Customer Reviews

iPhone 3G ONLY Rubberized Hard Plastic Case Cover Black

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(26)
1 star:		(62)

 

 

This is the kind of case I've been looking for!

If you carry your phone in your pocket, don't get one of those soft silicon cases. I got one for my iPod classic, and it sticks to the walls of the pocket, making it difficult to take out. It gets pretty annoying to have to push your pocket back in after your case turns it inside-out. :P

So for the iPhone, I definitely wanted a hard case. This was the perfect answer. It's a hard plastic case, but with a matte finish and a really silky feel to it. The fit is good, and it seems to stay together pretty well.

You'll still need to order a screen protector if you're worried about that (I am since the iPhone is the only phone in AT&T's lineup that is not eligible for insurance), since there is no screen protection with this case.

The sturdiness of it is very comforting, since I have a tendency to unintentionally crush things in my pockets (I commute on a motorcycle, and that kind of thing happens), and while I don't necessarily believe that I would hurt my iPhone, the peace of mind goes a long way. :)

Edit 08/08/2008: Added a couple of photos so you can see how it fits on the iPhone 3G. Also, I'd highly recommend this case combined with this screen protector: Apple iPhone Screen Protector. When put on right, the outside edges of the protector are 100% covered by the edges of this case, making it impossible to get those rough edges that can happen over time with some of the lesser screen protectors.

And now I'm off to review the screen protector. :-)

Edit 08/26/2008: First, a question was asked in the comments on this review - the case in the seller's photo shows one single rectangular hole that exposes the necessary components, while the one that I received (see my customer images) has two separate openings. I purchased mine from this seller, so if I were you I would expect to receive one that looks like the one in my photos rather than the seller photo. Personally, I like mine better, but that's my own opinion. :)

Second, I was sent a message privately asking about the openings on the top front of the case and what they are for. The holes expose three components in total -- the speaker, the light sensor (which varies the brightness of the screen based on ambient light, if you have that option turned on in Settings), and the "Face Detector", which is a sensor that turns the phone's screen off during a call when you bring it up to your head, and turns the screen back on when you take it away.

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Edit 04/14/2009:
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I'm seeing a lot of really negative reviews lately, and one in particular (dated 04/11/2009) that states that the manufacturer has changed the design since I bought mine (in August 2008). According to that reviewer, the quality of this new version is inferior to the old one. So I would advise caution at this point. I can't speak to the quality of the latest model personally since I have not purchased one, but I would hate to have someone buy this item based upon my review and then be disappointed when the item is not as I described.

I think the other reviews are right on in their assessments of this case. It has a nice, smooth matte finish, though there is an extremely thin gap that causes a thin white line on the sides. Like others, I had a silicone case prior to this, but it stretched out after about a month and a half, so I searched for something less stretchy and came up with this.
I had been extremely careful after first purchasing the phone, but as happens, I have recently become a bit more careless in my handling of it. Still, I was terrified when I dropped it from about waist high the other day onto a hard tile floor. And I was relieved when my phone was perfectly fine afterwards. I dropped it a second time last week, onto the same surface, and it again survived without a scratch. I took it with me to the gym last night and had it sitting up on a ledge on the elliptical machine. The machine started rocking a bit, and before I knew it, my phone had fallen from the top of my machine, hit the moving arm handles, and bounced off a neighboring machine onto the floor. I was terrified to see what had happened BUT (as you probably guessed from the 5-star review) the phone was perfectly fine! The case had come apart slightly on the sides, but was easily pressed back together. I shudder to think what my phone would look like now if I hadn't had the case. And amazingly, the case is very inexpensive, and not bad-looking either!
UPDATE: I've now dropped this 3 times on the street outside, and had it flung against a wall. The phone still looks perfect and works like new!

The case would get 1 star if not for the great price, and that said, for the price, you may want to just try it out for yourself.
The Cons:
1) The case makes the phone significantly more bulky.
a. I was a first generation iPhone user and had a Cozip case for it, which was so slim, it did not noticeably add to the size of the phone. This case, though not huge, adds enough size to make the phone feel much bigger, and for those of us who like to put the iPhone in the pocket, this case makes it that much more uncomfortable.
2) The case is not friction free in the pocket.
a. Many a reviewer has said that the silicone cases are the ones to avoid if you carry your iPhone in your pocket, but this one is "sticky" too. Maybe the silicone cases are worse, but this case turns my pocket inside out most of the time.
3) The case is a real pain to take on and off for use of a docking station.
a. Don't let the other reviewers convince you otherwise, there is no quick and effort free way to take this case on and off. If you're like me and you use the dock and sync multiple times a day...this is not the case for you.
The Pros:
1) It really feels like substantial protection.
a. If your name is Bear Grylls, or you work in construction, this case is most likely adequate protection without interfering with phone controls.
2) It provides sure gripability.
a. The case feels secure in the hand and less likely to slip out with this case on.
Despite the price, the case is not good enough for me and I plan to buy another that is less bulky, less sticky, and is easily removable, or at least has an easily detachable bottom panel for docking.

If you're looking for a form fitting case that does not add too much bulk to your iPhone 3G at a great price, this is the one for you.

Fit

4.5 out of 5 - Nearly perfect. The device fits very snug and there is no give in the case except on the right side, there is a gap that is a fraction of a millimeter wide where the front and back attach. It is just enough that I can see it move if I press the front and back together. The other side is perfect. I like how the openings for the buttons are emphasized so that the case comes nearly flush with the controls. I have no trouble hitting the volume or sleep buttons, even when it's in my pocket.

Finish

5 out of 5 - The choice of material is perfect. It looks like my iPhone is wearing a scuba suit. The case is hard plastic, but the finish does not scratch and does not display any fingerprints or scuffs. It is just soft enough that it offers a little protection as well, but it does not 'catch' in my pocket like a silicone case would. Previous reviewers have described the feel as "silky" which is exactly right, it almost feels like an expensive leather case, but, because its molded plastic, the thin sides along the display stay firmly in place and do not 'give' at all.

Overall

5 out of 5 - I know that I dinged it for the fit, but the price and the overall quality far outweigh this small imperfection. Just buy this, like right now. They need to produce a three pack in multiple colors.

I like the rubber feel to it. It can absorb some shock if the phone is dropped. Also, now I don't have to smudge my iphone 3g by touching it's exterior directly. The case fits smoothly and securely so no frets of it coming apart by daily handling. The only thing left to protect was the screen itself for which I bought a separate screen protector for, then put the screen on and then encased the iphone in this case.

Shopping for an Iphone case is difficult. You go online and there is no consensus as to which is the best case. People who've tried 10-15 different cases all come to different conclusions.

I bought this case because it was the most popular one on Amazon.com, and I figured Amazon had just about every type listed. I also figured at $3.50 if I didn't like it I would be a lot less disappointed than if I bought a $30 one.

When looking for a case it has to be thick enough to protect your phone from a fall, but not so thick it makes your phone bulky. It has to have some grip, but not so much it attracts lint and sticks to your pocket. It can't cover the sensors or ports. And it has to look good. Going through the list, it meets all these criteria. It snapped together snug as a glove and is the same quality as cases costing 10 times more. The rubberized coating just might protect against static shock too if it really is rubber. I won't be buying another case any time soon.

The only gripe I'd have is it seemed a little thin, and I'm not sure how hard of a fall it would survive, but then I've seen some review of it here saying it wasn't thin enough and made their phone a little bulky. So to each their own I guess. The phone with this case is a lot less bulky than the brick-like Treo 650 it is replacing (without a case). I suppose women probably want their phones as thin as possible while men, especially men who work with their hands, probably want a little more protection.

UPDATE: about a month later the case broke. The tab that snapped the case together in one corner broke off, then a day later another corner tab broke. It wasn't from a drop or anything, my guess is that lint got underneath the case and the case was snapped together so tightly the snap just broke off from pressure. Since it was so cheap, I just ordered a couple more (which I suspect is why this case's popularity ranking is so high on Amazon.com). The new cases they sent me were designed a little differently, not snapped together as tightly and with a square cutout over the apple logo on back. This was surprising since I didn't say a word to the company I ordered it from. After a couple more months the new case is holding up fine (although the rubberized coating is peeling off in select areas.)

A great case. Perfect plastic/rubber material.

This one is made out of sturdy plastic but it's not slippery. It's not too rubbery either so it will not stuck inside your pocket. I've had experience with all different kinds of cases - hard plastic, rubber only, silicone - but this one is something else.

Just get it.

No issues with service, product not the greatest. Broke after a week. Plastic clips snapped off. Wouldn't buy again.

I'm not sure if people are just reviewing where it's the most likely to be the product they ordered, or if I got something different. Mine is rigid, the finish appears soft, but it is rigid, so rigid that it came broken. Not a great item as it will not provide a lot of shock resistance (assuming it wasn't broken in the first place). The item is too cheap to return.

0 ZERO STARS!!!!!!!!! I purchased this case for my husbands Iphone back in September. That case cracked, lasted long enough for what I paid. Reordered and received a completely different case that cracked in about a week! I guess you get what you pay for! :o(