PaperlikeScreen Protector (2x) for iPad Air 11” (2024 & 2025) for an authentic paper-feel

Plainly stated, this product lives up to the hype. I’m old-school when it comes to taking notes, and my job involves taking notes all day long. When my wife finally convinced me to drop the college ruled notebook and get an iPad, I was still worried about losing the feel of pen on paper. Paperlike’s product has since made that fear moot.I’m not a first time purchaser and the last time I ordered with Paperlike, thinking I knew better, I rushed the application and within days saw ripples around the edges of the screen cover. Incorrectly thinking it was a product issue I emailed Paperlike. Within 3 hrs I had a response, a kind explanation of what I’d done wrong, which simply was not following their clear and easy installation instructions, and a notification that a replacement would be forthcoming. In addition to having an outstanding product, their customer service makes it clear I made the right decision to give the Paperlike team my business.

This is a really high-quality matte plastic screen protector for the iPad Air. Once it’s on, it completely changes how writing and drawing feels — way more natural, like actual paper. Great for college note-taking and solving math problems. The Apple Pencil doesn’t feel like it’s skating on glass anymore, but it’s still responsive and accurate. It just makes the whole experience of writing or sketching feel so much better.You get two protectors in the pack, plus all the accessories you need: cleaning wipes, dust stickers, guide tools — even a link to a very helpful install video. So far, so good.But holy hell, installing this thing is a pain in the ass. And I say that as someone who’s pretty experienced with screen protectors.The biggest issue is removing the protective film from the adhesive side. It’s really tough to peel off cleanly, and when you finally get it off, it’s way too easy to accidentally flex or warp the screen protector itself. I’m pretty sure that’s what happened with mine — the edges, especially the corners, never fully settled. Even a month later, they’re still slightly lifted. They haven’t gotten worse, but they’re not flush either.If you’re planning on picking this up (and honestly, you should — the feel is absolutely worth it), here’s what I recommend:Do the install in the most dust-free environment you can manage. Seriously — a steamy bathroom or a sealed room with zero airflow.Watch the full install video before you do anything.Be very careful peeling the backing off the adhesive side. Go slow, and support the protector so it doesn’t flex.Don’t stress if some corners don’t fully adhere. It still works great and doesn’t peel any further.Overall, this is a fantastic matte screen protector that delivers exactly what it promises — just be prepared for a tricky install. 4/5.

The texture is smooth and matte, and I haven’t had any issues with fingerprints. The pack comes with 2 and you get a link to a video that walks you through applying it if you need it. Had some handy tips.

Same as others that have complained about the product application is terrible. No matter what I did there is always dust or air pockets that appear due to the protector not staying in place or lifting as you peel the final cover off. This is the second one I purchased as I thought maybe it was just me the first time but after 4 applications with the same results a redesign should be put in place. Even the cloth provided leaves more dust and strands from it than it should which again makes it hard to see on the black screen until the protector is placed then shows fully and leaves the air pockets. Which I hate care I really wanted to use it as it does feel nice but not being able to apply it without issues makes it an eye sore to look at everyday and I just end up pulling it off.

Great quality and great to have if you’re using a Apple Pencil or Stylus

Here’s the deal - Does this thing do what it says it does? Yes. It makes the screen a hell of a lot easier to write/draw on because it no longer feels like you are trying to stop a speeding car on black ice when you are using the Apple Pencil directly on the glass.BUT (and it is a big but), it is extremely difficult to install. I think that the manufacturer must know this because they give you two of them with the marketing material explicitly calling out that they’re doing it in case you screw up.I would love to assume that this is because the company is kind and benevolent, but I am fairly convinced it is because if you only have one shot at a successful installation on a product that costs $45 and has an absurdly error prone install process, you are gonna be mad as hell if you screw it up.So, dear reader, let me warn you: you are gonna feel like having two of them should be enough. But that is something called complacency and complacency kills. In this case, it will kill your spirit or your will to buy another set of these things.I watched the install video TWICE, I followed their recommendations to the letter. Alas, I gave in to human nature and pulled the pinkish-red tab that just begged to be pulled to remove “foil” (in quotes because it is actually plastic, but maybe they call plastic foil in Switzerland, haha). That was a mistake. As I slowly pulled the last bit of that foil off, I realized, too late, that I had taken the whole screen protector with it.Ok, fine. As George W. Bush once said, “fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.”Narrator: He could, indeed, get fooled again.Yes, I was fooled again. I did the application completely correctly on the second try, only to find out that one of my eyelashes fell onto the exposed, sticky side of the screen protector as I was peeling off the protective film on that side. Which is, just so we are clear, insanely difficult to do. You are trying to peel off a film to expose the sticky side of the protector while it is barely clinging to the iPad via three very flimsy stickers while also trying not to get finger prints or oils on said sticky side of the protector.I hope I never get to find out, but I really wonder if there is an 10th circle of hell where you have to do nothing but try to successfully install this product. Similarly if I were Sisyphus and I were given the choice to install this again or push that boulder forever, I would choose the boulder. At least that was free.TL;DR the product feels wonderful IF you manage to install it correctly. I truly hope that you are one of the lucky few who succeeds.