MiniSuit iPhone 4 Skin Case for iPhone 4G / 4th Generation compatible with 16GB / 32GB HD TPU skin case and MiniSuit LCD Cleaner keychain – Smoke Circle
September 6, 2010 // By admin // iPhone 4g // 5 comments
- Compatible with new Apple iPhone 4 16GB / 32GB
- Premium high quality TPU skin case which provides extra protection and style for your iPhone
- Bonus MiniSuit mircofiber screen cleaner Keychain
- Easy access to all buttons, port and cameras
- Images of iPhone case are intellectual properties of MiniSuit and is subject to copyright.
Product Description
Luxuriate your Apple iPhone 4 with our stunning new MiniSuit Brand TPU case. Package include iPhone 4 case and MiniSuit Microfiber screen cleaner…. More >>
MiniSuit iPhone 4 Skin Case for iPhone 4G / 4th Generation compatible with 16GB / 32GB HD TPU skin case and MiniSuit LCD Cleaner keychain – Smoke Circle
Tags: 16GB, 32GB, Case, Circle, Cleaner, compatible, Generation, iPhone, keychain, MiniSuit, Skin, Smoke
The TPU material feels slightly tacky, but it’s thinner and not as sticky as rubber or silicone cases and will still help the phone survive a fumble (TPU has better hardness, abrasion resistance, and tensile strength than silicone). Most importantly the case passed the pocket removal test (though I can’t vouch for those of you in skinny jeans). Oily fingerprints show up pretty quickly but they’re easily buffed out on the front of your t-shirt. The power and volume buttons are wisely covered to keep dirt out and they retain good tactile action through the “outdent” above each. The sound on/off slider is uncovered and harder to get at but it can be toggled while inside your pocket with a little extra finger dexterity. The camera elements, flash, audio jack, top mic, speakers, and dock connector are all properly uncovered with perfectly placed openings in the case.
As far as aesthetics, the phone’s sexy stainless steel band is hidden away but the smoke-gray case is subtle and thin, and even with my spartan taste I think the concentric rings around the Apple logo are actually better than the muted-gray look it would have had without them. (Thumbs down to the new version in the product picture showing the grid of circles. Not sure which one they’re shipping now.) There is a visible seam running around the sides of the case, but it’s mostly flush and not very conspicuous.
I bought this case in order to have an interim solution while I wait for better known case manufacturers to get their act together and put their iPhone 4 products on the market. (Seriously, the mechanicals were obviously available pre-launch from Apple, as the design of this MiniSuit case attests. Incase? Speck? Marware? Incipio? … Hello?!) As the earlier reviewer noted, this is a more than sufficient case although I obviously won’t know for a while how durable it is. The bottom line is it surpassed my expectations of a $12 case and will definitely be in use for a while. I’ll eventually try a different case; but it will be because I’m geeked out about my new phone, not because the MiniSuit case wasn’t worthy. I just need to install my Skinomi screen protector, and I’ll finally be able to actually use my phone without sweating over dropping it.
Rating: 4 / 5
Fits exceptionally well for a product that must have been manufactured before the designers had access to the hardware. Ports and buttons are well aligned. Quick shipping and reasonable price. I had planned to use this case just for a month or two, until fancier options were available, but now I may stick with it for the long haul. Well done, Minisuit.
Rating: 5 / 5
What can I say, I do not like soft cases. I believe that hard cases protect better and feel better and I don’t like my buttons being covered by a case at all…
That said, I have to admit that this case is great. It feels good in the hand, it is not “sticky” or a lint magnet like other soft cases that I’ve seen. The knockouts for the dock connector / bottom speakers / microphone, mute switch, headphone jack, and rear camera / LED flash are spot on. Even the mirrored apple logo is targeted perfectly by the concentric circle design on the back of the case. The volume buttons and lock switch are covered (ugh) but they are easily pressed through the case.
Also, the case fits the iPhone 4 like a glove. There is no slipping around, it’s tight and a tad bit difficult to get on the first time but that just means that it won’t come off the phone unless I really try to take it off and will probably protect the phone well in the case of an accidental drop.
I’m hoping that this will prevent the iPhone 4 “grip of death” but haven’t had anyone to call yet so I can’t really report on that.
Bottom Line: Great early release case. Good fit, looks good, solid design.
Rating: 4 / 5
Save your money for a better fitting case that does not affect the camera/flash. Here is a pros/cons list for you on the case.
PROs
- Fits frame well (excluding the camera issue below)
- Great Looking
CONs
- Does NOT fit the camera lens and flash properly, when you use the flash you get milky looking pictures because the flash/camera hole on the case is too small and reflects the flash back into the lens, vs the nice crisp pictures you get with the case off (see images I uploaded of a test shot of my TV at night using the case on and off)
- Very hard, doubt it gives much protection if you drop your phone…
- Somewhat brittle, mine is already cracking in one corner from taking the case on and off 3 or 4 times because it affects the camera…see above
- Causes protective film covers to peel off when you put on the case if you’re not very careful.
- Hard casing on the front sticks out a bit and can be very uncomfortable when holding the phone up to your face for conversations over 5 minutes
OVERALL:
2 of 5 avoid this case and wait till they release a second version with a properly sized flash hole to fix the camera issue described above and use a less hard/brittle plastic.
Rating: 2 / 5
I bought this case and the $25 Belkin Grip Vue. I like this one better. It is attractive, slim and functional. The holes for the dock connector and earphone jack are a little bigger than on the Belkin case, so they work better with some accessories. This type of case is not the same as the matte silicone cases for iPhone 3G. The material is stiffer and doesn’t gap like the silicone does. It also seems more shock absorbing than the hard cases like InCase makes. The case material fills the cutout/gap between the iPhone’s screen and metal band, so even though the case is slim, there should be enough there to cushion an average fall. The case also cuts down on the interference caused by gripping the phone in your left hand.
The texture of the case is smooth so it comes out of your pocket easily, but it still grips in your hand well. The only imperfection to my eye is a small moulding seem in the center of the edge. The little jacket shaped screen wiper is not something I would cary around with me, but it does work if you don’t mind adding the bulk to your keychain.
Rating: 5 / 5