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Belkin iPad ClearScreen Overlay review
Posted by Marcus in iPad accessories
Did you know that Apple think that you don’t need a screen overlay for any of your iPad, iPod, iPhone or Mac products? Just a few months before the iPad launch they pulled all screen overlap products from it’s Apple online store. The only thing left there are keyboard protectors.
I can only assume that this was Apple’s way of saying, our products are of such high quality they do not need these, so lets save the consumer some money not stocking them in our stores…
So do you need a screen cover for your iPad/iPhone/iPod? Well the jury is out, I’ve read reports from users who have happily treated their iProduct with some thought and never scratched the screen, and I’ve read stories of screen scratches appearing almost miraculously!
My personal thoughts with my iPhone and now iPad are that I’ve invested a fairly substantial ammount of money in my devices and the reasonably low cost of a screen protector gives me extra peace of mind. I know it’s not going to save me if drop my iPad from any considerable height, but it should stop any small scratches appearing when Im transporting my iPad/iPhone in my bags.
So, here’s my little review of the Belkin ClearScreen Overlay for the iPad. This is a universal overlay for 3G and WiFi iPads that offers “a clear protective shield for your iPad screen, preventing scratches and minor cosmetic damage from everyday use”
Installation.
The pack contains 3 items, the clear screen overlay, a lint free cleaning cloth and a credit card sized cardboard smoothing card.
Application is very straight forward;
1. Thoroughly clean the screen with the supplied cleaning wipe.
2. Peal a small corner of the Overlay from it’s backing and fold it away until the adhisive side is exposed.
3. Line up the exposed Overlay with the top boarder and slowly run the rest of the overlay across your screen.
4. Smooth the Overlay on the screen with the smoothing card by gently pushing down on it.
5. Peel off the top protective layer.
My Installations went fairly well, there seemed to be a lot of trapped air bubbles at first but they all smoothed out very easily.
Performance
The overlay does not hinder the iPads smooth scrolling and wonderful feel Im pleased to say, within a few minutes I found it difficult to notice that it was there at all. The screen appears to be a little more resistant to finger marks but not a huge amount but this is mainly due to the Overlay screen being slightly less reflective than the nude iPad screen which in bright sunlight there does seem a small improvement. Colours and brightness are still as vibrant as before to my eyes. (It is subjective though!!!)
Conclusion.
If you think you need a screen protector for your iPad, the Belkin ClearScreen Overlay offers a decent solution. It’s not up to the same sort of specification as the Zagg range of overlays but I think the zagg is overkill for a device that does not sit in you pocket!.
Rating: 
Belkin iPad ClearScreen Overlay review | iPad-Review…
Did you know that Apple think that you don’t need a screen overlay for any of your iPad, iPod, iPhone or Mac products? Just a few months before the iPad…
Belkin iPad ClearScreen Overlay review | iPad-Review…
Did you know that Apple think that you don’t need a screen overlay for any of your iPad, iPod, iPhone or Mac products? Just a few months before the iPad…
Well I invested in one of the protectors, the instructions are poor, the type on green on the stickie tabs is unclear, I placed the screen cover wrong way up, when i couldn’t get airbubbles out I removed and turned it over, however tyhje rsultant trapped dust meant it wouldn’t lay flat without bubbles…. wasted £20.00 I will be talking to Belkin , at this price I am sure they could sort the instructions and replace the product… Grrr
Your not alone Angry! I made the same mistake a few years ago when installing a protector on an old WinMobile phone, luckily for me it was a pack of 3 so the 2nd attempt went better!
I bought one yesterday – it’s going back for a refund.
The instructions are completely inadequate – there’s no documented way to find out which of the two protective layers to remove first. In fact the instructions don’t even mention that there’s two.
Hence I ended up putting mine on with the adhesive side up instead of down. Only afterwards did I spot the tiny ’1′ and ’2′ on the two ‘remove me’ labels, which presumably denote which one to take off first.
These need much better labelling – perhaps colour coding? Something like “remove the layer with the blue label on first”!
Its a great overlay. Love it. Looking at the previous posts, I guess its not moron proof…
Bought one of these belkin screen protectors together with my Ipad. Had no problem in realizing wich side goês down and up. im very happy, no bubbles, perfect image. This is a product i recomend, but as anything else in live…be pacient when installing, and please use your brain !!!!
i bought one of the ClearScreen Overlay and i must say the instructions leave a lot to be desired. the instructions are very unclear. i bought a second overlay and not much better in applying it to my ipad. it should be most straight forward. i intend to return same to Belkin and request a refund.
I agree with both Ray and Jumbo, the instructions are inadequate.
The apply the 1 number facedown first woul be very welcome, i ruined one screen protector because of that. Three hours and 18€ later i tried again with a new one and it looks great, the Ipad doens’t seem to have any overlay at all, and that’s exactly what I was looking for, protection without losing the looks.
Waste o’ cash… Frustrating instructions, and the ‘smoothing’ card actually scratches the overlay cover.
I have always put overlays on previous screens of other toys, but this was ridiculous price-wise and putting of it on. ($40CDN)
I have just tried to put on a zaag invisibleshield. I hate it, it makes my ipad 2 feel like its in a wetsuit. I have had a belkin on both ipod 3g and now on mine and the wifes 4g. I agree that the instructions have to be re-done. I had to use 2 screens before I mastered the last one. Take your time and do it right, and you will be very pleased. If this screen protector is anything like the other versions I have then I beleive Ive just solved all my worries about the screen. I will add a post when my belkin is on my ipad 2, hopefully very soon!!
These suck. It is impossible to put one of these one without air bubbles getting under the screen, which ruins the entire point of having it. “Oh just let the air bubble be there” someone told me, fucking right, because I want to look at my beautiful ipod screen with fucking air bubbles in the way. Bullshit product, wasted all three and didn’t get a fucking screen to work w/o a god damn bubble on the picture.
Fuck this product.
3rd time lucky for me-$30 later! It’s definitely an acquired skill. You will get the feel for it eventually but how much money are you prepared to spend doing it. Good luck people. What would have been great is to be able to pay some person/business to apply it for me, but couldn’t find one. Thought Officeworks might be able to help but no go!
I agree with all the above comments except for “Jimbo” & “Jose” . A touch too much “superiority” in their comments. When you need a magnifying glass to read miniscule instructions which are still ambiguous to first time users, it’s time to improve the instructions. And despite rigorous cleaning with the recommended cloth minute dust particles still cause non-removable bubbles.
I agree with those who posted that the installation directions are incredibly poor. I wasted one of the two overlays that came in the package before seeing the microscopic 1&2 on the ‘remove me tags’. However, the second attempt, with the layer marked 1 down (directly on the screen) went smoothly and left a protected screen free of air bubbles or trapped dust. Overall satisfied with the result but Belkin should be embarrassed at the inadequacy of their directions.
Absolute waste of money! Tried to fix one protector – patience, dust free environment – result – lots of bubbles. Thrown it in the bin and won’t be bothering again!
Belkin iPad ClearScreen Overlay review iPad-Review.
The instructions with the bekin overlay is very poor. Having applied the overlay to say it looks like an aero chocolate bar is apt. The ‘smoothing’ card actually scratches the overlay cover this product is poor and over price and i am well and truly pissed off.I agree with all the above comments except for “Jimbo” & “Jose”.