Speck PixelSkin HD iPhone 4 Case Review

This is a very good case. It doesn't offer the most elaborate styling, but it provides good all-around protection and an appealing price. Recommended for iPhone 4 users seeking a basic case to protect their phone and avoid the iPhone 4 antenna problems.

For more than any other previous iPhone, a case is a necessity for the iPhone 4. This is due to the now-notorious iPhone 4 antenna problems, which can be resolved by putting a case between the phone's antenna and your fingers or hand. Bad news for Apple, but it must be music to accessory-makers' ears.

Speck is certainly dancing to that tune, with a number of new iPhone 4 cases, including the PixelSkin HD (I'm not sure what the "HD" refers to in the name. Speck touts the case as having 18 DPI resolution, but I think they're just being playful).

The PixelSkin HD is a fairly basic iPhone 4 case - but there's nothing wrong with that. It does what it sets out to do very well. It protects the iPhone 4 on all sides except the screen, while also providing access to the phone's buttons and ports. It also solves the problem presented by both sides of the case being glass and thus hard to distinguish in pockets or bags - now one side is covered.

The molded polyurethane of the case is flexible and lightweight - it adds just 2 ounces to the weight of the phone.

As a result of not being too thick or heavy, the case doesn't offer a tremendous amount of padding. This means that it may not protect the phone as much as some cases during drops, though it will be better than having no case at all.

Perhaps my biggest criticism of the case is its lack of styling; it's just not that exciting to look at. Speck touts the case as having a back that looks pixelated and that catches light at some angles. This is true, I suppose, but it doesn't add much visual excitement. The look of the case isn't as important as the protection it offers - and, with the iPhone 4, the help it offers with the antenna problems - but it's a drawback here in my view.

Still, this is a good case at a good price. Check it out.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.