Griffin Reveal Etch Ultra-thin Protective Case for iPhone 4, Black

Recently switched to the Griffin Reveal Etch (Carbon Fiber look) on my iPhone 4. The case was one of the participating options in the free case program through apple, so I tempered my expectations.

I'll admit, I'm pleasantly surprised with it. The quality is very good, the case fits very, very well on the slender body of the iphone and adds negligible thickness to the overall package. The rubber edges are great for shielding the sensitive antennas on the phone, but they offer an extra level of grip that was missing from the original stainless steel bands. The fit and finish on the case is good, with only a negligible molding mark on the upper right corner from the original rubber mold.

This is a 2 material case, but it is bonded as a single piece. Rubber sides (stiffer than the skin type rubber) and a hard plastic back. Impact protection from the rubber sides would be good, but not top-of-the line. I expect if the drop was on the right...Read more

I switched to the Griffin Reveal Etch after about 3 weeks of using an Apple bumper and I find this to be far superior. Here's why:

The rubber edges give the phone a nice grip that makes it fit nicely in the hand. Although the rubber does feel somewhat lightweight (almost cheap, think Livestrong wristbands...), there doesn't appear to be much risk of the phone falling out. The rubber creates a small lip around the front edge of the phone so that when it's placed on a surface face-down, the glass doesn't come in contact with the surface. While the rubber sides make the case a breeze to install and keep the phone feeling light, the hard back provides protection for the iPhone 4's all-too-fragile glass back. I really like the brushed metal/carbon fiber texture on the back. It looks nice and it doesn't show fingerprints or smudges, which is great.

My main issue with the Apple bumper was with the sizes of the cut-out around the sides of the case, but this is not a...Read more

I wanted a case that didn't detract or bulk up my new iPhone 4, and this case, one of the freebies Apple offered to iPhone users with reception problems, is simply perfect for my needs. I had purchased a temporary case, Premium Soft Silicone Gel Skin, that served the purpose well, but this case is much, much better. It has a hard, slightly recessed back that hugs the camera lens and soft, comfortable silicone sides to aid your grip. The back edges have a silicone lips to keep the phone from sliding off a surface. The case is held in place by the silicone lip, so any tears might compromise it; however, the edges fit so perfectly that they don't easily pull away, something my temporary case did. Although the silicone areas make certain parts tacky, I have no problem pulling it in and out of my pocket.

Except for the...Read more