BubbleSlider iPhone 4 Case Review

Hard Candy Cases' BubbleSlider is a solid iPhone 4 case. It provides good protection, keeps the back of the phone from getting scratched, and makes the phone easier to grip. That said, the difficulty in reaching the buttons and its price - US$34.95; which feels slightly high - hold it back some. Still, it's a solid case worth a look. But I'm still searching for my ideal iPhone 4 case.

July 2, 2010

As I've written elsewhere, I wasn't a big fan of Apple's Bumper case for the iPhone 4. And since there aren't that many iPhone 4 cases on the market yet, I'm still in search of the ideal way to protect my phone. A new candidate for that title is Hard Candy Cases' BubbleSlider.

Upon review, the BubbleSlider is a solid case, but some of its design features make it hard to use, which holds it back a bit.

BubbleSlider for iPhone 4 - The Details

The BubbleSlider is made of hard polycarbonate material which is stiff and strong, and is covered with dimples. The dimples (or bubbles, as Hard Candy Cases is referring to them) make the case easier to grip, which is nice, and give the case its looks. The case also appears to come in two versions, distinguished by case color and finish, and offers metallic and pastel colors.

The case comes apart into two pieces: one big sled that the iPhone slots into and a small bottom piece that snaps into place to hold the phone.

A major differentiating factor from Apple's Bumper is that the BubbleSlider protects the iPhone 4's back. Now that both sides of the iPhone are glass, it's more important to protect the back to prevent it from getting scratched, so that's definitely a bonus.

Also unlike the Bumper, the BubbleSlider offers direct access to all of the iPhone 4's buttons, rather than the additional buttons that Bumper adds.

A Tough Reach

But, while having access to the buttons and dock connector is great, that feature is marred by difficulty getting to the buttons. The openings that reveal the buttons are too small to make it easy to access them when holding the iPhone with one hand (held with one hand, it was nearly impossible for me to click the hold or volume buttons without letting the phone slide around in my hand). Even when holding the phone in one hand and using the other to access the buttons, you're more likely to use a fingernail than fingertip, which means that people with big hands may have trouble getting to the buttons at all.

The BubbleSlider also lacks screen protection, which would be nice, but doesn't show up in too many iPhone cases. For that, you can always buy third-party screen protectors, but in this situation, the fit of the case is so tight that I'm not sure a screen protector - even as thin as they are - could fit.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.