It’s been almost a month since I took the leap from the Blackberry to the iPhone, catalyzed by a broken trackball and tremendous peer pressure. I didn’t think so many days of indecision would pass as I waffled between one iPhone case design to another. In the meantime, my iPhone is naked, its shiny black case and glossy glass touchscreen left vulnerable to the elements in my purse and my pockets.
The task, “buy an iPhone case” has been scribbled into my Google task list for weeks now and little progress has been made. It is not from lack of effort. I have performed many of the steps one usually takes to make an important purchase decision.
I’ve consulted friends both here and in Canada and each one seems to swear by a different case manufacturer. There are several pieces of feedback I collected from friends on why they selected their particular cases. I’ve grouped them into key categories:
The Inspector Gadget Case: This type of iPhone case has an adapter that enables you to add accessory pieces that turn the case into various gadgets. Hook on an arm strap and it is an MP3 player for the gym. Hook on a belt clip and you can yell out, “Look mom, no hands!” Strap on a headband, download the proper app and your iPhone transforms it becomes a coal miners hat lamp. Example: Marware Sport Grip for iPhone.
The Style Meister: This breed of iPhone cases are like rubberized wet suits. They have little functionality except to protect the exterior of the iPhone and to add some bounce should the iPhone be dropped. Otherwise, all else is streamlined so that the case doesn’t get in the way of the sleekness of the phone. I have heard the best material for one of these is silicon as it seems to provide the most protection should you drop the phone. The biggest decisions you need to make in this category of phones is design, texture and color. Like choosing the cover for your customized Flip faceplate though, the choices can be daunting. Example: CaseCrown for iPhone Soft.
The Invincibles: This clan of iPhones were made to be tough as superheroes. They are truly for those that are on their iPhone 24/7 and a little heavy handed. They are not as stylish as the second type, less bulky than the first type but they will last long after your iPhone model becomes obsolete. The friend that demoed this model to me removed the case from her iPhone and proceeded to bend the case back and forth noting that it could probably survive being run over by a car. Example: InCase Slider Case for iPhone.
The Why Even Bother: This type of iPhone case encases the entire iPhone in a wallet-like structure usually made of a stiff material like leather. Once enclosed, one can’t even tell its an iPhone…it could be a BB, a Palm or a Droid. Hence, I’ve name it “The Why Even Bother”…to get an iPhone…case. Example: Kroo Case for iPhone.
There you have it. There are many models in each of the categories. I am leaning towards the second type on this list. Do you have a favorite iPhone case model and does it fit into one of the four categories above?
Ah…the angst of having so many choices.