Appletell reviews Agent 18 FlowerVest for iPhone 4 and iPad

Provides: iDevice protection
Developer: Agent18
Minimum Requirements: iPhone 4 or iPad
Price: $29.95 (iPhone 4) $39.95 (iPad)
Availability: Now

Looking for something a bit less nondescript when it comes to a case for your iPad or iPhone 4? Agent 18 may have just the thing…if you dig some flower power.

Agent 18 makes the FlowerVest case for both iPad and iPhone, but it’s essentially the same thing. Both are made from a thick antistatic silicone material. The most noticeable thing concerning both cases is the large, raised flower on the back. I’m guessing they aren’t marketing these cases to manly men, but you just never know.

The silicone has an interesting feel to it. It’s both slippery and grippy, which unfortunately doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s smooth and your fingers glide across it relatively easily, but at the same time you can hold it firmly in your hands without worrying about dropping it. It also is said to repel dirt, and in practice, it does a pretty good job of staying clean. It’s also thick enough to absorb some bumps that your iDevice may encounter. I wouldn’t get in the habit of dropping it on purpose, but this should definitely help at least a bit.

Both cases fit their respective devices quite nicely. I had no issues with the cases being too tight or loose anywhere. There are cutouts for every port, while all buttons are covered by thinner silicone. Basically, you won’t be sacrificing any functionality with these cases other than the ability to use most docks. I was very happy with the build quality of these cases, especially when I’m so used to seeing cheap, flimsy silicone cases. These are definitely much nicer.

One interesting design element is a slight cutout near the top of the iPad case. It took me a while to figure out what this was, and then it hit me. This is where the ambient light sensor is on the iPad. So it looks a little strange to see a cutout where there doesn’t appear to be anything, but in fact, it is necessary. Good job Agent18, a lesser company probably would have just covered it.

And that’s really all there is to say about the Agent 18 cases. These cases rate highly in terms of quality, so if you dig the flowery design, you’ll be happy with either. The antistatic silicone is the best silicone material I’ve seen for cases. It doesn’t attract dirt, like many do, and it’s thick enough to hold a shape. It’s grippy, yet slick, and full of flower power.

Appletell Rating:

Buy the iPhone 4 FlowerVest or iPad FlowerVest