iPhone 4 Bumper: Unboxing & Micro-Review [Video & Pics]

A FEW WORDS ON THE BUMPERS…

Josh Aronson and Matt Gibstein decided to tag-team this micro-review; we hope you enjoy their collaboration.In case you’re only interested in the video footage (although we know you’re not), it’s at the bottom… enjoy!

Josh (J): Think about Apple-branded accessories for a second– those standard Apple headphones are probably the first thing to come to mind, maybe that Universal dock you’ve got, or even the Apple Remote that came with your MacBook. Now, I want you to describe these accessories in one word…A-ha! Tall task, ain’t it? Some words that probably came to your mind were “white” or “shiny” or (possibly) “useful”. It’s alright…I had some trouble too, until I came to the word “fine”.

Matt (M): I’m not sure that Apple accessories are just “fine.” I mean if we want to talk real accessories, the only true accessory they make is the iPad case which I’m somewhat fond of… but I understand what you’re getting at– let’s move on.

Apple Accessories-- Image via MIP

J: By definition, the adjective “fine” can range anywhere in meaning from superior quality to satisfactory to down right hot and sexy. Yeah, maybe we should avoid that latter definition. For purposes of this micro-review, I’d like to use our second definition, “satisfactory”, to describe Apple’s accessories. Why the second definition? Well, simply because an Apple accessory is just that – what the consumer needs, with no special add-ons, actually quite plain to be honest, and purely “fine”.

M: I mostly agree with you here– most Apple “add-ons” don’t really have gimmicks. They’re just “fine”.

J: How was your day today? Fine. How’s that Apple accessory ya got there? Fine. Simple as that.

M: Haha…

J: Now that you understand what truly makes an Apple accessory, I’d like you to meet the iPhone 4 Bumpers. By now, most of you should be receiving your pre-orders of the new iPhone 4 (thanks to FedEx) and have been playing around with it. You’ll notice that, while there is a strengthened industrial design to the new iPhone, it feels a bit fragile – it needs a protective and stylish case. That’s where the Bumpers come in.

M: Agreed. Since the front and back of the iPhone are both made out of glass, I feel like I need a little something extra to protect the iPhone. Unlike some of the older models that didn’t necessarily necessitate a case, I think the iPhone 4 definitely does. Will it be the Bumper case? Haven’t decided as of yet.

J: iPhone 4 Bumpers, available in a variety of colors, are Apple’s first major dive into the case department. The Bumpers, like any other case, have slots designated for the iPhone buttons (on/off, volume, etc.) along the protective covering. Bumpers are made of a durrable rubber and plastic molding, with a two-tone style color scheme, and fit snuggly around the edges of the iPhone 4. In terms of protecting your phone, this case hybrid  does not rap around the back of the phone – however, the Bumper does prevent the back from scratching against surfaces with its raised edges.

M: Let’s not forget the iPad case or those cute little sock thingys that Apple produced back in the day. Oh, and the bumpers are available in not only green but black, pink, white, orange, and blue. Nice description of the Bumpers though– not much more to add.

J: As with any other Apple accessory, the Bumpers to me are “fine” – a useful case, nothing special, with a minimalist design and no extra useless functions. If you’re looking for a case for the iPhone 4 you may have just pre-ordered, a Bumper is a great bet (too bad all the good colors don’t ship until July 16th) considering that no other iPhone 4 case has officially surfaced on the market.

M: The Bumper case is definitely stylish– truly reminiscent of Apple’s recent design trends. My only concern is functionality. I do like that the case leaves the Apple’s sleek rear-end (the glass enclosed black backing) exposed– but at the same time, I have some serious concerns about dropping this bad boy.

J: In terms of price, Bumpers are priced at $29.00 – relatively the same price of a third party iPhone 3G case. For a real comparison, you might have to wait until the 24th or later to see if any of the big name brands (Incase, Case-mate, etc.) put out some quality cases.

M: The Bumpers are relatively inexpensive at $29– I think we’ll definitely see some great third party accessories but my guess is that the Apple bumpers will sell very well because the employees practically force you to buy them when you walk in the Apple Store

J: Bumpers are fun, simple, and add a touch of color to the overall industrial look of the iPhone 4. If you’re planning to buy an iPhone 4 soon, why not throw in an Apple Bumper for $29.00? Visit your Apple retail store on the 24th or visit the Apple Online Store to purchase a Bumper.

M: You might as well buy one– at least until you’ve found a case that you’re ready to use on a day-to-day basis.

VIDEO