The Week in iPhone 5 Cases: Protection Junction

21.09.2012
There seems to be no end in sight to the onslaught of iPhone 5 cases, which is great news for all those of us who are eagerly awaiting their new handset in the mail--or who are recovering from a very early morning in line at their closest Apple Store. Here are some of the latest announcements, lovingly collected by your faithful Macworld staff.

: The (iPhone 5; $50) is a wraparound case that provides all-around protection, with a four-layer construction and a special air-gap suspension system that helps absorb shocks. It comes in pink/purple, charcoal/white, charcoal/baby blue, charcoal/raspberry, black/grey, grey/black, pastel violet/purple, black/white, or green/blue. And, if four layers of protection sounds like a lot, you'll be surprised to hear that the (iPhone 5; $60) provides five of them, and comes in many of the same color combinations.

The (iPhone 5, $35) is a snap-on case that features a ballistic gel polymer construction for maximum shock absorption, and comes in black, pink/black, white/black, cobalt, charcoal/raspberry, purple/teal, or charcoal/white. Its more advanced cousin, the (iPhone 5; $50) is also built to provide excellent protection, and comes with a convenient horizontal holster for clipping your iPhone to your belt, plus an outside silicone coating that ensures an excellent grip. The Maxx is available in black, black/white, charcoal/raspberry, cobalt, charcoal/white, or black/red.

Finally, for a more fashion-conscious take on protective accessories, look no further than the (iPhone 5; $30), which was built to be thin but highly conspicuous, thanks to its interchangeable components that come in a variety of different colors.

: The (iPhone 5; $19) features sleek embossed lines and an impact-resistant design; it's built to keep your iPhone safe while offering a splash of color and fashion, and comes in black or purple. For a similarly elegant protective solution, you can also take a look at the (iPhone 5; $30), which features a heavy-duty shell and inner lining, and is available in black or olive green.

In the premium materials department, the company has introduced the UrbanShield, available in (iPhone 5; $30) and (iPhone 5; $25), available in silver or . Both models provide excellent protection using a dual material construction designed to fit snuggly around your handset.