iPhonefreak width="190"

I’m not a fan of iPhone cases.  I broke the glass on my first-gen iPhone and had to get a replacement–twice–and I still don’t use a protective case.

In my experience, iPhone cases typically vary from ugly to really ugly.  Some are too bulky.  Some allow grit to build up inside that scratches up the back of the phone.  Some make syncing (especially with a dock) a pain in the ass.  And they almost never add any sort of function or usefulness to the phone.

That said, The Clarifi case by Griffin seems to overcome just about every one of these complaints.  First, it’s pretty slick looking, in glossy black with rubberized trim and is quite svelte.  The iPhone slides oh-so-snugly into the case that there’s no room for the dreaded grit, so back scratches aren’t a concern.  The controls are all very accessible, including the port on the bottom, so syncing isn’t an issue with the case on if you’re using a cable, but even if you sprung for a $30 (or $50, at Best Buy) dock, the bottom 1/3rd of the case comes off to allow unfettered docking, while still protecting most of the phone.  And then there’s the real standout feature: the sliding macro lens.

As I said before, it’s incredibly rare to find a case that adds any practical value to the iPhone itself.  The Clarifi has nonetheless managed to do just that.  It allows you to take in-focus shots of close-up subjects that the naked iPhone camera would never accomplish.  It also conveniently slides away for shots where it’s not needed, but I couldn’t discern any noticeable difference with or without the lens in wide shots.

Close shots, however, is a completely different story.  The case works just as advertised, bringing a rather surprising difference.  Below are two tests.  The first is a close-up of my MacBook Pro keyboard.  On the top is a shot taken with the Clarifi lens in place, under, with the naked iPhone camera:

And below are some close-up shots of the instruction sheet that came with the case.  Again, the top is with the Clarifi, the bottom is without:

In addition, having the Clarifi case makes a neat little app called Snappr possible.  It allows you to take photos of UPC codes (that would be FAR too blurry without the Clarifi) and it finds the product and does a search, so you can check to see if you’re getting the best price on that item.  It’s supposed to make sure you don’t unknowingly buy the 3G iPhone dock at Best Buy for $50 when everywhere else sells it for $30, but it seems to only check online stores like Amazon rather than brick-and-mortar retailers.  And if you’re looking at a product in a brick-and-mortar store, you already now it’s cheaper online, you just probably need it today.  All-in-all, though, a neat little app once you get used to how to get the best UPC pictures.  It’s available in the App Store for free, and there’s a link to it on the Clarifi product page.

All told, Griffin’s Clarifi case is just the right mix of good looks, protection and added value. I may just have to finally start using a case. 

[Clarifi - $34.99 from Griffin]