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Hi guys,
I tend to keep my phone in the same pocket as my keys so clearly it'll need some kind of protection to avoid the screen getting scratched. For my old phone, I bought a leather case which worked really well for this, but it didn't have a touchscreen so it was easy to find a case that protected it well and allowed full functionality while the case was on.
So my questions are:
1. Is a screen protector (and perhaps thin gel case) sufficient for the HTC Desire, or do I need a proper leather case again?
2. Is there really that much difference between the different screen protectors? I've ordered 2 unbranded ones for under £2 on eBay but there are branded ones costing up to £10 each. Would one of those really be that much better?
3. If I were to buy a proper case, which leather case would you recommend that allows me to fully use the phone (and camera) while keeping it in the case? This includes being able to charge the phone while in the case. Obviously I know I'll have to take it out of the case to use in any kind of docking device, but the case should at least allow any cables (USB, headphones) to be plugged in.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Hi Alex.
You have several options open to you.
When I first got my Desire, I bought a neoprene pouch which had a nice mirco-fibre lining. This protected my phone completely, and the lining served to give my screen a wipe putting it in, and taking it out of its case.
However, obviously you have to take the phone out of the case to use it, and if you drop it now, it's unprotected. It'll be keyproof in yer pocket though.
I never keep keys in my phone pocket, and was worried about dropping it when it was out the case. But because I bought my phone pretty much straight after it's release, there were not many options available. (Different for you of course!)
After a couple of weeks, alternatives started popping up on eBay. I have gone with a rubber gel case (gloss black) and a screen protector. Now the only exposed parts are around the Home, Menu, Back and Search keys. Acceptable for me. Looks good too.
Screen protectors are a tricky issue. I waited for the offical HTC ones to come out. Somehow this took HTC 2 months after the release of the phone! They are an expensive waste of time. Avoid them. Instead, go for the cheap ADHESIVE FREE ones. The HTC ones have a sticky backing, which attracts air-bourne dust the second you peel the backing off to apply it to the phone. This means that no matter how careful you are, the dust particles prevent the protector from lying flush against your screen, creating lots of bubbles you can't smooth out. It also means the dust is now securely glued to the thing, and trying to remove it adds yet more dust and your finger prints!
Go for the £2 washable & reusable ones, and when they start to lift off and get dust under the corners (and they will) just peel it off, throw it away an put another one on. They say washable and reusable, but I've found they never go back quite the same after a wash. But when it's £2 for 5, and each one lasts a month, why bother? It just means that they do not use glue to stick to your screen and wont leave a residue.
From experience, avoid the ZAGG "Invisible Shield" full body protectors you may stumble across. The small bits that protect the sides peel away, and the screen protector part has an orange peel texture, and its kind of 'grippy' meaning your finger wont swipe across the screen very well. Plus it is a real bee-hatch to apply, and takes 24 hours to 'cure'. (you have to use a solution to float the pieces into place.)
I would recommend doing what I have done, and using a gel case/screen protector combo for general protection. If you are still worried about your keys marking the remaining exposed areas, buy a neoprene pouch too. Just buy one for a slightly wider phone than the Desire (HTC HD2?) as the gel case will make it too tight a fit, and the gel case will 'grip' the pouch lining to some extent. But hey, your phone will remain pristene.
Search for "Case Mate Torque HTC Desire". It is a well made rubber case, which comes with a screen protector. Can be found on eBay for £20. Can't say how good the screen protector is, but the case looks nice. Getting one myself soon. Plenty of low cost alteratives available of course. Mine cost £2.50 and is absolutely fine.
Hope I've helped some.
Will.
Edit: Forgot to cover your leather case queries. Sorry. I have not used a leather flip case for this phone, but I did have one for my last phone, a Nokia 5800, and I found the Proporta brand had the best build quality. It is even lined with aluminium plate to fend off even the most severe of knocks. The low cost ones from Honk Kong were not leather, and the plastic clips that held the phone in place snapped off after a couple of weeks of removing/replacing the phone. Be prepared to spend at least £20 again if you want a decent leather one.
wnp_79 said:
Hi Alex.
Search for "Case Mate Torque HTC Desire". It is a well made rubber case, which comes with a screen protector. Can be found on eBay for £20. Can't say how good the screen protector is, but the case looks nice. Getting one myself soon. Plenty of low cost alteratives available of course. Mine cost £2.50 and is absolutely fine.
.
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just ordered one of these off ebay, got a best offer of £16.01 accepted if you are trying. Should arrive tomorrow so I'll let you know how it is.
I've got loads of cases I tried, currently just using a cheap gel case although I've actually got 3 leather ones as well offering full protection. I used to be paranoid about the screen with all my devices but now I've just got a Martin Fields screen protector on and its been fine for months. The only trouble with the cases is removing them constantly to fit into a Brodit car mount, its quicker to get it out of a leather pouch than a gel case
wnp_79 said:
Hi Alex.
You have several options open to you.
When I first got my Desire, I bought a neoprene pouch which had a nice mirco-fibre lining. This protected my phone completely, and the lining served to give my screen a wipe putting it in, and taking it out of its case.
However, obviously you have to take the phone out of the case to use it, and if you drop it now, it's unprotected. It'll be keyproof in yer pocket though.
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Firstly, thank you very much for the detailed reply. And yeah, at the moment I have an official leather pull-case/pouch which protects the phone well in my pocket but obviously not when it's in use.
wnp_79 said:
Screen protectors are a tricky issue. I waited for the offical HTC ones to come out. Somehow this took HTC 2 months after the release of the phone! They are an expensive waste of time. Avoid them. Instead, go for the cheap ADHESIVE FREE ones. The HTC ones have a sticky backing, which attracts air-bourne dust the second you peel the backing off to apply it to the phone. This means that no matter how careful you are, the dust particles prevent the protector from lying flush against your screen, creating lots of bubbles you can't smooth out. It also means the dust is now securely glued to the thing, and trying to remove it adds yet more dust and your finger prints!
Go for the £2 washable & reusable ones, and when they start to lift off and get dust under the corners (and they will) just peel it off, throw it away an put another one on. They say washable and reusable, but I've found they never go back quite the same after a wash. But when it's £2 for 5, and each one lasts a month, why bother? It just means that they do not use glue to stick to your screen and wont leave a residue.
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The screen protectors I ordered off eBay (£1.98 for 2) claim to be adhesive-free, washable and reusable but we'll see. I'll post back here when I get them for anyone else looking.
wnp_79 said:
I would recommend doing what I have done, and using a gel case/screen protector combo for general protection. If you are still worried about your keys marking the remaining exposed areas, buy a neoprene pouch too. Just buy one for a slightly wider phone than the Desire (HTC HD2?) as the gel case will make it too tight a fit, and the gel case will 'grip' the pouch lining to some extent. But hey, your phone will remain pristene.
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I'm more concerned about the keys scratching the screen, even with a screen protector. I can live with the other parts of the phone being scratched.
wnp_79 said:
Hope I've helped some.
Will.
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You've been very helpful, thanks again.
wnp_79 said:
Edit: Forgot to cover your leather case queries. Sorry. I have not used a leather flip case for this phone, but I did have one for my last phone, a Nokia 5800, and I found the Proporta brand had the best build quality. It is even lined with aluminium plate to fend off even the most severe of knocks. The low cost ones from Honk Kong were not leather, and the plastic clips that held the phone in place snapped off after a couple of weeks of removing/replacing the phone. Be prepared to spend at least £20 again if you want a decent leather one.
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Yeah, I'm prepared to spend that much for one provided that it will last. I'm looking at the Alu and the Noreve at the moment (£20 and £30 respectively on MobileFun.co.uk).
Dave G said:
just ordered one of these off ebay, got a best offer of £16.01 accepted if you are trying. Should arrive tomorrow so I'll let you know how it is.
I've got loads of cases I tried, currently just using a cheap gel case although I've actually got 3 leather ones as well offering full protection. I used to be paranoid about the screen with all my devices but now I've just got a Martin Fields screen protector on and its been fine for months. The only trouble with the cases is removing them constantly to fit into a Brodit car mount, its quicker to get it out of a leather pouch than a gel case
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Thanks for the reply - let me know about the case when you get it. Have you found the Martin Fields screen protector to be worth the price? And have you been keeping the phone in the same pocket as keys/similar?
I'm wondering if it would just be easier if I found a way of not having my keys and phone in the same pocket, but I've had it that way for years and it would take a bit of adjustment not to.
Dave G said:
just ordered one of these off ebay, got a best offer of £16.01 accepted if you are trying. Should arrive tomorrow so I'll let you know how it is.
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arrived today, nice looking, softer than the cheap gel cases so easier to get on and off. Seems to attract dust because its soft - don't know if its worth £16 compared to the £2 ones !
alex_hk90 said:
The screen protectors I ordered off eBay (£1.98 for 2) claim to be adhesive-free, washable and reusable but we'll see. I'll post back here when I get them for anyone else looking.
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I received these (they were branded 'MobileGUARD') yesterday and they seem to be OK - quite easy to apply since they had tabs to prevent you having to touch the actual protector, and looks fine once on. The only issue was that the tab did not remove properly so I had to clean the residue, but it was on the exposed side (not in contact with the screen) so not too much of a problem. There is a slight difference in feel (it's a bit 'harder') but the touch screen is just as easy to use as before. Only thing so far I've noticed against it is that it seems to smudge easier, but that may be because of the warm weather (i.e. I don't know if this would've happened without it), we'll see. I'm still unsure as to whether it would be sufficient protection against keys though...
I tried a 'Noreve Tradition' leather case (£30 off MobileFun) and though it fits well, is slim, looks alright, seems to have good construction quality and protects the phone, it's not that convenient to use it in the case (it's hard to hold the phone in the case, and the USB port isn't accessible). So I'm still looking for a solution (at the moment I'm using a leather pouch with screen protector).
Mobile fun are very good with returns. I had the same problem with my nokia leather case with the leather flap getting in the way. Bad case design not to allow usb access tho.
I have taken dave g's advice and gone for the case-mate torque case and screen protector combo. As advised they accepted a £16 offer. Its in the post so will advise on suitability after a bit of hands-on time.
Try out the cheap amazon or ebay rubber/gel cases. There are ones that cover over the front hardware buttons exposing only the optical pad.
Go to amazon and search for "Black XYLO SuperTuff Soft Silicone Shell / Skin / Case for the HTC Desire Mobile Phone".
Combine that kiddy with a screen protector and you could play hockey with your phone and not mark it! Ok maybe not but you'd be doing well to scratch it.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
My torque case just showed up. Very nice. Gives the phone a slightly chunkier look, but personally I like it.
Nice soft rubber, and offers much better protection for the camera lens than my other case. Pleased.
Have not tried fitting the screen protector yet, as the one already fitted is doing ok for now. Looks like it is a decent one tho, with a cleaning cloth and application card.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
wnp_79 said:
Mobile fun are very good with returns. I had the same problem with my nokia leather case with the leather flap getting in the way. Bad case design not to allow usb access tho.
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Yeah, I used their online form and they sent me a reference number for the return. I've just sent it back so hopefully I'll get a refund soon. Did they refund you for delivery costs? I heard something on the news that online retailers were legally obliged to do so.
wnp_79 said:
Try out the cheap amazon or ebay rubber/gel cases. There are ones that cover over the front hardware buttons exposing only the optical pad.
Go to amazon and search for "Black XYLO SuperTuff Soft Silicone Shell / Skin / Case for the HTC Desire Mobile Phone".
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Thanks for the tip. That one looks pretty good, and at £2.95 is worth a try.
wnp_79 said:
Combine that kiddy with a screen protector and you could play hockey with your phone and not mark it! Ok maybe not but you'd be doing well to scratch it.
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I'm not too bothered about marks or scratches, as long as they don't affect functionality (i.e. on the screen or the camera, which is why I'm concerned that my keys could scratch through a screen protector if they just happen to become lodged at an unfortunate angle in my pocket...).
wnp_79 said:
Go to amazon and search for "Black XYLO SuperTuff Soft Silicone Shell / Skin / Case for the HTC Desire Mobile Phone".
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I received one of these today. It looks OK and has indents/marks for the buttons and cutouts for the connectors so you can fully use the phone while it's in the case, but I feel the case is too loose - if you push the sides to make it tight there's a 5mm gap from the phone to the case above the optical trackpad. It does however make it easy to put the phone in and take it out of the case. Also, I'm not really sure how much protection it adds to the phone - it seems quite soft. So while it isn't bad for the price, I'm going to return it and keep looking for something better.
there's loads on ebay, you should try there.
I just use neoprene pouch (£3.50 on ebay) and it is quite good. I've recently discovered that it is waterproof as well - phone was on the desk and I spilled glass of water - pouch got wet slightly on the outside but desire was bone dry ;-)
For screen protection I use a Clear Armor screen protector. It has a lifetime warranty and self heals almost all marks and scratches.
Got mine here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390220617200
Whil at work I use a cheap leather belt case, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120563838769&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT and if I don't want it on my belt I use a slim brown leather slip case. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280512213140&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
I use the screen protectors linked to below with my old G1 pouch, works fine, no scratches yet!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003JCUKGK/ref=oss_product
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I just tried a (Proporta) Alu Leather Case and again while it was well-made, looked and felt good, I didn't find it satisfactory functionally (hard to use while in case, USB port not accessible for charging/sync). So I'm sticking with the cheap screen protector I got (which seems fine) and the official leather pull case. That and putting my keys in another pocket to be safe.
I am absolutely loving my Fascinate (rooted, lag fixed, and de-Binged of course). Awesome upgrade from my Droid Eris! However, I have one major gripe with it so far, and that's the battery cover, or back plate, whatever you wanna call it. I am definitely not a fan of the glossy finish on it. If my fingers are the least bit wet or greasy, it makes it very hard to hold onto. The battery cover on my Eris had some kind of slightly rubberized matte finish, and I never, ever had trouble holding onto that phone.
So, I'm looking for a solution. Ideally, it would be in the form of a direct replacement for the OEM battery cover that is made of the grippy material like the Eris had, but I might settle for some kind of stick-on skin, if there's a good one that will eliminate the slipperiness. I've searched a bit, but haven't found any good solutions yet. Anyone suggestions would be appreciated. Oh, but please don't suggest cases of any kind. I have a good leather belt holster already that the phone fits in perfectly, and adding a wraparound case of any kind would be redundant, and also would prevent the phone from fitting in my current case.
Actually, I think I found a solution, thanks to a thread on the Android Central forums. Stealth Guards is apparently giving away all their screen protectors away for free for a limited time. You pay only the cost of shipping, which for me was $2.85, and the protector was originally $14.99. It's actually a full body protection skin, not just a basic screen protector. I'll probably just use the part for the back, and not mess with the front screen protector part at all. Here's the link:
http://www.stealthguards.com/index.php/cellphones/samsung-fascinate-full-body-protection.html
Note that they have free protector kits for most all the popular phones available right now, and if you like their Facebook page, you could win prizes (such as iTunes or Best Buy gift cards) on the way to 1000 likes, and after they top 1000, they'll hold a drawing to give away a new 6th-gen iPod Nano.
ivorycruncher said:
Actually, I think I found a solution, thanks to a thread on the Android Central forums. Stealth Guards is apparently giving away all their screen protectors away for free for a limited time. You pay only the cost of shipping, which for me was $2.85, and the protector was originally $14.99. It's actually a full body protection skin, not just a basic screen protector. I'll probably just use the part for the back, and not mess with the front screen protector part at all. Here's the link:
http://www.stealthguards.com/index.php/cellphones/samsung-fascinate-full-body-protection.html
Note that they have free protector kits for most all the popular phones available right now, and if you like their Facebook page, you could win prizes (such as iTunes or Best Buy gift cards) on the way to 1000 likes, and after they top 1000, they'll hold a drawing to give away a new 6th-gen iPod Nano.
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THANKS!!! Just ordered one for me and one for my girlfriend... I didn't want to add a case, but this will keep our phones looking fancy!
hey this looks really cool. can you let us know how this works out after you get it? i was just at the bar the other day (you know how when ur holdin a cold beer and ur hands get wet) i was like god this phone is slippery
I got full body invisible shield.
I removed the SP and got realook because i didn't like the rubber feel on the screen.
But i left the back piece on it makes the back feel allot better and gives it a kind of rubbery feel and reduces finger prints and also helps protect from scratches
It and makes the over all phone feel solid.
Thanks for the link. Picked up 2 of these for my phone.
Thanks for the link too, got one for me and two coworkers. Hell of a deal even if it's mostly crap. I just want it forthe back cover too. Way too slippery.
I'd like it if Seidio's innocase for this phone just protected the back/sides and left the front alone. I like the soft touch on those...
Even my HTC TP2 had a soft tough battery door stock.
Oh dang, I forgot to reply back to this. I got my Stealth Guard as expected (just an envelope in the mail, almost thought it was junk mail at first). Sadly, there NO instructions (except for a YouTube video on their website, which was a joke), but after digging up some info online, I washed and dried the battery cover, sprayed it with some slightly soapy water, and applied the skin. I rubbed out most of the bubbles fairly easily, and as others have said, after 2-3 days, all remaining bubbles and odd-looking film went away, and if not for the ridge at the edge of the skin, you wouldn't know it was on there. Oh, I did have a bit of trouble getting the corners to stick down to the curved corners of the battery cover, but I kept working on them, and they did eventually stick as the water started to dry up a little. So far there's no evidence of peeling or anything.
I do have to admit that it's not as grippy as I expected, but it is some better than the bare surface, and should prevent the back from getting scratched up, which I was starting to see evidence of, even with careful treatment of the device. I'm undecided if I'll ever apply the front piece or not at this point, but seeing how clearly the back piece applied, I wouldn't expect it to affect visibility at all.
I ordered another one of these for my brother-in-law's Droid Incredible, and would recommend them to anyone else as well, unless you want to try a different brand, in the hopes of getting an even grippier surface for the back side. But I think that for a mere $2.85, you really can't find a better deal anywhere.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Well, I ordered the Verizon / OEM, "kickstand" hard case in hopes of a good solution for the slippery back. Looks like this case only covers the back and sides of the phone and leaves the front untouched which is what I wanted as far as a case, and it looks quite thin too. Plus, it has a kickstand built in which I really wanted since my TP2 had a sliding/tilting screen. The back of this case is grooved with like a patchwork pattern so I'm sure it's a lot grippier.
Verizon wants $20 for them, but I got it for $10 including shipping on eBay! I'll post back how it is when I get it, but I think it's the best solution i've seen.
Have the kickstand case & it's pretty good. It also has 4 raised "feet" at the corners on the back which give it some speaker clearence when flat & act as friction points for your hand or loose pocket. The kickstand is a good alternative for a desk cradle & makes utilizing the alarm clock easier.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Bulky cases like that don't work for me. I use a belt holster case that I picked up from Best Buy, and any other protector case would make it bulky to put into the holster. That's why this stick-on protector was attractive to me, as it adds no unnecessary bulk. But that's just my preference. If you prefer a hard case, you'll get no argument from me.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
I just ordered 3 brand new covers directly from VZ...They are only $3 bux each...Ill just replace them when needed.
suzook said:
I just ordered 3 brand new covers directly from VZ...They are only $3 bux each...Ill just replace them when needed.
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I'd do that if they made some with a matte finish.. Where did you order them from? Just curious..
tcub said:
I'd do that if they made some with a matte finish.. Where did you order them from? Just curious..
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Directly from the VZ site....I am gonna experiment with one...Im looking for a sort of rubber spray paint...If i can find one im gonna spray it.
Maybe with the white fascinate coming out at best buy I can buy the white back. Looks nice.
Ok, got the OEM/Verizon Kickstand case in and the $2 Stealth Guards films. The kickstand case is THE solution for the battery door IMHO, but I got both mainly for this reason. Mini review of each:
The Kickstand case, I got from eBay, for $11 shipped w/ tax (just search for "fascinate kickstand"), which is half off the in store price you'll find. It is THE solution to the slippery battery door IMHO, and the best case out there right now. The case has a slight rubberized / soft touch finish, and has a grip pattern in it, which makes it much easier to hold onto. It's quite thin, except for a bump caused by the kickstand, which is leveled so the phone lays flat, by some "feet" on the back. That slight bump I actually like, because I can easily tell which way the phone is oriented in my hand without looking at it. It provides nice protection to the sides and corners and back, so I think it will provide added drop protection. It fits very tight, I wouldn't expect it to come off ever. What I really like, is that it barely protrudes above the front of the phone at all, it adds a very slight lip at the sides, and that's it. This keeps the phone quite flat/thin still and doesn't change how you'd interact with the screen at all. The slight lip should help protect the screen though. All the cutouts are excellent in positioning, and provide nice "cover" for the side buttons against accidental actuation.
Probably the nicest thing of all which I didn't expect, is that the Kickstand works in both Portrait with the phone vertical, and horizontal in landscape, due to the way they positioned the kickstand on the back. It works great - this takes care of one of the things I missed from my Touch Pro2 (the tilting screen). It also has a tensioner, which allows you to tweak the angle in horizontal/landscape a bit because it's "stiff". For the $11 I paid for it, it's worth every penny and seems quite solid/well engineered for the price.
Only downside I see is that it's a bit tougher to take the battery out of course..
The Stealth Guards films are better than nothing, but not much grippier than stock. They come with just two films, front and back. Application and clarity is similar to other "invisible shield" type products. Not a very good screen protector (orange peel, tiny bubbles, not crystal clear), Steinheil is WAY better, but they don't have them yet for our phones so I'll use this in the mean time. Also, they cover the light/prox sensor at the top of the phone, which I found made the automatic backlight adjustment sorta freak out and switch more often than it should (probably because the protector is relatively thick and not crystal clear) - I cut a tiny window out around them with a razor blade and that fixed the issue. They shipped in an envelope, inside another envelope, I ordered 3 sets for myself and friends, and every one came with wrinkling/damage. Fortunately the films are very durable so the films themselves were unharmed - it was the paper backing that was wrinkled. Still, they could of reinforced the envelope with a little cardboard.... Also they come with no instructions or packing at all, just bulk/oem packed. Still, for $2 they were worth it, but not worth much more than that.
suzook said:
I just ordered 3 brand new covers directly from VZ...They are only $3 bux each...Ill just replace them when needed.
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How did you get them for $3? It says they are $5.
http://www.stealthguards.com/index.php/t-mobile-g2-full-body-protection.html
These have to be the cheapest skins I've seen. Only pay shipping. $2.85 to Connecticut for me. I actually ordered 2 for $4.85
Haven't heard anything about their quality before, but if they are at least as good as other discount skins like BestSkinsEver, then I will be happy.
Zagg and the other more expensive skins are a complete rip off. So far this is also the first FULL cover skin I have seen for the G2.
I'll post pics and a review after I get them in a few days.
*UPDATE*
StealthGuards are not great. No where near "full protection" like Zagg or BSE. Didn't even finish installing because they aren't going to do what I want.
I'm actually using the T-mobile snap on gel skin (smells like ass when new, but fits great) and T-mobile anti-smear screen protectors (best I have used, amazingly). Got both cheap cause wifey's an employee.
Also, The snap on BodyGlove case T-mobile sells is twice as much as the gel one I have, and the fit sucks. It actually keeps the keyboard from opening all the way, making it wiggle forward and back.
etjrowe said:
http://www.stealthguards.com/index.php/t-mobile-g2-full-body-protection.html
These have to be the cheapest skins I've seen. Only pay shipping. $2.85 to Connecticut for me. I actually ordered 2 for $4.85
Haven't heard anything about their quality before, but if they are at least as good as other discount skins like BestSkinsEver, then I will be happy.
Zagg and the other more expensive skins are a complete rip off. So far this is also the first FULL cover skin I have seen for the G2.
I'll post pics and a review after I get them in a few days.
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I would not recommend these. Got 5 for my nexus and they all sucked. Main thing was the screen protector it looked horrible
Don't waste the shipping cost there horrible. Very poor quality there definitely not cut to fit. You will literally not even use it but just toss it.
still waiting for Bestskinever. its literally the same as the invisible shield though it doesn't come with a spray bottle, squeegee and fancy packaging. and it cost about 1.3 that of invisible shield.
Orderd one.. lets see how they hold up..
Normally buy ZAGG's but their quality has been horrible lately
Hope these are a little better than the cheapo ones on eBay..
mcp2009 said:
I would not recommend these. Got 5 for my nexus and they all sucked. Main thing was the screen protector it looked horrible
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On my HD2 it looks great. Installation is the make or break for these. They are like the Zagg ones in feel and quality. i ordered 4 @ $8.85 Basically $2.85 shipping on the 1st one $2.00 for each additional one.
I'm always weary of anything that I have to adhere to my phone.
I wouldnt get them, i mean if they are handing them out for free something is wrong with them... i usually get zagg invisible shield
-FuRBz- said:
I wouldnt get them, i mean if they are handing them out for free something is wrong with them... i usually get zagg invisible shield
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There is nothing wrong with them. My HD2 full body was free, just pay shipping. They do promos all the time on new/popular devices. if you pick a kindle or a laptop or gaming device, they are priced. they do it to get their name out there. these have less texture on the film than zagg does. its smoother in my opinion.
Just got this Stealth Guard In
Hey guys,
I just got this for my G2 and I would have to say that it doesn't protect as much as the BSE or ZAGG skins. IT seems as though their plotter that makes the 2d cuts to fit a 3d object isnt really equipped to do any type of compound curvature. I installed it because well, it's better than nothing until BSE has one.
Installation: Installing this skin is super easy because it doesn't cover any corners or edges.
Coverage: On the front, it covers the whole screen including the black edge and capacitive keys and the plastic area below the track pad.
On the back, it the aluminum batter plate, the flat surfaces of the soft plastic and the spaces above and below the volume key and micro-usb port.
It does not protect ANY corners!
So, if you plan on getting this case, be aware that it will protect your phone from normal scratches involved with placing your phone on its front or back but will not protect the edges sides and corners.
On the front, can I use it as just a screen protector? I want a screen protector, not sure about the full body coverage. I dunno, I just ordered it, guess I'll see how I like it when I receive it. I mean, it was only $2.85 or so, so if I do not like it, it's a non-issue to pitch it and go buy a ZAGG or the T-Mo branded screen protector.
But the main thing I am interested in is screen protection
I had one of these on my nexus and it sucked ass. Also got one for my friends vibrant. Def not worth it. Ill get a zagg for my phone. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
question.com said:
I had one of these on my nexus and it sucked ass. Also got one for my friends vibrant. Def not worth it. Ill get a zagg for my phone. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
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Received mine today and installed it. Easy install and looks good. screen protector fits perfect. Only thing is edges are not protected due to the roundness, also the metal around the screen is exposed because of the roundness also I assume.
I got mine in the mail today. I had a really hard time with it. I got it on the battery protector okay, but it doesn't quite fit. One side is too long. It may shrink after drying.
It's wet application and I just could not bring myself to wet down my G2. You also have to squeegee the water out from under the cover once it is installed. I imagined drops of soapy water dropping down into the speaker grill while doing this. I attempted to put the back piece on. It is shaped like a "C" and goes around the battery cover and has a cut out for the camera. I tried and tried and just could not get it to fit right.
I think I will go to T-Mobile tomorrow and just get a screen protector, unless I can find someone to professionally install a full cover. So right now just the battery cover has the Stealth Guard on it. I'm okay with this for now.
I don't usually have trouble with these things, but this is my first wet install. I put a full decal set on my Cliq with no problems at all.... Dry install. It was from skinit.com and I really like it. I included some pictures of my Cliq because I really like the skin and I want to show it off So hopefully they get some in for the G2.
Bishybob said:
I don't usually have trouble with these things, but this is my first wet install. I put a full decal set on my Cliq with no problems at all.... Dry install. It was from skinit.com and I really like it. I included some pictures of my Cliq because I really like the skin and I want to show it off So hopefully they get some in for the G2.
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I did say it was easy, but this was my 4th wet install. For example near the speaker i pushed the water away from it. Also before i start to squeegee the water i lay a cloth over the area before i squeegee to absorb excess water. My 1st install was on my G1 which i ordered a stealth guard for as well, the current invisible shield on it is looking beat up.
Don't get the T-Mobile screen protector, its one of those anti smear ones. When its on the screen it makes it lookf pixelated a little and in my eyes, down plays our G2 screen resolution a lot. I would try a clear one from amazon, cheap, easy to install and clear to see through.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
mike96789 said:
Don't get the T-Mobile screen protector, its one of those anti smear ones. When its on the screen it makes it lookf pixelated a little and in my eyes, down plays our G2 screen resolution a lot. I would try a clear one from amazon, cheap, easy to install and clear to see through.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
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Actually I picked one up today and I really like it. I see what you are saying about the pixilation though. But the feel of this thing is excellent! Very smooth under the finger. I was also able to put it on without a single bubble or dust speck underneath. I had one like this for my Cliq and if I remember right the pixilation mostly went away after it was broken in.
I saw a Zagg shields kiosk in my mall when I went to get the screen protector. They were busy so I didn't get any pricing. Maybe after this one wears out I'll go get one professionally installed.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Bishybob said:
Actually I picked one up today and I really like it. I see what you are saying about the pixilation though. But the feel of this thing is excellent! Very smooth under the finger. I was also able to put it on without a single bubble or dust speck underneath. I had one like this for my Cliq and if I remember right the pixilation mostly went away after it was broken in.
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Agreed, I actually like the t-mobile screen protector better than any others I have used. I don't notice any pixelation at all. covers the whole screen perfectly. Seems durable. And it's SO nice not to be constantly wiping smudge marks away like I had to with other protectors.
I'll add this update at the beginning too: but StealthGuards are not great. No where near "full protection" like Zagg or BSE. I'm actually using the T-mobile snap on gel skin (smells like ass when new, but fits great) and T-mobile anti-smear screen protectors. Got both cheap cause wifey's an employee.
I want to get a gel cover from T-Mobile but I have leather case that it wouldn't fit into any more. Tried out some other ones in the store but they were also too small.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Maybe if you measure the G2 with the cover you like, you could find a leather case that fits but was intended for another phone.
Sent from my rooted space banana.
Often times when a new phone come out, I take a chance and order a cheapy case on eBay for $2 and end up throwing away when it arrives due to it being cheap mis-fitting junk.
However, I came across the cases listed below from seller AccStation on eBay, and decided to take a chance. They sell them for $3.50 with free shipping (tho I had to pay tax since I'm in CA). It arrived and was like Christmas day. I'm not even kidding. I've had hundreds of mobile devices, and thousands of cases in my life, and this is hands-down the most 100% perfect fitting, most amazingly cut case I've ever bought, and it was only four bux! The camera cutout is EXACT, it's like the phone was dipped in the rubber. There's no lose\off-cut pieces. The shell is incredibly thin, and it's a material that doesn't stick to the inside of your pocket when you put it in and out.
I am ordering more from this seller to have as backups. Right now they're out of stock, so they raised the price to $100 to not sell any, but watch their website and grab them when they're back in stock. I can't even begin to tell you how impressed I am with the quality and fit of this case, it's as if my phone was dipped in the rubber, it just is 100% spot-on!
http://www.accstation.com/chtcdesisc05.html
and
http://www.accstation.com/chtcdesisc04.html
And no I don't work for this company, haha.
Bought what appears to be the same case in gray (clear frost smoke circle) from amazon for $4.99. The amazon seller was eforcity I believe. Case is amazing I have to agree.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using XDA App.
blackviper71 said:
Bought what appears to be the same case in gray (clear frost smoke circle) from amazon for $4.99. The amazon seller was eforcity I believe. Case is amazing I have to agree.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using XDA App.
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Yeah, AccStation and eForcity are the same company... based out of Costa Mesa I believe. I think they're just an importer from china... and like most they get crap 99% of the time, but this is certainly one of the 1% when they got it absolutely right.
I ordered a 2 pack of those before I got my phone. I used it for about a week before switching to the Best Buy/seidio case. The TPU cases fit great , I just didnt like that they were flush with the camera lense so no protection if you laid it down on the back. Also (only happened once) I had the case bind up somehow and jammed the volume down key pressed. Im still hanging on to the case though, Im sure Ill switch back and forth between the two.
That would certainly explain the similarities. Hahaha. And I agree on the camera coverage. It just misses going past the camera to protect it.
bella92108 said:
Yeah, AccStation and eForcity are the same company... based out of Costa Mesa I believe. I think they're just an importer from china... and like most they get crap 99% of the time, but this is certainly one of the 1% when they got it absolutely right.
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Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using XDA App.
I don't know if this is the same case on eBay: http://bit.ly/f4LAJp
Looks like a good deal if what you describe is true.
kboyts said:
I ordered a 2 pack of those before I got my phone. I used it for about a week before switching to the Best Buy/seidio case. The TPU cases fit great , I just didnt like that they were flush with the camera lense so no protection if you laid it down on the back. Also (only happened once) I had the case bind up somehow and jammed the volume down key pressed. Im still hanging on to the case though, Im sure Ill switch back and forth between the two.
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Mine has about a 1mm protrusion around the camera so the lens doesn't lay flat against a surface. It's one of the reasons I preferred this case to any others. The camera lenses have a plastic cover over them to begin with, so they're fairly resistant anyhow. I just don't like how some cases add so much bulk to the back of android phones, mainly because of the camera.
I haven't had a volume key issue, that would be annoying.
egyan said:
I don't know if this is the same case on eBay: http://bit.ly/f4LAJp
Looks like a good deal if what you describe is true.
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Your linky is dead. :-( got an ebay item #?
egyan said:
I don't know if this is the same case on eBay: http://bit.ly/f4LAJp
Looks like a good deal if what you describe is true.
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Was able to get it to load, looks like this seller is selling them directly from China (no other explanation as to why it'd take 3-5 WEEKS for delivery).
I'd recommend waiting till AccStation on ebay or Accstation.com has them back in stock and order from them. Mine took about a week to arrive.
I used to use one of these for my old iPhone 3G. They do work pretty well. One problem that can arise though if you have a screen protector it can cause it to peel because of where the edges are.
synnyster said:
I used to use one of these for my old iPhone 3G. They do work pretty well. One problem that can arise though if you have a screen protector it can cause it to peel because of where the edges are.
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I can refute this issue. I have a Zagg InvisiShield on mine, and it causes no issue. the case doesn't even touch the screen protector.
While on some models I can see this as an issue, the real question is the quality of your screen protector. A quality screen protector will not peel due to friction with a case. I've had cheap screen protectors that peel, and my last few phones I've gone with Zagg as they just stay on and I don't have to worry about peeling. To me it's worth the price. This particular case doesn't touch the screen protector in any way tho. I tried to take a pic showing it but without a DSLR I can't get in tight enough without blurr.
bella92108 said:
I can refute this issue. I have a Zagg InvisiShield on mine, and it causes no issue. the case doesn't even touch the screen protector.
While on some models I can see this as an issue, the real question is the quality of your screen protector. A quality screen protector will not peel due to friction with a case. I've had cheap screen protectors that peel, and my last few phones I've gone with Zagg as they just stay on and I don't have to worry about peeling. To me it's worth the price. This particular case doesn't touch the screen protector in any way tho. I tried to take a pic showing it but without a DSLR I can't get in tight enough without blurr.
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My friend had a zagg on his iphone 3gs and it peeled big time. I got another friend with an iphone 4 and he has the zagg. He says he has gone through a bunch of them because they peel at the corner where the camera is. I used to have a zagg too. It wasn't too bad. I've used bodyguardz and bestskinsever too. They are all about the same. Zagg is a little thicker I think with more orange peel though. I use bestskinsever now because they are less than half the price of zagg or bodyguardz.
synnyster said:
My friend had a zagg on his iphone 3gs and it peeled big time. I got another friend with an iphone 4 and he has the zagg. He says he has gone through a bunch of them because they peel at the corner where the camera is. I used to have a zagg too. It wasn't too bad. I've used bodyguardz and bestskinsever too. They are all about the same. Zagg is a little thicker I think with more orange peel though. I use bestskinsever now because they are less than half the price of zagg or bodyguardz.
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Ohhh, we're talking about two different things. When I say Zagg I'm referring ONLY to the SCREEN protector product. I can certainly see how a complete skin\body cover would peel when putting a case on or off. I'm not sure why someone would use a complete skin and then also put a case on it, but hey, to each his own.
From past experience, 90% of people who ahve peeling problems with Zagg is because of improper installation. Most people who have Zagg don't ever have issues with them, but I've seen many peel where someone's fingers aren't wet when they install the corners, therefor it strips some of the glue from under the edge weakening the bond causing peeling.
Not sure why one would want to completely wrap their phone in a plastic lining... why not just carry your phone in a zip-loc bag? hehe. I guess there are those odd people who cover their couches in plastic too, haha
I'm only referring to screen protector as well...but the zagg for the iphone is the same front and back minus the whole for the camera.
By the way, my Inspire has a body skin on it from bestskinsever. I don't have a case on it though. It's nice carrying it around with no case. I got used to that when I put a body skin on my old iphone 3g.
synnyster said:
By the way, my Inspire has a body skin on it from bestskinsever. I don't have a case on it though. It's nice carrying it around with no case. I got used to that when I put a body skin on my old iphone 3g.
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Yeah I too prefer not having a case because most cases make the phone look too bulky, hence why I wrote this raving review I normally wouldn't since this skin adds almost no bulk.
Funny how those who say this case = bad because it doesn't protect the camera sufficiently go on to say that a bodyshield is good, which provides NO protection to the camera , haha
I didn't say it doesn't protect the camera sufficiently. Matter of fact, the only reason I would sport this case is if I do want to protect the camera. The other case that I like is the case-mate, but that is 20. I'm sure I'll pick one of these up though. I'd like protection when I go traveling on vacation.
Nice case. I almost bought one last week. Wish I had because the Body glove one I have sucks.
synnyster said:
I didn't say it doesn't protect the camera sufficiently. Matter of fact, the only reason I would sport this case is if I do want to protect the camera. The other case that I like is the case-mate, but that is 20. I'm sure I'll pick one of these up though. I'd like protection when I go traveling on vacation.
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Yeah it's all made in China for pennies, so no sense in spending $20-30 when you can get one you like for $5 or less
gunnyman said:
Nice case. I almost bought one last week. Wish I had because the Body glove one I have sucks.
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I returned my body glove to ATT... they hassled me to give me my corporate 25% off saying it's a "high-demand" case... I showed them in my Premier Contract that I get 25% off and after talking to a manager I was able to get the discount, so I can't say I was upset to return it, haha. I'm so over AT&T stores treating every launch like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, haha
Did anyone try these wet screen protectors on Sensation? I'm thinking about putting either Ghost armor, Bodyguardz or Skinomi screen protector. None of the the dry protectors stick to the corners. I would like to know which one is the best and which one has less orange peel.
Edit: and no, I don't think this belongs in the found best screen protector thread.
I use PhantomSkinz. Pretty good. Check the phantomskinz thread.
nicky041192 said:
I use PhantomSkinz. Pretty good. Check the phantomskinz thread.
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Just had a look at the thread. I'm liking it..........
Phantom Skinz.....I'm using it now and its the best one I've tried. And I tried Skinomi...don't even bother with that one!
They are all pretty much the same so I would go with the lowest price. If your getting the screen only then that is Phantom skinz, if you want full body that is Skinomi. Make sure you search for the coupon codes for a discount because they all have one. I got the full body from Skinomi for $15 and it is great.
Bodyguardz sucks, im gonna give phamtom a try
For screen protectors, go phantomskins. I have skinomi on my viewsonic gtablet because I it was practically free. It's ok for free almost free lol. No experience with bodyguardz so I cannot say.
On my N1 I have the bestskinsever one. Great sp IMO. Currently on my Sensation, I have the OEM HTC brand ones and work and look fine. I had issues aligning it, but that's because the OEM one has really no margin for error!
Good luck and post pics of what you get.
Ghost armor was 20 bucks installed and if something happens they replace it for free. Crystal clear I must say. Bring Ur own micro fiber cloth to wrap Ur phone for a few days while it dries. They will try to sell u a pouch for $10. If u want to do it itself and put it on u could save another $5 but Prefer to spend the money and if it doesn't look right the guy has to redo it for free.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk
I just got the Skinomi and so far I am impressed. There were 3 bubbles on it the morning after I applied it, but just like they said on their website, two have already disappeared and the third one is barely visible. I tried the non-liquid as well and they don't work.
If I get discoloration or any other problems I will try the Phantom Skinz next. I only did screen, not full body, if that matters.
GadgetShieldz
I've tried several. Skinomi, Zagg, and a few others. With most of the others, zagg especially, there was an orange peel texture to the screen/body cover. It wasn't too bad, and it protected the screen and body of the device very well. iv'e used these types of skins on several different devices (phones, tablets, netbook screen). All of them cost about the same, roughly $15 ish, for the screen alone and the protection is really very good. For about $25 - $30 you can buy full body protection. Now here's the kicker....
I saw a post on here a while back about one called Gadget Shieldz, so I checked into it. I found that it only cost like $6.95 for FULL BODY coverage. So I decided to give it a shot. I placed my order.
They come from India so shipping takes like 2 weeks. When it finally arrived, I was waiting for a back cover replacement from HTC so I chose to apply to the screen only at first.
Application was the type that is fairly common. You get a small pan of water, with some soap added (baby shampoo is best about 3-4 drops) and run it a bit sudsy. Dip your fingers in the solution to ensure they're pretty wet, and peel the protector off its sheet. your fingers need to stay wet to avoid prints. Dip the protector in the solution and then apply to the phone. this allows you to slide it around easily to get it where you want it, then simply squeegee the excess solution to an edge where you have a paper towel waiting to absorb the excess. With the curve of the glass on the sensation, the plastic card feeling protectors would never lay just right, but this shield did.
The screen protector went on extremely well, has no orange peel texture. it's perfectly smooth, and looks great on there. When I got my other battery cover, I chose the one I wanted to use and applied the rest of the gadget shieldz to it. Let me say this... The precision of the cutting that they did for the skin was remarkable. They are perfect. The installation of the body shieldz is not for the squeamish. It requires crazy amounts of patience because of the curves and you have to hold the skin in place for a while. If you take your time to be extra careful, you will love the results.
The only thing I don't see is a warranty. Zagg is a lifetime warranty even if you screw up the installation where you only have to pay for shipping. With this one I can't find any information on warranty, but for $7 it's really worth it.
Clear-Coat!!!
http://www.clear-coat.com/