Rubber cases vs Hard Cases

No case is going to guarantee your phone works after it has been dropped.

If that's your primary purpose for using a case then save your cash and take out insurance.

A case would need to be air cushioned (think airbag) to protect the phone. You'll minimise external damage to the casing, but the shock and (slightly reduced) impact can still break stuff.

Greetings,

It's hard to beat a good leather case, and it forms to the iPhone perfectly. I like the Case-mate brand, but I have an Italian leather one that is very similar.

I don't use those shields, as the touch is glass and very hard to scratch up. I've had this iPhone since the 3G became available, I carry it in my shirt pocket, and it still has no scratches on it. The old iPhone looks as good as the day it was bought, too, no shield either.

The good Leather cases offer a fair amount of drop protection and they are pretty thin.

Cheers,
M.
****

I currently have the Invisible Shield front cover on my phone. I then have the phone incased in the Otter Box Defender Case (I removed the screen protector it comes with cause of the I.S.) I love this case. It does add some bulk, but it covers all of the openings and has filters to even cover the ear and speaker holes. Keeps all of the dirt and dust off the phone, its completely incased.

I tried a couple of rubber cases and didn't like any of them. The case I'm using now is the Richardsolo.com Coutour "flip". The bottom flips up to give greater access to input port. I bought it strictly for the flip feature as I have a devise that won't connect unless the bottom of the IP is completely open.

The Coutour is made out of a material that seems to be a soft plastic. It scratches easily on the back from mostly going into and out of my pocket. Case fits very tight and looks like actual IP case.

I have the front covered by a zagg invisible shield. Great combination and one I won't be changing anytime soon.

+I've settled on the iSkin Revo. I don't make use of the plastic cover.+

Same here but I'm concerned about the RevoClip marring the screen if I use it with the screen facing inwards. Any experience with that?

Thanks.

I've been through... I think five cases so far. I also used the iPhone "naked" for a while, but that ended when I dropped it and got a crack in the glass above the screen between the edge and the earphone hole. Sob story aside here's what I've used:

My first case was, if I remember correctly, a black rubber Griffin case that would catch sand and grit and scratched and scuffed the chrome bezel.

Second case was some cheap black silicone case I got off of eBay. It was thin and had an unattractive oval over the earphone. That's when I decided to try and carry the phone without a case and learned my lesson.

My next case was a black "rubberized" plastic case by Seido called the InnoCase. It lasted pretty long and looked very good, but the little snaps between the front and back pieces wore out and broke over time. You have to pry the two halves apart when you want to open the case so breaking those snaps is inevitable. Plus it popped completely open when I dropped the phone one time, though to its credit it did somehow prevent damage to the phone.

To replace the Seido I picked up the *Marware Sport Grip* which to be fair is a very reliable case, but it's ugly. It has a ribbed back which is really unnecessary, the rubber grips fine. The Marware logo on the back is cut deep into the rubber so it collects lint. The rubber over the shutter button is thick and doesn't always line up with the button. The rubber around the screen has a raised edge and comes up against the screen so close that it makes it difficult to touch anything near the bottom. And the hole over the mute switch is too small, so you have to dig your fingernail into the hole to hit the switch.

So on top of my dissatisfaction with the Sport Grip and my decision to pick up an armband I looked around and finally decided on the *Grantwood Tuneband* (it comes in I think six colors, mine is red). Weirdly it fits both the iPhone 2G and 3G. I've only had it for just over a week and this is the most satisfied I've been with a case. It's thin and unobtrusive but tough, when you hold it it feels like plastic but you can bend it easily to get your phone in and out. The case comes right up to the edge of the screen but leaves the home button uncovered so you don't have to lift your thumb to get to it. And the armband slips in an out through two slits on the back with ease. The only criticism I have is there are two holes above the screen that aren't necessary, but maybe they're for sensors on the 3G I'm not aware of.

That's my 2¢.

I just bought the otter box defender this week.
I love it also, however two people I have called since I put it on this Thursday say they are getting an echo of their own voice.
Mine did not have a peel away plastic film but rather a sort of touch screen film.
I left the plastic on over my invisble shield but can't believe that would be the issue. Any similar problem for you?

Hi,

You can find a list of cases with reviews on the Apple online store.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shopiphone/iphoneaccessories/cases?mco=MTY1NDIwNQ&s=topRated

-Jason

I've settled on the iSkin Revo. I don't make use of the plastic cover.

http://iskin.com/revo2_overview.html

The iFrogz Luxe is a good case. Silky feel, does not scratch the phone, very nice slim fit. Inexpensive.

Click here:
http://ifrogz.com/products.php?cat=432&wrap_overlay=4504%7CIP3GSoftTouch

Agreed... the iFrogz Luxe is a great case.

Here is the case that I bought. I really like it because the bottom slides off so I can put it on my desk charger.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/elanform3g