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iPad Pro iPad Pro screen is a fingerprint and smudge magnet

Poob Bubes

Poob Bubes

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 16, 2007
544
179
I came from an Air 2 with a tempered glass protector to the 10.5" Pro with no protector. I can't keep the Pro screen clean. As soon as I start using it, I see smudges on the screen. It also seems like particles in the air adhere to it more. Has anyone else noticed this? I heard on a podcast that it was because of a coating they applied for the Pencil. I'm not sure if that's true or not. It's really annoying.
 
You need to use this:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...7-worried-photos.1969702/page-4#post-24615531

I honestly don't know how any of you can use any iPAD for more than a few days without a microfiber cloth.

It's impossible, specially if you use it to watch movies, and has chosen the space gray model (which is the best color, BTW).

Even with a screen protector you really need to clean it after a few days. Sometimes I also need to apply water to the cloth, some of the dirt can't be removed easily, and it really sticks to the screen forever until I do that.
 
Perene said:
You need to use this:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...7-worried-photos.1969702/page-4#post-24615531

I honestly don't know how any of you can use any iPAD for more than a few days without a microfiber cloth.

It's impossible, specially if you use it to watch movies, and has chosen the space gray model (which is the best color, BTW).

Even with a screen protector you really need to clean it after a few days. Sometimes I also need to apply water to the cloth, some of the dirt can't be removed easily, and it really sticks to the screen forever until I do that.
Click to expand...

I use a microfiber cloth before each use. The issue is that it instantly smudges again. I don't want to wipe the screen every minute.

I also use this when the screen is really bad: https://www.klearscreen.com/
 
Even I have the same problem on an iPad-3 it instantly has smudges on it. Just get a little annoying to use it have to clean it too often !
 
Drove me crazy on my Air 2 - it's the worst fingerprint magnet I've ever owned. I finally put a glass protector on it and it was much better and did not affect the user experience in the least. First device I have ever put a screen protector on.
 
The iPad smudging is such a difficult thing to measure. I can't tell any difference from my iPad Air 2 over any other iPad or even compared to my iPhones over the years. They all seem to smudge relatively easy, but I think it depends on someone's finger prints with oil as well.
 
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I wash my hands pretty often and still leave lite smudges on the 10.5 screen but the microfiber cloth removes them at the end of the day.

I keep the MF towel on the desk where the iPad gets charged and buff off the prints before going to bed.

Not sure if it is worst than previous iPads, seems the same to me, but it does seem slightly harder to remove the prints.
 
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Yes but how can you expect someone to keep wiping the screen everytime after he types something on the screen ??
 
Relentless Power said:
The iPad smudging is such a difficult thing to measure. I can't tell any difference from my iPad Air 2 over any other iPad or even compared to my iPhones over the years. They all seem to smudge relatively easy, but I think it depends on someone's finger prints with oil as well.
Click to expand...

It is difficult to measure but I can easily tell that relative to my other devices, my Air 2 by far the worst.
 
sparksd said:
It is difficult to measure but I can easily tell that relative to my other devices, my Air 2 by far the worst.
Click to expand...

It's definitely strange. Even my iPhones are different from my iPad. The one thing being told they all use the oleophobic coating, which is supposed to help with minor scratches and fingerprints, but to what extent, it's hard to determine.
 
its the anti reflective coating. it all started when i got my Air 2 and got even worse on my iPad Pro 10.5 however i have to say the smudges seem to be easier to remove compared to my iPad Air 2 even though there are more.

i never had this issue on my old iPad 3
 
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I installed the Anker tempered glass screen protector to help with Reflectivity and WOW - my screen has zero smudges, feels smoother and better.
 
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augustya said:
I don't think my fingers are oily still it smudges easily !
Click to expand...

augustya said:
Yes but how can you expect someone to keep wiping the screen everytime after he types something on the screen ??
Click to expand...

There is no easy way around this. It's a touch device and it's going to accrue fingerprints. It is what is. Some experiences will differ from others based on usage. The only thing anybody can do, is use preventive measures, with a microfiber cloth, tempered screen protector or reverting to the Apple Pencil at times to avoid contact if you so choose.

Everybodys situation will vary with the iPad, some have said their iPads seem not to smudge as easy and others have said it seems it's smudges more. Again, there are a lot of variables here.
 
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Mine is full of smudges that I only notice when it's switched off. Under normal use, the marks really aren't that visible and don't bother at all. I use it 98% of the time with the SK, so possibly the angle reduces the smudge visibility. Can't comment on the pencil though as I'm getting one only next week.

On the frequent wiping some posters mention: I reckon doing so gives a far higher, if not guaranteed, chance of permanent marking or damage. I'd rather try to live with some smudging...
 
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With the enjoyment I get with using the Pro from which a great deal of that comes from the great quality of the display, I can live with the smudges.

Wal-Mart sells microfiber clothes in their vision dept, I think it is a three pack, for like $5. They are quite small and I always keep one in my pocket to use on my iPad, iPhone, sunglasses, etc.

Viola, it ain't like I am getting bursitis using it. :)
 
With screen protector on my 12.9 iPP I still get fingerprints and smudges all the time but I get used to it. I clean it every night before I go to bed. :)

I forgot to add...I use Apple Pencil as mouse and Logitech keyboard as multitasking so I rarely touch on the screen. :)
 
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The original 12.9 seemed worse. My 10.5 is bad so I put a glass protector on it so I can flail away at the glass trying to clean it without worrying that I'll scratch the iPad glass.
[doublepost=1498891503][/doublepost]
David-fr said:
I installed the Anker tempered glass screen protector to help with Reflectivity and WOW - my screen has zero smudges, feels smoother and better.
Click to expand...
I got the same one on Amazon. The application with the stickers is kind of corny, but the glass is cut nearly perfectly.
[doublepost=1498891662][/doublepost]The other aspect of the screen collecting smudges, debris, and oils is that the Apple Pencil will not glide over the glass as well. There is a very defined friction that kind of feels like using a coin on scratch off lottery tickets.
 
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