iPhone 4 : Apple's Bumper cases
Today, I had a delivery:
Yes, the new iPhone 4. (yes, you can click on all the pictures to close-up on them)
A pretty nice device..
And in the evening, me and my wife went to Apple Store here in Nagoya. The plan was to buy my wife a case for her iPhone 3GS (which I passed to her after getting iPhone 4). Myself, I don't like cases much - they are usually intrusive, huge, and don't really serve any purpose. The only "case" I ever had on my iPhone was Invisible Shield by Zagg.
So there - I don't like cases. And watching one by Apple (in their keynote) - which they called "Bumper" - didn't really impress me. It looked like just a rubber thingy around the phone. I thought - hah, only stupid folks would buy this one. Well.. I was wrong :)
When I was at the checkout, holding my wife's case (already paid for) - I have noticed a store staff's iPhone, wearing the Bumper. What really caught my eye was that the case was looking really nice, clean and not huge at all. It wasn't screaming "I'm a case! Here look at me!". Well.. anyways, I have asked the staff to show it to me. The guy was kind enough to let me wear the case onto my phone.
And wow.. I was really surprised - I actually liked the feeling! It felt like a very well made case, NOT 100% rubber at all.
Actually, the Bumper is made of a mix of black plastic and rubber. It ALSO has sleep/wake and volume buttons BUILT into the case. Has openings for everything, even the second mic on top of the phone. And feels real nice, not cheap at all, and actually the price ($30) feels pretty good for such a product (and if you have a look at other cases for the same price at Apple Store).
These buttons are a very good idea. What should be accessible, should be accessible (read more for what actually become inaccessible :)
The frame itself is like 50/50% plastic/rubber.
Fits the phone pretty good.
And actually, the Bumper is the right name for this case. It really feels like the thing should help with drops of the phone. Covers sides (plastic frame there) and also front and back (since it extends over the glass - and its rubber there, which is a good idea)
And the case is pretty clean and doesn't make iPhone much bigger or adds any noticeable weight.
There's one thing though. Well, two things actually, which are not-so-good about Bumpers.
The mute button is buried deep under the frame, so it's not trivial or easy to switch the phone between silent and ring modes (have to use finger nails)
Another thing - it seems like my iPhone 4 dock was a waste of money, if I decide to continue using the Bumper. The phone just won't fit there anymore (well it kinda-sorta fits, but with a noticable danger of breaking the dock connector)
So there.. a little review of iPhone Bumper "cases" (better call the frames or something..).
I just had the case for like a few hours now, but I already like it pretty much (even with the aforementioned problems). So.. even if you don't like cases, Bumpers are the ones which deserve your 30 seconds of time. Build quality is good, and the price is - well, of course we all want everything for 5 bucks, but.. - right.