For decades, Phantom has been the name everyone knew in retractable screens — so well-known the brand practically became the category. We spent 20+ years installing retractable screens in San Diego, watched what homeowners wished was different, and in 2023 built Apollo to solve for it. Honest comparison below.
Phantom Screens has been so synonymous with retractable screen doors that the brand name has almost become the generic term for the product — the way Kleenex stands in for tissue or Xerox for photocopy. Made in Vancouver, Canada, Phantom is a family-owned business that produces a well-built retractable screen door. Until recently, we'd have called them the best in the industry.
We've been in the retractable screen business in San Diego for more than 20 years. We've installed thousands of screens across Carlsbad, La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, and the rest of the county. Along the way we paid close attention to Phantom — what they got right, and which details consistently drove homeowners to call for service or wish the product worked differently.
In 2023 we took everything we'd learned in the field and built our own retractable screen: Apollo. Same honest category, a better execution on the parts that mattered most to the customers we actually talked to.
"Phantom isn't a bad product — it's a good one. Apollo is what we built after two decades of watching which parts of the Phantom Legacy design wore out, caused service calls, or annoyed homeowners. We fixed those specific things."
Let's start with what both retractable screen systems do well. If you're looking at a Phantom Legacy (their professional-installed product, not the self-install grade), Apollo matches it on the fundamentals. We don't offer a DIY-grade screen — so this comparison is specifically Apollo vs Phantom Legacy.
Both are built from durable, extruded aluminum alloy frames — the same material class used in architectural window frames.
Both use very similar top-and-bottom tracking systems that guide the mesh and keep it taut.
Both mount flush to the threshold in most installations — no tripping hazard, no raised lip.
Both offer a variety of colors to match your door frame or trim.
Both are installed by factory-trained professionals — not DIY kits.
Both do an excellent job keeping bugs out when properly installed.
Both use free-flowing screen mesh that maintains airflow and visibility.
Both disappear into a compact side-mounted housing when retracted.
These are the specific details that drove our 2023 redesign. Every line in this table is something we saw cause a service call, a complaint, or a "wish it did this" request from homeowners with Phantom Legacy screens.
| Feature | Apollo | Phantom Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Handle | Die-cast metal, haptic grip, no exposed hardware | Plastic with exposed bolts and nuts |
| Retraction speed | Hydraulic slow-close — controlled, smooth, safe around kids and pets | Snap-back — never let go mid-pull or it slams |
| Slow-close warranty | Lifetime warranty on the mechanism | Not applicable (no slow-close system) |
| Standard maximum height | Up to 98" | Up to 84" standard / 96" overheight |
| Latch system | Hands-free — release and walk | Thumb latch must be held down the entire time |
| Country of origin | Made in USA | Made in Canada |
| French door coverage | Single screen option across full French opening | Two-screen meet-in-the-middle only |
| Overall warranty | Lifetime limited warranty | Limited warranty varies by dealer/component |
Apollo and Phantom Legacy compared on the parts you actually touch — handle, latch, slow-close, and finish.
Eight improvements the field taught us over two decades of installing retractable screens in San Diego.
Retracts at a controlled speed every time. No snap-back, no slamming, no hurt fingers. Lifetime warranty on the mechanism.
Substantial in your hand with a haptic grip. No exposed bolts or nuts — the look of a finished product, not a kit.
Covers most tall doors without an overheight surcharge. Taller openings stay clean and proportioned.
Click once and walk. No holding a thumb tab down while you try to carry groceries through the door.
Manufactured domestically. Replacement parts ship in days, not weeks. Your installer can service what they sold you.
One of only two manufacturers who can cover a French door opening with a single screen. Works because of the slow-close mechanism.
Less than 2% of Apollo screens ever need service. When something does come up, it's covered.
Same San Diego crew with 20+ years of retractable screen experience now installs Apollo. Most single-door jobs take under an hour.
Two decades in this business. One category-dominant competitor. A short list of problems we kept hearing about from homeowners. Here's why we built Apollo.
"Tried Phantom first. Left a voicemail, never heard back. Called Apollo and a real person picked up. Had a guy out measuring two days later."
Free in-home measurement. Firm price on the spot. Most screens installed within the week.
