With a product name like TANK, you know Case-Mate is serious about this case protecting the iPhone 4/4S against all enemies. The company advertises TANK as a “military grade case” that protects against shock/drop, vibration, wind/rain, and sand/dust. That’s close to everything that could damage your precious iPhone, no? Oh, and perhaps even slobbering babies, too?
Our review unit came with a boxing glove!
The TANK case comes in three pieces (four if you count the holster clip) to be assembled together into an iPhone’s protective armor: top sleeve, bottom sleeve, and screen shield. Putting them together may not be intuitive to some, but Case-Mate includes detailed instructions with the package and instructional videos on its website. In summary according to the “official” instructions:
- Attach the bottom piece onto the iPhone
- Keep the protective sliding screen inside the top part of the case
- Slide the bottom up towards the top until it clicks, securely locking it
The feature that really stands out is the retractable screen shield, sort of like a little window that can be opened and closed to access the iPhone screen. This offers additional screen protection when the iPhone doesn’t have one of those screen protector films. Because of the ridges and material of the TANK screen shield, it does make the iPhone screen difficult to read when the shield is closed.
Hard to read the iPhone screen when screen shield is closed.
Once armored the iPhone’s power button, Home button, and volume rocker are protected with rubberized silicone covers and remain responsive when pressed. Rubberized flaps also cover the Dock Connector and headphone jack to make them protected yet easily accessible as needed.
What stays exposed are the vibrate button, rear camera, front camera, and the speaker and microphone on the bottom. (Obviously, even though the case protects against rain, it’s not meant to be submerged in water.) Note that the vibrate button becomes quite recessed because of the case thickness, so people with bigger fingers may find it hard to reach.
In the same light, it’s a bit hard to type with the iPhone virtual keyboard while encased in the TANK, especially the letters on the edges where your fingers are very likely to rub against the case.
Case-Mate made the case using polycarbonate for a hard shell while the interior is softer silicone cushion. It’s the same idea as a helmet — hard on the outside but somewhat cushioned on the inside. The silicone interior helps absorb the shock and vibration from an impact.
The Case-Mate TANK can be purchased on the company’s website or at various retailers for $60. That’s a fair price for peace of mind knowing that your iPhone is reasonably safe against accidental (intentional?) drops and the outdoor elements. Comes in black/black, black/pink, green/orange (like our review unit), or white/pink.
