This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
I use a keyboard cover on my MacBook Pro 14-inch, and it leaves key marks on the screen every time I close the lid. To wipe the screen often without worrying about scratches, I fitted a HOGOTECH anti-glare screen protector. With the included guide stickers and squeegee it went on bubble-free in the end. The screen looks slightly hazier and blacks a touch lighter, which is fine for my YouTube editing but worth knowing if you grade colour on the laptop display.
What I tested
- HOGOTECH anti-glare (also blue-light cut) screen protector for MacBook Pro 14-inch — ¥1,899 on Amazon Japan at the time of recording
- Fitted on my roughly three-year-old MacBook Pro 14-inch, with a protective case and keyboard cover on
What I found
- The kit is complete: wet wipe, cleaning cloth, dust-removal stickers, a squeegee and guide stickers. Instructions are on the back of the box. The film has cut-outs for the camera and sensors, which tells you which way is up.
- Method: clean the screen, remove dust, line the film up with the camera notch, fix it with four guide stickers, then peel backing "1" and lay the top half before doing the bottom half while pushing air out with the squeegee.
- Where I struggled: lined up with the camera, it seemed to sit very slightly to the right. The bottom half was harder, and I trapped a big bubble in the middle. Once the adhesive side touches the screen, bubbles won't push out and the film is hard to lift. Lifting a corner with a fingernail left a faint mark. Going slowly with the squeegee fixed it.
- The film is slightly smaller than the screen, so it fitted fine with my case on, and the lid still closes normally with both the keyboard cover and the film.
- Look: a light haze, colours slightly paler than the glossy screen, and a bit less depth in blacks. The black gap between the film edge and the bezel shows the original black, so the film area looks noticeably whiter next to it.
- Benefit: old marks that never quite wiped off are no longer noticeable, and I can wipe the screen without worrying about scratches.
Who it's for
MacBook Pro 14-inch owners who wipe their screen a lot (keyboard-cover marks, fingerprints) or want fewer reflections. If you do critical colour work on the built-in display itself, a matte film will get in the way; I do that on an external monitor.
Watch the review
The video is in Japanese; YouTube can show auto-generated captions. Useful chapters: 01:44 unboxing, 03:06 cleaning, 05:02 aligning and applying, 08:34 how it looks, 11:09 contrast and editing, 12:16 edge comparison.
Limitations
This is one installation on my own MacBook, and I judged the picture by eye. I fitted it while filming, so it took me longer than it should. HOGOTECH is sold on Amazon Japan, and I'm not sure about availability elsewhere.
Products
HOGOTECH screen protector for MacBook Pro 14-inch (anti-glare): on Amazon Japan
Clew Multi for Mac screen cleaner: on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Screen & Lens Protectors (27) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.