Should I put a screen protector on my MacBook Air (M1)

[himynameisryan]

At my school, people. Keep. Touching. My. Macbook. Screen.
I go to a mostly windows school and fellow students+teachers all seem to assume I have a touchscreen


It gets covered in fingerprints and one person who tried to clean it afterwards scratched it.
Should I apply the protector I got on Amazon or just return it?

I’m tempted to apply it cause these are the sorts of scratches you won’t see after putting a screen protector on (I also had these on my last iPhone, they were invisible after the protector was on)
But putting a protector on a laptop seams so… stupid

 

[Apple_Robert]

Since is already scratched, a protector won’t hurt. It may make the screen a little harder to see.

 

[sunapple]

Very annoying! However I assume the screen still looks better without protector. With my iPhone I just gave in to possible scratching for that reason. You could try and see how you like it.

 

[himynameisryan]

Very annoying! However I assume the screen still looks better without protector. With my iPhone I just gave in to possible scratching for that reason. You could try and see how you like it.

Indoors I definitely agree with you, the screen protector will not help

But I often have to use my laptop in direct Australian sun and many other lighting conditions and the scratches and every fingerprint mark become SUPER visible

(note it’s so bright you have to squint to see the 2000 nit 14 pro max and Apple Watch ultra screens, and I don’t even live in the north part of Australia)

Imma just try it and hope for the best, if the screen breaks I need to upgrade to the pro anyway for 32gb ram for VMs and software development inside said VMs, I’m just putting off the inevitable at this point anyway

 

[himynameisryan]

Since is already scratched, a protector won’t hurt. It may make the screen a little harder to see.

I shall try it
And see

 

[himynameisryan]

So here’s an update: in terms of quality, the contrast is worse and you can see some bubbles that were impossible to get out

However, in direct sunlight and in studio light, the scratches are much less distracting so I can actually do work without just seeing fingerprints and scratches.

Also I’m a lot more confident about the quality of this glass, when I cleaned the protector it didn’t feel like I was doing something illegal, and the glass feels a lot more solid, rather than the hollow crap used on MacBook displays
(still better than plastic but why so thin and fragile apple)

So now I’m just waiting to see if this thing causes my screen to break or not

Note I am normally good at screen protectors, but I just couldn’t get it on right, tried with both of the 2 pack I received

 

[Dydegu]

Don’t ever put a screen protector on a laptop. They’re not made for them and can crack them when you close it. Plus, fingers aren’t going to break or scratch your screen.

People used to touch my 2016 MBP all the time. The solution is to politely ask them to not do that. But also carry a large microfiber cloth and a small bottle of distilled water with you (don’t use screen cleaning solution).

 

[Yebubbleman]

At my school, people. Keep. Touching. My. Macbook. Screen.
I go to a mostly windows school and fellow students+teachers all seem to assume I have a touchscreen


It gets covered in fingerprints and one person who tried to clean it afterwards scratched it.
Should I apply the protector I got on Amazon or just return it?

I’m tempted to apply it cause these are the sorts of scratches you won’t see after putting a screen protector on (I also had these on my last iPhone, they were invisible after the protector was on)
But putting a protector on a laptop seams so… stupid

I definitely got screen protectors for my M1 Macs. Though, the PowerSupport ones that I got seem to be no more. I would like to find a replacement I like as much for my MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), let alone MacBook Pros that use a newer body style than that of the M1 MacBook Air and M1/M2 13-inch MacBook Pro.

 

[himynameisryan]

Don’t ever put a screen protector on a laptop. They’re not made for them and can crack them when you close it. Plus, fingers aren’t going to break or scratch your screen.
...
The solution is to politely ask them to not do that. But also carry a large microfiber cloth and a small bottle of distilled water with you (don’t use screen cleaning solution).

like i said, it did get scratched from these, some people have literall metal shavings on their hands from metalworking classes

and politely asking people to stop does not work in a highschool. even the teachers do it, and by the time i told them it isnt touch screen there is a large mark down my display. People also forget and do it again.

with my iPhone i don't use a case because i can prevent damage, however highschool students are all idiots (including myself) and they touch other people's stuff because they can and protection is the only option

 

[himynameisryan]

So here’s an update: in terms of quality, the contrast is worse and you can see some bubbles that were impossible to get out

However, in direct sunlight and in studio light, the scratches are much less distracting so I can actually do work without just seeing fingerprints and scratches.

Also I’m a lot more confident about the quality of this glass, when I cleaned the protector it didn’t feel like I was doing something illegal, and the glass feels a lot more solid, rather than the hollow crap used on MacBook displays
(still better than plastic but why so thin and fragile apple)

So now I’m just waiting to see if this thing causes my screen to break or not

Note I am normally good at screen protectors, but I just couldn’t get it on right, tried with both of the 2 pack I received

i ended up removing it because the reduction in contrast made the display unusable for photo and video editng

 

[Dydegu]

like i said, it did get scratched from these, some people have literall metal shavings on their hands from metalworking classes

and politely asking people to stop does not work in a highschool. even the teachers do it, and by the time i told them it isnt touch screen there is a large mark down my display. People also forget and do it again.

with my iPhone i don't use a case because i can prevent damage, however highschool students are all idiots (including myself) and they touch other people's stuff because they can and protection is the only option

It kind of sounds like an iPad is a better use case for you, no? Especially if you require a device in a metal shop class.

 

[himynameisryan]

It kind of sounds like an iPad is a better use case for you, no? Especially if you require a device in a metal shop class.

slight miscommunication, possibly my fault, I don't go into a metal shop class, but other people do, then they touch my laptop screen. and no matter how many times you politely ask them not to, they forget

I use Final Cut Pro so an iPad really isn't an option, plus I prefer macOS and the way it handles windows and the traditional keyboard an mouse

I had an iPad (pro, with an apple pencil and magic keyboard) but most definitely always gravitated to either my iPhone or MacBook and it sat unused in my bag. so I sold it