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The package is nice enough. Not terribly exciting. But of course, it’s a fraeking iPhone case. It’s hardly going to look the world – and we don’t care all that much at any rate, seeing as it’s the product we’re really interested in.

The initial verdict:

Boo-hoo: An absolute pain up the doo-dah to apply (though not as bad as other “invisible film” competitors, admittedly).

Woo-hoo: Two full sets of “skin” are provided in each BodyGuardz pack. They realise what a pain applying the film can be.

Woo-hoo: The scratch-resistant properties of the skin are incredible. It’s also super-efficient at defending against fingerprints.

Meh-heh: It’s reasonably priced at around £15 ($25)… probably in line with the protection capacity it offers (super effective at what it does, mind), although it seems a little on the steep side of the hedge.

Applying it was fun. I screwed up the first skin royally, managing to twist it around two of my fingers (sticky stuff!) and attach myself to a desk (hyperbole… it wasn’t quite that bad).

The second skin went on quick-enough, but it was apparent that huge air bubbles had formed underneath the skin’s surface.

After 24 hours, I was pretty worried that I wouldn’t be able to review the product at all. The screen, now coated in hip-hop-opotamously-gargantuan-sized air bubbles (again… hyperbole… they weren’t that terribly huge, but enough to seriously disrupt casual iPhone usage), and despite my best efforts with the squeegee-type-device, I couldn’t for the life of me persuade the damn air pockets to expel themselves.

However, over the following week – they gradually disappated (to the point of being non-noticable), and now, after several more weeks of usage, none are visible at all (even under intense scrutiny)

Impressed as I was with the scratch-proof technology (and the impressiveness of the tough-as-hell film as doubling up as an anti-fingerprint protector), the total lack of any physical protection against shocks, drops, or spur-of-the-moment everyday-occuring tsunamis means that the BodyGuardz protector film is best used in combination with a case.

I personally use it with an Incase Slider case, a stylized, functional, rubberized case, and because of the BodyGuardz film’s virtually non-existant profile, it causes no problems when used in tandem with third party cases, always a boon. Remember however, that the 3rd party cases my cause problems when docking devices (for this reason, I also use a 3rd party dock – the “made2dock Slanted iPhone Dock”, designed to be used with designs with cases).

The product does exactly what it claims to. Having used an “InvisibleShield” skin-protector before (very similar concept to BodyGuardz – as in, it is a completely transparent film), I personally prefer the BodyGuardz skin, finding it both better at keeping “one’s oily mugs” (fingerprints) off expensive gadgets and at protecting against scratches and other superficial damage to the device.

Wilki.me has partnered with Costello & Sons Technology Insurance to make bringing this post to you possible. Feel free to leave comments below and ask any questions you may have!