Case-Mate's Pop! iPhone 4/4S case features a kickstand and flashy colors

Case-Mate’s $40 Pop! with Stand for iPhone 4/4S is a hard shell case with a built-in kickstand for hands-free viewing. The soft-edged, two-toned case comes in a delightful array of colors: solar yellow with neon pink, white with honeysuckle (pink), lime with turquoise, and seven other color combinations to choose from.

The Pop! has a kickstand on the back which flips out and lets you prop up your iPhone for either landscape or portrait viewing at adjustable angles. Whether you want to watch video or use FaceTime, this case lets you do that at just the right angle, hands-free. As you pull the stand out and click it into place, you’ll notice there is a layer of PolyCore underneath the stand on the back of the case to keep your iPhone covered and protected.

All ports and jacks are accessible via precision cut-outs. The camera and flash are fully functional through the case’s generously-sized cut-out on the back of the case. The Sleep/Wake and volume buttons sport soft rubber button overlays that allow their full use, and the soft rubber edges of the case are textured to give users an improved grip on the phone.

This case feels very solid and secure, with soft rubber lining the interior and edges that come up slightly over the screen to protect it in case of face-down drops. It does not, however, ship with any protective screen film, so you’ll need to purchase that separately if you want to protect the iPhone’s screen more fully. It is one of the bulkier cases I’ve tested, and so you’ll need to remove the Pop! to get it into most dock-cradle accessories. The edges do ease case removal a bit, but it still doesn’t slip off very easily.

Overall, this is a fun, eye-catching case that offers a lot of protection and a stand for portrait and landscape viewing. Its bulkiness may deter some users, but it’s definitely a solid offering from Case-Mate.

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