iPad Owners: Screen Glare

[roland.g]

I have not been fortunate enough to buy and iPad yet, however I did test drive one at the Apple Store and while it was fun, I was amazed that I was done playing with it in 30 minutes or less. Maybe that was all the noise, glare and lack of my apps in there. All that withstanding I still want one.

One of the biggest things I noticed was the screen glare, and given that I was in an Apple Store with crazy amounts of light, I am curious how bad or noticable the glossy screen and glare/reflections are, especially with regards to watching videos and those with a lot of dark scenes like Sci-Fi thrillers and such. I noticed that I could see my whole face plain as day staring back at me.

Is the screen glare a problem. Do you have to find an optimal viewing angle a lot of the time, for movies, or just about everything. And do you think that a Matte Screen Protector Film will be necessary to reducing glare? Would something like that reduce video quality/vividness?

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[r0k]

I have not been fortunate enough to buy and iPad yet, however I did test drive one at the Apple Store and while it was fun, I was amazed that I was done playing with it in 30 minutes or less. Maybe that was all the noise, glare and lack of my apps in there. All that withstanding I still want one.

One of the biggest things I noticed was the screen glare, and given that I was in an Apple Store with crazy amounts of light, I am curious how bad or noticable the glossy screen and glare/reflections are, especially with regards to watching videos and those with a lot of dark scenes like Sci-Fi thrillers and such. I noticed that I could see my whole face plain as day staring back at me.

Is the screen glare a problem. Do you have to find an optimal viewing angle a lot of the time, for movies, or just about everything. And do you think that a Matte Screen Protector Film will be necessary to reducing glare? Would something like that reduce video quality/vividness?

Thanks for the feedback.

This has come up already in a few threads but I'd like to reply here as well. I used my iPad to take notes in a classroom with a ceiling carpeted with harsh lighting. I folded the Apple case to allow me to use the iPad in "commodore 64 mode" for typing. I spent a lot of time trying to find angles to reduce the ever present glare. I finally had to turn up the brightness to the default 50% level from my stingy 25% level and the glare didn't bother me as much any more.

Yes there is glare. But at 50% brightness, this device can do 10 hours. You can go higher, though I haven't done it yet. I have read in the car in the day and at night and it was easy to find comfortable viewing angles to reduce glare and still be able to drive. (Just kidding , my wife was driving at the time)

I would not consider any kind of adhesive based screen protector. If there were a static cling based matte protector available, I'd have to give it a try. I have not watched any movies yet but I don't think I'd have a problem seeing in a "normal" room, even during dark scenes. But if I was watching outdoors on a sunny day... Wait... Why would I be doing that? I can't imagine myself at the seashore ignoring natural beauty to stare at anything man made, not even on my iPad.

 

[roland.g]

But if I was watching outdoors on a sunny day... Wait... Why would I be doing that? I can't imagine myself at the seashore ignoring natural beauty to stare at anything man made, not even on my iPad.

Of course not. Main places to watch movies on it would be on a plane, in the car (kids), or at home in bed or something.

 

[BaronStein]

I'd say it is not a that big deal. It is painful in times where you are under sunlight or outside but generally, a matte screen could also ruin the screen experience. This issue is more or less something about personal preference.