I'd get a screen protector to protect from scratches and easy cleaning. I don't think it offers much protection for drops, though.
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All iPads Is a screen protector needed on an iPad? How fragile is the glass?
- Thread starter gdourado
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I put a screen protector on ALL my mobile devices so the iPad isn't any different. It's just for peace if mind and I don't even notice it's on. I use a glass screen protector off Amazon. It's going to stay on for the duration of this iPads life.
I always use a screen protector and especially using the pencil on it with the constant scraping. To lessen the weight, I use a film protector which has some anti glare but really good clarity.
The only reason I installed a screen protector is to improve the Apple Pencil experience and to help protect the screen from scratches caused by surface debris when using the Pencil. 😅
Dependent on what type of screen protector you use. For some of us who use a matte screen protector, yes it hurts the viewing experience. I use Paperlike & the viewing is dimmed, but it in NO way reduces the experience with an Apple pencil. For some of us, it's quite the opposite, and makes it feel a little more like paper.
I use my iPad mini without a case or protector. I have a Smart Cover but that’s only for having the screen propped up or when being stored.
No need for anything when using an iPad I say.
No need for anything when using an iPad I say.
Since it doesn't get put into a pocket, I almost skipped it on our 12.9/Gen3, but I also have some travel plans where I'll be using it, so figured, some scratch protection couldn't hurt. I went with JETech, a brand I've used in the past, 2-pack for $15, 4.4/5 @ 1100 reviews on Amazon - these are glass, so they really preserve the feel and clarity of the OEM surface, perfect fit, easy to clean.
FWIW, I went with a TineeOwl brand case, it's pretty minimal, decent fitment, TPU edges with a clear acrylic type rear, pretty solid combo for protection while keeping the device about the same size. Oh yeah, and the Pencil comments nice and strong (the charge side is flat to create a good contact area).
FWIW, I went with a TineeOwl brand case, it's pretty minimal, decent fitment, TPU edges with a clear acrylic type rear, pretty solid combo for protection while keeping the device about the same size. Oh yeah, and the Pencil comments nice and strong (the charge side is flat to create a good contact area).
Got one for my iPad Pro 12.9" 1st Gen, (since 2016 and still Ok), bought it because I use a lot the Apple Pencil.
I did the same thing with iPad Air 2... landed face down on the hard tile floor... the glass screen protector was totally spider-webbed... I held my breath and peeled the protector off from the corner... to find the iPad screen completely undamaged. Replaced the glass screen protector. A year later I had another incident where the iPad flipped out of its Anker keyboard case and landed face down on a rock(!), same deal: protector cracked, iPad undamaged. You can draw your own conclusions about my opinions on screen protectors!
I personally use iCarez matte screen protectors because I like the way it makes the pencil feel when I write. My wife has used a 10.5 iPad Pro for 2 years heavily for her PhD studies without any screen protector on it. It looks like the same screen the day she bought it. I do believe the iPad screen can handle normal use without needing a screen protector. I, however, prefer to use one for glare and Apple Pencil feel - I do a lot of writing and note taking.
Paperlike is known to be one of the worst in terms of hurting the viewing experience. I have tried many brands and use matte screen protectors on all my laptops (those that aren’t already matt) and tablets (around 15 devices in total) but not on phones, as I can‘t stand glare, and above all fingerprints. I hate glass screens as the one I have tried impacted screen responsiveness so I removed them immediately. Now I have settled on a couple of brands that have hardly any impact on viewing experience and give me that matte and fingerprint-free experience. They may not be as good as paperlike for the pencil, but are still much better than the naked screen (which feels like hard plastic on glass) and are better in terms of viewing experience, which for me is the perfect trade-off.
Once again, I’m not sure of why there’s a response to my comment. I did clearly say that matte screens like Paperlike affect the viewing experience. It’s a choice that some of us make that intend to use our iPads as more productive devices over entertainment consumption. It’s not as if matte screens like Paperlike ( although their new screen claims to improve the viewing experience over their previous model ), is going around advertising you will see the same experience as if without the protector. That is NOT why one gets a ‘toothy’ matte screen protector for their iPad. So complaining about it’s impact on the iPad’s viewing experience is like buying an expensive roof rack for your expensive luxury vehicle to carry things, and then complaining it affects the appearance of your car. You know this will happen when you buy the thing, but do it anyways because it serves a purpose you intended. If you don’t need it, you don’t buy it.
Matte screen protectors are not all made equal, trade-offs are made differently. What I was saying is that you can have a better viewing experience with other brands (that do much less advertising) and still have a very decent pencil experience. For me paperlike goes too far with impacting viewing experience while I am happy with other matte screen protectors, where the impact is negligible (and overall positive for me)
That of course is all matter of opinion. For what you say Paperlike being known as having the worst experience, many artists that I know of, have a differing opinion. It’s all personal. Others I know are perfectly happy with other brands as well.
So you use the screen protector only to protect from the surface debris which might scratch the screen while using a pencil ! So if you were not using pencil much or not at all you are saying the possibility of scratching the screen with surface debris is almost Nil ?
That depends on whether you're prone to dropping it or dropping stuff on it or lugging it around in cluttered bags sans cover.
When I'm using my fingertips, I generally use a lighter force spread over a larger area so less likely to scratch versus when I'm using the Pencil.
Apart from when I accidentally kicked an iPad off the bed (I was sleepy) to land face down on a hardwood floor, I've never had any deep scratches on my iPads' displays. Even micro scratches have been pretty minimal.
The iPad that got dropped only had a ~1-1.5 inch hairline scratch but it was deep enough to refract light/rainbow coloring. To be honest, I was totally expecting the screen to be shattered when I heard the noise and saw the case was dislodged. Was pleasantly surprised to see the damage was fairly minimal.