iPhone SE (2020) Are 'Phone Skins' any good for iPhone protection?

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi All,



I'm trying to think outside the box - on how to make my SE2020 less bulky in the hand.

With the case off, the phone feel so much more smaller and secure in the hand. However, what other kind of protection can I put on it for scratches and fall protection etc., if not a case?


How about skins, like the website below? Are good skins worthwhile, and actually help prevent shattering of glass etc?

https://www.gadgetshieldz.com/iphone-13-mini-skins-wraps-covers.html


Hope you can advise
Martin

 

[JPack]

They don’t offer protection at all. If you want any real drop protection, you need at least a dual layer case.

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi J,


Damn! I had to ask.


What about leather cases?


1. Do they offer any drop protection at all?

2. Would they be less bulky than plastic cases?
- I'm hoping the apple ones are tight wrap fits
- E.g. Less bulky than my slim line Unbreakable one - Now that case has saved my SE2020 a few times, including 1 time on a concrete hip pocket drop!


Hope you can advise

Martin

 

[Shadowbech]

Only the case can protect the phone from drops (not all but in most cases, most case should. Phone skins like the one you linked doesn't protect the phone much from any drops. It's just for aesthetic imo. It definitely prevents the phone from getting scratches but not drops.

If you want something simplistic, maybe go with this one: https://buypeel.com/products/super-thin-iphone-8-case

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Hi J,


Damn! I had to ask.


What about leather cases?


1. Do they offer any drop protection at all?

2. Would they be less bulky than plastic cases?
- I'm hoping the apple ones are tight wrap fits
- E.g. Less bulky than my slim line Unbreakable one - Now that case has saved my SE2020 a few times, including 1 time on a concrete hip pocket drop!


Hope you can advise

Martin

I'm a fan of the Apple leather cases. They are a bit less bulky than the comparable silicone cases and definitely feel different in the hand than any kind of plastic. Personally, I haven't required greater protection (all phones have survived all drops), but that's probably as much a matter of chance as anything - whether it lands screen-down onto a hard protruding object vs. screen down onto a flat surface (the edges keep the display from contacting the surface), or screen-up, or on edge...

My new 13 Pro has the Apple clear case, because I didn't like this year's color choices in leather and silicone. Figured I'd try something that shows the color of the phone rather than hides it. It certainly feels different to the touch and maybe it's more protective (thicker, resilient plastic). It's definitely a bit bulkier.

 

[Motionblurrr]

They only offer protection in terms of everyday wear like scratches. But that's all.

Personally, as much as I do enjoy cases sometime (like changing up the look). Cases are just banking on a future incident like dropping your iPhone on the floor. It's not even a certainty that you're going to drop your phone.

If you don't drop your phone at all or rarely--I'd go without a case and just enjoy the scratches After the first scratch, you won't care anymore. These phones are durable.

 

[JPack]

Leather cases offer good scratch protection. I would rank them similar to silicone or TPU cases and they don't offer good drop protection.

If you prefer a thin case, then the compromise will be drop protection.

Like a bike or motorcycle helmet, the best cases have two layers. A hard outer layer to spread the force and a soft inner layer to decelerate.

 

[Abazigal]

From past experience, skins don't really offer any protection. At best, they give a little more friction when holding on to the phone, though dirt has an annoying habit of getting stuck around the edges. Also, peeling the skin off my then 6S+ also resulted in some of the paint on the back coming off (shouldn't be an issue with the glass back of the SE).

Either get a cheap rubber case to protect against daily wear and tear, or just use it naked and resign yourself to the eventuality that it will get little scuffs and scratches (mostly around the protruding camera housing).

 

[Marty_Macfly]

I'm a fan of the Apple leather cases. They are a bit less bulky than the comparable silicone cases and definitely feel different in the hand than any kind of plastic. Personally, I haven't required greater protection (all phones have survived all drops), but that's probably as much a matter of chance as anything - whether it lands screen-down onto a hard protruding object vs. screen down onto a flat surface (the edges keep the display from contacting the surface), or screen-up, or on edge...

My new 13 Pro has the Apple clear case, because I didn't like this year's color choices in leather and silicone. Figured I'd try something that shows the color of the phone rather than hides it. It certainly feels different to the touch and maybe it's more protective (thicker, resilient plastic). It's definitely a bit bulkier.

From past experience, skins don't really offer any protection. At best, they give a little more friction when holding on to the phone, though dirt has an annoying habit of getting stuck around the edges. Also, peeling the skin off my then 6S+ also resulted in some of the paint on the back coming off (shouldn't be an issue with the glass back of the SE).

Either get a cheap rubber case to protect against daily wear and tear, or just use it naked and resign yourself to the eventuality that it will get little scuffs and scratches (mostly around the protruding camera housing).

Good advice, thanks!

Camera housing – I was wondering about that. The phone does not sit flat on its back.

Does it actually affect the quality of photos taken, if the edges around the camera bump etc. gets scuffed?

 

[Abazigal]

Good advice, thanks!

Camera housing – I was wondering about that. The phone does not sit flat on its back.

Does it actually affect the quality of photos taken, if the edges around the camera bump etc. gets scuffed?

No effect from what I can see. Here’s the back of my 8+ after 4 years (currently using a 13 pro max). Glass back is generally fine.

 

[RayB4]

I have owned iPhones for a number of years and I would NEVER go without a case. No matter how careful you are an accident will only take a split second and you could wave goodbye to a lot of your hard earned money. I currently have a SE2020 Product Red. I have it in a TORRAS case which adds very little bulk to the phone. I did drop it and the case cracked but the phone was unharmed. I replaced the case which worked out a lot cheaper than replacing the phone.

 

[saber32au]

A decent skin (coupled with a screen protector) provides good scratch/scuff protection. If you’re looking at drop protection use a thicker case.

 

[Ruggy]

The silicone ones seem to do a really good job.
I don't think any cases will protect a phone fully and there are plenty of tests on Youtube you can browse to check that out, but the silicone ones which stick up above the screen by about 2mm are pretty good.
The biggest problem is if the phone falls flat on the face and especially if you are unlucky and have a little stone there or similar, and it will save you there. Also corner drops are pretty good.
They other thing is they are fairly grippy so you hold onto them well and they don't slip off surfaces. They are a bit slippy when new but a rub with something like flour paper or similar is just enough to rough them up a bit.
I also really recommend the Otterbox Symettry. I think Otterbox in general are pretty good.
The thing I really don't like about them is the buttons are stiff and take getting used to but we have two kids' phones in them and I have seen one dropped a whole flight of stairs onto flag stones and no damage. So many drops in them I can really vouch for them apart from that button issue.