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iPad Paperlike for 2 year old iPad?

A

ahostmadsen

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 28, 2009
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I’m thinking of buying this screen protector: https://paperlike.com/. Does anyone use this? My purpose is solely to get a more, as the name says, paper like writing experience. I use the pencil extensively. My two questions are:

1. Will it degrade the viewing experience.
2. My iPad Pro is two years old. Is the screen too worn to apply this screen protector? My worry is I will get bubbles beneath the screen because it perhaps has scratches etc.
 
I have not used that brand. I recently installed ELECOM protectors on my iPad Pro 11 and Mini 5 after having iCarez on them. Saw a recommendation for ELECOM on the accessories forum.

Any matte screen protector is going to affect the viewing experience. I’m willing to sacrifice a little bit of screen clarity for greatly decreased glare, greatly decreased fingerprint visibility, and a pencil experience that does feel like writing with plastic on a slick glass surface.
 
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LibbyLA said:
I have not used that brand. I recently installed ELECOM protectors on my iPad Pro 11 and Mini 5 after having iCarez on them. Saw a recommendation for ELECOM on the accessories forum.

Any matte screen protector is going to affect the viewing experience. I’m willing to sacrifice a little bit of screen clarity for greatly decreased glare, greatly decreased fingerprint visibility, and a pencil experience that does feel like writing with plastic on a slick glass surface.
Click to expand...
It doesn’t seem ELECOM is available anymore.

If paperlike was $20, I would just try and throw away if I don’t like it. But at $40, it is kind of pricy.
 
Paperlike 2 is excellent I fully recommend it. I class it as the most necessary 3rd party accessory for the iPad and put immediately on any iPad purchase I make.
 
A regular cheap matte protector would probably be the same thing, look at the video someone else posted above. They tested a regular protector vs PaperLike and found out PL was actually worse, even being more expensive.
 
Paperlike wears out, especially if you use a pencil all the time. It also affects the visual display aspect over time.


It is promoted heavily on YouTube because Paperlike is using and paying many of the creators to promote their product.

I use OMoton and it works well for me and hasn't shown any signs of wearing out nor is my protector riddled with lots of pencil marks.
 
alpi123 said:
A regular cheap matte protector would probably be the same thing, look at the video someone else posted above. They tested a regular protector vs PaperLike and found out PL was actually worse, even being more expensive.
Click to expand...

Apple_Robert said:
Paperlike wears out, especially if you use a pencil all the time. It also affects the visual display aspect over time.


It is promoted heavily on YouTube because Paperlike is using and paying many of the creators to promote their product.

I use OMoton and it works well for me and hasn't shown any signs of wearing out nor is my protector riddled with lots of pencil marks.
Click to expand...
Neither of you sound like you have used one.
 
Apple_Robert said:
Paperlike wears out, especially if you use a pencil all the time. It also affects the visual display aspect over time.


It is promoted heavily on YouTube because Paperlike is using and paying many of the creators to promote their product.

I use OMoton and it works well for me and hasn't shown any signs of wearing out nor is my protector riddled with lots of pencil marks.
Click to expand...
I checked OMoton on Amazon. However, it doesn't seem intended for making writing and drawing more paper-like -- if it were, I guess they would have advertised it. My only purpose of putting a screen protector on the screen is to make it, well, more paperlike. I have been looking at reMarkable https://remarkable.com, of which the main point is that it's like writing on paper, but perhaps I could just make the iPad more paperlike.
 
ahostmadsen said:
I checked OMoton on Amazon. However, it doesn't seem intended for making writing and drawing more paper-like -- if it were, I guess they would have advertised it. My only purpose of putting a screen protector on the screen is to make it, well, more paperlike. I have been looking at reMarkable https://remarkable.com, of which the main point is that it's like writing on paper, but perhaps I could just make the iPad more paperlike.
Click to expand...
If you are a heavy pencil user, look for one that isn't going to create a dent in your wallet every time it needs replacing. If you went with Paperlike, and depending on usage, you could be looking at $80 - $120 a year in replacements.
 
Apple_Robert said:
If you are a heavy pencil user, look for one that isn't going to create a dent in your wallet every time it needs replacing. If you went with Paperlike, and depending on usage, you could be looking at $80 - $120 a year in replacements.
Click to expand...
But what would be the point of something like OMoton? It doesn’t improve the writing experience. Then, the real alternative is not to put a screen protector.
 
Well, the youtube reviews are not that great.

It seems products come and go on Amazon. This is their current top item when you search for paperlike:

www.amazon.com

2 PACK Paper Screen Protector for iPad Air 5th/4th Generation, iPad Pro 11 inch (2022/2021/2020/2018), Matte PET Film for iPad Air 5/4(10.9"), Write and Draw Like on Paper, Anti-Glare Screen Protector

paper screen protector is compatible with iPad Air 5th generation 2022/ iPad Air 4th generation 2020(10.9-inch), iPad Pro 11 inch (2022-2018). Fit iPad Models: A2759/A2435/A2761/A2762/A2588/A2589/A2591/A2377/A2459/A2301/A2228/A2068/A2230/A1980/A2013/A1934/A2316/A2324/A2325/A2072) NOTE: This film ...
www.amazon.com

It's only $10, so less of a waste if it's junk.
 
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ahostmadsen said:
It doesn’t seem ELECOM is available anymore.

If paperlike was $20, I would just try and throw away if I don’t like it. But at $40, it is kind of pricy.
Click to expand...
smile.amazon.com

ELECOM Pencil-Feel Screen Protector Compatible with iPad Air 4 (10.9inch, 2020) / iPad Pro 11" 2018/2020 Designed for Drawing, Japan-Made, Super Easy Installation *Smoothness 100*(TB-A18MFLAPLL-G)

ELECOM Pencil-Feel Screen Protector Compatible with iPad Air 4 (10.9inch, 2020) / iPad Pro 11" 2018/2020 Designed for Drawing, Japan-Made, Super Easy Installation *Smoothness 100*(TB-A18MFLAPLL-G)
smile.amazon.com

I didn’t realize you didn’t mention size, but I found this listing for 11”.
 
ahostmadsen said:
I’m thinking of buying this screen protector: https://paperlike.com/. Does anyone use this? My purpose is solely to get a more, as the name says, paper like writing experience. I use the pencil extensively. My two questions are:

1. Will it degrade the viewing experience.
2. My iPad Pro is two years old. Is the screen too worn to apply this screen protector? My worry is I will get bubbles beneath the screen because it perhaps has scratches etc.
Click to expand...
1. Sligthly. In order to get Pencil friction, you need a matte surface which adds slight noise to the image. If you’ve seen a matte monitor, you know how it looks, no worse than that. But if you prefer glossy screens, this will have an impact. Paperlike 2 improved over the previous version and I don’t mind the noise. It also comes with certain benefits like less glare and less fingerprints. In a way, it looks more like a printed magazine which is actually nice.
2. Your iPad is not too worn for a screen protector :) If you get bubbles, it will not be because of scratches (in fact, a screen protector will cover those) it will be because of dust particles. I always get some, it’s really hard to place a screen protector perfectly for me (your experience may vary). But it’s not because of the state of the screen.

Finally, there are many screen protectors out there and any matte one will probably do the job of improving Pencil feel. However, Paperlike is certainly a nice one, and if you don’t mind a slightly higher price tag, go for it. I use it and like it. Also, I like the matte screen protectors from Photodon.
 
You didn’t mention how long you’ve been doing it without. When I first started using the pencil I hated the smooth feeling. When I wrote you could clearly see my notes suffered. After a few months, it became second nature.

The issues you ask about are real. Check out the threads on Screen Protectors. Some leave marks on the screen, degrade performance, wear down pencil tips, etc.

What I see as well, is people will try a few to find a good fit and feel for them, and as @Apple_Robert points out, there is an added expense in doing this due to replacement cost. That may be worth it I’d you are a graphic artist or otherwise make a living from this.
 
I ended up ordering the cheap paperfeel film from Amazon. 4.5 stars with 5000 reviews, it cannot be all bad. It’s less than $10, so if I don’t like it, I will just throw it out.
 
So, I installed the paperfeel protector, and just wanted to provide some feedback. The installation was not too difficult. I don't think the matte protector degrades the screen in any way, and in some way I prefer to touch the matte screen rather than the glass itself. But I don't think that writing on it feels like at all like writing on paper. It does increase resistance somewhat, but if it really makes writing nicer I'm not so sure about. Perhaps it's different for people who do a lot of drawing -- I primarily write notes.
 
I bought myself the reMarkable 2 and I absolutely love it. Much better than trying to get the paper-like experience on the iPad, which I sold.
 
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