Incipio's Silicrylic offers unique two-piece design

Incipio’s $30 Silicrylic for the iPhone 4/4S is a hard-shell case with a separate silicone core. Its two-piece design sets it apart from other cases and allows customization and variation in appearance: the hard shell snaps over the soft interior bumper around your iPhone. I found the case to be well made and efficient, and can see myself using it as my main iPhone case for everyday use.

Assembling the Silicrylic is a two-part process. First, slide your iPhone into the shock-absorbing silicone piece as you would a stand-alone gel or silicone case. Then, fit the outer polycarbonate plastic shell around the inner core until it is securely locked into place. To disassemble the case, pull off the outer plastic shell, and then remove the silicone interior. The Silicrylic ships with a standard surface protector and cleaning cloth and comes in fourteen different color combinations.

I like the feel of the Silicrylic—it is light, but not in a cheap way, and the two pieces compliment each other. The inner silicone layer cradles your iPhone and provides a cushion barrier that protects your screen when you place it (or occasionally drop it) facedown on most surfaces. The outer coating of the plastic shell allows for easy transfer in and out of your pocket, and Incipio claims that this outer coating is also anti-static. This seems to be true—I definitely felt like it was easier to pull out of my pocket than many other cases I have tested. However, dust and other dirt particles gravitate to the exposed part of the silicone core, so it’s somewhat hard to keep clean.

The Silicrylic leaves openings for all buttons and ports, and the back of the case has openings for the back camera and LED flash without adversely affecting picture quality. The volume and Sleep/Wake buttons are covered with elevated silicone buttons designed to minimize dirt and grime, and they function just fine. Though the Silicrylic is lightweight and not overly bulky, you won’t be able to charge your iPhone in most standard dock-cradle charging accessories.

Initially, I was discouraged by the Incipio Silicrylic’s two pieces, but I found that it stays together well and did not negatively impact performance. The Incipio Silicrylic is a mouthful to say, but a pleasure to use, and well worth the $30 price tag.

[Rob Renk is a displaced Chicago Bears fan currently living in the Orlando, FL area. When not obsessing about everything Apple, he can usually be found out on a boat monitoring Florida’s natural resources.]