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When it comes to the iPhone, there are two types of cases: actually, that’s not at all true. There’s a ridiculous number of types of cases. And since I’m not about to base an entire roundup review on a faulty premise, we’ll just pretend I never said that and get right to the review. Here, we’re looking solely at thin cases for the iPhone 3G and its “S"ister.

GelaSkins

May as well start with the thinnest of the lot, right? That would be GelaSkins ($14.95), which offer “Protection with style. Not bulk,” as they’re fond of telling you. As is implied with the word “skins,” you’re just getting an adhesive print that covers the back and sides of your iPhone (although not the corners). Obviously, there are holes for the camera, dock port, etc., and everything is easily reachable. The skin is slightly awkward to apply, but it can be repositioned until you get it right. And when you’re done with it, removing the skin leaves behind no residue.

There’s little else to speak of here. Obviously, there’s nothing included to attach the iPhone to your person, but the GelaSkin is so thin that it’ll likely work with anything else you may have. The protection is good for scratches and scuffs, but won’t help if you drop your iPhone. And annoyingly, screen protection is not included; you’ll have to buy that separately (two for $7.95). But, if you’re more about style than protection, GelaSkins are absolutely fantastic. There are around 200 designs from which to choose, most of which promote indie and classic artists. Downloadable wallpaper will complement the look, making your iPhone the coolest it’s ever going to be.

Incipio Feather

Staying thin but getting a bit more solid, we move on to the Incipio Feather ($19.99). For a hard shell case, it cames in at an amazingly tiny thickness of less than 1mm. Applying the Feather is a simple matter of snapping it over the back of your iPhone, and although it’s easy to get on and off, it stays securely in place when needed. Protection is offered all the way up to the chrome framing of the iPhone front, with perfectly cut openings on the top and for the camera. The bottom is wide open for the dock, speaker and microphone.

As with most thin cases, no lanyard or belt clip is offered. But although the Feather is too wide for most attachments and accessories, I found it simple enough to slide into of my leather belt clips. Regarding design, the Feather is as basic as it comes; solid color all the way around, with the Incipio logo towards the bottom. But there are currently over 15 colors from which to choose, most of which have a muted, somewhat masculine tone to them. When selecting, though, keep in mind that dirt and scuff marks will show more easily on the brighter colors. A screen protector and cleaning cloth are included with your purchase. And as an added bonus, the case comes with a small plastic display stand that will hold your iPhone in place (horizontal orientation only). The whole package is an exceptional value.

Incipio dermaShot

Sticking with Incipio, the company also offers the very thin silicone-based dermaShot ($19.99). As with the Feather, you get the cleaning cloth, screen protector and display stand. You don’t get nearly as many colors (only eight are offered here), but you do get the added protection of silicone. The dermaShot wraps all the way around to the front of your iPhone, so even the chrome is protected. The edges bevel nicely down to the screen for easy typing, and the silicone is comfortable to grip.

The camera, silencer switch, headphone port and dock port are open for easy access, while the power and volume buttons are fully covered (but marked off). The fit is a little bit loose at the top and bottom where the silicone is just too thin to really lay flat, but there’s never a fear of it peeling back and tearing off. Also, the smooth grip can be slippery. The silicone padding of the corners and edges offers a bit of extra cushion from drops, but not enough to make you feel secure. It’s a decent package, but if you’re going to go silicone, you may as well look to a thicker model to really reap the benefits.

Lorem VOi!

We end with the Lorem VOi! ($24.95), which is about as thick as you’re going to want to go when looking for a thin case. This one actually comes in two pieces; you place your iPhone in the back casing (which includes a nice, velvety pad to prevent scratches), then snap the lip (or Axent Ring™) overtop of it. It’s quite simple to do, although getting your iPhone back out is more of a chore; you’ll need a coin to pry the ring off the bottom casing. The VOi! comes in four colors, all with a more feminine touch (here, black is “obsidian” and pink is “sudden blush,” for example). Buy two or more cases, and you can mix your colors. This would be more useful if more than four colors were offered (more are on the way), but as it stands, you’re guaranteed a decent match.

The hard shell offer strong protection from scratches and scuffs all the way around. The openings are well placed, but the thicker design does make it a bit awkward to get to the power, volume and silencer controls. One thing included with the VOi! that no other case here has is a removable lanyard. It’s quite small, so it doesn’t take up much space (good for attaching to your wrist, but definitely not around your neck). When removed, you’d barely even know the option is there. Not included, though? A screen protector. You’ll have to pay an extra $5.95 for that. Too bad, as the VOi! is otherwise a solid entry.

Conclusion

There are no bad cases in this roundup. Although you’ll be sacrificing a screen protector with some choices and getting better overall protection with others, it’s the design that really distinguishes our entrants. I love the options and accessory compatibility of the GelaSkins, and preferred the protection and lanyard included with the VOi! Ultimately, though, the best deal here is the Incipio Feather. It’s very easy to use, the colors are smart, and the included screen protector and stand make for nice bonuses. That’s pretty cool, considering all you wanted was something thin.

• GelaSkins - 4/5
• Incipio Feather - 5/5
• Incipio dermaShot - 3/5
• Lorem VOi! - 4/5

See more iPhone 3G/S slim case reviews.