Key Takeaways
- The nano-texture reduces reflections, allowing the iPad Pro display to be used in direct sunlight.
- This technique produces a smooth surface, but can affect the depth of black color under certain lighting conditions.
- The nano-texture makes the Pad Pro easier to use outdoors.
I’ve always been skeptical of nano-texture display technology — in fact, I’d heard that matte coatings were so awful that I slapped a glossy screen protector on the Steam Deck OLED immediately after receiving my review unit from Valve (which almost completely negates the effect of the nano-texture).
Losing the deep blacks of an OLED display? No way. Washing out colors? That’s the last thing I want. So when I finally got my hands on Apple’s M4 iPad Pro, I was prepared to be disappointed and annoyed by the cloudy display I was about to experience.
But to my surprise, I really liked the nano-textured screen on the new 11-inch iPad Pro, and in fact, I’m hopeful that we’ll one day see nano-textured coatings on smartphones, whether they’re iPhones or Android devices.
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
$929 $999 Save $70
The reduced-display version of Apple’s latest iPad is a monster of a machine.
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Say goodbye to unpleasant looks
Welcome to silky smooth surfaces
First, a word about the nano-texture in general: Though it has a matte finish, the nano-texture is intended to reduce the glare that the display often suffers from when used in direct sunlight. If you’ve ever tried to use your iPad outdoors, you’ll know what I’m talking about; you’ll be able to see the display somewhat, but not completely, and you’ll likely need to maximize the brightness and move the display slightly to get the sun angle just right.
Apple’s nanotexture addresses this issue by diffusing light and breaking it up with tiny etchings, which can look great in some lighting conditions but can make the display look slightly blurry and take away from the deep blacks OLED screen technology is known for.
You can work in direct sunlight on your backyard deck, work by a bright window in your living room, or even take your iPad Pro with you and work while being the passenger princess you were born to be.
I’ve been using the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro with nano-texture screen for a few weeks now, and I haven’t noticed many drawbacks to the technology. Sure, sometimes the blacks aren’t as deep as on the standard OLED iPad Pro display, but this is rare and only occurs when using the tablet in a dark room under very low light. The only major drawback I’ve noticed is that the screen can get a little blurry when viewing content from certain angles or very close to your face. This isn’t fatal, but some people might find it annoying.
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Nanotexture changes how we use the iPad Pro
Outdoor work is now possible
Now that I work from home full time, I try to spend at least a few hours each day writing and editing photos in my backyard. Previously, I would grab my 15″ MacBook Air and sit on the patio under my backyard raised deck, looking at my laptop screen while avoiding the sun. The nano-textured iPad Pro gives me more options for where I can work outdoors, depending on what I need to do.
For example, you can work in direct sunlight on your back deck, work by a bright window in your living room, or take your iPad Pro with you and work like the passenger princess you were born to be. Overall, there are now far more options for where you can write, relax and watch a TV show or movie, or play a game.
I primarily use my iPad Pro as a writing, photo editing and media device, and I could probably get 70-80 percent of my work here at Pocket-lint done on the tablet if I put in the effort to create a workaround-filled workflow. Would I do that? Probably not, but if I did decide to switch, it’s good to know I have a device that’s suited to outdoor use.
In my time using the M4 iPad Pro, I haven’t noticed any noticeable drawbacks to the iPad Pro’s nano-textured screen.
I also really love the way my Apple Pencil Pro feels when I move it across the nano-textured display; it feels like paper, with a satisfying drag that I’ve never experienced before with a tablet stylus. Since I’m constantly cleaning my device to keep the display free of oils and smudges, I also love how the nano-texture seems to easily hide any unwanted debris (although it can be tricky to clean).
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Is NanoTexture Right for You?
Maybe not.
My suggestion on whether or not Apple should add nano-texture to its already expensive M4 iPad Pro depends on how you use the tablet: Will you use it primarily in a relatively dark room at home, and rarely outdoors or on the go? If so, there’s no need to shell out an extra $100 for a special display coating.
That said, I haven’t noticed any noticeable drawbacks to the iPad Pro’s nano-textured screen, at least during my time with the M4 iPad Pro, so if you’re prepared to pay the extra cost, it could be worth it. The M4 iPad Pro’s OLED display is still stunning overall, with few instances of blacks looking a bit washed out so far.
In fact, I like the nano-textured coating so much that I’m considering peeling the glass screen protector off the Steam Deck OLED to experience the screen in its true matte shine.
