The Gadgets Page

As a new owner of the iPhone 4S, the first accessory I looked for was a cover for the screen. While the iPhone 4 and 4S screen isn’t exactly fragile, and has a nice fingerprint-resistant coating, I always keep my gadget screens covered. My phone spends a lot of time in pockets and tends to get scratched without it. The iPhone 4’s screen, with its retina display, looks beautiful—and the first few screen protectors I bought ruined its appearance, making everything blurry and indistinct. I peeled off and threw away several in frustration. Fortunately, I found one that works, the Splash Masque Clear Screen Protector. I’ve used it since I activated my new phone last month and it’s working perfectly.

Applying The Screen Protector

As with most screen covers, applying the Masque is a tricky process. First, clean the screen thoroughly—I use an alcohol-based cleaner. Next, rub it with a microfiber cloth (included) to remove any dust. Once the screen is spotless, peel the protective cover from one end and stick that end to one end of the phone. Carefully spread it out from there, smoothing out any bubbles. You might have to try several times, and watch for dust particles.

Here are some tips that will help when applying any screen cover:

• Apply the cover in a humid, dust-free area. Some people use the bathroom with the shower running.
• Use a bright light such as a desk lamp. Tiny dust particles are hard to see.
• One last bit of dust left? Avoid the temptation to blow on it. Your breath contains moisture particles and you’ll end up starting the cleaning process over. Worse, any dust you blow into the air will stay in the air for a minute and then settle on your phone just as you make your next attempt. Use the microfiber cloth instead.

Screen Clarity and Durability

Although it’s thinner than most of the other covers I tried, making it easier to apply, the Masque isn’t fragile. Once the Masque is applied, it stays on—unlike some others, it hasn’t started to peel after a month of use.

For the iPhone 4’s beautiful display, the one feature I really needed was clarity. The Masque is the only cover I tested that didn’t compromise the detail and readability of the screen. There’s a visible moire pattern when the phone is turned off, and it’s barely visible when the screen is mostly black. Other than that, everything looks great, from movies to Kindle books.

Conclusion

The Splash Masque covers come in a 3-pack, which costs under $10. Considering that many iPhone screen covers cost $20 for a single cover, this is a great deal, and it actually works better than the expensive alternatives. As anyone with screen-covering experience knows, it might take you three tries to apply a cover smoothly, and if you luck out the first time you’ll have spares.

As a bonus, the Masque 3-pack comes with two back screen covers. (This might sound strange, but the iPhone 4’s back is made of glass and equally susceptible to scratches.) These aren’t glossy like the front cover but instead have a matte appearance and a soft brushed texture. The back cover adds a bit of much-needed friction to the slippery phone and doesn’t interfere with the phone’s use at all.

As the cheapest, best option and the only one that doesn’t compromise the iPhone 4’s screen quality, I highly recommend these covers.