In this week’s iPhone-case roundup, we bring you a protective accessory that offers the definitive answer to the question, “Where did I put my charger?” We’ve also got one that splits a heart in two, with sparkling crystals to boot.
The Alumor Jacket (iPhone 5; $11) features a soft interior jacket encased in a tough exterior metal casing for a solid combination of protection from both scratches and bumps.
It comes in black, blue, pink, aqua, or mahogany.
The Hardcover (iPhone 5; $35) combines form, function, and style in a case that protects your handset from bumps and scratches while hiding it in a beautiful, book-like package.
Available in a variety of colors and patterns, the case also features a convenient elastic-strap closure that keeps everything secure during transport.
The Ronin Bocote (iPhone 5; $180) is made from the South American wood of the same name, known for its unique look and high durability.
The case’s wood inserts are hand-fitted to a series of highly polished aluminium crowns, which are available in black, gunmetal grey, or silver.
The MTV Collection (iPhone 4, 4S, and 5; $30 to $35) features designs inspired by the iconic network that brought the world of music videos to our living rooms.
With nearly two dozen models and several cases to choose from, the collection has something for everybody. It includes, of course, MTV’s well-known logo.
Although not for the faint of heart—get it?—the Together (iPhone 5; $470 for a set of two) features a pair of cases designed to go together: Each features half of a heart made from Swarovski crystals.
The cases, each of which also sports a compact mirror and an anti-glare flash ring, can also be laser-engraved to your specification.
The PocketPlug (iPhone 5; $70) is the ultimate answer to the question “Where did I leave my phone charger?” The case features a built-in charger with prongs that collapse right into the body of the case, allow you to recharge your battery (and, thanks to the case’s Micro-USB port, another device, as well) whenever you come across an outlet.
As an added bonus, the case features a special acoustic chamber that enhances your iPhone’s sound volume.
The Groove (iPhone 5; $35) features a rigid shell fused with a body made from special shock-absorbent material to keep your handset safe during everyday use.
The outer casing, available in black, blue, pink, lavender, burgundy, and white, includes a special set of grooves designed to give you a worry-free grip while still letting the iPhone still slide in and out of your pocket with ease.
As far as names-as-descriptions go, things don’t get much more definitive than ” The Case” (iPhone 4, 4S, and 5; $35), Slickwraps’ latest creation. Unlike the company’s namesake protective-film skins, The Case combines a bumper-like case with those popular adhesive covers.
The Case is available in over 90 combinations of colors and materials; the latter include wood, metal, carbon fiber, and even a glow-in-the-dark variant.
You can never be too safe, apparently, and that’s why this company manufacturers its eponymous Spraytact (iPhone 4 and 4S; $40), which features a built-in pepper-spray dispenser.
The case, available in black, white, blue, or pink, comes with a test cartridge, which can be used to get a feel for the spray (without, presumably, blinding yourself in the process). Included in the box is a real pepper-spray cartridge, the release of which is protected by several safety mechanisms to avoid “accidental” discharge—which would be an excellent (if perhaps somewhat illegal) way to finally get people to stop photobombing your family shots.
If you enjoyed this week’s roundup of iPhone cases, check out the previous edition, Flipped.
Author: Marco Tabini
Marco Tabini is based in Toronto, Canada, where he focuses on software development for mobile devices and for the Web.