“My iPad Pro M2 (11-inch) display shows a mild rainbow-like glare when viewed from an angle. Is this normal?” I am using cheap glass protector on it.
[Edited by Moderator]
iPad Pro, iPadOS 18
Posted on Jun 30, 2025 10:57 PM
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Jul 1, 2025 2:08 AM in response to moshiur176
Your screen protector is a potential cause - in particular if the screen protector is toughened glass. There's some "physics" going here...
Toughened glass is heat treated - introducing internal stresses that are usually invisible in unpolarised lighting. Your iPad's LCD screen incorporates a polariser layer; polarised light from the screen interacts with the screen protector, revealing the internal stresses within the glass. This effect is entirely benign - and is unlikely to be visible when the screen is viewed normally. When viewed off-axis, at more extreme angles, this effect may become visible as you illustrate.
An possible alternative explanation might just be the adhesive layer of your screen protector, or screen contamination, becoming visible when viewed off-axis - this again being an effect of polarised light.
Jul 16, 2025 3:15 PM in response to LotusPilot
Thank you so much for your wonderful explanation. What do you suggest—should I remove the screen protector or keep it? Sometimes it irritates me when I use it for reading. On top of that, I have another magnetic, removable screen protector placed over the exist one, and it’s matte and paper-like.
Jul 16, 2025 3:46 PM in response to moshiur176
Using multiple screen protectors can be problematic - both optically and the ability to respond to touch and/or Pencil.
Screen Protectors are intended to protect the screen from scratches or impact damage. Consider that the iPad screen is the single most expensive component to replace if damaged - whereas a screen protector is a sacrificial component that can be easily and cheaply replaced if and when necessary.
A good quality screen protector (such as Zagg or Otterbox) can be expected to be optically perfect. Cheap screen protectors can introduce more issues than they solve.
“My iPad Pro M2 (11-inch) display shows a mild rainbow-like glare when viewed from an angle. Is this normal?”