Finding the right screen protector for your iPad pro should be a straight forward decision, however this turned out not to be the case when I was looking. Most reviews suggest either a glass screen protector or a matte plastic screen protector for use with the Apple Pencil. However, both of these have major disadvantages which put me off buying either of them and the alternative I went for is actually the cheapest option.
First let me go through the pros and cons of glass and matte so you can understand why I didn’t go for either.
The 5th generation iPad has a stunning screen, especially the 12.9 inch with its super bright mini-LED display, which is not only a pleasure to use but also very accurate. A glass screen protector provides the best physical protection for that stunning display without effecting the image quality. However, using the apple pencil on a glass screen protector feels way too slippery and causes too many mistakes.
Link for Glass Screen Protector iPad Pro 12.9: https://amzn.to/3Dupuhp
Link for Glass Screen Protector iPad Pro 11: https://amzn.to/3JT0UZU
Matte screen protectors fix the issue of the slippery screen and work well with the apple pencil, giving the friction you get from a pen on paper. However, if you look at a matte screen protector on any screen, you’ll immediately see how it completely ruins the image quality. Colours look washed out which ruins accuracy and everything looks pixelated which is completely unacceptable on such a high-end display.
With neither of these options meeting my needs I found a cheaper alternative. I use a simple plastic film screen protector. It retains the image quality of a glass screen protector and has some friction for the apple pencil (obviously not as much as a matte screen protector but better than glass). There are only two main disadvantages to this type of screen protector, they don’t provide much drop protection but this can be resolved by putting a case on your iPad. They also scratch fairly easily, however as they are so cheap, they can easily be replaced. In my opinion this is the best option for someone who wants a balance of protection against scratches, good image quality and good pen support.
Link for iPad Pro case 12.9: https://amzn.to/3IYGJbL
Link for iPad Pro case 11: https://amzn.to/3wU34F6
Link for iPad Pro plastic clear screen protector 12.9: https://amzn.to/3qTP6ix
Link for iPad Pro plastic clear screen protector 11: https://amzn.to/3iSIdtv
If you don’t use the pen very often, then I would definitely go for a tempered glass screen protector as they provide better protection and don’t ruin image quality. I would stay away from matte screen protectors as they just make a hideous mess of the iPad’s fantastic screen.
If you decide to buy a screen protector or case for your iPad, please use one of the links in this review for the Amazon page. This supports TechByASK and has not additional cost for you. Feel free to contact us on Instagram @techbyask if you have any questions about the screen protector I us on my iPad pro