ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for HTC One Review

The HTC One’s slick aluminium design looks great, but it doesn’t take much time in the real world to pick up scuffs and scratches if you go caseless. Enter the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD, a product designed to keep the slim profile, but not leave you completely unprotected.

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for HTC One

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for HTC One

The ZAGG invisibleSHIELD Full Body for the HTC One is made up of two pieces of adhesive rubberised film, one each for the front and back. Included in the “kit” is a small spray bottle of distilled water, a squeegee and a microfibre cloth for getting your device clean.

Straight up I decided not to use the front protector on my HTC One, as its grippy texture isn’t particularly pleasant for swiping, and the ripple effect induced by the texture of the material greatly reduces the quality of the display. The biggest disappointment with the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD is that you can’t order the grippy rear protector separate from the screen protector. Oddly, you can buy the front protector on its own.

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD Kit

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD Kit

Applying the protector to the phone isn’t a difficult process, just a little fiddly. To prevent fingerprints on the sticky side of the protector, you must keep your fingers moist at all times. An occasional water spray keeps your fingers nice and slippery.

The spray also helps significantly in getting a perfect alignment and bubble free application. Before you begin applying the protector to the device, spray it with a small amount of water. This lets you slide the protector just enough to get things lined up correctly.

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD on the black HTC One

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD on the black HTC One

Using the squeegee you can push the water bubbles out the sides. This is the tricky part, and getting a flawless finish is difficult. The protector will continue to set over the following few days, so many small irregularities will work their way out.

The fit of the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD on the HTC One is excellent, reaching all the way to the chamfered edge, without a lip on the side. If you don’t align it quite right and end up with an edge, you’ll find it will collect dust and eventually start to peel.

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD has a good fit around the camera and rear mic

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD has a good fit around the camera and rear mic

The beauty of the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD over other back protectors is the significant increase in grip it provides. One of my favourite Nexus 4 design features is the rubberised band around the edge, that made it feel secure in the hand. The HTC One feels very slippery, and dangerous to use one hand, but the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD adds that much needed grip.

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD

The price seems a little steep when you consider it’s just two pieces of rubberised plastic, and it’s disappointing that the back protector can’t be bought on it’s own.

That said, the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD is definitely worth considering if you like to use your HTC One single-handed without the safety of a case.

The ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for HTC One can be bought  directly from ZAGG and other retailers.

Price: $24.99

What I Like: Adds much-needed grip to slippery devices like the HTC One, protects from scuffs.

What Needs Improvement: Ability to purchase the rear separately or with a regular clear front protector.

Source: The product was purchased by the reviewer.

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About the Author

Mitchell Oke
Mitchell is a video producer and director working with Australia's leading motoring news sites and car companies. He's always on the go with a camera in hand. With a Bachelor of Creative Technology (Digital Video Production), Mitchell's worked for News Limited, CarAdvice.com and as a freelancer for many years.