SGP Linear EX Meteor Series Infinity White bumper case for iPhone 4 /4S review

Jason Tsay Jan 5, 2012 Follow Me Follow Me Follow Me Follow Me Follow Me Follow Me Follow Me Follow Us Accessories, Apple, Exclusive, Okay Geek Review, Reviews, iPhone

 

The bumper case is a popular form factor for many iPhone 4 and 4S owners so of course we had to take a look at SGP’s very own offering. The company thoughtfully adds SGP Steinheil films for the front and back of the iPhone for extra protection and value. How does the SGP Linear EX Meteor Series perform? 

Features

• Slim and form fitted to show the perfect shape of your device.
• Easy Access to all control, and ports.
• Available in 11 colors.
• Steinheil Ultra Crystal LCD Protector (1PC)
• Steinheil Ultra Crystal Back Panel Protector (1PC)

Our Impressions

The SGP Linear EX Meteor Series comes in a clear plastic shell reminiscent of Apple’s more recent iPod packaging. Inside, you’ll find the bumper, front and back protectors, and a microfiber cloth. 

Our first order of business was to apply the front and back films. Packed inside a little plastic sleeve, SGP Steinheil Ultra Crystal films are made of a clear rigid material. Since they’re hard plastic, the application is a liquid free process - remove the backing on the film, apply, remove front backing. The film cutouts are easy to align with the iPhone’s surface and what little amount of bubbles disappeared with a quick push of the finger. The film is barely noticeable although we would have much preferred the wet apply back film of the SGP Incredible Shield Ultra Coat as it adds more grip. 

Of course, the main part of the product is the two piece plastic bumper. First impression? It felt really flimsy and cheap. However, the same can be said for Apple’s very own Bumper and also like the bumper, it becomes less of a problem once the case is installed. The two L shaped pieces interlock and the bumper stays on fairly well once you’ve clicked them together. However, it’s also pretty easy to remove the bumper simply by pulling on the corner of the thin plastic. The satin finished silver plastic wraps around the left side and the top of the phone while the glossy white goes around the right and bottom. Neither piece adds very much grip (in fact, we’d say they’re both rather slippery) but the bumper does make the phone a tad wider and adds curved edges which are both good things. 

A white plastic power button is built into the case and maintains the tactile feedback of the original button. The same cannot be said for the volume keys on the side of the phone. These are pretty recessed and require a bit more force to press although it certainly becomes manageable after a while. The mute switch is pretty shallow although you should have no problem getting your thumb in there to flick the switch. A large SGP Case Linear EX logo is embossed into the bottom of the silver half of the case. The headphone jack cutout isn’t the most generous one we’ve seen in a case but it’s more than adequate for most headphone plugs; the noise cancellation mic has a separate tiny hole. The microphone and speaker cutouts on the bottom are pretty deep and as a result, sound is somewhat amplified. The 30 pin dock connector cutout is rather large and should allow most cables to fit with no problem (the edges of the cutout are on the screws of the iPhone. The top and bottom of the cutout are thin but feel pretty sturdy  

Overall

Overall, the SGP Linear EX isn’t a bad case. The Infinity White color scheme goes along nicely with the white iPhone and the SGP Steinheil films add a lot of value. It isn’t necessarily our top recommendation due to “so-so” build quality although it’s definitely something worth a look if you want a bumper case that includes the film set.

Pro’s

• slim design doesn’t add too much builk
• good cutouts for the most part
• high quality protective films included

Con’s

• build quality isn’t great
• surfaces are slippery
• volume buttons need work

Where to buy

CreTouch — MSRP: $31.99

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This review was done by Jason Tsay, who was provided the Linear EX Meteor Series by CreTouch.