Speck CandyShell, PixelShield & ShieldView – Gear Review
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You recently bought an iPad and think an InvisibleShield or Bodyguardz skin is not enough to protect your new toy?
The Speck design team has been working hard since the iPad announcement and recently came out with several great options to shield your iPad from accidents and other mishaps. If you happen to drop things a bit too often, or if you simply want to let your kids play with your iPad without ruining it, these accessories are for you.
PixelShield
The PixelShield is a high quality slim sleeve designed to carry and protect your iPad. It features three layers in order to keep the iPad away from scratches and dents:
- A textured, padded neoprene exterior
- A strong screen side layer designed to safe-guard the iPad screen against impacts
- A micro-fleece interior to prevents scratches
The PixelShield is not meant to replace a backpack or a bag, its primary use is to shield your iPad from foreign objects like keys while on the go, and it does the job extremely well. It also does a good job at shielding your iPad during x-ray screenings at the airport security checkpoints, since once in a while TSA employees ask passengers to take their devices out of their bags before running them through the x-ray machine.
The PixelShield comes in two flavors, red and black. The retail price is set at $39.95, not the cheapest iPad sleeve on the market, but Speck really put some thought into the design, such as the very snug fit that adjusts to the curvature of the back of the iPad, as well as the no zipper opening engineered to avoid any potential scratches (note that there is virtually no chance of the iPad slipping out).
What we liked: The fit, the smart opening (no zipper)
What we didn’t like: Strong rubber smell! It will take days for the smell to wear out, and it may deter you a bit at first. The price is a bit high compared to other sleeves, but the quality is there.
Overall: Great design, smart idea, great protection. Became my new iPad sleeve overnight.
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ShieldView
The ShieldView is a set of 2 screen protectors, meant to cover the whole screen of your iPad. Unlike the Bodyguardz skin we covered before, these screens are static-cling, they easily stick to your device on contact (without the use of any solution), leave no residue, and can be easily removed and repositioned. The screens can be a bit tricky to install, so make sure to use the cleaning cloth that comes with the ShieldView before application. Like with any other skin, simply use a credit card to apply pressure and remove the bubbles trapped between your iPad screen and the ShieldView, in order to get a perfect result.
The use of static-cling material makes the application easy, especially when compared to a skin, but be careful, the screen protector is also easier to remove after installation, so once set, don’t mess around with the corners! The screen protector actually feels really great to the touch, it makes the iPad screen more matte, and it considerably reduces the amount of fingerprints and smudges on your screen. The ShieldView will cost you $24.95 (remember, you get 2 screen protectors, so it’s about $12.50 each).
What we liked: The easy installation, the great feel, the noticeable reduction of smudges
What we didn’t like: Make sure your iPad screen is perfectly clean, as even the tiniest particle left on the screen will show up (see our picture below, the iPad looks great, but it would look even better if we had cleaned it more thoroughly). Could be a bit cheaper (would make it a 4+ star accessory).
Overall: Good fit, nice finish
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CandyShell
Last but not least, CandyShell. CandyShell for iPad is a semi-flexible protective shell for your iPad, and is more or less the combination of a soft rubberized case and a hard shell in a seamless single-piece design (Speck won several awards with this unique design, they started years ago with the iPhone). CandyShell is very easy to snap on your iPad, and protects your iPad from head to toe, via:
- A honeycomb-like, rubberized interior that acts like a cushion
- A hard outer-shell
- An outer lip that allows you to place your iPad facedown on a flat surface without scratching the screen
The case is perfectly engineered and gives you easy access to the iPad’s controls, such as volume and power buttons. It also features openings for the microphone, the headphone, as well as the speakers. Most of all, the bottom of the case offers a flap that can be opened to gain access to the USB/Dock connector, without having to remove the iPad from the case.
The case looks great, is a breeze to install, and seems pretty sturdy: we dropped our iPad multiple times on a hardwood floor, the case and the iPad still look like new.
The case will cost you $49.95, which can be considered a bit steep, but this is the best hard shell on the market today hands down, and the quality is definitely there.
What we liked: The mix of protections (soft and hard rubbers, lip). The easy access to the iPad’s controls, as well as the USB connector. Overall quality.
What we didn’t like: This case can be a real fingerprint magnet!
Overall: Great quality, great fit, great protection, best hard shell on the market. I won’t let kids get anywhere near my iPad without it!
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