Review w/ Pics: Phantom Skins, Best Skins Ever, Clear-Coat, Zagg, Vaja & Fortte

PaSt · 06-29-2009, 02:33 AM

Screen Protectors

My preference:
This is all based of the Skins I have received. I believe that they are all somewhat made of the same material, but of different quality, making others thicker, thinner, smoother, and rougher than others, so it seems that material can vary and change throughout time. My review is purely based of my preference and should be used to help make your purchase easier. I wish I have seen a guide like this, would have made my purchase a lot easier.

The only other skins that I would have loved to try out would have been Bodyguards, Ghost Armor, and Amzer (Though it looks like Amzer doesn’t provide the best corner coverage from what I’ve seen). I believe that these also have a smoother than others, orange peel type deal. But hopefully, I have helped make decision buying a little easier.

Map:

5 Best (Easiest of Installation, Best of Quality, Response, Fitment, and Close to None or No Orange Peel)
4 Above Average
3 Average
2 Below Average
1 Failing (Worst of Installation, Worst of Quality, Response, Fitment, and Large Amounts of Orange Peel)

1st Phantom Skins (Pics Shown after 24 Hours):
-The orange peeling is not as noticeable as the others, but has this somewhat odd lines that runs across the screen (can be seen in the photos). The feel out of all four is absolute best which makes it the top pick; the smoothest feel and the lines are really not too bad. I’ve installed countless screen protectors and I can see where people have problems with fitment, which makes this skin somewhat the hardest to install. Tip for all installations: When installing and PROPERLY ALIGNED, install with the middle first, work your way out to the edges, IMPORTANT-When you get to the outer edges, INSTALL the edges FIRST, ALIGN the edges PERFECTLY (the breaks on the corner of the Skin) “then SOMEWHAT work to the center side of the phone.” Meaning, you can start a quarter of the way from the top and bottom and then go to the center – as long as you get the curved edges first.
a.Installation . . . 3
b.Quality . . . . . . 5
c.Feel . . . . . . . . 5
d.Fitment . . . . . . 5
e.Orange Peel . . . 4

2nd Best Skins Ever (Pics Shown after 24 Hours):
-This has Thee best fitment of the bunch, covering to the very edge. If you are looking for absolute coverage, then look no further. This has to be PROPERLY aligned, if not, you will get excess film on the side of your phone. The orange peel is very noticeable, but the feel is definitely smoother than the Zagg Invisible Shield. Due to its design, this is one the easiest of the bunch to install.
a.Installation . . . 5
b.Quality . . . . . . 5
c.Feel . . . . . . . . 4
d.Fitment . . . . . . 5
e.Orange Peel . . . 2

3rd Clear Coat (Pics Shown after 48 Hours):
-The feel on this skin is fairly nice, slightly better than Best Skins Ever. The quality on this skin, like the others is superb. The only problem with this skin is the lack of coverage on its edges. Because of its design and lack of edge coverage, this skin is the easiest to install.
a.Installation . . . 5
b.Quality . . . . . . 5
c.Feel . . . . . . . . 4
d.Fitment . . . . . . 5
e.Orange Peel . . . 3

4th Zagg Invisible Shield (Pics Shown after 48 Hours):
-The reason this is last on my list is because the material “feels” to be the thickest of the bunch. I liked its uber tacky GEL-rubberish feel, but the response was definitely goofy. This skin for some odd reason would at many times not be as responsive as the other skins. I would consistently miss hitting apps, icons, keys, etc. Compared to the top 2 on the list, this edge coverage is mediocre, but still provides edge coverage. Another downer is that, on mine was, if this skin is centered there was extra material on one side, if you correct for the side edges, the ear hole, center gesture button and speaker hole were off aligned. Tip: For those that have this same problem, I have thrown a couple coats of Maguire’s Car Wax on the skin – very SMALL applications. This also helps smooth out its Tacky Feel as well as all the finger prints that imbeds on the skin. Response also increases with this method.
a.Installation . . . 4
b.Quality . . . . . . 5
c.Feel . . . . . . . . 3
d.Fitment . . . . . . 3
e.Orange Peel . . . 3

Pics:

Left- Clear Coat
Right- Zagg

Clear Coat

Zagg

Left- Clear Coat
Right- Zagg

Left- Phantom Skinz
Right- Best Skins Ever

Phantom Skinz

Best Skins Ever

Left- Phantom Skinz
Right- Best Skins Ever

PaSt · 06-29-2009, 02:34 AM

Left- Phantom Skinz
Right- Best Skins Ever

After 2 & 1/2 Weeks

Left- Best Skins Ever
Right- Phantom Skinz

Left- Best Skins Ever
Right- Phantom Skinz

PaSt · 06-29-2009, 02:34 AM

Wife’s Fortte Case

Well it’s only been a couple minutes but so far this case has quality build all over. The only thing I can say is “how long can this case last?” only time can tell.

Packaging . . . 5
Build . . . . . . . 5

Fitment
Day 1 . . . . . . 5
6 Months . . . . ?
1 Year . . . . . . ?
Color (Dye)
Day 1 . . . . . . 5
6 Months . . . . ?
1 Year . . . . . . ?
Quality
Day 1 . . . . . . 5
6 Months . . . . ?
1 Year . . . . . . ?
Durability
Day 1 . . . . . . 5
6 Months . . . . ?
1 Year . . . . . . ?

Pics

My Vaja Case

Packaging looked nice until I saw that the case was not wrapped (The case is going to get bashed anyways-so what the hell) =D
Case is uber nice, like really really nice, feel and everything is top notch. Same would go for this case “how long can this case last?” But so far, my first impression is that since I have a skin on, it makes it quite difficult to remove when shoved in its little home. When I tried the wife’s Phantom Skin, it was noticeably easier to remove and install.

One thing to definitely note is that the case is so new and tight that the edges of my Best Skins Ever Protector is grabbing on the Micro Fleece type interior of the Vaja Case which may soon allow the skin to start coming off. But if you got a naked Pre, so far, it would definitely be “quite the investment.”

So far, I am very happy with it.

Packaging . . . 4
Build . . . . . . . 5

Fitment
Day 1 . . . . . . 5
6 Months . . . . ?
1 Year . . . . . . ?
Color (Dye)
Day 1 . . . . . . 5
6 Months . . . . ?
1 Year . . . . . . ?
Quality
Day 1 . . . . . . 5
6 Months . . . . ?
1 Year . . . . . . ?
Durability
Day 1 . . . . . . 5
6 Months . . . . ?
1 Year . . . . . . ?

Pics

NeoteriX · 06-30-2009, 11:29 PM

Awesome writeup/review... I personally have the Zagg Invisible Shield, and I like prefer the sticky-tackiness of the material. I used to have a hard time sliding the Pre open because my thumb would slide around, but with the Invisible Shield, I can get a solid thumbhold on the screen.

I think I see you bouncing an external flash there off the ceiling too

Pics with DOF like those must be shot with a DSLR

JessPk · 07-01-2009, 12:50 AM

Thanks so much! I'm definitely getting the phantom skinz I just wish I could see a testing video. I like the fact the lines go across seems perfect for me.

twtcad · 07-01-2009, 10:53 AM

Excellent write up, I'm in for the Phantom Skinz as well.............

atoy74 · 07-01-2009, 02:37 PM

FYI, take advantage of the Phantom Skinz coupon code. 50% off!

Code - Summer50

Ri22o · 07-01-2009, 03:34 PM

My Best Skins Ever doesn't have nearly as much orange peel as the one you pictured. Maybe it's just from time?

PaSt · 07-01-2009, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by NeoteriX

Awesome writeup/review... I personally have the Zagg Invisible Shield, and I like prefer the sticky-tackiness of the material. I used to have a hard time sliding the Pre open because my thumb would slide around, but with the Invisible Shield, I can get a solid thumbhold on the screen.

I think I see you bouncing an external flash there off the ceiling too Pics with DOF like those must be shot with a DSLR

I mentioned that I liked the sticky-tackiness too big time, its just that with this skin, it didn't respond as well as I'd like.

You must be a photographer knowing exactly, everything I was doing. =D
Most Shot Canon 40D 16 35 mk II 2.8L @ wide open 2.8. I tried my 50 1.2 but could not get close enough, so I used the 16 35.

Originally Posted by Ri22o

My Best Skins Ever doesn't have nearly as much orange peel as the one you pictured. Maybe it's just from time?

The images shown were 24 hours after installation. And I think because of the Flash, texture is highly shown. In the Real World, peel is not as present but definitely there. Mine after 72 hours has gotten better, I will take pics with and without flash to show the difference, if any, for you (for texture purposes) when I get the cases.

PaSt · 07-15-2009, 09:07 PM

Post Updated and Finished (for now)

Enjoy