Apple Official iPhone 5c Case Review
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They've been called many things, the "hon" case, the Crocs case, Connect 4, Swiss cheese, cheese grader, sloppy, ugly, poorly designed and the criticism goes on...and on. Apple's official case for the iPhone 5C is many things, but bad isn't one of them. Apple works in mysterious ways sometimes, and its $29 iPhone 5C Case is a case in point. The silicone rubber case comes in a decent selection of colorful options that either match the iPhone 5C's glossed-up vibrant designs when desired, or add a touch of eye-catching two-tone contrast when two colors from opposite sides are mixed, creating what Apple markets as 30 fun multi-color possibilities. We played it safe and have opted for the most contemporary white and black-colored iPhone 5C Case cases to test out Apple's brand new official accessories on the most color iPhone ever made. Here's what we really think about about Apple's officially contentious polka-dotted case for the iPhone 5C.
Much like the iPhone 4 Bumper case, the iPhone 5C Case is packaged inside minimal and space-saving packaging presented clearly through a transparent plastic casing, ideal when there are 6 different colors to pick from.
What was Apple thinking when it drilled a grid of perfectly aligned holes in the back of a case and called it its official iPhone 5C Case? Well, as weird as it may seem to early adopters, third party case manufacturers have actually beaten Apple to the punch way before the official iPhone 5C Case came along. It isn't uncommon to find perforated case designs for Apple's various iPhone models. But really, it boils down to personal taste and what you consider to look good. The reason behind Apple's iPhone 5C Case and its dotted grid pattern and simple. They've created a case that lets the colorful polycarbonate of the iPhone 5C to breathe its glossy, reflective finish through these holes creating a fresh and trendy design.
Right off the bat, our first impressions of the iPhone 5C Case are very positive despite the negativity that surrounds it. It may have large grid pattern of perforated holes covering the majority of the case's back that may not sit well with some people notably because regulatory text is visible through the rear grid pattern, but with that insignifanct detail thrown aside, we think the iPhone 5C Case is really well made and has the same type of material and construction found on Apple's iPad Smart Case. Albeit the fit and finith of the iPhone 5C Case is superior.
The level of refinement and quality of it matches every other case Apple has made that features this rubbery polyurethane material. Instead of polyurethane which Apple uses to makes its Smart Covers, the iPhone 5C Case is made out of a silicone rubber material that is backed by a microfiber interior support layer that gives the case rigidity as well as a non-scratching protective surface when rest against the iPhone 5C.
The matte finish gives the silicone a smooth, soft finish that should look mighty nice against the glossy polycarbonate of the iPhone 5C - which was Apple's intention. We have yet to use a case that is uniquely made and highly refined as this one. It just feels different when held in person than any other case we've tested, and that's a good thing. So far we're quite happy with how the case turned out. It's worth noting that we noticed the black colored iPhone 5C Case attracted a lot of lint and would show oily fingerprints atop its matte finish. The material isn't tacky though, so with a quick wipe the case will be as good as new.
The iPhone 5C Case's rubbery silicone material should provide a light amount of protection against drops as it will absorb shock and impacts while keeping the phone scratch-free in your day-to-day usage. We say light because this is a very slim case and not one that has been designed to offer extreme drop protection. It keeps a low-profile yet provides necessary edge protection around the iPhone 5C's glass display using a minimal and well-rounded lip periphery in case you were to rest the device on its face or were to drop it on the ground. Apple thought about every little detail that makes a case great when it designed the iPhone 5C Case.
Another great example of Apple's show-through design can be seen when looking at the front side of the iPhone 5C. The case barely makes it over the edge of the plastic bezel, leaving just a hint of plastic bezel exposure around the front of the device where you'll see your iPhone 5C's original color poke through as it creates a visually pleasing, color-accented periphery that may remind some people of Nokia's dual-shot Lumia 620 phones.
The iPhone 5C Case feels great in the hand, offers a bunch of grip and traction and most importantly its got an extremely sturdy perimeter that won't flex unnecessarily. However, it will flex slightly to fit over the iPhone 5C without much effort. While you may be able to slightly bend the case from side to side, you won't be able to bend or flex it in half which is the reason why it feels this rigid when put over the iPhone 5C.
It's also worth mentioning that the iPhone 5C Case is very slim and features a thin unified cradle-like shape that has a very thin profile so we're glad that Apple made sure to strengthen the edges so that they don't sag or have any weak spots otherwise found around the bottom portion of the home button. This case seems to have a perfect balanced frame for a silicone rubber made case and that's impressive to say the least.
We're happy to see that Apple made sure to cut a large Lightning connector port opening that will fit any one of its Lightning adapters as well as all third party Lightning connector cables. The headphone port however is still very tight and unforgiving. Around the case are seamless button indentation creating a fully encased protection around the iPhone 5C while buttons remain very tactile and a pleasure to press.
The iPhone 5C Case simply installs by snapping over the iPhone 5C with a buttery-smooth friction, fitting around the device like a tight rubber glove. The interior microfiber lining seals up each and every perforated hole around creating a flush fit against the back of the device so that dirt won't make its way in-between the plastic and the case. So while you may see some collection of lint and other small particles around those circular crevasses, we don't think any harm will come to the iPhone 5C's polycarbonate casing.
Bewilderingly, Apple hasn't designed its iPhone 5C Dock to work with the iPhone 5C Case. The two don't fit together and that means you won't be able to dock and charge your iPhone 5C if you plan on using the iPhone 5C Case on or any other case for that matter. The iPhone 5C Dock has been moulded and shaped to precisely fit the naked body of the device and nothing else. From what we can tell, we think that many iPhone 5C owners will want to use the official Apple case to protect and add some style to their device, and it's odd that Apple hasn't considered designing two of its accessories to work with one another. Apple...you have greatly disappointed us on that front. Nevertheless though, if you want a compatible Lightning dock that works with both the iPhone 5C and its case, Twelve South's HiRise dock is a perfecty compatible and a versatile alternative.
Apple's may have disappointed quite a few of its customers with its design choice which is limited to just one case and one pattern, but after using the iPhone 5C Case we can confidently say that it's fantastic. We really didn't find any drawbacks other than its perforated design that may be a dirt and lint trap when put in the pocket. At $29, the iPhone 5C Case offers a pleasing grip, incredible rigid fit, decent all-around protection and a funky design that compliments the iPhone 5C in every way. We're really impressed by that fit and finish of the iPhone 5C Case, and so we can highly recommend it if you like the way it looks. You'll be hard pressed to find another one like it that can match its level of meticulous, yet minimalist refinement made by Apple. It's only a shame Apple hasn't made a verity of styles, each perhaps in a different color. Because we really like this case for what its worth.
