Glossy vs. Anti-glare: Is it worth $700?

Debating between the:
13-inch : 2.53GHz - $1,399.00
15-inch : 2.8GHz (anti-glare option) - $2,099.00
I would just go ahead and get the 13 inch, but I'm worried about the glossy screen. I've read that some people get headaches (which I have a problem with) or get distracted because the screen is so reflective (a pet-peeve of mine). Because of this, I am considering spending $700 more for the 15-inch with the anti-glare option. Is it worth it?
And will the 13-inch model ever come out with an anti-glare option?
Also, do the anti-glare screen films really work?
Personal experience is appreciated.
Thank you!

Any 15" MBP can have the anti-glare option added for $50.00. At least on the Apple store.
The difference between the two is striking in my opinion. I in fact waited over two years before upgrading to a new MBP because this option was no longer available. All of my Apple laptops have had Matte screens, and that is the way a laptop screen should look. At least if you ever plan to use it outside, in front of any light source or for any kind of photo or video editing. ;o)
These after-market "films" you stick over a glossy screen are not the same as the real thing.
The other difference is color accuracy. If you want a color accurate display, then get the Matte screen (Anti-glare). The reflection problem on the glossy is ridiculous as well, so when you add color accuracy and reflection free viewing to the equation, it is easily worth the difference.
The best way to make this decision for yourself is to pay a visit to an Apple store and compare the two side by side. If you think the glossy screen looks better, then buy it! ;o)
I seriously doubt that anyone who makes this comparison would choose that route however. The glossy screen was basically designed to appeal to "Consumers". The Matte screen was brought back because of the demand by the professional user community who NEED a color accurate display for photo and video editing.

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I am going to buy a macbook pro 15" but i can't choose between glossy or anti-glare

i am going to buy a macbook pro 15" with the 8gb ram and all that jazz but i can't choose between the glossy or anti glare they both will apply to my daily use but i cannot decide. is it possible to pick lets ay the glossy one then if i dont like it switch to the anti-glare or not ?

You can replace the screen later on, but at a cost.
Best bet would be to go to an apple shop and have a look at the 2 side by side and decide for yourself; if there was 1 that was better than the other, apple wouldn't give you the choice.
p.s. on a personal note I like the glossy one better. nicer picture IMO

Possible to switch 15" Hi Res glossy for anti-glare screen?

I bought a 15" MacBook Pro a few months ago and have found I don't like the hi-res glossy screen. Is it possible to switch to the hi-res anti-glare option without buying a new machine? The computer's great otherwise, but I edit lots of photos and the reflections on the glossy are distracting.

Welcome to the Apple Communities forums. Unfortunately Apple does not offer an after purchase option to change to the Hi-Res Anti glare option.
You could try the follow
http://www.techrestore.com/mac/mbp-unibody-repair.shtml
If you scroll down they have a service that for $199 will remove the Glossy option and install a Matte finish instead. This service does not void your Apple Warranty either according to their site.
Good Luck

What gives the best contrast and sharpness in text and reading documents on macbook pro with Hi-res screen, glossy or anti glare ?

HI,
I consider buying a MacBook pro 15 with hi-res screen.
My primary use is text editing and document reading (primarily Word).
I want as good as possible "clearness" or is it called contrast, leat blurry looking text.
Anyone who has any experience and/or opinion on this.
Thanks for your answer.
Terje

If I were you, I would opt for the high-res/anti-glare option - it's only $100US now: back when I purchased my MBP in March of 2012, it was a $250 option which I just couldn't afford. Now, looking at the new models side-by-side, I wish that I had ponyed up the $250 for the HR/AG option.
I'm certain that you won't regret it - the people that have the option seem to be tickled pink with it. These days I'm using a (glossy) 17" Apple Thunderbolt Display 90% of the time in a semi-dark room. But I find that my MBP with the glossy screen is simply unusable when outdoors or in bright backlighting.
Go for it...
Clinton

Glossy versus Anti-Glare

Which is better for video editing? I like the anti-glare screen but am worried that it won't give me true colors and black levels.
Any thoughts on the matter?

We use matte screens in our digital design Photo-shop class with no appreciable color loss or bleed.
zoz

Which type of screens do you guys have??? Glossy or Anti-glare

I just want to know which one is better. Which one is easies to get scratched? Which one is stable? And Which one is easies to get clean? Thanks

I'm planning to purchase a 17" Macbook Pro and have wondered the same. I found an Apple Store that had both of them on display and was able to compare them a bit. Bear in mind, firstly, as has been said many times before, this is largely a matter of opinion.
Some observations:
Color on both screens is excellent. In the super-bright apple store I thought they were both easy enough to read and adequately bright. YMMV.
The glossy screen is VERY glossy. In the brightly lit apple store, there is basically no angle where there will be no reflections. However, it is possible to get rid of the worst of the glare by adjusting your viewing angle.
The matte screen is much less glossy. Fancy that. It's about the same as any old-fashioned screen you might have seen on another laptop.
Colors on the matte screen are perhaps a bit more "dull". Colors on the glossy display definitely "pop". If you have seen a matte cinema display next to a glossy cinema display, you know what you're dealing with here in my opinion.
The matte display has NO protection over it. It is just the thin plastic layer like you'd have on any laptop. If you touch it, it will sort of "haze" and then fade back to normal. From experience with these screens in the past, fingerprints and dust can be difficult to clean and you want to be careful what you use to clean it.
The glossy screen is covered with a solid piece of glass. If you touch it, it does not affect the display. My assumption is that it will clean very easily with glass cleaner and a cloth.
Given I have a 3yr old and have seen my matte displays degrade with time due to accidents etc, I think I'm going to go along with Apple on this one and go for the glossy screen. Aside from the durability factor, personally, I'd prefer the Matte display. Lack of glare trumps "pop" any day for me.

MacBook display, glossy or anti-glare?

I have a very basic question about the MacBook that was recently updated (assuming so since it says "new"). Is the screen glossy or is it antiglare? What I mean is does things reflect off of the screen I remember an option I think for the Macbook Pro about this.

All except the 17" are glossy. It'll cost you $50 more for a matte display on the 17".

Glossy or anti-glare screen?

I am shopping for a 15 in MBP. My main use is photo editing either at home or at coffee shops. The editing is more composition than anything else. Lots of cutting and creating, mainly using PS elements. Also editing using Adobe InDesign for creating a book. Any thoughts on which screen is better for this?
All comments welcome and thanks in advance.

Hi there...
Matte - imho don't even think of buying a glossy one. The only pro for glossy might be a better contrast. But the cons are that you can see yourself in the display, the viewing angle is reduced and if a light source is behind you, you can't see a bit... If you are sitting in the garden of a coffee shop just forget about using a glossy display.
And even worse, you can see every fingerprint on the display. Matte displays are less vulnerable for that.
I really recommend a matte display for you. (using a matte display myself)
Best regards,
Sven

Considering 17 inch glossy vs. anti-glare screen. Any ideas?

http://news.mydrivers.com/img/20090107/03155327.jpg and http://news.mydrivers.com/img/20090107/03160375.jpg

I purchased my 17" MBP back in 2006. I played with both types of screens, and came to this conclusion:
If one has TOTAL CONTROL of the lighting in EVERY ENVIRONMENT they will be operating, then go with the glossy screen.
And, of course, no one has total control of all lighting situations ...
I haven't regretted purchasing a matte screen for a moment. I use this machine at home, on the road, in convention halls, in board rooms, on the kitchen table ... it's wonderful.
Clint "I Never Use Absolutes" Bradford

Anti-Glare vs Glossy for FCS

Hi,
I am buying a MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.66GHz Core i7 as a desktop replacement for use with FCS. I am aware of the various pros/cons of the three available display options and have looked at many other topics on the forum. I am not particularly concerned about reflection or glare as I have used the glossy screen on my current MBP for several months now and do not find it to be problematic. However, what I really need to know is which screen config is better suited for use with FCS. I have read several posts that suggest that the Anti-Glare screen has more accurate colour reproduction.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Acros-Krik

Tom,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I am aware of the limitations of computer screens (and not just on the MBP). The most important things is that it be +as close to the original as possible+.
As explained above, I have read comments from other graphic designers that suggest that there is a significant difference in the colour reproduction on the 2 screens. I cannot test this out for myself because the Apple Store on Regent St does not have any Anti-Glare screens on display.
Unfortunately, I do not always have access to my external monitor as I travel a lot. So...what I am really asking is which screen handles colour reproduction better?
Regards,
Acros-Krik

Replacing the glossy screen with a 3rd party anti-glare or matte

I had my credit card ready to purchase 2 iMacs (finally rplacing our two G5's), until I realized that the anti-glare option with the 15" and 17" MBP would not be carried over to the iMacs. So I was wondering if anyone know of a third party with an option to replace the glossy screen with either a matte or an anti-glare screen. Would this void any warranty?

Open letter to Apple:
Let me first say, I'm a long-time, loyal Mac user (and defender). My first experience with Apple was in elementary school - on the Apple IIE. I created a game using DOS code in grade 5.
My father was a high school teacher and brought home a Mac Plus when I was in high school. The "Paint" program that it came installed with initiated my humble beginnings as digital designer - even on the small black and white screen, with it's limited capabilities, I could see the potential. We were always a Mac family. When my mother finally retired, I talked her into getting the same 24" white IMac I currently have, because that way I could walk her through the setting up and use of it, and now we can skype each other and it's like she's here in the room with me, not a whole province away.
I even had a Mac as a single mom struggling as a full time Communication Design student at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. My young daughter and I lived off my student loans, but they weren't enough to buy a Mac, so I asked my dad to co-sign a student line of credit so I could get a Mac to be compatible with the computers at school. This was the only way I could take my homework home and work while my daughter slept. I sacrificed a lot to have a Mac. We sacrificed.
Skip ahead about a decade, I have my own small graphic design business, I currently have 3 Mac computers: I have a 24" white Imac as my main business tool; I have a titanium laptop for meetings and presentations, and a white Macbook laptop that my high school-aged daughter uses for school and socializing.
I am now at the point in my growing business that it is finally time to upgrade all of my equipment. I've been excitedly holding out for the newest Imac release. I went in to our local BestBuy a few weeks ago to buy my new 27" fully loaded Imac (hey I've worked hard, why not splurge a little?) As I walked up to the Mac display and finally laid eyes on my long awaited dream machine, all I could see was the shocked and betrayed look on my face reflected in the shiny surface of the screen. I nearly cried, I was so disappointed. All I could think was "How could you? "
What is the point of having the shiny screen? I feel so betrayed, so foolish, for sticking with Apple through thick and thin for nearly a quarter of a century. I have invested thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars in Apple products, peripherals, and MAC compatible software for all of my Macs. Adobe CS3, Microsoft Office, 3rd party applications, Mac compatible fonts, and even games. I have purchased protection plans, extra RAM, home insurance and back-up devices for my Macs. I was invested in you, Apple. So what now? Will my hard earned savings now go toward buying the new PC software needed to convert my business to PCs?
The graphics industry, for a large part, has kept Apple going all these years. We have paid the premium for our Apples, and we have just been stabbed in the back by Apple. On behalf of the entire graphic design community in North America, Apple, please offer us a matte screen option on all your new computers.

GLOSSY vs. ANTI-GLARE MONITOR

Hi, I'm going to college and am having trouble deciding between the Macbook Pro glossy or matte anti glare screen.
I'll mainly be using my notebook at home and library typing MS Word documents and reading for research. I'll also use it outside and manage photos with iphoto and watch DVDs. However, it's primary use is for text documents and research.
Which screen would you suggest? I've seen both of them at the Apple store and think there are advantages to each one.
Thanks for your help!

I too just went through weeks of trying to figure out which screen to get and after comparing the two in the store, I went with the glossy screen. I thought that I would be distracted by the glare of other objects on the screen, but I honestly never notice it unless I'm looking for it. The colors and contrast look amazing on a glossy screen and I wouldn't trade it for the matte either. I do some Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign work and lots of MS Office documents and research. Like the others have said, it really does come to personal preference so I suggest taking your time at the store and comparing the two screens. Even ask them if you can take them outside and see how you feel with the sun and all other reflections. Remember though, not to solely focus on the reflections because you will easily find them...but focus on the screen as if you were doing work on it. Good Luck!

GLOSSY vs. ANTI-GLARE

Hi, I'm going to college and am having trouble deciding between the Macbook Pro glossy or matte anti glare screen.
I'll mainly be using my notebook at home and library typing MS Word documents and reading for research. I'll also use it outside and manage photos with iphoto and watch DVDs. However, it's primary use is for text documents and research.
Which screen would you suggest? I've seen both of them at the Apple store and think there are advantages to each one.
Thanks for your help!

I have the 15.4" MBP with glossy screen. I could not go back to anti-glare.
As the last poster said, it's just a matter of preference. There are dozens of arguments for each type of screen. Folks say the glossy screen is bad for designers because it creates "false" vividness that won't be there when you print a document. In other words, it makes things look better than they will on paper. The colors won't match, etc.
I am a designer. I find the "inaccurate color reproduction" issue to be negligible; documents always look different on screen than they do in print — no matter how much calibration you do and what type of screen you have. One's RGB and one's CMYK. There will always be a difference.
The other aspect to the debate is this: glossy seems to be the way of the future. Apple doesn't even offer anti-glare coatings on anything but the MBP and Cinema Displays anymore. Other computer manufacturers are following the same trend.

Anti glare screen - put glossy glass over it?

Hi all
I recently bought a 15" MBP with a high res anti glare screen - I noticed that the screen dosent have the glas front "cover" like my 13" MBP glossy has.
Is it possible to put this glass on the anti glare screen? I know that the silver alu frame has to be removed from the antiglare screen. But the question is - is it possible and has anyone done it?
Thanks Christian

Wow, I've never seen glitches like those before.
When I first got my late 2008 MacBook Pro, I had some "hiccups" with the video card which made it freeze when I used my iTunes visualizer and etc.
Apple replaced the internal components, and so far I haven't had any graphic related problems.
I'd say, Take it back to Apple if you have time to leave it for further testing.
From the looks of it, I believe they should replace the mother board (at least that's what they did for me when I had graphics glitches)
Hope everything works out for you!

Screen: Glossy VS. Anti-Glare

I'm trying to decide which one of these screens i should chose to a MBP 17"..
i am studying multimedia design and communication, where i make websites and ads.
That's why i want you advices, because i don't realy know which one i should take

Neither one is universally better than the other. I know of at least one person here who I would be surprised if he didn't chime in to say that glossy screens suck and you should only consider anti-glare. But really, it's a completely personal thing. The glossy screens are awfully pretty, but can have glare issues. The anti-glare screens don't have so much glare, but aren't quite as pretty (IMHO). My advice is to visit an Apple Store or Best Buy and take a look at some machines. Compare both screen types side-by-side and see which you like better.

Glossy vs. Anti-glare: Is it worth $700?

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