Does anyone know how he was doing that cursive writing at 1:50? If anyone has a link to a tutorial it would be appreciated.

The biggest problem I have with Paperlike is the way they gave the product out to virtually every Procreate artist or art channel on KZfaq, with a marketing "partnership". The overwhelming majority of those KZfaqrs said wonderful things about Paperlike. Of course. As a marketing strategy, it's been hard to beat. BUT... the story is entirely different from those people who actually PAID for the product. In real-world reviews, people very regularly complain about the product bubbling off the screen, being scratched, wearing down the Apple Pencil tip and harming the image quality. Also... Paperlike is _very_ expensive for what you get. Yes, it's cheap compared to the cost of an iPad, but that's only because the iPad is so expensive. It's not a great value.

I’m using pentips so that I can get the max use of the fantastic iPad Pro screen, I also have a gloss screen protector and it works without issue.

I have the bellemond matte screenprotector on it. And after a year and a half there are no scratches like the paperlike gets, I still don’t need to replace it. My pencil is also still perfectly fine. I highly recommend it over the paperlike.

Always good to hear the opinion of someone I trust rather than someone who only does it for the kickback. I tried pen tips, didn't like them and the paperlike matte finish wasn't for me. I finally settled on a glass screen protector and I use a Reeyear Fine point with friction nib. I love this combo. The glass protects my screen and the tips are actually metal balls that are super precise and have tiny plastic covers that can easily be replaced.

The loss in screen quality is quite significant, which is an important factor considering how nice the screen on the iPad is. Furthermore, the Paperlike screen protector doesn't actually protect the screen, it is simply to give you the feel of pen and paper. I prefer the pen tips as I feel like it makes more sense to put shoes on, rather than cover the whole ground in leather.

Tried both. PaperLike : loses its texture over time. But overall it's great. Pentips: The mushy rubbery tip just feels wrong. They get in the way of quick sketching. And I loose them all the time.

When I first got my current iPad I looked for options to make the screen and the pencil tip last longer while I could also have enough control. This might be a little exaggerated for some of you, but the truth is that Apple is not really affordable in Mexico, so take this just as my experience. I have a sort of trauma with protecting the screens of my devices as soon as I get them, so the first thing I got was a tempered glass protector (around $100.00MXN). The friction of the pencil and the screen was non-existent, so I couldn’t write properly and thought of getting a simple matte protector ($72.04MXN). When I was purchasing it I also decided to buy pen tips ($43.48, pack of 8 multiple colors) to see which option was better for me. At the end I realized the glare on the screen was annoying and kept the matte protector on for that, but the sound the pencil made when it touched the screen was so annoying (and made me feel like my tip was going to burn down in no time) that I decided to put on the pen tip. At first it was so much friction that I couldn’t use it properly the first 2 days, but then I got used to the friction and it has been the best combo ever. I’m someone who puts a lot of pressure on the paper when I write, so this somehow allowed me to control that pressure while keeping safe both my screen and pencil. I haven’t had the need to replace the matte protector and I’m still on my second pen tip after almost 1 year. In total I spent a portion of the products from brands like Paperlike and got perfect results, so I can tell you that even Aliexpress products work just fine and you can save up a lot of money while you protect both your screen and pencil, you just need to find the right combo. P.S. I bought mine at Shopee, not Aliexpress.

Still relevant one year later. Excellent comparison. Thank you for taking the time to do such a detailed review and comparison

Great review. The whole time I was watching this I kept saying, "This guy is an incredible artist!" Since you couldn't hear me, I thought I'd tell you. Thank you, I will certainly try both for the pencil on paper feel which is how I have drawn most of my life.

I used paperlike first and bought the pen tips as well. The scratches and the loss of the brightness with the paperlike made me to switch to the pen tips only. Mine stick on the apple pencil and I haven‘t lost one. I am the type of user who writes a lot and watches movies. My favourite duo is a clear screen protection and the pen tips + the grip from pen tips.

Awesome review! I like Stary magnetic paper matte screen protector…easy on…easy off. When I first popped it on it did chew through the tip quick but like any of them it leveled out. The magnetic strips allow for easy on and easy off to adjust the experience to what you are doing on the iPad (i.e drawing vs. iPadding). The wear is moderate but that all depends on your use. For those with magnetic iPad cases, it sometimes clings to the screen protector but minor issue. I agree that the peace of mind knowing that the screen is protected takes the presidency.

Great review, but even better I’m mesmerised by your art work. Love it!

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this. I've had so many questions about the differences between both and which to go for. After seeing this video, I think pen tips are best for my circumstances. Again, thank you so much for this!

I have a paper-feel screen protector of ESR and I love it. It gives you a nice feel while writing and drawing and gives a bit resistance for the Pencil. It does wear down the apple pencil tip a bit, but I didn't need to change the tip since I got the screen protector (nearly a year ago).Everything gets a bit less sharp, but I got used to it and its not that bad. There is a tiny bit of noise if you look for it, but it's not noticeable under normal use. I personally like the Matt finish on the screen but I heard from other people that it distracts them a bit. It basically doesn't get scrached so it protects your screen while being half the price of Paperlike. I can only recommend it!

My experience with paper like has been great, It’s done me well and caused no connection errors and while, yes, there is a slight change in how the screen looks, it’s not significant. I’m scatterbrained, so having a screen protector that also helps with texture without me having to worry about loosing it

Omg this video is so helpful. I like that you’ve spent months/years before actually making the review. Very helpful!

I've been seeing videos on if matte is better or tempered protector... I really wanted that paperlike writing sound and feeling, but didn't want the matte protector cuz it's gonna make the resolution very dull.. and FINALLY, I've found a video where I don't need a matte protector for the paperlike feeling.. thank you so much... I'm gonna go ahead and buy the pen tips :DD

Always enjoy your videos. Keep it up! 🙌❤️

I have a matte iVisor screen protector. It only sticks around the edges, so no air bubbles to try to push out. It is easy to remove and replace and, if the adhesive gunks up, it can be washed. And it's excellent with the Apple Pencil.

Currently using my 3th iPad with a Paperlike screenprotector…never thought of the tips. But since a few months using the Elago pencil sleeve and must say I like it a lot!

Great information! I use Paperlike and so far have really enjoyed it. Thanks for the excellent breakdown of both options. When these wear out I might give the pen tips a go.

The reason for me not to use Paperlike anymore was the scratches. They atppeared almost instantly after only using it for a few days. Afer several weeks I had enough. I changed to a different brand, slightly cheaper, also came in a 2-pack. I still haven't used the second screen protector yet after almost 2 years. The first one doesn't have any scratches so far. Best investment ever.

Yes! I've been wondering the exact same thing on what to buy. And now to watch the video.

I'm new to Apple Pencil and this was extremely helpful!

thanks it was helpful! Damm your work projects are clean, love the colours:)

Thanks for this video, very interesting, I was questioning myself what to buy between those option !

good comparison. 2 things though if you ever want to follow up on this: There are also removable matte paper imitation screenprotectors which would mean you can enjoy the display when you don't draw. And also the idea of using up the apple pencil is a bit weird to me can't you just get replayment tips from apple for like $5.5 per tip

Thanks for this...made the mistake of removing my Paperlike cover recently when I was trying to sort something out and was deciding on whether to get another set or the pen tips. Think I'll go forward with the screen protector...as you said, it's better for the iPad as well. So, thanks again.

I was so worried that a matte screen protector’s cons will bother me a lot but I was so surprised that I got used it. I only have one problem tho, every time I hold my iPad on the button side, it creates a bubble but it goes away quickly. Best experience tho! (oh and I didn’t get paperlike just a generic)

Hey Ian, I found a method that works better for me. I used the pen tips, but it feels like i loose a lot of accuracy. Therefore i decided to try something: I bought a can of fluid rubber. The stuff you can use to coat wrenches for example. A can was 12€. Then just dip your tip in there so it maybe gets coverd 3-4mm. Use a tape to hang it so it can dry. Now you have a rubberized tip with a thin coat that is not coming loose. If it wears out just scrape it off and dip again. The can will last you forever.

Excellent review. Very helpful. I don’t yet know which I will choose but the video and the various comments will help me make my mind up. Thanks very much!

I’ve been using Paperlike on my iPad Pro 12.9 3rd Gen for 3 years, no sign of wear at all and no lifting. I’ve just upgraded to the iPad Pro 5th gen and was able to use the 2nd screen protector on this iPad handing in my old iPad to my wife. The Paperlike is awesome and I don’t notice any downside to the Matt finish unless I see an iPad without a screen saver next to mine, I really don’t like gloss screen protectors.

Hi Ian, thank you so much for this review and comparison! 😄 -Marc

WOW, just the video and tips I needed. I bought an iPad 9th gen for note-taking and the experience with the Apple Pencil hasn't been good because of the sound and the slippery screen. Thank you!

Thank you for posting this video. You have a new subscriber. Keep up the great work.

Am using paperlike and Pentips about 3 yrs for drawing work very well so far. If you have the problem the Pentips getting loose don’t trow way the Pentip…just put it back inside the box…it will make the pentips back to they normal size.

To me, who use iPad mini 6 as an ereader device, sometime write notes with my pencil, The Paperlike which add some matte finish and made the screen less glared is perfect for me.

I'll definitely check out the pen tips. I recently had to replace my apple pencil tip because it's worn down so badly and it made me nervous that I'd have to replace it often

Thank you for this review. I am using a paperlike screen protector. I used it about 3-4 times a week for about 40 minutes each time. After about 6 months I started to see the texture beginning to wear out and it started to smooth out, except the corner areas where my pencil didn't touch. I didn't know about PenTips so I will try it in conjunction with the screen protector to see how it goes. Thanks again for sharing!

I have a cheap matte protector from Amazon, Ive thought about purchasing a Paperlike for my next iPad, but these tips have me interested as well. Just not sure I will like the sticky dragging feel of the tips.

Late to the video...sorry. Nice overview! I have used both and found the tips to be the way to go for me. I do a lot of video work and detailed art/design. While I prefer the feel of the paper like - I found there were 3 main issues. 1. Increased glare/bloom. The screen protector negates the anti-reflective coating and despite having a matte finish, in some lighting conditions created a distracting, soft glare. Highlights in some images presented as a glow or bloom when in fact the video(in this case) did not have a glow/bloom applied. 2. Scratches/wear on the surface of the screen protector. Over time, the normal wear and tear becomes visibly apparent and became a distraction for me. 3. Accuracy of colors. Being able to clearly identify colors and values without the need for numeric values is a bit difficult with the slight shift from the screen protector. Again, I much prefer the feel of the resistance of a pencil on paper. I really wanted to keep the paper like on the iPad. The silicone tips are a bit thick and feel a bit squishy and actually with regard to spatial accuracy, I find them to be a little less accurate than the paper like. There is a muscle memory learning curve with the tips that was not there with the screen protector. I have not found the tips to wear out yet. Still on my first set. More than a year in. Happy drawing to all!

This helped me chose. My final choice is pen tips! Thank you Ian

HI Ian, great video and it has helped me to decide on what to get. I am not a huge add on pen-tip, i find it distracting, but that is just me. Side note question; what apps were you using during the video?

Never seen the tips before. This is my 2nd ipad and i really enjoy using them for media consumption as well. And going just bare glass has worked fine for me but could never get used to the slipping. And i need the extra friction for school work and want to start taking art a little more seriously on the side. This will do!

I have the paper like homepage open on my browser for days now, this video is exactly what I was looking for. Great as always! Thank you! I might just buy both though 😂

Think about this. I stripped off the top layer of plastic from apple pencil tip when they wear down. The tip underneath the plastic has a metal pall point tip. It works flawlessly with a paper-like (not paper-like branded, i-Carez brand) screen protector. AND it now sounds like a real pencil. Not only that, the tip is thinner and I can see more of my screen for precision line work. The pencil tips are made of very hard plastic with textured edges leading down it. I've had only normal wear on it so far. I've only had to replace my screen protector once every 8-10 months. I've had to replace my tips more often before doing this method. A word of caution. If you tilt the pencil often while drawing a lot there is a risk of deep scratches on either the screen or screen protector as the pencil tips are not intended to be used like in the way I do. The edge where the metal meets the plastic is not completely flush. Do this at your own risk. I do it because it's cheaper than buying more tips when they wear down. You get more life out of them.

I think I'd rather that pentips wear out than the tip of the apple pencil itself wear out. I've wanted to try paperlike for a while but after hearing how it easily wears out the tip, I held off of getting it. I don't think apple pencil tips are easily available in my country, and they're feckin expensive iirc, so I'm glad to find out there's an alternative to it.

i am a traditional artist who wants to move too digital too, so i’m looking for things to help it feel more like traditional art because every time i’ve used my sisters ipad the slick feeling of the glass screen always threw me off

Great Comparison, been looking for a paperlike alternative. Where'd you get your ipad wallpapers?

I like that Paperlike also makes reading on the iPad feel more like paper too, more “authentic”. As a writer, that’s important for me.

Hi there! I love the Paperlike, but tried other 'cheap' pen tips with it (mostly for my kid drawing on the ipad)... And it leaves huuuuge trails on the paperlike, which I have to clean after each use! Do the PenTips leave such trails on the paperlike when using both? Cheers :)

Thank you Ian!

I would go with the tips. I have a natural aversion to pressing hard on my $1200 screen. I change the brush sensitivity in the brush settings (Procreate). Thanks for this review, I didn't even know these existed.

Great vlog thank you! What art package do you use on your iPad for your work? I’m looking around and looking to get any advice if possible please. Thank you!

very useful and great video quality!

I have tried pen tips before (different brand) and they split on the first day. I use the 2nd get pencil, and use the double tap feature for the erase tool in my apps. This means that I hold my apple pencil the same way all the time, causing wear on one edge. It split due to the drag of the tip on my tempered glass screen protector. I now use a matt screen protector and had very few issues with it.

Just what I was looking for thank you.

I love the tapping noise

I greatly appreciate this video. In every device I purchase I always have a screen protector on. Given that I decided to get an iPad with the pencil I was wondering what was the best appraoch. I will go with the PenTips, Thanks again.

Great review thanks

Fantastic review. Thanks!

Personally, I got a normal screen protector, not for Apple Pencil or anything. But I actually really like the feel when drawing. It’s not like paper but I like how it is smooth. Although when an iPad doesn’t have a screen protector the Apple Pencil feels pretty bad for me

Personally a matte cover doesn't ruin the engagement for me I like it a bit more than having a constantly shining cover on my screen

I prefer a matte screen protector because it reduces smudges on the screen, and glare when I’m outdoors. I’ve used paperlike and one by a company named bellemond, which works just as well as the paperlike at a fraction of the price. I don’t really notice a real degradation to image quality unless I’m really close to the screen. As far as scratches go, I don’t have any, since i haven’t used my Apple Pencil as much since I’ve been in a bit of a slump. I’ll probably try out the pen tips in conjunction with the screen protector some day.

I’m a photographer and I use my iPad for quick edits while traveling and the loss of depth in the shadows/blacks make me wary. I ordered the pen tips recently and this gave me some comfort. Have you also tried the magnetic ones like Astropad/

Yes I agree that the paper like for my extensive writing use is much better option.

The glass screen won't get scratched that easily. So, protection from scratch is really not a big deal,unless sand ,gemstones or concrete surfaces could come in contact with you ipad(metal would require a considerable amount of force to scratch

I’m not an artist, however found the info about these very useful thanks 🙂👍🏻 I’ve been torn with trying the Paperlike, even with the refund policy! 😂 Superb video Ian 👍🏻

Putting a screen protector on is a pain. There is so much contraction in my neighborhood the dust is insane. I dust then blink then have to dust. I like the feedback on the Paperlike. I havent tried the pencil tips.

Thank you, Ian, for a very informative comparison. I am thinking seriously about going for Paperlike in order to have the peace of mind brought about by a screen protector. But I am afraid that I will be too clumsy to properly install it.

Excellent and informative thank you for making this vid

My boyfriend is a comic artist and just purchased (as in... yesterday!) his first iPad pro, so this video couldn't come at a better time 🥰

Thanks a lot for the full comparison. It’s a great video. I have used paper like but don’t like the fact that it changes the colors a little. Will try pentips. BTW what is that movie on 5:48?

Good information to have, just got the pencil and am finding that with my light holding of the pencil causes the tip to slip on the glass, I too prefer the feeling of paper when drawing.

Amazing review. Thanks for sharing it.

I’ve been using the paper like since they first began offering it as a kickstarter, the thing I hate though is that no matter how careful I am applying it there is always a spec of dust stuck under the protector and I’ve had to go through 3 of them so far and still there’s one annoying spec of dust. I followed all the directions and the iPad screen was spotless but the second I peel off the paper like there’s that damn spot. I work on a white background a lot so it’s really annoying.

I have a collegeu who is not an artist but uses the iPad for taking notes. Paperlike is awesome for that kind of use. I tried it on his iPad and it makes writing noticeably better. Me, I use my iPad for drawing and watching movies, so i might step over to pentips

Oh man!.... nice to see Im not the only one with scratches issues, I got mine for 2 weeks and there are a lot of scratches already, I do NOT use the pen with much pressure at all and was worried that it would be this fragile, but seems that it is, plus I do not use it for art, I use it mainly for note taking since Im a college student, sadly I'll not get another one again, it wears out too quickly and can’t be replacing them every couple months, its just not on my budget right now :(, anyway I guess the glass screen protector is the way for me.

I was able to get 2/3 years off of the paperlike screen protector (would have lasted longer but I broke my iPad). Used another brand and no screen protector feels as good and works as well as paperlike. I preferred my years old one to a brand new off brand one.

Does the Pen tip scratch the iPad Screen without the screen protector installed?

Why am I watching this whole video if I don't draw, don't have an Ipad pro and don't have any intentions to buy or start drawing :/

Mr.Barnard, I got a question, which one do you recommend best for note taking for students?

Just bought a different matte screen protector I found on Amazon for way cheaper compared to Paperlike. Works pretty tbh

Exellent review!

Thanks for this video, sir.

I’ve been using the pen tips since June. I use my pencil a lot more often now since using the tips.

i have a magnetic 'paperlike' type (same concept, different brand) screen protector that can easily be taken on and off. that gives a choice of screen texture and combined with metal ballpoint apple pencil tips +the regular apple pencil tips there is a lot of easy variety ! i recommend the magnetic protector for anyone who wants the texture but also wants choice

Used some no-name tips from Aliexpress, it did get a little fuzzy at first and I still prefer to use Apple Pencil raw for comments like this, but it is much more useful for design elements and graphic/bold text design and while working in DaVinci

Great, informative video. Thank you :)

The color difference between paperlike and no paperlike looked quite substantial. The colors looked very….”dull”. Thanks fornthe video. Definitely helped me decide. Pentips it is for me. I watch a lot of movies and series on my ipad.

Thank you for this video. I think I’m going to purchase Paperlike

this is actually pretty funny, since i've used the ipad and apple pencil to draw ever since 2017 and rarely did traditional art, i ironically feel more at home with the glossy screen. in fact, i when my friends first told me to get a screen protector, i was genuinely confused because that is what i considered (and still do consider) normal.

I'm interested in knowing what program you work in to create that art you showed in this video Ian? I saw you draw a line and dots appears without you tapping. Hows that done?

Forget Paperlike, forget the pen tips. I use a matte screen protector (SP) from iCarez, bought a two pack off of amazon for $6. I have had three ipads, been using iCarez matte SP for 3 years now, each one I have had for no less than a full year, my most recent M1 pro for even longer. I have NEVER had to replace any of the the SP or the original nib on my Apple 2nd gen pencil. It does get scratched, but you can literally buff them out with a microfiber cloth. My issue with Paperlike is the price and lack of longevity in the SP. My issue with the Pentips is for someone with a heavy hand like myself, you don't lose them, instead you wear them out! Replacing them each month or so was getting ridiculous.

So what screen protector would you recommend? I want a screen protector that doesn’t scratch when I write on it Thank you so much if you answer it would be very appreciative

Great video!

What about using pen tips on a regular screen protector?

great vid, thanks!