Should you use Paperlike on the M1 12.9-inch iPad Pro?

At its recent Spring Loaded event, Apple introduced the first iPad Pro with M1 chips. After the new iPad Pros began shipping, customers worldwide began asking themselves: should I use Paperlike or any other screen protector for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with M1?

Let me help you make that decision.

Think twice before getting a screen protector for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro M1

I should point out, in case you don’t already know, that my advice varies depending on the iPad Pro you have.

With the Apple M1 chip, the iPad Pro 11-inch 2021 version has the same display as the previous version released in 2020. While it’s still a brilliant display, it’s nowhere near as good as that on the iPad Pro 12.9-inch with Liquid Retina XDR.

Both displays are great, but the HDR quality will be drastically different if you put them side-by-side. In comparison with the iPad Pro 11-inch which has a mere 600-nit brightness, the Pixelbook’s 1000-nit brightness is a monster.

In my previous statement, I used the word ‘mere’ only in comparison to the iPad Pro 12.9-inch. On its own, the 11-inch iPad Pro’s display quality is nothing short of stunning. But if you want the absolute best in a compact tablet, there’s nothing else that beats the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

So why put a screen protector that degrades the appearance if you’re spending all that extra money on the display?

Does Paperlike ruin screen quality?

People are divided on this issue, but the fact remains that your screen quality will be reduced. It will become darker. A matte screen protector like Paperlike will significantly reduce text clarity and vibrancy on the screen.

It’s worth mentioning that I’m referring to Paperlike only because it gives you a paper-like feel on your iPad Pro when you use the Apple Pencil. Paperlike is a screen protector that will work with any matte or textured screen protector, regardless of price or quality.

Glossy screen protectors or tampered glasses do not necessarily ruin the quality of the screen the same way a textured screen protector does. Color vibrancy and text clarity are ruined only by screen protectors with a matte texture.

The extra niceness of a Paperlike-like screen protector may be worth the tradeoff. If you’re a designer or a sketch artist, or if you need to do a lot of handwriting, then the experience is more important than raw screen quality.

You might want to think twice before putting a protective layer on top of the display of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in order to reduce the quality of the display.

When should you use Paperlike on your iPad Pro 12.9-inch M1?

You should only use a Paperlike or similar screen protector if you are sketching, handwriting, and designing a lot of content on your iPad Pro. You will, of course, use the Apple Pencil a lot.

In the case of paper-like screen protectors, this is their main selling point. Apple Pencil is a bit slippery on glass surfaces, so you may not enjoy using it as much.

Getting used to it doesn’t take long, based on my experience. When using the Apple Pencil, you may prefer that textured feeling if you draw a lot and your preferences are strict. You can get that feeling using Paperlike screen protectors.

If you plan to draw or sketch on your iPad Pro a lot, I’d recommend getting the 11-inch model if you can live with the smaller footprint. You’ll save a lot of money. With the 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro, you’ll pay more for the better screen technology. If you’re going to slap a matte screen protector on its face, there’s little point in spending more money.

Consider getting the 2020 iPad Pro without the M1 chip if you must have the extra real estate of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Although the iPad Pro M1 is a great leap forward, many people may not necessarily need that kind of power. Ignore the fact that its software is still a bottleneck for the iPad Pro.

Therefore, I suggest getting the 2020 model of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro if you need the larger display. If you don’t mind a smaller display, go for the 11-inch iPad Pro.

If you are purchasing an iPad Pro M1 with a 12.9-inch display that features a beautiful Liquid Retina XDR display, you might want to skip Paperlike or similar screen protectors.

Paperlike alternatives: Magnetic removable screen protectors for the iPad Pro M1

Using a screen protector on an iPad is always a compromise. On one side, a screen protector will give you extra security. As soon as you put something on top of the screen, you won’t be able to experience the full screen quality.

However, if you must have the paper-like feel when drawing or handwriting something on your iPad Pro, there are some cheaper alternatives that you can use without having to semi-permanently attach a screen protector to it.

There are screen protectors for iPad Pro that attach magnetically to the display. This is a great solution to the problem. You can attach the magnetic screen protector to the iPad Pro when you need to use the Apple Pencil.

When you’re finished drawing, you just take it off and go back to browsing or watching videos.

This type of magnetic and removable iPad Pro screen protector gives you a textured feel when writing with the Apple Pencil. Magnetic screen protectors typically feature the following features:

• They’re anti-glare and anti-fingerprint, which means they’ll reduce glare and won’t attract fingerprints.
• The magnetic screen protectors are reusable and unlike traditional Paperlike and similar screen protectors, they can be removed when not in use.
• All of them promise the same smooth, textured feeling Paperlike and the likes provide. However, they can be removed.

Although I haven’t used any of them yet, I plan to order one soon. Here are some magnetic screen protectors for your M1 iPad Pro 12.9. I’ll write a detailed review once I’ve used one. Which iPad Pro do you recommend for this model? The screen should be able to be enjoyed without any protector, so you can take full advantage of it.

Magnetic and Removable iPad Pro Screen Protectors for you to check out

STARY Like Paper Screen Protector 

HAOLOCM Magnetic Removable & Reusable Like Paper

ELECOM Pencil-Feel Screen Protector

Does a textured screen protector ruin Apple Pencil?

People are debating the long-term impact of using textured screen protectors like Paperlike with Apple Pencil. If you use an Apple Pencil with a textured screen protector, it’s likely that its tip will degrade over time. The cost of replacing Apple Pencil tips isn’t that high, but it’s still something to consider.

You may or may not care about why using a textured screen protector is bad for your Apple Pencil in the next post.

Is Paperlike Worth it?

I’m not trying to swerve away Paperlike customers and sell them something else with this post. My iPad Pro remains my favorite tablet. A Paperlike was slapped on it. I like the textured feeling I get when writing with the Apple Pencil.

The iPad’s glass surface did not suit the Pencil well. Even though I got used to it after a while, nothing compares to the experience of striking the Apple Pencil on a non-slippery surface.

If I end up getting the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with M1, which I might only do for the Liquid Retina XDR display, I won’t be buying a Paperlike or anything similar for it.

I might keep the 11-inch notebook around for handwriting, but I might also sell it. Instead of Paperlike or something similar, I would get one of those magnetic and removable screen protectors.

I want to share this idea with you. Consider Paperlike if you find the experience worthwhile. Paperlike or similar screen protectors don’t annoy me specifically, but if you slap a textured, blurry surface on top of an iPad Pro with such a great display, my heart will sink.