Griffin Technology - Elan Form Case with EasyDock for Apple® iPhone 3G/3G S - Black

I picked this case up the day after I purchased my iPhone and for the first few months it was outstanding. It fits the phone nicely without scratch the phone up, and provides some great protection for the device. Unfortunately over the it became apparent that the glue used to hold on the pseudo leather was extremely low quality. After a long call (about 30 minutes) the leather started to craw away from the edges where my figures were holding the phone and slide up. Over time I've have to smooth the leather down after call and now it's to the point that it's loose all along the edges of the phone case and on the back. Anywhere basically where my hand has had contact with the leather on a regular basis.

Best hard cover available for iPhone 3G with plenty of style for good measure. The biggest drawback to this item is the fact that it's missing some sort of cloth or felt lining to prevent scratches as you slide the phone into or out of the case. I'm sure there wouldn't be any sacrifice to overall appearance or functionality if they were to provide a lining like what's already offered on the Elan Clip for iPhone 3G...it's an oversight so simple it's frustrating. I would recommend the case only if you plan to customize and add your own liner before use....kinda odd that I'm recommending you protect your phone from your protective case, but it really is a needed addition.

This case seems great at first, and in many ways it is great. The case fits together pretty well, although not quite perfectly; the lower portion of the case has a tiny amount of wobble, but it is easily overlooked. The case doesn't try to work itself apart. It takes a decent amount of force to remove it, yet it is easy enough to remove if you wanted to dock the case that you don't feel frustrated at how much time you spend trying to pull the case apart. It is practical and functional in both respects, but certainly not perfect. The leather is easier to grip than the iphone itself without a case, yet avoids sticking to your pocket the way a silicone case will. The case also looks very good, even professional, and doesn't add too much bulk to the iphone. Still sounds good, doesn't it? Well, it isn't. Once you use it for a while, you'll notice that small particles of dust, dirt, and other things will get in-between the case and the iphone. Since this case lacks any kind of inner liner or rubber bumpers to protect the iphone, these small particles will be pressed up against the iphone and through normal use will work themselves around, creating quite pronounced scratches on your phone. Since the entire reason I purchased a case was to protect my iphone from damage, including scratches, I seem to have wasted my money on this case. I will say that this case is probably far more impact absorbing than the iphone without any case, so if you are only trying to protect the case from drops and not from scratches and more mundane damage, this case could still be useful for you (although there are certainly other cases that will do both simultaneously for the same cost, and silicone will be much more impact absorbing than this case). I say probably because I haven't dropped the phone and have no desire to test my assumption at the moment. In conclusion, while this case has a great many desirable qualities, they are far overshadowed by its failed ability to protect the phone from scratches in a very normal usage environment. Also, I'm not talking about fine hairline scratches that will appear on the iphone from normal usage without any case. I'm talking about deep, very tactilely noticeable (even sharp-feeling) scratches that frustrate me greatly when I consider that I now own a damaged iphone that is less than two weeks old. Make sure any case you purchase won't cause this same type of problem. You will certainly regret it if you don't. Thanks for reading and good luck!

I just got an iPhone 3GS and decided to give this case a try. It fits perfectly even with a screen protector on the phone. The trim on mine is silver instead of black like in the photos. I like the silver... makes it look a little classier and not so plain as all black. I can access the charging/docking port and all the switches and buttons with no issues. The leather back makes it easier to hold onto the phone. A little pricey bu I got it on sale, so worth it.

I don't think I'll ever buy another iPhone 3G case without this great screen protection. I have scratched the cover in a wee spot after dropping, so I'm very happy it wasn't my phone getting the damage! Plus, the screen protector doesn't hamper usability. I haven't used it with a docking station yet, but I can see where that would be a pain, since taking off the bottom would be a hassle. All in all, I love it. I'm thinking of getting the colors to change it up.

This is the perfect case for your iPhone. I bought a Gamecock silicone case when I got my phone, but it kept getting stuck in my pockets trying to get it in and out. It also only protected a little. This case is very protective and makes getting the phone in and out SO easy. I also put a ZAGG Invisishield on the front for the ultimate proection!

This is the best case for the iphone 3g in my humble opinion. I had tried two cases prior to purchasing this one, and I was disappointed. This has a good outside shell and comes with a great screen protector. The problem is that because of the close fit, the easy dock is hard to remove.

When I picked this up at the store I was tempted to just hand it back and say "forget it". The cheesy leather was cut poorly, folded and forced into place, badly glued. One side was wavy, and the corners weren't notched so they had to be folded to fit around the curved edges. The screen protection is just a piece of plastic, though I admit I didn't actually take it out of the package and thoroughly check it out. I (stupidly) decided to hang onto it and see if my nephew wanted it. At 15 years old, even he thought it looked "junky". When I bought it I kind of figured we could solve the lack-of-inner-bumper issue with a thin application of silicone, but instead bought something else. Don't stress yourself by buying this one.