Mobile skin vs phone case: which one do you need?
Updated
Short answer: Choose a skin if you want your phone to stay slim and look different while staying free of scratches. Choose a case if you drop your phone often. Many people use a thin clear case over a skin to get both.
What a skin does
A mobile skin is a thin vinyl sheet, about 0.2 mm, cut to the exact shape of your phone's back. It covers the back panel (and the side edges, if you pick that option) so daily scratches, scuffs and finger marks land on the vinyl, not on the phone.
Because it adds almost no thickness, your phone feels the same in the hand and still fits in your pocket, on wireless chargers and in car mounts.
What a case does
A case is a rigid or rubber shell. Its job is to absorb the shock when the phone falls. A good case protects corners and the screen edge in a drop, which a skin cannot do.
The trade-off is bulk. Most cases add a few millimetres all round and hide the phone's design.
Side by side
Thickness: a skin is about 0.2 mm; a case usually adds 1–3 mm.
Scratches and scuffs: both protect the back.
Drops: only a case helps.
Look: a skin changes the design completely; a case mostly covers it.
Changing it: a skin peels off without residue, so you can switch designs whenever you want.
Can you use both?
Yes. A skin under a thin clear case gives you the design and drop protection together. Let the skin settle for a day before you put a tight case over it, so the adhesive reaches full strength.
Quick questions
Does a skin protect my phone if it falls?
No. A skin protects against scratches and scuffs, not drops. Use a case as well if you drop your phone often.
Can I put a case over a skin?
Yes. Wait about 24 hours after applying the skin before you put a tight case on, so the adhesive settles.