Buyers of Apple’s iPhone 4S — there seem to have been a few — may be hitting a problem where existing cases don’t fit properly. I set out to investigate why.
I sat down with Apple representatives on Friday to cover off a number of issues, amongst them the troubles some folk were having with existing iPhone 4 cases and the iPhone 4S. To be specific, some iPhone 4 cases don’t allow enough space around where the iPhone 4S places its mute switch, making it hard, or in some cases impossible to access it.
The reason why, direct from Apple, is refreshingly simple. It’s because the iPhone 4S is based off the design for the CDMA iPhone 4, which was sold in the US by Verizon. There hasn’t been a CDMA network in Australia since 2008, so nobody bothered importing that model or cases to go with it. Apple’s estimation is that “most” cases should work.
I had some ex-review iPhone 4 cases to hand, so I spent some time over the weekend testing exactly how many cases would work, and how many wouldn’t. But first, I made a pretty picture, because, hey, you would too under the same circumstances.
I categorised the cases three ways. “Good” cases were those where there was no obstruction to the mute switch at all. “Works” cases were those where there was a small physical obstruction to the mute switch, but not enough that I couldn’t mute the volume without looking at it. “Doesn’t Work” cases were those where I either couldn’t easily mute the volume, or couldn’t access it at all due to the case design. I had to omit two of the cases from the test — the Griffin Elan Holster Metal and Belkin Verve Pull — because while I couldn’t access the mute switch while they were in use, the same was true when I placed an iPhone 4 in there; they’re full case pockets rather than just cases.
Good
Griffin FlexGrip
Griffin Elan Form Graphite
Padacs Breeze
Griffin Elan Form
Works
Belkin Grip Vue
Belkin Grip Ergo
Cygnett Second Skin
Hard Candy Candy Slider
Cygnett Molecule
Belkin FastFit
Hard Candy Bubble Slider
Griffin Reveal
Don’t Work
Gumdrop Skin
Belkin Clear Hardish Case
Belkin Verve Pull
Cygnett Frost
Cygnett Snaps Duo
Gumdrop Airshell
The good cases all had one thing in common; there’s no separator between volume and mute switch, meaning there’s plenty of access space for the mute switch, so if you’re shopping for a new case, it’d be wise to look for that feature. This is naturally enough nowhere near a comprehensive list; I didn’t have access to one of Apple’s own bumpers (although they assure me that it works) for a start. What have everyone else’s experiences been? Let me know below and I’ll update the list as we go.
BenDTU
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 9:16 AMI ran into this problem over the weekend, but the other way around. I was after a replacement 4 case and they’d gotten rid of all the cases which only fit the 4, which seemed to include all the slim ones they used to have.
Tracey White
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 9:18 AMI do not have a iPhone 4s as I cbf waiting in line or paying all that $moolah$ for pretty much the same phone. In any case, where does the name ‘Siri’ come from? It reminds me of the lady at the Indian call centre that doesn’t understand a word I am saying until I hang-up in frustration… I mean, iinet were smart enough to relise that ‘BOB” is a better name than ‘Rahjeen’, so why didn’t apple call it’s device ‘Julia’ or something a little more vegemite…
Brendon
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 9:31 AMBecause Siri is the name of the company that made the technology, it’s not the name of the voice. Though it doubles as a name it’s not like they decided Siri was the perfect name for the voice
Cobba
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 12:39 PMHaha. God bless you Tracy White you innocent fool. Please send your request to Apple for Australians to be able to change their Siri to Julia or maybe even Sheila, and ask them to program in some responses to ‘Hey Sheila, get us a beer love’ or ‘Sheila, show us your tits’
Jackson Bison
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 4:33 PMI’m with ya Tracey
Michael
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 7:59 PMSiri was initially developed by SRI International (or Stanford Research Institute). The name comes from SRI with the addition of a single letter.
Rohan
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 9:32 AMPicked up a bumper case yesterday but it obstructs the mute switch. Going by your review criteria it would fall under the works category but it isn’t the perfection you expect from apple!
Sim
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 9:52 AMApple have released updated bumpers. I and my girlfriend have them on both our iPhone 4s’ and they work a treat!
They’ll, apparently, still work on a 4, but I haven’t tried.
anonymouse
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 12:21 PMThis comment has been reported for inappropriate content [troll]
Adrian
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 1:08 PMUncalled for comment. so what if the guy referenced his girlfriend.
Jeff
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 1:40 PMooooooooo, look at anonymouse… he must not have a girlfriend…. he must be the pathetic one… LOL
(im single to but I have a change to find another because im not a douche)
Nate
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 1:52 PMc’mon his comment was funny.
Les
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 10:09 AMBrendon, found this. It’s a bit about “Siri”. http://smashinghub.com/siri-the-things-you-should-know-about-it.htm
Andrew
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 10:12 AMotterbox commuter anyone?
ravennoir
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 10:28 AMI have the otterbox and it fits fine
Kenneth
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 10:14 AMHow many of the tested cases allow the flash through without any ‘fog’? I have the Second Skin on my 4S & it gets this fog on the photos when the flash is used.
Penmonicus
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 10:34 AMI ordered a bunch of covers off eBay a night or two before getting the phone, then bought another cover from JB for $13 while I wait for the others to arrive. Not sure the brand anymore, but I did notice the hole for the mute switch seemed mis-placed. It covers about one-fifth of the switch, but it’s still completely useable.
louisa
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 10:44 AMi just bought the cheapest case JB had in stock and it fits fine. the brand is EXTREME and it comes in rubber, I chose translucent black. the mute switch is slightly off centre, no worries.
louisa
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 10:49 AMmight be this one http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/ipod-mp3-portables/accessories/extreme-iphone-4-tpu-shield-case-black/580765
louisa
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 10:52 AMthis one shows the correct logo in the picture of the item, but is not for Iphone 4s.
http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/ipod-mp3-portables/accessories/extreme-touch-4-hard-case-for-ipod-touch-g4-transparent-blue/585791
Nate
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 11:34 AMafter I got my phone on Friday I just went to one of the many phone stores around Chinatown in Melbourne and picked up a case.
I think the way to go at the moment is to get a case with a large open area on the side, rather than separate holes for each button. I’ll pick up a new case in a couple of weeks once the specific 4S cases start hitting shops…
Tristan
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 12:06 PMI’m thinking of getting the iFrogz Luxe Lean case because I’ve read that the phone will still fit in the Tomtom Carkit. Has anyone used one of these with a 4S or suggestions for another case that will work with the Tomtom Carkit?
RonC
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 3:38 PMNo mention of Incase? they make the best covers, No doubt in my mind.
Brandan
Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 1:28 AMHaving to return my new Incase Slider, opening for buttons is no problem but getting the case on/off takes patience & at least half an hour or so it seemed, extremely tight fit, NO room for any sort of screen protection.
Jamie
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 4:46 PMincase snap case for iphone 4 works fine with my iphone4s :)
Raihan Rahman
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 7:44 PMSpeck CandyShell version 3 works perfectly (version 1, 2 won’t work) version 3 has a bigger opening for the camera, it’s hard to miss.
Speck Fitted would work without any problem.
Refreshed version of official Apple bumper would work as it was designed for both CDMA and GSM iPhone 4.
Michael
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 11:26 PM“But first, I made a pretty picture, because, hey, you would too under the same circumstances.”
I sure would if I was a “journalist” that creamed over all things Apple. That’s why you are the “journalist” and you tell me what is cool.
Chris
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 9:09 AMyes, cthulhu forbid anyone might happen to have any fun or try to add a little frivolity to an article they’ve written in an attempt to amuse the reader
Chi Yiu
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 6:36 PMI am interested to this dPair iPhone flip cases http://www.roadtogad.com/shop/iphone/iphone-4-cases/pdair-leather-flip-case-iphone-4-black.html, the website has mentioned that it fits the 4S, anyone know if it is true?