If you work at home or have a private office, you may not need a privacy screen for your Mac laptop. However, if you do a lot of work (or play) in a crowded office environment, coffee shop, etc., such an accessory reduces the risk of exposing sensitive and valuable info to others by limiting viewing angles.
My favorite privacy screen/screen protector for a Mac laptop is Kensington’s US$64.99 MagPro Elite Magnetic Privacy Screen. There’s a lot to like about the screen, but my favorite feature is that it doesn’t require adhesives. It attaches to the laptop’s frame via magnets.
However, if you don’t mind dealing with adhesives, StarTech.com offers an alternative (and slightly cheaper at $55.99) line oprivacy screens to keep on-screen data confidential. The line of enterprise-grade laptop privacy screens is designed to protect sensitive and confidential data on screen from being viewed or captured. I tested out the privacy screen for a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Built using Microlouver technology to guarantee a clear image while providing black-out privacy outside of +/- 30 (60 total) degree viewing angle. This prevents visual data from being compromised at your workstation, or in public/high traffic areas.
StarTech’s privacy shield is designed to fit the 2021/2023 16-inch MacBook Pro display. Thanks to its exact fit, it won’t interfere with top-mounted webcams, sensors around the monitor, or when closing the laptop lid.
The folks at StarTech say their privacy screen blocks up to 51% of blue light, which helps to reduce digital eye strain and improves visual comfort during prolonged use. The filter features an anti-glare matte side for environments prone to glare and a high-gloss side that helps retain color vibrancy. A matte side provides additional protection with a scratch and fingerprint-resistant coating.
You install the the privacy screen protector using the included transparent and residue-free adhesive strips. It’s supposed to be hassle free, but, just as with applying iPhone screens, it takes some effort on my part to get rid of bubbles.
If that’s not a problem for you, and if you don’t mind using ad adhesive-based privacy screen/screen protector, check out StarTech’s offering. Otherwise, I’d spring for a few extra bucks and goi with Kensington’s MagPro Elite Magnetic Privacy Screen for MacBook Pro 16”.
Apple World Today rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★
