iPhone Screen Protector Roundup – 3 for your iPhone

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iPhone Screen Protector Roundup – 3 for your iPhone

Recently, I’ve reviewed two iPhone cases from DLO, which protect the iPhone from direct trauma. Today I will look at three items which protect the screen from scratches and more importantly fingerprints!!!!

iPhone Screen Protector Roundup – 3 for your iPhone

Reviewed by: Tomas Ratas

Sponsor: Boxwave

 

Screen protectors for smartphones are fairly commonplace. Since the iPhone is basically one big screen, a screen protector is mandatory. Otherwise the iPhone will look like the fingerprint blotter at the local police station.

Today I will looks at the Crystal Film for iPhone from Power Support, the Clear Touch Crystal and the Clear Touch Anti-Glare from Boxwave. All three of these screen shields will be carefully compared and contrasted in today’s review.

Let’s get started…..

Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:

Power Support Crystal Film Set for iPhone Specs:


Smart yet simple, protective yet practically imperceptible, the Power Support Crystal Film Set provides superior defense against elements of on-the-go life – scratches, dust, and dirt

Power Support Crystal Film Set Features:

  • -Covers entire face of the iPhone, the set includes 2 films 
  • -Crystal-clear film maintains LCD brightness
  • -Static cling plastic for stay-put adhesion
  • -Thin hard film does not interfere with responsiveness
  • -Won’t leave sticky residue when removed
  • -Films can be cleaned and reapplied

ClearTouch Crystal – Apple iPhone Specs:

Amazing glass-like clarity for your Apple iPhone. With over 99% visual transparency, Cleartouch Crystal is the absolute clearest screen protection available for the Apple iPhone. The ClearTouch Crystal screen protector is designed for the Apple iPhone user who demands the ultimate in uninhibited clarity.

ClearTouch Crystal screen protector retains the full color vibrancy of your Apple iPhone screen while providing a host of other benefits!

Each package also includes one ClearTouch Applicator card and one micro-fiber cleaning cloth.

ClearTouch Crystal Features:

  • -Amazing Glass-like Apple iPhone Screen Protector!
  • -Completely covers the front of the Apple iPhone, offering “head to toe” screen protection
  • -Bubble-free Application
  • -99% Visual Transparency
  • -Ultra-high Transparency Produces Vibrant Colors
  • -Sized to specifically fit the Apple iPhone
  • -No interference with touch-screen responsiveness
  • -Protects Sensitive Touchscreen Against Scratches
  • -Super Durable, Long Lasting Protection
  • -Reduces 99% of UV Rays Caused by Reflected Light, Protecting Your Eyes
  • -Isn’t flimsy, but made from firmer high-grade thermoplastics designed for durability
  • -Washable and Reusable
  • -Includes a ClearTouch Applicator
  • -Includes a micro-fiber cleaning cloth
  • -Special 2-pack or 3-pack bundle for convenience and savings!

ClearTouch Anti-Glare – Apple iPhone Specs:

ClearTouch Anti-Glare, the screen protector with the perfect blend of anti-glare and optical clarity. The ClearTouch Anti-Glare screen protector is designed for the Apple iPhone user who requires maximum screen readability under sunlight and various outdoor lighting conditions. Packed with numerous screen enhancing features, ClearTouch Anti-Glare provides your Apple iPhone with more than just protection from scratches.

Experience the benefits yourself and see why so many others use ClearTouch Anti-Glare to enhance their Apple iPhone screen

Each package also includes one ClearTouch Applicator card and one micro-fiber cleaning cloth.


ClearTouch Anti-Glare Features:

  • -Award Winning Anti-Glare Apple iPhone Screen Protector
  • -Completely covers the front of the Apple iPhone, offering “head to toe” screen protection
  • -Dust Repelling
  • -Bubble-free Application
  • -Fingerprint Free
  • -Sized to specifically fit the Apple iPhone
  • -No interference with touch-screen responsiveness
  • -Reduces 90% of UV Rays Caused by Reflected Light, Protecting your Eyes
  • -Isn’t flimsy, but made from firmer high-grade thermoplastics designed for durability
  • -Washable and Reusable
  • -Protects Sensitive Touchscreen against Scratches
  • -Includes a ClearTouch Applicator
  • -Includes a micro-fiber cleaning cloth
  • -Special 2-pack or 3-pack bundle for convenience and savings!

A Better Look at Things

The Power Support Crystal Film for iPhone comes in an olive colored card board sleeve with a white band in the middle picturing the iPhone with the Crystal film set being applied to the phone.

   

Inside the sleeve are the two film sets along with a card board instruction card. The attachment mechanism for this shield is a static cling adhesion. The film is composed of four layers which are a scratch resistant hard coat, high transparency gloss treatment, PET protection film, and a polymer adhesive.

It can be cleaned and reapplied, although there are no cleaning instructions given. Also, it promises to leave no sticky residue when removed.

The film has a cut out for the ear opening on the top of the iPhone and a circular cut out for the select button.

The main difference between this and the Boxwave protectors is that this comes as a two pack for a price similar to the Boxwave ones.


A Better Look at Things Continued

The Boxwave Clear Touch Crystal comes in a baby blue bordered cardboard and features a picture of a PDA device. A PDA device is pictured, huh? I guess, they did not have the iPhone template ready for the packaging.

   

The back features the instructions for application, onto once again, a PDA. The good news is that these instructions do explain how to clean the Clear Touch along with how to apply it to the device.

   

Inside, there is a single screen protector, a lint-free cloth and the Clear Touch applicator which is a piece of plastic used to squeegee out any air bubbles. The protector is sandwiched between two protective plastic sheets to keep from getting dust and dirt on it before application.

   

The last screen protector is one that I am familiar with, since I use it’s Treo counterpart to protect my Treo 700P. This is the Clear Touch Anti-Glare from Boxwave. The packaging is fairly identical to the Clear Touch Crystal, except that the cardboard has a purplish blue border. The contents are exactly the same as the Clear Touch Crystal. The film has only one protective plastic overlaying the adhesive side of the Clear Touch Anti-Glare film.

   

Both the Anti-Glare and the Crystal can be cleaned by rinsing with warm water and mild soap and then air drying. Both of these are made of high-grade a thermoplastic, which does not tell me much about how they work and what their actual composition is.

They are cut outs for the ear opening like the Power Support model, however, down by the select button, the Clear Touch films form an omega shape, which leaves a small space under the button exposed.



Installation, Testing and Comparison

OK, first off, the most important thing needed for the application of ANY screen protector is PATIENCE!!!! The second most important item is a pair of rubber gloves, preferably the latex ones used by medical practitioners. Lastly, make sure you are working in a clean environment. One fleck of dust can cause major headaches.

The application of the Power Support Crystal Film for iPhone was relatively simple. Getting a pristine application is skill, with a little bit of luck. OK, you caught me, no skill, just all luck.

    


The application process involved cleaning the iPhone with a soft cloth to remove any dust, then starting at one edge of the film and peeling back the larger backing. Next, align the edge of the film to the surface of the iPhone. Use a soft cloth to secure the film to the phone and rub out any air bubbles.

The Crystal film is perfectly transparent. In fact, it is hard to tell there is a screen protector on the iPhone. It is that good. The tactile sensation is comparable to the actual iPhone surface. There was no drag or tackiness to the surface.

To remove the Crystal film, a piece of adhesive tape is used to lift the film off the phone. This was very easy to remove. Afterwards, there was no residue to be found on the iPhone surface after removing this film.

My adventures with the Boxwave Clear Touch line began with the application of the Anti-Glare version. Following the instructions verbatim, I was unable to line up the film, so I modified my technique. Using two pieces of rolled up masking tape placed on the top surface of the screen protector, I was able to use them as handles to position it into place. Then I used the Clear Touch applicator as a sort of Zamboni to press down and smooth the film onto the surface.

   

The Anti-Glare does take away from the glossiness of the iPhone screen, but the screen still appears sharp and clear. The surface was smooth and there was no drag when moving about the working area of the phone.

Removal involved the same adhesive trick. Once again the surface of the iPhone was clean. There was no tacky residue left behind.

Application of the Clear Touch Crystal was the same as the Clear Touch Anti-Glare. The problem I came across, was some dust/dirt deposits made their way onto the iPhone screen and became adhered to the inside of the Clear Touch Crystal film. This made things complicated.

I ended up having to use the cleaning techniques as indicated on the instructions. This helped remove most of the residue, but the screen was not crystal clear no matter how I cleaned the film. However, once applied to the iPhone, any blemishes were not noticeable.

In fact there was little noticeable difference between the Power Support Crystal Film and the Clear Touch Crystal screen protectors. They looked and felt the same in terms of tactile response. I personally preferred the circle cover over the select button as used on the Power Support model to the omega shape used by the Boxwave versions.

Summary and Comments:

First off, you can’t go wrong with any of these models of iPhone screen protectors. They do their job well. The main problem is in the application of these films onto the iPhone. A small speck of dirt and dust will get trapped underneath and can cause an annoying air bubble.

It is important to remember to have patience and gloves when applying these screen protectors. Doing so will result in excellent results and your expensive investment will be all the more protected.

The Power Support Crystal is the best value because you get two for almost the same price as the Boxwave versions. From personal experience, I know that the Boxwave’s last a long time and look the same as when they were first applied, even after a couple of years.

DragonSteelMods scores:

Power Support Crystal Film a 5/5

Boxwave Clear Touch Crystal a 4/5

Boxwave Clear Touch Anti-Glare 4.5/5


Pros:

In general, these all do their job well and the major deciding point is preference in terms of anti-glare or transparency as the deciding factor.

Cons:

Some difficulty in perfect bubble and dust free application.

review# 265