Most leather cases I have tried for the iPhone 4 so far have focused on style, snug fit and have had been lacking in the protection department. With the Proporta Aluminum Lined Leather Case you get a combination of style and protection. The snug fit has been somewhat sacrificed instead. Creating the perfect case for the eye of a harsh reviewer is hard, but in the end it is you the consumer who decide which demands you have in a case.
The case is a rather standard design with a top mounted flap. The phone is held in place by leather on the sides, and bottom. When closed the flap holds it tightly in place. There is a small magnet holding the flap securely closed. When the flap is open the top is open, but there is little risk of the phone escaping the case due to high friction.
The case offers excellent protection for the screen due to the front flap having a sheet of aluminum sewn in. This is alongside the Otterbox Defender the best screen protection available. The sides of the phone are protected by leather covering all but the area from volume buttons and up. The bottom is less protected as there are only two thin bands of leather going across near the speakers. When open the front is still protected by the leather frame all around the screen. The home button, and entire area beneath the screen is covered by thick leather. This means that it is really well protected, but also that the home button is harder to use. It feels squishy, almost mushroomy and takes more pressure to operate. It is easy to find though, as it has the Proporta logo etched onto it.
The back is properly protected, and this is a first for the leather cases I have reviewed. The cutout for camera and flash is perfectly aligned, and sized. All corners of the phone are protected as well from impact damage. For protection this is a great case as it still offers style.
I mentioned the fit in the first paragraph, and it bothers me quite a lot. The top of the front frame is made from a thin piece of leather. This isn’t rigid enough to maintain the rectangular shape of the case, and the entire case comes off as being somewhat wonky. Overall the case is rather loose, and it takes some adjusting to get it straight. Almost as annoying as too loose boxers on a hot day.
The Proporta Aluminum Lined Leather Case is a mixed bag. It offers excellent protection, and is made from exquisite soft leather. It is well made with tight stitching, and a nice lining. The fact that there isn’t a perfect fit disturbs me, and having thick leather over the home button interferes with operation. For the user looking for a case to use at work this is a good choice. It offers the protection often needed when in a hurry, while maintaining a stylish look.
Final Rating
Aluminium Lined Leather Case for iPhone 4 at Proporta.com £29.95
Advanced Screen Protector
I have tried quite a few screen films for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 4. Most of them have been quite hard to install without getting watermarks, air bubbles and dust under. Having a spanking new phone to show off with loads of small white bubbles on the screen is a big no no. The Proporta Advanced Screen Protector is the first that has been a breeze to install. Not a single speck of dust stayed underneath when I used the squidgy. There is also a cutout on the top that means that the speaker doesn’t need to be aligned 100%. As an anti scratch, antiglare film there is none better than this. It is even removable, and washable. The only negative is that only one is included in the package. After using screen protectors from Speck, Otterbox, Artwizz and Macally I can safely say that the Advanced Screen Protector beats the competition. The retina screen looks as bright, and deep as ever.
Final Rating
Advanced Screen Protector for iPhone 4 at Proporta.com £4.95
