tough case

G-Form, the company known for dropping iPhones and iPads from the stratosphere to show off how tough its Xtreme cases are, is rolling out new cases next week at CES.

The Xtreme iPhone 5 ($39.99) and Samsung Galaxy S3 ($39.99) cases are already shipping, and G-Form has unveiled new cases for the iPad 3/4 ($89.95) and iPad Mini ($89.95), as well as the latest iPod Touch ($39.99) that should be available in the next month.

According to G-Form, the secret sauce behind its cases is its three-layer "technique," which combines its "… Read more

The new iPad -- or the iPad 3, as I incorrectly like to call it -- has been out for a while, but the new cases keep on coming.

If you've already seen an older version of this list, I apologize, but the good news is that it's been updated.

As most people know, Apple barely changed the design of the third-generation iPad and a lot of existing iPad 2 cases fit the iPad 3. While a few of those iPad 2 models are represented in this round of top cases and covers, I did my best to include plenty of new models, as many accessory makers have refreshed their lines in the last few months. … Read more

Otterbox has built a booming business out of its ultraprotective iPhone cases but today has a lot more competition -- and it's only getting fiercer.

Case in point: iSkin's just-announced Fuze case, which also comes in a special-edition model, the Fuze SE. What's nice about these is that they offer solid protection in a relatively low-profile case.

While they don't offer the same level of protection as the $80 Lifeproof case, which is waterproof and features an integrated screen cover, the overall concept and design are somewhat similar.

iSkin says the new Fuze cases took months … Read more

Case-mate's latest tough iPhone 4/4S case, the Phantom, just started shipping, but it's worth calling out because Case-mate is officially launching it at CES in Vegas.

This is a "two-piece" case, but it doesn't include an integrated plastic screen cover like some tough cases do (it comes with a stick-on screen protector).

As noted, the Phantom comes in multiple colors and retails for $50. When I get my hands on one, I'll see if it's worthy of making it onto our Top 20 tough iPhone 4 and 4S case list.

There's a new kid on the tough iPhone 4/4S block and it's name is Tank.

Case-Mate, the company behind Tank, is touting how protective the new "military-grade" case is, and thanks to a partnership with the folks behind the SharkEye cases, it has a unique retractable window that covers the screen but also gives you full access to the screen when needed.

The Tank comes in a few different colors, including the color you see pictured, as well as a simple black-and-white with pink trim. It's got a nice textured finish, and while it'… Read more

The success of Otterbox's Defender cases has a lot of smartphone accessory manufacturers scurrying to go rugged. The latest rival to say it's taking Otterbox on at its own game is Grumdrop, with the freshly announced Drop Series, "made to withstand gnarly falls and still leave the iPhone 4 as handsome as ever."

While the case certainly looks tough and has several layers of protection, what's amusing is that Gumdrop has included the Otterbox name in the Web site address for its new Otterbox case competitor. We assume that's for SEO (search-engine optimization) purposes, … Read more

Consider for a moment that the upcoming iPhone 4 is like the Iron Man of the mobile phone world: sleek, sexy, and powerful. Then an iPhone 3GS wrapped in Magellan's ToughCase would be akin to Iron Man's buddy War Machine: based on slightly older, but still powerful, technology and substantially upgraded with third-party features. OK, so the ToughCase may not add guns to your iPhone or iPod Touch, but that doesn't make it any less ready to tackle almost anything you can throw at it.

Just looking at the ToughCase, it's obvious that this accessory adds considerable bulk and heft to the enclosed iPhone. At just less than 2 inches thick and weighing in at 7.5 ounces, you can all but forget about cramming this case into your pocket. Fortunately, Magellan will ship the ToughCase with a belt clip. There will also be an array of handlebar, windshield, and universal mounts available.

For the increased heft, the ToughCase adds weatherproofing, an extended battery, and--because this is a Magellan product--a more accurate GPS receiver to your iPhone. Starting with the shell itself, the ToughCase is shockproof and IPX-7 waterproof, which means it can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes without damage to the enclosed device. We tossed an iPhone encased in a preproduction example of the ToughCase down a flight of stairs and found no damage upon recovery. We were unable to test the waterproofing claim of the preproduction unit, but rest assured we'll be dunking the retail version when it becomes available.… Read more