Speck SeeThru for iPhone (original)

When I bought my iPhone, the last thing I wanted to do was cover its beauty in an opaque layer of stylelessness, robbing those around me of the opportunity to immediately identify the device, and robbing me of the opportunity to bask in that envy. For those as appreciative of the iPhone's elegance and slick curves as me, a transparent case is the only option. And while Speck's for the iPhone falls in that category, it's also plagued by the flaws typically inherent in that category's products.

Namely, and most importantly, the case isn't the most secure--or most protective, or sturdiest, or most confidence-inspiring--compared to the others in this roundup. In fact, the only protection the SeeThru really reliably offers is defense against scratches and scrapes. You insert your iPhone into the hard-plastic case by sandwiching it between the case's snap-together front and back panels, but one good bump can cause the panels to pop open. Once that happens, all bets are off in terms of protection. Even when the case is on, it just doesn't feel like the two pieces are securely and reliably attached--there's too much wiggling and jiggling, and too little guarantee.

But the SeeThru isn't all bad. It does have the same nifty belt holster as Speck's ArmorSkin that we ; you can easily attach and remove your iPhone, case and all, from your belt. Plus, you have the option to insert the case onto the holster screen-side-in for maximum screen protection, and the holster's belt clip transforms into an iPhone stand for hands-free video watching. The SeeThru also comes in some swanky translucent colors, and Speck includes a removable, thin-film screen protector that hinders the touchscreen's responsiveness slightly less than other, similar products I've tested.

Ivyskin XyloT3 Reflect Case for iPhone 3G