The iSkin Vibe and iSkin Solo aren’t the same sizes and they don’t fit the same devices, but for all intents and purposes I think they’re essentially the same product, so I’ve put both skins into one review. They’re both red gel skins with cut-outs in the appropriate areas, and they both come with a thin screen protector to round out the complete scratch protection package. This wasn’t my first time with an iSkin product – the last iPhone 2G Fuze case I reviewed was rather disappointing – but the gorgeous colours on the Vibe and Solo were intriguing enough to give the brand a second shot.

Installation
Fitting (or squishing?) the skins onto the appropriate devices was very easy. I started by tucking the top of the device in and then squeezing the bottom of the skin until it literally clicked into place. Both skins aligned perfectly during the first installation, and I never felt like I was going to accidentally rip or tear them during fitting (unlike some other silicone skins I’ve installed).

Fit and Protection — iSkin Vibe for Blackberry Bold
The fit on the Vibe is nearly perfect, with the button and port support being the only downside. The iSkin’s rim stops short of the RIM keyboard, and typing remained as pleasurable as ever. The faux leather back of the Bold is mimicked by a harder and rougher gel that covers the rear — it’s still fake, but it feels just as good as a naked BB Bold. If you install the screen protector (I held off, as this Bold has been doing quite alright with its older protector — and it’s good to have an extra), then the keyboard will be the only exposed portion on the whole of the device. The skin is perfect for scratch protection and doesn’t have a mark on it after three weeks of usage. I wouldn’t really count on it for a fall, but that’s for skins in general.

As I mentioned earlier, every side button and port is covered by the gel skin. Unfortunately, I found the covered buttons made device navigation a much clumsier affair. The volume buttons were difficult to press without accidentally triggering the left convenience key, and the ringer switch along the top was basically impossible to reach. I’d also prefer cut-outs for the earphone jack and mini-USB port, but that’s really more a matter of taste than anything else.

Fit and Protection — iSkin Solo for 3G/S
Of the two skins I received from iSkin for review, I think the one for the iPhone is definitely superior. The cut-outs for the ringer switch, dock, and speakers are just perfect, and the power and volume buttons are still easily accessible, despite being covered by gel. I found there was ample room for typing in both portrait and landscape modes, and the Solo was (ironically) the perfect companion for gaming.

Solo on a black iPhone 3GS

The included screen protector is appreciated, but I found the quality a little under par. I remember the iSkin Fuze for the 2G coming with a great matte screen protector that was ridiculously easy to install, so it’s too bad the Solo’s is just a thin and flimsy film. In terms of overall protection, the Solo does for the iPhone what the Vibe does for the Bold – it’s a complete scratch absorber that happens to come in an awesome package. There isn’t any “protection” for the ports and speakers, but I’ve never been very worried about those areas anyway. Dust can always be blown away.

Solo on white iPhone 3GS

Colour
There are already plenty of silicone cases available for cellphones, so I’d say the main draw of the Vibe and Solo would be colour (spelled with a ‘u’, since iSkin is based out of Toronto!). Simply put, the available colours are gorgeous, and they bring a new dimension of cool to the devices. Both skins looks amazing from the front — bringing a sometimes neon, sometimes Cylon red to the devices they cover. The Bold still looked great from the back, but I found the bright white/red appearance of my iPhone 3GS’ back a little disappointing. I think there’s just a bit too much contrast between the cool, dark red front and the candy shell red on the sides and rear.

Conclusion
I enjoyed my time with the Vibe and Solo, although I wish iSkin would just pick one name or another. It’s confusing when you name your gel skins differently for different devices, and I think it would be a lot easier for customers to identify things if they just chose one brand and differentiated the variations by model (Solo for Bold, Solo for iPhone, etc.).

There isn’t really a hierarchy for phone protection,  but I do see gel skins as the most affordable solution, and with that in mind I think the Vibe and Solo are priced a little out of their range. In my experience, the average price for most decent hard cases is $35, so I’d expect skins to start at around $20-25 instead of iSkin’s $30 asking price.

Although the Vibe could still use some work in terms of button accessibility, both skins are still high quality. Both the Vibe and Solo are easy to install (and take off again), and they add light, stylish protection to your device. However, at $30 each, I’d probably invest my money in a hard case or wait for a sale.

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You can pick up your own Vibe for the Blackberry Bold or iSkin Solo for iPhone at the iSkin Store. Each skin costs $30, although the Solo also has an FX version that costs $3 more with a glossier finish and a mirrored screen protector.

Related posts:

1. Review: iSkin Fuze case + revo clip for iPhone
2. Review: Otterbox Blackberry Bold Defender Case
3. Review: iSkin ProTouch Classic and FX for MacBooks
4. Giving BlackBerry One More Chance – Bold 9700 Review (Part 1)
5. Review: Richard|Solo 1800 for iPhone 2G/3G