The Incase Slider iPhone Case - a High Quality Case Worthy of your iPhone
Written: Jan 11 '09 (Updated Jan 12 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Solid protection, yet thin and lightweight. Removable bottom makes it easy to dock your iPhone.
Cons: High Price ($35), screen protector not included.
The Bottom Line: An attractive and very good case that works well for users with docking stations. The high price ($35) might make you want to consider other models.
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| nc10's Full Review: Incase Slider Case for iPhone (Black) (CL59035) |
I recently purchased a Griffin Clarifi case for my iPhone 3G. One of its key features is that one section of the case protects the docking end of the iPhone and can be easily removed to allow the iPhone to be docked in a charging stands or speaker dock (a feature called "EasyDock"). The Clarifi's EasyDock feature was so nice, in fact that my wife expressed interest in getting the same or similar case for her first generation iPhone, Unfortunately, the Clarifi is only made for the iPhone 3G. The most similar case I could find for the original iPhone was the Incase Slider, which I purchased recently at a local Apple store.
The Incase Slider is a very nice, high quality case that should protect the iPhone during routine use, and appears sturdy enough to provide significant protection during falls. Unfortunately, the Incase Slider is expensive, listing at $35, and is rarely discounted much below that price. For that reason, I can't fully recommend it as a good buy. Incase is one of the top end manufacturers of iPhone and iPod accessories, and it is a company that tries (mostly successfully) to market attractive, uniquely distinctively accessories that work well enough to justify above average pricing.
The key features that might attract an iPhone user to the Incase slider include:
- a two piece hard plastic design that slides apart. This allows users to remove the bottom section of the case and dock their iphone into any dock while leaving most of the iPhone protected. Many charging and speaker docks are "form fitted" to the iPhone, to help support it when charging or playing. An iPhone used with most cases won't fit into many docks.
- Thin and lightweight design, less than 2mm thick (~1/16"), and weighs about 0.5 ounces.
- Comes in glossy black or white for the original iPhone, and 12 different colors for iPhone 3G.
- Minimalist, attractive design consistent with Apple product designs
- Does NOT include a protective screen overlay.
Fit and Finish
I purchased the black Incase Slider for my wife's iPhone late last year. The case fits tightly and securely around the iPhone, looking almost as if it was integral to the phone. There is no chance the case will separate when dropped or thrown into a purse. Fitting around the iPhone like a sheet covering a mattress, the Slider covers the back and sides of the iPhone with a glossy, protective, hard plastic shell. The case does, however, leave the screen completely uncovered and unprotected.
The edges of the case "frame" the screen with a 1-2mm thick black plastic trim, encroach ever so slightly, perhaps only tenths of a millimeter, onto the screen. This frame does tend to help protect the screen from getting scuffed if the phone is dropped, but does not hinder visibility or use of the screen. The case also makes it more difficult to put screen protectors on your iPhone's screen. If the screen protector is not centered perfectly, edges of the the screen protector will encroach into an area along the edge the phone where the Slider case sets. This slight extra thickness really makes it more difficult to slide the case on or off the phone. Screen protectors not centered perfectly also tend to get caught by the edge of the case, creating bubbles under 3rd party screen protectors, detracting from the phone's appearance.
On the inside surface of the back of the Slider case are two very thin strips of elastomer, running top to bottom. As the case slides over the iPhone, these strips, rather than hard plastic are in contact with the back of the iPhone. Incase claims these rubber guard rails provide shock absorption in addition to impact and scratch protection. I believe they also tend to hold the case into place on the phone, as the design of the case forces the guardrails against the iPhone shell, and the resulting friction of the elastomeric rubber against the iPhone's body tends to keep the case in place.
My wife has only been using this case for about 2 weeks, but thus far I'm impressed with how well the the glossy plastic surface resists scuffs and scratches, the Incase Slider case seems more resistant to scratches than the Griffin Clarifi case. The glossy surface, in black at least, tends to show fingerprints easily, but those marks can be easily cleaned with a cloth.
Using the Incase Slider
The Incase Slider adds almost no weight to your iPhone, and adds very little to its dimensions. The bottom section of the case covers about the bottom ¾" of the phone, while the top covers the remaining 3" or so. When you want to dock your iPhone into the Apple charging dock, or into a 3rd party speaker or other accessory dock, you can slip of the bottom of the case, leaving the rest of the phone protected, while still fitting into the close fitting docking stations. The case bottom takes an appropriately firm amount of force to slide off, enough that its not likely to separate during normal use, yet is easy enough to remove when desired.
The Incase Slider is a case you can take your iPhone in and out of every day with worrying about damaging the case or iPhone. You can slide both sections off the iPhone as my wife does almost daily when working out, where she wants to use her iPhone with an case that's fitted with an armband. The Incase Slider is not a case for use in the gym, you can't connect an armband or clip, and it won't protect your phone from moisture.
The case has slots along the top, bottom and left side to provide access to the docking connector, speaker and microphone on the bottom, the volume and speaker switch on the left side, and the headphone jack and reset button on the top. There is also a cutout in the back of the case for the camera lens. We've not found that the case limits use of these external buttons or camera in any way. The surface of the case is completely smooth, which makes it slightly more difficult to grip than a silicon rubber case or a case with a matte surface. Its not slippery enough that you would notice a problem, but the Slider earns no bonus points for making your iPhone easier to grip.
Conclusion
If protection of your iPhone during routine use is a priority, and you often dock your iPhone, the Incase Slider is a good choice. Its light enough and thin enough that it won't really affect how you use the phone, but sturdy enough to provide protection from most handling mishaps. The lack of any kind of screen protection will limit its use somewhat, you wouldn't want to put your iPhone into a pocket or purse with keys. I'd like to have seen an appropriately sized screen protector come with this case, and for the price, I think you out to get two or three colors of the case in the box. Still, If you like the looks of this case, and can afford it, you'll find it fits the iPhone style unobtrusively, and it won't let you down.
Recommended:
Yes
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