The new iPhone 4 has escaped its curved-body roots in favor of a thinner, more flat design with hard edges. Some may not like the new look, but I find the thing down right sexy. Now with the hardened glass display and back plate protecting the iPhone 4’s innards, you don’t even need a full body case.
What’s that? Glass protecting the inside of the phone? The hardened glass is just about as tough as Sapphire crystal but supposedly many many times stronger than plastic. So, yeah. It does protect, according to Apple.
Instead of full-body cases, Jobs suggests you buy one of their new iPhone protectors, called Bumpers. Bumpers protect the outline of the device, and has holes in the sides, ensuring the volume buttons and the sort are easily accessible. With the glass display and backing, there is little need for anything to cover them, and Apple surely doesn’t want you to cover up their logo. They’re kind of in love with themselves, ya know? So, say goodbye to that $2 iPhone gel case, and say hello to the $30 bumper, which comes in an assortment of colors.
iPhone 4 Bumpers
I’m anti phone case to begin with. I’d rather risk dropping my phone, and get to see it in all its glory than see some ugly rubberized skin on top. A case might add a nice grip in the hand, but make it uncomfortable in the pocket. My Nexus One has the scuffs to prove it. Apple clearly may have a similar outlook, and are confident that the glass on the front and back of the device should hold up just fine.
While sexier, the new iPhone, to me at least, makes me think you’re just going to have to worry about breaking both sides of it if you were to drop it. Though, the steel frame may be able to absorb a lot of the impact if in on an edge. That also makes me wonder how that may affect all the receivers that are built right into the frame, if the phone were to take a shitter.
All in all, the iPhone 4 is looking mighty fine, and if the only two phones available to me were the EVO or the iPhone 4, I’d probably go with the iPhone. That’s saying a lot, being a die-hard Android fan. But I think I’ll be waiting for the new Snapdragon handsets to come out before I even consider purchasing a new phone.