• WHAT: A better way to protect your iPhone or other wireless device than previously described
• WHY:  You really do get what you pay for
• COST: $25

Does it really pay to invest $25 in a couple of pieces of plastic film?  I doubted it for a long time and, as a result, selected a less expensive (I’ll avoid the word “cheaper” here for the time being) solution to protecting my iPhone.  About a year ago I wrote about a company’s product called “BestSkinsEver” that offered a protective film for iPhones, iPods and other devices at a fraction of the cost of the one I tested recently, the “Invisible Shield.”  For the original iPhone it seemed to work pretty well.  It only cost $8, compared to the $25 that the Invisible Shield cost, and appeared to do the job.

In retrospect I remember now being wiling to overlook a couple of things about the less expensive solution.  For one thing, it was a royal pain to install.  While any of these plastic film covers takes more patience than an average person is likely to have, the BestSkinsEver film was really a nuisance.  I also now remember having to contact the BestSkinsEver company and tell them that the film was discoloring, putting a yellowish tint on the back cover and corners of the iPhone.  Not exactly what you want to happen to your $400 device.  But, as I say, for $8, who was I to complain?  Besides, the installation process was such a pain that I really wasn’t in the mood to peel the old covering off and go through the install process again.  Nonetheless, to their credit, when I told the BestSkinsEver folks about my problem they rushed a replacement to me and I did reinstall it.

So is this “invisible shield” worth $25?  More than three times the cost of the other films on the market?  I mean, it’s just a piece of plastic film, right?  Well, not so much.  And in this case, while I’ve been called a cheapskate about many things, I’ll be buying the best ones in the future.  Here’s why:

When you purchase one of these films - regardless of which company it comes from - you get a couple of pieces of plastic stretchy-type film that is cut to a very precise match with the form of your device.  The piece for the screen, for example, is pretty much a no-brainer on the iPhone - you line up the hole for the big “Home” button at the bottom and the slot for the small speaker in the phone (at the top, where you hold the phone to your ear, not the actual speakers that music, ringing and other external sounds come from) and you’re done.  Piece of cake.  The back side of the phone, on the other hand, is a much more complex setup.

The film that’s die-cut to match the back of the iPhone has to account for a number of different spaces, buttons, inputs, etc., including the volume rocker switch on the side, the vibrate/audio switch, the power switch, the headphone jack, the bottom speakers - you get the idea.  It can be a lot more difficult to line up, but that’s usually just half of the problem.  Once lined up, the tiny flaps that wrap around the corners of the phone to protect them, while still allowing access to the buttons and spaces, can be incredibly annoying to install.  On the BestSkinsEver film it took me the better part of 45 minutes of smoothing, pressing, holding, moving, maneuvering - and I still never got it right.  On the Invisible Shield, while it was still a bit of a pain, the film had a couple of significant advantages: it was cut in one piece (the BestSkinsEver film for the back was in two pieces, which I was never able to successfully match up exactly right) and was somewhat more tacky, making the corner installation a whole lot easier.

The Invisible Shield product comes in some pretty impressive packaging - I frankly think they could make it much more minimalist and still get the same impact - and includes a container of spray solution that you spray on your fingertips and the film as you install it.  The other films don’t come with anything like that and require you to use a bowl of soapy water.  It’s not a big deal, but after doing the dance with both of them I can tell you the spray is a whole lot neater and more convenient.  Just spray some of the solution on your fingertips, then soak the back (adhesive side) of the film that you’ve peeled away from the backing that it’s attached to for shipment, and place it on the phone.  Then the Invisible Shield has a rubber squeegee to squeeze all of the excess solution out from under the film, which seems a bit over the top to me as any credit card works just fine, but, all the same, it does work well.

I’m guessing that at least part of the $25 you pay for this product is to cover the swell packaging, but I’ll say this - the difference in the way that the product went on, adhered to the phone, wrapped around the corners and stayed where it is supposed to makes it worthwhile for me.  One of the things you’ll have to be prepared for is that there will be some bubbles or small blisters for a day or two after the film is installed.  They mostly disappear as the film “cures” to the phone, leaving a smooth, clear, durable protection.

Once it’s on you can put the phone in your pocket with impunity - no coins, keys, pens or other items will ever scratch it.  Women can feel comfortable tossing it into a purse - no amount of sliding against other items in their bag will ever damage the phone either.

One really nice extra benefit of having the Invisible Shield on the phone is that you won’t lose your grip on it.  It’s got just the right amount of friction to keep it in your hand when you grab it while still keeping the finger motions on the screen virtually the same as if it were directly on the glass.  Another thing, even though it’s common to all films, is that having this type of protection on it doesn’t change the design, lines, shape, weight or aesthetics of the phone one iota.  The phone looks the same, feels better and is totally protected.  And isn’t that what a protective film is supposed to do?

The manufacturers may call it an “Invisible Shield” but I call it a “force field” because it simply repels all damaging elements.  As far as the cost is concerned, yes, $25 might give you pause, but think about this: People buy warranties for their electronics devices, cover them in rubber or metal cases, handle them gingerly or just suffer with them getting scratched all the time.  In the big scheme of things paying $25 to keep your $300 phone looking 100% new from the day you get it until the day you sell it, along with all the other benefits, is a pretty small price to pay.