TL;DR at end of review
For starters, I'm terrible at putting skins on. That being said, I put the skin on my phone flawlessly. Not because I had skills at it, but because it's such a forgiving adhesive that gives you time to realign the skin again and again without losing it's stick. The precision is spot on, even the tiny holes for the microphone, or light sensors are perfect! What's more is I got it a day earlier than expected, and the customer service, and communication was fast, and extremely efficient! The screen protector currently has bubbles, but I'm terrible at installing those, and with 3 dogs, and a cat, there's fur all over the place. I won't hold bubbles against the protector, as it's got a lot of environmental variables working against it, and it's been only two hours (the instructions say to wait up to 48 hours, so I'll update later this weekend). One thing to note, though, is that the metallic options are more of a metal flake, or glitter option. Not that it's bad, I got the metallic blue, and though I'm no fan of glitter, it's growing on me. The screen protector is a soft material as I had hoped from their description on the web site, and doesn't seem to have any real halo effect to mention so far. It doesn't bunch up at the corners of the edge-to-edge design, something I was concerned with, but it does take some poking at to get to stick properly upon first installation. Mostly because it's still wet, and the adhesive hasn't set. It's definitely a solid protector from scratches, and easy to replace if it gets too scuffed up over time, but if you're prone to dropping things, I would suggest rethinking a skin in general. While I'm more used to cases that bulk up a phone like the UB Pro, and my most recent Caselogic: Parallax; I think these skins might just win me over. My phone can be lighter, and since I don't drop them much if any, it can be significantly smaller too! Now, with my fresh new metallic (glitter) blue skin, my phone is freaking FABULOUS!! What's more, they have a pretty huge device selection. I'm likely going to be skinning my Nook HD+, and my daughters are in love with the pink metallic, and red metallic skins. My only complaint on selection would be that it is required to get the screen films. I like their screen films, they feel more durable than the typical ones, and you get two of them making the price for them very friendly, but let's say I just want a replacement skin, or just a different looking skin. The skins add another roughly $15 to the screen price (more for larger devices).
For those of you that want the short version here are the pros, and cons:
Pros:
The screens are a soft stretchable polyurethane that can absorbs some decent scratches
The screen applies very easily with some ability to reposition once laid down
The back skin is very forgiving, and can be applied several times until it's perfect
The precision of the pieces are impressive!
Clear instructions, and even a video of instructions
FAST shipping
Great communication, and tracking
Overall very efficient staff/customer service
Device selection is pretty huge
Neutral:
Metallic skin options are more a glitter option, though the pictures make that clear. (I was asked to review, so I'm giving all the nit pickings just for completeness.)
Cons:
Can not buy the back skins without buying the screen films
Overall, I'll be ordering more for my other devices. Two screens, and a skin (I even got a bonus blue carbon fiber skin woo!) for $29 plus shipping is not a bad deal. They make the boring colors that the Pixel 2 XL comes in seem more refreshing for sure!
Update: It's been a few days with the screen, and the bubbles have gone away, there is still no halo effect after some normal use, and there is no screen distortion, or front camera distortion. After scratch testing it myself, and to help speed up the removal of bubbles, I can confirm that the screen cover smooths out in minutes! I was fairly rough with the scratches also. I'm quite pleased with their screen covers overall.
Related
I have been experimenting with homemade screen protectors and I have found the perfect long lasting solution. I have tried many commercial types and was unimpressed with them especially when I got a tiny piece of something on the screen side and after smoothing it down ended up with an indented pimple sized mark on my touchscreen
Anyway, I had some A4 perspex folders which are used for holding papers then clipped into a hardback ring binder folder. I got these folders when buying some monthly history magazines as these contained old wartime papers but I am sure they will be available from many office equipment outlets or stationers. The best ones are textured and slightly opaque. This makes a heavy duty protector and are a joy for writing with the stylus as you get good tactile feedback, not slippery, just right. You will need to make a template, the width can be the exact size but add a little to the length so it can be tucked into the top and bottom edge, once fitted its as solid as a rock and great in use, it serves to reduce the screen glare to zero and also takes the brightness down to a good readable level.
Take your time to get the size correct and you will be pleased, I am useless at cutting a straight line with scissors but I persevered doing it freehand and I am really happy with the result. I will save money, no sticky stuff on the screen and a quality product for next to nothing.
P.S. If anybody manages to get the exact size in template form it would be really helpful if they could post the scan so I can print it off to card and use it to make a batch for future use, I didnt make a template because I am crap at anything like that and wouldnt like to inflict my scissors accompanied efforts on anybody.
Protectors
HI
Good idea I'll give it a go. It always bothered me why they had adsive on the back as its nightmare if you an engineer out in the field.
Cheers
Gus
personally i've had some bad experience with such a 'clip-on' screen protector. All is good until a grain of sand/dust gets under the protector. It will move around and scratch up the screen.
Therefore i prefer glue-on protectors.
Just my 0.2€ worth
My experience has been the same as John's - the screen protectors for the original HP jornada was a good quality non adhesive type, sized just right but when I replaced mine after 6 months use, found the screen underneath badly scratched around the edges where dust had got in.
If you make it the correct size and clean the screen you will not get a problem.
If you're in the UK, the best material I've found commercially available is OHP slides from Rymans Stationers. They're quite cheap and last a while.
However, I strongly recommend using a proper silicon adhesive one. First there's no dust to get under the plastic and cause scratching, and They have significantly better optical properties (ie are much clearer!). The screens aren't too bright too begin with, so better not reduce it further.
They can be bought quite cheaply on ebay - I got a pair of EXIM screen protectors quite cheap and they're perfect and last a long time.
V
I've used many different kinds of screen protectors in the past, and this time I tried XtremeGuard which I found on eBay. The cost was only $2.50 shipped. I must say hands down, this is the best screen protector I have used.
Other kinds I've used in the past were a thin hard plastic, kind of like a clear overhead sheet, but thinner and sticky on one side. These were not good IMO, because they make the touchscreens less sensitive and since they were hard, the edges would start to peel first and it would be all downhill from there.
The XtremeGuard is a more stretchy film material, kind of like 3M clear bra, or the kind you would find on a car. Its got a nice grippy rubber feel to it, which I actually like. Its "softer" so it sticks better to the screen.
I used a mild soapy water solution to put it on, and at first was kind of concerned with my results. Some areas were cloudy, there were some visible bubbles and when the screen was on it looked all rainbow cuz of the water trapped inside. After a couple days though, all the moisture evaporated, the cloudiness cleared up and all the bubbles were gone. I was left with a perfectly crystal clear screen that adhered all the way around, even on the edges. You would not be able to tell there was a screen protector on here (I have the OEM HTC silicone skin that covers the edges as well so you can't see the edge of the screen protector). The touchscreen works perfectly, and the screen protector does not interfere at all.
The screen protector was the exact size of the screen, perfect cut. Which is good, but makes it challenging to install, if you're off by a tiny bit, the screen protector will stick off the screen and that will be prone to peeling up later on. So take your time during the install to ensure its on there straight and perfectly. I started from the top where the speaker is and lined it up around those lines, and used a credit card to press it down and get as many bubbles out as I could. If this is your first time installing a screen protector, I would suggest getting 2-3 to make sure you get it right. At only $2.50ea, you really can't go wrong here. I'm 100% satisfied.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-XtremeGUARD...ewItem&pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item35a9e73eed
I would also like to note that I do not work for, or am in any way affiliated with XtremeGuard at all. I simply tried their product, and I liked it, so I'm leaving my feedback here.
I have tried it, but it is like a mm to long on top to bottom. And it was like 2mm to short in width.
That was my experience. Could be wrong for everyone.
I like mine, it fits perfectly. Doesn't stick over the edge and covers the whole thing. Mine was a perfect fit, not too long or short on any sides.
I'll try to get some pics up later when I get the chance
Man, I want to order it so bad, but with Otterbox covers around the corner, I think its a little waste of money.. :S
Any tackiness or stickiness with this protector? I'm currently using Phatom Skinz and love it, but I'm always looking around for something that may potentially be even better...especially with a price like this. How about orange peel?
thanks,
Alan
There is a very slight tackiness with this screen protector, but I actually like it. It gives a good feel when typing. It might interfere with pong or some other games where you need to move your finger really fast, but that doesn't really apply to me.
No orange peel, or any peeling at all for that matter.
The cloudiness really bugs me. The Zagg I had did not cloud like this one does.
The item from ebay is too pricier. This site offers products with much lower price and free shipping world wide. The 3 packed screen protector is much cheaper than 1 packed from ebay.
http://www.geartaker.com/product/3x...opers&utm_medium=minqing&utm_campaign=FA0070B
this 3 packed protector was once sold at $0.01 during its 2nd super deal.
Hey guys, I recently bought one of these off Amazon when I ordered my Otterbox case, it was only $2 so I figured I had nothing to lose. Here's my take on it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19109961#post19109961
I have been using Zagg's invisibleShield for my Vibrant. However, recently I got my phone replaced and since I have heard so many good things about Realook, I wanted to give Rk a try instead of just ordering a replacement iS. Now that I have experienced both (albeit, I have only been using Rk for a short amount of time whereas I have plenty of experience with iS since this is my second device with it), I figure I should share my findings with my fellow XDA'ers. Note this is a comparison of only screen protectors - not whole body protectors.
Size/Coverage
Winner: Realook
Both iS and Rk cover 98%+ of the screen, including the touchkeys at the bottom. Both iS and Rk have an opening cut out for the speaker (Rk has a hole for the speaker, covering above and below the speaker, while iS has a cut-out for the speaker, not covering the small area above it). Only iS has an opening cut out for the light sensors - Rk does not have a cut out for the light sensors.
Rk covers more of the phone than iS. With iS, there is about .5-1 cm uncovered area - on all sides - between the screen protector and the edge of the phone. The uncovered area is large enough that a simple case will not cover it (i.e. you may find it catching dust, etc.) but small enough to not cause you protection issues or worries. Rk, on the other hand, covers more area. Depending on how well you apply it, you can potentially have very little uncovered area between the screen protector and the edge of the phone. Any area that is uncovered is small enough to be covered by a simple case, so little to no dust or dirt should get there. Personally, I was able to apply Rk in such a way that for the top, right, and left my case covered whatever Rk did not; I was not so lucky for the bottom -- there is a very minor uncovered gap that will probably catch dirt, etc.
Application/Installation
Winner: Depends on personal preference
Rk and iS differ highly in how they are applied to the phone. Rk is a "dry install' while iS is a "wet install".
With iS you are provided with some liquid solution that you use to apply the protector onto your phone. You spray the liquid on your fingertips - to help avoid fingerprints - and on the protector, before applying the protector onto the phone.
With Rk you have to peel off protective covers (the protector is covered by two "covers" on the front and back which need to be peeled off) before applying the protector on your phone.
Both iS and Rk are easily reapply-able if you make a mistake in positioning the protector. I hear Rk can even be reapplied at later dates, but I have not tested this out personally so I don't know. iS is also supposedly reapply-able, but only if you have any solution left.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to the iS/wet and Rk/dry application methods.
Because iS uses a liquid solution to assist in applying the protector, it is much easier to avoid catching dust and dirt particles under the protector and to avoid fingerprint marks. On the other hand, air bubbles are likely to occur and you need to be sure to push out the air bubbles with something like a credit card. Also, since you don't have to worry about fingerprints (thanks to the liquid solution) it is a bit easier to hold and apply iS if you are clumsy, like me. You need to be careful to conserve the liquid solution, though, because once you are out, your short on luck: You can either beg customer service to send you another one, or order extra solution from somewhere.
The advantage Rk's dry install offers is immediate up-time, and little-to-no air bubbles in the main area of the screen (there may be air bubble at the edges and/or around the speaker, though). With iS, you need to allow the phone to "dry" for something like 8-10 hours, whereas you can start using your phone with Rk ASAP. On the other hand, dust and dirt particles will drive you mad while trying to apply Rk, and you need to be careful to not touch the adhesive side with your fingers otherwise you may have fingerprint issues.
Two things that irk me about Rk are the confusing installation directions (you really need to be skilled with your fingers to do it as they want you to), and the fact that there was dirt/dust on the covers that protect the screen protector. The protector itself was 100% clean -- the two covers that protect the front and back/adhesive side, though, were a bit dirty so when you try to position the protector on your screen, as per the directions, prior to pulling off the two protective covers, the dirt/dust gets transferred to your screen and if you aren't careful you may not wipe it off before applying the protector.
Quality
Winner: invisibleShield
Both are excellent quality -- they have little to no effect on picture quality when compared to a naked Vibrant. I bet most people wouldn't even notice you have a screen protector if not specifically looking for one.
However, one very minor issue I noticed is at the lowest brightness setting, Rk caused the screen to be minor-ly less bright than iS. This is very minor and no one will even notice it unless specifically looking for it. At higher brightness settings, this issue is not even ascertainable.
Both Rk and iS attract fingerprints easily, and Rk is a bit easier to wipe off than iS.
One major issue I found, though, are reflections. Rk claims to be "anti-reflective" and "anti-glare" (it also claims to be "anti-fingerprint", which it isn't as I just mentioned), but in reality that couldn't be any further from the truth. I kid you not when I say you may confuse your phone for a mirror if you have Rk -- the reflection is that bad. While inside it isn't too bad as long as you don't have a light source directly behind you. When outside, however, the reflection/glare (whatever you want to call it) is terrible. Even on full brightness the reflection/glare is very annoying while outside -- forget using your phone on low brightness, which is something I could sometimes get away when I used iS.
iS, on the other hand, does well in protecting against glares and reflections. Indoors, even with a light source directly behind me, the phone is still very usable. And as long as I keep the protector clean, iS causes no problems outdoors.
Texture
Winner: Realook
Here is one major area that Rk and iS differ. Rk has more of a "glass" texture to it, while iS is more "plasticky". In other words, with Rk you will have more smooth, glass like feeling while with iS you may find a bit more friction. That is not to say Rk is always smooth -- if you drag your finger on Rk without picking it up for too long you will start to feel lots of friction also. However, in general, Rk has a must better feel to it than iS. In fact, iS has somewhat of a "break-in" period where you may notice your fingers sticking to iS making using a touchscreen near impossible for the first few days.
Price
Winner: Depends on how many times you replace your phone
Realook costs you $10.99 with free shipping (both Amazon and eBay listings provide free shipping) for a two-pack.
invisibleShield screen protector only (not fully body cover) costs you $14.99 + shipping for one protector. (You may be able to get a 50% off coupon for iS if you submit your e-mail for their awards/giveaways program - I did.) However, iS has a "life-time guarantee" where you can get a "free" iS replacement if your screen protector ever gets scratched. (You may also get a free replacement if you get your device replaced, like a warranty replacement -- they allow you to do that.) I put free in quotes because, it isn't really free -- you have to pay $3.99 for shipping and send back the old screen protector (which will only cost you an envelope and a stamp).
Final Words
Both Realook and invisibleShield are top-class. They are both terrific products, both with advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I prefer Realook's "glassy" feeling and better coverage than iS but the reflection/glare on Realook is a deal breaker since I use my phone outside often. So, my next course of action will be to see if Realook has any sort of money back guarantee since this product fails to do as it advertises when it comes to reflection and glare. In other words, I am going with invisibleShield. For everyone else, however, I can't provide a general recommendation since everyone has their own tastes and preferences. I do hope, however, my comparison here helps you make your decision.
I have IS, it works as it should thus far. Does the one you use, tetain its shape after its ben scratched or dented by something like IS. I like the way IS feels, everyone else hates it though lol. Guess it doesnt matter since it is my phone lol.
Invisible Shield is a ***** to install. Its very sticky and kept sticking on my fingers and flapping up. It took me a while to get it right. Other than the install issue, I am very happy with IS. The shield is already scratched up but it is very strong material and I know that my vibrant glass underneath is unscratched. I am thinking about sending the scratched IS back for a replacement but since the install is a ***** I will wait until it is really scratched up.
I've used both and IMO RealLook is superior by far. It doesn't look like I have anything on the screen. I haven't personally noticed any glare issues. I hated InvisibleShield. It looked like I had a covering on my screen, it smudged easily, and was hard to wipe the smudges off. With RealLook, I just use my shirt and it looks sparkling new. I had a go of it getting all of the bubble around the edge to come out, but once they were out, it was flawless.
I have also had both screen protectors on my Vibrant and the Realook beats the InvisibleShield hands down. If you are looking for a screen protector that is invisible in every way... The Reallook is the one for you.
Realook all the way. I had IS on my HD2 and hated it, it's thick, sticky even after install around the edges and kept peeling up.
Realook is easy to clean, looks like there's nothing there, as very low glare, and your fingers glide over the screen.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I just got mt real look yesterday, I love it. It looks like nothing is there, easy to put on too. I was surprised how fast I got it. I ordered it thursday and got it monday. Awesome
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
*Bump.. (hopefully it's not a problem resurrecting this thread )
Firstly, I want to thank DarkAgent for the very comprehensive review. Props to you! The review is intelligent, thorough, and very sensible.
And on that note, I have been a 'long-time' user of the BestSkinsEver (or BSE) products ever since they became more main-stream; I believe one of my first orders dates back to 2006. I have personally put more BSE/IS skins on devices than I can remember, literally dozens. And I must say the main reason I switched/used BSE's products in the first place was for that of their low cost, especially in consideration to InvisibleShield. With that said, I will have to admit that perhaps the most annoying thing about the skin in general I have found is its ability to attract dust/dirt/junk on, and along, the edges of the skin. This is often not only upsets the look of the device, but it in turn starts to gum up the adhesive of the skin and ultimately separates the skin from the device.
A rather long way to get around to saying that while I am quite happy with the product, and that I can now quite consistently get good results, I am open to other options.
The Realook has me tempted, if for nothing else it will help me in my own personal knowledge and for future recommendations to others.
Thanks again for the review/comparison, it was thoroughly appreciated!
I'd say Realook is look. I do get glare sometimes, but more of the time my screen is sharp as can be.
I love the phantomskinz screen protector. You don't even know there is one on it and it self heals itself.
Here's my problem..I love IS bc it really feels like it adds a layer of protection to the screen, it applies great and I've never had a single issue with bubbles, peeling, scratches, or the application process. I've used IS on at least 5 devices. What i dont like is the friction you experience with the protector and the screen quality has always been negatively affected in terms of brightness and clarity.
Now I've also used many hard protectors and have issues with them too, mainly its that they always get scratched up, begin to peel and quickly look terrible. So does RF have these issues? If I'm spending $10 on screen protectors I'd rather buy 10 $0.99 protectors and just swap them when they're scratched up. So is RF actually scratch resistant or only a screen protector? I'd rather stay with IS and not have to worry about ever replacing it due to scratches or peeling if RF is just like every other "dry" protector out there.
Thanks for the review, perfect timing for this too since I plan to order some accessories this weekend
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
buru898 said:
I love the phantomskinz screen protector. You don't even know there is one on it and it self heals itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bodyguardz does the same thing, scratches get buffed out with normal use, and fade away.
Ginger Clones of the World Unite!!! via the XDA App
I've tried both, first iS then Realook.
I teared off iS the same day I put it on. That sticky feeling simply kills! It reminds
you constantly that there's something on your screen. Yes it is visually invisible, maybe. But mentally, it's NOT. And that sticky touch feels nasty as well.
Realook is a total different story, after putting it on (yes, I managed to put it on without a single dust getting between), I almost don't feel any screen protector there. It's smooth and responsive. All the way hands down.
I've used both and Realook is miles better. The IS yellows over time and distorts the screen too much. The friction on the screen is also annoying and is a constant reminder that you have it on. Finally, over time the edges will attract dust and dirt and start to gum up which eventually causes it to peel off. The only upside is that the stickiness (friction) is nice when you're holding the phone if you have it on the entire body.
I've had my realook on for almost a year now and don't have any problems. I've used it heavily and it doesn't show a scratch. The best part is that it's completely invisible both by looks AND feel. There is absolutely no comparison, the Realook is the superior product.
My advice for anyone putting it on is to dust your area with a damp rag and clean the phone off well. Once it's dry and polished pat it down with scotch tape to get the dust off before you apply the protector (also works on the underside of the Realook if you need to take it off).
I just installed Belkin Matte screen overlay on both of my Xoom's. I paid $25 for a two pack at Target. I am extremely impressed with the product. Eliminated smudges with only a moderate loss in light transmission. I installed using the water spray method. To keep from water damage. I wrapped the periphery of each Xoom with paper towels. I sprayed the sticky side of the overlay with water and carefully layed it down over the screen. Using a credit card wrapped in a few layers of paper towels I started from the center and worked my way out to the sides.
http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=546374
any actual pics?
Same here.. I got the Motorola BT keyboard on clearance for $48, and got the Belkin matte screen 2 pack also
I'm liking it a lot so far, was VERY easy to put on and looks great. It still smudges a little but not nearly as much.
i would also love to see pics... especially how the screen is looking with matte screen protector. the ones i used were terrible.
Iceananas said:
i would also love to see pics... especially how the screen is looking with matte screen protector. the ones i used were terrible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried taking some pics, but you really couldn't see anything.
I've used these type of protectors before. The first coouple days, you feel good about protecting your device, but the lackluster feel and reduced screen look will make you claw it off soon. I have been using my X and XOOM for a long time with no screen protectors with no probem. Motorola has a great build quality with the Corning Gorilla Glass, and it is rather resillient.
P.S. I do keep my xoom in the folio case, and am well pleased with the protection.
I'm glad I saw this thread. I got these for Christmas and kind of f'ed up on the first one, but the second one seemed like it was actually too big slightly, so I exchanged them at Target today and tried the water spray method which worked like a charm. There does seem to be a little moisture in some areas but it has been slowly going away since I reinstalled the new covers a couple hours ago. I personally think the screen looks much better with a matte cover on it (and most screens in general look better with matte covers). On all white backgrounds you can kind of see a prism effect, but I think the contrast is actually better, and pls there are no more fingerprints or any glare. It makes for much better viewing in bright areas too, gonna try it outside soon - without a cover you can't even see the screen unless you're in the shade when outdoors. I think this is the way that LCD displays were meant to be seen, LCD TVs always have a matte screen, and laptop LCDs with a matte finish are always more expensive than glossy. Anyway...I love it.
BestSkinsEver Samsung Galaxy S2 T989 Total Body Skin Review
I know our phone is more than a year old now, I am writing this review as there doesn't appear to be any particular review of the skin for our phone (in this case, it's better late than not at all). The review is based after two weeks of usage so that I can provide as accurate information possible.
*to view a larger image just click on the thumbnail*
Delivery and Packaging |10/10| :
The skin was ordered from the BestSkinsEver website so it was shipped directly from their main facilities. Living outside of the US I had to choose the 'First Class Mail' shipping method which was $3.00CDN. The delivery arrived in my mailbox exactly 7 days after ordering just as advertised, no complaint. The skin came packaged in a white #10 sized envelope, nothing fancy, this is beneficial to the shipping cost and is eco-friendly (the skin is what matters the most). There were no damages (folds/tears) on the envelope which was great. Included inside the envelope is a packing slip with your shipping information, order info, etc... and most importantly the skin which is protected on some sort of vellum paper (protects adhesive side).
Pricing and support |10/10| :
Depending on the time you see this review, the price and availability of the skin may be different. I purchased the skin during a 30% off sale, however, even without the discount the total body skin is affordable (less than $10) compared to similar skins from other companies.
As for the BestSkinsEver support, they have provided outstanding customer service from my experience with them. I had an issue where I found a small gash right in the center on the adhesive side of the screen protector during installation. I had contacted the company with the issue and provided them with several pictures and they were able to quickly send me a replacement screen protector free of charge.
Application |8/10| :
It is a wet application, so I had to prepare a homemade solution of liquid soap and water inside an empty Monster ScreenClean spray bottle. I prefer the idea of making the solution myself rather than having the company charge an extra cost for their own solution. Instructions for the application is given on the website and after following the video applying the skin was a breeze. The overall procedure took me more than half an hour (could be quicker) but I was trying to be a perfectionist. Since it is a wet install, it made aligning the skin easy as long as you sprayed enough of the solution (don't be afraid to be generous adding solution, just make sure you wipe off any excess that come to the edges). Also, it is important to keep your hands moist with the solution at all times during application so that there is no friction between your fingers and the skin.
The only difficulty that I came across during the application was getting the side skins installed, particularly around the corners. Patience is key, I held the corners down in place with my fingers and I used the heat of my breath to help the adhesive stick. After doing so the side skins were flush with one another perfectly around the sides, top and bottom of the phone as shown in the provided pictures. I would also like to mention, the skin for the back of the phone leaves some sort of texture in certain areas due to the grid pattern on the back cover (this is metioned on the website). However, after some trial and error I was able to remove most of the texture and even with a bit of it left it looks pretty cool, almost like a camouflage pattern.
After applying the skins I used a gift card double-wrapped with a microfiber cloth to push away air bubbles and wipe off any leftover solution. At first it will still look like some of the solution is still under the skin no matter how much you try to squeegee it out, but after using the phone for 24-48 hours the solution disappeared/evaporated and the skin protector looked flawless (as if it weren't there at all).
Screen Protector Quality |9/10| :
First off, the screen protector is cut perfectly to fit edge to edge of the glass which is quite amazing. The cut-outs for the camera and earpiece are placed appropriately and are close to accurate. The cut-out for the earpiece however could have been cut closer/smaller so that the top part would adhere properly and not move as easily (not that great of an issue).
The feel/texture of the screen protector after the application felt somewhat rubbery, but after more than a weeks use with the phone any friction by the screen protector began to smooth out (even after wiping any oil marks off the screen). Speaking of oil marks, the protector does not easily attract fingerprints unless your fingers are extremely oily and when there are fingerprints, it's hardly noticeable at all (almost as if there is an oleophobic coating). Any fingerprints on the protector literally comes off with a single wipe of a cloth. When it comes to scratches the screen protector is more than decent enough to prevent everyday scratches from loose change and keys, but definitely isn't a guarantee. Any minor scratches disappear due to the self-healing properties of the skin.
The best attribute with this screen protector is that it retains the clarity of the screen while it's on. There are no issues with any brightness loss, rainbow affect, color tint, grainy look... nothing! The screen protector is crystal clear... the only flaw is that at certain angles where harsh light is hitting the screen there is a noticeable orange peel effect/texture, although it doesn't really degrade the clarity and is not visible with the screen on.
Body Skin Quality |8/10| :
The body skin for the phone is perfect for anyone who does not want the housing of the phone to get scratched. The cut-outs for the headphone jack, usb, buttons, camera and microphones are cut extremely precise. The back cover is cut edge to edge, it's only the speaker cut-out that is ever so slightly off center. Also, the side protectors are cut perfectly to not leave any space between... downside, there is about a millimeter of vulnerable space between the side and the back due to the curvature of the sides. The feeling/texture of the body skin has the same slickness as the screen protector, although it provides a better grip compared to the raw feel of the phone, particularly the sides. As for protection goes, the body skin will definitely hold up against any scratches from everyday items as it has the same self-healing properties as the screen protector. The body skin is thin enough to maintain the sleekness of the phone. The trade off is if you are looking for any drop protection, the skin is not thick enough to absorb any impact.
Overall |9/10| :
The BestSkinsEver total body skin in my opinion is the "best skin" in respect to it's notable quality over it's affordable price. The skin is easy to apply and for everyday use, it's more than enough protection while keeping the phone's sleek form factor. The skin in particular is made extremely well with all the precision cut-outs and the screen protector definitely keeps the quality of the screen. Overall, it works great for what it's designed to do and I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for an affordable option to protect their Samsung GS2 T989.
There's a possibility that I get complaints such as the review being rather long for some people... if it's a lot to read, just read the "overall" or just don't read it all. Since it's a review, I believe it's better to give any necessary information.
Additionally, I bought myself a Diztronic case and a Sandisk 64 GB Micro SD card. I can write a review for them as well if anyone would like me to and if anyone knows any other products you would recommend I get, let me know. Thanks!
thanks man im thinking of ordering tomorrow or ill just use this with my d3o case
Great review, FineTalent! You might not be an All-Star Dev yet but you're definitely an All-Star reviewer lol.
Great review, this product is exactly what I've been looking for. Thanks a bunch!
Posted from my Galaxy S II X.
FineTalent said:
There's a possibility that I get complaints such as the review being rather long for some people... if it's a lot to read, just read the "overall" or just don't read it all. Since it's a review, I believe it's better to give any necessary information.
Additionally, I bought myself a Diztronic case and a Sandisk 64 GB Micro SD card. I can write a review for them as well if anyone would like me to and if anyone knows any other products you would recommend I get, let me know. Thanks!
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nice review!! I got my phone yesterday and I'm planning on buying the same case as you. do you mind making a review for the other stufff you mentioned??
I'm so glad you posted this review. I actually purchased this skin a few weeks ago. I had planned on putting a review up myself, but I got lazy .
My initial attempt to do this ended in a blaze of anger, resulting in my crumbling up all the pieces, and tossing them in the trash. The next morning, I saw one of the side pieces on the floor, and thought I'd give it another shot. Unfortunately, all the pieces were kinda stuck together. I figured out that the soap I was using to apply the films was a moisturizing soap, with kind of a waxy feel...pretty foolish on my part. Anyway, I carefully pulled the films apart (whilst watching a movie, because it was a looooong process), and used a different soap for the mixture. End result: glossy white protection film all around. Great product, great price.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app