Do you use a screen protector for your iPad Pro? If so, what kind?
So I tend to overthink these things (I'm an engineer). Curious if most people use screen protectors on the new iPad Pro 12.9 and if so is it tempered glass or matte and why did you make your selection?
Here has been my experience so far (apologies if this gets a bit long-winded, just want to get all my thoughts out in case others are in a similar boat):
Years ago I decided to remove all screen protectors from all of my Apple devices. As the argument goes, I wanted the "experience the devices as they were designed." Within one week, my iPad had a huge scratch running across the entire screen. I have no idea how it got there, I am extremely careful with my devices and use folio cases. My best guess was that a piece of sand or something similar had worked it's way in between the case and the screen. One week after that, my iPhone X screen cracked. Now bear in mind I've never cracked a device screen in over 15 years with screen protectors.
Coincidence? Probably. But from that point forward I used screen protectors on all of my devices including my Apple Watch. I've heard all the arguments against them, read several articles like this one:
Does Your iPad Need A Screen Protector? - basiccomputertips.com
In this article, his primary argument is that if you'd just be more careful, you wouldn't damage your screens. Well, I feel that I am extremely careful with all of my valuable electronics and still they manage to sustain some damages. He even goes as far to suggest wiping down your fingers and Apple Pencil before each use. Really? That takes away from the "genuine experience" much more than having a slightly elevated screen that's just as responsive and arguably shows fewer fingerprints. I'd rather just have a sacrificial screen that I don't worry about damaging instead of trying to remember to bust out my lint-free microfiber cloth 40 times a day.
And besides all that, I just can't get past my personal experiences, as anecdotal as they may be. I recently took the tempered glass screen protector off of my iPad Pro 12.9. The picture was slightly better, but I think that was because the screen protector I removed had fingerprints on it that I hadn't wiped clean yet (I was now staring at basically a brand new ipad screen). I also felt like it was being covered in micro scratches every time I would use my Apple Pencil. I know that part was in my head, but the pencil was making a squeaking sound when running across the screen (I draw and take notes a lot). On the plus side, I suppose the screen felt a bit more responsive (could have been in my head) and a bit easier to take notes with - mainly because I was writing directly on the surface instead of .33mm away. Not enough to really make any difference in my opinion.
In fact, I actually found that writing on the slick tempered glass was easier and more enjoyable than the naked iPad screen. The Apple Pencil felt too "grippy" with the unprotected screen, but perhaps that's because I'm used to the glass now. In terms of drawing, I felt like the unprotected screen actually hindered me because I couldn't swipe my lines as fast.
So the same day I trashed my screen protector, tried it for an hour or so, I went ahead and bought another tempered glass one from Amazon. Now here I am, like a typical engineer, second-guessing myself again.