iPhone case: look before you buy – UPDATED




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The first batch of iPhone cases are crap shoot simply because some manufacturers didn’t know any better.

DLO, myIncipio and Boxwave silicone cases

The first problem I encountered relates to the sensor located right above the earpiece. If this sensor is blocked, the screen will not know to turn off when it’s being held up in proximity to your face. Click over to watch demo video.

DLO, myIncipio and Boxwave silicone cases

Of the three cases I tested, the Jam Jacket for iPhone by DLO has the best layout.

DLO, myIncipio and Boxwave silicone cases

Even though myIncipio’s dermaSHOT case blocks the sensor, it still functions properly because the material wasn’t completely opaque. My apologies to myIncipio! I had the case upside down, can you believe that? Anyways, the incorrect image is replaced by the new one below.

myIncipio case

The Boxwave case didn’t work for two reasons, there is no cut out for the sensor and the material is too thick for the sensor to penetrate through.

DLO, myIncipio and Boxwave silicone cases

[MEDIA=42]

I hope this helps!

BoxWave’s new FlexiSkin[UPDATE per Boxwave representative]

We actually know about the issue and already pulled that particular FlexiSkin case from our website previous to your posting. That particular style of case is not even available at all anymore. We’ve replaced it with another FlexiSkin case. We’ll also be having another styling for the FlexiSkin available soon, as well. These cases will have the sensor uncovered, so that the iPhone will work properly.

[Second UPDATE per BoxWave's director]

BoxWave strives to design the best iPhone accessories and we will actually be shipping everyone who has our older FlexiSkin design, the newly designed one for FREE, in addition, we will be sending them the completely redesigned ClearTouch at NO additional cost.

The new case is shown on the right hand side and you can also view more images of the FlexiSkin here. Thanks Abe!

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17 Responses to “iPhone case: look before you buy – UPDATED”

  1. gadget lover says:

    I bought the isee case from Contour. Love it. Fits like a glove. Looks great.

  2. iPhoneWhoreMan says:

    I bought the isee case from Contour. Love it. Fits like a glove. Looks great.

    link or pics?

  3. Xavier says:

    Sounds like some poor planning. I picked up case from Speck and it seems to account for the sensor.

  4. Jim says:

    I grabbed the iSee from Contour, and it seems to work really well. It’s not a super snug fit, as the iPhone moves slightly when I plug in the cable. Oddly, on my iPhone, the proximity sensor is to the right of the earpiece speaker, not above it.

    My only complaint is that the iPhone can’t be put into the dock with the case on, so I have to plug the cable directly into the phone and set it on my desk. When will someone remember this important piece of info when designing the dock and/or case???

  5. Jim says:

    Sorry…forgot the link.

  6. Jane says:

    I bought the incase in red and black and both fit my iPhone perfectly. I think the black case looks the best. It’s very sleek from the front and I’ve had no problems with the sensor. I do want a fitted screen protector for it, however.

    I also tried out the clear acrylic case and the iPhone is a very tight fit and I think it made the phone look too bulky.

    My husband tried out the Folio case at the store and commented that it was one way to take all the cool factor away.

  7. Stu Charlton says:

    The CaseMate holster I purchased Friday broke by Saturday night. It didn’t fit right on my belt, and eventually even the clip , which was weakly embedded into the leather, tore off. I suppose I could have glued it back on, but that’s rather silly. It was pretty cheaply made (though the leather seemed to be OK quality).

  8. Scott says:

    The incase one fits great, doesn’t block any part of the screen and is nice and grippy. i’ve had several people comment on the quality of the case.

  9. tingtong says:

    i have the incipio dermashot silicone case and it fits just fine. maybe the problem you are having is that you put it on UPSIDE DOWN. it looks that way as you have positioned the camera hole to the bottom. I can see how this can happen if you aren’t paying attention. perhaps you should look before you report.

  10. Fred says:

    You are reviewing some craptacular accessories my friend. These are some of the worst designs I’ve ever seen. I bought a Speck Toughskin for my 4G iPod, and have pought on for every iPod me or my family have owned since. They have saved my investment every time I’ve been a moron and dropped the damn thing, and I actually bought the iPhone Toughskin 2 days before my iPhone arrived and put in in the case before I even activated it.

  11. Kirkv says:

    For those not wanting a full-time condom-like iPhone case, I have to give a thumbs-up to the Belkin slim-fit case. Its a standard slide-in/out case in leather, but with a few good touches.

    The bottom of the case is a mesh so the speaker can be heard with no problem. The mesh also flexs, so you can push the iPhone up and out of the case–which is quite snug to the form. The belt clip is very trim to the backside of the case, making it low profile and imminently pocket-able if you don’t want to wear your iPhone on your belt in true geek fashion.

  12. Anna says:

    I was worried about my order for an Orbino case, but they’re already ahead of the game. That’s why they didn’t produce the cases before they got the iPhone. They are updating their design to allow for the sensor and a couple of other things. Whew! Gotta love small Italian workshops! Wait a couple of days for them to update the design on their site but my order has already been updated. In the meantime, I’m not buying any of the plastic hooha I see here!

  13. photoTristan says:

    Folks need to be careful with those rubber cases that cover the entire iPhone. Apple recommends you not use them while charging as you don’t want the battery to get hot:

    http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html

    Allowing the battery to get hot will decrease it’s lifespan.

    The rear of the iPhone is metal for a reason, it dissipates the heat. Covering that up with rubber acts as insulation. Plus in my opinion, rubber cases feel weird in your hand and look ugly. I vote for a horizontal leather case that I can wear on my belt like the Incase leather folio.

  14. Tom says:

    i like to buy US made products so i decided to try out all three from waterfield designs (sfbags.com). they suit my needs perfectly and the craftsmanship is amazing. they have three different options depending on what you are looking for, but i figured i could use each at different times.

    http://www.sfbags.com

  15. Brendan says:

    Thanks Vincent, great advice from such a cool guy.

  16. James says:

    I always buy Beyza Cases and i really love it. Lately i bought a Vintage case from them and only & first beyza produced it.

    I think you guys should check all companies worldwide and produces what as a new product.


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