Paperlike 2.0 (Previous Model) for iPad 10.2"- Screen Protector for Drawing and Writing like on Paper

Installation is quite the delicate and tedious process. I'm glad they give you two of them but my plan was to use them at different times, not to have one as a backup in case I messed up installing the first. The guide on installation is easy to follow and I did it mostly right but I did end up with two small bubbles which I can sometimes notice when looking at the screen. It doesn't ruin the experience or get in the way of using the touch screen at all regardless of whether I'm using my finger or the Apple Pencil. It does feel like paper which is cool but sometimes it actually feels quite smooth. The longer you use it the more it will wear down and you will eventually get smooth spots which are still rougher than the screen itself but smooth compared to when its new. I wanted this because drawing on the iPad without something like this feels unnatural and it's far too easy to slide my pencil across the screen and have far less control over delicate strokes. With Paperlike it feels much more like paper and the resistance allows you to feel enough feedback to really feel as though you're interacting with the medium that the app you're running is emulating. It feels like pencil on paper or paint brush on canvas. It's great. One thing they don't tell you is that it's great for reading books on iPad as well. When turning pages I really feel more like I'm reading a paper book than a digital one. I've always preferred paper and analog tools but I'm more likely to buy and read digital books now with the Paperlike screen protector on my iPad. It's easy to clean. You just take the same sort of cloth you'd use to clean your iPad's naked screen and use it on the Paperlike. Yes, you will get fingerprints on your screen if you touch it with your hands just like using the normal screen so you have to clean it periodically. The Paperlike does dim the screen and dull the colors just a tiny bit but unless your work demands absolute perfection when it comes to color accuracy or you're some superhuman that can't handle a negligible change in brightness/color then you won't notice it unless you're specifically looking for it. I'm glad it comes with two because eventually the first will wear out and I'll need to apply another and the second time I'll hopefully learn from the mistakes I made with the first and make sure there are no small bubbles that end up under the screen. But like I said, even if you do end up with a couple small bubbles you'll most likely be able to live with it and in most cases it isn't worth removing the Paperlike and reapplying a new one. The difference is negligible.

I decided to purchase this after reading some of the reviews, including the few that were not all positive. The negatives seem to be related to the screen protector getting scratched (best review stated they had been using for 4 months) and the screen protector being a pain to apply. I have only had this for a single day so far and if the longevity is better/worse/different than the reviewer noting that they made it 4 months, I’ll update this review. As far as applying, this was no harder than any other protector that I’ve applied to an iPad or phone. I would recommend that you take your time, watch the video, and ensure that the screen is completely free of any dust. I don’t find applying screen protectors to something as large as an iPad to be extremely easy, but if following the instructions here, it wasn’t hard and turned out as I hoped. From a use perspective, I can say this thing is leaps and bounds better than what I’ve tried in the past. It’s very smooth to write on, but not as smooth as glass. I’ve tried some cheaper alternatives and they felt like I was writing on a very fine grit sandpaper. This doesn’t feel that way at all. I suspect this impacts the longevity. On that note, I’m expecting 3-6 months before I have to use the second one of these that came with my purchase. I will be using this mainly for taking notes electronically, however I may do the occasional drawing. I don’t like the feeling of writing directly on the glass and this screen protector seems to be about as close to paper as I’ve found. If you are like me and do not like writing on glass, I would recommend this. I do feel it’s a bit expensive (about double what I payed for a protector that did not feel good), but I feel like the extra is well worth it.

First off, only get a mat screen protector if you are looking to add a little “tooth” to your drawing surface. If you value optimum picture quality, go with a smooth screen protector. With that said, I would not say that the image quality of your screen is drastically reduced. I have seen some reviews that seem to exaggerate the “rainbow” refraction in their screen with a matte screen protector. In my opinion the 5% reduction in image quality is an acceptable trade off for the improvement if the usability of the iPad as a drawing device. This screen protector offers a subtle grip that will give you a little more control to your drawing lines. On my 2018 iPad Pro I bought the Elecom mat screen protector which offers more texture than the Paperlike, but I had to manually trim the edges off of that screen protector to get my slim fit tpr case onto the iPad without pulling up the edges of the screen protector. Paperlike is trimmed to the perfect dimension and also includes better installation instructions. I was able to install mine flawlessly in a steamy bathroom to prevent dust particals from floating around in the atmosphere. Always install these in a bathroom after running the hot water enough to get the room humidity up. This reduces dust particles from landing on your screen during installation. My only issue is that this product is a little pricey, but if you are an apple person, you are probably used to paying too much for everything ;)

Having to focus painstakingly hard on a perfectly flawless lint-free screen during the application is utterly nerve-racking, but once it has been applied (and if you get it >just< right), the PaperLike screen protector is a fantastic product that delivers a great paper-like feel. Definitely worth the cost, but losing the first of two covers due to two (2) super-tiny (nearly-invisible) pieces of lint (from the black cloth PaperLike provided) was heart-wrenching. Two thumbs up from me, but I strongly recommend having someone else around to examine and confirm the screen is perfectly free of any lint (no matter how tiny) before applying the screen protector. To the PaperLike QA Staff… I very strongly recommend that the cleaning cloth provided in the package be of a different color than black. A bright colored cloth, very easily seen (no matter how tiny it is) against the black screen would have saved me from losing my first cover the first time I installed the screen protector. (2x Updates 24 July 2022) 1. I was contacted by the PaperLike QC Team about my experience. Once I explained more detail about the lint from the black cloth provided in the package and provided evidence, their Representative chose to send me a replacement package, so hats off to their quality management team for doing their due diligence and sorting out my loss. 2. I’ve been using my PaperLike screen for a couple weeks now. It does exactly what they say it will do, providing the closest feel I’ve ever experienced using similar paper-like screen protectors. I’m an avid note-taker and have tried most other products on the market. None of them even come close to the PaperLike screen. I highly recommend this product to anyone who wishes to use their iPad Pro (or similar) for any handwritten notes or for drawing. Best regards, Frank

I am a Graphic Designer, Digital Painter, and also run a YouTube channel all from Procreate.100% of my professional work is done on the Ipad including painting, drawing, web design, and more. I have owned an Ipad for years and the complaint from day one was the slick and easily dirtied screen. I installed PaperLike on my Ipad over the weekend with hesitation after reading mixed reviews. Here are the pros and cons: CONS 1. Semi hard to install, had to have my husband help. 2. Any and I mean ANY fleck of dust or crumbs etc WILL LEAVE A BUBBLE. You are given tools and a tutorial, use them and you will have zero problems! 3. It took both my apple pencil and my fiberoptic brush a good few minutes to adjust. Dont freak out, just keep using your stylus in various forms to acclimate it. 4. As you can see from the photos the PaperLike is definitely starting to wear and scratch. I figured as much since it is like “paper” it hasnt messed with my work but we will see what happens on the long run. PROS 1. It feels amazing! The sound, texture, the matte screen finish. Amazing for video tutorials as the screen doesn’t glare back at you or throw a reflection. 2. The level of detail on my screen is absolutely perfect if not better. I definitely see my clarity and texture with paintings more easily. 3. This would be great for all artists bridging the digital and traditional material gap, especially those that need that feel of a canvas! 4. My screen feels very protected, it fit like a glove, and the look and feel of it is incredible.

About the product itself: It's AMAZING. I've been using my iPad as a planner, note keeper, goal tracker, and practically everything else for a long time. I didn't think this would have that big of an impact on me. But I wanted to try anyway. And I'm glad I did! My penmanship is so much better now, it's easier to write (not so slippery), and it's a joy to do! I am so thankful for this product and I will be purchasing many more in the future. Onto the one negative I found. This review would have been a 4 star if it hadn't been for Paperlike's awesome customer service. (Not because of the product, but because of the difficulty of installation.) I received my Paperlike screen protectors and followed all the steps to a T on the first one. I watched the video carefully and did exactly as I was supposed to. It wasn't good enough. I had bubbles and when I pulled the final piece off to reveal the Paperlike screen protector, the dang thing came completely off. Needless to say, I was not thrilled. I applied the second one with slightly better results (less bubbles but still a few) and this time, the Paperlike screen protector stayed on. At the end of the instructional video, they say to reach out to customer service if you have any problems. So I did. And they sent me an entirely new set for free. (That's not what I was looking to get, but it was a nice surprise.)

I have been using Paperlike screen protectors for years. As a digital artist, I can NOT get my lines to go exactly where I want them to go on a slick screen, so I bought Paperlike for that tactile sensation. It helps a WHOLE LOT! When I got my new 2020 iPad Pro 12.9”, I didn’t want to spring for Paperlike because they are insanely expensive and they also made my screen look pixelly. I went with another brand that promised the same tactile feeling of using paper, but they were less than half the price of Paperlike. Unfortunately, they scratched really quickly and were almost as slick as the iPad screen itself. Waste of money. So I went back to Paperlike after hearing they no longer make the screen look pixelly. I splurged on the 2-pack for my birthday, and they arrived today, the day before my birthday. Unfortunately, they were a NIGHTMARE. I watched the installation video carefully and followed the instructions to the letter. I’ve installed these many times in the past, so I wasn’t a newbie. But the first one had a huge scratch down the middle before I even installed it. I was devastated. Basically, $20 right down the drain. So I took out the second one. It looked fine. Installation went okay other than a piece of dust getting stuck despite my taking every precaution to avoid it, and now there’s a bubble that won’t come out. Annoying, but I suppose not exactly Paperlike’s fault. I was initially thrilled once I got the second one installed. It had that wonderful feeling of drawing on paper, which is exactly what I was looking for. However, after using it for less than 2 hours it ALREADY has numerous scratches on it. I’ve tried carefully rubbing them with the cleaning cloth they provided, hoping it was just temporary scuffs. Nope. They are deep scratches that won’t come out and make the screen look truly AWFUL. Not only that, they actually mess up my strokes as I move my Pencil across them on the screen. This makes it hard to draw than before I put the screen protector on! I am using a nearly brand-new Apple Pencil nib that was NOT scratching my cheap screen protector. SUPER disappointed. I will never pay their outrageous prices again. What a waste of birthday money. :(

This review was long overdue! I recently traded in my iPad Pro (2020) at the Apple store and before giving it to one of the associates I had to remove the protector…That is when I realized that the protector I took off was the first and last one I had ever put on my iPad. This product lasted me so many years and kept my screen intact and unscratched. I am serious my screen was MINT after removing the protector. It had always been easy to clean and the touch sensitivity never became an issue. I did also use this iPad for drawing on Procreate and my apple pencil never skipped while drawing. Will be buying this product again for my new iPad Air.