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wittyphrase

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 6, 2017
164
188
New York
Wanted to see if anyone else was having issues with the screen on the new iPad Pro 11” (or even the 12.9”, not sure if there’d be any reason why it would affect one and not the other) being remarkably smudgy and a particle magnet? I know it’s a touch device and so it’s bound to get some fingerprints, but I’m feeling like it’s collecting smudges and dust way more than my 9.7” did. By way of background, I used a screen protector on the 9.7” for the entire time I’ve had it so I don’t have a naked to naked comparison. Is this common for an unguarded screen?
 
It’s definitely more smudgy and dusty than my Air 2 (which I’ve used without a screensaver since launch), and while I could run a microfiber cloth over the Air 2 and have a spotless screen, cleaning the new IPP takes moisture. I recently picked up electronics screen wipes for it.
 
Its a smear machine. 12” is just as bad too. I said it jokingly in another thread it’s what Apple meant by Liquid LCD. Can’t wait for Paperlike’s screen to get here.
 
Yup, for sure more prone to finger smudges! My hands are always clean before using the device, but within minutes the screen looks like a sticky toddler has been man....I mean....baby handling it. And no, there are zero toddlers in residence;). I love this new iPad Pro, but my old device's screen definitely showed less smears (without a screen protector).
 
The first gen iPP was smudgy. My iPhone X is smudgy. Guys...it’s glass. Your hands contain oils. It’s not a mystery that needs solving.

Exactly zero people have been mystified by the cause of the smudges. My question was whether people were noting through casual and anecdotal observation that this screen seems to be more prone to the smudging than previous iterations of the device.
 
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Yeah, I just noticed this today. After cleaning the screen it had smudges less than 30 minutes later...and I'd even washed my hands!

I suppose it is time to get some microfiber cloths.
 
While I am getting finger smudges on my 11, especially where the key on the on screen keyboard are, does not seem to be any worst than it was on my 10.5. Not hard to remove, just do it at the end of the day and do not worry about it.
 
The second Pro models onward have a different coating that is less oleophobic. That never was a real issue for me as I usually put screen protectors on everything soon after the purchase. But the 11 in particular seems to have severe problems with the screen not working when applying any plastic or glas screen protector on it. Might be a reason for me to return the device, as I totally don't like micro scratches. And they will be absolutely inevitable if you clean it with even the best micro fibre cloth constantly.
 
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It does seem bad, not sure if it is worse than the 10.5, but seems like it. Wish someone would invent a screen that did not smudge so easily, as it is annoying.
 
Fingerprint Magnet, Tint in the display such a known phrase since last 6 years ! lol ! Like every year Christmas comes, so does this occurrence !! lol !!
 
Water is wet. Wind is windy. Humans are greasy.

My iPad Pro 12.9 1st gen is as smudgy as my 3rd gen.

Here’s my solution to having a case of the Pizza Hands...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01054S5FM?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
While this is true and no one is arguing that. Most of the smearing and finger prints are coming from the oleophobic coating on the glass. This year it seems lathered on pretty thick.
 
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Generation 2 had a screen that got noticeably more dirty than 1 (and other apple products). It seems they are using a similar layer on 3.
 
Before all the “it’s not a big deal, just clean it once a day” stuff continues...stop.

I didn’t scream that I’m returning it for this. I didn’t rant about how, given the price of the device, it should clean itself once a day like the the graffiti on the walls in Demolition Man.

Since I don’t know anyone else in the real world with it, I was curious whether it seems to anyone else to be more prone to smudges than previous iPad Pro screens or if this is common with the iPP without a screen protector.

I’m not asking about the origins of grease in human skin or what the best cleaning regimen would be for the device or my hands. All I wanted to know was whether my device, which is smudging more than the other 8 Apple devices in my house, is displaying a behavior that’s typical or if there was something wrong my device’s coating.
 
Definitely a smudge magnet. This started with the second gen. apple confirmed the 3rd gen uses the same coating.
 
I think because we haven’t notice it before on other iPads, we now use the swipe up swipe down method with our fingers more often and we get it all greased up sooner, where before we probably used a stylus. At least for me. To bad we can’t use the Apple Pencil do swipe up swipe down method.
 
Before all the “it’s not a big deal, just clean it once a day” stuff continues...stop.

I didn’t scream that I’m returning it for this. I didn’t rant about how, given the price of the device, it should clean itself once a day like the the graffiti on the walls in Demolition Man.

Since I don’t know anyone else in the real world with it, I was curious whether it seems to anyone else to be more prone to smudges than previous iPad Pro screens or if this is common with the iPP without a screen protector.

I’m not asking about the origins of grease in human skin or what the best cleaning regimen would be for the device or my hands. All I wanted to know was whether my device, which is smudging more than the other 8 Apple devices in my house, is displaying a behavior that’s typical or if there was something wrong my device’s coating.
I have my Air 2 and now the new iPad Pro 12.9

While screen prints and smudges never bothered me as I clean the screen often. I have noticed that the iPad Pro does show finger print smudges more readily than my Air 2.

In addition I have noticed the smudges are more difficult to remove from the Pro screen. Usually takes a bit of moisture where my Air 2 easily cleans with dry microfiber.

I suspect that the screen surface on the Pro is not as smooth or same coating as Air 2. People have reported a different feel to the pencil used on the new Pro. Ever so slightly less glassy, tending towards slightly more paper like feel.

This would make sense in trapping oils on slightly rougher microscopic surface making cleaning slightly more intensive.

By no means a showstopper issue. However don’t think OP is imagining it. Don’t believe anything wrong with your screen coating. I do like the feel of pencil on screen, so a bit more cleaning is not major sacrifice.
 
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