MacBook Pro Screen Protector: 4 Reasons Why You Should NOT Get One!
A screen protector can be a great way to preserve the integrity of a laptop’s display, but does Apple pre-install one on the MacBook Pro?
Do MacBook Pros Come With Screen Protectors?
No, the MacBook Pro does not come with a screen protector. Using a screen protector with the MacBook Pro is not recommended as it can degrade the quality of the display, damage the display, and lower the effectiveness of the anti-glare coating.
After extensively researching Apple product troubleshooting forums, I have gathered enough information to determine if the MacBook Pro comes with a screen protector.
My research has indicated that screen protectors can potentially have damaging effects on Apple displays, and they should be applied carefully or avoided completely.
MacBook Pro & Screen Protectors
Buying an Apple device is a major investment for many people, especially with the latest MacBook Pro model costing upwards of $6,000+.
You would think that with this kind of price Apple might pre-install screen protectors on their MacBook Pro line-up. However, that is not the case, as the MacBook Pro does come with a screen protector.
Although Apple’s products are rarely built for durability, they are usually not so fragile that a screen protector is necessary to come pre-installed or included in the purchase. There are plenty of screen protectors for the MacBook pro on the market, but you may want to consider whether applying one to your device is actually worth it.
Should You Use a Screen Protector on MacBook Pro?
No, you should not use a screen protector on a MacBook Pro. Apple does not include screen protectors with the MacBook Pro for a reason, they are unnecessary.
It can be very tempting to buy a screen protector for your MacBook Pro simply to protect your investment. Apple products are not cheap to repair, and they are even more expensive to buy, which is why I only recommend applying a screen protector if you feel like you absolutely need one.
Reasons to Avoid Screen Protectors on MacBook Pro
If you are on the fence about buying a screen protector for your MacBook Pro, you should consider how this will affect your display before you do so. Most Apple customers avoid screen protectors on MacBooks completely, and for good reason.
Display Quality Degradation
Apple designs the majority of its products to be used right out of the box with no additional features or accessories being necessary, including screen protectors.
The display on a modern MacBook Pro is state-of-the-art and is arguably the best on the market compared to any other competitive laptop model.
Adding a screen protector to the Apple MacBook Pro is going to degrade the quality of the image, which essentially downgrades your entire display.
Each screen protector is slightly different. Some are meant to protect against scratches – whereas others filter out certain colors.
Regardless, any kind of screen protector that you apply to your MacBook Pro is not going to do the quality of your display any justice.
Damaged Display
Although screen protectors are meant to protect your display from damage, they can sometimes have the opposite effect.
There are a lot of third-rate screen protectors on the market that have been known to damage people’s laptops when they try to remove them.
The MacBook Pro’s display is made using premium quality glass, which can be sensitive to screen protectors. Applying one can potentially damage the glass after removal.
Ineffective Anti-Glare Coating
A great feature that Apple includes with the MacBook Pro is an anti-glare coating on the display. It can be very frustrating to try to use a laptop and have to squint to make out what is on the screen.
With Apple’s anti-glare coating, you can use your MacBook in a variety of different lighting conditions with optimal visibility. With that said, applying a screen protector can make this anti-glare coating less effective.
The quality of virtually all screen protectors on the market cannot match up to MacBook Pro’s display. Adding a screen protector will only lower the quality of the display and make its anti-glare feature less effective.
In addition, there have been reports of cheap screen protectors peeling off the film of the anti-glare coating after removing them from the device.
Unnecessary Accessory
The bottom line is that screen protectors are simply unnecessary accessories for most MacBook Pro users.
This is not an iPhone that you will be touching with your fingers constantly, which greatly eliminates the chances of the display getting scratched.
Apple designed the MacBook Pro to be fairly durable, and you should not experience wear and tear unless you put the device under stress. If you can avoid touching your MacBook Pro’s display, a screen protector is an unnecessary accessory to apply to the device.
How to Remove a Screen Protector from a MacBook Pro?
Whether you’ve applied a screen protector to your MacBook Pro and are now having second thoughts or if one came pre-installed on a secondhand model, you may want to remove it to make the most of the display.
Each screen protector is a bit different, which is why I recommend reviewing the instructions for your specific product before you try to remove it. However, as a general rule of thumb, you can use the following method to remove a screen protector from your MacBook Pro:
- Turn off MacBook Pro
- Place a piece of duct tape on the corner of the screen protector
- Carefully pull the duct tape to remove the screen protector
Alternatively, if the screen protector is easy to remove, you can do so simply by using your fingernail to gently peel it away starting from the corner of the display.
Key Takeaways
- The MacBook Pro does not come with a screen protector.
- Using a screen protector with the MacBook Pro is not recommended as it can degrade the quality of the display, damage the display, and lower the effectiveness of the anti-glare coating.
- You can remove a screen protector from a MacBook Pro by using a piece of duct tape to gently peel the protective layer from the display.
