$14.95 + shipping
Of course, in the midst of working on my iPhone 3GS v. iPhone 3G v. first-generation iPhone review, I get side-tracked by a new iPhone accessory (and Sygic’s Mobile Maps navigation app as well), though I have a perfectly good excuse for it. See, I just got this shiny new iPhone 3GS, and after becoming quite used to using a DecalGirl skin on my old iPhone 3G paired with a Proporta Maya pouch, I wanted to put a skin on my new iPhone ASAP though I wanted to try a different one this time. I came across GelaSkins and got my hot little hands on a couple of skins and screen protectors to try out (thanks, Solveig!).
The GelaSkins skin installed on my iPhone 3GS
Compared to the DecalGirl skins, the GelaSkins for the iPhone offer more coverage for the sides of the phone, featuring extensions that wrap around to just reach the chrome bezel on the front of the phone, with cutouts to avoid covering the volume rocker and ring/silent toggle. Unlike the DecalGirl skins, the GelaSkins do not come with a skin for the front of the iPhone, but this is not an issue in my eyes since I usually use a full screen protector anyway and I didn’t use front skin that came with the DecalGirl skin anyway.
Application
Like the DecalGirl skin, no liquid or other special equipment is needed to apply the GelaSkins skin. I simply cleaned my iPhone thoroughly and used a can of compressed air to get rid of lint as needed. It was a little trickier to install the skin because of the extra effort required to line up the tabs that provide coverage to the sides of the phone. I found that lining it up starting with the hole for the camera lens did not work well enough to ensure it went on straight, as I’d done with the DecalGirl skin. I was able to install it straight by starting on the side closest to the camera lens, then confirming it was straight enough by checking how the hole lined up with the camera lens afterward. I didn’t get it 100% perfect, but it’s good enough.
Also like the DecalGirl skin, the corners didn’t lie flat right away and it took a day or two of smoothing them down to work most of the bubbles out. I still have one small persistent bubble, but I think I’m the only one who notices it.
Coverage
While the GelaSkins skin covers the sides of the iPhone almost to the chrome bezel, it’s not quite as long as the DecalGirl skin and doesn’t cover as much of the top and bottom of the rear of the iPhone as a result. I should note that the difference in length is minimal, as you can see from the pictures showing the two side by side, but I do notice it. This isn’t terrible since these parts are unlikely to make contact with a hard surface you put the iPhone down on, but I’d rather see it cover at least as much as the DecalGirl skin in this respect. If this were the case, I’d say that it provides just about perfect coverage for this type of skin.
The right side
The left side - note the precise cut-aways for the volume rocker
I will say that the coverage on the sides does give better grip than the shiny plastic of the iPhone itself. Also, it’s a bit comforting to know that any grit you may have on your fingers won’t get rubbed against the sides of the iPhone to cause scratches with this skin in place.
The hole for the lens is cut perfectly - it’s just my installation that’s imperfect
The hole for the camera lens is cut perfectly and does not block it in any way. The cut of the tab that covers the side where the volume rocker and ring/silent toggle switch is also cut accurately and does not impede them in any way.
The skin doesn’t cover any part of the top of the iPhone
Material
The GelaSkins site states that the skins are made from premium-grade 3M vinyl that is less than 2mm thick, and also includes a clear scratch-resistant coating. One thing that is clear when removing the GelaSkins skin from its backing before installing it and after it’s installed on your iPhone, is that has a cross-hatched texture indicating that there’s some sort of material within the vinyl to help strengthen it. It’s not terribly noticeable and it doesn’t bother me at all, and it’s almost reassuring to know that the skin probably has some extra durability because of this. You can see this texture most clearly in this picture:
The cross-hatch pattern within the skin
The GelaSkins skins feature unique designs by a number of different artists. While I found several that I liked, I did find myself missing the more subtle black and white design that I’d chosen from the DecalGirl selection. This is purely a matter of taste, however, as you may find that you prefer the GelaSkins designs over those offered by DecalGirl. At the time of this review, GelaSkins has over 180 designs available for the iPhone 3G/3GS.
The colors are vivid and the images are clear. The edges are cleanly cut, giving it the look of a quality product.
Using the skin
I dock my iPhone every night on an iHome iP9 clock radio, and multiple times throughout the day on an OEM iPhone 3G/3GS dock. When I’m just hanging out, my iPhone resides in my pocket or purse, or it’s lying on its back on a nearby table. While I have been a fan of hard cases to offer protection for my iPhone, with the Incase Slider as one of my all-time favorite cases so far, I’ve found that I’m migrating more to skins as the only adornment and protection for my iPhone. First, there’s even less hassle to dock my iPhone with nothing to remove to get it to fit. Second, I wear tight girly jeans and even a thin case like the Incase Slider adds enough bulk to make this a less-than-comfortable proposition. Third, I’m über careful with my iPhone and don’t plan on dropping it (knock on wood) and the protection a skin offers works just fine for me given how often I just like to put it down on a table while I work, watch TV, or anything else.
The bottom of the iPhone is not covered and has no problems going into any dock
Although I enjoyed the oleophobic coating on the screen of my iPhone 3GS, reports of it rubbing it off with frequent use have prompted me to install a Power Support anti-glare screen protector. With this, my iPhone is protected on the front, back, and most of the sides between the GelaSkins skin and screen protector.
iPhone 3GS in GelaSkins on the left, iPhone 3G in DecalGirl skin on the right
Summary
I like the Geleskins skins. They offer decent coverage and unique designs that give your iPhone a distinctive look without adding much bulk at all. I have no worries about the rear of my iPhone getting scratched at all while protected by it and I like the design I have as well as several of the others that are available.
With that said, their relative price is a concern. A GelaSkins skin costs $14.95 plus shipping, for which you get a single skin for the rear of your iPhone. Comparatively, the DecalGirl skins currently cost $7.99 (they cost $6.99 at the time of my review) plus shipping, for which you get a rear skin and one to frame the screen on the front of your iPhone as well. (Both companies offer matching wallpaper images for free.) With such a massive price difference between two comparable products, I can’t help but recommend the DecalGirl over GelaSkins if price is a concern to you. However, if GelaSkins offers a design that you really like over anything that DecalGirl sells, price may not be a barrier to you. Also, if you are really interested in having some protection for the sides of your iPhone, the GelaSkins skins are the ones for you.
Related reviews:
DecalGirl skin for the iPhone
Brando Ultra Clear Screen Protector for the iPhone