PixelSkin HD (for iPhone 4)

Mini review: So I stuck this case on top of my Wrapsol Ultra screen protector (a very, very thick and durable protector I might add) and although it managed to fit, it was too tight-fitting for my tastes. I ended up taking the back protector off for a better fit but still left on the side protectors which add quite a bit of bulk. I recommend you just use a screen protector as this case is meant for an exact fit.

The good: I like the rigidness of the case and its slick feel. This will certainly help my phone slide in and out of my jean pockets better than my 99 cent orange silicone case from eBay/China. The cutout for the connector should also give you no problems as it slightly bigger than Apple’s connector.

The bad: The buttons for volume and the on/off button are VERY stiff and difficult to operate. They do not move at all unlike Apple’s Bumper case where the buttons are separate from the case itself. I also do not see this case protecting my phone from waist-high drops given how rigid the material is. It’s purpose seems to be for scratch protection and very low drops only.

Final verdict: I wouldn’t exactly recommend this product at its $30 price point, but if you got it for free there’s no harm in using it. This case would be a lot better if the buttons were easier to operate.

If you don’t want mega bulk and the ultimate form of protection from an Otterbox case, I’d recommend waiting for the case from a company called Tech21. They make their cases out of a material called d3o that absorbs shocks and drops extremely well without the bulk. They have pushed their release date back for a number of months now due to the complexity of the molds they are using for the cases, but it is expected to drop some time in the first two weeks of September.

Here’s a video of how awesome this d30 material is in their product: