eBooks are something I only truly started to appreciate in recent years.
Among the more significant long-Covid symptoms was the inability to focus for long periods of time and brain fog that made it difficult to recall new information. As a result, reading was an overwhelming challenge; it honestly felt like I'd lost a key part of myself.
Surprisingly, eBooks were easier for me to digest and became a small part of my healing process.
I'm thankfully in a much better spot now and have been making a dent in my TBR pile of physical books again. While you can't beat that smell and the feeling of turning pages, eBooks make up about 60% of my reading.
As much as I would love to be a true Kindle girlie, I do all of my eBook reading in the app on my Samsung tablet. When I got the device, I of course had to get all of the necessary accessories like a case, stylus, and of course one of those little leather straps you slide your fingers into because I don't like the way PopSockets feel to hold.
But the absolute and unexpected standout? My screen protector.
After so many, erm, incidents* between my phones and iPods over the years, screen protectors are a must-have for me. Let's not forget the time I was using my phone through a Ziploc baggie for a couple of days after dropping it face-down in a parking lot and nearly getting a splinter from the cracked screen! No sooner than a new device is in my cart do I order a set of screen protectors, and the same had to be done for my tablet.
*also rice won't help that iPod Nano you forgot you stuck in the shelf bra of your bathing suit before swimming in a lake...
However, my tablet's screen protector is a little different. It's matte.
It was more of an on-a-whim-experiment than anything, but having a matte screen protector has been a game changer for reading eBooks on my tablet and something I can't recommend enough.
Whether you're reading on a bonafide Kindle or a tablet, here are some of the things I love about my matte screen protector and why I don't see myself going back.
Screen Protectors Are Good In General
No matter which finish your screen protector has, there are benefits to applying one to your device.
As alluded to above, having a screen protector can shield your device from major damage in the long run. Even though the protector on my phone is cracked to high heaven (and frankly needs to be replaced), the device itself is fine.
Remember: it's easier and cheaper to replace a screen protector than it is to replace the screen or device itself.
My matte protector is particularly good at preventing the fingerprints and smudges that are inevitable when you're turning pages or scrolling in an eBook.
Anti-Glare Means Reading Anywhere
One of the reasons the Kindle is popular is its built-in anti-glare screen, which isn't typically an option for standard tablets like mine.
Prior to installing the matte screen protector, I'd have to angle my tablet depending on the lighting. Brighter environments made it hard to see the text even after adjusting the brightness settings of my device.
That's not a problem with the matte screen. Since it diffuses light instead of reflecting it, you don't have to shift around to avoid the reach of sunlight or lamps. This allows this Passenger Princess to read on road trips, get cozy in bed without needing to be propped up at a weird angle, and read just about anywhere at any time.
Plus it cuts down on the strain your eyes may feel when you're reading for longer stretches.
Overall, it's a more comfortable reading experience.
Me, Myself, And I (Don't Want To Be Perceived)
Speaking of reflective surfaces, another thing that made me originally dislike reading on my tablet was the fact that I was seeing my own reflection in the screen.
Awkwardly staring at myself the entire time I was reading was incredibly distracting. Seeing my real-time reaction to the events unfolding broke my immersion as a reader.
Since getting a matte screen protector, that hasn't been an issue. I'm now able to just focus on the words without feeling like some omnipotent figure looming over the characters as their lives play out.
Paper-esque Surface
One of the things I love about reading physical books is the tactile nature, and that was actually one of the things that made me previously resistant towards eBooks. The screen didn't feel the same.
The matte screen protector on my tablet feels a little like paper. It's not an exact match, but it's not as smooth as the screen itself or a traditional glossy protector.
Sure, it doesn't recreate that bookish smell or give but it feels more like paper under my thumb when I tap to turn the page (it's also fantastic for drawing on, which was actually the thing that made me look into getting a matte screen to begin with).
Even though it can sometimes very slightly blur images (which honestly to me looks like the Paris Instagram filter) getting a matte screen protector has made reading on my tablet a much more enjoyable experience. It offers a nice, comfortable blend between modern convenience and old-fashioned preferences.
If you haven't made the switch, I highly recommend giving it a go!
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