Archive for category iPhone Case Reviews

Review: Case-Mate ‘I Make My Case’ iPhone Case

Mar 15

Posted by Tanya Menoni in iPhone Accessories, iPhone Case Reviews, iPhone Cases | No Comments

Case-Mate recently launched a nifty new site called ‘I Make My Case‘ that allows you to design your own iPhone case. The interactive website includes art from 10 designers and artists, including the likes of Chuck Anderson, Hannah Stouffer, Anthony Yankovic, and Shadow Chen. The premise of the site is simple—you start with a blank case, add a background color, and experiment with different graphics until you’re satisfied with the design. The design-your-own cases are available for the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

The website is very easy to use, even if it is a bit slow to load at first. I selected the artist Shadow Chen and got to work. The site displays a plain white iPhone case with a subtle Case-Mate logo at the bottom. There are eight background colors to choose from, along with a variety of loops, swirls, and other designs to play with. The undo button comes in very handy if you make a mistake.

All told, it didn’t take more than a few minutes to create a design I was happy with. You can save multiple designs and share them via Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr. Check-out was fast and easy, and since the cases are a bit on the pricey side ($39.99 each), I was glad to see that shipping is free. The case was sent via USPS First Class Mail, and it arrived approximately 10 days after I ordered it.

The Case-Mate case comes in a snazzy white box, which is much better packaging than most iPhone cases. It also comes with a soft cleaning cloth and a screen protector.


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Review: Artwizz SeeJacket Crystal Case for iPhone 3G & 3GS

Feb 14

Posted by Alan in iPhone Accessories, iPhone Case Reviews, iPhone Cases | No Comments

The Artwizz SeeJacket Crystal ($25) case is designed to be a full-protection solution for the iPhone, covering both front and back. While we liked the solid feel and 360-degree protection of the case, we’ve noticed a wear-and-tear problem with clear plastic cases in general, and with the SeeJacket specifically, we had problems with decreased touch sensitivity. That and a few other flaws prevent us giving the case a recommendation.

Right off the bat, we had problems with the ClearJacket. The case is composed of two pieces that snap together around the iPhone. It took us a good 15 minutes to get the tiny grooves that ultimately hold the case together to snap into place. It almost seemed as if the case was made too small. The good news is that once the grooves are snapped into place, the case holds together well—we had no fear of it accidentally coming apart during normal use.

Brand new, the case looks nice on the iPhone. At least from the back. The clear plastic allows for the Apple logo and lettering to show, and when looked at from afar, it may appear as if there’s no case at all. The front of the case is a combination of black plastic frame that covers the iPhone’s own black bezel and a clear plastic casing that covers the iPhone’s screen. Also on the front are two visually odd elements: an “L” shaped cutout for the iPhone’s light sensor as well as a thin disc of plastic that goes over the home button (a complaint about which we’ll get to later).

This is the second clear plastic case we’ve reviewed, and we’re noticing a bad trend. The cases show dirt and scratches too well. After using the ClearJacket for only two weeks, it looked like we had been using it for two years instead. The case was covered with scratches and gouges that were made highly visible thanks to the clear plastic. Likewise, dirt and grime was way too visible. One advantage of opaque rubber silicone cases have over hard plastic cases is that silicone doesn’t display such scratches and darker cases can hide dirt.

But the SeeJacket’s killer flaw is that we found it decreases the iPhone’s touch sensitivity. Right off the bat, the iPhone frequently did not recognize our finger touches. We had to be much more deliberate in our touches to get consistent recognition. Overtime, we got used to touching the iPhone in a certain way so that it recognized our fingers, however, we also found that the extreme corners of the screen became dead spots—a big problem when typing in landscape.


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Review: Speck ToughSkin Case for iPhone 3G/3GS

Dec 11

Posted by Alan in iPhone 3G Case Reviews, iPhone 3G Cases, iPhone 3GS Case Reviews, iPhone 3GS Cases, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Case Reviews, iPhone Cases | No Comments

Speck ToughSkin for iPhone 3G and 3GS

The Speck ToughSkin Case ($19) is a silicone rubber case for the iPhone 3G/3GS that offers some of the best protection we’ve seen in an iPhone case. It also provides superior grip thanks to its thick ridges. But it’s not without some tradeoffs. Where the case adds in the areas of protection and grip, it substracts in the areas of slimness and glossiness. Still, if you’re looking for a rugged protective iPhone case, the Speck ToughSkin is one of the better iPhone cases available.

Speck ToughSkin Case in Dock

The Tough Skin is made out of silicone rubber, our favorite material for protection, and is only available in black. Underneath the thick rubber outer casing is a thin, flat plastic frame that fits around the iPhone’s screen, serving as a kind of skeletal structure for the outer casing.
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Review: Marware Accent Case for the iPhone

Dec 4

Posted by Tanya Menoni in iPhone Accessories, iPhone Case Reviews, iPhone Cases | No Comments

marware2

The Marware Accent Case ($19) is a stylish, flip-top iPhone case compatible with the 3G and 3GS. The case is a good choice for those who need more protection than the typical plastic case provides, but a few annoyances keep it from being a great everyday case.

Marware1

The case is constructed from glossy patent leather, and it comes in eight colors including yellow, white, red, pink, orange, blue, black, and brown. I tested the yellow case, which has a soft, light green material on the inside. Other colors have different coordinating colors on the inside. The flip top is secured with two small pieces of velcro, and the case provides access to all ports and buttons.
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Case Review: SwitchEasy RebelSerpent for iPhone 3G & 3GS

Nov 9

Posted by Alan in Cases, iPhone 3G Case Reviews, iPhone 3G Cases, iPhone 3GS Case Reviews, iPhone 3GS Cases, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Case Reviews, iPhone Cases | No Comments

SwitchEasy RebelSerpent Case for iPhone 3G 3GS

SwitchEasy has quickly become a premiere case maker for the iPhone, and we found their RebelSerpent ($27) for the iPhone 3G/3GS to be another successful design for the company. It’s a two-part case made from a combination of a “soft” inner case that snugly fits around the iPhone with a hard polycarbonate spine that adds protection. It’s a rugged case that covers up Apple’s gloss-and-chrome design and replaces it with a monochromatic, masculine look. Overall, the case feels solid and well put together, if a bit heavy, in the hand. It’s a highly functional case with a few minor flaws, and we give it a rating of 8.8 out of 10, highly recommended.

SwitchEasy Rebel Serpent Case and Accessories

The RebelSerpent is composed of two separate pieces. The inner part is a a soft and snug-fitting plastic that SwitchEasy labels Adaptive Dynamic Soft Polymer (ADSP). Don’t be fooled by the fancy marketing term though, it’s really just a semi-soft but cheap-feeling plastic. This soft inner lining tightly grips the iPhone, preventing the case from slipping off while taking it out of pockets. The soft lining also prevents the hard part of the case from scratching the iPhone, a common problem with hard-shell cases.
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Review: Griffin Reveal Case for iPhone 3G & 3GS

Oct 9

Posted by Alan in iPhone 3G Case Reviews, iPhone 3G Cases, iPhone 3GS Case Reviews, iPhone 3GS Cases, iPhone Case Reviews, iPhone Cases | 1 Comment

Griffin Reveal Case

The Griffin Reveal ($25) is a hard plastic case for the iPhone 3G and 3GS that features a clear plastic back and a solid-colored rim. It’s an extremely thin and lightweight case that maintains the original look and feel of the iPhone more than any case we’ve seen so far. However, huge flaws in how the case handles the iPhone’s sleep and volume buttons as well as durability issues prevent us from recommending it. We rate it a 5.5 out of 10, not recommended.

Griffin Reveal On iPhone 3GS

Right out of the box, the Reveal did not start off on a good note. There was a hairline crack near the case’s camera hole as well as scratches on the clear plastic. The case didn’t appear to be repackaged, so we’re a bit at a loss what caused it to be shipped in this condition.
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Review of Case-Mate Vroom iPhone Case for 3G/3GS

Sep 19

Posted by Alan in iPhone 3G Case Reviews, iPhone 3G Cases, iPhone 3GS Case Reviews, iPhone 3GS Cases, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Case Reviews, iPhone Cases | No Comments

Case-Mate Vroom iPhone Case for 3G and 3GS

At first glance, the Case-Mate Vroom ($10) for the iPhone 3G/3GS impressed us with its good-looking tire-tread pattern. The case’s rugged style completely covers the glossy exterior of the iPhone and should appeal to those going for a more subdued look. But once we actually put the case on the iPhone, we were extremely disappointed, as it gets most of the details wrong. The case’s biggest problem is that it fits much too loosely, causing it to slip off constantly. And the way it covers up the iPhone’s sleep and volume buttons is handled poorly. Overall, we rate the Case-Mate Vroom a below average score of 5.0 out of 10, not recommended.

In step with the car-tire theme, the Vroom is made of rubber, although not the same kind used on cars. The soft silicone rubber has an average thickness and offers moderate protection from drops. The tire-tread pattern covers the back of the case and moderately improves grip on the iPhone. It’s actually somewhat disappointing in the area of slippage–we’d expect more from a textured surface. Perhaps treads are for tires, and oily hands require a different type on non-slip texture.

Case-Mate Vroom Headphone Port

Most disappointing about the Vroom is its loose fit. Testing the case on my iPhone for a week, the iPhone partially slipped out of it several times a day. The corners and sides of the case would constantly peel back when taking it out of my pocket or even when handling it at an odd angle. We expected so much more from a veteran company like Case-Mate.

Another problem area is how the Vroom handles the sleep and volume buttons. Like most silicone cases, the Vroom completely covers up the buttons. It tries to simulate them with raised pieces of rubber. However, the Vroom’s buttons are so shallow as to be barely discernible by touch. They are also very awkward to press. Due to looseness of the case, pressing the buttons at awkward angles caused part of the case to slip off. This happened several times in my real-world testing. These buttons are very important to everyday iPhone use, and getting them wrong is a huge no-no.

Case-Mate Vroom iPhone 3G 3GS case Top View

In terms of the iPhone’s ports (headphone and docking), the case does a good job of leaving plenty of room for the cords to attach to the iPhone. The area around the ringer switch is a bit narrow, making the switch awkward to flip on and off for anyone with short fingernails. This a common problem we’ve seen on the majority of cases we’ve reviewed, and we’re waiting for someone to finally get it right.

The case comes with a few extras: two clear screen protectors as well as a small square cleaning cloth. The tiny tiny cleaning cloth seems to be a fad among case makers that we find annoying, as it’s almost to small to use. We generally do not recommend screen protectors, but if you do use them, it’s nice that the Vroom comes with two.

Case-Mate Vroom iPhone 3G 3GS Case

Conclusion

The Case-Mate’s tire tread pattern makes for a good-looking case, but that’s about all it’s got going for it. A loose fit caused the iPhone to slip out out its case several times a day in our real-life testing. It also bungles the handling of the sleep and volume buttons. From a veteran case maker, we’d expect more. We rate the case a 5.0 out of 10, not recommened.

Links:

Official site for Case-Mate Vroom

Amazon.com: Case-Mate Vroom for iPhone 3G/3GS $10

Review of SwitchEasy Colors (iPhone 3G and 3GS Case)

Aug 1

Posted by Alan in iPhone 3G Case Reviews, iPhone 3G Cases, iPhone 3GS Case Reviews, iPhone 3GS Cases, iPhone Case Reviews, iPhone Cases | 2 Comments

With so many poorly made silicone cases out there, it’s nice to come across one with some attention to detail. SwitchEasy Colors ($15) is a silicone case for the iPhone 3G and 3GS available in 10 colors. The case impressed us with its superb, curve-hugging fit and thorough surface coverage. Although not the most stylish case we’ve seen, its overall build quality is excellent–no loose corners, frayed edges from sloppy machine cutting, or dangling rubber threads. Despite a few quibbles with how it handles the home button and ringer switch, we found SwitchEasy Colors to be one of the best all-around cases for the iPhone and rate it a 9.0 out 10, highly recommended.

We found SwitchEasy Colors’ minimalistic form factor very much to our taste. The back of the case is a single color and has a smooth rubber texture. It covers the Apple logo and all of the exposed shiny chrome, taking away the iPhone’s gloss. The case’s smooth texture doesn’t do much to improve the iPhone’s slipperiness, but the soft silicone feels good in the hand.

We loved how the case handled the volume and sleep buttons. Some cases carve out openings around these problematic areas. But the openings are often made too small, making the buttons uncomfortable to use. SwitchEasy Colors takes the better approach of covering the buttons with little raised areas of silicone that simulate buttons. The buttons are very comfortable to use, with no sacrifice in performance.

SwitchEasy Colors for iPhone 3G and 3GS Back 4

The case comes with a few extras. Included are two protective screen shields, a plug for the headphone jack, a plug for the docking port, and a small square cleaning cloth. We didn’t find any of the extras particularly useful, as we don’t recommend using screen shields, the cloth is too small to get much use out of, and the plugs aren’t convenient for everyday usage.

SwitchEasy Colors Case Ringer and Volume

In terms of protection for accidental drops, the SwitchEasy Colors offers moderate shock absorption. It’s not a particularly thick case, but its slim form factor is nice for sliding in and out of pockets. We do like the thick rim that sticks up around the iPhone’s screen that should help prevent the screen from cracking when dropped .

SwitchEasy Colors for iPhone 3G and 3GS Top View 3

We do have two quibbles. The first is the home button. We didn’t like that it’s a different color from the rest of the case, or at least, we’d like the option for the same color. Also, we did not like the feel of the button. Its stiff plastic removes what little tactile feedback there is. While it functions well—meaning the same pressure with your finger gets the same results—there’s a dead feeling to pressing it that is disconcerting.

SwitchEasy Colors Sleep Button and Headphone Port

Our other quibble is a common one with silicone cases: poor access to the ringer switch. The area around the ringer switch is too small and makes it difficult to flip on and off. You must reach with your fingernail, which is uncomfortable. We’re still waiting for a case designer to figure out how to deal with this problem area.

SwitchEasy Colors Color Choices 2

Available in ten colors.

Conclusion

The SwitchEasy Colors case impressed us with its overall quality and attention to detail. The case hugs the curves of the iPhone just right, leaving the iPhone’s distinct shape in place while still offering superb coverage. We prefer silicone cases in general for their convenience (small form factor, easy to put on and remove, dirt resistant), and SwitchEasy Colors is one of the best in class. Despite a few minor quibbles, we found it one of the most well-designed cases we’ve come across and give it a high recommendation with a 9.0 out of 10 rating.

Links:

Official website for SwitchEasy Colors

Amazon.com: SwitchEasy Colors Case for iPhone 3G and 3GS

Review: Speck Fitted Tan Houndstooth Plaid Case for iPhone 3G/3GS

Jul 19

Posted by John Hawkes in iPhone 3G Accessories, iPhone 3G Case Reviews, iPhone 3G Cases, iPhone 3GS Case Reviews, iPhone 3GS Cases, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Case Reviews, iPhone Cases | No Comments

Those looking for a stylish iPhone case might want to check out the Speck Fitted Tan Houndstooth Plaid case ($22), a good-looking two-piece hard shell for the iPhone 3G and 3GS. It’s a snap-together case made of two pieces of hard plastic covered in a nice houndstooth-style fabric. The case is somewhat bulky, yet only offers subpar protection for accidental drops. Overall, the case is more fashion than function. There is one particular design flaw around the iPhone’s sleep button that leads us to dock a few points and give the Speck a rating of 7.8 out of 10, recommended mainly for iPhone fashionistas.

The most striking aspect of the Speck Fitted case is its looks. Covering the hard-shell plastic is a heavy upholstery-like fabric with a fashionable tan houndstooth pattern that goes far in altering the iPhone’s sleek-modern-glossy style. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we found the case to have a general look of quality and sophistication.

The houndstooth fabric covering has the nice benefit of adding texture and grip to the iPhone, helping to prevent drops. A downside is that the fabric is susceptible to absorbing dirt and oils over time, leaving the case likely to wear out faster than silicone and plastic cases.

In terms of size, the case adds about two centimeters of bulk to the iPhone, which really didn’t affect it fitting into my jeans pocket. It is lightweight, so there was no discernible difference in weight.

The case has openings for all the iPhone’s major ports and buttons and is generally well-designed in this area with one major exception: the sleep button. The ridge of the case around the sleep button (probably the second most-used button on the iPhone) is set too close and makes it somewhat uncomfortable to press the button (but still functional).

The case underperforms when it comes to shock absorption, which is disappointing for its bulky hardshell case. Its major flaw is that way the case fits together. The two sections snap together easily, but this design lends itself to breaking apart when the iPhone is dropped. We can only recommend this case for scratch protection, not protection from falls.

Conclusion

The Speck Fitted Tan Houndstooth Plaid case’s standout features is its looks. It offers good scratch protection thanks to full coverage and decent accessibility to all the iPhone’s ports except the sleep button, which is uncomfortable to use with the case on. Overall, the Speck case is a solid choice for the fashion conscious.

Links:

Official website for Speck Fitted Cases

Amazon.com: Speck Fitted Tan Houndstooth Plaid Case ($22)

Review of CaseCrown Polycarbonate Slim Fit Case

Jul 2

Posted by Alan in iPhone 3G Accessories, iPhone 3G Case Reviews, iPhone 3G Cases, iPhone 3GS Case Reviews, iPhone 3GS Cases, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Case Reviews, iPhone Cases | 1 Comment

For owners looking to add a little color to the iPhone, the CaseCrown Polycarbonate Slim-Fit case ($10) might be a good way to go. The CaseCrown is a thin, hard-shell case for the iPhone 3G and 3GS that comes in 5 colors. And the colors themselves are quite impressive–created from a premium paint that resembles that used on cars. The case is more for changing the looks of your iPhone than it is for protection, particularly in the shock absorption area. The CaseCrown is generally well-designed but not spectacular. We find it a decent value for its price point and assign it an overall rating 8.1 out of 10, recommended.


For those looking to protect your iPhone from falls, the CaseCrown is not an ideal choice. Its thin case does not deliver much shock absorption. It does offer some scratch protection to the back of the iPhone. The upside to having this smaller form factor is that there is almost no added weight or width to the iPhone, keeping it light and easy to slide in and out of your pocket.

The case is available in five colors: black, blue, green, red, and silver. We found the red case, in particular, to be an impressive shade, with a subtle dark tone. To produce the color, the polycarbonate material is covered with a premium paint job that has an appealing shiny metallic sheen, which goes well with the iPhone’s chrome detailing.

To apply the case, you snap the iPhone inside. The iPhone is held in place via long rails on the side and 4 gripping teeth in the corners. It’s a snug, secure fit–we had little worry of the iPhone ever accidentally slipping out. However, the tight fit also makes it hard to remove the iPhone from the case.

The CaseCrown leaves plenty of room around all ports for easy accessibility (docking port, headphone jack, etc). Our one complaint in this area is that the volume and ringer switch become slightly inset when the case is on and are therefore not as comfortable to operate.

Another quibble we have with the case is that its corners are rectangular teeth, separated by thin slots, that help grip the iPhone. While the teeth make sure the iPhone fits snug, they’re also a bit awkward in terms of the overall contour, and we envision snagging them on something in the future.

The iPhone itself is pretty drop friendly thanks to its slick casing. The CaseCrown’s polycarbonate material only offers a slight improvement in terms of slippage. It’s not quite as slippery as the iPhone’s glossy surface, but it’s smooth to the touch with little added grip.

Conclusion

The CaseCrown is an affordable way to give your iPhone some premium color without adding weight or bulk. It offers little protection in case you drop your iPhone, as there is virtually no shock absorption. We see the CaseCrown as perfect for value-driven customers looking to add color to the iPhone and keep it from everyday scratches. Rating: 8.1 out of 10, recommended.

Links:

Official website for CaseCrown Polycarbonate Slim-Fit cases

Amazon.com: CaseCrown PolyCarbonate Slim-Fit Case