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Gloss vs Matte Screen

T

thriii

macrumors 6502
Original poster
I'm a web designer and I was just given a MacBook pro as a gift.. I know matte screens are better, but how much of a difference is it if I got a gloss screen?
 
They are better? I don't really think there's a clean-cut decision on the two. It all comes down to whether you're more often than not in a highly-lit place or in a place with direct light, or in a place with subdued and diffused light.
 
I wouldn't trade my glossy screen for anything. Hopefully when they refresh the Pro's, the 13" will get the option of a 1680x1050 screen, in glossy and matte(because it's all personal preference which you prefer).


For the 15", high res glossy all the way imo.
 
I prefer glossy screen. Matte screen is really hard to screen and it's not protected. I owned a 2010 17" MBP last year with a matte screen and I hate it. I mean the reflections on the screen is not a big deal for me, is not really noticeable. I sold it 3 months later 🙁

Well, this is just my opinion. Is really up to you and this is all I can tell you 🙂
 
thriii said:
I'm a web designer and I was just given a MacBook pro as a gift.. I know matte screens are better, but how much of a difference is it if I got a gloss screen?
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All my fellow engineers prefer the same hi-res, anti-glare (matte) display like I use.

We spend far too much time using them to have to put up with the mirror like reflections from the glass cover. It's worse than any other glossy laptop out there.

And we don't even take them outside.
 
The anti-glare gives a better sense of what colors naturally look like, and being a web designer I would think that is pretty important. Most people use matte screens so what looks good on your screen might look under-staturated on their screens.

Personally I prefer the anti-glare, and unless you didn't really do anything but watch a lot of movies I don't see why you wouldn't get it. Glossy is useless for about anything else IMO. Really though, personal preference should outweigh anything else, just be careful when color reproduction is an important factor, it's not like you could opt for an IPS display or anything.
 
Will you be doing any image editing on the MBP? If so, you may find the glossy not true to color.
 
It's all down to personal preference.

I've found the glossy screens on the MB/MBA fine to use, but I can't stand the MBP or the iMac (for me it's the glass cover that's the killer).
 
I just saw someone on the train with a Macbook Air and iPhone, and the reflection of the light in the screen seemed so bad and annoying and I was just glancing at it. I may get the matte if I can buy in store now.
 
How many of these threads do we need on MR?

Anyway, I much prefer the anti-glare but glossy would be handy if I need to dolly myself up for Saturday nights.
 
I prefer glossy screens. But I kind of like the bezel around the matte screen on a MacBook Pro
 
Bought both glossy and matte and after a 2 week trial promptly returned the matte. It's all personal preference, just liked the colors on the glossy more. The screen on the glossy is easier to clean but picks up more fingerprint smudge marks.
 
thx for the reply every1! im goin to tak ethe computer to the store and get store credit.. the MBP's are near the end of the cycle according to https://buyersguide.macrumors.com// and hopefully theres info on some new MBPs with the conference coming up in october
 
thriii said:
thx for the reply every1! im goin to tak ethe computer to the store and get store credit.. the MBP's are near the end of the cycle according to https://buyersguide.macrumors.com// and hopefully theres info on some new MBPs with the conference coming up in october
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Thanks for that information 🙂

Vudoo said:
Will you be doing any image editing on the MBP? If so, you may find the glossy not true to color.
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I will mostly be converting videos and using Photoshop on my MBP.

Can you even get a matte screen on the Air?
 
Where do you do most of your work? If you're under controlled lighting, the glossy is probably fine. I wouldn't want to use the glossy under fluorescent lighting, with a window behind me, or outside though...unless you're really good looking and enjoy staring at yourself. 😀
 
I say this every time whenever someone asks this question, no one can answer this but you. It is all about personal preference, professionals usually prefer matte screens, but in the end it is all about personal preference. Both have equal color accuracy but the glossy has better contrast and the matte is brighter. But in the end it is all about personal preference. Go to your nearest Apple store they usually always have a matte screen laptop on display, compare the 2 and decide for yourself.
 
XandeR803 said:
I wouldn't want to use the glossy under fluorescent lighting, with a window behind me, or outside though...unless you're really good looking and enjoy staring at yourself. 😀
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Wow...finally a compelling reason for me to get rid of my matte screen and get the glossy. I have this exact scenario facing me!!!
Fluorescent light: check Window behind me: check Hello good looking me!!!😀
 
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