

macrumors 68020
Jun 8, 2021
2,122
8,655
Spent some time at an Apple Store today to look at one and spend a little time with it. I noticed the different screen feel more than the glare cut - while it's present, the store environment and where it was located didn't make the benefit all that evident. I'd agree that if you don't *know* you want it for special uses, it's not worth the extra cost, especially if you're having to step up to 1TB to get it.


Oddly on the Studio Display (which was near the back of the store) the nano coating was immediately apparent, unlike the iPad. Looking at the two next to the two iMacs they had on display, my first thought was that it's a shame they don't offer it on the 24" iMac, as I'd pay for it in a heartbeat. As it is, if I were ordering a SD I'd totally pay the extra for the nano coating.
 
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Nikhil72

macrumors 68000
Oct 21, 2005
1,620
1,462
Ended up getting an 11” with nano coating and I have to say the demo in the Apple Store is a terrible place to get a feel. In natural sunlight, it’s a game changer. Yes, slightly less contrast in that lighting scenario, but the non nano is more contrast but I continuously see my reflection in the screen. My apartment has around 10’ high windows facing due west on the water. Trying to use my iPad even indoors can be a challenge

as for darkened rooms, which is where I typically watch content, I can’t really see the difference between the nano and the 13” standard I have next to it. They both look equally dark and rich.

the nano is a surprising win to me. On top of that, reading a book poolside today, I didn’t strain at all to read and that made it much more e-ink reader like than I anticipated, both between the boosted brightness also present on the standard and that coating.
 

KPOM

macrumors P6
Oct 23, 2010
18,308
8,320
Ended up getting an 11” with nano coating and I have to say the demo in the Apple Store is a terrible place to get a feel. In natural sunlight, it’s a game changer. Yes, slightly less contrast in that lighting scenario, but the non nano is more contrast but I continuously see my reflection in the screen. My apartment has around 10’ high windows facing due west on the water. Trying to use my iPad even indoors can be a challenge

as for darkened rooms, which is where I typically watch content, I can’t really see the difference between the nano and the 13” standard I have next to it. They both look equally dark and rich.
Yes, I really like the nano screen. It’s such a game changer in my office with lots of fluorescent lighting and sunlight. Too bad it is available only on the 1TB and 2TB models. Hopefully Apple expands its availability in future models.
 
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Nikhil72

macrumors 68000
Oct 21, 2005
1,620
1,462
Yes, I really like the nano screen. It’s such a game changer in my office with lots of fluorescent lighting and sunlight. Too bad it is available only on the 1TB and 2TB models. Hopefully Apple expands its availability in future models.
Yes haven’t even tried it at the office yet but the lighting is definitely terrible

the way I see it, the main trade off is if you watch video in bright lighting
 

Aka757

macrumors 6502
Sep 22, 2016
302
443
Houston
The first time I looked at the nano screen, it seemed really grainy and made text look really bad. Spent about a minute with it at the Apple Store. Today I saw it again at the Apple Store and it was completely different. I went on the MacRumors website and forum, and the screen looked great! Some people here have said that it looks like a printed page, and I could definitely see that. It looked really good. That being said, the blacks were definitely washed out compared to the standard glass.

In my mind, you kinda have to know you want it. Not only because of the price, but because you know you are going to use the nano screen outdoors a lot or in really harsh lighting. This is a bit subjective but I think if you are unsure of whether you need it or would benefit from it, you likely won’t. But I did really like it today!
 

Nikhil72

macrumors 68000
Oct 21, 2005
1,620
1,462
The first time I looked at the nano screen, it seemed really grainy and made text look really bad. Spent about a minute with it at the Apple Store. Today I saw it again at the Apple Store and it was completely different. I went on the MacRumors website and forum, and the screen looked great! Some people here have said that it looks like a printed page, and I could definitely see that. It looked really good. That being said, the blacks were definitely washed out compared to the standard glass.

In my mind, you kinda have to know you want it. Not only because of the price, but because you know you are going to use the nano screen outdoors a lot or in really harsh lighting. This is a bit subjective but I think if you are unsure of whether you need it or would benefit from it, you likely won’t. But I did really like it today!
One point on the blacks being washed out. In a room with low ambient lighting, the blacks look OLED black as expected since it doesn’t have to scatter environmental light
 

Aka757

macrumors 6502
Sep 22, 2016
302
443
Houston
One point on the blacks being washed out. In a room with low ambient lighting, the blacks look OLED black as expected since it doesn’t have to scatter environmental light
Yeah I could definitely get that sense, in low light the screens would look pretty much the same!
 

JPizzzle

macrumors 6502
Oct 30, 2008
325
53
For those with the nano and standard, how is the black text against white background compare to one another in day light and dark settings? Some have reported a loss of sharpness, but I’m wondering if that’s due to the lighting like we’ve seen with the black levels. TIA
 

jmgregory1

macrumors 68040
I’ve been using a film-based matte textured screen protector for the past 6 years on my iPad Pro’s. When Apple announced the M4 with nano texture screen, it was one of the reasons why I upgraded from my M1 12.9” iPP. I love the fact that the surface isn’t as rough as the film protector surface produces and between work and casual use, the nano texture screen has been great to work with. I’ll be one of the people who pay extra to get an iPhone with a nano texture screen on it when Apple launches it. It’s a great way to make using your device without worrying about how the light hits it.
 
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SierraVista

macrumors member
May 20, 2024
90
321
For those with the nano and standard, how is the black text against white background compare to one another in day light and dark settings? Some have reported a loss of sharpness, but I’m wondering if that’s due to the lighting like we’ve seen with the black levels. TIA

I detect a verrrrry subtle loss of sharpness on the nano, compared with the standard glass, if the screen is really close to my face. But when working at a desk or with the iPad arms-length away, it’s indistinguishable to me.
 

supertomtom

macrumors 6502a
Sep 21, 2007
638
672
Gold Coast, Australia
I swapped my standard glass for the nano mainly because of how it performs when on the go and under the sun. When outside, I struggle to see darker backdrops because of the reflections.

This guy here has a pretty good comparison of the standard glass at 5:47 and nano texture at 7:18 when outdoors (his title cards are the wrong way around but it’s pretty clear which one is which).

 
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Nikhil72

macrumors 68000
Oct 21, 2005
1,620
1,462
I swapped my standard glass for the nano mainly because of how it performs when on the go and under the sun. When outside, I struggle to see darker backdrops because of the reflections. This guy here has a pretty good comparison of the standard glass at 5:47 and nano texture at 7:18 when outdoors.

This video is great at demonstrating that in darker environments, the nano texture does NOT have a downside. And it has a tremendous upside in brighter lighting environments. I’m thrilled with how it has been working out.
 

Jamacfer

macrumors 6502
Sep 3, 2015
292
272
京都市
I also swapped my standard glass for the nano one (I have to wait one more month to get it tough...) because I think it is one of the most important improvements of the new iPads.
 

xsmett

macrumors regular
Nov 1, 2015
235
244
First time I watched a movie with a tablet at the pool, thx to nano. A lot of raised blacks of course, but with the standard it was not possible at all. Having the nano outside all the time is just so amazing.

Having both for a week now and the nano wins 90% of the time. The only scenario for the standard to win is when there’s is like daylight in the living room and im in a place where i can avoid almost any reflections. Under that circumstances the standard wins with its better blacks and colors.
 
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rkuo

macrumors 65816
Sep 25, 2010
1,308
955
This video is great at demonstrating that in darker environments, the nano texture does NOT have a downside. And it has a tremendous upside in brighter lighting environments. I’m thrilled with how it has been working out.
In comparison videos the nano texture clearly lowers the saturation and “pop” of the image. This will happen regardless of light levels and is expected of any matte display. The nano texture does seem to have the least downsides of any matte display approach though and is still very impressive.
 
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Nikhil72

macrumors 68000
Oct 21, 2005
1,620
1,462
In comparison videos the nano texture clearly lowers the saturation and “pop” of the image. This will happen regardless of light levels and is expected of any matte display. The nano texture does seem to have the least downsides of any matte display approach though and is still very impressive.
His demo doesn’t seem to show much difference in saturation. The skin tone, for instance, is equally warm. And I have one of each display in front of me any in dark light, the difference is not discernible
 

Snoggin

macrumors member
Jan 27, 2011
33
16
His demo doesn’t seem to show much difference in saturation. The skin tone, for instance, is equally warm. And I have one of each display in front of me any in dark light, the difference is not discernible
Same for me. I’ve had both for two weeks and the Nano is the one for me.. Did a lot of synced up HDR video on both devices at the same time and the Nano really looks equally good unless maybe with a lot of ambient light But no reflections and for me less fingerprints etc too. I have dry hands
 

rkuo

macrumors 65816
Sep 25, 2010
1,308
955
His demo doesn’t seem to show much difference in saturation. The skin tone, for instance, is equally warm. And I have one of each display in front of me any in dark light, the difference is not discernible
Direct comparison in this video at the 2:00 mark.


If you don't see any difference in dark conditions then maybe Apple has figured out something there, I don't have that comparison point in front of me.
 

Nikhil72

macrumors 68000
Oct 21, 2005
1,620
1,462
Same for me. I’ve had both for two weeks and the Nano is the one for me.. Did a lot of synced up HDR video on both devices at the same time and the Nano really looks equally good unless maybe with a lot of ambient light But no reflections and for me less fingerprints etc too. I have dry hands
Absolutely. I definitely do see the loss of contrast and saturation in brighter ambient lighting but in that same scenario, the non-nano looks super contrasty and crisp but with the added layering of reflection of my face and whatever else is behind me. Even adjusting such that the light source is behind the iPad still shows reflectiveness. In comparison, i can still make out everything in a video, HDR or otherwise, even in direct sunlight.

Incidentally, I’m also noticing very little display dimming in direct sunlight.
 
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