The SwitchEasy CapsuleRebel Case for the iPhone 3G - an in Depth Review

The new iPhone 3G came out on July 11^th, 2008. As the successor to the wildly popular original iPhone, the buzz around this new device has been intense. A significant portion of the attraction to the iPhone 3G is visual; people love the way it looks. In order to protect those looks, many people have opted to purchase a case for their phone. The SwitchEasy CapsuleRebel is one of the dozens of cases on the market made specifically for the iPhone 3G.

The SwitchEasy CapsuleRebel has been garnering excellent reviews. SwitchEasy also produced cases for the original iPhone that were well received but their new case for the 3G version of the device is a breakthrough product for them. This review will describe the new CapsuleRebel case and let you know what to expect should you choose to purchase it.

Features and Fit

The CapsuleRebel is different from other cases in that it doesn't merely wrap around the iPhone like most of the less expensive, generic cases do. It also doesn't snap open and shut like some of the more expensive cases. In a way, it does both. The soft rubber portion of the case wraps around the phone to begin with but is then secured with a hard plastic spine. This spine extends around to the front of the phone and provides both a structure with which to keep the rubber case in place as well as additional protection from impact.

The case fits the iPhone 3G very well and allows no wiggle room that could cause small scratches on the device's shiny exterior. Also, the rubber portion of the case covers the volume buttons and the on/off switch in order to allow as little dust and dirt as possible to get in between the case and the phone. The only holes along the side of the case are for the ringer switch, the headphone jack, the speakers, and the docking port.

Aesthetics

This case is very visually appealing and does an excellent job at letting the beauty of the iPhone 3G shine through. The case is protective without being bulky and, in addition to looking good to the eye, feels great to the hand. It is smooth enough to slide in and out of your pockets easily but has enough grip not to pop out of your hands constantly.

The SwitchEasy Rebel comes in both plain and wild colors to suit anyone's needs. Black and white are options but so are "Monstera", "Celestial", "Tiger", "Devil", and several other wild colors. Many of these alternative designs use different colors for the plastic spine than for the rubber portion of the case, providing a striking contrast.

Accessories

In addition to the case, several accessories come with the SwitchEasy CapsuleRebel. First and foremost, you'll receive two screen protectors. Unlike the free screen protectors bundled with some of the other cases on the market, these are quite high in quality. They are very thin and transparent so you won't see a hazy finish on your iPhone screen or have any troubles with the standard tap, swipe, and pinch motions not working. Your tactile experience should be completely unaffected.

The case also comes with a small micro fiber cleaning cloth to wipe down your screen, a stand that allows you to prop up the iPhone 3G in landscape mode for hands-free video viewing, and a dock adapter. All in all, it is quite a rich set of features in comparison to other similarly priced cases.

Value

The SwitchEasy CapsuleRebel will set you back $24.99. That price point is slightly lower than average for the iPhone 3G cases currently on the market (the price range is roughly $20 - $40 with very few cases outside the high and low ends of that range). For the scratch and impact protection this case provides and the accessories it ships with, $24.99 is a very good price.

Issues

Despite being an excellent all-around value, there are a few small issues with the CapsuleRebel. One common complaint is that the bottom of the case seems to "sag" away from the front of the phone. Many people have discovered, however, that locking the bottom portion of the spine into place before the top will remedy this issue. Another problem with some of the cases is that the rubber portion doesn't completely cover the chrome bezel of the iPhone 3G. This doesn't appear to be true on a widespread basis but, if it happens with your case, there will be no remedy aside from a customer service call.

One other point worth mentioning concerns the installation of the screen protectors. It is important to take special care when installing them. They don't work via a static cling method; instead, they have an adhesive covering. You'll only get one chance to get it right so make sure you are in a dust-free environment and that you have cleaned your screen to a spotless shine. Carefully position the holes in the screen protector over the appropriate locations on your iPhone 3G and adhere it to the screen. You can then use the supplied squeegee to sweep away any air bubbles.

Conclusion

Perhaps no iPhone 3G case on the market today provides all the features and functionality of the SwitchEasy CapsuleRebel. It is inexpensive, attractive, protective, and comes with some nice accessories. The Rebel will allow you to protect your iPhone 3G without having to give up the stylish good looks that no doubt contributed to you wanting it in the first place.