Review: Crimson case (Photos)

One of the companies that visited Macworld in San Francisco was Crimson. They make a really cool case that consists of an aluminum frame. I personally love the look. For those of you who don’t like pink, don’t worry! They provide many other colors. The best thing this case has going for it is the look. It’s slick, shows off the beauty of the iPhone 4/4S, and is modern yet classy.

As far as protection goes, it will protect against the occasional drop. It’s very solid and does need to be installed or removed by the use of a hex wrench that Crimson provides. It also comes with a microfiber cleaning cloth. A couple extra screws are also included for those who are clumsy like me and tend to lose small objects.

The installation aspect is a plus and a minus. The case won’t come off accidentally, but it’s also not easy to remove. Still, it’s sturdy! The front, back and sides are open. The metal frame rises above the glass to protect the phone if it falls on a flat surface. It wouldn’t necessarily protect the iPhone if it fell on rugged terrain since an uneven surface could pass the protection of the case and hit the phone itself. There is no protection from water damage. However, they do provide a front and back anti-fingerprint screen protector. This helps prevent scratches should the phone be dropped on a surface that reaches the screen.

Another thing I see is that the metal of the frame has no cushion or fabric between the frame and the glass of the phone. It’ll still distribute the force of a blow throughout the frame, thus lessening the blow on the iPhone, but I think a thin layer in between would be a nice addition to the protection element of the design.

The case does give you some natural grip to the phone. When holding the phone, your fingers hold onto the sides and slip in between the metal frame. This gives a nice firm grip and makes it less likely that you’ll drop your phone while using it. The best part of the sides being open is that it provides easy access to all ports, buttons, and switches. All dock port accessories can be used with this case, so you won’t have to say goodbye to that dock port FM transmitter you love or the iHome next to your bed or the iKeep you just got from Macworld. This is a definite plus. Also, should you want to add a lanyard, it’d be easy to add one on any side you’d like. This design does have a downfall though. The edges are a bit rough so it can hurt your hand a tad or hurt your leg if you put the phone in a tight pant pocket. Still, this will lessen accidental drops.

Wins

-a great look

-multiple colors

-good grip

-a great look (yes, I’m saying it again, but I absolutely love the look)

-stays on the iPhone snuggly

-includes anti-fingerprint front and back screen protectors

Wish List

-a less “rough around the edges” feel

-a layer between the metal and iPhone

-a bit more protection so falls on rugged terrain won’t expose iPhone to potential damage

-an easier removal/installation process

Price for 4/4s case: $39.95

For more information on this case, visit www.crimsoncase.com.

To learn more about the skins and screen protectors offered by Crimson, please read my review, Review: Crimson skins and screen protectors