Using the Pencil without a Screen Protector

[flur]

I'm moving to the IPP from the Air 2, so I have no experience with the pencil, but I know that when I bought the Air 2 and people were using 3rd party styli with it, there were issues with people scratching their screen. Is this a concern with the Pencil and the IPP? Do most people use screenguards? Or do you go without and everything is fine?

 

[darrinS]

I would like to know this too.

 

[nvarsj]

I have an iPP 2017. I have managed to scratch it slightly once from the pencil (I think) in 18 months of near daily use. This was largely my own fault, since the screen was quite dirty at the time. Since keeping it clean more regularly I've never managed to scratch it w/ the pencil.

This raises another issue I've had with the iPP - the coating. It's very difficult to clean and attracts dirt/oil so easily compared to any other screen I've used. I have to use a spray bottle to effectively clean it, so I'm always lugging around a small spray bottle + microfibre cloth now. Compared to my iPhone which I rarely need to clean and use a lot more.

I had a screen protector on it for about a month, but ended up removing it because 1. it added significantly more glare to the screen and 2. it stopped touchID from working 100% for some reason. It's also really difficult to put a 12.9" screen protector on. On the plus side, the dirt/oil problems went away completely with the protector.

 

[Donka]

I usual a film screen protector. I had a glass screen protector on the 1st gen 12.9 Pro but found that impacted the sensitivity of the Pencil, the glass was borderline too thick I think. The film screen protector does not have this issue.

 

[Beards]

Had my Series 1, 12.9” iPad Pro since day of release and have used it daily with an Apple Pencil.
I have never used a screen protector and my screen is still as good as the day I first used it.
All I will say is ensure you do as @nvarsj mentions and that is keep the screen clean before use. I never ever use the pencil without first running a cloth lightly across the screen to make sure there is no debris laying that the pencil could pick up.

 

[sracer]

I'm moving to the IPP from the Air 2, so I have no experience with the pencil, but I know that when I bought the Air 2 and people were using 3rd party styli with it, there were issues with people scratching their screen. Is this a concern with the Pencil and the IPP? Do most people use screenguards? Or do you go without and everything is fine?

Let's get something basic out of the way...styli don't scratch the screen but grit that gets trapped under the tip of the stylus is what can scratch. (keeping the screen clean is important, but you have to make sure the stylus tip is clean as well)

I'm using the Apple Pencil on both a 1st gen 12.9 iPad Pro and 2018 iPad. Neither NEEDS a screen protector. I used the 12.9 Pro without a protector for well over a year, nearly daily with the Pencil, and no scratches.

But I have applied matte screen protectors on both... to cut down on reflections and visibility of fingerprint smudges but also to offer an ever-so-slight resistance for the Pencil.

Without a screen protector, I find the Pencil to be too slippery to feel natural. The matte screen protector helps a bit with that. A common criticism of matte protectors is that they interfere with the sharpness of the display, but by using a good quality protector that effect is minimized.

 

[LibbyLA]

I second sracer’s post. I can’t stand screen glare, use a matte screen protector on every one of my electronic devices with a glare-y glass screen. I’m willing to sacrifice a little bit of display sharpness for reduced glare and fingerprints. I also prefer the feel of the pencil or pen (I have had several Surface tablets including my current Surface Go) on a matte screen protector.

 

[robertpolson]

So what is the consensus?

- No screen protector + frequent cleaning
- Mate screen protector
- Tempered glass

 

[danmart]

- No screen protector + frequent cleaning

This is what I have using. Regular cleaning is essential anyway...

 

[flur]

For those using the matte screen protector, how do you find it when watching video? Is it just as crisp as without?

 

[sracer]

For those using the matte screen protector, how do you find it when watching video? Is it just as crisp as without?

Watching video is not a problem for me. Crispness is slightly effected but not to a level that is noticeable. But then agaib, I'm not the type that "must have" 4K video playback on the screen.

 

[macduke]

This raises another issue I've had with the iPP - the coating. It's very difficult to clean and attracts dirt/oil so easily compared to any other screen I've used. I have to use a spray bottle to effectively clean it, so I'm always lugging around a small spray bottle + microfibre cloth now. Compared to my iPhone which I rarely need to clean and use a lot more.

This a million times this! I hope they’ve improved the oleophobic coating on the new ones.

What’s weird is I had the iPad Pro 10.5” for a month after launch and my lightning connector mysteriously stopped working. After they sent me I new one I noticed the display coating problem. So I wonder if only some models had problems with getting really nasty. Never seen anything like it in all my days of using iOS devices going back to 2007. It’s bad.

 

[Boil]

Let's get something basic out of the way... stlyli don't scratch the screen but grit that gets trapped under the tip of the stylus is what can scratch. (keeping the screen clean is important, but you have to make sure the stylus tip is clean as well)

I'm using the Apple Pencil on both a 1st gen 12.9 iPad Pro and 2018 iPad. Neither NEEDS a screen protector. I used the 12.9 Pro without a protector for well over a year, nearly daily with the Pencil, and no scratches.

But I have applied matte screen protectors on both... to cut down on reflections and visibility of fingerprint smudges but also to offer an ever-so-slight resistance for the Pencil.

Without a screen protector, I find the Pencil to be too slippery to feel natural. The matte screen protector helps a bit with that. A common criticism of matte protectors is that they interfere with the sharpness of the display, but by using a good quality protector that effect is minimized.

I second sracer’s post. I can’t stand screen glare, use a matte screen protector on every one of my electronic devices with a glare-y glass screen. I’m willing to sacrifice a little bit of display sharpness for reduced glare and fingerprints. I also prefer the feel of the pencil or pen (I have had several Surface tablets including my current Surface Go) on a matte screen protector.

Maybe one of you could tell us which matte protectors you are using...?!? That would be helpful...

 

[rui no onna]

This a million times this! I hope they’ve improved the oleophobic coating on the new ones.

What’s weird is I had the iPad Pro 10.5” for a month after launch and my lightning connector mysteriously stopped working. After they sent me I new one I noticed the display coating problem. So I wonder if only some models had problems with getting really nasty. Never seen anything like it in all my days of using iOS devices going back to 2007. It’s bad.

Most smudge resistant iPad I've used were iPad Air and basic 9.7" iPad.

The iPad Air 2, Pro 9.7 and Pro 12.9 (2nd gen) all attracted fingerprints like crazy although the Pro models seemed a smidge worse compared to the Air 2.

 

[conteaparis]

What are you going to use the Pencil for? If it's for drawing, a screen protector will add a bit of texture that makes it closer to paper.

 

[flur]

What are you going to use the Pencil for? If it's for drawing, a screen protector will add a bit of texture that makes it closer to paper.

I want to use it for drawing and taking notes, but I also want to use it for watching tv/movies/etc. and as I’m a writer, I’ll spend a lot of time reading/editing text on it, and I get eye strain easily. So I need the screen to be both super sharp and easy to draw on. And of course I don’t want to scratch it.

 

[danmart]

This a million times this! I hope they’ve improved the oleophobic coating on the new ones.

When the original Pro and Pencil were launched they explained in the Keynote that they had gone without the oleophobic coating as the slightly thinner screen provided a better experience with the pencil. The gen 1 was horrendous for finger prints and collecting cruft.

Clearly they have brought it back as new versions are better, but it may well be a lesser coating than other iPads get.

 

[sracer]

I want to use it for drawing and taking notes, but I also want to use it for watching tv/movies/etc. and as I’m a writer, I’ll spend a lot of time reading/editing text on it, and I get eye strain easily. So I need the screen to be both super sharp and easy to draw on. And of course I don’t want to scratch it.

I actually find reading MORE enjoyable and less fatiguing with the matte protector than without. I think this is because the matte protector eliminates glare and gives the screen an even-looking appearance compared to the differences on a naked screen due to fingerprint smudges... some spots would be a bit blurry, others (mostly near the screen edge) clear.

It probably helps that my Kindle and Kobo ereaders, Thinkpads, and Acer Chromebook 14 all have matte finishes... I would even order the matte screen option on my Macbook Pros (when I used to buy MBPs)

 

[flur]

I actually find reading MORE enjoyable and less fatiguing with the matte protector than without. I think this is because the matte protector eliminates glare and gives the screen an even-looking appearance compared to the differences on a naked screen due to fingerprint smudges... some spots would be a bit blurry, others (mostly near the screen edge) clear.

It probably helps that my Kindle and Kobo ereaders, Thinkpads, and Acer Chromebook 14 all have matte finishes... I would even order the matte screen option on my Macbook Pros (when I used to buy MBPs)

This is super helpful, thanks!

 

[Velin]

Use the pencil all the time, no screen protector on a 10.5 pro. Zero scratches or problems. Just keep it clean. No apple device needs a screen protector. Waste of time, waste of money.

Also, the "oleophobic" coating is useless. I regularly clean the iPad screen with paper towels and glass cleaner. Works great. No scratches. Super-clean screen, great for regular use, or the pencil. Takes 30 seconds to do. For the price of a single "screen protector," I can buy cans of glass cleaner and paper towels that will clean the iPad screen for many years.

 

[rui no onna]

I actually find reading MORE enjoyable and less fatiguing with the matte protector than without. I think this is because the matte protector eliminates glare and gives the screen an even-looking appearance compared to the differences on a naked screen due to fingerprint smudges... some spots would be a bit blurry, others (mostly near the screen edge) clear.

It probably helps that my Kindle and Kobo ereaders, Thinkpads, and Acer Chromebook 14 all have matte finishes... I would even order the matte screen option on my Macbook Pros (when I used to buy MBPs)

What brand matte screen protector are you using?

Sorry, if you've already answered, I can't seem to find the post. Thanks!

 

[richpjr]

This is what I have using. Regular cleaning is essential anyway...

This works for me. While not a super heavy pencil user, a quick clean before using it doesn’t take long.

 

[FrankySavvy]

Also be careful with frequent cleaning, you would be surprised what grit can get into a microfiber cloth. I for one do not want to risk scratching my 1k plus 2018 iPad Pro and went with a clear screen protector, I did this for my 10.5" as well. It only cost me 13.99 for the peace of mind!

 

[dialdn]

I have been using an ipad Pro for a year and drawn maybe 275 hours worth of art. Same original tip and no scratches. Wiped screen with a damp cloth once every 6-8 weeks. No screen protector.

 

[danmart]

Also be careful with frequent cleaning, you would be surprised what grit can get into a microfiber cloth. I for one do not want to risk scratching my 1k plus 2018 iPad Pro and went with a clear screen protector, I did this for my 10.5" as well. It only cost me 13.99 for the peace of mind!

Caution always, however I have been using iPads since day 1 and never had an issue