The Two Kinds of LCD Monitors
Matte screens don't get glare or reflections on them; however, the same rough surface (polarizer) that reduces the intensity of reflected light results in less contrast and brightness since the light from the LCD screen passes through it. Matte screens might be harder to read outside, especially in the sunlight; most laptops come with glossy screens nowadays.
Glossy screens have vibrant colors and the highest contrast and brightness because they have a smooth, high-gloss surface. As a result, outdoor visibility becomes much better. However, strong lighting causes glare on these screens which is very annoying and may harm your eyes if you have to stare at it all the time. You can also see reflections on the screen. Some graphics designers may also find the colors inaccurate.
Which ones do you think are better, and why? We'd love to hear your opinion!
Matte vs Glossy Opinions
What kind of LCD screens are better?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byMatte screens are better than glossy!
Emanuel says:
I don't like the glossy reflections and fake colors. I bought a eeepc 1000HE instead of 1005HA just because it 1000HE has matte and 1005HA glossy :(. I would have preferred my hp dv5-1170ep to have matte screen instead of glossy... but that was the only choice i had :(
Posted September 26, 2009
user says:
I definitely prefer matte sceens! I can name many reasons why, but this wonderful article can do it better: http://www.annystudio.com/misc/matte-vs-glossy/
Posted September 17, 2009
pewpew says:
I think the main advantage of the gloss over the matte is the extra protection. (doesn't seem as easily damaged)
Other than that, there is no real problem with the matte. To me, the colour reproduction is just as good, the diffused reflection under strong lighting conditions compared to the gloss one where it isnt diffused.. There is just no way gloss is better, honestly. Nothing is worth the tradeoff.. unless you can't take care of your screen.
Posted August 23, 2009
LEEder says:
When we went from CRT monitors to LCD monitor humanity finely was relived of the annoying screen reflection. The slide lee better color/brightness do not way up to the constant annoying of the reflecting glossy screen (it is annoying in every environment). Making screen glossy again is one of the most disappointing design errors a company could make for designing desktop or laptop devices. PS. Do not forget the second worst design error the glossy device enclosure. Designers should focus on more practical designs and listen to real engineers for a change. I think the design generation of the last 10 years is the most stupid generation of designers sofar.
Posted August 08, 2009
Steve S says:
I didn't buy a laptop to be a mirror and look at my own ugly mug. Maybe SLIGHTLY sharper edges and SLIGHTY increased colour saturation are important for designers but most laptop users are not in these catagories. What we need is a screen we can comfortably work hours with and not have to worry about glare and reflections. Matt screens are BEST. Gloss screens are insane. Unfortunately he maufacturers have fallen victim to the 'shiny bauble' effect. Did they ever take the trouble to ask what we regular users want? And at least provide an alternative - matt or glossy.
Posted August 05, 2009
John says:
what good is more vibrant colors and highter contrast and brightness
(glossy screens) if you can't use it because of eyestrain and headaches?
I cannot use the glossy. (roomates pc) Can be on a matt for endless hours with no problems.
Posted July 20, 2009
KentE says:
Matt any day. If my TV was not matte I would bee staring at my bloody windown all the time.
Maybe if I worked with photos a lot and had a space with no reflections I would have one glossy screen for my PC, but surely not for a laptop.
I think laptop producers shoud make some machines for people with a brain, and not just the sheep who are impressed by gloss and glitz.
Posted July 18, 2009
Todd says:
I'm holding out buying a new MBP until they bring back the matte optioN!
Posted July 15, 2009
Marco says:
As a professional broadcaster and film maker, gloss screens are a non starter.
Un true colors, very bad reflections and a legal liability to my staff regarding long term use on gloss screens and headaches, eye damage etc.
Not to mention toy key boards and no DV input.
It's a pity Apple now only makes portable machines for students, gamers and kids who like to make a fashion statement.
My staff and I have 14 mac book pros with matt screens running final cut / aperture / adobe creative and logic studio.
These machines will be replaced at the end of there accountancy life cycle (April 2010) with HP machines running windows xp, service pack 3 and avid / photo shop etc.
It's a simple choice for me and very many other broadcasters / professionals, GOODBYE APPLE.
Posted July 09, 2009
josh says:
During a emotional sale, glossy sells well as it's more attractive. "Oh shiny". But for nearly all practical uses, matte finish is the best all around choice.
Posted June 25, 2009
Todd says:
matte - without a doubt
Posted June 25, 2009
Mike says:
If you read the glossy screen comments, they indicated almost no glare. The point of the matte screen is there is not any glare all of the time. That is why people like matte screens.
Posted June 24, 2009
Atkati says:
ça repose les yeux.
Posted June 16, 2009
chazz says:
Matte all the way! Glossy screens reflections are a serious annoyance, they are also hard to keep clean and nice looking. Matte has been the standard for years on LCD's and how many people did you hear crying for glossy screens? I just hope the manufacturers listen and change back or at least give the option.
Posted June 15, 2009
Alex says:
I know some (many ?) people have no trouble with the reflections, they just don't see (or get used to) them, but I just can't work with the feeling that my screen is a big mirror. I've tried but eventually I'd to get a matte screen.
Posted June 11, 2009
Edward says:
I'd say that matte screen are preferred because there is no glare, and it has colors just as vibrant as those that are glossy.
Posted June 03, 2009
Myroyle says:
I love my old mac laptop matte screen - used it for years for graphics. Can't see a bloomin' thing on new glossy screen in the room I work in - either get window reflections (even with blinds closed) - or if I move it round - MY reflection on the screen. Squinting ruining my eyes!!
Posted May 17, 2009
Eran says:
Cant work with a glossy screen, as the reflections I get at my work area are extremly annoying. I refuse to suffer because some marketing guy thinks that shiney things are better (and cheeper for the screen companies to make, as you done need the special matte cover)
while on the subject of screens, what happend to the good old 3:4 screens? why are our work laptops, the ones we write documents and write programs and surf the web on, being shaped for better movie watching? why isnt there any choice anymore?
Posted May 14, 2009
Iain says:
Matte screens are superior. They're not mirrors, like glossy screens! I should not be able to see my face in my monitor, even if it's mostly displaying black.
I've had a matte 17-inch screen on my Dell Inspiron 9300 for more than four years now, and frankly, it's a better screen than any of the laptops I see at Best Buy today.
Posted May 01, 2009
volad says:
I hate the glare, it gives me eyestrain.
Posted April 08, 2009
PeeKay says:
Gloosy screens are good only for unlit rooms. But if you are using it in a well lit space, then the glare is just too much
Posted April 03, 2009
Glenn says:
Matte screens are the way to go.
Unless you have a desktop in a darkened enviroment, then glossy might work.
Posted March 24, 2009
Bodybychocolates says:
less reflection and I tend to be mat when it comes to photos and other items.
Posted February 25, 2009
Bryan says:
we all hate glossy screens. beacause most of the time u need full brightness to eliminate the reflections. and too much brightness is very hamfull to our health. specially to our eyes. because radiation still exist a little in LCD's. the more brightness, the more radiation. unlike matte screens, you don't always have to use full brightness. so I choose matte-screens for best.
Posted February 11, 2009
Bryan says:
We all hate stupid glossy screens! it's very harmful to our health!
Posted February 11, 2009
Glossy screens are better than matte!
Potatoe_pancakes says:
I like glossy for quality, but I cant seem to find a large monitor that is glossy.. so far just matte.
Posted August 27, 2009
Tai says:
Glossy all the way. The picture quality is far better on it.
Posted August 23, 2009
Player_16 says:
What I want to know is WHY won't Apple use a non-reflective coating on their screens. Not that optional matte crap but non-reflective like my glasses or the iSight camera lens in the top of the screen. It was used in the CRT screens in the past. Can anyone answer that?
Posted July 19, 2009
cooltoys says:
I prefer glossy screens on laptops and matte screens for desktop monitors.
Posted July 05, 2009
Demano says:
In mid-to-dark situations, I say Glossy, as long as
there's no bright "point" light source reflecting off
the screen (like a bright lamp) or sunny window ....
And THAT is probably the biggest drawback for glossy.
Posted May 25, 2009
Chad says:
The color is much more rich, and true. Matte screens may reflect light, but the picture is not nearly as clear as an LCD with Glossy screen.
Posted May 23, 2009
Rúben says:
Matte screens have reflections too, only they are blurred so less noticeable, but in bright light environments they will have whitish smudged reflections while glossy screens have sharp reflections.
The quality of the screen will have some influence also.
I have two macbook pro 15" both LED, one with glossy screen and one with matte screen and I've compared them.
They both work great outside.
Only when the sun is coming from over my shoulder and shinning directly on the screen it becomes impossible to see, on both of them.
Any other condition they both work great.
The glossy achieves more brightness, the colors are more vibrant, the white is "whiter" and the black is "blacker"/deeper.
On the matte the reflections are just this whitish blurred shape.
If you have a good glossy screen u don't need to use full brightness to see properly. It's now 11 in the morning and I have a big window in my office with the curtains open and I'm using my glossy screen at 40% brightness with almost none reflection.
In the end it's more of a personal preference and where you will use the screen the most.
Posted May 03, 2009
Marvin says:
If you don't like sharp en bright colors then you choose for matte. Matte is for people who also wear sunglasses at night. I want to feel the colors so I choose glossy.
Posted February 23, 2009
jvboy_17 says:
Glossy is better - just position the monitor in an adequate location.
Posted February 10, 2009
Noel says:
Go for Glossy screens. I have been anti-glossy for years until I actually owned a new laptop with a glossy screen. Like everyone else, I despised the glare at first, and almost planned to change to a matte screen. However, the glare is present only on certain angles and when the screen is black. If you turn the laptop on, you won't even notice the glare. A few days of using the glossy screen changed my mind. The colors are realistic unlike the matte which is dull. The glossy screen is easy to clean and always looks brand new. Now when I use my old laptop with matte screen, I feel like I was duped on believing matte is better. Those who believe matte is better than glossy are those who have only seen it but not actually used it.
Posted September 16, 2008
JaguarJulie says:
Well, wouldn't you know it -- I'm a blonde so I like thinks silky AND glossy! So, that'd be my pick glossy -- I like glossy photos too. ;)
Posted September 05, 2008
Comparison of Matte & Glossy Monitors
You can see two Apple MacBook laptops compared side by side in the photo above. The left one has a matte (anti-glare) LCD monitor while the right one has a glossy screen. The test was performed in a brightly lit room and as a result the glossy monitor has reflections on it.
Photo credit: Engadget
Glossy vs Matte Information & Links
1
LCD Monitors: Glossy vs. Matte - Popular Mechanics
Some information about advantages of these two kinds of screens.1 point
2
PixelBright LCDs
Some scientific information about gloss vs matte screens, and also an offer to add high gloss coating to your matte display.1 point
3
ArsTechnica: 'Glossy versus matte: fight!'
ArsTechnica has some precise, even if outdated, information: 'An overwhelming 86 percent of respondents preferred the anti-glare matte finish for thei...0 points
4
MacBook vs MacBook pro
Apple switched to glossy screens for their MacBooks, do you think it was the right move to make?0 points
Computer Screen Preference Poll
Comments
Pukeko wrote...
Interesting discussion. I didn't realize there was such a difference.
Posted October 25, 2009
Player_16 wrote...
A long time ago, non-reflective CRT flat-screens were in use by Apple. Sony Trinitron flat screens had them. But it was the glass not the actual screens themselves that had the coating. Because of that there was no double-reflections. The last CRT screens were the eMac. Strange how short peoples memories are nowadays. I'm looking at my Cube that came with a 17" CRT non-reflective glass screen. It's not as bright as my iMac but I can hardly see myself in it when it's off.
I'll honest, matte is rubbish compared to non-reflective glass. My specks have a non-reflective coating on them and if you carefully look at the very top of your screens, you'll notice a very small lens there: that's a camera. Why does it have a blue or green or pink appearance to it? That is due to the non-reflective coating that was applied to it.
You can rave on all you want about matte screen but if you don't ask the right question you won't get the right answer.
Posted July 19, 2009
Bob Dole wrote
I never understood why so many people liked the matte finish on screens. It wasn't as bright, it wasn't as colorful, and it wasn't as "elegant" in those terms.
And then people started preferring that same finish on their game consoles. Who the heck likes sandpaper finishes on their fingers when their trying to play a game?
Posted July 14, 2009
MacMatte wrote
There's a website http://macmatte.wordpress.com that is totally dedicated to the task of getting Apple to bring back the matte screen.
Posted June 07, 2009
makka wrote...
I've got both types of screen - and I still can't decide! My MacBook Pro is matt (well, satin) and my iMac's glossy and they're both great to use. The iMac's blacks are richer but I do have to deal with reflections, at times. The MBP doesn't reflect but the image isn't as rich. So... ask me in another few years!
Posted April 22, 2009
Treasures-By-Brenda wrote...
Interesting subject; I did not realize that there were two choices!
Brenda
Posted April 08, 2009
veet wrote
So where do I get a real matte laptop.
I bought one from Sony and sent it back because it was NOT matte, even though they told be it will be!
If you know, please drop me a line at veet_vivarto@yahoo.com
I will probably never go back to this blog.
Posted March 27, 2009
Craymel wrote
I have a glossy screen and I hate it. Why? Because I have to have it on full brightness to eliminate most of the glare (not very effective) and it literally HURTS my eyes. This really sucks because I like to watch a lot of movies on my laptop. The only relief I get is when I hook up my laptop to my hdtv with an anti glare screen.
Posted March 25, 2009
Neoprene wrote
My wife has a new laptop with a glossy screen. The only time it doesn't reflect it when it's pointed at the floor!!!!!! Sorry, but glossy is only good at a few certain angles, and it's not always the angle you're sitting at! She hates it. And to those who say it's brighter outdoors....the REFLECTIONS are even worse outside!!!!!!
Posted February 16, 2009
Bryan wrote
we all hate glossy screens. beacause most of the time u need full brightness to eliminate the reflections. and too much brightness is very hamfull to our health. specially to our eyes. because radiation still exist a little in LCD's. the more brightness, the more radiation. unlike matte screens, you don't always have to use full brightness. so I choose matte-screens for best.
Posted February 11, 2009
Bloggers on Matte & Glossy Screens
- Apple adds matte screen option for 15-inch MacBook Pro
- Good news to glossy screen haters like me, Apple is set to bring the matte screen option back to the 15-inch MacBook Pro line for an extra $70 when you are ordering. This marks the first time in about a year that Mac-heads have been ...
- Matte or Glossy screen - CGarchitect.com
- Hi i'm about to purchase a Macbook Pro. i need to choose between a matte or glossy screen. My natural instinct is to go with a matte screen, so what.
- Replace Your 13-Inch Glossy MacBook Screen With a Matte Display ...
- TechRestore will ?repair? your MacBook Pro's glossy screen for $200. ?Send in your MacBook and [TechRestore] will rip out the screen and replace it with a matte one , and because the screen no longer has the glass panel, you also get a ...
- Samsung LNT4661F 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
- I think the matte finish on the 4661F screen is excellent as there is no glare whatsoever. Also, the shiny surface surrounding the screen is not noticed at all. This TV, powered up and performed flawlessly right out of the box. ... The 4665 has a 15000 to one contrast ratio, but some reviewers complained of the glossy screen. For me, I wanted a glare free screen, hence the decision on the 4661. A 10000 to one contrast ratio seemed to be more than the average that some ...
