Contour HardSkin inked 3G/3GS review

The Contour HardSkin inked combines modern graphics with excellent protection. It comes in three different version: blue wave, purple flower and red pattern. I kind of made up the names of the purple and red just to give a small hint of the artwork. I have tried the blue wave for a couple of weeks now, and so far I have had a positive experience.

The HardSkin inked covers the back completely, and the sides have cut-outs for power, headphones, silent button, volume controls and the ringer switch. The front is partly protected by protruding edges. There is nothing interfering with the screen or front of the iPhone. I would have liked to have a screen protection film included. This has more or less become expected from a high end iPhone case.

The grip is enhanced using the HardSkin inked due to the rubberised surface. Furthermore the case has indentations for added grip when used in portrait mode. One for each side of the case placed just below the middle of the case. When held in my left hand my thumb, and index finger are placed in the indentations. Used like this the grip is greatly enhanced, and it is harder to drop the phone when texting/playing in a bumpy environment.

Inserting the iPhone is easy as the HardSkin inked is made out of a front and a back piece. It snaps into position, and once set it is near impossible to remove other than using a coin. A small slot on the lower right side of the case lets you use a coin to pry the case open. Done in this manner the case is easily opened. A flaw to this is that the coin is obviously harder than the polycarbonate, and repeated usage will wear on the case. My case already feels somewhat abrasive around the edges of the slot. Furthermore I am concerned that repeated usage will render it completely useless if you can’t remove the iPhone from the case. If the coin slot breaks the only way to open the case is by destroying it using some sharp tools.

I enjoy the look and feel of the HardSkin inked, and it goes really well together with my white iPhone 3GS. I am concerned though because the inked wave pattern on the back is already showing signs of wearing off around the edges. Still the pattern might look even cooler with a bit of wear to it.

Summary

Pros
Cool design and looks.
Great grip for gaming.
Impact protection for sides, back and front edges.
Access to all ports and functions.
Tight fit that won’t open unless you want it to.
Cons
Not dockable in all docks.
The coin operated opening slot tears, and becomes abrasive.
The inked skin wears off.
No screen protection included.

The HardSkin inked is a good overall solution for your iPhone. It protects key areas of the iPhone, and adds grip when playing games. If you change back and forth between cases often the HardSkin inked will not be ideal, as the coin slot will tear. My experience with Contour products is that they are built to last, and apart from the inked pattern the HardSkin will not fail. I can recommend the HardSkin inked as a good case for both the hardcore gamer and the casual iPhone user.