So you are looking to find a bumper, case, or cover for your new iPhone 5 and need to decide where to begin. Yes? Then this is the article that you want to read.
First, you need to decide what sort of case you want for your iPhone. What is your primary concern? You could be looking for something that is fashionable. In this case, your primary criteria is style and you will want to evaluate things like color, pattern, and size. If your primary concern is protection, then you will want a case that is specifically designed to protect against drops and scratches. You could also be looking for something functional. Perhaps an iPhone 5 case or cover that converts into a stand or that also acts as a wallet with pockets and slots for your money and credit cards.
Let’s differentiate between your available options.
An iPhone Bumper covers only the edge of your iPhone 5. A bumper provides moderate protection and shock absorption for your iPhone. iPhone Bumpers mostly come in solid colors and are made out of silicon, hard plastic, or metal. Bumpers were originally introduced with the iPhone 4 as a remedy to poor cellphone reception when the exposed metal antenna was held a certain way. With the iPhone5, bumpers are no longer a necessity other than as a fashionable accessory and moderate protection. Find the best iPhone 5 Bumpers here.
Below are some popular iPhone Bumper Case choices. Click on the images directly to view.
We now move on to cases and covers. An iPhone case not only covers the side of your iPhone, but also the back. With cases you have a lot more options. The most basic cases are made of plastic and offer a slight improvement in protection over bumpers, but only because the back side is also covered (protecting the back of the phone from scuffs and scratches). A boring case will come in black. More exciting cases will come in solid colors (red, blue, green, pink, purple, yellow, you name it) or come with designer graphics and patterns. Moving beyond silicon and plastic materials, iPhone cases and covers also come in metal, carbon fiber, leather, wood, etc.
As we get more functional, cases also and in extra slits and slots to store your keys, money, and credit cards. Fully functional iPhone covers have flaps that cover the front face of the phone and resemble a notebook or pocket organizer. There really are hundreds, if not thousands, of iPhone Case designs. Take a moment to discover all your iPhone 5 Cases here.
Here are some of the iPhone Cases that I like. Click on the images directly to view.
Screen protectors are complementary to bumpers, cases, and covers. At a minimum, they provide a protective layer on your glass iPhone screen keeping it scratch free and looking new. Most screen protectors are clear/transparent and are nearly invisible (hence the ZAGG branded protectors – Invisible Shield). However, there are also screen protectors for your iPhone 5 that offer a mirror surface and privacy protection by making it hard to see your screen at an off angle. Find the best screen protectors and reviews for your iPhone 5 here.
Examples of some available screen protectors are below. Once again, click on the images directly to view.
In alphabetical order, the most popular brands for iPhone bumpers, cases, and screen protectors are: Agent 18, Amzer, Belkin, BodyGuard, CrazyOnDigital, iFrogz, iLuv, Incipio, Krusell, Poetic, Otterbox, Seidio, Skinomi, Stoeck Products, and ZAGG.
Anything else that we have missed? Let us know in the comments.