Now that we’re a couple of months past the launch of the heavily redesigned iPhone 4, the number of available case options has finally reached the level we’ve come to expect. Before long, we’ll be inundated with options, so let’s stay on top of things with a look at soft shell options from Case Mate, Proporta and Speck.
Gelli Case
Case-Mate’s Gelli Case ($19.99) is my current favorite; I suppose I should just come right out and say that. It’s made of a lightweight TPU material that’s easy to get on and off the iPhone, but it holds a nice shape when in place.
Its official colors are tomato, aurora, clear, gray, pink, and teal blue, each featuring a subtle pattern on the back. The transparent colors do a nice job of working with your iPhone default color (mine’s black, obviously), but if you’ve got the right skin, they work with those as well. I have a black and white rendition of the Queen crest on the back of my iPhone, and the “tomato” Case-Mate creates a nice red color cast with the two toned logo. If your skin design is more colorful, the Case-Mate could muddy it up if you go with anything other than clear or gray.
Your headphone port, dock port, speaker/microphone, camera/flash and hold buttons are wide open, so there’s no trouble accessing them. The power and volume buttons are covered, but with form-fitted buttons of their own for easy use. A screen protector is included to make sure your entire iPhone 4 is protected against not only minor drops and impacts, but scratches as well.
My single complaint about the Gelli Case is a complaint I have with all transparent TPU or silicone cases: moisture. Even with my skin on the back, moisture does get between the case and the phone, causing discolorations to appear. Dry them off, and they come right back.
Still, if you’re looking for a soft case that provides relatively thin protection and a nice hint of design, you’re not currently going to do much better than the Case-Mate Gelli.
Silicone iPhone 4 Reception Case with SteriTouch
Proporta’s Silicone iPhone 4 Reception Case with SteriTouch ($28.95) relies on texture, not color, to create its identity. Although it’s available in black/pink, black/green, and black/grey models, that second color is relegated to accents around the camera and volume buttons. The interior is also the second color, but you can’t see this when the phone’s in place.
The back of the case uses a wave and diagonal stripes to provide texture, and these contain additional benefit of making the phone comfortable to hold. The lightweight silicone skin offers the protection you’d expect, but it also contains SteriTouch—an antimicrobial coating that helps to guard against germs and bacteria.
The openings and coverings are the same as with the Gelli Case, but the fit isn’t quite as tight, and the rise of the power button does cause a slight arc in the case at the top of the screen. Plus, if you want a screen protector, you’ll have to buy that separately.
Silicone iPhone 4 Reception Case with SteriTouch is a solid option for protection, but the price and design make it less attractive than the competition.
PixelSkin
If the iPhone 4 is not your first iPhone, then you’ve probably at least considered Speck’s PixelSkin ($24.95) before. You should consider it again. Its signature tiled texture makes it the bulkiest of this roundup’s options, but that also means it provides the most protection against bumps and drops. However, it doesn’t come with a screen protector, so add that to the cost.
The bulk also makes it harder to reach the mute button, headphone port and such, and you’ll likely have to remove the iPhone from the case in order to use some docking devices. You’ll also have to push harder to get response out of your power and volume buttons.
Thankfully, the bulk is mitigated on the front by a bevelled edge that allows you to easily hit the keys on the sides of the screen. However, I found that it did still interfere when I tried to drag an app to the edge of the screen to drop it in another page.
So, the bulk is a trade-off between protection and functionality. It’s not necessarily a knock on the design, however. It’s an oddly attractive case, available in black, pink or purple. The PixelSkin won’t appeal to everyone, but if you liked it on your 3G, you’ll like it here, too.
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