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I have an HTC 8525 that I got from AT&T. The problem with a non-flip phone like this is that if you put in in your pocket you risk scratching it with keys, coins, or whatever else is in your pocket. I figured I’d pick up a screen protector so I wouldn’t have to worry about scratches.
I did some searching online and found some people saying good things about the InvisibleShield protector. Their protectors seemed as good as any and with the positive reviews I read I went ahead and ordered one. I got the protector for the screen only. They also have a full phone protector, but since I’m really only worried about scratching the screen I just went for the screen only protection.
A week or so later the protector arrived. This has to be the fanciest screen protector packaging I have ever seen. The protector comes in a fold out box along with an installation solution and a squeegee. The instructions were pretty simple so I went ahead with the installation. First I cleaned the phone with an LCD screen cleaning product I already had. Then I sprayed the protector with the enclosed solution and installed it on the phone. I tried getting the bubbles out from under the protector with the squeegee but they just would not come out. The directions said that bubbles and imperfections would work their way out after 72 hours so I didn’t worry too much about the bubbles.
72 hours went by and the bubbles will still there, the screen looked terrible! Apparently the bubbles don’t really go away like the instruction say. The screen was pretty much unusable in the current condition so I decided to take it off. The Invisible Shield web site says that the protector is removable. Technically this is true but it sure isn’t easy. There is adhesive on the protector that sticks to the screen so it takes a lot of force to get the protector off. The 8525 has a touch screen so the screen isn’t very strong, I though it might rip right off during removal of the protector. Eventually I got the protector off with no damage to the screen. But the protector was ruined. The pulling that was needed to get the protector off stretched out the protector causing visible imperfections. Unfortunately InvisiblShield only gives you a single protector, so if that one gets damaged or installed incorrectly you are out of luck.
I didn’t want to risk installing another InvisibleShield on the phone so I started researching other products. I found out about a product called ScreenPatronus. I’m not really sure what that name is supposed to mean, but I heard people online say good things about it including that it is easy to remove. I ordered one and got it a week later.
Screen Patronus doesn’t come with a fancy box or instructions like InvisibleShield. But it does come with 3 protectors which is really handy so if you mess up the installation you can always try with a fresh protector. After cleaning the phone, my hands, and the work surface I tried installing the ScreenPatronus. The first time I got a little piece of dust under the protector which caused a bubble. In the process of trying to get the dust out I got the protector dirty with more dust and fingerprints. The cool thing about the ScreenPatronus is that it is fully washable. I just washed it off in the sink with some dish soap and it was good as new. I don’t think the InvisibleShield is washable due to the adhesive.
This time I tried installing the ScreenPatronus while it was still wet from washing. This seemed to help and makes it easy to get on the screen straight. I finally got the protector on perfectly with absolutely no dust under it. After a couple of weeks it still looks perfect. I literally forget that the protector is on it is that clear. When the screen is on it is impossible to tell that the protector is there. With the screen off you can see the protector is you look around the edges, but under normal use you would never be looking at the phone while it is off. Also, the touch screen still works perfectly, I don’t notice any reduction in touch screen performance.
I haven’t tried to remove the ScreenPatronus yet but I’m confident that it will be relatively easy to remove. It doesn’t use an adhesive like the InvisibleShield so it should be easy to peel it off with your fingernail.
If you’ve read this far you can probably tell that I highly recommend the ScreenPatronus over the InvisibleShield. InvisibleShield claims that their protector is very strong and I can vouch for the fact that it is difficult to remove. So I guess if you are very rough on your electronics then InvisibleShield might have an edge there because it is less likely to come off. But for the other 95% of the people in the world I think the ScreenPatronus is the better product.
#1 by Chad Smith on February 26, 2008 - 7:33 am
Personally I love the invisibleSHIELD! I’ve had it on my various gadgets for over a year and it still looks and works great. It sounds like you didn’t use enough of the included Shield Spray solution? Also you didn’t mention that there is an unconditional lifetime replacement guarantee with the iS. So if you called them they would have sent you out a new one!–(which I’ve done before). I would give it another chance. Once you start getting your “disposable” protectors scratched up and they fall apart after a while, you’ll wish you did.
#2 by Patrick on February 26, 2008 - 11:08 pm
Chad, thanks for the comments. I think part of the problem is that the InvisibleShield instructions and website make the installation seem really easy. The instructions said that bubbles would go away after a few days, well unfortunately the bubbles didn’t go away. If I had known that I had to get it bubble free from the beginning I would have spent more time getting it installed right. By the time I waited according to what the instructions recommended it was too late.
The second problem is that the InvisibleShield is not reusable. Once you remove it it is destroyed. They do have a lifetime replacement warranty, but you have to pay $3.95 to get the replacement plus you have to send the original one back to the company. Personally I’d rather just get three of them up front like ScreenPatronus without having to pay more for each replacement.
Also, you mention other protectors being “disposable”. Honestly both protectors looked pretty similar to me. I haven’t been able to try them for extended periods so I can’t comment on the longevity of either product.
#3 by Wendy on February 21, 2009 - 2:26 am
I second that, I have similar problem with Zagg (invisibleshield) I swear by an ebay seller named screenpatronus. I’ve used the Zagg products before and while durable they are a pain to put on or remove, you almost always get flaws with the installation (bubbles), and anyway, since I don’t abuse my electronics I’ve given up using these protectors because my phones don’t need the sort of protection that the leading edge of attack helicopters do (what the Zagg product and its copycats were originally designed for).
The screepatronus product is on several of my devices/phones and I like them for the following reasons:
really easy to apply
cheap
durable (not Zagg indestructable but pretty darn tough)
reusable
smooth (much easier to finger scroll than the Zagg product which I’ve always found to be a bit sticky and not fingernail friendly)
fast shipment
here’s the sellers store in case you are interested:
http://stores.ebay.com/ScreenPatronus
and no, I’m not screen patronus, just like the product
#4 by snegoviksukablyat on August 2, 2009 - 5:55 am
hello
im new on this forum….
#5 by Nash on September 10, 2009 - 4:13 am
I’ve never heard of screenpatronus before but I’ve got an exceptionally bad experience with IS…won’t go there again it infuriates me how they promise free replacement and come up with hidden charges. I use gadgetshieldz on my Nokia 5800. Its cheaper and with free delivery ($7).
#6 by Grace on January 20, 2010 - 12:47 pm
I’d like to note that the InivisiShield is reusable. Its even stated in the directions that you can peel it off and keep reapplying during the installation. This came in handy when my iPhone 3GS died and I got a new one. I removed the InvisiShield from it and used it on the replacement.
#7 by Grace on January 20, 2010 - 12:47 pm
I meant Zagg InvisibleShield
#8 by Richard on January 25, 2010 - 9:02 am
If you are looking for a film that is veeeery scratch resistant, bubble free, has an adhesive that is removable/repositonable, I sugget you try Polyshieldllc.com. This is a high-end product that is generally use in extreme sport and environments that require scratch.chemical resistance. Polyshield does not sell to ipod industry but will sell small sheets that can be easily cut and installed on ipods and any touch screen devise. Believe it or not they don’t screw you on price like these phoneys charge!!