Film Protection Summary

Conclusions

In summary, there is no screen protection that is perfect. I like the clarity of the iQase FiLM but the durability of the urethane-based products in terms of resisting everyday light scratches isn’t ideal. In comparing the paint protection film based products, there isn’t much difference in their performance that you can see.

The orange peel effect is there with all the films, there might be a touch less with the Clearmask film, but if you know what orange peel is, you will find it. In terms of the feel of the screen protection, the iQase product is the smoothest, although the urethane products can be waxed like paint, giving you a similar smooth finish that is also resistant to finger prints.

With the installation, I used quick detailer which worked very well too. The secret to installing the urethane films is to have enough fluid to have the film float on a film of water. This is a little scary, when working with electronics, so I worked on a microfiber cloth and blotted away the excess water that I was squeegeeing out from the film. I actually think this wet method of installation is easier than a dry adhesive, since you can reposition the film to the exact alignment.

With body protection, the least protection comes from Invisible Shield since the chrome ring is exposed, but it is also the easiest to install, it takes just a few minutes. It will come down to your preference. For the ultimate protection, the BodyGuardz gives you the most protection, but it is also extremely difficult to install and line up. There is some flexibility and give in the film and it took me about 1 hr to get it good enough for me, with all that time, I managed to introduce some lint under the film. The longer the adhesive is exposed to the air, the higher likelihood for contamination. I would only recommend the BodyGuardz product for advanced users.

Pricing varies quite a bit between these products, the Invisible Shield is the most expensive, but they offer a lifetime warranty which offsets the cost of the shield, it gets cheaper than the rest after a few skin swaps. The best value will have to be with the Best Skins Ever since you only pay for what you need. You don’t need to buy that extra, backup skin unless you want to.

I would like to add that the urethane film on the iPhone case does make it a little more grippy, for those of you that worry about the iPhone slipping out of your hands. It does change the matte look to a glossy look though, which looks better in my opinion. I actually like the protection of these films so much, my next laptop is going to have it.

In conclusion:

Best Value: Best Skins Ever
Best Screen Clarity: iQase FiLM
Best Protection: BodyGuardz
Best Warranty: Invisible Shield