If you are at the beginning of your journey with your iPhone, as I was a few months ago, you will probably think about a protection method considering that this phone scratches very very easily on the back and neither does the screen that is marked as scratch resistant does not really live up to its reputation and unfortunately if you want to change a scratched screen or the back of the phone you have to prepare a rather considerable amount. You will probably think of a leather/silicone/any other material cover and a foil for the front of the phone, but over time, depending on the quality of the products used or the inconveniences caused by using them, you will feel compelled to change them. . For example, a silicone cover will add a few good centimeters to the thickness of the phone, it will completely spoil its appearance, it will make it impossible to remove the phone from the pocket without dragging everything that is there with it, and it will be a real lint magnet, but it will it will best protect the phone from the effects of a fall or impact. A leather heel, although it seems like a good idea at first, will become impractical over time, due to the size, or if it is of poor quality, it will break. A good idea would be to use a case for the back, but some are quite expensive and crack quite easily.
Going through some of these methods myself, I decided at some point to look for a simpler and more durable solution and I decided to install an Invisible Shield on the phone. I made the mistake of buying from one of the authorized sellers in Romania, iShield.ro instead of the company that produces it, zagg.com, a bad choice in view of the time lost, almost 2 weeks and the price which was almost double: 2 weeks and 100 lei at iShield vs approx. 3 weeks and 60 lei (transport included) zagg.com (correct me if I'm wrong, but the kit is $25 and shipping between $3-5 as far as I knew). Once seen with the package in hand, it's time to install, for those who don't know, installing an invisible shield is not easy, you need a lot of patience and a sure hand, in order to have acceptable results, I installed it myself and didn't I did it 100% correctly, there were a few corners that were not glued properly, but I am 90% satisfied with how it has behaved so far. Why only 90%? I will explain to you right away and we will review some advantages and disadvantages of using the Invisible Shield.
Benefits :
- Due to the installation method, it is practically impossible to remain with bubbles or dust under the foil, something that with most foils was the main reason why I threw them away after a week;
– The material used is quite pleasant to the touch, and helps a lot to increase the grip when you hold the phone in your hand;
– So far it has protected my screen from some possible very nasty scratches;
- It gets scratched, but again thanks to the material used, the scratches are "self-repairing" so to speak in a proportion of 50%, enough so that it cannot be noticed during normal use;
– The price is very acceptable for a complete solution to protect the phone;
– zagg.com policy to exchange scratched or damaged Invisible Shield kits for free if you register on their site.
Disadvantages:
- The material used creates an "orange peel" effect that is quite difficult to notice, but it is there;
- Although it is marked as scratch-resistant, the material is scratched, even very easily, a larger nail can leave quite deep marks in it, luckily it can be repaired;
– Quite complicated installation method;
– The fact that it does not offer the same protection as a silicone cover in case of a fall or impact;
- If it is used with a white phone, it will look very ugly after a certain time because it will gather dust and lint around the corners.
– If it is not installed correctly, it will start to peel off, mine started showing the first signs 3 months after installation.
- Touch sensitivity decreases, quite a bit, but sometimes it is felt.
- Once the foil is applied, the phone will no longer be able to be used with the dock or with any car holder.
That's about all I can remember now, if you have other strong/weak points, please tell me.
All in all, I'm satisfied with Invisible Shield for now, even if a piece came off in the top corner, near the lock button, it protected my screen from 2 pretty nasty scratches and I don't regret the money I paid for it, even after the new year I will most likely send it to the US for a change. It seems to me to be a much better solution than a silicone cover/leather case/plastic case stuck on the back and combined with a film on the screen that doesn't stick well, has bubbles and traces of dust, but of course each with his dwarfs. I warmly recommend Invisible Shield, if you install it correctly I don't see why it could not be of use to you.
