[dTal]

Well, our experiences are at odds then. Every glossy-screened device I own is usable outside, and none of my matte-screened devices are. It's not a mystery, the physics are straightforward. Gloss improves contrast by lowering black levels. The same effect causes water to darken concrete.

If matte was so much better, wouldn't there be a market for matte overlays for smartphones? Yet smartphones are universally glossy, and universally legible outside.

[DoingIsLearning]

> If matte was so much better, wouldn't there be a market for matte overlays for smartphones?

If I put the query "antiglare matte protector" on ebay I get an offering of 49000 results of different matte screen covers for phones/tablets/laptops etc. Would that 'after purchase' offer exist if everyone loved the glossy screen experience, like you do?

[dTal]

Fair enough. I retract that sentence.

There is a tradeoff, to be sure. The same property that allows glossy screens to reject sunlight better - preservation of high angular frequency - causes a visible signal (reflections of objects). This signal is more easily disentangled from the image on the screen than a uniform raising of the noise floor, but some no doubt find it more distracting.

[tingol]

You can't use your fingers on matte screens.

[officeplant]

I guess my Kindle's matte touch screen uses magic then.

[dTal]

Sure you can. Why wouldn't you?