a review by Tom Piper
So, you’ve got a wonderful iPhone and/or iPod touch treasure that you want to protect. There are many options, some of which I’ve reviewed here from an innovative company called Uniea (
http://www.uniea.com/product/for-iphone-3g-3gs-cases.html).
U-Hip Pop for iPhone 3GS/3G and iPod Touch (2G)Cases that hook onto your belt have long since been considered “nerdy.” Uniea, however, has reinvented the belt case with the U-Hip Pop. It’s leather construction coordinates perfect with a leather or canvas belt, while its hip, svelte design looks very natural and trendy. It fits snuggly with very little protrusion.
It is a leather Universal Hip Case in black with a size of W 125 x H 70 x D 30 (mm), and a weight of 2.05oz (58 gram). It is a soft, stitched leather construction that looks great dressed up or casual; it is unique, wave-shaped flap with magnetic closure for easy access; and rugged, sturdy belt clip puts your iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch within easy reach.
It is priced at $29.95.
The great thing about leather is that, the more stitched and rugged it is, the better it looks! The U-Hip Pop Features striking stitch marks and lines that make the case incredibly strong while looking great around your belt. Anyone who loves fashion and style knows that a great jacket or handbag has rich, high-quality materials both inside and out. We took the same approach when constructing the U-Hip Pop, giving the interior a smooth, printed material that will go easy on your device and turn heads when you open it up.
The U-Hip Pop’s unique “wave-shaped” flap is one of the most unique enclosures for a case you’ll find on the market today. The flap opens with the touch of the finger and claps shut with a convenient magnetic closure for easy-in, easy-out accessibility. In addition to looking great, the whole concept behind the U-Hip Pop is to make your iPhone incredibly accessible. With it sitting on your hip, all you have to do is flip it open and out comes your iPhone in a snap. Comfortable, good-looking and easy to reach . . . a great combination that works very well for daily wear on my belt.
U-Skin for iPhone 3GS/3GThis is a black Silicone Case that tightly grips the iPhone sized at only W 66 x H 118 x D 15(mm) and weighing in at a modest 0.63oz (18 gram). It has a slim design with unique embossed texture enhances the look your iPhone which is highly resistant to scratches,dirt and stains for total protection. Impact resistant rubber with unique Uniea skin pattern provides full accessibility to ports and switch on the go (a U-Shield screen protector included). The price is only $19.95.
The U-Skin truly lives up to its name: instead of having a synthetic, artificial feel, the rubberized material features a uniquely embossed texture that feels great in your hand and goes great with your favorite outfit. One of the key elements of a good case design is whether or not it gives you access to the ports you use on a regular basis. The U-Skin gives you access to ports for listening to music and for docking with your computer, all while providing ample protection for your iPhone.
The whole idea of a camera phone is to have a digital camera ready to go at a moment’s notice. The U-Skin features a perfectly cut circular portal for the iPhone’s camera so that you’ll never miss that once-in-a-lifetime snapshot, even while in the case. For most iPhone users, the docking port is the critical link for personal information, e-mail, music, photos, and video. The U-Skin allows you to make quick, clean connections to your computer and recharge while keeping your iPhone in the case.
Ports are a tricky issue for electronics cases. Do you cover them up for protection, or leave them open for accessibility? How about both! The U-Skin features pull-away tabs that give you access to your ports, while keeping them covered when not in use. A iPhone case really isn’t doing its job if you can’t use the iPhone while it’s sitting in it. The U-Skin’s unique tab feature lets you get access to iPhone buttons when you need to, keeping them protected when not in use. I don’t normally like a case without a belt hook, but this one is a good anti-skid unit for any smooth surface.
U-Suit Premium for iPhone 3GS/3GThis black Intrecciato Leather Hard Case is a snug W 65 x H 114 x D 12 (mm) weighing 0.6oz (17 gram). The full-grain premium intrecciato leather exterior is both stylish and durable with an extremely slim profile that still fully covers the back and the corner of iPhone. Its construction of impact resistant plastic shell ensures total protection allowing fast, easy access to all ports (U-Shield screen protector included).
Except in the haute couture fashion world, you may not have ever heard the word “Intrecciato.” It’s an Italian verb that basically means, “to weave.” That’s exactly what the texture of Intrecciato leather is like: woven leather. The result is a look and feel that is unsurpassed in the world of iPhone cases. Nothing could be more chic! It actually something of a bargain at only $34.95.
For most iPhone users, the docking port is the critical link for personal information, e-mail, music, photos, and video. The U-Suit Premium allows you to make quick, clean connections to your computer and recharge while keeping your iPhone in the case. With the U-suit Premium, you get maximum protection while still retaining full function of your iPhone! One of the key elements of a good case design is whether or not it gives you access to the ports you use on a regular basis. The U-Suit Premium gives you access to ports for listening to music and for docking with your computer, all while providing ample protection for your iPhone.
iPhone cases are notorious for covering up critical buttons and limiting function and access in the name of protection, often frustrating users. Uniea has addressed this need by designing the U-Suit Premium to give you access to the buttons you use on a regular basis. Access to these buttons is made available through a sleek “cut out” in the case, allowing for maximum protection and button access. The whole idea of a camera phone is to have a digital camera ready to go at a moment’s notice. The U-Suit Premium features a perfectly cut circular portal for the iPhone’s camera so that you’ll never miss that once-in-a-lifetime snapshot, even while in the case.
You want style. You want protection. And, you want it to be thin. The U-Suit Premium is incredibly thin in spite of its rich leather appointments and rugged construction, adding only .6mm thickness to your iPhone! For a case without a belt hook, this is a really cool selection that protects well and looks great! My son won’t give this one back.
U-Suit Folio Premium for iPhone 3GS/3GThis black Signature Leather Hard Flip Case is a little bigger than the others at W 120 x H 67 x D 20(mm) and a weight of 1.41oz (40 gram). It is built of full-grain premium napa leather exterior that is both stylish and durable with a flap-over, full-screen protection leaving access for headphones and buttons. The impact resistant plastic shell ensures total protection with a scratch-resistant inner lining that protects your iPhone’s surface (includes U-Shield screen protector, too).
With its enriching leather construction, you might be ready to flip over the look and feel of the U-Suit Folio Premium. But it’s the unique flip-open front that it truly impressive, giving you full access to your iPhone’s screen, while fully covering it when not in use. One of the key elements of a good case design is whether or not it gives you access to the ports you use on a regular basis. The U-Suit Premium gives you access to ports for listening to music and for docking with your computer, all while providing ample protection for your iPhone.
The whole idea of a camera phone is to have a digital camera ready to go at a moment’s notice. The U-Suit Premium features a strongly stitched cut out for the iPhone’s camera so that you’ll never miss that once-in-a-lifetime snapshot, even while in the case. It is a unique case at $34.95. My wife likes the extra padding that protects the front and back, but finds the open cover a bit awkward when talking on the phone (it would be better if it would swing all the way around to the back to be out of the way).
