Customer Reviews

Elago Apple iPhone 3G/3GS Premium Privacy filter-Protect Screen

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I took a chance on this product based on the 2 reviews to date. It was also about 1/2 the price of other similar products. Also, reading that it was relatively thick and the packaging saying it was 'static cling' made it ideal in meeting my need for a temporary and reusable filter for cramped airplane trips.

It is thicker than most protectors (1/2 credit card thick?), but the touch sensitivity works perfectly fine and the thickness provides excellent protection. It does slightly darken the screen, but can be compensated by turning up the brightness about 10% (I keep mine at 50% normally).

Unfortunate for me but not most folks, it actually did have a no-residue silicone adhesive like most screen protectors. I spent a lot of time rubbing that off so I could use it as a removable filter to install when I need it. This concept works great for me because the filter edges slip under my rubbery Incipio case edges that wrap around the front face. The filter length reaches just above speaker hole and just below the home button.

Privacy-wise, it works slight better vertically than horizontally, but still very good: privacy at about 35 deg. off of face-on when vertical, and about 45 deg. when horizontal. Translation: that means if you hold it like a book (about 18" from your nose)that someone's eyes (next to you) needs to be within 18" of your eyes to see your screen. On a plane it's probably about 30" between peoples' eyes, so it should be solid privacy. People behind you on the other hand....

It is funny how you can look like you're poking at an iPhone that looks turned off, as well as looking turned off when you put the iPhone aside on a table.

Long-winded review, but trying to answer the questions I had prior to buying.

Sidenote: the package text is written by someone who doesn't speak English very well. All kinds of spelling & grammatical errors (pretty humorous).

I tried 4 different privacy screen protectors, and this one was the best. I got one from AccessoryGeeks which was pretty good, the Macally one (horrible), and another that only covered the screen, not the entire face of the iPhone. This one was the best of the 4 I tried. It stays very well on the phone, I couldn't get it off when I wanted to try the Macally. This one doesn't affect the touch functionality, the Macally severly affects the touch functionality.

The AccessoryGeeks one is a close second, but it doesn't stay on as well as this one.

I bought this filter with the hope that it would offer privacy on the train for people in the seats behind me and those walking down the aisle.

Unfortunately, while it functions well enough in bright daylight, I have found the filter is less strong in artificial light. I was also disappointed to find out that it offers privacy left to right, but not up and down. Thus, people standing above you can see unobstructed.

It may suit your purposes, but if you intend to use it primarily indoors, find something else.

Let's face it, even when you're not typing in your secret PIN for your online banking, it's annoying to have that person next to you turning their head to read your personal business. The Elago screen protector was the second privacy film I tested for the iPhone (the other being the Agent18 product that Apple sells in its stores) and, for me, Elago's product is better (and half the price).

It does what it's advertised to do. It gives you increasing privacy with increasing viewing angle in ANY direction. I want to emphasize that last point, because one reviewer (Spex) had mentioned it only works left to right, not up and down. I think Spex must have been shipped another (or a defective) product, because mine provides privacy at an acute viewing angle in any direction, left, right, up, down, landscape, portrait, etc, etc. The Agent 18 product only gives privacy when used in portrait mode (left & right) and has a slightly unpleasant side effect of creating banded vertical interference fringes, which are quite visible on a light/white background, even when the screen is viewed head on. The louvre filters on the Elago product run diagonally in both directions, but are finer and create a much milder effect which really isn't visible at all when viewed head on.

There are a couple of minor drawbacks to be aware of when using this product:

1) If you have your iPhone on your desk, and you glance up to see something on the screen quickly - you won't be able to see the display clearly unless you're looking pretty much head-on (but, hey, that's

exactly what the product is designed to do, so we can hardly complain about that, can we?).

2) It does darken the display slightly, so you'll likely need to compensate for that by increasing

the brightness (and, yes, this will use a little more battery juice).

3) Getting these films to stick is always a pain. If you get one speck of dust underneath it, that speck of dust is probably staying with you forever and the film won't stick down at that location.

You need to get this film to stick down properly, otherwise the sensitivity of the touch screen can be affected.

4) This filter works fine in any kind of ambient lighting, but if you're using directed light sources

(a bedside lamp, for example), the iPhone's ability to adjust automatically to background light is going to be very sensitive to the angle at which the lamp light falls on the screen (for obvious reasons). That means that a small tilt of your iphone could cause significant differences in auto screen brightness. There's an obvious solution to this, which would be for these manufacturers to include a small section of non-filtering plastic in the upper location on the screen (above the earpiece) that covers the light sensor. You can work around this, knowing what's happening, but it would be better to NOT have directional filters on the ambient light sensor.

Personally, I don't find these disadvantages sufficient for me to lower my 5-star rating. It's a great product, which seems to be backed by good customer service. (I bought mine from JoWow on Amazon, who were very quick to send me a replacement when the first item I ordered had a manufacturing defect.)

I had been shopping around for a while to buy a privacy screen for my iPhone. I'm not sure what it is about the iPhone, but whenever you type on it everyone around you feels compelled to snoop in on what you are doing. So, being sick of it, I tried out a few products. The first was the mirrored screen, which I NO NOT recommend. It's very pretty and great for putting on my lipgloss, but that's about it. The moment you are under overhead lighting you can't see a thing. I also tried another brand of the black privacy screen from Best Buy but it only worked side to side, not up and down. So let's look at the Elago:

Application: The actual screen is rather thick, maybe about as thick as an index card but in plastic form. This makes it quite easy to hold by the edges without bending the plastic. What I did was peel half of the plastic back from the adhesive side, and apply from the top down. I very slowly peeled it back as I pressed down on the screen to push out any bubbles. I think because of the thickness of the plastic (and more weight and rigidity) there were practically no bubbles. The package only comes with one screen, so if you mess this up I'm not sure if you can pick off the dust and reapply it. But I got it on the first shot and it was just fine. Then you punch out the holes for the speaker and home button and you're good to go.

Function: I normally keep my phone brightness at about 30%. Really bright screens tend to eat up battery life. When you use the Elago screen it will darken your phone quite a bit. I had to increase my brightness to 60% to put it back to it's original look, which will take up more battery. But hey, I'd rather recharge nightly rather than have some creeper peering over my shoulder (I'm not that tall, so pretty much everyone around me can loom over and look at my screen). Which brings me to the whole reason why I bought it. The screen works in all directions: left, right, up, down, diagonal. I'd have to say it does a better job with the left-right. Anyone facing you who peers over the top of your phone might catch something, but only if you have a white or lighter colored image on your screen. The colors are just fine, the touch sensitivity is great.

Cons: The only "bad" thing is that you have to get it on your first shot. If you mess up the application, I don't know how easy it would be to pick the lint off the backing. I go to an art school so I'm super precise when it comes to hand-eye stuff like this. Applying it seemed simple enough, but if you aren't the dexterous type I'd swindle a steady-handed friend into doing it for you. Or just buy two. They're really cheap anyway. Also, you'll get used to it after a while, but your screen with look holographic at first. It's hard to explain. It's just a very subtle, holographic, shine to it that made me go "Whoa, that's interesting looking" to my eventual "This would be so much cooler if the iPhone was actually holographic." So no worries. It might give you a headache if you stare at the screen for hours upon end.

Overall, I like it. I even took the time out of my crazy schedule to write a review on it, so maybe that says something. Hope it helps.

This works great when I hold my iphone horizontally. When I hold it upright, however, it only blocks views from the left, so anyone glancing from the right or from above gets a clear view.

I originally purchased this privacy screen as a shot in the dark because most people told me it would only be a disappointment. I have had it for about 6 months now and haven't taken it off once. I love it. As a college student, it works great in class when the seats in an auditorium are right next to each other. Nosy people can't see what's going on. Other people think i'm looking at a blank screen. There have been several instances where my friends have tried to look over my shoulder and read what i'm texting. They are rudely reminded every time that I have that "dang privacy screen" on my phone.

I have not lost any sensitivity in my touch screen. The screen protector/privacy screen adheres to the surface of the phone by static. Which means no sticky residue and it is 100% reusable.

The only complaint I have is you do loose some clarity in the display. I was willing to make this sacrifice for the privacy. It also is not bad enough to bother me, but is definitely noticeable.

The privacy screen is the bomb. I can use the iphone out and about and not be concerned for oh so curious others many of whom lack a "life" and would spend unnecessary time wandering into my business (or games as the case may be). :)

I purchased a protective case for my iphone that included a screen cover, so I was a little disappointed that I had made a knee-jerk buy of this privacy film. Once it came and I applied the product I was pleased that I had invested the money. It still allows for sensitivity. I don't feel that it gets as dirty as the normal screen or the protective film that came with my case. It is easy to clean and best of all, someone sitting to the side of me will never know that I have the phone on. It is perfect for meetings.

I have tried two other privacy filter and this one is by far the best. I don't notice any touch screen sensitivity lost. The Macally privacy filter doesn't even come close. I wish Amazon would carry it, for the free shipping.