Looking for a Paperlike discount? We don’t blame you. Paperlike is notorious for rarely offering discounts, and even when it does, the discount is usually only around 5% to 10%. And if you’re super lucky, you might even be able to nab a 15% discount on Black Friday.
We’re here to tell you that there’s a better alternative to Paperlike. Imagine a paper-like matte screen protector that is both reusable and realistic. Then add in a 15% discount, and you’ve got Rock Paper Pencil.
If you haven’t yet purchased a Paperlike, you might want to stick around. We’re going to lay out exactly how Rock Paper Pencil compares to Paperlike, with no smoke screens or confusing jargon. You’ll get the good, the bad, and the ugly of both screen protectors.
Oh, and you can grab that 15% Rock Paper Pencil discount right now.
Comparison table
| Feature | Paperlike 2.1 | Rock Paper Pencil 3.0 |
| Price | $44.99 | $44.99 ($38.24 with 15% discount) |
| Surface feel | Tracing paper (fine and smooth) | Bristol vellum (textured and toothy) |
| Writing feel | Low friction, slick | High friction, gritty |
| Sound | Like tapping on glass | Like writing on real paper |
| Scratch resistance | Lower; visible scratches appear quickly | Higher; holds up well to repeated use |
| Apple Pencil tip wear | Moderate; wear accumulates over time | None; metal ballpoint tips included |
| Film longevity | Limited; thin material may need replacement with heavy use | Durable; long-lasting due to better scratch resistance |
| Haze level | Lower due to thinness and limited anti-glare reduction | Higher due to anti-glare finish |
| Image clarity | Similar performance | Similar performance |
| Anti-glare performance | Moderate; limited light diffusion | Excellent; anti-glare finish diffuses light effectively |
| Anti-reflective performance | Excellent; absorbs light well and limits ambient reflections | Moderate; more prone to ambient reflections |
| Adhesion type | Glue/adhesive | Static electricity |
| Removability | None; cannot be reattached if removed | Unlimited; can be peeled off and reattached |
| Includes custom Apple Pencil tips? | No | Yes; two metal ballpoint-style tips included |
💡 Good to know: This table is from Rock Paper Pencil vs. Paperlike, an in-depth article that gives insight into the technical aspects of both iPad screen protectors.
Is Paperlike really worth it?
There are plenty of upsides to investing in a Paperlike protector, even without the Paperlike discount.
- More realistic pencil-on-paper experience: Paperlike covers the surface of the protector with its patented Nanodots technology. The micro-bead texture adds friction, making your stylus and iPad feel more like a pencil and piece of paper.
- Minimizes strain: We know how tiring it can be to write on a slippery iPad screen. But the good news is that Paperlike’s approach to digital writing and drawing reduces hand, wrist, and arm strain, ensuring you can meet deadlines in comfort. As an added bonus, the matte screen also reduces eye strain.
- Reduces smudges and glare: The matte surface keeps smudges and fingerprints at bay and also reduces glare, so you can enjoy a smudge-free writing experience even in brightly-lit environments.
- Responsive: When we say Paperlike is ultra-thin, we aren’t joking. This iPad screen protector is just 0.095mm! The responsiveness is impressive, with users saying there’s no noticeable lag.
So, just to recap, Paperlike won’t interrupt your Apple Pencil’s responsivity, minimizes wrist and eye strain, and adds friction, leading to an overall more paper-like feel.
Where Paperlike falls short
All the Paperlike discounts in the world don’t make up for the ways this matte screen protector falls short.
Adhesive
Whereas other matte screen protectors use easy-peel methods — cough, like Rock Paper Pencil, cough — Paperlike has an adhesive surface. This creates two main problems: firstly, the screen protector is difficult to install.
💡 Good to know: Installing Rock Paper Pencil is as easy as one, two, three. Seriously; check out our installation guide.
Paperlike comes with detailed instructions, a link to a lengthy tutorial, and several tools to guide you through the installation process.
And if that doesn’t sound exhausting enough, Paperlike recommends installing its screen protector in your bathroom after you’ve had a hot shower. Supposedly, the steam settles bits of dust in the air, reducing the likelihood of trapping particles underneath your protector.
In our humble opinion, there’s no reason why the process should be so complicated, and Paperlike’s customers tend to agree. Check out Paperlike’s reviews on Amazon; plenty of reviewers say that it’s impossible to install without trapping dust.
💡 Good to know: Each Paperlike comes with two protectors, so you have at least two chances of nailing the installation.
The second part of the problem is that Paperlike isn’t reusable. You can’t peel off the protector and expect the adhesive to work again and again. Once a Paperlike screen protector is on your iPad, it’s either on there for good or you need to buy another.
Many people use their iPads for a mixture of serious note-taking, digital drawing, and entertainment. If they opt for Paperlike, they have to forgo the full clarity of the Liquid Retina Display — a bummer for movie night.
Picture this: at the end of a long, tiring day, you close Goodnotes and switch over to Netflix. But Paperlike is still on your screen, and, however much you love the realistic pencil-on-paper feeling, you have to watch your favorite show through a protector that’s known for reducing screen quality.
It’s a bleak picture, and that’s just the start of your problems.
Wear and tear
Whether you’re buying a new dishwasher or a screen protector for your iPad, you need a product that stands the test of time. The good news is that Paperlike screen protectors can last for years.
But the same can’t be said for Apple Pencil tips.
It’s a well-known fact that Paperlike screen protectors wear down Apple Pencil tips. We’ve tried the protector ourselves and can confirm that our tips showed significant wear and tear after just a few weeks of daily use.
Here’s what wear and tear could look like for you:
- Blunt or uneven surface
- Lag or reduced responsiveness
- Difficulty writing, drawing, or navigating
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to notice that wear and tear could ruin your digital writing or drawing experience. This is a big enough problem for hobbyists, but serious notetakers and artists might find that Paperlike slows their workflow.
To add to the dilemma, Apple Pencil replacement tips aren’t cheap. So, on top of the cost of the screen protector ($44.99), you need to factor in the cost of replacing the tips every few months.
Good to know: A pack of four Apple Pencil tips costs $19. You can find cheaper alternatives, but they may not be as good as the name-brand version.
Price
Even with a rare Paperlike discount, we can’t claim that Paperlike is an affordable option. There are plenty of other matte screen protectors on the market that are a) more affordable, b) offer a more realistic pencil-on-paper experience, or c) reusable.
The only way to justify Paperlike’s price tag is to point out that it comes with two iPad screen protectors. But when you remember that the extra screen saver is a fail-safe for when you don’t install the first one right, it doesn’t seem like much of an advantage.
Meet Rock Paper Pencil
Rock Paper Pencil excels in all the ways Paperlike falls short.
It’s an innovative iPad accessory that tackles the problem of pen-on-paper realness from all angles. It contains a reusable screen protector and Apple Pencil replacement tips, creating a cohesive experience that feels truly realistic.
How Rock Paper Pencil compares to Paperlike
- Easy installation: Say goodbye to complicated tutorials — Rock Paper Pencil’s installation process is so simple that anyone can do it. In fact, we wouldn’t even call it a process. Simply press the screen onto your iPad, let the static electricity do its job, and enjoy hours of digital drawing or note-taking.
- Removable and reusable: You can easily switch between a paper-feel and a glossy iPad screen. Once you’re done for the day, just peel Rock Paper Pencil off and put it in the protective storage sleeve.
- Apple Pencil tips included: We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Rock Paper Pencil is the only matte screen protector that also comes with Apple Pencil replacement tips. You get a cohesive writing experience without putting a dent in your wallet.
- Long-lasting: The new and improved Rock Paper Pencil v3.0 upgrades your experience with stainless steel ballpoint tips. These tips are designed to last, even with daily use.
- Realistic feeling: The screen protector and stylus tips are infused with minuscule textured nodes that replicate the friction, drag, and feeling of pencil and paper.
Real feedback from users who switched to Paperlike
Look, we don’t want you to think that we’re biased. We really believe Rock Paper Pencil is the best option out there and solves a lot of the problems inherent in Paperlike.
Fortunately for us, a lot of people agree.
Grab Rock Paper Pencil & save 15%
You can pick up a Rock Paper Pencil right now with a 15% discount. Or, if you’re unsure, you can wait for a Paperlike discount… But beware, you could be waiting a long time.
Rock Paper Pencil FAQs
Does Rock Paper Pencil feel like Paperlike?
Not really. Rock Paper Pencil feels more like Bristol vellum paper, whereas Paperlike has been described as feeling like tracing paper.
Bristol vellum is the name given to a type of heavyweight paper created in 1893. It has a toothy surface, making it perfect for layering pencils, charcoal, and pastels. In contrast, tracing paper is light and thin and is only good for line drawings.
Will Rock Paper Pencil protect my iPad screen?
Rock Paper Pencil isn’t designed to protect your iPad, but it can stop small scratches and scuffs from reaching your screen.
Good news: RPP doesn’t prevent you from getting a case or cover to protect your device. In fact, it’s compatible with most cases.
Can I remove and reapply Rock Paper Pencil?
Yep. You can peel it on and off.
How does Rock Paper Pencil compare to Paperlike for note-taking and drawing?
Everyone has different preferences, so while one person might love Paperlike’s thin texture, another will appreciate Rock Paper Pencil’s heavy, durable grain.
Depending on how you write and draw, one might be preferable to the other.
Is Rock Paper Pencil more durable than Paperlike?
We can confidently say that Rock Paper Pencil is more durable than Paperlike.
RRP uses a far thicker film than Paperlike, creating a more durable barrier against wear and tear.
Does Rock Paper Pencil wear down Apple Pencil tips?
If you use standard Apple Pencil tips on Rock Paper Pencil, you’ll notice some wear and tear.
Fortunately, Rock Paper Pencil comes with its own version of Apple Pencil tips. They are designed to be long-lasting, complement the screen protector, and create a pencil-like feeling.
Final Thoughts
If you want a versatile writing experience on iPad, and a screen protector that is ridiculously easy to use, you might want to try Rock Paper Pencil. It comes with a matte screen protector and Apple Pencil replacement tips infused with minuscule nano beads that mimic the feel of a pencil and a piece of paper.
- Nano-texture screen protector: Infused with microscopic texture, the matte screen protector mimics the friction of fine-grain paper. It uses NanoCling technology (a form of static cling) to seamlessly attach to your iPad.
- Precision-engineered ballpoint tip: Delivers a subtle bite that replicates the feeling of using a pencil on paper.
It’s the perfect fit for artists and note-takers on the go! Rock Paper Pencil v3.0 offers even more precision, making your iPad feel like a digital notebook. And did we mention it’s reusable? Once you’re finished with your projects, just remove Rock Paper Pencil and enjoy watching movies and playing games on your sleek, glossy iPad screen.
