Gumdrop Cases Drop Tech Series Case for Apple iPhone 4 and 4S AT and T, Verizon, and Sprint, Pink-White, (DS4G-PNK-WHI)

BEFORE YOU BUY ANY OTHER CASE FOR YOUR NEW iPHONE 4S or iPHONE 4, PLEASE READ:

When I first purchased my iPhone 4, I scoured the Web reading numerous reviews for the "best cases" for iPhones. I finally settled on the Otterbox Defender case. Dumb idea and a waste. What seemed great at first soon became problematic.

I replaced it with the GumDrop Drop Tech Series case and gave the Otterbox to my son to use with his Star Wars toys (I just didn't have the heart to sell something like it on eBay or Craigslist).

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Why I should have bought the GumDrop Drop Tech Series to begin with:

- The design is so much cooler (I have been asked by folks at Starbucks what kind of case it is rather than what kind of brick it is. It's all about looking cool sometimes and I proudly display it in plain sight)

- Larger screen real estate (I can actually see and swipe the whole screen a bit better and don't feel so constrained by a literal box)

- Removable screen protector for easier cleaning or if you ever need to replace the screen cover. Try that with any other option. (It's one of the main reasons I purchased the GumDrop. I don't need to use a Q-tip to clean the smaller camera areas any more)

- Very light weight but not at the expense of great protection. GumDrop knows protection (I often forget I even have a phone in my pocket now)

- Very easy and quick to put together (Another main reason I bought it. I have no patience for assembling things)

- Durable rigid rubber skin stays put -- perfectly. Heavy duty rubber too (No peeling back on on its own after repeated use)

- Slides into my pocket very easily because of its more streamlined profile (Otterbox's numerous flaps and light silicone stretched and got caught on pockets a lot and stuck in my pocket when sweaty)

- Everything is tucked away yet very accessible when needed (The flaps/doors for power and the phone's mute switch are more rigid and seal very well -- much better than Otterbox. No more sticking on my pockets)

- Has passed my involuntary drop tests a few times now with flying colors (I am pretty clumsy sometimes and have dropped my phone in the parking lot many a time)

- I have something to recommend to my friends on Facebook (I have told all my friends about it and provided a link to buy one. I wouldn't ever recommend a piece of junk, I'd lose friends fast.)

- Loved the iPhone case so much, I have a matching iPad case now too. :-)

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Read all the reviews you want but you'll find yourself right back here anyway. I did. Great job GumDrop. I will continue to recommend you highly!

Update - 08/21/11: I originally posted (See Below) when first receiving the case and it was used for one day. We are now in day 4 and the case is an absolute wreck. The minor/major flaws (See Below) have become worse with new ones. First of all, the silicone/rubber is flaking off. Second, the built in screen protector came off the case and a stick-on had to be put on the phone. Third, somehow the plastic surrounding the phone has warped... the phone fits loose in the case now. What seemed like a good idea in the beginning (See Below) was a time-bomb waiting to go off... well, it has. It is not even worth sending back just to receive another one. Buyer Beware! Believe me... I will be from now on. Sorry Gumdrop! You have dropped the ball! Great looking design and concept, shabby materials! Originally gave 4 stars... know being dropped to one.

New Review - 08/17/11: The Gumdrop case is semi-tough with multiple layers of protection. Comparable to Otterbox/Ballistic/Speck cases. Not as tough as Seidio or Griffin tough cases.

Now to the Gumdrop Drop Case. The packaging was perfect. When opening the box I was met with four parts including the belt clip. Since this case has its own screen protector I had to remove the one from my phone due to the "good old oil slick" we have become accustomed to with the Otterbox. Once the screen protector was off, the oil slick still showed, but not as bad. Installing the phone: it took a little while to secure the silicone (which feels more like rubber) around the case. Once completed I found three minor & one major flaw.

(Major Flaw): When taking a picture with the flash, you see a blotch of very light gray from the case. The cut out appears to be big enough to avoid any type of shadowing, but it doesn't. I tried taking several pictures and see the blotch in everyone.

(Minor Flaws): The silicone/rubber that covers the charge port does not stay secure, it flops out. My suggestion to Gumdrop would be to attach a rubberized tab to the flap to fit into the charge port to secure it better. The second flaw is the fit around the screen area of the phone. The case has a similar groove line to the Otterbox that the silicone/rubber has to be massaged into. Once completed, the silicone/rubber has way too much movement... not tight enough. Last but not least, the belt clip felt a little flimsy. At least the hinge is metal and not plastic. The clip secures the phone similar to the Otterbox. I put the Gumdrop case into my Seidio holster and it fits with no problem. Since the phone fit, I will be using the Seidio holster since I feel it is better secured.

Overall... I feel this is a great attempt by Gumdrop. Besides the minor flaws, I really think they have a hit with this case. Hopefully they will make a better silicone/rubber exterior and fix the major and minor problems I mentioned. If they do, I will not hesitate to buy a new one for the iPhone 5 when it comes out.

I hope this review helps anyone looking for a rugged case that prefers an open face.

I own the same case for the ipad2 and love it ... so it seemed natural to order this case to protect my iphone 4s. Unfortunately when I use the flash on the camera, the pictures have smokey blue haze. I tried eliminating the white plastic protective piece for the camera - allowing for a larger opening - but I still have flash problems. Incredibly disappointed as I really wanted to use the case for the iphone. My husband has the seidio case and there are no flash issues - I think its because the newer Seidio cases have a divider between the flash and the camera lens. Bummer :(

It is a very cute case and would offer your phone the protection you are seeking without the bulk but I don't think its designed well for the iPhone 4s - maybe there are no flash issues with the 4 but there are issues with the 4s.