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

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

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- Clear Coat
Right- Zagg

Left- Clear Coat
Right- Zagg

Left- Clear Coat
Right- Zagg

Left- Clear Coat
Right- Zagg

Left- Phantom Skinz
Right- Best Skins Ever

Left- Phantom Skinz
Right- Best Skins Ever

Left- Phantom Skinz
Right- Best Skins Ever

Phantom Skinz

Best Skins Ever

Left- Phantom Skinz
Right- Best Skins Ever

Left- Phantom Skinz
Right- Best Skins Ever

Left- Phantom Skinz
Right- Best Skins Ever

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

Left- Best Skins Ever
Right- Phantom Skinz

Left- Best Skins Ever
Right- Phantom Skinz

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

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

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.

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

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

Code - Summer50

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

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.

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.

Post Updated and Finished (for now)

Enjoy

:dft010:smile

Thanks PaSt! Glad to see the results for the Fortte and Vaja cases. The Vaja you picked looks very smart.

One thing I was a little concerned about before ordering the Vaja is the apparent thickness increase -- does the leather and the build add a whole lot of bulk and chunkiness to the phone? Otherwise, looks fantastic!

To be honest, its not that bad, the vaja case alone is still discreet and about the same or if not, smaller than my previous phone (Samsung i830)

So I just got my second Pre yesterday after having trouble with Airplane Mode turning on on its own on my first Pre. I've had a Clear Coat set but I never got around to installing it on my first Pre, causing it to develop small scratches on the screen & a pretty deep scratch on one of the corners, even though I kept it in or on the stock pouch when it wasn't in my hand. So I installed the Clear Coat on my new Pre yesterday & while I like that it makes the phone easier to grip, I don't like the lack of corner coverage. I don't really have a problem with the "orange peel" effect, as it's not visible when the screen is actually on. So it sounds it sounds like the PS doesn't give the Pre the added benefit of being easier to grip, while the BSE inhibits the ease of using gestures? What skin would you recommend given my concerns?

I have the BSE's on now and been using it, and its not as bad as people say, it is very tacky, almost just as tacky as the zagg's I.S. All I can suggest is that if you want superior edge coverage, out of the four, Def. BSE. But to be honest, if you havnt laid your fingers on P.S. you should give them a try. They have the edge coverage, even though the grippy tacky feel is not as present as the others, it still provides some form of grip feel to it. I only went BSE's only for the design of the skin, but after toying around with the wife's pre, I can def say that I am kinda jealous. Even though there is a second set floatin around the house, I'm still using the BSE.

Bottom line, it's up to you, but to be honest, I mentioned it before and I'll say it again, I LOVE the tackyness of BSE, I.S. and Clear Coat, but seriously, if "I" had to choose just one, P.S.

Thanks for the help! Ordered a PS & I'll give some feedback once I receive it.

Well, I installed the Phantom Skinz. They are a good bit harder to install than the Clear Coat due to the corners & the fact that they get closer to the edges. I ended up using both sets. The second set came out perfect & you could hardly tell that it was on there after about 12 hours. All of the bubbles disappeard much more quickly than the bubbles on the Clear Coat, some of which didn't even go away after a week. Unfortunately I was having issues with the volume level on my phone, so I had to take it back for Pre number 3. So I wasted my time & money on the Phantom Skinz. No big deal, I reordered & I'm sure that I'll get it right the first time this time around & I'll have an extra set if I have to take my phone back again (*gasp).

I actually preferred the tackiness of the Clear Coat for gripping the phone, but I didn't like the way that the "orange peel effect" made gestures a bit more difficult. I still prefer the Phantom Skinz overall though.

Thank you for this write up!

I'm a case junkie and didn't want to even get my pre until I had a case lined up. I have always been a huge fan of Vaja cases, but it's definitely an investment.

Appreciate you helping us out!

thanks for the review, I just ordered Phantom Skinz.

I found a very new and different skin for my palm pre with the matching theme also, which gives me a professional looks. Highest Quality, Full Color, “Anti-Slip” Grip.

Palm pre skins are the best skins for iphone.These skins protect iphone from scratches and any sort of damage and remove without any residue