Ipad Pro 2018 11" - Screen Protector Issue

I got a glass Zagg screen protector which caused issues with my touch screen. I contacted them about this and was assured they were aware of the issue and are now working on an improved version of screen protector that will erase these issues. They said it would be out by the end of the month.

In context of FaceID with screen protectors... herewith is a technical explanation of the both issue and its resolution...

The FaceID system has at least two seperate but critical optical components - these being the IR Dot Projector and IR Camera elements. These elements are combined to produce a single optical sensor system - and it is one or other (or potentially both) of these elements that suffer performance issues if covered by a glass element.

Even if the two outer surfaces of the glass screen protector are totally parallel (any deviation from which will cause defraction), the covering glass layers, optical coatings and necessary fixing adhesive will all have properties that influence absorbtion of light at certain optical frequencies/wavelengths. Additionally, any change in material density (such as glass-to-air or glass-to-plastic surfaces - including internal lamination layers) will introduce internal reflection and scatter at each layer boundary. It is these optical properties and their interaction with the sensor system that are likely interfering with indended functioning of FaceID.

The simple solution to FaceID issues, in context of applied screen protectors for both iPad and iPhone, is to select a screen protector that does not cover any of the active sensor elements (i.e, the screen protector will have a corresponding notch or cutout for these critical elements) - this being a feature similarly necessary for correct functioning of TouchID (which is also a different form of optical system).

It has been suggested by some contributors that “film type” screen protectors have been successfully utilised. Given that the film-thickness is considerably thinner than that physically possible with a glass alternative (also noting that plastic film lacks laminations), it is possible that the critical sensor system suffers less optical performance degredation.

Any issues with screen touch sensitivity are completely unrelated to the optical or mechanical properties of the screen protector, but may be influenced by dielectric characteristics of the appled screen protector material(s).

The current Zagg Glass+ glass screen protector does not interfere with Face ID. I had one on my iPad Pro 11". You have to install it so it does not cover the two essential Face ID components at the top. The current opening is almost too small. You need to setup/calibrate Face ID after installing the Zagg. Reset any Face ID profile that was made before installing the Zagg. The opening on the Zagg should be greater than the width of the five devices in the front camera/Face ID assembly at the top like it is on several other brands of screen protectors. This makes alignment less critical.

However, the Zagg and other glass screen protectors seriously mess with the touch sensitivity of the new iPad Pros. I believe this has to do with the dielectric properties of glass versus plastic film ones.

@Rick600, your matter of fact reply is incorrect. My 2018 iPadPro 11” has the ZAGG Glass+ on it and it absolutely interferes with FaceID. I have re-calibrated FaceID 2x and it is still completely broken, not working at all. My ZAGG is installed perfectly, as assumably are the others on this thread that are reporting the same problem as I am having. There are more than just the 2 sensor/camera areas that the ZAGG doesn’t cover that impact the FaceID system. It seems that a revision to the design by ZAGG Is needed to have a much larger cutout that will not covera ANY of the FaceID sensors, which I hope they are working on.

Face ID worked on my 11" with the Zagg+‚ but you face isnt centered because of the size off the iPad. You have to podition it just tight

I returnedthe zagg because of touch sensitivity.

If you aren't happy return itwithin 30 days gor acredit or replacement within the year warranty period.

[Fireproof Suit on... 🙂]

I suspect there may be several versions if the Zagg Glass+ for the 2018 iPad Pro models in circulation - which one you have is likely to influence its impact on FaceID and your own results.

It is my understanding that the original iteration (now pulled by Zagg) was a continuous glass plate that covered all the front-side cameras/sensors - this being similar to that successfully released (and currently in circulation) for the 2017 10.5” iPad Pro (which never had problems with the Zagg Glass+).

The original version for the 2018 iPad Pro models was rapidly withdrawn from sale - due to it inhibiting facial recognition - but some original version stock may still be held by retailers.

A second iteration of the Zagg Glass+ for the 2018 iPad Pro models features a cutout “notch” that does not cover the FaceID sensors. This second version, apparently, does not impact nominal performance of FaceID. However, in common with all glass screen protectors currently in circulation for the 2018 iPad Pro models, a seperate unrelated issue exists with the touch screen - which apparently doesn’t work. This latter issue is not of Zagg’s making - but is an issue apparently characteristic of the new screen type utilised in the newest iPad Pro models.

In the interest of keeping peace, I hope this explanation offers a possible explanation as to why those of you with the Zagg product may be seeing differing results.

Take your fireproof suite off. You never need one when you provide facts that are actual. Zagg released a glass screen protector for the new iPad Pro's. They were pulled when they caused so many negative reviews and just had a little opening for the Selfie Camera, but covered the other sensors. It was re-released with a wider opening to include the sensors, but it's still not a good solution for the new screens on the Pro's as it interferes with touch. And iPad is after all about touch.

Until someone comes out with a screen protector, which can't interfere with FaceID, which can't interfere with touch and can't interfere with my Apple Pencil, my iPad screen will not have a screen protector. I have yet to see where anyone has figured this out. I doubt even Zagg will be able to create a glass protector that doesn't have issues, unless they figure out a composition which mimics the actual properties of the new iPad screens.

I also have the 2nd gen ZAGG Glass+ that has the wider notch cutout that does not cover the camera or primary FaceID sensor, but apparently (according to LotusPiolt's excellent explanations) there are more sensors that the 2nd gen ZAGG still covers, and these are part of the problem that effects FaceID, rendering it useless for at least SOME users, including myself. It sounds like ZAGG might be bringing out a gen3 glass+ that has an even wider cutout that will not cover any of the sensors, which will hopefully take care of the FaceID problem once and for all. My touch sensitivity is not hampered at all by my 2nd gen ZAGG glass+, and my Pencil works well about 75% of the time, so the issues many users are having with the ZAGG glass effecting touch sensitivity is not happening in my particular experience.

It is always interesting to me when a user of any device or accessory will get on a forum and state that there IS a problem in all cases, or there IS NOT a problem in all cases simply due to their own isolated experience (or even a small sampling of users). It is never appropriate to say that something DOES or DOES NOT work, period. There are way too many variables and way too many instances of something happening to one person that does not happen to someone else to ever say "THIS (and only this) is what is going on."

"My touch sensitivity is not hampered at all by my 2nd gen ZAGG glass+, and my Pencil works well about 75% of the time, so the issues many users are having with the ZAGG glass effecting touch sensitivity is not happening in my particular experience."

My iPencil, without any screen protector works 100% of the time. I would not be satisfied with it working 75% of the time at all! Sounds clearly like there is still an issue....did I miss something?? I guess you are telling us it works poorly....

But even you admitted the screen protector works 75% of the time with your Apple Pencil. That may be good enough for you, but it wouldn't be good enough for me and you actually further validated there isn't yet a glass screen protector which in one way or another doesn't reduce usability. The degree of loss of usability for your needs may be OK. I want a screen protector that doesn't cause ANY loss of usability. We shouldn't have to accept less than 100% use, especially when one factors in that the Zagg protectors are much more expensive than most of the protectors out there.

@maxtoon77 & @rbrylawski - Point taken. 75% Pencil effective sensitivity and usefulness (meaning 25% malfunctioning with a lack of Pencil sensitivity) is not acceptable. I also want a screen protector that works exactly like a naked iPad in all instances 100% of the time. The current ZAGG I have on my iPad will come off & be returned, but only after I have gotten news that an improved design replacement is available. Until then I am resolved to suffer thru with no FaceID and only slightly limited touch sensitivity.

I was trying to make the point that my Pencil was working quite often when other's Pencils were totally malfunctioning all the time with the ZAGG Glass+ on, and that my FaceID was 100% broken and never working (even after recalibrating 2x) even when others FaceId was not effected by the ZAGG Glass+.

After reading pages of comments regarding a Screen Protector on the new 2018 iPad Pro 11, I will be going protection free until a screen protector is developed that doesn't lose any of the utilities of the iPad. I spoke with Zagg this morning and they even advise holding off placing a screen protector on my iPad for the time being.

I've seen people comment on this. Fortunately, with both our iPad Pro 11, we have had no touch issues with either.

I and many other people are also having touch issues even without screen protectors.

If you’re interested in using the Apple Pencil and you want a matte screen protector that is extremely nice to use with a stylus AND doesn’t have any issues, get the Paperlike product from Germany. Jan Sapper created it and he’s good to talk to. You get two in the package. It seemed like I had to press a bit more firmly with my finger when moving around the system, but it’s really worth it if you want a fantastic experience with the Apple Pencil. I was concerned that I wouldn’t like the sort of matte screen appearance when I watch videos or whatever, but actually it’s very sharp and in a way it is less glare and better viewing in brighter light. This product is a bit more expensive than what you find on Amazon for $10, but I tried those and this is light years ahead. Jan or Nina will absolutely take care of you. I joked with Jan that I wish that someone would invent a sort of removable screen protector that you could switch between matte and glossy, but really their product is excellent. And when my first one took too long to arrive? They actually sent me two more sets of them! It’s hard to know what happened with a non trackable postal mail package and they just kept em coming. For no extra charge. You have to be thrilled in this day and age with a company that makes an excellent product AND has superb customer service.

Jan Sapper also gives you access to his digital journaling whatchamacallit that is really, really thoughtfully laid out and quite insightful psychologically. It can be imported into something like Notability and of course this makes fun and full use of the Apple Pencil if you want to.

I know I sound like an ad, but it’s all true. Even the part where I acted like an ungrateful child and whined at Jan for not getting the thing to me!!! They just sent more.

That’s my $0.02. I’ve never posted on an Apple forum. But I struggled with the whole glass and plastic frustration thing seemingly for months. I was prepared to use nothing. But there IS an excellent product out there at paperlike.com

WOW I thought there was something wrong with my iPad until I caught a article on the CULT OF MAC. Glad to know I am not the only one. Yeah the touch is not working for me 25% of th time, but no issues with Face ID