The Cygnett FlexiGel is an affordable case with solid protection

Cygnett’s $15 FlexiGel for iPhone 4/4S strikes a great balance between protection and thickness—in fact, this is the thinnest flexible, skin-style case I’ve found yet. It’s a simple, no-frills TPU-gel case: soft (yet firm) and easy to put on and take off. The Flexigel comes in a translucent pink, purple, or black, leaving the Apple logo clearly visible though the case. It ships with an adhesive-film screen protector, along with a microfiber cloth and a swipe card for removing bubbles when initially placing your screen protector.

Gel skins are generally thicker than hard cases, but often this tradeoff means better protection. The Flexigel adds about as little bulk as possible while still offering decent protection from scratches, as well as drops. The case comes up over the edges of the screen, which creates a bumper to protect your phone if you happen to drop it face-down. That, plus the included screen protector, means that your screen has a good measure of protection.

All ports and buttons are exposed with individual precision cut-outs, except the Sleep/Wake Button, which is covered by a raised, use-through button on the case itself that doesn't affect the button’s performance. The case does not get in the way of any of the phone’s functionality—actually, the case’s texture gave me a little bit of extra grip while using my iPhone. Whether or not the iPhone will fit into your dock-cradle accessories wearing the Flexigel depends on the accessory’s design, but if it doesn’t fit, taking the Flexigel on and off isn’t difficult at all.

I was extremely pleased with this case's combination of sleek form factor and excellent protection. While I find the available colors to be nice, I’d love to see additional colors and patterns. Priced lower than many of its competitors, Cygnett’s Flexigel is an all-around great buy.

[Karen Freeman is a writer, teacher, and Apple fan. Follow her on Twitter @karensfreeman.]