After a whole lot of research and paranoia over my new iPhone 3GS I bought the Speck Candyshell, and it's awesome. Not only do I feel the phone is protected, but it still looks just as sleek. This case does not take away from Apple's design quality, it merely protects it. The rubber inside doesn't scratch the iPhone and in case you drop it, the rubber will absorb the hit so that your phone doesn't. It came with a protective film for the screen but after applying it, I didn't like the look and feel so I took it off. The glass screen is one of the most attractive features of the iPhone, and putting plastic over it just isn't for me. I figure if the screen breaks I can get it replaced for about $50 at a repair store, and I can insure the device for $30 a year through my insurance carrier, which is much better than AppleCare because AppleCare doesn't protect you from spills, drops, etc... whereas insurance does. My advice is to buy a Speck Candy Shell for protection and Insurance for peace of mind, and those two together are less than AppleCare. Speck Products CandyShell Case for iPhone 3G, 3GS (Black/Gray)
I will do a review by comparison, because I've spent a ridiculous amount of time and money on iPhone cases trying to find the right one. Here's my exposure to other cases I've bought, and why I think Speck has the best case.
Ifrogz Luxe: The Luxe has a nice two-tone look, but the plastic protecting the iPhone is of very low quality. The coloring on the back of the case easily wears off upon daily use. Even worse, the tabs on the plastic that snap the two pieces into place will frequently break, rendering this case by far the least durable of the ones I've tried.
SwitchEasy Rebel Serpent: This is a nice-looking one piece heavy duty case- almost too heavy duty though, as it detracts from the phone's sleekness. Although the silicone is high quality, my biggest problem with this case is aesthetics. The case does not form fit the iPhone, as you can see uneven slivers of chrome at the bottom left and right of it when in use.
Incase Slider: Like the Luxe, this is a two piece case that snaps together. I was almost sold on this case sans two issues: one, if you put any pressure on the bottom of the phone where the two pieces snap into place, you'll hear an annoying plastic squeaking sound. Also, as many reviewers have argued, the case is very hard on the bezel of the iPhone. If you're constantly removing it, there's a lot of friction when sliding off the bottom portion. Some have complained about scratches on the bezel.
Which brings me to the Speck Candyshell. This case is closest to the Rebel Serpent in design. It's a one piece fit, but unlike the Rebel, it does not add a lot of bulk to the phone, and it looks darn slick front and back. The entire chrome bezel on the front is visible and perfectly aligned. There's a gray strip around the outer border of the case that complements the black and silver portions of the phone nicely.
The volume and sleep buttons of the phone are covered by gray plastic. Like the Rebel, there's some tactile goodness lost when pressing these buttons through the plastic, so if you prefer a cover that doesn't protect the buttons (like the Luxe and Slider), you may want to look at a different case.
Three more tiny nitpicks: The ring/silent switch, while protected nicely, is difficult to get to if you have fat fingers (like me). Second, the material is a black putty-like plastic, and while I have no qualms about its quality, if you have oily fingers, it can absorb some moisture, giving the back of the case a sticky feeling at times. Finally, the case is not very flexible, so it can be a pain if you have to remove it. I don't see this being a problem with all my iPhone docks/cables working perfectly without having to remove the case.
Minor nitpicks aside, Speck does almost everything right: sleek looks, form fitting design, high quality materials- after a long search, I have finally found my case.
I got this case to replace my incase Slider (which after only a few weeks had started scratching the chrome bezel and back of my brand new 3gs). I have been very pleased so far.
It has a very snug, solid fit. It is not as slim as the Slider, but provides two layers of drop protection at only a hair more thickness. Best of all it does not add new scratches to my phone. It's not perfect, though: the vibrate switch cut-is not quite the right shape, as other reviewers have mentioned the earphone jack cutout is too small for some headphones (not a problem for me since I use the standard set), it's not terribly easy to get out of the case (but is really much easier than some reviews I have seen have suggested), and a few other things. But really, these are very, very minor issues.
The main thing is that it protects my iPhone without damaging it and is a pleasure to use. For example, a small touch that is really nice is that the part of the chrome bezel that is flush with the front of the phone is left visible rather than being hidden under dull plastic. This tiny detail makes using my iPhone much more enjoyable and more like the experience that it would be without a case.
Which brings me to a more general point for those of you who may read this and are having a hard time choosing the right case: no case is perfect, and corollary to that, no case is going to beat a naked iPhone. But this case by Speck is really close to being perfect and very likely the best experience after using the iPhone itself without the absolutely necessary protective case. - Iphone 3gs Case - Iphone 3g Accessories - Speck - Iphone 3g Case'
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