I mentioned before that putting the gorgeous iPhone 4 inside a case generally fuglifies it. So I prefer the iPhone naked or wearing a Sena Ultraslim Pouch. And for the times when I do need a measure protection I use a Speck PixelSkin.
But if the going gets tougher, the only answer, at least previously, is a heavy-duty case like the Otterbox Defender. Unfortunately, it costs a lot, P2,500 the last time I checked, and it has an ugly circular cutout to show off the Apple logo (why?!?). So I searched and found the Speck ToughShell.
The ToughShell, like the Defender, is tough and thick and heavy. The design is good, giving the iPhone a tough, no-nonsense, military look. The case is a hinged hard plastic clamshell that covers the back and front except for the screen. There are cutouts for the proprietary Apple USB port, silent switch, headphone jack, camera, etc. The thick shell gives the screen a raised protective edge. This protects the screen from direct contact when the phone is face down.
The shell has a soft rubber inner lining for snug fit.This inner lining also has the home, power, and volume buttons have touch-through covers molded in. The touch-through cover makes the home button a bit harder to push but the others are still relatively easy to press.
Finally, a rubber bumper covers the sides. The bumper is attached to the shell at the hinge so don’t try to separate them. The bumper have thick rubber flap covers for the USB port, silent switch, and headphone jack cutouts. The silent switch is still easily accessible with a finger (or pen) but some headphones and accessories will have a hard time reaching the headphone jack and USB port.
Though cheaper than the Defender at P1,450, it is still a pretty big investment for a case. But if you plan to take your iPhone to a high-risk environment, .e.g a home with a baby who already knows how to remove slip-on cases, you might want to look into it.
UPDATE: After a few months, the bumper has stretched a bit resulting in a not-so-snug fit. But that’s minor compared to a crack in the casing near the camera cutout. Part of the hinge has also broken off. It’s a Not-So-ToughShell after all. For this I’m reducing the rating by 1.
Rating: 4/5