Notes on Apple's Nano Texture (2025)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Cleaning, Cloths & Chemicals

  • Many commenters only realized there’s a special Apple cloth after this article; replacements are sold separately and mocked as overpriced.
  • People debate cleaning methods: Apple’s guidance is a 70% isopropyl solution on the cloth, never directly on the screen.
  • Others report long-term success with weaker alcohol mixes or lens wipes, but note that some older Retina models had coating issues that alcohol could worsen.
  • Several emphasize risk to oleophobic coatings (especially on phones) and say nano-texture can show permanent white smudges if cleaned incorrectly.
  • Some find the nano screen actually easier to keep “perfect” than glossy, needing only the supplied cloth; others see the extra protocol as a deal-breaker.

Nano-Texture vs Glossy/Matte: Tradeoffs

  • Strong consensus: nano-texture reduces glare dramatically, especially outdoors and in uncontrolled lighting.
  • Multiple people confirm it lowers effective contrast and “punch” compared to glossy, particularly in dark rooms and for photo/video work.
  • Some feel the article’s photos don’t fairly demonstrate contrast due to brightness mismatch and composition choices.
  • A few argue that this is functionally just “matte screens are back,” not a fundamentally new idea.

Perception, Artifacts & Eye Comfort

  • Fans describe a paper-like, low-glare look that reduces eye strain for reading and coding.
  • Critics report:
    • “Dusty”/hazy appearance and less “retina-like” sharpness, as if pixel density is lower.
    • On iPad Pro, rainbow grain or sparkle on white backgrounds; some returned devices over this.
  • Others with nano-texture MacBooks say they see no grain or rainbow at all, suggesting device- or user-sensitivity differences.

Devices, Use Cases & Availability

  • Many wish nano-texture were offered on MacBook Air and iPhone; currently it’s tied to higher-end Pro gear.
  • Designers and photographers often prefer glossy for accurate contrast and shadow detail, sometimes pairing nano laptops with dedicated glossy monitors.
  • For iPad, opinions split: handheld/touch use makes smudges more visible and texture more annoying for some; mounted or fixed-use scenarios (e.g. on a fridge) benefit greatly from glare reduction.

Technology, Marketing & Alternatives

  • One detailed post cites Apple’s patent: the surface is chemically etched (e.g., with hydrofluoric acid), not a removable coating.
  • Others note this is similar in principle to etched glass on devices like the Steam Deck; Apple’s contribution is framed more as packaging and marketing (“nano texture”) than invention of matte itself.
  • Historical context: LCDs were widely matte before consumer demand and marketing pushed glossy as default; some see nano-texture as a belated course correction.
  • Alternatives mentioned: custom matte films, anti-glare covers, DIY sunshades, and software like Vivid to boost outdoor brightness on glossy screens.