Speck's CandyShell case brightens up your iPhone 4/4S

Speck’s $35 CandyShell for iPhone 4/4S is a hard shell case with a soft, TPE lining in pleasantly contrasting colors. The two-toned CandyShell comes in a variety of unusual and delicious colors to fit the “candy” name—Raspberry Truffle White (white with raspberry), PepMint White (white with red), SeaDragon Purple (purple with aqua), and Pirate’s Cove Teal (teal with black), to name a few of the fifteen options. The Speck name and logo is prominently displayed on the back of the case; the company name is engraved and matches the plastic outer shell, while the asterisk is stamped in the case’s contrast shade.

The hard polycarbonate plastic outer shell is paired with a rubbery TPE interior and edge that comes right up over the outer bezel of the screen. This serves to keep your iPhone snug and secure, though it does add a bit of bulk. The CandyShell does not ship with a screen protector, so you’ll need to purchase one separately if you want that added measure of protection.

All ports, buttons, and jacks are accessible via precision cut-outs, except for the Sleep/Wake and volume buttons. These are covered in a TPE overlay to match the contrasting interior. The cut-out for the camera is large enough that it does not interfere with the camera or flash function. Since the case is not ultra-thin, you may need to remove it in order use it with your dock-cradle accessories. It actually ships with removal instructions to make the process a bit easier—Speck suggests that you bend the top corners of the CandyShell backwards to pop your iPhone out. (These TPE strips in the corners give the case a little bit of flex to aid in taking the case on and off.)

Overall, this is a nice offering from Speck with a focus on adding a splash of flash to your iPhone or iPod Touch. If you’re looking for solid protection with bright, fun color combinations to choose from, then the CandyShell might be worth your while.

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