Hi all,
Late to the IPH$ (fitting don't you think? Given the position of $ and number 4 lol) party. After reading here researching for the 'perfect' case, I figure I would contribute. This is a review/rant/random thought combo so, fan boy/girl or not, please dont flame me if you disagree with anything.
I am a BB user for the past few years. I still have it and use it daily. For the cost of that thing even with contract (on par with apple) when it was first released, I was pleased with the accessory package it came with: leather case with magnet so it will sleep headset charger...etc. I guess with the free case thingy, Apple sort of stepped up indirectly in comparison. I have always been a phone in pocket type. Coming from nokia land, candy bar or flip, that hasn't been too much of an issue. But with these 'smart' phones, larger screens, I start to be more aware regarding protection. Since my BB came with a 'leather' holster, thats how I carry it.
With 4, I was/am looking for the same protection/convenience. My ultimate goal is to find a holster that will hold phone with case on that is slim enough to be pock friendly. After long searches here and on other sites, I ended up trying the following and I will give review each:
Switcheasy colors:
Case is well made and very gripy. I am not sure what other reviewers wear for pants, but case is completely not pocket friendly for me. Despite reading/watching youtube reviews. Case is a lint magnet x10 for sure. Gets very linty very fast and hard to take in and out of pocket -- no, I don't wear skinny jeans (too old to pull it off + spare tire). But for around the house where you don't keep the phone with you, it is great. Good coverage... perhaps too good. The lip over glass comes over too far, can't arrange icon to next screen without pushing the lip out to trigger screen flip.
Screen protector and port covers are great. Though naked screen is best, this SP is pretty much invisible after 10 sec use and is slick enough to not distract. Hard to clean with t shirt (smear too much) but with fiber cloth, it is easy to clean.
It will not fit the universal dock with unmodded insert. But, will fit perfectly without any insert. The default OEM cable fit without issue but belkin + Philips cable are too thick. The silicon will give to make it fit so it is non issue but since I was using belkin for car, it was annoying to have to push the port part of the case apart to fit. I figure I should mention it.
I also don't know/can't find with any definitive conclusion a holster that will hold this -- perhaps the 10$ sleeve from ? (shoot! Don't recall the site... but they have a version for phone with bumpers specifically) I don't know. I may order it to try once I find the site again.
After more reading, I got:
SGP ultra thin matt gun metal. Comes with SP + extras not worth mentioning.
Case is well made but finish is poor. I have 2 CM wear mark on the right side lip close to the middle of the case. The top portion where it lips over between the sleep/headphone is rough and scratchy. Then, there is of course the mold line which I already know prior so I won't count that against it.
The complaints above are purely cosmetic. The fit to the phone is perfect meaning no creaking or movement once snapped on. But the alignment is slightly off. The volume + sleep buttons are just off center though all functioning just fine. Again, purely cosmetic. The case is shockingly slippery -- especially coming from colors case. But it is too slippery. I know people worry about the pastel version being slippery, but, I would surmise that matt is actually slipperier! Here is why I think is the case (sic!)... with the pastel version, the surface is glossy like inside of a topperware. If your hand is clean and the surface is clean, you will get grip. With matt version, the 'mattness' is like a nonstick cookware coating nothing sticks including your hand. Well, I exaggerated a bit. But, it is slick.
I dislike the hole in back for the apple logo, I order the case thinking I will learn to live with it but, that has turned out to be blessing in disguise. I now use that circle lip on the case to prevent case from sliding. Another unforeseen bonus is that this case will fit an UNMODIFIED insert #9 for the universal dock!! Fit is just a hair loose but makes all contacts and is well supported in the dock. Also, because it is slightly loose, you don't need to hold the dock while undocking. It goes without saying that all cables aftermarket or not will fit.
Knowing that I ultimately want a pocket holster, I took a look at specs of different phones. I was able to find a sena kutu case for 3G/S which I know based on spec was just a tad larger than 4. Sure enough, 4 is just loose in the case naked+SP but just snug with ultra thin!
The material of the kutu is smooth so it slips in and out of pocket with ease. Good lint protection and good screen protection too. I am sure other holsters will work too. But, I got this on clearance so was really cheap. I am glad I took the chance. I think, any 'feather' type cases will work with this holster for pocketing.
I have switcheasy Vulcan coming. I am hoping this will be the colors replacement since the material is not suppose to attract lint. It would offer much better grip than the SGP. I will look for a cheap holster for that once I can do some measurement.
I now use the port covers/screen protector from colors and SGP case + sena holster. It is minmal bulk but offers good protection. I wish the SGP would get rubber coating like my BB has on the sides. I still think BB knows best on durability. It may not be the most sexy, but functionally perfect (phone housing wise). With the magnet, phone buttons are complete deactivated. With 4, you have to worry about the hitting the sleep button which I do hit a few times. Apple should really add a 3 way to the ring/vibrate to deactivate all buttons.
I would like to thank whomever posted the ebay link in the 'cheap cable' thread. The black cables are exact OEM match with same pin count and same housing. I would like to note that my belkin + Philips (which I paid $$$) got more pins. I now see belkin has a cable (24.99 at target) that has ALL 30 pins. I am not sure of the significance of having all or some of the pins but because I am a newbe, I feel posting this may help others. I now have both dock and ebay cable on computer. If I ever use the colors case, I don't have to remove the insert in dock and just use the ebay cable. I always have the choice of modding the insert in the future.
I have more rants/thoughts. But, I ADDed out typing all this. I am shocked that I made it this far.
PEACE OUT.
Late to the IPH$ (fitting don't you think? Given the position of $ and number 4 lol) party. After reading here researching for the 'perfect' case, I figure I would contribute. This is a review/rant/random thought combo so, fan boy/girl or not, please dont flame me if you disagree with anything.
I am a BB user for the past few years. I still have it and use it daily. For the cost of that thing even with contract (on par with apple) when it was first released, I was pleased with the accessory package it came with: leather case with magnet so it will sleep headset charger...etc. I guess with the free case thingy, Apple sort of stepped up indirectly in comparison. I have always been a phone in pocket type. Coming from nokia land, candy bar or flip, that hasn't been too much of an issue. But with these 'smart' phones, larger screens, I start to be more aware regarding protection. Since my BB came with a 'leather' holster, thats how I carry it.
With 4, I was/am looking for the same protection/convenience. My ultimate goal is to find a holster that will hold phone with case on that is slim enough to be pock friendly. After long searches here and on other sites, I ended up trying the following and I will give review each:
Switcheasy colors:
Case is well made and very gripy. I am not sure what other reviewers wear for pants, but case is completely not pocket friendly for me. Despite reading/watching youtube reviews. Case is a lint magnet x10 for sure. Gets very linty very fast and hard to take in and out of pocket -- no, I don't wear skinny jeans (too old to pull it off + spare tire). But for around the house where you don't keep the phone with you, it is great. Good coverage... perhaps too good. The lip over glass comes over too far, can't arrange icon to next screen without pushing the lip out to trigger screen flip.
Screen protector and port covers are great. Though naked screen is best, this SP is pretty much invisible after 10 sec use and is slick enough to not distract. Hard to clean with t shirt (smear too much) but with fiber cloth, it is easy to clean.
It will not fit the universal dock with unmodded insert. But, will fit perfectly without any insert. The default OEM cable fit without issue but belkin + Philips cable are too thick. The silicon will give to make it fit so it is non issue but since I was using belkin for car, it was annoying to have to push the port part of the case apart to fit. I figure I should mention it.
I also don't know/can't find with any definitive conclusion a holster that will hold this -- perhaps the 10$ sleeve from ? (shoot! Don't recall the site... but they have a version for phone with bumpers specifically) I don't know. I may order it to try once I find the site again.
After more reading, I got:
SGP ultra thin matt gun metal. Comes with SP + extras not worth mentioning.
Case is well made but finish is poor. I have 2 CM wear mark on the right side lip close to the middle of the case. The top portion where it lips over between the sleep/headphone is rough and scratchy. Then, there is of course the mold line which I already know prior so I won't count that against it.
The complaints above are purely cosmetic. The fit to the phone is perfect meaning no creaking or movement once snapped on. But the alignment is slightly off. The volume + sleep buttons are just off center though all functioning just fine. Again, purely cosmetic. The case is shockingly slippery -- especially coming from colors case. But it is too slippery. I know people worry about the pastel version being slippery, but, I would surmise that matt is actually slipperier! Here is why I think is the case (sic!)... with the pastel version, the surface is glossy like inside of a topperware. If your hand is clean and the surface is clean, you will get grip. With matt version, the 'mattness' is like a nonstick cookware coating nothing sticks including your hand. Well, I exaggerated a bit. But, it is slick.
I dislike the hole in back for the apple logo, I order the case thinking I will learn to live with it but, that has turned out to be blessing in disguise. I now use that circle lip on the case to prevent case from sliding. Another unforeseen bonus is that this case will fit an UNMODIFIED insert #9 for the universal dock!! Fit is just a hair loose but makes all contacts and is well supported in the dock. Also, because it is slightly loose, you don't need to hold the dock while undocking. It goes without saying that all cables aftermarket or not will fit.
Knowing that I ultimately want a pocket holster, I took a look at specs of different phones. I was able to find a sena kutu case for 3G/S which I know based on spec was just a tad larger than 4. Sure enough, 4 is just loose in the case naked+SP but just snug with ultra thin!
The material of the kutu is smooth so it slips in and out of pocket with ease. Good lint protection and good screen protection too. I am sure other holsters will work too. But, I got this on clearance so was really cheap. I am glad I took the chance. I think, any 'feather' type cases will work with this holster for pocketing.
I have switcheasy Vulcan coming. I am hoping this will be the colors replacement since the material is not suppose to attract lint. It would offer much better grip than the SGP. I will look for a cheap holster for that once I can do some measurement.
I now use the port covers/screen protector from colors and SGP case + sena holster. It is minmal bulk but offers good protection. I wish the SGP would get rubber coating like my BB has on the sides. I still think BB knows best on durability. It may not be the most sexy, but functionally perfect (phone housing wise). With the magnet, phone buttons are complete deactivated. With 4, you have to worry about the hitting the sleep button which I do hit a few times. Apple should really add a 3 way to the ring/vibrate to deactivate all buttons.
I would like to thank whomever posted the ebay link in the 'cheap cable' thread. The black cables are exact OEM match with same pin count and same housing. I would like to note that my belkin + Philips (which I paid $$$) got more pins. I now see belkin has a cable (24.99 at target) that has ALL 30 pins. I am not sure of the significance of having all or some of the pins but because I am a newbe, I feel posting this may help others. I now have both dock and ebay cable on computer. If I ever use the colors case, I don't have to remove the insert in dock and just use the ebay cable. I always have the choice of modding the insert in the future.
I have more rants/thoughts. But, I ADDed out typing all this. I am shocked that I made it this far.
PEACE OUT.