Provides: iPad protection
Manufacturer: Fusion of Ideas
Cost: $45 to $55 (without screen protector), $55 to $75 bundled with screen protector
Availability: Now
You know those sounds that make you cringe, such as fingernails across a blackboard, or maybe the click of death from a hard drive that has yet to be backed up. While showing off my brand new iPad, I had to clench my teeth as a friend of mine slid it across a countertop. This was just the harsh realization that my pristine iPad was eventually going to show the rigors of real life use.
Instead of going through several cases like I did with my iPhone, I am holding out for the release of the Otterbox Defender for the iPad. But here I was in my own home regretting the lack of any protective cover. When I was asked to review Fusion of Ideas’ StealthArmor I felt a sense of relief since I would now have some sort of protective covering.
StealthArmor for iPad
StealthArmor for iPad is a very thin, protective covering that adheres to your device to give it a very stylish look. It was originally developed to help protect car exteriors in automotive racing from flying rocks and asphalt. There is a clear screen protector that can be purchased separately or bundled for a discount as “full body” protection. You can choose from ten unique designs, such as wood grain, leather, brushed metal or their racing series of carbon fiber. The sample that was provided for us to test is the Carbon Fiber Black. One of the protective designs is clear, which appears to be the same as their screen protector film sized for the back of the iPad.
I have to admit when I received the package for my StealthArmor I was surprised by its thinness. Both the front and back were just flat sheets that peel off with adhesive backings. Would this be able to protect my iPad? I was skeptical as I looked over the items, including a small, unmarked bottle of cleanser and a small plastic card to squeeze out bubbles for the screen protector.
To add StealthArmor, you begin by cleaning the iPad. Remember to read all the directions carefully as you are to not spray directly onto the device but apply it to a soft cloth and be careful not to get any liquid into any of the openings. I’ve opted for the SquareTrade warranty which covers liquid and accidental drops, but AppleCare will not cover your iPad if the indicators inside the ports detect dampness.
Next, I peeled the StealthArmor Carbon Fiber away from its backing and realized that this was going to be more difficult than I imagined. I started by holding the backing vertical by the top two corners and trying to align it directly over the bottom edge of my iPad before laying the backing down from the bottom of the iPad to the top. This was difficult because the back of the iPad is beveled at the edges and it makes it more of a challenge to judge exactly where the edge was sticking because the cover would adhere to the back of the iPad. After it was down, you have to go back and mold the corners with your fingers and see exactly how close or whether the sheet overlapped the edge. Fortunately, if you don’t get it right on the first try you can peel it off easily and retry the application to get it squarely onto the iPad.
It took me at least four tries before I got the back squarely in place so it was not overlapping any of the edges. My first observation was that the corners or edges of my iPad were going to have no protective covering. The StealthArmor covers the back of the iPad well but leaves the corners and side edges exposed. Once I had the cover adhered, the directions ask you to use a hair dryer to warm up the cover so that it could “cure” and adhere to the device. I have to admit that I skipped this part since I did want to be able to easily remove it later and could not find any written directions or instructions for taking it off. See my comments below on the lack of website support.
StealthArmor Screen Protector for iPad
The application of the screen protector did not go as smoothly. The directions ask you to wash your hands before applying but that did not entirely prepare me for the experience. I had peeled the protector away from its backing and was holding a very sticky, clear sheet that was—unlike the back covering—much more flexible and had a consistency that reminded me of a thick piece of cling film or cling-wrap. As I tried to apply it using the same technique as above, it folded over and I realized that I had to be extremely careful to keep the entire sheet from sticking to itself. This was so sticky and flexible that it felt rather unwieldy, unlike other screen protectors that are a stiff piece of plastic.
The screen protector had the familiar “home button” cut out so I could use that as a guide for applying the film. But because of its size and flexibility, I was a bit overwhelmed in trying to lay it down without feeling like I was not getting a smooth application. For those of us in the USA, it felt like I was holding a clear, thin sheet of Fruit Roll-up because it would stretch and was extremely sticky. While I did wash my hands, I did not anticipate other hazards such as my cat that hopped up on the counter to see what I was doing. Before I could react, a small tuft of cat hair had adhered to a corner of the screen protector, which was nearly impossible to remove from the sticky side. After several tries, I finally got the screen protector onto the iPad, but the air bubbles made it seem like I had failed.
The screen protector is made from material that is so flexible that I found even the provided tool was not so useful in helping to remove the bubbles. I resorted to pulling each corner back and then continually running my finger along the fold as I slowly laid the screen protector film back down towards the corner. After doing this several times with each corner and then squeezing the remaining air out with my fingers, I was able to clear about 98% of the screen with only a few small (2-3 mm) size bubbles. I thought I did a fairly good job of getting rid of them, but later my wife would still notice the few bubbles while she was using the iPad. With the screen protector in place, you can feel just a slight resistance as you slide your fingers over the touch screen, but not enough to make me want to take it off. Even though I recommend the StealthArmor for iPad, the screen protector only deserves a 3 out of 5 rating because of the difficulty of installation and that you would not be able to clean the film if debris gets stuck to the underside.
The only support option on the Fusion of Ideas’ webpage is to send an email. There are no forums to ask questions or share suggestions. Even an FAQ to look for useful hints would be helpful. To make things more confusing, the directions for installation state that “you are free to use the device immediately” but the care directions suggest that you keep the device inside the provided bag for 3-5 hours while the film cures. Another discrepancy is that on the installation directions it recommends not putting the device into a case or pocket for 24 hours while the care directions say no cases for 3-5 days. As I mentioned above, I’m not entirely sure how easily it would be to take off the StealthArmor once it has been heated to adhere it to the device. The warranty may allow for replacement, but your iPad would be unprotected while waiting for the exchange.
Having the StealthArmor on my iPad makes me less hesitant to put it on a hard surface or hand it over to a friend. It is so thin and virtually adds no bulk so you could probably slide your iPad into another case for added protection even with the StealthArmor applied. There is no protection from dropping the iPad, but the back protection made it easier to grip over the naked iPad. I would have some reservations about paying $45 to $55 for this level of protection, but it does have a lifetime warranty which may justify the cost.
If you are looking to make your iPad stand out from the crowd and have a minimum level of protection, the StealthArmor is a great product.
I recommend that you find an alternative screen protector because it was difficult to apply and would be nearly impossible to clean and reapply like others.
Try pricking the bubbles with a pin to get rid of the ones that you can't reposition.
Hey, Fusion of Ideas here! Thanks for the great review. Really awesome comments about our website, what you are seeing is actually a work in progress and we will have more tips and tricks for an easy and quick install of the StealthArmor up soon. Also, please note that applying heat to the StealthArmor will significantly help with bubbles, it's the final and necessary step of the install process which will ensure a perfectly smooth finish. Once installed properly, StealthArmor can be easily removed with zero residue if you are the type who likes to customize your device frequently. Hope that helps!
If u want protection Get a Otter box cover, or a different phone
Err, iPad is not a phone!