My iPad gets more use than nearly any other piece of technology I own, for everything from art to writing and editing.
Because the device gets so much use, I have to be picky about anything that changes its look or feel. In the iPad’s case, the plain glass screen doesn’t do it for me in the art department. Not only that, but working outside on a lovely Texas morning is miserable with the blinding reflection coming off the screen.
And then there’s the Apple Pencil—the standard tip goes sliding across the screen, making it impossible to control the thing for any decent art.
Enter textured screen protectors (and after market Apple Pencil tips like those from PenTips, but that’s for another blog).
There are dozens of different screen protectors—I’ve used a few. Most of them use adhesive to stick to the screen, but have their own challenges. They look and function great, but I struggle to install them without having random bubbles in the surface.
It’s annoying.
I’ve tried a few magnetic screen protectors, but most of them don’t sit closely enough to the screen and it’s hard to work on my iPad outside. They’re easy to remove to clean, but gather more dust underneath—so it’s a pickle.
The Textured Feeling ScreenMat 2 from PenTips is as easy to install as it is to remove—not that you’d want to!
Textured Feeling PenMat 2 by PenTips
My first experience with PenTips was through the silicone tipped, PenTips 2+ tips for my Apple Pencil. They’re comfortable and easy to use—you just swap out the standard Apple tip with theirs. Around the same time, I ordered their original PenMat and used the combination for a few weeks before I heard about the newest product, the Textured Feeling PenMat 2.
According to PenTips, the Textured Feeling Pen Mat 2 uses Riptide technology to achieve a closer fit to the glass of your iPad. And, if my last couple of months using it is any example, it works. It isn’t quite as close as an adhesive-based product, but nearly.
PenTips generously sent a Textured Feeling PenMat 2 to some of their affiliates—including me! And I have been enjoying it for a couple of months.
Among the first things I noticed was that the installation is way easier than similar products—even easier than the original. It also includes a tab for easy removal.
This screen protector has a nice texture to it, and sits very close to the glass. It’s actually difficult to see that it’s not a standard adhesive-installed screen protector. The others I’ve used had to be removed for cleaning on a semi-regular basis. In contrast, I have only taken the Textured Feeling PenMat 2 off for cleaning twice. It doesn’t gather much dust at all.
I like the texture too. Like anything digital, it’s not 100 percent “just like paper,” but has enough “grab” to make it very workable. PenTips says that using their PenTips Ink, you’ll achieve a more paper-like experience—which may be the next step in my never-ending search for the perfect combo.
Note: I received this product free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. I also receive a small commission on products purchased through links here.
