Apple has taken another shot at making a case for one of their iDevices. Previously, it was with their iPad case, a simple folio style case. Now, they have a simple rubber/plastic “frame” type of case for their iPhone 4, called the “Bumper”. You can purchase one directly from Apple for $29, and it comes in several different colors. You can get a black Bumper for free if you take part in Apple’s iPhone 4 Case Program.

Packaging

The packaging for the Bumper is quite simple, as with most Apple products. The only thing you get is the case. On the back of the packaging, you just get a little diagram on how to install the case. Overall, there isn’t anything very fancy. No screen shield, no microfiber. Then again, it’s Apple, so you shouldn’t expect any of that.

Installation

Installation is a breeze. Simply put one end of your iPhone 4 in the case, and then wrap the rest of the case around all of the corners. If you’re using a front and/or rear screen protector, you should have no problems. I’m using the BodyGuardz full protection kit on my iPhone 4 (front and rear screen protectors, side strips) and it has no problems with the Bumper.The fit is perfect.

Port/Button coverage

On the top of the case, you have a little metal button that sits on top of the original metal power button. The click is nice and clicky. There’s a generous cutout for the 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s a small hole right next to that, which is for the noise cancelation microphone. On the left side, you have a great cutout for the silent switch. You can easily get in there with either your nail or your finger. As with the power button, the volume up and volume down buttons are both covered with a little metal button. The click is also nice and clicky. On the bottom of the case, you have individual cutouts for everything – microphone, 30-pin dock connector, speaker. There is a problem with the 30-pin dock connector: you can only use your iPhone 4′s original USB cable with the Bumper. The cutout is specifically made for the original USB cable. Third-party cables will most likely not fit properly.

Design/Material

The overal design is quite simple. It’s just a frame for your iPhone 4, so there’s no front protection or rear protection. There’s a small lay-on-the-table design, so you can lay it on a table and have the screen lifted up off of the table. The material is more along the lines of plastic along with some rubber. This gives you good shock protection and comfort. Apple’s choice of colors are quite good.

Pros

• Looks nice
• Works with front/back screen protectors
• Nice silent switch cutout
• Nice metal cover for the power, volume up, and volume down buttons
• Perfectly aligned cutouts

Cons

• Must use the original iPhone 4 USB cable
• Headset cutout could be a little bigger
• Price

Final thoughts

Overall, the iPhone 4 Bumper by Apple is a decent little case. It has good protection and looks great. If it weren’t for the high price tag and weird cutout for the 30-pin dock connector, I would give this case a high rating, BUT, I still recommend this.

Rating: 3.5/5

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