Okay Geek Farm
t3ch Review - Speck 3G & 3GS iPhone Cases
Ricardo Trejo
Whether you just got yourself an iPhone or have had one since day one, if you don’t have a case for it then you need to look into that problem right now. And if you do happen to have a case but it’s not a Speck, well here’s a review to make sure you become familiar with them from now on.
Products: Speck Candy Shell, Fitted, SeeThru and SeeThru Satin
What they say they do: Spexy protection for your iPhone
My experience: My opinion is that if you’re going to shell out the cash to get yourself an expensive phone or device then you shouldn’t hesitate to put out a little bit more - to protect it and make it look your own at the same time. And with so many companies getting into the iPhone accessory game, it can be a pretty daunting task to find the perfect case. But no worries, when I was at CES earlier this year I ran into a booth - that of Speck’s - which has solved that problem, so you won’t have to look any further. But before I tell you about my time with the Speck cases, I think it’d be best to let you know that before I’ve gone through about 3 of those $10 silicone slip-on cover “cases”, as well an Otterbox case, which made my iPhone feel more like Iron Man than a cell phone device.
First up is the Candy Shell: It’s a one piece slip on cover; soft on the inside but tough on its exterior. It has a glossy finish on the outside, but like all things glossy, really showcases fingerprints. There are cut outs for the dock connector, headphone jack, camera, and silent switch, with the exception of the volume buttons, which are covered over as part of the case. The problem with covering the volume control was that it was too snug of a fit, and so it was constantly lowering the ring volume. The inside consists of a rubberized center that keeps the phone snug, and protected from any outside force. The outside is smooth, for easy access to place and remove from any pocket, but made sturdy enough with a polycarbonate material that it won’t crack or break no matter the situation. All in all, it’s a solid build with a snazzy combination of two colors accenting each other that offer complete protection - unless of course, it’s direct shot to the screen.
Now onto the SeeThru and SeeThru Satin models: the SeeThru is a one piece cover that’s made completely, inside and out, of polycarbonate, which won’t shatter, crack, or break. There are cut outs for all the major connectors and jacks, but again like the Candy Shell case, doesn’t make one for the volume control buttons. However, in this particular case I didn’t have any trouble with the volume being adjusted due to the case itself pushing up against one of the buttons. The case itself is quite slim which won’t make it feel any bulkier than the phone itself when it’s in your pocket.
The SeeThru Satin is pretty much the same as the SeeThru except that it’s been given a sleek Satin finish, which gives the case a little bit more grip. Other than that, it’s the exact same thing as the SeeThru but not as cool looking due to the Satin finish taking away that complete SeeThru look.
And last but not least, the Fitted: The Fitted case is much more to my liking, and unanimously the Spexiest (I just love that word) of the bunch. It’s a two piece snap-on together joint, with the backing designed with varied patterns of fabric. It’s not made out of polycarbonate material which makes it susceptible to breaking, but unless you’re bending it with the intention of cracking it, well then I’m sure you’re covered. But with that being said, the Fitted is more about making a fashion statement than one of safety, though it’ll get the job done if the phone is ever dropped. The cuts outs on the Fitted are also much better done than on the other cases since the volume controls are at your disposal without having to press through the case itself. And on top of that, it’s the easiest to remove from out of all of the cases in this review, but I’ll get into that in this upcoming next section.
Overall, Speck’s iPhone cases are top notch; they look great, they won’t break, and you will look like a one of a kind when you’re sporting one of them. But there is one downside to having a Speck, and that’s the difficulty that comes along with taking any of these cases off once they’re on nice and snug like. I mean, these cases are amazing because once they’re once they are on, but that’s also their downfall - it’s impossible to take these buggers off! It’s such a task that Speck even had to release videos on how to remove each kind of case once they’re on. And that’s mostly the reason why I stick to the Fitted line, since they’re two piece snap-on cases, that are simple to apply and remove, and they look Spexy too!
Pro’s: stylish no matter which set you pick, affordable price, individualistic design
Con’s: can be difficult to remove
Price: $29.95 - $34.95
Where to buy: Speck, Amazon
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