The Speck Products See Thru Slim Hard Shell Case for MacBook Air Review

Posted on 08 April 2009 by


I usually keep my MacBook Air nekkid as a jaybird because I love its skinny form factor, but the scratches I’ve begun to notice appearing on its metal shell have been causing me a bit of consternation lately. In an effort to keep my svelte beauty’s skin unblemished, I agreed to give the Speck Products See Thru Slim Hard Shell Case for MacBook Air a try.

geardiary_speck_see_thru_slim_hardshell_case_macbook_air_01

Available in clear, pink, smoke, purple or the cranberry red I was sent, the Speck hard shell is composed of two pieces of plastic which snap onto the Air’s screen and bottom half.

geardiary_speck_see_thru_slim_hardshell_case_macbook_air_04

Holes have been placed in the proper positions for the flip-down USB port and the AC charger on the other side. Four low profile rubber feet have been placed on the bottom’s four corners to keep the package from sliding when on a smooth surface.

geardiary_speck_see_thru_slim_hardshell_case_macbook_air_05
Note how my wooden table’s grain is easily viewed through the colored plastic

Installing the shell is a matter of laying the shell’s pieces over their corresponding Air counterparts; they easily snap on, but can just as easily be unattached. Installed, the See Thru Case fits like a glove, and it adds very little weight and bulk to the Air. I much prefer that there is no clear window or cutout over the Apple logo area (as was seen in the Agent 18 shell Dan reviewed), but instead the translucence of the colored plastic allows the Apple logo to still be seen.

geardiary_speck_see_thru_slim_hardshell_case_macbook_air_10

This photo shows the vent cutouts, which keeps the case from hampering the Air’s cooling system; it also shows the properly placed port cutouts.

geardiary_speck_see_thru_slim_hardshell_case_macbook_air_11

I don’t know why, but it is important to Mac users that our glowing Apple logo be allowed to shine; the Speck case allows it to do so. Perhaps the best thing about this shell is that it does not restrict the screens hinge in any way – the screen can still be tilted back its full amount.

geardiary_speck_see_thru_slim_hardshell_case_macbook_air_13

I am very happy with the Speck See Thru Shell. I like that it allows me to keep my Air protected without having to use a sleeve; the case is pretty, it doesn’t add a lot of bulk, and at the newly lowered sale price – it is a bargain!

The Speck Products See Thru Slim Hard Shell Case for MacBook Air is available directly from the manufacturer.






MSRP: $49.95 $14.95

What I Like: Easy to install or remove; does not add much bulk or weight; allows the Apple logo to glow through; protects the Air from scratches and other superficial dings; allows the screen to fully tilt back

What Needs Improvement: Nothing…did you see the price?!

This post was written by:

- who has written 1699 posts on Gear Diary.

I started Gear Diary on September 30, 2006, and my goal was that this not be an easily labeled site. We all have gear that we use daily – some of it electronic and some of it organic. I think it is fascinating to explore the equipment that makes our lives easier, more entertaining, more productive, and more manageable. My hope is that Gear Diary visitors will find this site to be a comfortable and friendly place to discuss interesting topics – and not only those that are tech related, as well as a location to discover various types of gear – whatever that term may end up implying – that they never knew existed. My specialty is in-depth reviews written in a layman’s terms, because everyone can understand technology, sometimes it just takes a little translating. +Judie Stanford

Contact the author


  • dancohen

    I've been using a Speck clear case on my 13″ Alum. MacBook since day one and I love it. Sure it would be nice to have that extra bit of thin lightness but the tradeoff for total protection and a pristine MacBook is huge. My only wish… LOVE the $15 price… I paid 3 times that.

    • geardiary

      Yeah, I was shocked at the difference between the MSRP and the sale price. I
      guess you paid the early adopter tax. Not that I would know anything about
      it. ;-)

  • Kerry Woo

    I can’t recall if it was you Dan that recommended the Speck case – but I’m using the Speck clear case on the MacBookAir. The price is a no brainer to purchase. I probably should pick up extra case in another tint. Nice review Judie; echoed my sentiments exactly.

  • raymondu999

    I might've gotten one of these for my MacBook Pro. THe things keeping me off was the plastic finish, and the fact that I think the old-generation Speck case warped my old-gen MacBook Pro back then.

  • Ray

    I just bought 3 of these, a month a ago – they were on sale, but at twice the price! You do have to remember to take them off every so often to clean underneath, 'cos the plastic builds up quite a static charge and dirt gets in through the cutouts and sometimes leaves fine scratches. I left one on my Macbook Pro for a year, and I was quite horrified when I took the Speck cover off.

    • dancohen

      Ray- thanks for the tip. Will have to do so in a bit… holding my breath until then…

  • gorkon

    I need something for my new Netbook. It doesn't fit in the proporta gadget bag.

    • Ray

      What size is it? You might want to try one of the Tom Bihn 'Cells'. The Brain Cell is hard sided and the Soft Cell is… soft-sided. It's really more of a sleeve than a bag. Or if you fly a lot, checkout the TSA friendly Checkpoint Flyer. I like Knomo too – very stylish – but the smallest bags/sleeves they have are MacBook Air sized.