iPhone Case Conundrum!

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Tags : Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone and Touch Gear, Mobile Phone Gear, Mobile Phones

iPhone Case Conundrum!

Posted on 14 April 2009 by Jessica Fritsche

I am replacing the Power Support Air Jacket on my iPhone 3G with a new case. The Air Jacket was really great and very protective–I gave it a real positive review when I first got it! But, it has a big crack in it and it scratched just a bit too easily for my taste. So, a replacement was in order and I thought I’d found the perfect thing…

Case-Mate Naked Case (Pink)

I ordered a Case-Mate Naked Case from Amazon, but when it arrived yesterday I knew immediately that it wouldn’t work for me. It adds a lot of bulk and the touch-through protector does nothing but trap dust between it and the iPhone screen, which would not only introduce the possibility of scratches but also drive me crazy!

So, I bundled it up to send it back to Amazon for a refund and went to the Apple Store on my way home from work. After much deliberation and trying on a few cases, I chose the Griffin Wave 2-pack in pink and white (along with a replacement Power Support crystal film). I liked the fit, the feel, and the fact that it didn’t add any bulk. But this morning, the rubberized coating on the pink case is ALREADY peeling off in a few spots.

Griffin Wave Case for iPhone 3G You can see the peeling spots on the right side and the top left of the case in this photo that I snapped of my phone. I haven’t even had it on 24 hours, and the only places it has been are my purse slip pocket (with nothing else in it) or in my hand! I am returning it to the Apple Store tonight…what a joke for a $35 set of cases.

Does anyone have any case recommendations? Ideally, I’d like a not-too-bulky hard case that either just snaps on to fully protect the back like the Air Jacket (no cutouts for the Apple logo!), or fits somewhat like the Griffin Wave case does (with a small bezel that fits around the front, and then a full back piece).

Color would be nice; yes, I am a girl and I like accessories that look feminine and not utilitarian, so pink, white, or clear would be great. Other options like a bright turquoise or purple would be nice too. I have a white iPhone, so I don’t really want a black case. I would love something like the Vaja ivolution, but I am afraid to spend $85 on a custom case with as many case problems as I’ve had this week!

Right now, my front-runners are the SwitchEasy Capsule Rebel and Colors cases (silicone, but very attractive). I haven’t really found another case that seems like it might be what I’m looking for. Am I asking too much for an attractive case that doesn’t start to break down within the first 24 hours of use?

This post was written by:

Jessica Fritsche - who has written 33 posts on Gear Diary.

Jessica Fritsche is a writer, editor and marketing manager hailing from Dallas, TX. Jessica's first computer was an Apple ][ C, and despite a brief flirtation with Windows in her youth, she's a Mac girl through and through. She also loves mobile technology like netbooks, the iPhone, and the iPad, and she's a certified ebook junkie. In addition to blogging about her favorite gadgets on Gear Diary, she is the associate editor for So New Publishing and assistant fiction editor for 42opus.

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http://www.copywritingace.com nourisha
i have this case and the coating came all the way off and made a huge mess on my screen. had to clean it all the time. once the waxy coating was gone it was fine but now it looks horrible. mine is green. i’m on the search for a replacement.
http://www.s-consult.com Wayne Schulz
I'm using an Otterbox iPhone 3G Impact — it's thinner than some of the other Otterbox and I find that it offers near perfect protection. Have one on my Touch as well and it works great.
Donovan
I had the Griffin wave for a couple months, but it started to squeak on the sides, so I replaced it with the Incase Slider, it is a bit thicker than the Griffin Wave, but not much, it covers the entire phone, and has a lip like the Griffin so you can place it face down without risk of scratching. I like the case a lot, it comes in lots of colors (I went boring and got white) and doesn’t allow a lot of dust in between the case and the phone. There are also rubber strips on the inside to help protect the phone against scratches from stuff on the inside. One thing I have noticed is that the white one is made of white plastic, so small scratches are not that noticeable, but a co-worker has the black version, and it is painted black, so the black has started to peel…
Paul Reese
Well, this is indeed a conundrum. You'd think that when you go to the Apple store, you're getting something that is 'recommended' by the *geniuses* there. But I digress…
The first case I got was from the AT&T store that resembles the Acrylic case pictured at the top. The touch-screen portion of the case 'stuck' to the screen to prevent dust and such. But the old AT&T Fuze holster I was trying to use for my iPhone was just not cutting it. The next case from AT&T came with a holster that was custom fit for the holster. This was nice, but used tension to snap in the iPhone into the case and the case itself was plastic which tended to make it slip.
My current case is the Innocase II Surface case from Seidio and the Seidio produced spring-loaded clip holster. This case has a removal bottom to use the Seidio rechargeable battery without having to remove it from the case. The case has a rubbery, slip-free feel and only adds centimeters to the iPhone's dimensions. And the holster has been rock-solid, only faltering once which no holster or belt clip would have survived.
All in all, I am pleased with my Seidio case and holster and would recommend the case, which comes in 5 different colors.
Now, with that all said, a screen protector was purchased seperately for the screen, but are also available from Seidio's website.
-pjcreese
http://www.gamingwithchildren.com Michael Anderson
I don't have an iPhone but an iPod Touch and love the DLO Flip Case, but that won't work for you. I looked and see they also have a 'Hip Case', but I know I have no desire to hip-mount a phone anymore (the fun days of cell phone, pager and PDA all mounted in a row on my belt are long gone!)
stephen S Schmidt
I would recommend the Seidio Innocase. Very snug fit, bottom 1/4th removes for docking, and can be used with their holster. You would still need to provide screen protecters, but the rest of your phone would be protected.