Going All Matte

All my devices now have matte screens and I also discuss the cases I use for each.

Screen Protectors and cases on my devices has always been something I go back and forth on. I like to keep my devices as nice as possible, but I also don’t like any protection to impede on the feeling of holding and using them. Having a bulky case on my iPhone has been something I have not done in a while, a screen protector on the other hand is a little more complicated.

When it comes to my other devices, my iPad Pro and iPad Mini, I have leaned more towards the Smart Folio-like option since it gives me the flexibility to use the device on it’s own without the case. Depending on what I get, I also get the benefit of better angles to use the device. But screen protectors have never been something that I have desired on my iPads, especially the paper-feel type.

For my iPhone, iPad Pro, and iPad Mini, I’d like to go over each device and the cases and screen protectors I use for each. Not only do all of these devices have matte screen protectors, but I also have specific cases for each that I think compliment the devices without the added bulk that I hate so much.

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Since I got my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I knew I didn’t want to put a case on it. Not only because the device is bigger than the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro I was using before it, but even for those devices I tried to avoid a case as much as possible. For the iPhone 13 Pro I did use a case since it was a work-issued phone so damaging it was a little more worrisome.

After using the iPhone 15 Pro Max for awhile, I stumbled on the magnetic back case options which allows protection on the back of the device without the added bulk on the sides. I wanted to get a Nomad Leather Back Case, but they discontinued the iPhone 15 Pro versions and finding one on eBay or elsewhere is impossible.

So instead I got the Suti Leather PhoneBack. It doesn’t feel as premium leather as other leather case options, including the Nomad version, but it is still very nice and exactly what I was looking for. It sits flush with the back of the phone, allowing me to hold the titanium sides giving me that iPhone premium feel, but also provides protection from scratches or dropping it on its back.

I have had instances where the phone does fall on the concrete or hard floor and have caused some dings and dents around the exposed titanium frame, but I think the trade off is worth it since I still get the best experience when using such a large phone.

I go back and forth on screen protectors with iPhones, and this is mostly because I hate the micro scratches that happen on newer iPhone models. I love having the phone naked, sliding my finger from the sides or bottom feels so nice without any screen protector causing a bit of friction. But after a few months of not using the screen protector in a while creates a lot of micro scratches and deep scratches that have caused me to just put a screen protector on that I could replace after a few months giving me a fresh clean screen again.

Trying different types of glass screen protectors left me wanting more. Not only were most case-friendly, meaning that the protector didn’t cover the entire screen making room on the sides for a case to fit, but most just damaged so quickly it was annoying to keep replacing them. It sounds like I am super rough with my phones, but I am honestly not, I just think most of these screen protectors have really soft glass.

Instead I thought I would try something new this time. I did get a couple of regular non-glass screen protectors, but again it was hard to find any that weren’t case-friendly. So instead of going that route, I landed on a matte screen protector that also provided a privacy feature called Mocha Matte Screen Protector.

Making viewing angles on my device not as good at first seemed like a stupid option, but after a while of having it I actually really like it. I rarely used my iPhone in an odd angle and usually have it right in front of my face so having it not visible from the side started to become a non-issue.

The best part of getting this screen protector was the matte screen and the fact that the screen protector covers my entire front of my iPhone. It feels more seamless and premium, something I did not expect when I decided to try it. I did think maybe it would cause me to read more on the device but instead it has just been a nice addition to my phone while also getting some protection.

One of the negatives with using this type of screen protectors is that it does feel like the screen is a bit more dim with it on. Especially with my sunglasses on, I feel like when I am outside in the bright sun I can’t see anything on my phone — even in full brightness. It is annoying sometimes but not something that happens enough for me to remove it.

iPad Pro

For my iPad Pro I have two cases that I use with it. One is the TomToc magnetic case and a used Magic Keyboard with trackpad. I originally just had the TomToc case for a while and still mostly use that case since I love using the iPad Pro as a tablet first and foremost instead of it being a more laptop form factor.

The reason I got the Magic Keyboard was because I recently got a mini-PC running Windows 11, and when I want to Remote Desktop onto that computer it is much nicer with a keyboard and trackpad over using my finger or Apple Pencil — and you can’t get much better with the Magic Keyboard with Trackpad for this need.

I also found the Magic Keyboard on eBay, slightly used, for only $60. That is a steal for this accessory when it is normally $350 brand new. The best part is that it has barely been used so it still feels and looks brand new. I have talked about and used this keyboard before but on a 11-inch iPads so the 12.9-inch size has been a new experience for me.

If anything it is just better in every way that the 11-inch is. Not that the smaller version is bad, I wrote thousands of words on that keyboard and still love the compact feel of the 11-inch iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard and Trackpad. But with more room, typing on this keyboard with the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a real dream. I have more room for my hands to sit next to the trackpad and the keyboard feels much more comfortable to type on since it doesn’t sacrifice any of the key sizes to fit.

When I am not wanting to write something really long, or Remote Desktop into my PC to work on something, the TomToc case is way more preferable for my needs. I actually really like the new Smart Folio cases for the new 13 and 11-inch iPad Pros, but those are not compatible with my iPad Pro version. The new version provides a perfect angle for me to use it on my lap, couch or table, but so far the TomToc has been sufficient for my needs.

One bonus with the TomToc case is that it has a magnetic back that is always available if I don’t want to use the folio part of it so the back can always be protected. It also has a magnetic cover for the Apple Pencil, which I don’t use at all. If I want to use my mechanical keyboard with the iPad Pro, the TomToc gives me a good portrait angle but my favorite is the landscape angles that I get to use on the arm of my couch or my lap.

One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is to take my 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the TomToc case and lean it on my lap while I order groceries for the week using my finger or Apple Pencil. The angle of the case provides a comfortable angle to tap around while I sip my coffee and watch Bluey with my kids. The iPad is already such a great computer for so many things, but the right case can make it that much more useful in certain situations.

As for the screen protector it is similar to the one I am using on the iPad Mini just bigger, the Supershieldz Anti-Glare Screen Protector. It is not glass, but a thin piece of plastic providing a matte layer over my display. I was worried about how the clarity of the mini-LED display may be affected by the screen protector but so far it hasn’t been an issue at all. It has made my iPad Pro feel more premium, especially when I am writing in Ulysses.

iPad Mini

I spoke about both of these things in my post about the iPad Mini, How I use my iPad Mini, since they were mostly chosen to help with using the device for reading. The Pitaka case has such great angles to watch something or hold the iPad in portrait for comfortable reading. I also really like the color that I got which goes great with the Starlight color of the iPad Mini.

I am starting to notice that the hinges of the case where the front part of the case goes over the screen is starting to tear at the top. It is a bit worrying since I haven’t had this case for that long and you would think that would be an area that is most durable since the whole point of the case is to flip the front to change the angle or just use the device.

We will see how long it lasts in the next few months, but even when I have researched other options, I haven’t found something that I like just as much since the Pitaka offers such great angles for my needs. The rest of the case feels and looks brand new, it is just the that one small tear that has me a bit cautious in how long this case might last.

The screen protector is a non-glass matte version that is perfect for reading. I actually took it off recently after finishing a book to see if it really does provide the experience I want, and I immediately put one back. The reading experience is just so much better with a matte screen over glossy so having a thin matte layer is worth the small distortion it creates in the colors of iPadOS.

Conclusion

What I have come to realize in using matte displays at work all day, on my monitors and my laptop, plus getting a new LG 4K monitor for my mini-PC and iPad Pro that also has a matte display, is that they are something I am starting to prefer more than a glossy option.

I think my iPhone is the exception and prefer glossy I think over the matte, but it is nice to change things up once and while and so far I am really enjoying it on my phone. What this also made me realize is that I want Apple’s nano-texture option on all my devices. Again I don’t know for sure about my iPhone, but the iPad Mini and iPad Pro I think would be best with the nano-texture option.

The M4 iPad Pros currently offer this, and my first experience with it was not great when I briefly checked it out in an Apple Store. But after installing the matte screen protector on my iPad Pro and using it now for a few weeks, I am starting to get the appeal. I also think this episode of iPad Pros really made me start thinking differently too.

Another reason I think my views have changed when it comes to screen protectors on my iPads is I started to feel the default matte screen protector for an iPad was getting a Paperlike. After multiple attempts at using the Paperlike I have come to the conclusion that they are not good screen protectors at all. If you draw or write a lot on your iPad then I get wanting to add friction with the Apple Pencil, but even then I don’t think they are worth it.

Not only are Paperlike super expensive, but they also ruin the clarity of screen so much that it is painful. And the reason I also feel they are bad even for artists or hand writers is that the quality of the Paperlike doesn’t last very long due to scratches that can’t be cleaned off. I know the Paperlike continues to improve them, but I still feel like they are not worth it for what you actually get.

Having a matte display provides not only better glare control but I do feel like it helps with my eyes when using screens for a long period. Going back and forth from work and home I can feel a fatigue in my eyes that may have to do with how my eyes adjust to a matte vs glossy screen. I am getting older so wearing glasses are necessary for me to wear when using these devices, but the matte I feel adds another layer of comfort that my late 30-year old eyes appreciate.

Or it can all be an illusion and I just really starting to prefer matte screens over glossy. In a few months or years my taste could change and I want to go back to all glossy displays. Either way I think you need to find what’s works best for you and enjoy it. Except getting a Paperlike, I don’t think I will ever recommend or go back to those for my devices any time soon.