Astropad Rock Paper Pencil v2 Review (after Using 1 month)

[@okdokie278]

Excellent review: to-the-point information for the most pressing questions that actual users have. Thank you SO much!

[@TomFroese]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tironamichael]

Was just about to pull the trigger on this and you saved me $40. Great review follow up!

[@ReincarnatedAngels]

Same! Had it in my Amazon cart and I was about to proceed to checkout😂

[@TomFroese]

I encourage you to watch my more recent review of PenTips ink n paper, to see how this product compares to a similar, much more expensive option.

[@noanshere]

Just yesterday I thought really hard if I should buy this, almost impulsively bought it. Instead, thanks to my gf convincing me to hold the decision and a yt vid i saw abt paper likes being scam ; I just bought the cheapest authentic magnetic paperlike screen (costed less than 6 usd) and some apple pen tips that had a bullet head tip and rounded gourd tip (costs less than 1 usd per piece, all tips were of metal/alloy) to test out. What got me hooked into astropad's was the combo of a pen tip and screen paper feel. I intend to recreate that combo the cheapest way possible. The tips are gonna come next week, i can test them out by then

[@TomFroese]

Thanks. Maybe you can find a video review comparing RPPv2 with one they build themselves as you’re planning on doing. Check out Chris Piascik’s channel for his experience with cheap screen protectors.

[@noanshere]

@@TomFroese thanks! Yes it was Chris' video that pushed me to buy cheap paperlikes instead. I could do a short vid on line wobble test when the items come

[@terrigross1339]

Can you use just the original Apple Pencil tip on it?

[@noanshere]

@@terrigross1339 yes, the default apple pen 2 nibs work great on the goojodoq magnetic paper like screen. I have yet to test the gourded pen tip and bullet head pen tip on it, this coming Saturday

[@TomFroese]

@@terrigross1339 Why would you want to do that? I believe it would work for a while but the textured screen protector would be like sandpaper and wear the tips down quickly.

[@orangeofmars2835]

I love using my Rock Paper Pencil with the metal tip pen. Light years better experience than drawing on glass.

[@Astrobiologica]

Use the Astropad darkboard, you will by ergonomics, apply less pressure to the screen because your wrist will rest on the board. This would certainly affect your test, I think you should re-run your test but use the astropad darkboard at the same time :)

[@TomFroese]

Interesting hypothesis! I could ask Astropad to send me another RPP along with a dark board. Thanks!

[@hamodalbatal464]

Very precise and informative. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@TomFroese]

Glad it was helpful!

[@turtleinashirt]

Whelp, you just saved me 8,000 yen. I was so pissed when I bought a 2,500 yen version and it scratched immediately. Don’t know what the best option here is, nothing I’ve tried lasts more than 2 months, so might as well just get the cheap ones lol

[@raynjpg]

Hey man, super awesome of you to do this. I'm stuck with the dilemma of choosing between the regular glossy screen and nano-textured screen on the new iPad Pro. I went to my local Apple store today and actually got a good look at them side by side, and while the nano-textured screen still looks extremely impressive, the regular, glossy screen just blows it out of water when it comes to contrast, the deep blacks, the brighter whites, richer colors, etc. But the glare is horrible, and I know it will definitely bother me because the glare on my laptop screen can be a huge bother sometimes. This magnetic screen protector seems like a solid (albeit imperfect) solution to my dilemma. One question I have for you, though, is whether you think I would be able to put a permanent, regular screen protector on my iPad screen, and then lay this magnetic protector on top? Do you think the iPad would struggle with detecting touch or the pencil/hardness of the press? It would just kill me to scratch up the screen on a $2,000+ device, so a permanent screen protector is a must, but I'd rather avoid a permanent matte protector. Sorry for the wall of text, haha. Thank you for this great review!

[@TomFroese]

Thanks for the comment. Check out Chris Piascik’s review of the new iPad screen, as far as the drawing experience goes. But as for laying up on screen protectors, it’s going to decrease the responsiveness for sure. If you’re drawing on your iPad while it’s tilted up on an angle, glare should rarely be a problem-unless you’re drawing on the beach or something. Recording overhead views is another thing though: the nano textured screen is magic (see Lisa Bardot’s comparison of iPads with regular glass, a textured SP and the new nano.)

[@benedictlarkin]

Thanks for such a great follow-up review. I use my iPad exclusively for note-taking at uni (not a single artistic bone in my body), and was just wondering if you had any recommendations? Have you used the likes of paper-like, or something similar.

[@TomFroese]

Honestly if you only write notes and don't scribble hard this product may be great. Compared to PenTips' own screen/metal tip combo, it's way better value.

[@CorinneIsIn]

For manufacturers of this type of product, the secret for the winner will be in the material used for the screen protector. The one who gets it right will win this market. We need something super thin that is almost impervious to scratching with metal tips or OEM tips.

[@JanSapper]

I‘m Paperlike’s CEO - we‘re on it. 💪

[@kitespongan]

Nice review! How does the screen protector feel on your fingers? I find most matte protectors are too rough start to hurt my finger tips after a while.

[@TomFroese]

It feels pleasant. I like it. It is not rough enough to hurt you at all IMO.

[@kozy9807]

Only lasting a month is horrible

[@abbybia3113]

What???

[@50Steaks68]

Was going to buy paper like, but I’m willing to sacrifice so much for the ability to easily remove and replace the screen protector. I get extremely bothered whenever the adhered ones start peeling off that I’ll just peel and peel and whoops the whole thing is gone. I can’t even use a screen protector on my phone for this exact reason. So to me, a little extra scratches for the very affordable $38 (discount code lol) is fine. Plus I can just use the protector without the nibs.

[@50Steaks68]

Aaand I’ve already seen air gaps and other schenanigans going on with this one. No scratches but still like it hasn’t even been a month man…

[@lunamariahawke9320]

I think I would use the Astropad nips for lining and the OG Apple pencil (or maybe some knock-offs) nip for coloring on my first IPad (soon *__*) and try out some different (even paperlike?) screen protectors. Yes, then I need to carry everything with me, but I don´t think that I will carry it around much or even outside (therefore the IPad is too expensive for me).

[@TomFroese]

Whatever works for you!

[@Omikronik]

I would rather have the tips wear down rather than the screen protector. Theres no way to make 2 surfaces touching not wear down one another, the harder surface will wear down the softer one and as good as metal probably feels, 10/10 times the screen protector will be damaged

[@patrikmagnusson7866]

Thanks for a very, very informative review. I´m considering a purchase. I am lefthanded. Would that cause any trouble? For example the palm of the hand sliding over the text that was just written?

[@TomFroese]

Nope. That’s what Palm rejection is for and that’s built into the iPad and in the drawing app. For extra measure you could always get a palm rejection glove. Works for me.

[@techsamurai11]

Will the new nibs damage the screen without the protector, if you accidentally take it off?

[@TomFroese]

You definitely won’t accidentally take the screen protector off

[@livingsouloftimestudio2887]

Why is it drawing tablets are able to figure this out but manufacturers have all these issues

[@tsemczuk]

What would your recommendation be for someone who is not an artist (like me) but heavily uses their iPad for writing, note-taking, etc? Any drawing I do is mainly of the small diagram variety, not real artwork, per se.

[@TomFroese]

Writing is likely a lot more delicate on the screen protector than drawing. I'd say if you're looking for something that feels as close to physical pen and paper as possible this is pretty good.

[@nofkool]

so did you buy it ?

[@Easterhands]

Outrageous they would bundle tips that scratch the screen protector. I thought since this bundle existed they finally figured out a combo that lasted. Not yet I guess

[@TomFroese]

After using PenTips 2 and PenMat together and getting scratches there too, I’m starting to feel like I’m unusually hard on them. Perhaps under more normal use this scratching doesn’t happen?

[@Easterhands]

@@TomFroese Maybe. I feel like I'm hard on these things too. I had an etched glass screen protector and eventually my metal tips scratched even that. was hoping one of these companies figured something out with these. I wish they would make a cheap hard plastic tip that I could just swap out often

[@williammclean6594]

I just bought this for like the new iPad. Hopefully it lasts more than a month. A lot of really professional artists recommended it and said they've been using it for like 6 months without any problems. Maybe yours yours was defective or something. But still hope mine lasts longer than yours.

[@TomFroese]

Thanks. It's a lovely product to use, and perhaps I am just an unusually heavy user or I'm unusually hard on these things! Hoping yours lasts a long time.

[@williammclean6594]

@@TomFroese yeah I've seen other reviews that some people it doesn't last that long. If that's the case, they definitely need to like make a version 3. Because it's pretty expensive like in Canada where I live with the shipping, it's like $70. And I can't imagine. Like spending that 2 to 3 months. It would be better just to get like a cheaper one if I had to replace it that much. Like bellemond. Or some other decently feeling protector that's affordable.

[@lonestrawberry]

​@@williammclean6594Hey, how's the screen protector holding up after a month?

[@ShotgunSandwichENT]

@@williammclean6594 Is it still working well?

[@oguzogretmen721]

How to get rid of oil stinks somebody pls help I write on black pages and it's so annoying and distracting 😖😢

[@TomFroese]

Oh that's too bad. Have you tried cleaning the glass screen with a proper screen cleaner and letting it dry completely before applying the screen protector? Not sure how you'd clean the sticky side of the protector itself though. Maybe that's on Astropad's support page?

[@kartikproduction13]

Can you draw and illustrate without Apple Pencil and with alternative without pressure sensitivity, I am finding an alternative on which has only tilt sensitivity and palm rejection

[@TomFroese]

Hey thanks for your comment. I have a review on just such a pencil: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o53CdKd3e7qbl68si=YQjNNZXY6K8bYQVf - but in terms of Astropad's Rock Paper Pencil, it is designed specifically for the Apple Pencil, not other stylus brands.

[@stevenlombaerts2714]

Thanks for the review. I wish Apple would make artists ipad edition with a Wacom-like screen for drawing. So, with all your experience, what would be the go-to screen protector that feels the most like drawing with pencil on paper ánd lasts the longest?

[@schizofennec]

they kinda did with nano texture

[@stevenlombaerts2714]

@@schizofennec I thought the same, but some on-hand review stated it's just visual. There little to no difference at all in the feeling when drawing. Don't know other experiences so far.

[@TomFroese]

Thank you Steven! Apple just announced a matte screen option for some models of the new iPad pros, but @MKHBD has cautioned his viewers about going for this option. I've only used Rock Paper Pencil and, now, PenTips own version of this called Ink'n'Paper, which has the Screen Protector and the metal Apple Pencil tips. I just reviewed it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXnIZZxrbZmCrs0si=kO5a5n509-jTrTW1 I will be doing a follow up review after 1 month to answer the question on which lasts longer. So far so good though (after 1 week).

[@leemo5580]

​@@stevenlombaerts2714 test for yourself, just use your Apple Pencil on phones with frosted glass.

[@raynjpg]

@@stevenlombaerts2714 When I compared the regular screen and nano-texture side by side, I noticed that my hand glided across the nano-texture screen much smoother, but the drawing with the pencil hardly felt any different. I think the nano-texture might have had a slight bit more friction when using the pencil, but less friction on your hand. A little bit of magical, possibly miracle there lol.

[@NYCSanman]

Do you think that the rock paper pencil would work better with the Apple Pencil tips?

[@TomFroese]

No, it would wear them down a lot.

[@Paintbug]

Hmmm... I'm torn between purchasing the 13" iPad Pro, with or without the nano glass display, thinking maybe the best option would be to use the Rock Paper Pencil screensaver with the standard glass. After watching your review, I am wondering if the new nano glass display option on the 2024 pro models would also suffer from scratches over time. At least the Rock Paper Pencil screensaver can easily be replaced.

[@TomFroese]

Hi! Please watch my recent review of PenTips Ink'N'Paper bundle (a similar product to this one). Toward the end I mention the matte option for new iPad Pros. Also, from what I've heard since then, that screen is about reducing glare, not providing a naturalistic drawing experience.

[@Blobiverse]

Hey, the universal advice from artists seems to be to avoid using the iPad nanotexture glass. It can only be cleaned with the included Apple polishing cloth, and means you can never protect the iPad itself with a screen protector, as adding a second diffuse layer makes it look terrible. Save the money, maybe throw on a Paperlike or Astropad protector, it’ll still be cheaper.

[@Paintbug]

@@Blobiverse thanks! Good points!

[@michielhoeijmans]

I have heard great things about the nanotexture

[@kaths_rockxbye5601]

watch jerryrigeverything, nanotexture is more fragile than anything else 😂

[@The12th_]

What if you just use the screen protector, without the metal tips, to reduce the resulting scratches? Is the paper-feeling still good enough? Must...?!

[@TomFroese]

The paper like feeling works only with the metal tips. I wouldn't recommend using the OEM Apple Pencil tips with the textured screen protector, it would sand them down in no time. Currently I am testing the PenTips Ink'n'paper combo … did a review on that on the channel recently if you're interested.

[@The12th_]

​@@TomFroese Thank You! After re-watching all your videos about the different RPP and your newest one, I'll give it a try! I think there is almost no way around this issue of either scratching the screen protector or using the tips down. Materials just scratch each other. You can only choose which should be more durable by making it harder, but to the disadvantage of the other one. Probably your suggestion to make duller tips, while they are harder than the protector (v2), is a very good attempt to reduce the issue - but it won't eliminate it. In settings as v1, where the protector was the harder one, they should offer extra tips and suggest exchanging them frequently. Since I won't draw for hours, but mainly use it to take notes or "draw" some simple stuff like molecule structures, I hope my pressure is lower and therefore the protector lasts longer. But that also could be just wishful thinking.

[@YukyDoodle]

To prevent scratching, could I use the normal/stock pencil nib on the Astro pad screen protector with no issue?

[@TomFroese]

Don’t get Astropad RPP then. Just get a cheaper textured screen protector on its own.

[@techsamurai11]

@@TomFroese Do you have a recommendation that works with the Apple Pencil Pro?

[@koto9x]

good video honest nice

[@paulcunningham5959]

What about just using the normal Apple Pencil nib on it?

[@TomFroese]

Just get a textured screen protector, not an 80$ bundle like this 😂

[@albertevans1600]

If i use the oem nibs, do you think I run into the same wear and tear issue of the screen protector?

[@TomFroese]

Your nibs will wear down fast, my friend.

[@ExZane_]

⁠ I actually don’t care much about the wear in the pencil nibs, as they are cheaper than the whole Rock Paper Pencil screen protector, and they come in packages of 4 (at least in my country), I really wanna know, and I’ll be very thankful if you @@TomFroese could answer this, how does the OEM nibs feel with this screen protector? Because the sharper nibs from Astropad doesn’t really seem useful for my case. Thank u in advance and pretty good informative video, I loved that u sketched through it to explain ur opinions, it’s a pretty good idea for making this types of videos, keep up the good work!

[@boringillustrationtips]

@@ExZane_ Thanks! Honestly, you are among many to suggest this. However, if you want to use the OEM nibs on a textured screen protector, don't waste your money on a $40 USD screen protector/metal nib kit - just get a cheaper textured screen protector.

[@ExZane_]

@@boringillustrationtips why is that?

[@DrawingSources-wm9zu]

if it lasts at least 6 months, its a good deal, but 1 month? hell no.