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Best Covers for the iPhone - Proctective CasesWhen the iPhone first launched, it carried a massive $599 price tag. Would people really pay $600 for a cell phone? Turns out they would, but Jobs was kind enough to drop the price to $399 a few months later (much to the ire and chagrin of early Apple buyers). But whether you pay $400 or $600 for an iPhone, the fact remains that you want to protect it from getting beaten up and scratched up. My experience with Apple iPods has been pretty bad. I bought an early Nano with the lovely black glass-like surface, took pretty good care of it, normally only carried it in pocket of soft gym pants -- but before you knew it, the entire surface of the thing was so scratched up and marred, you had trouble just seeing the screen. So of course, THEN I bought a protective plastic case for it. On the other hand, my Motorola RAZR has a nice matte finish to it, and 2 years of fairly rugged use with it (yes, including a few drops) has left it looking almost as good as the day I bought it. So with a recent purchase of an iPhone, I don't plan on taking any chances -- I need some kind of cover and protection for that sleek glass face. This guide will look into the various iPhone covers and iPhone skins out there, trying to find the best iPhone products if you want to protect your iPhone as well.
Best Types of Covers for iPhoneWith its large touchscreen face, the iPhone offers some unique challenges when it comes to finding the very best cover for it. Most iPod covers cover the whole unit except for the touchwheel and input/output ports. But you need access to pretty much the whole front of the iPhone to use it. This has led to several different "styles" of iPhone covers. One option is a pouch-type sleeve, basically a little cloth bag to pop your iPhone into when you are not using it. Then throw the pouch into your pocket, briefcase, purse, whatever, without worrying about scratching it up. Of course when you take it out and use it, you will need to be careful with it since it is totally unprotected. You can check out some of these at iStyles.com - they cost about $10 each and come in a variety of stylish colors and patterns. They also offer some pretty neat looking iPhone skins. These are printed adhesive-backed cast vinyl pieces that adhere to your phone, giving it a protective outerlayer that is extremely thin and adds almost no thickness to your iPhone. But the real eye-catcher here are the amazing colors and patterns that can totally personalize your phone - how about $100 bills, cheetah skin, burlwood, or blue lightning? The skins all come with a wallpaper download as well so the face of your phone when in wallpaper mode blends right in with the skin. Very cool, for $7 each, pick up a couple to give your iPhone some personality! Check out the boombox look below! UPDATE: Got some samples of these, they are a thin vinyl-like plastic material, self adhering, can be removed with no residue. They do offer some interesting color designs to spark up your iPhone, but they cover only the flat surfaces of the iPhone and not the rounded edges that probably take the most beating and get the most scratches -- we'd consider these to be more cosmetic that real protectors compared to others we have seen.
What are the best skins for the iPhone?If your more into the minimalist approach and prefer function to style, look into ApplePeelz.com. They offer 8 mil protective film covers that are precision cut for a perfect fit around all your Apple gadgets, including the iPhone. When applied to the front and back of your phone, you end up with an invisible skin that protects both the touchscreen and the body of the phone. They cost $14 and use the wet apply film approach for installation, which takes some patience and skill to get everything aligned and in place, but they look and function great once on your phone. You can read the installation instructions at their site to see how it works. For a great iPhone skin that is even easier to install, visit iQase.com. They make the iQase Film which is a similar clear plastic touchscreen protector. You get two screen covers for $15. Check out their YouTube video of the installation process. This cool film creates a vacuum when it comes in contact with a solid surface, literally applying itself in a matter of seconds with no bubbles, no wet apply techniques, and super simple to remove and reinstall with no residue - very nice product. UPDATE: We got review sample of the iQase film and it is incredible. Just as easy to install as promised, we had to peel it off once to re-align, no problems, pretty much installs itself once you line it up and let it lay down. Offers perfect screen protection (though does not protect the rest of the iPhone) - no scratches, no marks after carrying it loose in pockets and bags thus far. And since it came with two films, you have a spare in reserve if you ever need it. Highly recommended.Hard iPhone Protective CasesIf you're looking for more than skins, you way want to consider something like a hard plastic case or a leather or fabric wallet style iPhone protector. MyiTablet.com carries a broad selection. Their flip-lid models include the Case-Mate Signature Series Leather Flip Case, made of Italian leather wrapped around a plastic core, it protects your entire iPhone with a flip-open front for access when you need it. Comes with belt clip -- $35. For $40, consider the mod-looking E&B Company Slipper W/ Clip, a sort of leather wallet for your iPhone. It has a flip-up cover and has openings in all the right places (camera lens, connectors, etc.). If you are more into the hard acrylic plastic type case, check out the Belkin Acrylic Case for Apple iPhone, $25. This type of case adds a little thickness to the phone, but provides very solid protection from bumps and scratches. It has an integrated kickstand/belt clip on the back for standing your iPhone up on your desk to watch movies or whatever. We've used a similar little model on our iPod Nano for the last two years, and it has proven itself again and again. The acrylic itself has some scratches on it, but I can live with that. Belkin also makes the Belkin Sport Armband for Apple iPhone -- $25, lets you wear your iPhone on your arm when jogging, exercising, etc (made of neoprene and velcro, hand washable). Griffin makes the popular Griffin iClear for $25, made of crystal-clear polycarbonate, comes with removable belt clip and armband, making it very versatile if you want to work-out with your iPhone's music capabilities.If you are the holster wearing type who wants your phone hanging at your belt, check out the Case-Mate Signature Case-Holster COMBO for Apple iPhone - $50 and available at MyiTablet.com, or the Seidio Rubberized Spring Clip Holster for $28 (fits only unskinned phones). We also liked the inexpensive Mobi Products Holster for Apple iPhone for just $20 - rotating belt clip, solid one-piece plastic construction. Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.
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