Looking for iPhone 4 see through case

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Looking for iPhone 4 see through case

andy89

12 posts

Geek

# 80573 1-Apr-2011 14:01

Hi people!

I found this forum through a quick google search and have just scanned through iPhone 4 case related topics before posting this one. Here's my question:

Having recently bought a rather expensive iPhone 4 from Noel Leeming, I naturally wanted to protect it. The guy in the store gave me a good deal on a 'case-mate' rubber protective case, which I've happily been using for the last few weeks.

However, I've since bought front and rear screen protectors off trademe, although I removed the rear protector today when my custom protective sticker for the back surface arrived from wrappz.co.nz :

Now the problem I have is that my chunky black non-see-through case covers this up, and I'm looking for a clear shell case that will encase and protect my iPhone but also display the sticker on the back.

I've had a quick hunt on trademe but some of the silicon 'see through' cases appear a little cloudy in the auction images and I'm wondering if they would distort the sticker? The Contour iSee case from the apple website looks perfect, although a bit too pricey for me at $55.

Does anyone hear at geekzone know of any other product that would be suitable or be able to point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.
Andy

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1245 posts

Uber Geek

# 454248 1-Apr-2011 15:48

I personally do not like cases and just use a zagg invisible shield for mine

dclegg

2707 posts

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# 454268 1-Apr-2011 16:35

I can't advise you on what to get, but I can offer a little advice on one to possibly steer clear from, depending on your requirements

I bought a replacement back for my iPhone 4 (from a different vendor, but that link should give an idea of the product), but wishing to keep that pristine and scratch-free, I also wanted a case with a clear back, or a bumper. I ended up purchasing the Gecko Vision Case. This has a coloured rubber surround and a clear plastic back. The back is claimed to be scratch resistant, and that's what eventually sealed the deal for me.

The first time I gently placed my phone down on my desk, it developed a scratch, and now after just over a months use, the back is covered in scratches, and the edges are becoming translucent due to scratches and scuff marks.

In short, I've not seen any indication of this plastic being any more scratch resistant than normal. So while it does display my phones back adequately enough, this is slowly getting obscured by scratches. This may or may not be an issue for you, depending on whether your goal is to solely protect the enclosed phone, or whether you also want a case that isn't susceptible to visible wear and tear itself.

blakamin

4431 posts

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Inactive user

# 454296 1-Apr-2011 17:37

Whaam!
Love that pic.
Have you seen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwgVuUd5o7Q these?
You could probably import one cheap enough.
Hope you find a case!

Loismustdye

612 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 454360 1-Apr-2011 20:55

I use an all over bestskinsever and it is awesome. Use it in conjunction with a sena leather pouch and rate both highly, although the sena pouch is really only good for protection in my pocket not from a height.

DrNut

135 posts

Master Geek

# 454620 2-Apr-2011 21:00

You could look at a griffin reveal case, clear plastic back with a rubber bumper

andy89

12 posts

Geek

# 455010 4-Apr-2011 09:44

Awesome- thanks heaps for the many replies and advice guys.

Looks like that Griffin Reveal is perfect, I really like the black bumper surrounding the edges.

I've found one here: http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=395266 Only $40.34 and includes free shipping so I think I'll grab it. And I'll be sure to post a pic/review when it arrives for anyone else out there wondering.

Thanks again!

...Just one P.S. while I think about it, is there a thread anywhere here for 'must have' NZ iPhone apps or something simular? Cheers.

dclegg

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# 455014 4-Apr-2011 10:01

andy89:
Looks like that Griffin Reveal is perfect, I really like the black bumper surrounding the edges.

That case looks very similar to the Gecko Vision one that I mentioned, so it may also be prone to scratching on the back. It does look to be a little slimmer though. And I can't be 100% sure, but pics I saw of it looked like the rubber may be raised at the back, preventing the plastic back from resting directly on surfaces.

But if it is essentially the same thing as the Vision, Ascent have the Vision case for $28.29 (delivered), and that also includes an anti-glare screen protector. The pic on that page differs from my one though, as my volume buttons are also covered by the rubber surround in the same manner as the Reveal case.

revolushn

128 posts

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# 455111 4-Apr-2011 13:45

These Cygnett ones are $30 at various places in town. Yoobee/MM/Student IT

andy89

12 posts

Geek

# 456714 8-Apr-2011 12:28

Well thanks to the advice from blakamin and DrNut, I'm now the happy owner of a Griffin Reveal.

I purchased it from Ascent yesterday and it arrived this morning, very happy with the service. Funnily enough the main box it was delivered in was a Gecko box, with the smaller Griffin box inside!

I took these pics to show what it looks like- very happy with the result. My crappy point and shoot kind of makes the back clear cover look a little cloudy, perhaps because of the angle I took the photo, but it's perfectly clear for me :) It even has a raised rubber lip on the front and back to protect from abrasions like you mentioned drlegg.

Thanks again for the advice team- one happy iPhone user here!

dclegg

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# 456717 8-Apr-2011 12:35

andy89: It even has a raised rubber lip on the front and back to protect from abrasions like you mentioned drlegg.

Cool! I'd be interested to hear back in a week or so to see how well that lip on the back protects the clear plastic. If it does a good job, I may need to investigate an upgrade :-)

andy89

12 posts

Geek

# 456721 8-Apr-2011 12:40

Yep, will do. Still have my old CaseMate wrapped tidily in its box just in case!

ALTRON

533 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 456732 8-Apr-2011 13:20

http://international.switcheasy.com/products/Vulcan_iPhone4/
I have the black version but theres a clear one.

High quality, cheap, fast shipping.

andy89

12 posts

Geek

# 463087 27-Apr-2011 17:17

dclegg, sorry I forgot about posting an update one week one. Anyhow, I've had the Griffen Reveal case on for nearly three weeks now and am still really happy with it.

It has accumulated some very light minor surface scratches, although as you can see in the photo below, they are basically invisible. Only when I hold my iPhone under a bright light and tilt it a certain angle do they become visible. I've tried to capture them on my digital camera both with the case on and off the iPhone, but they simply don't show up- that's how minor they are.

Adding to this is the fact that I have a very bold brightly coloured sticker on the back of my iPhone, which makes any marks even less visible. I've had lots of positive feedback everywhere I go, and my iPhone has survived everything from keys in the pocket with it to drunken clumsy nights out- fully recommend it!

dclegg

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# 463123 27-Apr-2011 18:57

andy89: dclegg, sorry I forgot about posting an update one week one. Anyhow, I've had the Griffen Reveal case on for nearly three weeks now and am still really happy with it.

Thanks for the update. My scratches are getting quite bad now, with the clear plastic becoming almost translucent around the edges. I've been thinking of going 'naked' with the phone, but I like the protection that the rubber sides give. I may have to consider the Griffin case as an alternative.

I've also been thinking about getting the official iPhone bumper, but that seems pretty overpriced for what it is. Someone on GZ did post a link to a NZ supplier that claimed to have it at a fraction of the cost though, so I may investigate that too.

michaelmurfy

Mr Snotty
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# 463134 27-Apr-2011 19:28

That looks pretty neat. Was gonna recommend Glad Wrap but maybe that won't work..

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