Double Review: Waterfield iPhone Suede Case and iPhone Smart Case (Slip)

Posted by: Ragart on Sep 05 2008

That’s right. We do things differently here at JAMM. Sometimes we don’t do just one review, we do two…in one (wrap your head around that!). We’re rebels.

Today’s rebellion (review) focuses around Waterfield’s iPhone Smart and Suede cases. They fit both the iPhone Edge and 3G models, so don’t worry about your case becoming obsolete with an upgrade to Apple’s faster phone. But enough of this before-the-jump talk. Juuuump for the review!

Just so we don’t get confused, let’s draw a line right here. I’ll talk about the Suede case first, and then transition smoothly (like a smoothie) into the Smart Case.

iPhone Suede Case

First of all, pictures don’t do this case justice. It’s essentially a thin suede covering with a deep, elastic pocket ($4 extra) to hold things like a BT headset, earphones, or credit cards. The case’s ultra slim form factor means there’s virtually no difference to you when you put the phone back in your pocket or your purse. However, it’ll make a world of difference to your naked iPhone. Ninety-nine percent of the iPhone is protected, leaving only the very top edge exposed.

I’m not the kind of user to put keys in the same pocket as a phone (the thought sends a cold chill down my spine), but the case will stop all but the most determined attacks from the sharper inhabitants of your pocket. Dust is also blocked from entering the phone’s microphone or speaker, and for those worrying about ringtone volume or vibration through the suede – worry not, it all comes through just fine. Button access, on the other hand, is something you’re going to have to give up while the phone is inside. You’re better off taking the phone out of the case to adjust the volume than you are trying to feel for the rocker keys through the fabric.

The extra pocket is a real must-have in my book. I can’t imagine the case without it. The space is best used for lightweight things like credit cards, memory cards, or the little adapters our devices are more and more prone to needing. As a gadget lover, I’m always looking for more ways to store a little bit of extra stuff for use on-the-go, and storing something small right next to my iPhone is just perfect – much better than leaving the two floating in my pocket, naked and unsupervised. At least now there’s a layer of suede to keep the iPhone in its place.

Let’s talk quality now. The case is very light, but feels very durable. It’s refreshing to see a case in this form factor that isn’t made of leather (edit — ok, so differently textured leather. Thanks, Peter!). Another great aspect is the lack of a logo. I took a peek at other reviews on the Waterfield website as I waited for my shipment to arrive, and one of the statements I read really hit home: there’s no branding on the case. Waterfield has left the quality of their design speak for itself, and I respect that.

The default price of $9 is a great value for people just looking for simple, solid scratch and dust protection when they put their phone in their pockets, but I strongly suggest you opt for the $13 case with pocket. I really love my Suede-y pie, and I think you will, too.

iPhone Smart Case (Slip)

So here’s the smart case. It’s bigger and thicker than the Suede, as you can see. Large and in charge, some might say.

Y’know, I really love my previous iPhone case from PDAir, but this smart case really kicks things up a notch!

In terms of protection, this case does a lot more than the Suede. You needn’t worry about any portion of the phone except the top. The inside is lined with the same suede from the suede case (which is 100% scratch-free, by the way), and each of the front and back panels of the case is half an iPhone thick. The panels are soft to the touch, though the layers within them should keep your iPhone shielded against any sudden bumps. As long as you don’t keep any exposed blades in your pockets or bags, I think your iPhone should be just fine.

The available colours are black, blue, brown, green, red, and silver – all of which should look fantastic, if my blue case is any indication. The colours are subdued, but really come out when lit up, especially in daylight. The design is very simple, but eye-catching, and looks at home in a casual or professional environment. I really like how you can’t see any stitches!

The case comes in three varieties: slip (pocket), flap (attaches to bag straps, etc.), and clip (belt). You can also opt to add a pocket similar to the one on the suede case. I’ll show pictures of a clip with a pocket in a few weeks when the case arrives. My current slip case did come with a little something to secure things with, though. I call it the iPatch:

I’ve attached a little pirate face that was lovingly drawn by my sister, but you can use it to hold your earphones if you move the strap down the case. I’m sticking with the drawing.

A little over a week has passed since I received the case, but I still have a spot of trouble getting my iPhone out of it. If I’m listening to music I’ll end up squeezing the “volume up” button as I pull the device out, so my songs get a lot more dramatic whenever I’m about use the phone. A lot of this really has to do with the tightness of the case (which should ease up – Waterfield says there is a break-in period), but I could see sacrificing a bit of the side protection to ease the removal of the phone. I suppose I could just bend the top flaps backwards and grip the iPhone by the back and the earpiece, but I’m worried about damaging the case that way. I’ve actually ordered a different smart case from Waterfield (one with a belt clip), so I’ll post an update later on about how much you can break the case in.

When it comes down to it, I really have a hard time choosing between the two Waterfield products. I love the simplicity of the suede case for times when I just want to jet out the door with the iPhone in my pocket – or for times when a slim profile is much better (for tighter or more formal clothing). But I really love the look and feel of the smart case and the full-body shock protection it provides, plus it’s gotten a lot of positive feedback on its appearance from my non-techie friend circle. Whatever the case, I’m sure you’ll be thoroughly impressed by the quality and the heart that has gone into designing and making these products, and I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for what Waterfield comes up with next.

Product Info:

Fits both iPhone Edge (Standard) and iPhone 3G

iPhone Suede Case: $9 for the case, $13 with pocket

iPhone Smart Case: $35 for Slip, $39 for Flap or Clip — $5 extra to add a pocket

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