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Reviews by The Church of Apple

Tag Archives: iPhone 4/4S

Gumdrop Drop Tech Series iPhone 4/4S Case

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The Gumdrop Drop Tech Series iPhone 4/4S case is a case available for your iPhone 4/4S. It is a very rugged case durable enough to handle many falls. It is available from Gumdrop for $44.95. Let’s see if it is the case for you.

Form

The case definitely is one of the stronger cases I have seen in terms of material. One of the cases I received was black and the other one was light blue and pink. As I received a guy’s case with one solid color and a women’s case, I can’t evaluate the different colors available. However, from the pictures, I see yellow and blue, orange and blue, white and black, black and red, pink and white, green and black and purple and pink cases, they seem to be good colors. The first color is the primary color, the color the rubber part of the case is and the second color of the combination is the outline inside the case. The case is made of a soft but firm rubber material and is easy to hold in the hand. The case is a bit bulky and adds some weight to the phone but then again, what really protective case doesn’t. The case does end up being white after I take it out of my pocket though as the residue from my pocket, and the pocket itself, come out with the phone. This is a concern for me not only aesthetically but also in how it’s function is too. The case does have port protectors, however despite other cases I reviewed in the past, this case has the port protectors attached to the case, which is a plus for me. The case also has a screen protector. The case is durable, protective and, if you buy a colorful case, colorful but it does raise a few red flags for me such as your whole pocket in your jeans coming out with it and the hundreds of white specks that come out with it also.

Function

I felt that if I were to drop this case from my second story, my iPhone would still be in the same great shape it was before the fall. That said, the case is extremely durable. It definitely beats the Otterbox case despite that case being THE case that everyone says is the most protective. I think this one is more so. The screen protector is a plus for me as well as the port protectors. A note about the screen protector; you don’t have to put it on yourself, it’s built into the case. This is great since you don’t have to deal with those annoying bubbles. The camera is not blocked and the case will not cause issues with the camera. The speakers are also not hindered when using this case. All the ports but the silent switch, despite being protected, are easy to access. The silent switch on the side is a bit more difficult to access. There are a few concerns I have with this case though. It is a hindrance taking the phone with this case on out of your pocket. This I think really only applies for men and teenagers of either gender as women tend to put their phones in their purse and not their pocket. Those that put your phone in your pocket you will have some trouble. First off, the black case and a pocket don’t mix. After you pull out the case, white particles cling to your case like glue and it looks tacky. This applies to all cases but especially the black one. In addition, the rubber part of the case will require you to reset it every time you take it out of your pocket. As the case sticks to your pocket, the rubber part will unhinge off of the inner durable plastic part of the case and you will need to reset it. If you have used an Otterbox iPod touch case, you will know what I am talking about. Resetting it is not difficult at all but it definitely is a hindrance on using your phone with the case. Also, you texting teenagers out there listen up, the case does not allow easy access to the letters on the left and right extremes of the keyboard when you put it in portrait, such as q and p. However, these letters are more accessible when you turn it over to landscape mode, which is the preferred texting orientation. However, those that like to text in portrait or those that use their keyboard in portrait, you will have a tough time typing the q and the p. Despite these flaws however, the case still protects very well and I think that they did a good job with the case.

Conclusion

Pros

-STRONG case
-Aesthetically in great shape, the rubber feels good to the hand
-Port protectors; most ports are easily accessible
-Camera not blocked
-Built in screen protector, don’t have to mess with the put on yourself kind

Cons

-Rubberized case will take your pocket and it’s other contents with it when you take the phone out of your pocket
-Texting may be hindered through the difficulty of reaching q and p on the keyboard in portrait viewing mode
-The silent/vibrate switch is difficult to access
-A bit heavy and thick

Ways to improve

I believe that there are a few ways to improve going forward. First, use a material that will not stick to your pocket. A non-stick cover is something that is needed here without losing any of the ability to protect. Second, lower the depth so people can type on the keyboard without their finger hitting the side of the case. Third, allow easy access to the silent/vibrate switch. Perhaps add a rubberized switch that goes over it and extends down to the actual switch, see a LifeProof iPhone case for more detail. Additionally, find a way to cut down on the thickness. Skinny jeans and this case don’t go well.

The case is definitely one of the more protective case I have used. However, so was my iPod touch Otterbox case and I took that one off of my iPod touch because of some of the same reasons as the cons listed here. However, this case offers even more protection and durability than that case did. The case does have some (major) kinks to get out, however those that don’t care about the hindrances I described this is a great case. As I do care about these hindrances, I can evaluate this case at a 3 and a half star rating. The case knocks it out of the ball park in terms of protection but strikes out in some key areas.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Images Courtesy: Gumdrop

Snugg iPhone 4/4S Anti-Radiation Case

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The The Snugg iPhone 4/4S Anti-Radiation Case is exactly as the name implies. It is a case for your iPhone that blocks the radiation from going to your head. There is science to prove that radiation does indeed enter your head after prolonged use of the cell phone due to the rays of cellular radiation being right next to your head for a long period of time. Prolonged use of cell phones and the radiation it brings may be harmful to our head. The FDA says it doesn’t bring health affects that it knows of but the risk when using a cell phone does increase. The anti-radiation part comes at a premium on this case. The case is $49.99 from Snugg. Let’s see if it is for you.

Form

I have to admit, when it comes to the form of the case, I was surprised in a good way. The case did seem like it was fairly durable, not sure if it is durable enough to handle a big fall. The material it was made out of was firm to hand, as it should be. The case is only in black but it does look pretty sleek. It didn’t add much weight or width to the phone and it fit comfortably. The case does not stick to your pocket when it is inside the pocket which is a good thing. I have used cases in the past where my whole pocket came out along with my phone, chasing bits of paper that I had stored in my pocket was never fun. The case looks as though it would be cheap and that it would bend but when I tried bending it, it held up pretty well. However, I am not sure if the case would hold up in a fall. The case has all the appropriate cut outs and it doesn’t have the annoying port protectors, which since I found out that some cases ship with those pesky things, I have been on the look out for ever since. They are almost always a negative. Overall, the case does have good build in terms of material and what it should be like aesthetically.

Function

This is where things get a little tricky. The case is supposed to protect the iPhone in case it falls so it will prevent the phone from breaking. However, despite the fair build quality, it doesn’t seem as though it would hold up in a big fall. Albeit big falls don’t happen everyday but I would not feel comfortable with my phone in this case if I kept it a high counter over hard floor. It may break. With other case, I wouldn’t do that. However, despite this, it is the first case I have seen that involved a bit of science. The case, according to Snugg, reduces Cell Phone Radiation or SAR by 92% and Hot Spot Radiation or EFI by 90% so it does do well in protecting our heads (testing performed in private labs, chance of false claims). Long term use may reduce the risk for cancer, brain tumors, Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, Fatigue and headaches. Therefore, this case may not be the best in protecting the phone but it does protect your health and that is what is really important.

Conclusion

Pros

-Radiation protection*
-Aesthetically pretty well made
-Protects phone from minor falls (drop from your hand) and scratches

Cons

-Won’t protect the phone from bigger falls
-Pricy

Ways to improve

Snugg has always amazed me with their cases and this case definitely was an interesting one. If I were Snugg, I would look into putting more protecting material into the case to protect the phone better. It may sacrifice it’s low width but I think it is a good trade off, the main purpose of a case usually is to protect, right? Also, unless the material they use to make the case is expensive, they need to lay off the price. No iPad case on their site is priced that much.

The case may not be the best in terms of protecting your phone but it does the job. It does a better job of protecting you than the phone. If it can protect me from the radiation like it says it can and if San Onofre decides to burst, I’ll be sure to use this case. I give the case 3.5 stars for it’s protection of the user but not so much protection for the device.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Images Courtesy: Snugg

*The claims that Snugg have made may or not be true. As I am not a radiologist or a scientist, I can not test to see if it actually does protect you from harmful radiation as it advertises. Many companies have made false claims before and I can not guarantee that Snugg is not one of these companies. I have based this review on Snugg being honest and the tests correct. If evidence proves that they have lied, this review will automatically be reduced to zero stars. If you have any information about the validity of their claims, please contact the Editor-in-Chief or leave a comment.

LifeProof iPhone 4/4S Case

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UPDATE: This case saved my phone today. I fell on a platform near water and it fell out of my hand and landed in the water. A friend of mine jumped into the water and got my phone out and it worked just as it did before I took it out, like nothing happened. I give my highest recommendation to this phone case.

 

The LifeProof iPhone 4/4S case is a waterproof, dirt proof, snow proof, and shockproof iPhone case available from LifeProof. The case comes in eleven great colors and is available from LifeProof directly for $69.99. This may seem expensive but I’ll tell you why it is money well spent especially when you like to be able live your life with your phone in hand whether in water, snow or dirt.

Form

The aesthetics of this case are some of the best I have ever seen in an iPhone case.

The case will transform your iPhone into another color. For example, I received the green case to review (LifeProof was actually so courteous as to ask what color I would prefer). I have people comment “How did you get your iPhone green?” and “That’s a great color”. It is kinda cool for people to ask how you made your iPhone your favorite color and all you did was put a case on it. From what I can tell, the other colors look really cool too. Also, if you want to just see your iPhone with no color, they sell a see-through case too. As I mentioned before there are 11 colors (excluding the see-through) to choose from so you have plenty of choices.

Another thing I really appreciate about this case is that it has a very thin and light profile adding almost no profile to it. According to LifeProof, it adds just 1.5mm to your phone. If you have the iPhone 4S, it will be about 10 mm, which in comparison to other cases is nothing. It is the thinnest iPhone case I have reviewed.

The material in which it is made is great. The outside is a big screen protector with the edges and back being a polycarbonate frame that protects the iPhone very well. The case is also non-stick material, therefore it will not stick to your pocket (like my OtterBox case for iPod touch will).

I am very impressed by the aesthetics of this case. In terms of aesthetics, it is actually the best I have reviewed.

Function

The case is called LifeProof and it is done so because life happens. Phones go in water, they get washed, they get dropped, they get dropped in water, they get snowed on, they get dirt on them, they are thrown, they are spilt on and they are scratched. Everything listed here and more is protected by this case. It literally is lifeproof.

Every port on this case is protected, the dock, the headphone jack, the cameras, the screen, the buttons. Every opening that’s possible on the phone can not be invaded by water. If it is one thing this case aces in, it’s protection and that is what we seek in a case isn’t it?

The case not only protects your phone but it also doesn’t add much thickness to it like the OtterBox does, for example.

The screen protector on it does not hinder the performance of the touch screen of the phone and that is important.

The case also adds a double AR coated glass lens for the camera to improve picture quality.

The speakers and mic holes are water proof but that doesn’t hinder their ability. In fact, it improves it! The case somehow makes it sound like the music is coming out of the whole case, the acoustics in it are very impressive. It is something I have never seen in a case. It is something quite remarkable.

There is one thing I have a minor concern about, however. In order to use the headphone jack you need an adapter to plug the headphones in since the case is raised above the headphone jack too much for the headphone to reach it. Of course the workaround for this is simple, just keep it plugged into your headphones. However, if you use multiple accessories that use the headphone jack, you’ll need to hold on to it. This for me isn’t a problem because I use headphones only so it doesn’t affect me much.

The headphone jack, by the way, has a port protector in it to prevent the water or whatever you may to go in there. I have been notorious for disliking these pesky protectors when I reviewed the SwitchEasy cases. However, this case is fine since the company also sends a holder that clips onto your headphones that holds the protector so when you take out your headphones, it can be found easily and you can put it back on. It also comes with a backup protector. The dock is protected with an attached protector.

Going along the same topic, it can not go onto a dock without an extension that you need to buy from them. However, this is the case with most cases and I am not at all surprised at that note.

Despite these few negatives, I feel the positives far outweigh them. This is, by far, the best iPhone case I have reviewed and I honestly think it will be the best one for a long time.

Conclusion

Pros

-Great aesthetics
-Great color choices
-Great protection from water (all cases have been water-tested before leaving the factory)
-Does everything to protect your phone
-Improves camera and speaker
-All ports protected very well

Cons

-Headphone adapter can be a nuisance for some
-Docking problems

This case has many great qualities about it that far outweigh it’s cons. I have been reviewing cases for a while now and this case has to be one of the best I have reviewed. I use it everyday, and I can imagine that in the not so distant future, it will save my iPhone from accidents related to water. I can do more with my phone now and I don’t have to be afraid that I’ll drop it, get it wet or get it dirty because this case has me covered. It has a few cons but these are easily offset by the protection and looks it provides. I easily give this case five stars. Great job LifeProof on your great case!

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Nutkase Genuine Leather iPhone Wallet

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The Genuine Leather iPhone Wallet is exactly what you would guess it would be, a leather wallet that houses your iPhone inside. The wallet is available from NutKase for $34.99 direct. It is a great iPhone wallet and a must have for anyone who wants to put two of their going out must-haves into one. Let’s find out if it is best for you.

Form

The first thing that struck me about the wallet is that it is made out of very nice leather and it looked like it truly was genuine leather. According to Nutkase, it IS genuine leather. That is a huge plus in the Form category because that means it doesn’t get damaged very easily and it will not fall apart like fake leather tends to do after a while. The wallet comes in black or red leather, both are very good looking colors, at least in my opinion. Something that struck me about the wallet, before even getting into the it, is that there is no zipper. The wallet is held close by a strap or a magnet (this depends on whether you get the black or red model respectively) that binds the two sides of the bifold. It actually is a great idea to use this strap instead of a zipper, because after awhile zippers fall apart, they break after a short amount of time. The strap, however, dangles and becomes a nuisance when using the iPhone, it dangles on your hand and it becomes annoying. On the back, you’ll notice the cool Nutkase logo which is an acorn with a bite into it, like the bite in the Apple logo. Another thing you’ll notice is the hole one the top left for the camera, so you don’t have to take the iPhone out of the wallet to take a picture. Another thing you’ll notice when it is closed is that it’s lengthwise exact to an iPhone 4 and 4S so as a wallet it is a little awkward but once you use it for a little while, you’ll get used to it. The form makes it that you can’t put a dollar in longways, you have to fold it, but that is okay anyway since most cashiers like to give you cash back folded. Of course, if you could put a dollar in it longways, it would be a very awkward wallet so it is better actually that you just fold it. Going inside the wallet is two parts, made out of genuine leather of course. There are three pockets, one for ID and two for any cards you have. Also behind these pockets is the cash pocket to store folded cash. On the right, there is the iPhone holder which, you probably guessed, holds your iPhone. Behind this, is a part that comes down, unveiling a little stand so that it can stand on your desk or a flat surface while you watch a video. Also, I’ve noticed the stitching on the product is very well done and it should be known that the product is made in Italy, which is known for it’s great leather, which this product is made out of. Out of all the leather cases I have seen, this one steals the show, it is very nice.

Function

Of course, the function of the case is very important which this product delivers in as well. The fact that you cant put bills in long ways is a downside but it would make the wallet really awkward so it is a trade-off. If I’ve used case instead of wallet throughout the review, that’s for a reason. The leather wallet is also a case. It does a fairly good job at protecting the iPhone and I would feel safe with my iPhone in it. It is big enough to fit enough stuff in it, but not too big where it’s awkward and doesn’t fit in my pocket. It’s a great size. Another feature that I like a lot about the case is the stand, allowing you to watch videos or what not on it without holding it. In order for the the other side to not get in the way, you can fold it back. This makes it that one of the sides doesn’t get in the way of the viewing experience. However, the stand may not work as well if you have stuff inside that other side, such as cards or coins. It can make it bumpy which would cause it to not be as straight as it would be if there was nothing in it. That is not a huge problem and can not really be controlled, just be aware of it. I’m just glad they added the stand, it is a nice feature, unique to even standalone cases. The wallet is held by a strap which holds the two parts of the bifold together so the wallet will stay closed when you want it to stay closed. Also, the red wallet is not held by a strap but a magnet. I am more of a fan of the strap since a magnetic connection can always be broken. Like I mentioned before, there is an annoyance with the strap but it generally works well. It just is annoying. However, despite the few flaws it has, this case is a solid piece of work, well worth it’s price.

Conclusion

Pros

-Genuine leather
-Made in Italy, best of the best
-Nice design/brand and good form factor
-Available in two very nice colors
-Strap/magnet instead of destined-to-break zipper
-Protects iPhone
-Holds business cards, credit cards, IDs and cash
-Stand, some iPhone CASES don’t have stands so this is real cool

Cons

-Not big enough to fit longways bills, there is a tradeoff to this though, it would definitely be awkward if it did
-Red wallet can be opened due to it be magnetic and not strapped, as you can tell, I prefer the strap and I think that it should be adopted across the board
-Strap can be a nuisance

As you can see, there are many pros and few cons. That’s for a reason. The wallet does a great job at many things and a not-so-good job at a few things. There is always improvement to be done in products but this wallet did exceptionally well. It’s a wallet, a case, a stand and it’s in genuine leather. What else can you want in an iPhone case/wallet? The ideas are great, and most are executed very well. A few can be improved therefore it is with that the NutKase Genuine Leather iPhone Wallet receives 4 and a half stars. Great job NutKase, you did exceptionally well with this wallet, the first iPhone wallet I’ve seen and I’m glad that I did see it.

Thanks for reading,

Joe

Image courtesy: Nutkase