• iPhone Cases

Marware MicroShell

Every iPod and iPhone Apple has ever made has had two things in common; they look great and they scratch ridiculously easily. In the pursuit of beauty, Apple sacrificed longevity, and created a challenge for case makers; make a case that is both protective, but also does not sacrifice the overall aesthetic appeal of the device. Recently there has been a slew of thin snap on cases for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The Marware MicroShell is one such case. They offer protection and good looks, even adding some customisability to the device. But they are still far from perfect. They have a lot lees protection than silicone all round cases, and even though they are designed to be as subtle as possible, they are still not fully integrated with the phone, you can still tell it’s there, and with a device as beautiful as the iPhone, you really don’t want to know it’s there.

Design: The design is definitely a highlight of the MicroShell. Looks wise, it really pretty much matches the rear of the iPhone with identical curves and contours. It is finished in a sating matte style, making it look impressive and feels absolutely fantastic. It would have been a bit nicer for the case to have come all the way up to be flush with the top glass surface of the iPhone, but that would have impeded how the case is attached to the device. The number of colours offered is great and the ability to personalise the case with laser etching is a fantastic addition. Overall, the design is great, and though there are slight improvements that could be made, it is still top notch.

Protection: The best thing about the case is sadly also it’s Achilles’ Heel; it’s thickness, or lack thereof. As the case is so unbelievably thin, it cannot offer the same level protection as it’s thicker counterparts. It still offers a fairly good level of protection however, offering near 100% coverage of the back, although it does not provide much protection for the top, bottom or side input of the device, leaving them totally exposed.

Included Accessories: A nice touch is the included screen protector that allows the front of the device to be protected almost as well as the back, even though it does not provide as good quality protection as the premium screen protectors out there, it is still great for a free pack in. There is also a nice microfiber cloth included in the box, that isn’t anything special, but again nice for a free pack in.

Final Thoughts: Overall, the MicroShell is really a great option for those looking to protect their new iDevice (particularly from scratches) without sacrificing overly on the look of the device. At $30 US it isn’t exactly cheap, but does offer the comfort of the big brand name as well as customisation.

Price: $29.99 US

Compatibility: iPhone 3G/S, iPod Touch model available

Available From: Marware.com

Gallery:

Final Score: 6/10 – Good looking and alright protection, but the cost lets it down.