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