Speck CandyShell for iPhone 4 Review

I hate cases! I especially hate them on my iPhone 4. In my opinion they take away from the design of the actual phone. I know what I like and don't like when it comes to keeping my phone protected because of this I often find it hard to find something that suits my needs and also offers the kind of protection I am looking for.

Enter the Speck CandyShell for the iPhone 4. I've always been intrigued by Speck's CandyShell line because of the protection they offer as well as the design. iPhones aren't cheap and while I hate to wrap them in bubble wrap they do need to be protected. Regardless of how well you treat your phone, the inevitable will happen, you will drop it.

Speck's CandyShell covers all four sides and the back with a slick looking outer hard layer with a soft rubbery interior. CandyShell also covers the volume controls and power button with the same rubbery goodness. This dual layer system protects your iPhone from normal wear and the occasional spill.

All ports are open and accessible. Which is a nice feature as well as a fault, but i'll get into that in a moment. With CandyShell you are able to use any headphones you own since the headphone port is large enough unlike some cases where you are stuck using Apple's headphones or another brand with small casing material around the jack, this is never a problem for me since I actually like the Apple earbuds. Some alternate cases don't have a large enough opening in the back for the camera and flash. While they normally don't cover the actual flash or camera lens there sometimes is an aura of color (depending on what color case you have). This is not a problem for Speck as the camera and flash on the back of the iPhone is not impeded in anyway but still offers protection with Speck's CandyShell.

When I buy a case I want full protection. As I mentioned earlier the CandyShell does not cover the headphone jack or data port on the bottom. I can go either way with this. I want my ports covered to prevent rain/dust/pocket lint from getting into these sensitive areas. On the other hand I hate having to fumble around when I want to use my headphones or sync my phone. You can decide if this is an advantage or disadvantage for you. Another point to note is that the CandyShell does not cover the screen. It does, however, have a lip or a ridge around the screen that does prevent the screen from touching a flat surface, if you place your iPhone on a table for example.

Overall I like the CandyShell a lot. It's durable and will keep the iPhone 4 well protected. The CandyShell is the best of both worlds with both a hard shell and soft interior. While this does add a little bulk to your already ultra-thin smart phone, it's by no means a deal breaker.