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List of Pros and Cons of Glossy/Antiglare

S

SonicBoom1981

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 9, 2010
140
0
There's load of threads arguing about what is better and why, and a lot of confusion. So to help we can compile a pros and cons list of the Glossy and the Antiglare displays.

I've used both a standard resolution Glossy and a Hi-Res AntiGlare, and have my preference. Feel free to post and add to the list, which I will update, or disagree with the choices I've made!

Hopefully this will help some of those who are still unsure.

....................
Glossy

Pros:

• Vibrant colourful crisp display with glossy finish
• Available in both 1440 x 900 and 1680 x 1050 resolutions
• Looks great, design-wise
• Looks great when watching movies/playing games
• Easy to clean
• Improved rigitity to display

Cons:
• Reflections from the glass can be distracting
• Prolonged use can be a strain on the eyes
• Shows finger prints easily
....................

....................
Antiglare

Pros:
• Vibrant colourful crisp display with matte finish
• Very little issues from reflections
• Looks great, design–wise, classic feel
• Looks great when watching movies/playing games

Cons:
• Costs more money
• Only available in 1680 x 1050 resolution
• Not a great viewing angle, in particular vertically
....................
 
Glossy is easier to clean. I imagine it would also be slightly more durable by making the lid more rigid.
 
SonicBoom1981 said:
• Not a great viewing angle, in particular vertically
Click to expand...

For the majority of times I would position the screen perpendicular to my eye-line anyway like any other display so that's not a problem. Would find it a bit strange to use a computer, regardless of brand, laptop or desktop at funky angles... just doesn't make sense unless one is trying to avoid reflections or glare.
 
AG is much better for watching movies. Because they are dark and with reasonable brightness you have a lot of small annoying reflections.
 
dusk007 said:
AG is much better for watching movies. Because they are dark and with reasonable brightness you have a lot of small annoying reflections.
Click to expand...

The AG's dimmed down colors and viewing angle problems make them not really suitable for watching movies.

Video looks A LOT nicer on the glossy.
 
Biggest con for both: we have to see new threads started on the subject once a month for the last 4 years.

But seriously, I've had both, and glossy has deeper blacks and crisper image, cleans much easier. AG is, of course, AG so you can work near direct light sources.
 
Bosmonster said:
The AG's dimmed down colors and viewing angle problems make them not really suitable for watching movies.

Video looks A LOT nicer on the glossy.
Click to expand...

Video may look a bit different on an AG, but it still looks great. One of the first things I noticed was how good the HD footage looked on the AG.
 
SonicBoom1981 said:
Video may look a bit different on an AG, but it still looks great. One of the first things I noticed was how good the HD footage looked on the AG.
Click to expand...

Of course. Nobody is saying the AG is a bad screen. But put them next to each other and you'll see much brighter colors, much deeper blacks and an allround crispier image, as chopper dave said, on a glossy screen.

This isnt just for MBP's, this counts for all screens.

The AG is good for one thing: reduce reflections. You will get reduced performance on about every other aspect, which is quite logical, considering they put a matte film on the screen to prevent those reflections.
 
pros (glossy): vibrant colors, sexier appeal
cons (glossy): glare

helloooo captain obvious ;)
 
the glossy glass also provides much improved rigidity to the display assembly. My previous aluminum powerbook screen warped slightly (from normal use) after 3 years. I doubt my uMBP with glass will be the same. Now I'm much more comfortable putting stuff on top of the laptop when it is closed.
 
I dont particularly like the silver bezel on the antiglare. I went with the high res glossy and i love it
 
I've always opted for matte, but after Apple replaced my SR MBP with a glossy i5 I've used the glossy. I could have payed the extra for the AG, but I would have to wait and because of the volcanic ash problems I took the Glossy i5, I jut couldn't go for two weeks with no computer.

After using glossy for nearly 4 weeks now I can say that it is inferior in any way!

Cons:
1. Glare.
2. Colors doesn't look real, way too over saturated and I can't really calibrate it properly.
3. Glare
4. And glare.

Pros:
1. Easy to clean.
2. You can fix ur hair without buying a mirror

The matte screen on my SR MBP was superior in any conditions.

Don't get me wrong, it's a really decent screen, better than almost any other computer I have access to, but the SR MBP matte screen was better.
I can't comment on the new high res AG tho, since I really haven't had time to use one under proper lighted conditions compared with other quality screens.
 
Glossy pro for girls: You can check to see how your hair looks without anyone realizing :)
 
You forgot the best pro for glossy after crispier colors - seamless and continuous black glass bezel ! AG bezel looks like its from year 2003. :D


content


Also, "Prolonged use can be a strain on the eyes" -- source please ?
 
bigjobby said:
For the majority of times I would position the screen perpendicular to my eye-line anyway like any other display so that's not a problem. Would find it a bit strange to use a computer, regardless of brand, laptop or desktop at funky angles... just doesn't make sense unless one is trying to avoid reflections or glare.
Click to expand...
The vertical viewing angles are worse than normal, at least with the 9CBB screen that I have. The screen literally has to be almost exactly normal to your eyes in order to avoid color shifts.
 
caonimadebi said:
the glossy glass also provides much improved rigidity to the display assembly. My previous aluminum powerbook screen warped slightly (from normal use) after 3 years. I doubt my uMBP with glass will be the same. Now I'm much more comfortable putting stuff on top of the laptop when it is closed.
Click to expand...

This should be added.
 
I definitely prefer anti-glare screen, simply because the idea behind my laptop is to be mobile, and generally it is not easy to control the light and reflections. Whenever I'm home though, I just connect the MBP to my ACD.
 
I prefer glossy at night. Anti-glare at day. Rather have Anti-glare but wasn't available for 13 inch. Also the anti-glare doesn't show fingerprints... or as much.
 
glossy con: glass surface is close to the keyboard when closed, some report imprints on the glass as a result.

AG pro: recessed screen prevents key imprints
 
diablo2112 said:
glossy con: glass surface is close to the keyboard when closed, some report imprints on the glass as a result.

AG pro: recessed screen prevents key imprints
Click to expand...

Has anyone had this happen? Curious as I have had macbook pros for years and never had it. Thankfully. Was thinking about buying one of those cloths to go on the keyboard when shut.

Love my glossy standard res:)
 
Gorilla Power said:
Also, "Prolonged use can be a strain on the eyes" -- source please ?
Click to expand...

Some have said that they cant use a Glossy as long as the Antiglare, and through personal experience, the AG has not caused me any problems like that, when the Glossy has.
 
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