Review: Paperlike v3 matte screen protector

Review sample provided by Paperlike

Paperlike has just launched version 3 of their matte screen protector and they sent me a sample to review.

I had actually reviewed Paperlike in 2020 and mentioned that it's overpriced and not very different compared to cheaper alternatives.

Paperlike version 3 is even more expensive now at USD 50 compared to USD 40 years ago. And it still comes with 2 pieces in a pack. And the price is the same regardless of the size of your iPad. At least they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee so you can get a refund if you don't like it enough, and according to the company only 1.3% of their customers asked for refunds.

Unlike many influencers online who are trying to sell Paperlike, my review is just a report of my findings.

For such expensive screen protectors, the company certainly went above and beyond with the design and packaging of their products. The packaging looks beautiful and inside you'll get a sticker, two pieces of Paperlike, a thank-you postcard, wet wipes and an helper tool.

There are QR codes that you can scan to watch the installation video and I've got to say those tutorial videos are quite well made, easy to understand.

First step of installation is to clean the tablet display with the alcohol wet wipes.

Next, you use the cloth side of the helper tool to dry the display, and the edge of the tool to sweep off any dust.

The same helper tool is also used to align the screen protector to the display.

Next, you tear off the tabs according the sequence mentioned in the video.

Push out any air bubbles using the helper tool.

The installation seems straightforward enough after watching the installation video. I did have one dust particle under the screen protector but I'm not too fussy about that. To remove that dust particle would involve using tape to remove the screen protector, tape to stick the dust and putting the screen protector back.

The final step is to remove the top protective film to reveal the matte surface.

Paperlike v3 is noticeably more reflective compared to the earlier versions. Reflections are not diffused completely so you can still see what's being reflected.

And shown above is the older version of Paperlike which can diffused reflections completely.

When it comes to matte surfaces, there will be compromises.

Pros and cons of smoother matte surfaces:
+ Does not diffuse reflections completely to the extent the display is bright and glaring
+ Has less grain, colour noise, or sparkle so it does not affect image quality as much
+ Does not wear down pen tip as fast
- Tactile experience isn't as good as rougher surfaces

Pros and cons of rougher matte surfaces:
+ Tactile drawing experience is good
- Can diffuse reflections to the extent the display is bright and glaring, especially when using tablet outdoors
- Has more grain, colour noise, or sparkle that affects image quality as much
- Wears down pen tip faster

The main reason why I stopped using matte screen protectors is because of the glare that's created by diffused reflections. And I have already gotten used to drawing on glossy glass.

There's still some colour noise or anti-glare sparkle with Paperlike v3 but I don't find it to be too distracting.

This matte screen protector is quite resistant to fingerprint smudges, and smudges if any exists are easy to clean.

The tactile drawing experience is quite subtle, smoother than actual paper. The company compares the surface to Japanese paper. Drawing experience is certainly better than drawing on glass.

The pen tip can glide quite smoothly but you still get some control. The screen protector does not affect pen performance.

Here's how Paperlike v3 looks beside the nano-textured glass on the M4 iPad Pro. The nano-texture glass does a terrific job at diffusing reflections and also minimising glare, so even with a strong light source the diffused reflections are not glaring.

Paperlike v3 has slightly more texture, just barely so, than nano-texture glass. So you can say the surface texture is quite similar to those screen-less pen tablets and or matte glass pen displays.

For those who prefer more texture, you may be disappointed with Paperlike v3. Whether you like this texture is just personal preference. I prefer this texture because I do not like rougher surfaces that produce more diffusion glare.

I will usually remove matte screen protectors from my tablets after reviewing them but this time I'll keep Paperlike v3 on it.

Last thing I want to talk about is the price.

Paperlike v3 seems good but I personally won't buy it because of the price which feels too high for me. Pricing and value is subjective, and that's how I feel.

There are certainly more affordable options out there, but the most difficult thing about buying a matte screen protector is actually finding one that suits your preference (smoothness vs diffused glare).

All reviews for matte screen protectors are highly subjective because there are no standardised tests, and everything depends on look and feel, and personal preference. So even with reviews like mine, it is still difficult to know how the matte screen protector will feel.

Here's the overall rating for Paperlike v3:

Colour noise: Low
Tactile experience: Low
Reflectivity: Reflective, smooth matte
Glare under bright lighting: Medium

And here's the rating for nano-textured glass of iPad Pro just for comparison purposes:

Colour noise: Low
Tactile experience: Low
Reflectivity: Non-reflective, smooth matte
Glare under bright lighting: Low

So these are my findings. You can decide whether it's worth the money.

And here's the link to check out other matte screen protectors I've reviewed.

Availability

Paperlike v3 is available from Paperlike online store and Amazon (US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | JP