If you’re an avid reader of our sister site, iPhoneinCanada.ca then you probably know about the invisibleSHIELD. ZAGG’s full body screen protectors have been on all of my iPhones! The original iPhone (which was given to my mom!), the iPhone 3G (which my wife uses), and my iPhone 3GS have all remained in perfect condition thanks to the extra protection from these ‘skins’.

iPad invisibleSHIELD Review–ZAGG’s Latest Protection for the iPad

ZAGG started shipping out their iPad fully body invisibleSHIELDs right at the iPad’s launch. We managed to get some samples sent to us to see just how well the iPad invisibleSHIELD fares. When I first got hands on my iPad, the crystal clear screen blew me away. I was pretty sure I wanted to use my iPad ‘naked’ in the Apple iPad case.

However, the iPad’s oleophobic screen works, but it’s not great. The iPad is a smudge magnet. But what changed my mind was when I noticed a TINY hairline scratch on my screen. How did that happen? I take good care of my electronic toys! If the iPad screen is susceptible to scratches after less than one week of usage, maybe the invisibleSHIELD was something I’d have to reconsider.

How to Make the Perfect invisibleSHIELD Install

Disclaimer: This install technique works for me every time. Follow at your own risk. I’m not responsible if you take the risk and spray your iPad with solution. Mmmkay?

Are you a patient person? Are you able to stand in line for 10 minutes or longer? Such patience is required for installing large sheets of the invisibleSHIELD. If you can’t handle taking your time, stop reading this review. The invisibleSHIELD is not for you to install as you’re going to be saying “FML” a few times. But in all honesty, it’s not a hard install it just takes time.

The iPad full body invisibleSHIELD covers the front screen and the entire back. There is no protection for the sides of the iPad, unlike iPhone versions of the invisibleSHIELD. Here’s how I made a close to perfect install of the invisibleSHIELD on my 16GB iPad. Your mileage may vary (YMMV–RFD influence!):

1. Wash your hands with soap and water. Place your iPad down on 3-4 paper towels. Wipe down your iPad with a soft microfiber cloth. Turn the iPad off.

2. The best way to install these shields is to over spray the solution onto the skin itself as you’re peeling it away from the paper backing and onto the surface of the iPad (this is not recommended for the faint of heart).
3. For the front shield install, hold the skin on the outer edges, let the center droop down so it forms a ‘U’ shape and slowly place it on the front. Let the water attach to the skin so no air bubbles form. Use the Home button to align it and lay the rest down.
4. Wrap the squeegee with damp paper towel (helps it slide easier) and lightly squeeze out the excess water starting from the center to the edges. Make sure you have paper towel to soak up the excess water once it reaches the edges.
5. Lightly squeegee put any extra air bubbles. Now, you can either rest your iPad or flip the it over and repeat these steps for the back.
6. What I did with the back sheet is cut tiny slits in each corner to compensate for the curvature of the iPad’s corners. This is what I did with my MacBook invisibleSHIELD install. Just my preference. Prevents ‘raising’ in the corners.
7. If there are some tiny air bubbles, they should disappear after 24 hours or so.

Here’s a great tutorial posted by ZAGG:

My iPad 24 hours later:

The screen still looks pretty good; in the second macro image, you can’t even tell there’s a shield on!

Left: My custom corners on the back of my iPad; Right: these shields are precision cut to fit snugly

Notes:
- my iPad still fit perfectly into my Apple iPad case to my surprise. I was still able to insert and remove my iPad, albeit took some extra patience and effort.
- if the front doesn’t go on perfectly the first time, remove it and try again till you’re satisfied.

Final Thoughts on the iPad Full Body invisibleSHIELD

With the full body invisibleSHIELD installed on my iPad, I feel a lot more confident holding the iPad than before without fear of it slipping out of my hands. A ‘naked’ iPad is slippery–I always had the feeling it would slide out of my hands and explode upon impact. The invisibleSHIELD adds some extra grip, plus the multi-touch is not affected in any way. You will notice a slight “orange peel” effect but this is not that noticeable. Your friends and family won’t even know there is a ‘skin’ on your iPad.

Is the iPad invisibleSHIELD worth it? At $39.99US, it’s about the same cost as a physical iPad case. However, I find that with hard/silicone cases, dirt and debris sneaks into the back/sides of the case and actually acts as sandpaper against your iPad/iPhone. It is for this reason alone I use the invisibleSHIELD on all my Apple products.

Should you buy the invisibleSHIELD? It depends on your needs. If your iPad is going to be in the Apple case, you most likely won’t need it (the protection is pretty good). However, if your iPad is going to be used by a tonne of people, placed flat on your dining room table, etc. the invisibleSHIELD will be a god send. It really is the best protection you can get for your iPad, without hiding its exterior beauty.

Also, if you lack patience–don’t bother with the invisibleSHIELD! If you take your time to manage the install, it’s really not that bad. Too many people end up doing a poor install, and blame the shield itself. I have had no problems with my installs.

Try It Yourself and See Why ZAGG Has Sold Millions of invisibleSHIELDS

But, don’t listen to me and my review–try the invisibleSHIELD out yourself and make your own judgment! With ZAGG’s lifetime replacement warranty and rock solid 45 day moneyback guarantee, you have nothing to lose.

Plus, if you use our exclusive 20% off coupon code ‘iphoneinca’ during checkout, you’ll save about $8, making the final price $31.99US (the cheapest price on the internet!). With our strong Canadian dollar, it’s definitely the time to go shopping online!

Click here to visit ZAGG.com today.

Oh…and one more thing…

CONTEST TIME: Win a FREE iPad invisibleSHIELD!

ZAGG has donated some iPad invisibleSHIELDS to giveaway to lucky readers. However, since these were shipped to us so quickly, it only consists of the front/back shield. There’s no spray or squeegee. You can easily make your own solution (1 tiny drop of dish soap in a lens cleaner bottle) and use a credit card as a squeegee. DONE. We will have three lucky winners in this contest today!

How to enter:

• Leave a comment below.
• Contest is open to Canadian addresses only (one entry per address/IP).
• Contest ends on April 17th @ 12:01AM PST.
• Good luck!

Posted under: Accessories, Recommendations, Reviews