Trtl Stand iPhone case has a built-in kickstand that props your phone up three different ways

Trtl Bot’s $30 Trtl Stand for iPhone 4/4S is a hard-plastic, shell-style case with a built-in stand that flips out to prop up your iPhone. The stand on the back folds out to prop up your iPhone in several different positions. Tripod orientation holds your phone straight up at a 90-degree angle, like a camera tripod. Flip your iPhone over to landscape orientation and your iPhone rests back at a 45-degree angle, which is great for watching video. Or, turn it back upright to portrait orientation and the stand puts your phone at a 45-degree angle for FaceTime.

Available in black, white, sky blue, pink, or grass green, the Trtl Stand is manufactured from recycled plastic bottles. Three generous cut-outs give easy access to all the iPhone’s jacks, ports, and buttons, including the volume buttons and Ring/Silent switch. The camera and flash are fully exposed and functional as well. With this case on, your iPhone may fit into some dock-cradle accessories, but when it doesn't, be aware that this hard-plastic case doesn't pop on and off easily.

While the Trtl Stand feels neither thin nor thick, its level of protection is minimal. The edges of the case do not come up over the screen at all, and no screen film is included. So, if you drop your iPhone face-down, you’ve got no protection at all. The Trtl Stand gives little traction and grip since its made of smooth plastic, so if you tend to drop your iPhone frequently, you may want to check out other case options.

Some people may like the look and feel of this case, but to me it’s just ordinary plastic. The stand on the back doesn’t click back into place or lay completely flat—it’s always open about one millimeter—which in my testing was a hindrance to normal phone calls and subtracted from the aesthetics of the phone itself. However, if you want the convenience of a case with a stand built right in, the Trtl Stand is worth considering.

[Karen Freeman is a writer, teacher, and Apple fan. Follow her on Twitter @karensfreeman.]