I promise, I’m trying to get these reviews out quicker. A really long time ago, iFrogz sent me their popular iPhone 4 case, the LuxeOriginal. I’m not really sure what happened as I wrote this review a few weeks ago, but anyways… today I publish my thoughts.
Out of the Box
For the first time in history, someone finally put something in the box besides the product itself. No, you don’t get a free Beanie Baby, instead it’s a free download for “Run” by Benton Paul. I’m not sure I can explain to you how happy I was to see even something as simple as a free music download included in the box. Anyways, as for what everyone else actually cares about, it’s just the case and a cardboard iPhone cut-out. Still, I have to give kudos for iFrogz for at least making me happy.
Design
It’s a take on the classic two-part snap case design that was made famous by the Incase Slider back on the original iPhone. The largest change is that the case snaps together in the back via a button. Not only is the bottom piece not a solid even cut like the Slider, but it’s also (even at its lowest point) much taller than the aforementioned protection device. Other than that, it’s much of the same from what you would expect: precisely cut holes for the cameras, side-buttons, audio port and bottom. The color combo I got was the blue and black, although the blue had a certain purple hue depending on how the light hit. For the record, the case only comes with a black bottom. An off-color iFrogz logo is the only text visible on the bottom back of the case.
Protection
I’ll admit that the case I’m using the majority of the time is the HC Series Case from Ballistic, so there’s not going to be a whole lot on the market that’s going to offer more protection. The flexible plastic shell covers most of the iPhone, although some parts of the phone have received better coverage in other examples. For instance, the camera is just one solid cut-out leaving more plastic than could be. Still, it’s much of what you’d expect from your basic iPhone case. In addition, added bonuses like felt in the inside of the case help to prevent internal damage. In terms of drop protection, it’s once again what you’d expect – anything more than a minor drop could be problematic.
Usability
As with every iPhone case, it takes some time to get used to. After a bit, it’s easy to see that the case allows for all access to the iPhone. As I’m learning with the cases made for the iPhone 4, the usability of earphone tips can occasionally become a problem because of the seemingly narrow(er) holes that are given for the earphone cables. The rubbery finish makes the case easy to grip, while at the same time easy to slide into pockets.
The Button
My largest gripe with the LuxeOriginal is the button on the back that allows the case to snap. First of all, it makes laying the phone down on its back awkward to say the least. Furthermore, getting the case on and off before the plastic loosens a bit is a huge pain. The back serves some purpose in that it helps securing the bottom, but whether or not it was truly necessary isn’t something I’m so sure of.
Final Thoughts
Rating iPhone cases isn’t the easiest thing in the world. So much comes down to looks and as far as the looks go, I’m definitely not the largest fan of a lot of things: the color and the button. In terms of functionality, I can’t complain about much. There’s no stretch, there’s no large errors, no concerns of quality and no hidden faults. The LuxeOriginal from iFrogz does everything you’d expect it to do. My only gripe is the button, which seems unnecessary and serving little purpose. For the $20+ you’ll find the case at, it’s a personal choice whether you like the way the case looks, but it’s definitely not a bad choice. You can purchase the LuxeOriginal directly from iFrogz for $29.99. I give the case 4/5 stars.