I'm not sure if I want to put my phone in a full out case or just a sleek bumper. I don't usually have a problem dropping phones (but it can happen) and I'm wondering if anyone has dropped their phone while in a bumper, and if so, did the bumper do anything to prevent damage to the phone?
I have a bumper and the zagg screen protectors on the front and back. My wife wanted to use my phone, so I let her. As she's walking through the kitchen, it drops about 5ft and lands on the floor and even tumbles a few times. My heart about stopped. I picked up the phone and nothing, no scratches, no cracks or no scuffs on the bumper. I highly recommend this combo of the bumper and the zagg protectors. If you're not experienced with putting on screen protectors, buy it from Best Buy or someone who's experienced with putting them on. Now it may not survive a fall to concrete, but it should survive a fall to hardwood floors or linoleum.
This might save me a trip to an Apple Store (long ways away, even though I live in Southern California, where there might be more Apple Stores than Starbucks).
Just another suggestion for you, I've been using a "Marware" flip vue leather case for my Original iPhone, 3G & 3G(s) model iPhones along with the full body film protectors (overkill protection) and the case is highly functional and effective without the need of the screen protectors or even to remove the device from the case whatsoever, unless you just want to remove it to show others how beautiful it is. I have now got the new Marware C.E.O. flip vue leather case on order for my iPhone 4 because after using them for the past 3 years, my phones are in mint condition without so much as a single scratch on them and I get top resale value on them when replacing them with the newest iPhone models. You can check them out at www.marware.com to get details & photos of them, but the cheapest I found them is $21.99 plus shipping from www.macmall.com. These cases are available in black or brown leather and they look great and have a built in belt clip as well. In my opinion, I have not found nor used any better case out there, but I'm also not into what I feel are cheesy bumpers and hard shells either.
I've dropped mine twice! One from three and a half feet high and it landed on a brick floor of a doorway entrance. Got a chunk missing from the bumper but the phone is fine. A second drop in my room from two feet and the phone hit the corner of the tv stand. No damage. I was scared both times. Guess I got lucky. I think I've learned my lesson. Hold the phone firmly!
I got my phone on June 23rd, got the bumper the next day, and last night dropped the phone from about 2.5 feet on the sidewalk. It must have landed on the lower left corner because it shattered most on that side. The bumper DID NOT protect it. This is the first time I've dropped it. I dropped my iphone 3g numerous times over the last 2yrs and never got a scratch practically. I'm going to take it to Apple this afternoon and see if they'll do anything for me.
How often do you guys actually drop your phones? Seems crazy that people have already dropped them multiple times and it's only been out a couple weeks or so! How about just not dropping them? Why even bother buying something so expensive if you know you are going to be dropping it?
The way I look at it is, smartphones are an expensive and delicate pieces of equipment that should never be dropped, so I don't drop mine, the same way that I don't drop a child when holding one, simply just be careful and ensure this doesn't happen, it's not hard. In my probably 15 years of owning cellphones I have yet to drop one or damage one in any way.
I use this one from Best Buy, its a very strong polyurethane rubber. Phone snaps in, extremely well fit. Not hard plastic, no chance of it marring up the back of your phone. Semi-transparent so still looks great.
I have the Belkin grip-vue as well just waiting for the slow-as-Christmas InCase to release their i4 cases. I ordered Apple's Bumper but quickly returned it due to it being incompatible with every non-iPhone 4 dock cable ever made. Totally ridiculous to build such mess. Loved the metal buttons and all but the small connector opening was a killer for me. What moron would design such mess and another moron that approved the design.