Review: Worthwhile protector
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 23, 2012
The Moshi iVisor AG screen protector is somewhat different from most other products of this type. Generally, screen protectors fall into two categories: the permanent 'invisible shield' type that is expensive, clear, and permanent, and the 'film' type that is cheap, disposable, and not-so-clear. This one is specifically marketed as removable, glare reducing, and not disposable. I've used all three varieties, so have a good idea of how they stack up.Application is a lot easier than most other screen protectors. I've put on quite a few of the 'invisible shield' variety of urethane films on various devices, and let's face it- wet application is a pain and sometimes dangerous to the device (and yes, I learned that the hard way!). I had a Skinomi Techskin on my Fire previously, and also found that after time it tends to pick up scratches and dings that don't go away. This is without heavy abuse, and when it does happen there's really nothing you can do about it. Additionally, these protectors are more difficult to keep clean. They're for all intents and purposes permanent, because after removal they tend to look awful and trap bubbles if reapplied- sometimes they're like that even on first application due to specks of dust or lint that float in. That's a nightmare to deal with, because you usually can't tell until the protector is dried out, and then you can't take it off and put it back on. Films sometimes use adhesive which is awful when it comes to removing them, and also tend to get scratched very easily (in some cases, I've seen some show up scratched). There's also a reason they usually come in multi packs, because you can easily botch application or get some lint or dust trapped under the film, in which case you most likely have to toss it out and start over- especially if it's adhesive backed. In the case of the iVisor, all you have to do is align it and press down on the edges. It doesn't use adhesive, just sticks on by being a smooth surface applied to another. There's no chance of bubbles, you can use the device right away, and due to the fact that it's quite thick and solid you don't have to worry about it folding up or creasing. Removal is best done from the corner with the hole for the motion sensor, and it's easy to take out and reapply. I've also washed it under running water and put it back on- no problems at all and it still sticks on securely. In terms of ease of application, this thing definitely beats any other protector out there.Usability-wise, it does not impede sensitivity as far as I can tell, which was a minor concern considering how thick it looks. The surface of this protector has a matte finish which definitely feels different from an invisible shield or the unprotected glass. I guess it's a matter of personal preference, but I actually prefer how this feels- kind of like high grade vellum. For viewing, it does give you a bit of 'frosting' that subdues the colors of the screen. This is typical of glare-reducing film, and is the price you pay for that. As such, you'll probably have to turn up the brightness of the backlight to compensate.This product does what it says, in that it reduces glare. Normally if I look at my Kindle Fire's glossy screen while in bright light (e.g. outdoors in the shade) it acts like a mirror. With this on, it no longer does- I only see what's being displayed. In direct sunlight, you'll have less glare but it's also important to note that the reduction in intensity added to the lack of contrast against sunlight makes it even more difficult to make out fine detail than if you had the bare glass screen. You'll likely have to dial up the backlight to full power to see anything at all, which won't do wonders for battery life. I don't really see this as a huge minus, because LCDs in general are awful in direct sunlight.As a protector, this clearly does the job. It's quite thick and obviously able to prevent the screen from being scratched. A better question is whether the film itself is durable, which I have yet to prove. It certainly looks so from its thickness and feel, but it's hard to say until something bad happens to it. Straight up though, it's a lot harder to impact than invisible shields. Those could be creased just by running your fingernail along it, though they also usually 'self heal' over time. From what I can tell without doing anything crazy, this one looks like it would be a lot harder to damage in the first place, but once it does happen I doubt it would repair itself. Then again, I've also found even urethane protectors don't do as great a job of recovering from serious scratches as their manufacturers claim.As far as maintenance goes, this film does a great job of hiding fingerprints- ever the bane of glass screens. It does, however, make it a lot more obvious when there's dust or lint on it. I'm pretty sure this is due to the matte finish. Either way, it's easy to clean- you can wipe it off with a damp cloth or just pull the whole thing off and rinse it.Overall, I'm pleased with this protector- it does the job, reduces glare, and has a nice feel to it. It's easy to apply, can be reapplied, and is easy to keep clean. This is the first protector I've used that is not just reusable in theory but obviously designed to be removed and reapplied. It also does a good job of reducing glare, although at the cost of diminished backlight intensity.Cost wise, it's a bit on the pricey side for sure- more than most multi-packs of both the disposable films and urethane protectors. However, considering it's actually removable and reusable, it might end up costing you less in the long run.Pro:Feels niceEasy to apply and reapplyEasy to cleanReduces glareNo bubbles, wet application, or other lamenessLooks and feels tough, offers good scratch protectionCon:Bit expensiveAdds a bit of fuzziness and dampens the screen intensity