With product names including words like Ultra it is easy to get somewhat cautious. The bolder claims the further from the truth is often a truth in my experience. With the SGP products my past experiences failed me, and to a great extent Ultra is a fair word to use.
I really enjoy it when companies contact me for review opportunities. It is usually the other way around. SGP is an American company with a wide array of cases. They offer the entire range from leather to thin polycarbonate cases. I have tried a silicone, and a polycarbonate this time around and I am really impressed.
Ultra Silke R Series $19.99
I am always somewhat cautious when it comes to silicone cases, as it is hard to get a good fit using soft materials. In the case of the Ultra Silke R there are no such concerns, as the fit is really good. The silicone is thick and rigid. Something worth noting is that the case actually slopes downward towards the bottom and top of the phone. This gives it almost the same curves that you had with the iPhone 3G/3GS. To those missing the good old days, and think that the flat iPhone 4 is kind of a bore this case is an excellent choice. For protection the case offers both good impact, and scratch protection. A screen protector is included in the package to round out the protection aspect. The matte finish means that it is also offering good grip, and is less prone to become scratched. All cutouts are well aligned, but the charge socket cutout is narrow needing some extra pressure to push the cord through. I don’t think that the case will suffer any damage from this as it expands, and shrinks back when the cord is removed. The covered buttons for volume and silent ringer works well. The covered buttons are painted grey, and out of a design point of view this could have been omitted. The paint is easily scraped away, and was poorly aligned.
Overall the Ultra Silke R is an excellent silicone case offering good protection, grip and a nice soft silhouette around the back. As with all silicone cases the silicone is loose around the edges. Still I find it easy to recommend to anyone looking for a nice case for everyday use.
Final Rating
Ultra Thin Vivid Series $19.99
Now this is a case that lives up to its name. It is an extremely thin, ultra thin, hard polycarbonate case. It covers the back, sides, and extends somewhat to offer a lip of protection for the front. This means that it sits really well in place, and unless back snap on cases it won’t fall off if dropped on the floor. It offers really good protection, but it will probably break if it has to absorb a drop against a concrete floor. On the other hand it will protect the phone, and that is what it is all about. The top, and bottom of the phone are unprotected, and sadly these are the usual points of impact. Those areas had to be sacrificed to get a great fit around the edges. For scratch protection it is also quite good, but it leaves a round hole in the back open. To remedy the lack of protection for the logo there is a small plastic film to protect it. Furthermore there is a screen protection film included. SGP also includes LED flash diffused reflection protectors. It is said to focus the flash, but I have too little experience to really say that it works or if it is a problem in the first case. This case is thin, light and has an excellent fit. The cutouts are among the best I have seen so far with cool indentation around them. Are there no weak points to this case? Yes there are. First of all it is kind of hard to remove if you want to as the case hugs the buttons snugly. One thing that is more annoying is the fact that it is quite slippery due to the shiny finish. I can see myself accidentally flinging the phone when playing games.
The Ultra Thin Vivid is a great looking thin case excellently executed. The lack of grip makes it less practical for gamers, or when out walking using the phone. The glossy finish is hard to resist though, and this is definitely a cool case with its deep vibrant colors.
Final Rating
Check out SGPStore.com for the wide range of cases available.
