Introduction

Our previous experiences with applying DecalGirl skins have been nothing short of phenomenal. We've been able to transform an original Xbox, a PS3, a PSP, and a iPod Nano into a stylish work of art that reignited excitement into the gadgets. It was time the bland, boring Xbox 360 got invited to the costume party. Recently, We fashioned a 360 with the Desert Ops skin along with matching controllers.

About the Product

"The faceplate concept is cool, but it leaves the rest of the console sitting there like a chunk of forgotten ivory plastic. The Xbox 360 is an impressive piece of equipment, and now you can take it to the next level with a DecalGirl skin kit. From face only skins to complete wrap around skin combos (shown to the left), they're right here.

With your order, you'll receive a ready-to-apply full-color Xbox 360 skin with an ultra-high resolution full-color design printed on premium grade adhesive-backed cast vinyl. The skin is then covered with a clear protectant layer for the ultimate in durability. Remember - all of our full-color skins use a patented repositionable and removable adhesive backing for fast, easy and accurate installation and goo-free removal!" - DecalGirl.com

The Kit we tested includes the "Desert Ops" design for the Xbox 360 Console: Face + Upper + Lower ($25) and the Xbox 360 Controller $4 each).

Closer look

Since we tested the full kit, we received a skin for the upper, lower, and faceplate. We also got matching controller skins. The DecalGirl website has various other coverage options, such as ordering faceplate only.

Packaging		Contents

The upper and lower covers have squares on the skins. This is so the vents on the 360 do not get blocked. I thought it would have looked awkward at first but it actually looks pretty nice once the skin is on. It is hard to tell from the pictures, but the skins are very vibrant and bright.

Face + Upper Cover		Lower Cover

In a previous review, we praised the high quality of the vinyl material DecalGirl uses. It still applies now. It feels sturdy and I can tell that it will last a long time. Just peel the skin off the sheet to use it. The faceplate skin is a little different in that the buttons come off as their own little skins.

Peeling Skin		Vinyl Material

The original white Xbox 360 before it gets a makeover. It doesn't look ugly, but its not exciting and that is why we are about to jazz it up. Before you start to stick the skins on, I would recommend the 360 be wiped down of all dust particles and whatever gunk has built up over the years.

Regular Xbox 360		Regular Faceplate

Installation instructions are pretty straightforward: Peel off the skin from the sheet, and stick it over the corresponding area. But the tricky part is actually fitting it properly. I had a hard time getting the faceplate skin on nicely. However, the great thing about the material is that you can easily remove it and try again until it is on correctly. Protip: Take off the faceplate from the 360 before putting on the skin.

Desert Ops Faceplate		Desert Ops 360

Again, clean off the controller. The controller skin was the most difficult to apply because the arms curve. But again, remove the skin and try again if you must. The controller matching the console is what really tops it all off.

Original Controller		Desert Ops Controller

Once everything is on, the console looks flawless. The 360 has a great glossy look to it that definitely beats the pale white. The surface also feels almost polished now which gives off a cleaner impression.

Complete Kit		Complete Kit

Testing

DecalGirl advertises easy removal of their skin that leaves no goo behind. In order to test this claim throughly, we let the skin sit for a few hours. Then we went ahead and pulled the decal off the faceplate. It was effortless, left no residue on the console, and we were able to reapply it back on afterwards. When you put the skin on, you aren't stuck with it forever!

Conclusion

Overall, I am extremely pleased with how the 360 has turned out after applying the DecalGirl skin. Sometimes I wish the application of the skin would be easier, as this was the only issue I encountered, but you forget about it once the decal is on. It looks great and it feels smooth. If you want to give your console (or other gadgets) a fresh look, I can't recommend DecalGirl enough. They offer a full line of skins that can match any personality, taste, or style. Check them out today if you haven't already!

Some pros we found:

Removable - leaves no residue

High quality material

Prevents Dust

Some Cons we found:

At times, difficult to apply skin