I am still trying to find the ‘perfect’ case for my iPhone 3G.
I’ve tried a few from Marware, and I like them ok enough, but they aren’t quite what I’m after.
So I tried one of their other cases, the CEO Sleeve. Not bad either. Now I can have it on my belt and pull it out on-handed. The clip has popped off my belt, but only after too much pressure. The style is nice and it protects the phone well, just a little thicker than I wanted… Maybe I’m too picky?
My favorite case for the first iPhone was Griffin Technology’s Elan Snap-In (although the black one). It’s only Achille’s heal was the tab on the top tended to damage the chrome on the phone. Other than that it was great: thin and easy to use.
Griffin just came out with the equivalent for the iPhone 3G, the Elan Clip, so I was really excited and ordered one online. I received it this week and eagerly opened it up and slipped the phone in. The top clip is curved to hold the phone in place and it is easy to get it out. I’m not sure if it will damage the chrome or not, but I believe it will over time. So I put the case on my belt and within 2 minutes, it popped off the belt. Popped off! What’s that about? I looked at the clip, and I must say it has to be about the worst design I’ve ever seen. There’s basically a ridge on the clip side and the case side that meet when close. The edges of these ridges are rounded! There is absolutely nothing to encourage the clip to remain on the belt, except the tention of the clip keeping it self closed. I can’t imagine why they designed it this way, and it makes it absolutely useless for trying to keep your iphone safely on you belt. I was very dissapointed.
My brother spotted a case from a company called SwitchEasy. The CapsuleRebel is the 3G follow-on to the original Capsule for the first iPhone. This case has two layers, a soft layer they say is made of “Adaptive Dynamic Soft Polymer”, and then snapped to that is what they call the “UltraFrame”, a frame made with Lexan polycarbonate hard plastic. I find the combination pretty nice as it is nice to hold, but easy to slide into my pocket as well. The soft layer is very well made and fit precisely over the chrome rim and lines up with the camera and buttons quite well. The case itself covers the volume and top buttons, while leaving the vibrate switch covered. At the bottom, the case fits around the speaker/mic and dock openings quite nicely.
The case comes with a universal dock adapter to fit the iphone with it’s new case, a plug for the dock connector on the iphone while travelling, two screen protectors, a screen wipe, and a small stand to put the iphone on to watch videos. Pretty darn good deal compared to other cases considering it is $28 shipped! I’m using it now, and so far so good.
Now, I’m hoping they come out with version of their VisionClip for the new case!