IphoneCase
Latest
Engadget giveaway: Win an iPhone XS courtesy of Speck!
In case you've been living under a rock, Apple just launched its new iPhone XS line. It's their best iPhone yet, and costs a pretty penny, so Speck has jumped in to save the day for one lucky reader this week. The mobile case and accessory company has given us a 64GB iPhone XS, along with a trio of its protective, IMPACTIUM-laden Presidio exteriors. Drop-tested from 8-10 feet up, these will help keep your handset safe and sound when gravity pulls off the inevitable. Speck's Presidio V-Grip helps you keep the phone in your hands, while the Presidio Pro's anti-microbial coating and soft-touch exterior keep your iPhone snug. If you want your case to keep a low-profile, the Presidio Stay Clear shows off the phone's style in a sleeker form factor. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to five chances at winning one of Apple's latest handsets and matching set of Speck's protective cases. Good luck! Winner: Congratulations to Gustavo S. of Lawrenceville, GA!
The best iPhone cases
By Nick Guy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full iPhone cases guide here. A good case is a wise investment for your iPhone. Even the least expensive iPhone is pricey, and the right case will offer protection against scratches, dings, and cracks—and allow you to personalize your phone—without adding much extra bulk or changing how you use your phone. We've tested hundreds of cases for every iPhone back to the iPhone 5, and we think the Silk Base Grip (available for iPhone X, iPhone 7, and iPhone 8 models) is the best case for current iPhones, offering solid everyday protection at a low price. But we have recommendations for older phones, too.
Pebble founder's comeback is a battery case for iPhone and AirPods
After ushering in the smartwatch movement in 2012, Eric Migicovsky's Pebble brand fell by the wayside. The company was saved from bankruptcy by Fitbit, which acquired its talent and software last year, but ditched its beloved devices. Now, the man behind the e-watch timepiece is returning to the site of his greatest success: Kickstarter. And, this time, he's packing an iPhone case.
Of course there's a 'Candy Crush' fashion collection
The Candy Crush craze continues to reach new heights. Just when you thought a TV show based on the popular game was more than you could handle, well, that's not the only thing happening in time for summer. King, the app's developer, has teamed up with fashion brand Moschino on a collection of accessories and swimwear, in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Candy Crush Saga. Available today (only until it sells out), the gear includes an iPhone case, bathing suits for men and women as well as a backpack, respectively priced at $70, $205, $300 and $650.
Move over Mophie, Apple has a $99 Smart Battery Case
When I reviewed the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus earlier this year, I lamented the fact that companies like Apple seemed more eager to build thinner phones than improve the battery life. That industry-wide trend made battery cases a near-necessity, and now Apple wants a slice of that market too. Enter the Smart Battery Case, a $99 (£79) add-on for the iPhone 6 and 6s that packs an extra 1,877mAh battery into a... curious-looking silicone frame. You can nab one for yourself starting today, but before you do that, let's take a closer look at the company's handiwork.
The best iPhone 6 case (so far)
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read the full article below at TheWirecutter.com. After surveying almost 1,000 Wirecutter readers and testing close to 100 iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases over a period of about 50 hours (so far), our current pick for the best all-around case is the NGP from Incipio. The NGP line has protected several generations of iPhones (and many other devices) and has a reputation for providing solid protection and a good fit at a great price. It's slim enough not to detract from the iPhone 6's svelte dimensions while still offering comprehensive protection for the handset's body, including its buttons. Openings along the bottom allow for compatibility with a wide range of accessories.
Lunecase harvests excess iPhone energy to light up LED notifications
iPhone cases are a dime a dozen, but the creators of Lunecase claim their masterpiece can do something special. While it looks just like any other case on the surface, Lunecase can apparently harness the electromagnetic energy the iPhone emits and use it to light up its LED call or message indicators. It's not even connected to the phone via wires or any other means -- if what its Kickstarter page says is true, it'll work as soon as you snap it on. Sound familiar? That's because Lunecase's creators, Ukrainian company Concepter, showed it off at CES 2014, albeit in a different form. The prototype presented during the event looked a lot different from the current offering, but at least it worked just as advertised. If this sounds more useful than a case that can track your blood pressure, you can get one for the iPhone 5, 5s and 5c from its Kickstarter page for a minimum pledge of $35. Just note that you'll have to make do without its icon-like indicators until it ships, which the company aims to do sometime in August.
The Nodus Access Case: It doesn't suck (but it does have micro-suction)
So here's a common dilemma. You've dropped a cool chunk of change on an iPhone or an iPad and you want to protect it from life's bumps and thumps, but you don't like the conventional case options. Perhaps you want something a little more premium-feeling than the traditional plastic. Perhaps it bothers you that Apple's cases have narrow cutouts that won't work with your favorite headphones. Perhaps you'd like something that protects the screen of your iPhone in your pocket, but most cases only wrap around the sides and back. Perhaps you find all cases a problem, because you also like to use accessories that rely on a naked device, such as docks, car mounts or the Olloclip. Most cases that grip the device snugly enough to be secure also end up being tricky to remove the device from, so simply pulling it in and out of the case isn't ideal. What if there was an answer to all this, a case that offered good protection, a premium feel, and yet could let you remove your device instantly for those times when you need it to be naked? Nodus, a company founded by two British designers, have an answer for your consideration: the Nodus Access case, which is soon-to-be-funded on KickStarter. A tour of the Access Case Let's do the boring conventional stuff first. Like most of these sort of "wallet-folio" style cases, the Access is made out of a single piece of leather that wraps around the front and back of your phone or tablet, providing front-and-back protection. When you want to use the device, you open the wallet up, and either leave the flap to the one side, fold it right around the back, or (in the case of the iPad version) fold it into a stand. Then there's the unique bit: the attach mechanism by which the Access Case holds your device. Most of these sorts of cases use a hard shell glued into the leather that clips around your phone, which sometimes are tricky to remove the phone or tablet. The Access Tablet swaps this for a sheet of micro-suction material. To the touch, this feels only slightly tacky; but the surface is actually made up of tiny suction cups. Offer up a flat surface such as the aluminum backing of an iPad or iPhone and the suckers grab on with astonishing force. When you want to take the device off again, just grab the device in one hand, the case in the other, and pull - surprisingly hard. I remember Marco Arment writing about an iPhone dock that used this tech to great affect, but until I handled it for myself I hadn't really realized how well it works. The Nodus video has a quite dramatic demonstration of swinging the iPhone around held on only by the suction pad, and I was initially skeptical but the first time I tried it (and realized how much force it takes to remove the iPhone again) I realized it isn't showmanship: it really does hold your phone perfectly securely. Nodus assure me that the suction pad doesn't wear out and should last indefinitely. It can lose stickiness if it becomes gummed up with fluff or dirt, but a simple wipe with a damp cloth or a dab of a piece of sticky tape to remove lint brings it back. One thing to be aware of: the case provides no protection for three of the edges of your phone. It's not something you'd want to throw into a pocket alongside keys and change that could scuff your iPhone's bezel. Evaluating the case Disclaimer: my opinions below are based on a pre-production sample of the Access Case for iPhone 5 that Nodus's Alex Jack was kind enough to loan me. Obviously, the design may change between this prototype and the final product. Also, as you can see in the pictures above, my case has been in my pockets for a couple of weeks and has picked up a little pocket lint; I deliberately left that in place to show how the case looks after some use. The good: The Access Case is made out of very high quality materials; Nodus says it is using "the best Italian leathers" and I can believe it. Stitching is flawless and the velvety microfiber inner coating is just as pleasant to the touch as the buttery leather. Alex told me that on my prototype the micro-suction pads were cut by hand rather than with a production laser cutter, but I've examined it minutely and I honestly cannot tell: the workmanship is very precise. My prototype was in black leather with a shiny finish; I also like the look of the more weathered-looking brown leather shown on the Kickstarter page. Alex tells me this is probably, although not definitely, the leather Nodus will use if it meets the first stretch goal and unlocks the black color. I also liked how you can use it for impromptu headphone storage by winding the cord around the leather hinge and leaving the actual headphones dangling out of the end. Note, however, that although this works fine with Apple's newer EarPods it doesn't with the older style headphones -- the cable on the latter is slightly too short to wrap neatly. Most of all, I was impressed by how, well, stylishly grown up the Access Case feels. It's been mentioned by the Men's Style section of FHM Magazine and I can see why. Everyone I've shown the case to has been very impressed by it. I didn't get to go hands on with the iPad version of the Access Case but I can imagine it's very useful. It offers sleep/wake magnets in the front cover and can support the iPad at three different angles, from a shallow rake good for typing to an upright position for watching video. It can also work with the iPad in portrait or landscape orientations; you just detach it from the micro-suction pad, rotate it, and re-attach it. The bad: Although I really liked the case overall, there are some small things you should be aware of if you're thinking of backing the Kickstarter. I initially found the case very reluctant to stay shut, because there was a lot of "spring" in the still-new sheet of leather where it was folded around the phone. This wore off after a couple of days. However, I then found the small suction pad that sticks to the front of the iPhone had lost a bit of stickiness. I think it picks up finger grease from the front of the phone and thus gets dirty, whereas the rear suction pad doesn't. A quick wipe with a damp cloth was enough to restore it though. The small pocket on the front of the iPhone case is large enough to store a single bank card or a few folded banknotes, but probably not much else; I found it bulged a bit with two cards and stopped the closing suction pad from making good contact. You won't be able to replace your wallet unless you're extremely minimalist in what you carry. When placing the iPhone into the case, I initially found it quite difficult to get the cut-out in the back lined up with the camera lens and flash. Alex tells me they are looking at tweaking this however and may make the cut-out larger in the final version so pinpoint accuracy is less important when placing the phone into the case. In any event, I quickly adapted and can now do it without trouble (you just need to get your eye in for exactly where to put the phone down onto the micro-suction pad). One final caveat: the Access Case does make your iPhone a little tricky to use one-handed, especially with the left hand, or to do two-thumb typing where you hold the base of the phone. Initially I found both of these almost impossible. I would fold the front flap around behind the phone but it wouldn't sit flat; then while using the phone it would bounce around uncontrollably. Again, this was exacerbated by the newness of the case and the corresponding springiness of the leather where it folds around. That's become a lot better with use but I still occasionally find myself taking the phone out of the case for prolonged one-handed use (mostly when I'm in the supermarket using OurGroceries). Wrap up The Nodus Access Case is something genuinely new, which is pretty rare in the iOS device case game. Its use of micro-suction pads are a genuinely useful innovation over traditional means of attaching a case to your iPhone or iPad. Nodus is certainly a firm to watch and I wish it every success with its Kickstarter campaign. The Access Case is currently on Kickstarter, with 25 days to go until it closes. It's already met its primary funding goal and is making good progress on its stretch goals. An Access Case for iPhone or Samsung Galaxy 4 will cost you £39 (approx $64) from the Kickstarter -- that's a big discount for backers; the RRP after launch will be £70 (approx $115). The iPad mini version is £69 ($113) and the full-size iPad case, which works with the 2/3/4 and Air, is £79 ($130).
Proporta carbon fiber iPhone case gets the shotgun treatment, survives
We've heard of Lightning charge cables being able to deflect bullets, but here's an iPhone 5/5s case that's built with a carbon fiber lining that can take a shotgun blast at 20 yards. Proporta's Leather Case with Carbon Fiber Lining (US$59.95) takes a blast from "Uncle Barry's shotgun" and is none the worse for wear when it is recovered by the film crew. The company also has an iPad mini with Retina display case that has survived the shotgun test. If you happen to be going out duck hunting with someone who has lousy aim, it might be worth it to buy a bunch of these and place them around your body... Just sayin'.
Findables: iPhone cases with an identity
There's something new in the crowded iPhone case market: cases with an identity. Findables has a line of iPhone cases that include a small, unique QR code that can be tied -- through a free iPhone app -- to your social network accounts. That same code can even help others return a lost iPhone to you. Let's take a look at the Findables FlexWrap (US$29.95) and FlexStand ($29.95) cases, and then you can have a chance to win one courtesy of Findables and TUAW. Both the FlexWrap and FlexStand cases look like run-of-the-mill iPhone cases, crafted out of the usual polycarbonate material in multiple colors. The FlexWrap is a protective shell, while the FlexStand has a fold out stand to make watching videos a breeze. But as I noted earlier, the big selling point for both of these products is the tiny QR code on back of the case. When you get one of the Findables cases, you download the free app from the App Store and then use it to scan the QR code and create a Findables profile. That profile can contain links to a number of social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+ and more. Now when you meet someone and they just happen to have a QR code reader app on their device (standard for Android, not so much in the iOS world), scanning that little code on the back of your iPhone case sends them to your Findables profile. From there, they can link to you on all of those social networks, so it's akin to a QR code business card. The Findables app also gives iPhone users a way to read QR codes if they don't currently have an app that will read them. Of course, a quick glance at the App Store reveals a number of other QR-friendly apps that your friends can download to read your Findables case. Findables also touts the cases as being useful for returning a lost iPhone to you, although I frankly can't see how it would be any more useful than Find My iPhone. Conclusion Findables has produced an iPhone case with an interesting twist; tying a personal profile to a QR code imprinted on the case. The cases are reasonably priced and should do a good job of protecting your iPhone investment. Pros QR code provides a link to a personal profile; show someone your case and let them scan it to get information about you. Reasonably priced and well made. Findables FlexStand has a very usable flip-out stand design that's great for watching video without holding your device. Cons New friends and business associates will need to have a QR code-reading app installed on their device to be able to access your information. Who is it for? Anyone who would like an inexpensive iPhone 5 case that provides a relatively simple way for others to find out more about you through a web-based profile. Giveaway TUAW and Findables have two cases to give away. One's a FlexWrap, while the other is a FlexStand. Both cases work with the iPhone 5 or 5s. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before October 20, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Two winners will be selected. One will receive a Findables FlexWrap case (black) valued at $29.95, while the other receives a Findables FlexStand (blue with orange highlights) valued at $29.95 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Change the look of your iPhone 5c case with CaseCollage app
With the iPhone 5c, Apple for the first time introduced color to its iPhone lineup. What's more, Apple upped the color ante by concurrently releasing perforated iPhone 5c cases in an assortment of colors. While some folks seem to enjoy the tremendous number of color options afforded by the 5c and the accompanying cases, not everyone shares that enthusiasm. The solution? A new app called CaseCollage that allows users to create and print iPhone 5c backings to fill up the circular openings which result from the iPhone 5c case. The app description reads: CaseCollage for iPhone 5c provides an interactive way to add personality and design for the new 5c case. Use the case holes as frames for your artwork, friends, and interests. Merely create and print for endless custom cases. Features: • Add and arrange photos from your phone, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, or Picasa • 250+ colors, letters, patterns, and clipart • 35 circle-spaces to arrange and create your design • Share your CaseCollage with friends and family • Print a copy for your own case or for others The app is free and provides a neat way for users to really customize their 5c device to their liking. Check out a video demo of the app in action below.
Fill your iPhone 5C's sad, empty case holes with CaseCollage's cat faces (and other stuff)
That iPhone 5C you've got outfitted with a swiss cheese-esque Apple case might've looked pretty fresh at first, but it's been a few weeks and you're starting to wish those holes had something a bit more exciting to look at inside. Either that or you're totally okay with what you've got, in which case we'd suggest you go watch this clip from the Kids in the Hall. For the rest of you, CaseCollage is here to help: it's a free app that helps you design and print custom images to fill those empty holes with creativity. Taking images that are either already on your phone or synced via various online image services (Flickr, Picasa, Instagram, etc.), the app lets you place images in a virtual facsimile of your case and save those patterns. There are also a variety of pre-loaded shapes and fonts should you wish to add wingdings and messages to your iPhone's rear. Head below the break for a quick video walkthrough, and snag the app right here if you're feelin' it.
Booq offers Complete Protection Kit for iPhone 5s and 5c
Booq is best known for its stylish protective bags for iPads and MacBooks, but last week they surprised the iPhone accessory market by announcing the Complete Protection Kit for iPhone 5s and 5c (both US$34.95). Booq's unique idea is to keep the focus on Apple's amazing product designs, and as such they've created extremely thin snap cases (one black, one clear) that are protective, but somewhat understated. According Booq's lead designer S. Kema Subsomboon, "We've heard so many people say that they wish they didn't have to have a case on their phone because they love the iPhone the way it is. That was the thought process behind the kit; thinking about the beauty of the iPhone and the complete protection it deserves in an intelligent and simple way." In addition, each kit comes with a tempered glass screen protector. For the 5c, you can take advantage of covers that adhere to the home button and offer even more protection. The clear case is perfect for those who want to show off the sleek silver, gold or space gray finish of the iPhone 5s, or for people who want to protect their iPhone 5c, but want to keep the colorful shell of the device in front of the public. We hope to get one of the Complete Protection Kits for iPhone 5s soon and will have a full review at that time.
Portenzo Alano SLIM and HardBack wallet cases for iPhone 5c/5s
I've got to admit that I've been really happy with the current trend of combining iPhone cases and wallets. They're both items that you carry around in your pockets, so why not take the functionality of an iPhone case -- protecting your iPhone -- and combine it with carrying around credit cards, IDs, and cash? Of the many wallet cases I've reviewed over the last couple of years, two of the nicest are the Alano SLIM (US$44.95 to $64.95, plus add-ons) and HardBack ($34.95, plus add-ons) from Portenzo. Let's take a look at these stylish cases, and then readers have a chance to win one from TUAW and Portenzo. The design of the Alano SLIM starts with a slim leather "booklet" that surrounds the iPhone. The cover is held closed in transit with a Moleskine-like elastic band, perfect for making sure that it's not going to flop open and expose your iPhone screen to scratches. The leather covers come in eleven different finishes, ranging from a faux antique American passport to a rich dark chocolate leather. The HardBack uses fabric on the outside instead of leather, but is just as nice -- some of the designs sport bright colors or patterns, while others are less flashy. One add-on feature of the HardBack case is the Intellistand, a way of folding the case origami-style to stand it up in landscape mode. Your iPhone isn't surrounded by plastic or wood, meaning that you have unfettered access to all ports and buttons at all times. So how does the phone stay in the Portenzo case? Simple -- there's a nanosuction GripPad (replaceable) on one side. Just align your iPhone and slap it onto the super-sticky material, and it is held in place. Need to remove your phone? No problem -- just give it a good tug and it comes off, leaving no residue. The Alano SLIM's wallet has two main pockets into which you can slide a couple of IDs, credit cards, and maybe even some cash. On the other hand, the HardBack wallet uses a "expandable folder" type of construction that can hold much more -- although you really don't want to overload it. Now, about those add-ons that are noted with the pricing. Portenzo uses a "build your own" model for these case/wallets, so the base price of the Alano SLIM cases does not include the wallet bits (that's an additional $20). The HardBack has two possible add-ons; the $20 wallet parts and the $4.95 Intellistand. That means that a decked-out Alano SLIM can cost as much as $84.90, while a fully-loaded HardBack checks in at $54.85. How do they look? Well, we received a "US Passport" model Alano Slim with all the trimmings and a Dark Blue HardBack with the Intellistand and wallet. Take a look at the images (I just placed the iPhone 5 on top of the GripPad instead of removing it) and you can see the amount of love put into the construction of the cases. Conclusion Portenzo's Alano SLIM and HardBack cases are well-built and beautiful, although somewhat pricy -- especially for the Alano SLIM. Pros Unique designs, especially for the Alano SLIM line Quality construction Easy to remove and re-install the iPhone HardBack's Intellistand works well to hold the iPhone in a landscape orientation HardBack's wallet expands to hold a lot of cards and cash Cons Alano SLIM is quite pricy once the wallet feature is added on Who is it for? The person who wants to ditch the wallet and do it in style Now it's your turn to have a chance to win one of these two cases. Note that the review cases are compatible with the iPhone 5 and 5c; the model for the iPhone 5s might need a slightly larger camera cutout on the back to house the True Tone flash. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before September 20, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Two winners will be selected. One will receive a Portenzo Alano SLIM wallet case valued at $84.90, while the other gets a Portenzo HardBack wallet case valued at $54.85 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Apple's back in the dock business and now making cases
Looking at the iPhone accessory page today after the Apple Store came back online, two things were immediately noticeable. First, Apple has a pair 'o docks available for the new 5c and 5s -- both sell for US$29, and the only difference appears to be the shape of the port that you drop your phone into. Apple is also getting into the case business -- as you'll remember, the company made a bumper for the iPhone 4 / 4S, but has never made a full case for an iPhone; it's always left that up to third-party manufacturers. For the colorful iPhone 5c, there's a "hole-y" case for $29 that you can mix or match with your phone. For the iPhone 5s, the company also came out with a line of $39 color cases, some of which are a little... odd. We're also hearing from a number of case manufacturers who will have cases for the new devices coming out this week. Keep tuned to TUAW for all the highlights.
Turn your iPhone into a multitool for the ultimate survival accessory
Having a mobile phone with you at all times is a great tool for communication, but sometimes you might need a tool in a more literal sense. Enter the TaskOne iPhone case, a protective cover that is designed to not only protect a handset in the case of a fall but also provide a litany of handy accessories should you ever find yourself in need. The TaskOne houses a total of 22 different tools including screwdrivers, a knife, wirecutters, a bottle opener, and several others. Of course, you'd never want to attempt to board a plane with the case strapped to your smartphone, but other than that it seems like it could come in handy - plus, an iPhone with a giant blade sticking out of the top is kind of cool looking on its own. Unfortunately, the cost of rolling like MacGyver isn't cheap, and the TaskOne will set you back a cool $100. Still, there are probably worse ways to blow a Benjamin. [Via PSFK]
iPhone case with built-in stun gun protects both you and your phone
What's better than a shark with frickin' lasers? How about an iPhone case with a built-in stun gun! The Indiegogo-funded Yellow Jacket case (US$139.99 for the iPhone 4/4S case, iPhone 5 version is on the way) packs a 650,000-volt stun gun, perfect for those trips to the city where seemingly everyone wants to get their hands on your iPhone. The chunky, 1-inch-thick case comes in black, white, pink and yellow colors, although only the black model is currently available. You don't need to worry about zapping yourself; the Yellow Jacket team designed a protective cover that needs to be moved out of the way to expose the electrodes. After that, there's a safety switch that must be activated before pressing the activation button. The same battery pack that's used to deliver that powerful electric shock to your attacker can also be used in a much more benign way -- recharging your depleted iPhone battery pack. Unfortunately for iPhone owners who'd like a way to protect themselves with a Yellow Jacket case, stun guns are illegal in a number of countries, seven US states and in some specific counties and cities (like Washington D.C.). If you've got a hankering for a Yellow Jacket, be sure to check their list of "forbidden places" prior to making your order. [via Macworld UK]
Booq announces the Fibre snapcase for iPhone 5
When I think of accessory manufacturer Booq, I normally think of high-quality computer bags and backpacks. Well, the company has just announced the new Fibre snapcase (US$29.95), a stylish line of iPhone 5 cases that bring the soft touch of cloth to your favorite phone. The back of each Fibre snapcase is covered with the same material found in the company's Mamba line of laptop bags, giving your iPhone protection while adding a classy look and an extra bit of grip to keep the phone from sliding out of your hand. The sides of the case are made of a matching polycarbonate plastic for protection just in case it does happen to be the victim of a fumble. The Fibre snapcase is available for order today on the Booq website and will be arriving at selected retailers shortly.
Gajah unveils E Ink case for iPhone 5 and Galaxy Note II, out next month for $129
Popslate's much hyped E Ink case still isn't available half a year after it was announced, and now it could be beaten to the punch by an upstart called Gajah. The latter company's InkCase screen cover popped up at Computex 2013 and bears a Kirf-like resemblance to Popslate's nifty creation, which achieved its funding goal on Indiegogo last year. Gajah's iPhone 5 version will carry a 3.5-inch, 360 x 600 E Ink display, Bluetooth 4.0 compatibility and Popslate-identical $99 price tag, while the Galaxy Note II model will sport a 4.3-inch, 600 x 800 screen, BT 2.1 and $129 sticker. The latter model will roll out in China and Malaysia first, followed by the iPhone 5 model and a possible Galaxy S 4 model after that, if sales justify it. Having its crowd-funded idea "borrowed" before it even hits the market is probably a good sign that Popslate is on to something, but we're not sure that they'll be flattered by this imitation.
Otterbox iPhone 4 / 4S Defender case with iON Intelligence launching April 18th for $130 (video)
It was at CES that we were first introduced to Otterbox's Defender case with iON Intelligence, which promises to keep phones alive in two ways: by shielding them from physical abuse, and by serving up extra juice whenever they're thirsty. Otterbox has now told us the new case is nearly ready to bounce off hit the streets, and will be launching on April 18th for the iPhone 4 and 4S. The case combines the familiar hard shell, rubbery sleeve and screen protector for laughing off falls, with a 1,450mAh battery -- that's a sliver bigger than the 4 / 4S built-ins -- to effectively double capacity. LEDs on the case let you know how much extra juice is left, and the companion iON Intelligence app automatically redirects power when it's needed, and monitors usage to predict how long 'til your next charge. The iPhone 4 / 4S model will be available from Otterbox's online den for $129.95, and others are in the works for "other top iOS and Android devices." Check out the promo videos below for a full product walkthrough.
