Customer Reviews

Speck Products PixelSkin for iPhone 3G/3GS - Licorice Black

5 star:		(117)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Length:: 1:19 Mins

A quick look at the Speck Pixel Skin on an iPhone 3GS.

This case is excellent, right out of the box. The material fully pads and protects the delicate edges of the iPhone body, and wraps around the front edges & screen to add some protection there as well. (I set the screen on its face most often, and this "lip" or "edge" is sufficient to protect the glass from actually touching the table surface!)

Although some have described this case as "bulky" and limiting because of its size, I find the size still very slim fitting. Obviously it isn't as slim as some cases, but it is a well engineered case.

I purchased 5 cases all on the same day so that I could REALLY find out which is the best case offerred on Amazon. I would say that in the $15-16 range, this case and the ifrogz cases are neck and neck. Although very different, they both offer the best protection for the money and I'm very happy with both as far as look, feel, design, comfort and slim-fit.

The only reason I give this 4 stars, rather than 5, is because of two things. Primarily, when texting or e-mailing, the thick raised edge of this case becomes slightly cumbersome. This only affects the 3 letters on each side of the keypad when the iPhone is held vertically, and I assume ONLY affects those of us with a bit more sizeable fingertips. (The dainty or petite-hands will not have a problem here.) Secondly, this case would be a better value if it included a clear screen protector - which, for the price, seems reasonable. (Although comparing Amazon pricing to retail, Amazon is a bargain.)

I would highly recommend this to any friend as an affordable case to give protection from every day bumps, nicks, scratches, and low-height droppage of your iPhone device. Like any case shown here, don't expect it to save your iPhone from a 2 story drop onto pavement...

Hope this helps. Great job, Speck!
++ Also recommending the ifrogz cases VERY highly.

Within a day of receiving this case I knew I hated it. It seems to protect the phone just fine from drops and what not, but there are some serious issues I have with this case. Please note that I suspect that many of the things I hate about this case are probably not unique to this case but rather are a problem with all silicone cases.

The Bad:

1. If you are going to buy this case you better make sure your pockets are completely lint free. This thing is a lint/dust/dirt magnet! Everything sticks to it and makes it look filthy.

2. Its pretty hard to get out of your pocket thanks to its sticky texture. Women will likely have better luck if they are using a purse.

3. The case is very bulky, killing the sleek awesomeness of the iphone.

4. The headphone opening is way too small. It works great with the Apple ear buds but the cord I use to hook it to my car stereo has a connector that will not fit into this opening. Solution is to either take it out of its case or buy a new cable. I opted to take it out of the case.

5. Although the silicone seems to be great at protecting the phone from serious drops, the flexible nature of the material allows all sorts of junk to get between the iphone and the case. This causes scratches. All over the phone. I'm not some hipster who needs to have the nicest looking iphone around but this is absurd! The silver outline of the phone is very clearly scratched all the way around and the back has been beat to hell. This seems to go contrary to the idea of a protective case!

The Good:

1. Seems to protect the phone against drops. Of course since I haven't dropped it I can't say if thats true or not.

2. The sticky texture that makes it hard to get out of your pocket also makes it hard to drop.

The I'm not sure if this is good or bad:

1. The case makes the iphone look like a hand grenade.

Overall, I've decided that its the type of case that is flawed not necessarily this case. I'll be avoiding silicone like the plague. I suspect this isn't a bad silicone case its just that I wouldn't like any silicone case period.

Good:

This case is so thick and rubbery that you can drop it (with an iPhone) on the floor and it will bounce. In terms of protecting your iPhone, you probably won't find a better product.

With this case, your iPhone will never slip out of your pocket (this is also a negative).

All of this at a great price.

Bad:

This case doesn't look very good unless you like holding something that looks like a grenade.

It is really hard to pull your iPhone out of your pocket with this case (this is also a positive).

The case's grooves are a lint and dust magnet, though you won't really notice if you get one in black.

This case makes your iPhone a lot thicker.

Some head phone jacks will no longer fit into your iPhone.

I purchased this case right after I dropped my iPhone3G. This case resolve the issue where the iPhone lack sufficient grip and gets smeared all over from the slightest touch. The case fits perfectly and allow excellent access the touchscreen, headphone jacks, power/sleep button, home button, and the silent on/off switch on the side. The material is soft and provides adequate grip and cushion for the average bumps the phone might experience.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants a handy case that does not clip to their belts. I am still happy and I have had this case for several weeks now.

Being a noob, I bought this at the Apple Store and spent a lot more than if I had bought it on Amazon.
Still, a most excellent product. Fits effortlessly over the phone. Does not interfere with the phones buttons or touch screen. The hole for ear buds plug is snug, but not annoying.
The real reason I bought the Huckleberry Purple color is to help me locate my phone quickly in the depths of my pocketbook. It works great like that.
The rubbery feel does not allow the phone to slip smoothly into my pockets, so on those occasions I don't want to carry a pocketbook I slip the case off, shove the phone into my pocket, and pray to God I don't drop my cell phone.
Highly recommend.

This is my 6th style of Speck rubber case. I have them on everthing Apple; from video iPods to second generation iTouchs. All the others were a great fit. Very snug and very much a second skin. In fact, the one for the second generation iTouch was so good, I ordered the 3GS version for my iPhone 3GS without hesitation. I loved the feel and tightness it had on the device.

In a nutshell, it doesn't really fit the iPhone 3GS. It's loose. Too loose. Nothing like any of the other Speck cases at all. It doesn't have that body glove feeling. Tried out a few more at the local Fry's and they were the same. The box says good for the 3G and 3GS but I'm not sure if the 3G is a little bigger and hence the poor fit on the 3GS. If they are the same size I guess it doesnt fit either. Tried several other rubber cases from different manufacturers and they too were loose.

So, I'm using the iFrogz case. Fits the phone like a glove. Don't like the bulge on the back but it's the best so far.

So for video iPods and iTouchs, Speck is king. For iPhone 3Gs they are jesters.

About as thin as can be and still work to protect in case of a drop. Others are stronger but also thicker. As with most things in life, there is a trade off. My wife likes it because it still easily fits in her pocketbook. A thicker version would not.

First, the pros! I've been using this case for about 2 months now and I originally made the decision to purchase it based on several factors. I wanted a case that was going to offer as much coverage as possible. There doesn't seem to be another iPhone case on the market that does the job quite as well as the Pixel Skin. Having kids and pets and just general craziness on a daily basis, I hugely appreciate that all of the buttons on the phone are completely covered yet still very accessible. I even feel that the buttons are easier to push with this case in place as you don't have to push as hard to get a response. It was very important to me that the buttons be protected from gunk build up from little hands, being in pockets, etc and I'm very pleased that this gives me that security 100%. This is the only case I've seen (excluding the very expensive Otterbox) that covers the home button. Love it! I have dropped my phone twice and it is just fine, in large part due to this case, I'm sure. It has a very nice tactile grip and I can comfortably hold it in one hand and text, access calendar, shopping list, etc without fear of it slipping out of my hand.

And now the cons. I have a kind of love/hate relationship with the texture. While it is soft and grippy and durable, it is also a total lint magnet, but the great thing about that is the case is extremely easy to remove and a quick rinse in the sink (and thorough dry after, of course!) is enough to get it clean again. But be prepared, if it's kept in a pocket a lot and especially if you have pets, it will attract lots of little bits of yuck. It also can be a bit of a nuisance to pull out of a pocket, especially if you wear more fitted pants like I do. The good side to that, however, is that it is less likely to fall out of your pocket! So, like I said, it's a love/hate thing. ;) The only other minor issue I have with this case is it's bulk. It does add significant bulk to the case but it is justified. You are getting much more shock absorption from this case than you would with a hard slim line case. So while it's not the prettiest case in the world, in my opinion, it is definitely some of the best protection for your iPhone available, and at a great price to boot.

If you're going for pure looks, want less bulk and aren't as concerned about drops/kids/pets, you would probably be happier with a slider case such as the ones from Casemate.

The Pixel Skin fits perfectly. It is not so tight that it's difficult to remove nor is it too loose. All of the access points are readily available and it fits well in my hand. I dropped my iphone two days after I got my Pixel Skin and it sustained no damage at all. I also purchased a leather holster and the Pixel Skin slides in just fine.