Looking at getting a new MacBook Pro and I’m down to the choice on display.
Comments? Pros and Cons? User experiences?
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In October, I purchased a new 14" MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and nano texture display. I regret getting the Nano Texture model because:
- I might absent-mindedly clean it with a spray and cloth that are OK on standard displays but can damage this one.
- When I travel I need to bring the right cleaning solution and the right cloth, which I think I will sometimes forget.
- I think Macbooks with this kind of display will actually have a worse resale value for these reasons.
- I rarely use the laptop monitor, I’m normally at my desk with a trusty 27" external display.
I decided to take the normal (glossy?) display, because I am used to it. In my eyes, the nano texture is not that good (little less sharp). Why should I pay more for something which is less good?
I recommend to go to a store and create your own opinion because it is a very individual discussion (depending on what you do with the laptop, where you use it, your personal preferences…)
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Without any actual experience, surely @OogieM is using a laptop often enough in sunshine or suboptimal glare conditions that it would be definitely worth at the very least trying nano-texture? If I was back on the farm I’d be snapping one up without any hesitation - worst case scenario I’d have to sell it and get something else at a small loss.
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I took a trial with a nano texture as I work in a glass skyscraper with a lot of sun. I returned it because I didn’t like the way it made colors less vibrant and blacks more grey, and everything was noticeably more blurry.
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I have never purchased anything with nano-texture. But that’s because I have seen them in the wild, and not seen a single person who wasn’t adjusting one seemingly endlessly. I also don’t find them that useful because you can rather easily damage one. Plus I’ve never found it difficult to find a spot where I can use a standard screen well. But like previously mentioned, I recommend checking them out at an Apple Store to be sure.
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Update with more info. Most of my work with the laptop is inside at my desk. I have it connected to a large display set vertically and I use both that display and the laptop display so I can be in multiple apps or with different permissions compared to my main mac mini with 2 horizontal large displays. My office has large bright windows off to my left. I have my computers set up at 90 degrees from the plane of the window. I’ve never had a problem with that configuration with glare. I have had problems if I try to put the computer screens in front of the windows. My eyes can’t adjust to that and I end up with the screen brightness all the way up which hurts. I generally operate with the screen brightness set down to about 1/3 of max and sometimes even lower.
When I travel with it I am in a mix of outside and inside in an office.
It’s not really an option to go look at one in a store. The nearest Apple store is a 290 mile one way trip across multiple mountain passes. The nearest Best Buy which might or might not have anything in stock with a nano display I could look at is a 90 mile trip, one way.
The potential issue with special cloth and cleaner to clean the screen is a huge one. I routinely carry a standard microfiber dishcloth that I use to clean my devices in the field. I’ve usually used electronics grade alcohol if I need to clean some sort of sheep glop off the screen or keyboard. I can guarantee I’d never have the right cloth with me when I need it. The correct cleaning fluid might be a problem depending on what I am doing but I think alcohol is generally ok.
After looking at some youtube videos of issues with improper cleaning I’m more inclined to go with a standard screen.
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It’s really a matter of personal preference combined with the lighting( glare!) conditions you normally work in.
I happen to have 2 M4 Macbook Pros’ , one with glossy screen, one with nano-texture , so I can easily compare them.
The way I normally work is to use the Macbook Pro with the lid tilted about 10 degrees sitting below an external display that is my “main” display. With the lid tilted, it’s very prone to glare from the ceiling light or window light.
For my setup, the nano-texture is a godsend as I see zero glare while I’m working with it. The glossly display makes me periodically adjust my head or the lid to see past the glare.
The only thing I don’t like about the nano-texture display is the special cleaning cloth Apple says you need to use. Spray screen cleaner on a microfiber cloth much more convenient.
That said, I would not trade the nano-texture display for convenience. In fact, I plan on getting a Studio Display in the Spring 2026, and it will have a nano-texture display.
What you can do if you are unsure is to
- Go to an apple store and check it out.
- buy and try it for 15 days so you can return it during the return window
There is no objectively wrong answer. It’s 100% a subjective decision.
For what it’s worth, I’ve had the MBP 16” with nano texture display for 1 year, and rarely need to use anything else than the dry cloth to remove dust (but mostly cat hair). I think I had to dampen the cloth with water 2-3 times max to get rid of tiny stubborn stains. It’s as if nothing sticks to this screen - although I assume sheep glop would. Plus there is no glare, no matter where I sit. I just love it.
I was stuck with a MBP with a glossy screen for 10 years because they just stopped offering the matte screen. I hated having to constantly wipe this thing because anything coming even close to it would stick to the screen and leave a mark. I couldn’t wait to get the nano texture, and I have not been disappointed.
But my main work is with words, numbers, graphs, figures etc… no fancy video/images. As Rob pointed out, the colors are indeed less vibrant, which I don’t mind. I don’t find it blurry at all, but maybe I’m so happy to not constantly have marks all over the screen that I just didn’t notice if it’s more blurry than my old glossy screen!
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This is such a subjective decision. I have the nano texture display and love it. Most posts on most forums speak negatively about it.
The removal of glare is, for me, a highly important feature. The lack of vibrancy in colours does not bother me; the slight haziness on the screen is a con, but not to the extent it outweighs the lack of glare.
The screen stays cleaner for longer than the glossy version.
I ended up deciding on the standard screen. Should be here next week.
I have a nano texture iPad and a regular screen MacBook Pro…that was a big mistake…wish I had gone with the nano texture screen on my MBP. Oh well, next time.
I regret not contributing to this. I love the nanotexture on my MBP. I’m a front-end developer and designer. I also make videos and photos. For my uses, the nanotexture is great, and the supposed way it flattens contrast helps deal with Apple’s slightly-too-punchy-to-be-accurate gamma settings. Makes it a lot easier to work in dark mode for me.
I don’t notice a resolution hit. Cleaning is a non-issue.
I have also tried it on the Studio Display, where I don’t like it at all — the detail loss there is appreciable. I’ve also tried it on an iPad, where I like it, but again, the detail loss there is more appreciable.
The implementation of nanotexture on the MBP is the best in the whole lineup. It’s excellent, very few drawbacks in actual usage, and an easy upgrade choice for me every time going forward. I just want the rest of the lineup to catch up.
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Reading all this with interest. Currently, awaiting the MacBook Pro updates. This purchase will be a long term purchase. Glare can be an issue and with older eyesight for the first time considering the nano texture.
Update: Machine arrived yesterday, was left out in the cold so only turned it on this morning. I have it positioned in the worst possible place for glare, bright lights shining on it from over my shoulder. Yes in some positions I see the lights in the screen but the bright crisp colors are wonderful. Seems to have more accurate colors compared to my older MacAir. When placed in the normal location I have my laptop it’s not a problem at all.
I’m now in the process of setting it up. I chose not to use any quick set-up from the other machine as I want to drop some apps I no longer use and clean up the filing system a bit as well.
So far my only issue is I need another wired mouse and am borrowing one from my husband and it’s larger than mine so feels awkward. I hate trackpads and have never learned to use them. I also have so many bluetooth devices operating at once that bluetooth mice can also be a big issue.
Does the Nano Texture dull the screen? I’d be interested in having Nano Texture when I upgrade my MBP, but I like bright vivid text and colors.
I did not get the nano texture so I don’t l don’t know for sure but the you tube stuff I looked at seemed to make it duller and less crisp.
My apologies, I assumed you purchased a new Nano Textured Mac. My bad…