The newest member of the popular Speck CandyShell line is their new CandyShell iPhone 4 Case. No surprises there, right? But what might give you pause is the case’s combination of hot colors, good looks and protection on the iPhone 4’s sides and back.
The interior of the case shows how the CandyShell is actually two layers, composed of a “thin, hard-shell coating with soft rubbery interior lining, bezel, & button covers.”
The iPhone slips into the CandyShell where it is securely held. There are cutouts for the mute switch, sync & charge port, speaker, microphone, camera with LED, and the headphone jack. Rubber buttons cover the volume and power buttons.
The edges of the CandyShell’s frame just barely cover the edges of the iPhone’s screen; unlike some cases I’ve used, the CandyShell did not cause my screen protector to bubble. The rubber ridge formed around the iPhone’s screen also creates a protective buffer when the iPhone is laid face down on a table.
Some of the CandyShell colors are what can best be described as “Miami Vice”, like the ‘Cotton Dandy Blue‘ case shown in the previous picture. Others are understated sweetness, like the ‘Dark Heart Mahogany‘ shown below. And of course you can get more conservative combinations like ‘Batwing Black‘, ‘MoonSicle White‘, or the subtle ‘PaleMoon Gray‘. The point is that there is a color combination for everyone, wild or conservative, and each offers the same rubbery grip for slip protection when the case is on its face.
The back of each CandyShell is a slick, shiny plastic surface broken by small rubbery grips on each corner, The grips are not quite enough to keep the iPhone from sliding if a good bump rocks the tale it is laying upon. Couple it with a good screen protector, and the CandyShell’s corner and back protection should keep the iPhone intact after all but the most freakish of spills.
The Speck CandyShell iPhone 4 Case is available directly from the manufacturer. You can get it in eight different (mostly) eye-popping colors.
MSRP: $34.95
What I Like: Shock absorbing dual-layers protect the iPhone on its back and sides; a slight ridge of rubbery casing around the iPhone’s screen provides protection when it is laying screen-side down; colors that run the gamut from wild to conservative mean that there is something for everyone
What Needs Improvement: CandyShell ase can be a little bit tricky to remove from the iPhone
