InvisibleSHIELD is a transparent precision-cut high-tech film coating that protects your entire iPhone from scratches and abrasions. I reviewed invisibleSHIELD for the iPod earlier this year and said:

How can you not love a reasonably-priced product that is easy to apply, does exactly what it's supposed to do, and comes with an awesome warranty? I like this product so much that I plan to apply it to every new iPod I buy from this day forward.

So when I heard that invisibleSHIELD was available for the iPhone, I ordered it immediately. The kit includes two precision-cut pieces of the film, two small bottles of SHIELDspray (which is more than enough to install the film), and a hard rubber squeegee for eliminating air bubbles as you affix the film to your iPhone.

The only potential pitfall is that it can be tricky to install invisibleSHIELD. But having read the printed instructions carefully, watched the installation video on the Web site, and being extra careful not to get dirt or fingerprints on the sticky side of the film as I applied it, my application this time was darn near perfect.

The parts in blue in this picture are the parts of the iPhone protected by the invisibleSHIELD film:

I was a little concerned that putting film over my iPhone's touchscreen would have a negative impact on usability. Much to my surprise not only did it not, I have come to believe that having it on my touchscreen improves my pointing and tapping accuracy a little.

invisibleSHIELD has been incredibly durable on both my iPhone and my iPods. According to the manufacturer, this is why:

The film has its origins in the U.S. military, where it was used to protect the leading edges of helicopter blades from wear and tear while traveling hundreds of miles per hour. Our proprietary film is a clear, urethane plastic (invisible, invincible) with unique properties that allow it to provide self-healing qualities and unparalleled abrasion resistance.

Unlike most traditional cases you don't have to take invisibleSHIELD off to dock your iPhone. That's the good news. The bad news is that it doesn't work very well with many traditional cases because it is much less slippery than a naked iPhone. On the other hand, that also makes it somewhat less likely the iPhone will slip from your grip. Anyway, if you want to use both invisibleSHIELD and a traditional case, make sure to try inserting and removing the iPhone a few times before you commit to the case. For what it's worth, I've had the best luck using my invisibleSHIELD-protected iPhone with holster-style cases like the ones made by Belkin (see review here) or Griffin Technology (see reveiw here).

I love a company that stands behind its products and InvisibleSHIELD definitely does. Every product has a lifetime warranty so if it ever gets scratched or peels off they'll replace it at no charge. And, there's also a 30 day money-back guarantee. That rocks.

The Bottom Line

I'm thrilled with this stuff. It really is invisible -- you can hardly see it at all as it protects your iPhone (or iPod) from nicks and scratches. I was concerned that after a while the film would begin to peel but that hasn't happened yet on my iPhone or my iPods. After a month of using only invisibleSHIELD to protect my iPhone, both the invisibleSHIELD film and the iPhone look pristine with nary a scratch, scuff, or abrasion. I still like this product so much that I plan to apply it to every new iPod and iPhone I buy.