FlexiShield Skins are proving to be one of the most popular types of protective case for mobile phones, but what exactly are they? Are they silicone cases, crystal cases or something else completely? To answer this, I’ve put this quick guide together to explain what they are, how they work and why you’d want one.
Flexishield Skin and Silicone Case for the HTC Hero
Although FlexiShield Skins and Silicone Cases are quite similar, there are a number of differences between them.
FlexiShield Skins are made from a tough, flexible gel, where as Silicone Cases are made from a softer, more flexible Silicone. Both of these skins are very different to Crystal Cases, which normally break when your phone is dropped FlexiShield Skins and Silicone cases will absorb impact without damaging the case or your phone. It’s worth noting here, that crystal cases are designed to break on impact – it’s not a design fault – after all, what would you prefer to break; a £5 case or your phone?
Both cases are roughly 1mm thick, but each case will deal with damage differently. Silicone cases will protect your phone against scratches while your phone is in your pocket, minor liquid spills and small distance drops, where as the FlexiShield Skins are tougher and provide better protection to against impact damage.
HTC Hero in a Silicone Case on the left and a FlexiShield Skin on the right
As you will probably notice from the picture above, Silicone Cases cover more than just the back and sides of the phone – most will normally offer some kind of protection for your phone’s keypad, although they can become loose over time and need replacing where as FlexiShield Skins will only protect the back cover, corners and edges of your phone but have a much tighter fit and won’t loosen over time.
If you want to look after the screen on your phone you’ll need to purchase a screen protector separately as neither Silicone Cases or FlexiShield Skins will cover your screen.