[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-T989] FineTalent:
BestSkinsEver Samsung Galaxy S2 T989 Total Body Skin Review

I know our phone is more than a year old now, I am writing this review as there doesn't appear to be any particular review of the skin for our phone (in this case, it's better late than not at all). The review is based after two weeks of usage so that I can provide as accurate information possible.

*to view a larger image just click on the thumbnail*

Delivery and Packaging |10/10| :

The skin was ordered from the BestSkinsEver website so it was shipped directly from their main facilities. Living outside of the US I had to choose the 'First Class Mail' shipping method which was $3.00CDN. The delivery arrived in my mailbox exactly 7 days after ordering just as advertised, no complaint. The skin came packaged in a white #10 sized envelope, nothing fancy, this is beneficial to the shipping cost and is eco-friendly (the skin is what matters the most). There were no damages (folds/tears) on the envelope which was great. Included inside the envelope is a packing slip with your shipping information, order info, etc... and most importantly the skin which is protected on some sort of vellum paper (protects adhesive side).

Pricing and support |10/10| :

Depending on the time you see this review, the price and availability of the skin may be different. I purchased the skin during a 30% off sale, however, even without the discount the total body skin is affordable (less than $10) compared to similar skins from other companies.

As for the BestSkinsEver support, they have provided outstanding customer service from my experience with them. I had an issue where I found a small gash right in the center on the adhesive side of the screen protector during installation. I had contacted the company with the issue and provided them with several pictures and they were able to quickly send me a replacement screen protector free of charge.

Application |8/10| :

It is a wet application, so I had to prepare a homemade solution of liquid soap and water inside an empty Monster ScreenClean spray bottle. I prefer the idea of making the solution myself rather than having the company charge an extra cost for their own solution. Instructions for the application is given on the website and after following the video applying the skin was a breeze. The overall procedure took me more than half an hour (could be quicker) but I was trying to be a perfectionist. Since it is a wet install, it made aligning the skin easy as long as you sprayed enough of the solution (don't be afraid to be generous adding solution, just make sure you wipe off any excess that come to the edges). Also, it is important to keep your hands moist with the solution at all times during application so that there is no friction between your fingers and the skin.

The only difficulty that I came across during the application was getting the side skins installed, particularly around the corners. Patience is key, I held the corners down in place with my fingers and I used the heat of my breath to help the adhesive stick. After doing so the side skins were flush with one another perfectly around the sides, top and bottom of the phone as shown in the provided pictures. I would also like to mention, the skin for the back of the phone leaves some sort of texture in certain areas due to the grid pattern on the back cover (this is metioned on the website). However, after some trial and error I was able to remove most of the texture and even with a bit of it left it looks pretty cool, almost like a camouflage pattern.

After applying the skins I used a gift card double-wrapped with a microfiber cloth to push away air bubbles and wipe off any leftover solution. At first it will still look like some of the solution is still under the skin no matter how much you try to squeegee it out, but after using the phone for 24-48 hours the solution disappeared/evaporated and the skin protector looked flawless (as if it weren't there at all).

Screen Protector Quality |9/10| :

First off, the screen protector is cut perfectly to fit edge to edge of the glass which is quite amazing. The cut-outs for the camera and earpiece are placed appropriately and are close to accurate. The cut-out for the earpiece however could have been cut closer/smaller so that the top part would adhere properly and not move as easily (not that great of an issue).

The feel/texture of the screen protector after the application felt somewhat rubbery, but after more than a weeks use with the phone any friction by the screen protector began to smooth out (even after wiping any oil marks off the screen). Speaking of oil marks, the protector does not easily attract fingerprints unless your fingers are extremely oily and when there are fingerprints, it's hardly noticeable at all (almost as if there is an oleophobic coating). Any fingerprints on the protector literally comes off with a single wipe of a cloth. When it comes to scratches the screen protector is more than decent enough to prevent everyday scratches from loose change and keys, but definitely isn't a guarantee. Any minor scratches disappear due to the self-healing properties of the skin.

The best attribute with this screen protector is that it retains the clarity of the screen while it's on. There are no issues with any brightness loss, rainbow affect, color tint, grainy look... nothing! The screen protector is crystal clear... the only flaw is that at certain angles where harsh light is hitting the screen there is a noticeable orange peel effect/texture, although it doesn't really degrade the clarity and is not visible with the screen on.

Body Skin Quality |8/10| :

The body skin for the phone is perfect for anyone who does not want the housing of the phone to get scratched. The cut-outs for the headphone jack, usb, buttons, camera and microphones are cut extremely precise. The back cover is cut edge to edge, it's only the speaker cut-out that is ever so slightly off center. Also, the side protectors are cut perfectly to not leave any space between... downside, there is about a millimeter of vulnerable space between the side and the back due to the curvature of the sides. The feeling/texture of the body skin has the same slickness as the screen protector, although it provides a better grip compared to the raw feel of the phone, particularly the sides. As for protection goes, the body skin will definitely hold up against any scratches from everyday items as it has the same self-healing properties as the screen protector. The body skin is thin enough to maintain the sleekness of the phone. The trade off is if you are looking for any drop protection, the skin is not thick enough to absorb any impact.

Overall |9/10| :

The BestSkinsEver total body skin in my opinion is the "best skin" in respect to it's notable quality over it's affordable price. The skin is easy to apply and for everyday use, it's more than enough protection while keeping the phone's sleek form factor. The skin in particular is made extremely well with all the precision cut-outs and the screen protector definitely keeps the quality of the screen. Overall, it works great for what it's designed to do and I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for an affordable option to protect their Samsung GS2 T989.