About that Rocketfish iPhone 5 case … [Updated]

When a reviewer writes about a product that’s just been released, there’s one insight that’s unavailable: How the item being reviewed will do over time.

In some cases, the writer might be able to rely on past versions of the product for a clue about the longer haul. But for the most part, this is going to be a very cloudy crystal ball.

And speaking of cloudy …

When the iPhone 5 became available September 2012, I scrambled to find a case for it that I liked. I wanted something that was minimalist but still protective. Usually, selection for a case for a newly released iPhone is limited, but I found something that met my needs: a clear silicone case from Rocketfish, Best Buy’s house brand for mobile accessories. I praised it in a Sept. 22 blog post that became very popular as people searched the Web for reviews of iPhone 5 cases.

Shot from SKU: 6424122

I know quite a few people who bought this case based on my recommendation, including my Technology Bytes co-host Jay Lee and several people who work with me at the Mighty Houston Chronicle. I also heard from folks on Twitter and via email who’d bought the case and loved it.

But in that post, I offered this caveat:

Unless the clear silicone yellows quickly, I’ll probably hold onto this case.

revealiphone5While it didn’t yellow quickly, it did indeed yellow, something that happens often with clear plastics. In fact, it went beyond yellow, turning a kind of blackish green. I’d show you a picture of it, but I threw it away  in disgust.

Also in that blog post, I said I’d switch to a Griffin Reveal case if the Rocketfish case yellowed, and that’s what I did.

I looked around at other cases over the weekend, but kept coming back to the Reveal. I’d had an earlier version on my iPhone 4 and was very happy with it – it provided excellent protection while still allowing you to see the sleek design of the smartphone. I’d dropped my iPhone 4 several times, and the case did its job, keeping the glass front and back of that device from shattering.

The Reveal is what’s known as a bumper case – it’s got a band of silicon that hugs the edge of the iPhone 5, and a clear, plastic cover to protect the back. The biggest downside to this design is that the plastic back can be scratched, but better the case take a few dings than the back of the phone itself, right?

The bumper on the Reveal is a little thicker, and the lip that extends above the front of the phone is a little deeper, providing more protection. There’s also a slight lip on the back, which may protect the plastic back from some scratches.

I’ve got a white iPhone 5, and chose the black version of the Reveal. The contrast of the black bumper against the white front looks great. It almost feels like I’ve got a new phone.

The only downside so far to my purchase: I overpaid for it. Best Buy had it on the shelf for $30, but you can buy it at Griffin’s site for $20. In fact, Best Buy’s own website sells it for $20. If  you opt for this case, get it online.

One other note: The Reveal comes in multiple colors, and you may be tempted to get the white model if you have a white iPhone. Don’t. Reviews of the white Reveal on Best Buy’s site indicates it gets dirty quickly. Go with another color.

Oh, and if you’ve got an Android phone, Griffin offers Reveal cases for a handful of models, including Samsung’s Galaxy S III and S4.

Update: Best Buy’s support Twitter account responded to a query this morning and indicated they’d give me a partial refund on the overpriced case.

 

I’ll return to the store later this week to see what happens.

Update 6.28.2013: I went back to the Best Buy store on Richmond near the Galleria Wednesday after work and requested a partial refund. Happily, the clerk behind the customer service counter didn’t bat an eye. She cheerfully credited my credit card $10.82, and I was in and out of the store in less than four minutes. It might have taken less time, but she had to find a manager to punch in an override code.