After a slow start, protective cases and bumpers for the iPhone 6 are becoming a lot easier to find. I like a minimalist approach– one that shows of some of the smartphone’s metal case–and that’s always more of a search. If you’re still looking for something along those lines, Loop has a new option worth checking out in the Straitjacket case. Although it still has the distinctive “mummy” bandages that make Loop cases stand out in a crowd, there are several differences between the Mummy case I tried out last year with the iPhone 5s and the new Straitjacket case for the iPhone 6 (also available for the iPhone 5/5s).
The big one is that the rubbery material making up the frame in the Mummy has been replaced by hard, glossy, impact-resistant plastic for the Straitjacket. The inside of the hard shell is the softer material used for the straps, which also protrudes as a cushion on each of the corners–think of this as an enhanced bumper rather than a full-on case and you have the picture.
As I mentioned, the “mummy bandages” or straps that Loop is known for remain. There aren’t as many of them, but there is still sufficient coverage to provide protection for the back of your iPhone while helping to hold the frame in place. And like the Mummy case, those flexible bands provide a handy spot to stash credit cards for those who like to go wallet-free (even when Apple Pay isn’t an option).
Switching to a rigid frame prevents the Straitjacket case from bulking up the iPhone 6’s slim, round-edged profile and offers the opportunity to fancy things up a bit with two-tone color schemes like the black and red of my test unit. I also found the hard plastic offers the advantage of collecting a lot less lint and dust.
While it is a little more work than with the completely flexible Mummy, it’s still just a quick pop to put the Straitjacket on, or to remove it from the iPhone. All ports are clear and there are covers for the buttons (which worked just fine). On the front face, a slight lip protects the display when it’s set face-down. Overall, the Straitjacket feels well-designed and should do a good job of protecting an iPhone from accidental bumps and minor tumbles, without being bulky.
I love the look of Loop’s cases. It’s nice to be able to see some of the gleaming metal of an iPhone (or iPad) showing through a case (it always seems a shame to cover that up) and the straps are quite useful for tucking cards into.
My only concern was the finish of the hard plastic frame. There were no visible seams, but there were a few rough edges within some of the port cutouts. They didn’t really stand out unless you were looking for them, but definitely could have used some sanding. Review units often come from early production runs when there are still a few manufacturing tweaks to be made, so it’s possible the Straitjacket I received was one of those.
The Straitjacket case is priced at $34.95 and available direct from Loop in five different color combinations for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5/5s.
Disclosure: Loop provided a review unit.
The Loop looks interesting, but I’m concerned about the price. I’ve been looking at some non-name brand cases for my iPhone 6+. This one, http://www.amazon.com/COMBO-Protector-No-hassle-protector-GreenTerraFirma/dp/B00PLUYZEG/ref=sr_1_15?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1421776310&sr=1-15&keywords=iphone+6+plus+protector+combo has everything I need at a better price and only has positive reviews, but it’s not well known. Should I be concerned that it’s not a well known name brand?
Honestly, I wish there was a definitive answer about the name brand vs. lesser known/expensive vs. cheap relationship in smartphone cases.
I’ve owned or tested probably 100 different cases in the past few years alone and I still find surprises. Generally speaking, I find there is a correlation between name brand/price and positive experience. In my experience, name brand cases tend to be better constructed, more effective, easier to remove (getting a poorly designed case off your device can scratch or damage it) and longer lasting (I’ve had knock-off cases literally fall apart when seams failed). Some of the really cheap cases look fine in photos, but when you actually see them up close, the material is nasty or the fit and finish is poor. In other words, you get what you pay for is a good general rule of thumb.
That being said, I’ve had some expensive cases from well known manufacturers that were stinkers and some inexpensive no-name cases that turned out to be excellent.
Which is the roundabout way of answering your question: No, not being a name brand doesn’t mean the case you’re looking at is a bad buy. I’d be more cautious about it, but I wouldn’t rule it out just because I don’t recognize the manufacturer.
My primary advice is to decide the style of case you’re looking for first (minimalist, bumper, waterproof, etc…), and once you know what you’re looking for, start narrowing it down. User reviews are a great resource, but if you can get your hands on one to see what it looks like, feels like and how it actually fits, that’s even better.
Cheers,
Brad.
And one clarification, there are some smaller shops putting out unique cases that make a good alternative to the big name brands. They may not have distribution in Best Buy or Apple Stores, but the product is still good —and often quite different from the mainstream (the Loop Case from this review for example, or Material 6). These tend to not be discount cases, though…
Brad.
Thanks Brad.