This screen protector’s disappearing act is impressive, but not perfect

Every time I get a new smartphone, one of the first things I immediately do is apply a screen protector to it. I wouldn’t say I’m the clumsiest person in the world, but I do occasionally drop my phone, and with the tremendous luck I have, usually it’s in the worst possible spot, like on my driveway or a hardwood floor.

For me, screen protectors provide a lot of peace of mind. When I’ve just spent $1,000 or more on a phone, that little extra investment is always worth it to me to protect it, as the last thing I want is to scratch or ding my screen. Tempered glass screen protectors are typically quite durable nowadays, and most of them are virtually invisible, so you can barely tell they’re there.

However, a company called Screen Skinz has decided to shake up what you think you know about screen protectors by adding a personal touch. Instead of just being a piece of tempered glass that protects your phone screen, they can now also reflect your personality and interests. Screen Skinz has achieved this by adding logos and designs to their screen protectors that disappear when you turn on your phone. When I first saw these, I was curious about how they functioned. After trying one on my iPhone, I now get the magic, but it’s not flawless.

You can choose a sports team logo or create your own design

The screen protector comes with the tools to apply it properly

The logos on Screen Skinz’s screen protectors are typically right in the middle of the screen, and the company offers a variety of sports team logos you can pick from for your screen protector, including MLB, NBA, NCAA, and NHL teams, or you can create your own. Being the Toronto sports fan I am, I opted for the screen protector with the Blue Jays logo on it, and with the postseason they’re currently having, I think I made the right decision. The screen protectors vary in price, but the one I’m testing costs $50 and doesn’t have a privacy screen. Most of the screen protectors offered by Screen Skinz are for iPhones, but it does offer some for Samsung phones.

That said, inside the box, you get all the essentials to apply the screen protector, including an alignment tray, microfiber cloth, dust removal sticker, and a wet wipe to clean your phone before applying it. Personally, I thought the application tray felt a little cheap compared to other brands like Belkin or dbrand, but it got the job done. Aligning the screen protector onto my iPhone was easy, and surprisingly, there were no air bubbles.

After applying the screen protector, the first order of business was investigating the disappearing logo. When my phone’s screen was powered off, I could see the logo, though not very prominently, and I had to hold it at the right angle to see it. Most importantly, when I powered on my phone and the screen lit up, the logo vanished.

However, I still had two main concerns about Screen Skinz’s screen protector: first, whether I could see it in dark situations, such as during a video or when using an app in dark mode; and second, whether I could feel the logo when touching the screen.

The logo disappears well, but that’s not what bothered me the most

The camera cutout on the screen protector is distracting

After using the screen protector for a while, I found that when I tried watching a video on YouTube with low-light scenes, I couldn’t see the logo. However, when something entirely black appeared on the screen, I could see it sneaking in. It wasn’t overly distracting, but it was noticeable, and you should be aware of it if you get one of these screen protectors. When I opened an app in dark mode, like the Notes app, I could faintly see it again. In that case, it was a little more distracting since it wasn’t a moving image on my screen. If you use light mode on your phone, you’ll likely never see the logo on the screen protector because the screen is much brighter compared to dark mode.

As for how it feels when you touch the screen with the logo, I hardly felt it. During day-to-day use, like doomscrolling, checking my email, and sending text messages, I completely forgot there was a logo on the screen protector most of the time. Even while trying to take photos of it for this story, trying to have it show up in the photos while still being visible was a challenge, which is a testament to how well it can disappear.

That said, what I disliked the most about the screen protector had nothing to do with the disappearing logo but the fact that it has a cutout for the front selfie cameras. I’ve never used a screen protector that hasn’t also covered the front cameras, and it just made the screen protector look weird and less invisible, especially when using any of the iPhone’s Dynamic Island features.

Overall, I think Screen Skinz’s disappearing logo on its screen protectors is a cool concept. If you want to add a touch of personalization to your phone, like representing your favorite sports team or creating your own design, then this screen protector might be worth trying. For the most part, the logo disappears and is hard to spot, but occasionally, it shows up depending on how dark your screen is. The biggest issue I have is definitely the camera cutout, which just looks odd to me. If you’re okay with that, then it’s a cool screen protector to add some flair to your phone and show your friends.

This screen protector was provided to Pocket-lint by Screen Skinz.