Time to dust off the cobwebs and open the Accessories thread back up.
I have been through several cases in the last few months, always trying to find the "one" that will work for me. I was pretty used to carrying my
iPhone around naked, with just a screen protector, in my front right pocket. Nothing else EVER goes in that pocket. It's just for my
iPhone... I did not want to risk scratching or even breaking that beautiful screen with keys or coins in that same pocket.
(Footnote - I recently got an 8GB
iPhone for my daughter's 19th birthday, so she and I went to the local Apple store to get her a new case and a headphone adapter for her new
iPhone.)
During my recent trip to the Apple store, I was pretty much amazed at the selections of new cases which have emerged. I remember looking at cases on iDay and finding the selections limited and not very classy, at least compared to previous products I had used. So on iDay, I decided to just stick to what I had been using for my Blackjack and others before it - a generic CaseLogic soft case with a drawstring (which is now where my earbuds go.) Since then, I have been trying to find the case that will provide good drop protection, is durable, is somewhat classy (can be used in a business environment) and will slide in and out of my pocket easily, without collecting lots of lint.
I tried a couple of skin cases. They are too sticky for me. They provide wonderful grip when holding the
iPhone, but they also cling to pockets and collect far too much lint. Full leather cases don't provide access to the various ports and buttons needed to operate the
iPhone. Others seemed too soft, and wouldn't truly protect the
iPhone if it hit concrete from my pocket. And belt clip cases/holsters always seem to find the nearest corner or handrail as I walk past, so they were off the list.
At the Apple store, I looked at some hard cases. There were a few that peaked my interest. I pulled three down and compared them side by side, and based on the visual inspection, decided to go with the
Griffin Elan Form case. It actually comes in two flavors - a black leather hard case, and a cork case which looked very cool (but was just a little too clingy in my pocket.) I went with the black leather case.
I found that this case ($29.95) also includes a screen protector (only covers the touchscreen, not a full size protector) and is a two piece case that clips the front and back halves together to form a protective shield.
It has a hard plastic protective shell covered by textured but smooth black leather and it slides in and out of my pocket easily. All of the ports and buttons on the
iPhone are accessible and can be used with most accessories. Probably the only accessories that can't be used are dock accessories (but I don't think any cases can be used with most docks.) I use an Arkon windshield mount in my Jeep Liberty and the case fits snugly and looks great there providing access to all of the buttons and ports. The screen protector was an added bonus, as it is a typical static cling type crystal plastic shield which went on easily and comes with a cleaning microfiber cloth.
I was able to unpackage the case and screen protector, install the screen protector, and put the case on my
iPhone in under a minute, with no air bubbles and a clean fit all around. The case comes in two pieces - a back shell with a circular hole for the camera lens and recesses along the edges for access to ports and buttons, and a front shell with a cutout for the touchscreen and speakers and home button, and matching recesses for the buttons and ports along the sides and top and bottom. The easy way to install (although there were no instructions) is to put the back half down on a flat surface, place the
iPhone in facing up, and then place the top half down over the
iPhone and push together along the edges, feeling for the click that signifies a solid fit on all four seams. Easy!
To remove the case there is a small groove in the bottom right of the case edge where a coin or other item can be used to gently pry the halves apart.
The Griffin Elan Form case meets all of my needs and met my criteria. At last I have the protection I want for my
iPhone! Check out the attached pictures for a closer view.
I rate the Griffin Elan Form as follows:
Looks: 9 out of 10 (classy enough for a boardroom)
Durability: 8 out of 10 (the screen is still exposed, and the case will pop apart for some drops)
Function: 9 out of 10 (textured for handling or to prevent sliding across a dashboard, yet smooth enough for going in and out of a pocket)
Accessibility: 9 out of 10 (the port/button openings match perfectly, yet provide easy access and protection)
Value: 8 out of 10 (comes with screen protector and microfiber cloth in addition to the case itself for $29.95 at the Apple store or online)
Overall: 8.8 out of 9 (not perfect, but as close as I have seen for my needs)
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