Splash Masque screen protector for ipad 2 review with pics

[dread]

I haven't seen a review of the splash screen protector yet so I decided to provide a detailed account for those who are considering it. I ordered the protector from amazon for $22 shipped after reading positive reviews there. . To provide context I have used power support and steinheil screen protectors in the past on my iphones and ipads and I have gotten pretty good at installing them. Now for the review.

The package
Your $22 gets you three screen protectors, a small and cheap microfiber cleaning cloth, and an application card. Each screen film is covered with a front and back plastic, which is nice since it protects the film during installation.

Installation

I installed the protector in my bathroom with the shower running to minimize dust. After a thorough cleaning I started from the camera side and slowly removed the first piece of plastic as I worked my way down to the home button. Unfortunately the hole for the home button did not align correctly and I had to pull it up and reapply, but in the end it went on with minimal dust, all of which I was able to remove using a piece of tape. In comparison with steinheil and power support the installation process is comparable and I was left without a single bubble or spec of dust after 5 minutes of work.

Fitment

The fitment is Ok but not as good as steinheil which I always found to be perfect. The holes for the home button and camera are slightly larger than I would like (see pictures), but are reasonably sized. The corners of the screen protector do not seem to be contoured correctly for the iPad 2 and I suspect this is an ipad 1 protector with a whole punched in it. Overall the fitment is acceptable considering the price.

Film Quality
Like all screen protectors that I have used their is a break in period where the screen is tacky. I just applied some car wax to it and it is just as easy if not easier to glide my finger over the filmed screen as it was on the unprotected glass. The film seems slightly thinner than both power support and steinheil protectors, but this doesn't bother me as I am not expecting drop protection. It does attract more finger prints than the glass, but is just as easy to clean off so far.

Image quality
The image quality of the screen appears to be affected slightly, but I can't pinpoint how. There is a slight rainbow effect that I have noticed, but it can only be seen in light reflections of outside light and is not at all distracting. The screen appears to be a bit darker as if the protector has a tint, but I cannot see a tint when holding one up to a light. I turned my brightness up slightly and can't notice a much difference now, but it is something to be aware of for people looking for protection. Text may be slightly grainier than without the protector, but I may just be over analyzing this. Overall image quality is certainly acceptable, but may not be as good as power support, which I have found to be perfect.

Summary

Overall, the splash screen films are well priced, easy to install, and are good quality. For $7 each, they are certainly worth considering over their much more expensive counterparts. Don't expect perfect image quality or fitment, but for those who are willing to accept this the splash screen film is an attractive option until more competition comes along.

 

[Mdifilm]

Thanks for the review, I had a hard time putting it on that I threw it out (didn't realize I can reuse them)... lol

 

[dread]

No problem. Screen protectors are tricky to install. The secret is to use tape to remove any dust that gets under the screen. It helps to get it right the first time to minimize dust.

 

[DaGrandMastah]

I haven't seen a review of the splash screen protector yet so I decided to provide a detailed account for those who are considering it. I ordered the protector from amazon for $22 shipped after reading positive reviews there. . To provide context I have used power support and steinheil screen protectors in the past on my iphones and ipads and I have gotten pretty good at installing them. Now for the review.

The package
Your $22 gets you three screen protectors, a small and cheap microfiber cleaning cloth, and an application card. Each screen film is covered with a front and back plastic, which is nice since it protects the film during installation.

Installation

I installed the protector in my bathroom with the shower running to minimize dust. After a thorough cleaning I started from the camera side and slowly removed the first piece of plastic as I worked my way down to the home button. Unfortunately the hole for the home button did not align correctly and I had to pull it up and reapply, but in the end it went on with minimal dust, all of which I was able to remove using a piece of tape. In comparison with steinheil and power support the installation process is comparable and I was left without a single bubble or spec of dust after 5 minutes of work.

Fitment

The fitment is Ok but not as good as steinheil which I always found to be perfect. The holes for the home button and camera are slightly larger than I would like (see pictures), but are reasonably sized. The corners of the screen protector do not seem to be contoured correctly for the iPad 2 and I suspect this is an ipad 1 protector with a whole punched in it. Overall the fitment is acceptable considering the price.

Film Quality
Like all screen protectors that I have used their is a break in period where the screen is tacky. I just applied some car wax to it and it is just as easy if not easier to glide my finger over the filmed screen as it was on the unprotected glass. The film seems slightly thinner than both power support and steinheil protectors, but this doesn't bother me as I am not expecting drop protection. It does attract more finger prints than the glass, but is just as easy to clean off so far.

Image quality
The image quality of the screen appears to be affected slightly, but I can't pinpoint how. There is a slight rainbow effect that I have noticed, but it can only be seen in light reflections of outside light and is not at all distracting. The screen appears to be a bit darker as if the protector has a tint, but I cannot see a tint when holding one up to a light. I turned my brightness up slightly and can't notice a much difference now, but it is something to be aware of for people looking for protection. Text may be slightly grainier than without the protector, but I may just be over analyzing this. Overall image quality is certainly acceptable, but may not be as good as power support, which I have found to be perfect.

Summary

Overall, the splash screen films are well priced, easy to install, and are good quality. For $7 each, they are certainly worth considering over their much more expensive counterparts. Don't expect perfect image quality or fitment, but for those who are willing to accept this the splash screen film is an attractive option until more competition comes along.

Dude you're the man. I stumbled into this thread and I read how you got rid of the couple of dust particles. I never heard of that method. I had 2 stuck under my screen protector and easily took them out. Thanks!

BTW, I have the same screen protectors for whomever is interested in buying these. I think they're very good. You get 3 for 22 bucks. I'm not sure how good Power Support ones are but you only get 1 for 30 bucks....this is a way better deal. I haven't really noticed any issues with the screen or anything like that and while it does attract finger prints its no more than you would see if you didn't have a screen protector at all. In essence, it's there but you can't see it. I recommend buying them.

 

[dread]

I have been using the protector all day now and I can say I don't notice any appreciable difference in text or brightness. For some reason I got that impression originally and maybe I'm just used to it, but everything seems to look good. The rainbow effect I noted is only visible in certain light conditions at extreme angles. I have not noticed it in normal use.

I asked my wife if she noticed anything different about the iPad and she said is it shinier. She did not even notice there was a protector on the screen at all.

In any case, I would definitely buy these again especially since power support keeps raising prices and their shipping is ridiculous. I am not paying $40 for a piece of plastic no matter how good it is. I was going to get the steinheil but their customer service is horrible and their iPad 2 protectors have been getting bad reviews. For the same price I got three protectors and they are working great so far.

 

[DaGrandMastah]

I have been using the protector all day now and I can say I don't notice any appreciable difference in text or brightness. For some reason I got that impression originally and maybe I'm just used to it, but everything seems to look good. The rainbow effect I noted is only visible in certain light conditions at extreme angles. I have not noticed it in normal use.

I asked my wife if she noticed anything different about the iPad and she said is it shinier. She did not even notice there was a protector on the screen at all.

In any case, I would definitely buy these again especially since power support keeps raising prices and their shipping is ridiculous. I am not paying $40 for a piece of plastic no matter how good it is. I was going to get the steinheil but their customer service is horrible and their iPad 2 protectors have been getting bad reviews. For the same price I got three protectors and they are working great so far.

I'm with you. I just don't understand why people would pay close to $40 for ONE screen protector. I understand that they're probably the best out there and very good quality but it's still just a thin plastic sheet.

One thing I will say is that these do have a very weird feel at first. Takes a couple of hours until they feel completely smooth. I think this has to do with peeling back the 2nd cover after placing the protector on the screen. It went away fairly quick though.

 

[dread]

Most protectors are like that. I used car wax to smooth it out. It's nice and slick now.

 

[jaimeastin]

Yeah, I ordered this set a few days ago. Should be in tomorrow. Nice review. I am just hoping to keep is scratch free.. I will be letting the youth group at church use it, so I decided to double up on protection..

 

[Mdifilm]

Well, 4 hrs later again, I ended with lousy application, so I emailed them and they are sending me replacement. Hopefully I can get it right. This been the hardness screen application I have ever done. Never had this much headache before with iPad 1 or the phones.

 

[dread]

I let my nephew who is five use my iPad and I'm not worried with the protector on so you should be fine. So far the protector is scratch free but it is a finger print magnet compared with the glass and it's much harder to wipe off. For example, I usually have to wet my microfiber cloth to completely remove finger prints. With the glass I could wipe it clean with a dry cloth. Not a big deal since you cannot see the prints with the screen on.

I have yet to notice a rainbow effect while using the iPad and don't even notice the protector is on so I am happy so far.

 

[dread]

Well, 4 hrs later again, I ended with lousy application, so I emailed them and they are sending me replacement. Hopefully I can get it right. This been the hardness screen application I have ever done. Never had this much headache before with iPad 1 or the phones.

I just noticed you live in cleveland. Im in Kent. Anyway what trouble are you having? Have you tried installing in the bathroom with the shower running? My protector wnt on with ease. It was literally a 5-10 minute process. I did have a few dust particles but they were easily removed with tape. It also helps to run a lint roller over the screen before starting the install.

 

[Mdifilm]

I just noticed you live in cleveland. Im in Kent. Anyway what trouble are you having? Have you tried installing in the bathroom with the shower running? My protector wnt on with ease. It was literally a 5-10 minute process. I did have a few dust particles but they were easily removed with tape. It also helps to run a lint roller over the screen before starting the install.

I know it's user application fault, I think I'm just not good at it. I've tried everything, because of having cats here, I think I have a lot of headache trying to apply it (not the case with the iPad 1 though), and no matter what I did, I ended up with tons of bubbles or lint or particles under it, and of course, it drove me crazy (maybe the OCD on me kicks in), so I just keep ripping it out. (Tried 3 packs of it and even ordered another 3 packs) lol

I also tried lint roller, scotch tape, cloths, windex, water, latex gloves... lol

I sure hope it will work sooner or later.

 

[dread]

I wanted to give an update on this film as I have now used it under fluoresant lights where rainbow effect is usually seen and I can say that this film has the worst rainbow effect I have ever seen. In fact, the film is not even usable under fluoresant lighting.

I contacted the company and they responded within minutes saying their films do not have a rainbow effect and I should try the antiglare film instead. I said I don't want antiglare as it distorts text and they said they would send both free of charge. I'm hoping this is a defect but I have my doubts as it is clearly caused by low quality films. In sum they have great customer service but I cannot recommend a film with this much rainbow effect under fluoresant lights. I will update once I get the new films.

 

[dread]

Just got another email explaining why my films may have had the Rainbow effect. Note that she claims the pattern should go away in a few days but I have been using the film for over a week. In any case I hope she is correct because these protectors are priced well and their customer service is awesome.


"The rainbow effect is caused in approximately I would say 1 out of every
50-100 pieces, and this is true regardless of which brand you purchase
whether it is PowerSupport or SGP or ours. It has to do with the production
of the films and the materials used to put the three sheets together. This
is caused by slightly excessive adhesive on the outer layer which leaves a
marking on the actual screen protector when removed. As you continue to use
the touchscreen, the pattern will eventually disappear in a few days.

I hope you are satisfied with the replacement sets. Once you have had a
chance to try them, I would very much appreciate it if you would be kind to
take a minute to respond to this email with your feedback.

Thank you once again for purchasing a Splash product, I hope we get an
opportunity to serve you again in the near future.

Regards,"

 

[tr1age]

Most protectors are like that. I used car wax to smooth it out. It's nice and slick now.

Really? To smooth it out?

 

[dread]

It makes it slick just like the paint on your car.

 

[gigaguy]

I asked my wife if she noticed anything different about the iPad and she said is it shinier. She did not even notice there was a protector on the screen at all.

I hope that's Connie! juskid.
Thanks for the review, I want anti-glare but am balking at the PS price, since I seem to get a new idevice every year, it add$ up with Power Support. I assume the Splash anti-glare may not have the rainbow? someone else posted about Splashs matte version. Don't know, trying to avoid the PS tax. I may just find the discounted ipad1 PS screen at a discount. It fits pretty close but not perfect.

 

[dread]

Haha. Yeah it's Connie. The antiglare would not have a rainbow effect because the effect is only seen in the glare of fluoresant lights. I can't see it all in normal light even with the clear protector. The splash rep suggested antiglare forvthis reason. I hear you about the ps prices, but there protectors are by far the best. I went with these guys after all the bad reviews of the sgp came out. I hope the new ones they send me are better.

 

[gigaguy]

I like your techy wallpaper, I'll have to go look for some like that,. I always tried pictures or pastoral scenes, but I like the look of a circuit etc with the icons better. you're very organized, all on 1 or 2 screens too. I haven't totally adopted foldering yet. I like to see the icons.

 

[dread]

I like to keep it all on one screen. I got that wallpaper from an app called pimp my screen.

 

[Josh125]

Just received mine today, for the money I am very pleased with the screen protectors. Overall fit is acceptable, especially in this price point and not to mention I never seem to get it dead straight regardless. I used the shower and tape trick to get a flawless install, sans being a hair crooked.

I have no rainbow effect, no adverse effect on text, decent thickness.......no complaints

 

[josun]

Has anyone tried the anti-glare version? I'm just curious if they have the noticeable prism effect as most cheap anti-glare films do.

 

[dread]

Has anyone tried the anti-glare version? I'm just curious if they have the noticeable prism effect as most cheap anti-glare films do.

Splash sent me a set of antiglare and another set of clear in response to my complaint about the rainbow effect. So in all i got 9 screen protectors for $22. Great customer service. I put on the antiglare and I am actually impressed with it. I have never used an antiglare film before so take my opinion for what it is worth.

Benefits:
It is much more fingerprint resistant and easier to clean

It definitely reduces glare.

The iPad screen looks nice when off.

Finger slides easier on the screen

No noticeable disadvantages on darker vibrant colored backgrounds. No Bad effects while watching movies or playing games.

Text looks about the same

Disadvantages:

Text looks roughly the same but light colored backgrounds look to be textured. It is a fine texture but noticeable. Looks like a very even grain. Is is not noticeable on dark backgrounds. It's hard to explain, but I definitely prefer the untextured look of the clear protector to the antiglare. The picture below illustrates the texture well.

Sometimes the screen feels less responsive because it is too slippery.

Recommendation:

I have been using the antiglare for two weeks and both my wife and I like it. If you can get past the slight texture on white or light colored backgrounds then I would recommend it.

 

[dread]

here are some pics

 

[sparkhill]

Mine is just another opinion, but I tried both of the clear and matte versions of the Splash protectors. If you are looking for something decent at a reasonable price, both are fine options. I did not personally like the matte version though.

I ended up installing the PowerSupport clear. It is better quality and a better fit but cost about $30 for one vs $20 for three. If you are perfectionist, the additional cost of the PowerSupport film is money well spent; if not, the Spash protectors are fine.