Every year, the best Android phones are launched with the latest and greatest Corning Gorilla Glass to protect their displays. However, replacing a screen out of your pocket can be expensive, and adding an extra protector seems justified. However, the market is flooded with tempered glass options. We see film options that were available yesterday pre-installed by brands, only for us to peel them off like a wrapper.
I’ve put up with tempered glass for years, chafing at its single-use approach and protection—one drop, and you’re done. However, GadgetShieldz is offering a new film-type protector called FlexArmor that could be a worthy alternative.
Gadget Shields Flex Armor
When tempered glass adds too much bulk or you don’t want to use a clear case that’s prone to yellowing, the FlexArmor line of screen and body protectors from GadgetShieldz might be just what the doctor ordered.
- Self-healing
- Easy to reapply repeatedly.
- Precise cuts and residue-free removal
- Bubble-free installation, even on curved screens
- boring app
- subject to transverse stretching
- Limited drop protection
- Some surfaces remain susceptible to scratching.
Price and availability
Low price for uncompromising protection
GadgetShieldz is an Indian brand that sells protective cases, tempered glass protectors, and FlexArmor films for devices including phones, tablets, earbuds, smartwatches, laptops, and even cameras. For the average Android phone, you can buy standard Ultra Clear screen protectors for $8-10, with the matte version usually costing a dollar more. Adding body protection for the back panel, camera island, and sides, if available for your chosen model, costs another $2.
You can also choose a combination of matte and ultra-clear screen protectors for the screen and body. The brand offers CaseFit screen protectors in both finishes with extra space along the edges to prevent them from lifting up when you put the case on.
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International shipping to the US via Airmail takes 25-35 business days and costs $2, but you can opt for expedited shipping for delivery within a week for just $8. So a full-body matte finish case for something like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra costs $12 plus $8 shipping, for a total of $20.
In the box, you get the screen protector wrapped in a parchment paper envelope, as well as an installation kit that consists of a spray bottle of soap solution, a screen cleaning cloth, a cardboard squeegee, and a cleaning kit. The final kit includes a wet wipe, a large dust removal sticker, and guide stickers to help with alignment during installation.
What’s good about GadgetShieldz FlexArmor?
The scratches are gone.
The worn protective skin was difficult to remove.
After letting a textured case and FlexArmor screen protector endure abuse for a year, I reviewed the FlexArmor matte full body protector for my Mi 11X. The old FlexArmor ultra-clear film peeled off the phone very easily, with minimal yellowing and no residue, because these protectors use an adhesion principle rather than glue.
However, the skin left behind glue residue everywhere, but the GadgetShieldz cleaning kit was able to solve this problem in no time.
I followed GadgetShieldz’s helpful instructions for installation as the process is different for tempered glass. The application solution allows you to reposition the protector repeatedly so you can remove water from between the film and the screen. You can apply alignment stickers to help with CaseFit application.
The old FlexArmor left no residue.
If dirt is trapped after spraying the application solution, you can remove it with your wet fingertips. I suggest gently working any bubbles around the edges, but most of them will eventually disappear after a few hours. Smaller film areas are applied similarly, except it is better to run your wet finger over them rather than spray the solution on them.
FlexArmor Installation
Once properly installed, the film showed self-healing capabilities – fine scratches and grooves disappeared after exposure to heat. I found the film to be thicker than pre-applied plastic protectors, so sharp objects like keys and fingernails do leave an impression (which also wears off quickly), but the thickness helps absorb impact without the protector shattering like tempered glass.
However, since FlexArmor is not crystalline, qualitative testing using Mohs hardness tests is not feasible.
What’s Bad About GadgetShieldz FlexArmor
Some jokes, but nothing too alarming.
There is room for dust and extended edges.
While there’s not much to dislike, especially for the price, installing the FlexArmor screen took about 15 minutes, and the rest of the body took another 20 minutes—much longer than tempered glass with the included alignment kit. Furthermore, the process can be frustrating or difficult for a first-time user, especially with smaller pieces.
If you tear off the backing paper like painter’s tape, you risk stretching it. You’ll also need a heat gun or hair dryer to complete the installation. If you run out of the provided application solution, GadgetShields recommends mixing a few drops of mild soap or baby shampoo with water as a viable alternative.
During my installation process, some dust particles did creep under the back panel protector, but thanks to the thickness of the film, they didn’t cause noticeable bumps or air pockets. I also noticed that the FlexArmor doesn’t protect the tighter geometry around the camera bump like my old skin did, probably due to the thickness of the material and limitations in cutting accuracy.
Should you buy GadgetShieldz FlexArmor?
Think about your requirements
All in all, the GadgetShieldz FlexArmor is a great investment to avoid screen replacements for your tech, as long as you temper your expectations for drop and impact protection. The full-body protector is the best option for devices like the Nothing phones or when you just want to keep the bulk to a minimum.
For the perfect combination of scratch and drop resistance, I can highly recommend the CaseFit FlexArmor protector and a case of your choice. Yes, installation takes a while, but the protection is self-healing and doesn’t even require the sacrifice of tempered glass.
Gadget Shields Flex Armor
While you may spend more time installing FlexArmor, its self-healing properties and non-slip nature provide a long period of worry-free use. What you lose in drop protection is made up for by the low initial cost and wide variety of protectors to choose from.
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