$29.95
This was a pure impulse buy for me. I went to an Apple store over lunch with a co-worker who had a Genius Bar appointment to get her iBook keyboard fixed and happened to see this case while browsing the iPhone accessories. I generally think Paul Frank designs are cute, but I rarely buy any of his stuff. But a black rubber iPhone case with little skulls and crossbones all over the back? This I could not pass up!
Oddly enough, there is no information online about this case, not even on the Paul Frank site (at the time of this review). Although I purchased it at an Apple Store, it's not shown on the online Apple store. So, that's why I don't have a link to show you where you could buy one...
Material
This case is a lot like the Incase Protective Cover I’ve previously reviewed. It covers the iPhone in pretty much the exact same way as the Incase cover, though the material is different. The Paul Frank case is made of a stretchier rubber or silicone than the Incase cover, making it tacky enough to pick up some lint and resilient enough to retain its shape after being stretched to be placed on the iPhone. If you recall my review of the Incase cover, its resilience - or lack thereof - was my biggest issue with that case, despite everything else about it that I liked.
The skull and crossbones symbols that cover the back are embossed on the back and give it some texture as a result. The symbols are done in multiple colors - blue, yellow, red, white, and magenta. I’ve only had this case for a few days now and it shows no wear whatsoever, but I expect that long-term use (especially if you keep your iPhone in a pocket) will result in the color wearing off of the symbols.
Access
As previously noted, this case provides similar coverage as the Incase Protective cover. It has cutouts for the headphone jack, camera, ring/silent toggle, and speaker/microphone/dock connector on the bottom. The areas above the volume buttons and sleep/wake button on the top are raised so you can find them by feel alone. On the front, the case covers the chrome bezel and not much more, except for two angled sections next to the home button. One of these sections has the Paul Frank logo of a house with two trees next to it embossed in pink.
One of the most important things to me in an iPhone case is that it not impede my ability to access the screen and use the virtual keyboard. I’ve already encountered one case, the TuneWear Icewear, that drove me absolutely mad in this regard since its raised edges prevented me from being able to reliably hit the keys at the edges of the screen. I’m happy to say that this Paul Frank case does NOT do that - I have no problems typing on my iPhone. In fact, the tackiness of the case’s rubber aid in my overall grip while typing. Definitely a plus.
Overall, the cut-outs and raised button markers are fairly well-aligned. The mold seam along the outside edge of the case is not terrible (it’s only a little ragged in one short section).
Using the case
This case greatly improves my grip on the iPhone and I am less worried about dropping it than with any other case I’ve tried. As previously mentioned, I have no issues accessing all keys on the virtual keyboard while using this case, and getting to all of the buttons and ports is also not an issue. Of course, this case does not provide any protection at all for the screen, so this will not work for you if that’s what you’re looking for. Regardless, I always recommend a screen protector for any electronic device with a screen. Yes, I know that the iPhone’s screen is is highly scratch-resistant, but an ounce of prevention is worth of pound of cure, non?
Overall, I have no issues whatsoever with using my iPhone with this case. You should note, however, that the tackiness of this case may somewhat hinder your ability to get your iPhone in and out of any pockets if that’s how you intend to carry it.
Summary
I take my iPhone out of whatever case I have it in every night so I can dock it on my bedside table. My iPhone is currently my only alarm clock and I like it placed on my bedside table at an angle that facilitates my view of the screen when my bleary eyes seek it out as the Marimba tone abruptly interrupts my odd and vivid dreams each weekday morning. With this habit, any case that must be stretched out of its original configuration for every removal and insertion will probably wear out more quickly for me than for someone who isn’t so insistent about using the iPhone dock every night. I’ll have to update this review with how this case holds up over time in a few months...
Related reviews:
Incase Protective Cover for first-generation iPhone
Incase Slider for first-generation iPhone