The same company that made my lowest rated case also made my favorite.
Some time ago, I gave the Utomic Edge corner protection for the iPhone X an abysmal review. While I appreciated the minimalism, I was not a fan of the adhesive. Perhaps it was the polished stainless steel, my tight jeans getting caught on the corners, their shape, or weak adhesive, but I could not get them to stay on for more than a few weeks. Eventually, most fell off, and I didn’t have replacements. Utomic would ship me a new set of 4, as they were covered under warranty, but a helpful Utomic customer service representative reached out to me and offered something else: try one of their other cases. Maybe the Edge protectors weren’t for me, maybe a more traditional case was more my speed. I took him up on his offer, taking a replacement Utomic Metal Bumper case. I’m glad I did.
The Utomic Metal Bumper for the iPhone X
Bumper cases are what really got the case craze going. It wasn’t long ago that only the most cautious armored their phone with a case. We walked around with our naked phones without a care. Perhaps it was because we were the Nokia generation, accustomed to phones so sturdy they could be used to break bricks. Smartphones changed that, but they were still small and heavy enough that people rarely dropped them. Then, the iPhone 4 happened.
A smartphone with steel edges that acted as antenna was a revolutionary and gorgeous design. Truly, the iPhone 4 was the most classically beautiful gadget of its era, and the aesthetic is still chased after today. However, it didn’t come without flaws. Your skin could contact the lower left antenna break, which could cause attenuation; the signal would drop considerably. It was Apple’s most notable “-gate,” antennagate. Apple “solved” this with their first case, and later with an antenna redesign. Apple gave the case away for free to iPhone 4 owners. Between antennagate, the fragility of glass, and increasing smartphone size, smartphones and cases were married forever.
My first iPhone, an iPhone 4 with Apple’s white bumper.
The bumpers weren’t high-end. The plastic prevented reception issues, though it cheapened the device. Utomic didn’t go that route. Instead, they added a rubber liner, and ensured antenna breaks prevent attenuation. The end result is a high-end bumper that doesn’t cause a drop in reception. Plus, it costs the same as the original Apple bumper, $30.
Protection 4 / 5
It’s a bumper, folks. That means the edges will be protected. But what about the front and back? Utomic went out of their way to protect that. The front of the case has just enough of a lip to protect the screen when laid flat down. The back has the same lip, but they take it a bit further on that part, with rubber notches on the corners just large enough to keep the elevated lens of the iPhone X off a flat surface. As far as bumpers go, the case’s metal and rubber liner keep your phone safe from drops, and Utomic went above and beyond to make sure all sides of your phone are protected while leaving as much of your beautiful iPhone visible in the process.
Looks 5 / 5
If you love the iPhone X design, you’ll love the Utomic Metal Bumper. I’m not just saying that because it reveals as much of the iPhone as possible, although that’s always fantastic. What I mean is the case itself is wonderful, and looks perfect on the iPhone X. The black model appears to be nearly seamless, but the silver one has obvious black accents for the rubber lining and antenna breaks. Maybe some would prefer an all-silver look, but I’m enamored with it. The back of the case, with it’s high contrast between the white back, black camera, and black rubber accents, looks classy. The metal finish is matte, and gives it a high-end look.
Weight 5 / 5
Utomic isn’t specific about what kind of metal they use for this case. It feels extremely light, yet firm. My guess is aluminum. Regardless, it’s incredibly lightweight. In fact, it feels like it’s not even there. Despite how stiff and rigid this case is, it’s surprisingly light.
Ease of Use 3 / 5
A little cramped around the mute switch.
Many cases, including the last case I reviewed, the Moshi Vitros, mess up here. The Utomic bumper is not one of those cases. The buttons are clicky, with the moving parts are separated from the rest of the case. Utomic did mess up one thing here though: forgetting that many people don’t have long fingernails. The mute switch can be hard to get to if you have short fingernails. I understand that case manufacturers make this area sturdy because, if they make it thinner, it could make that portion of the case fragile. Making it more shallow could have the same effect. Still, I think every millimeter matters here, and as long as a case manufacturer tries to widen this space up a little bit, it can make the experience much better. Utomic traded in ease of use here for cost effectiveness and potentially durability. It’s a problem, but it’s not as much of a problem as an overly expensive case or one that breaks easily would be.
Grip 1 / 5
The Utomic Metal Bumper will not improve your grip on your iPhone. Well, at least not due to its texture. It’s just as slippery as the aluminum iPhones. However, thanks to exposing the glass back of the iPhone X, and providing a small rubber lip, it is better than holding one of Apple’s older devices. If grip is your only concern, this case isn’t for you. However, if you just need a case that protects your phone and makes it look good, then you probably won’t mind the slipperiness too much.
Durability 5 / 5
I’ve only had the case a few weeks, but it hasn’t shown any signs of wear. I don’t foresee longevity issues with this case. It’s metal, and feels considerably durable at that. The only potential problem could come from the rubber that holds the case together in between the seams and charging port. I’ve seen these kind of case fall apart there before, but the rubber on this case is definitely thicker than those cases.
Value 5 / 5
The Utomic Metal Bumper is $30. It’s $30 for a durable, sturdy, metal, fashionable case. That’s an incredible value. Cases generally shouldn’t be more than $30, and a $30 is usually pushing it. However, I think this is one of the few cases that holds its value, despite that high-end of the spectrum price tag. This is a high-end case, after all.
Overall 4.5 / 5
It’s kind of funny, my favorite case actually came from the same company that also made one of my least favorite “cases.” Yes, the Utomic Bumper case is currently my favorite case for the iPhone X. It’s lightweight, protective, and keeps my iPhone looking great. What more could I ask for? Perhaps a little grip or an easy to reach mute switch, but, hey, no one’s perfect and neither is this case. It’s pretty close though.
Summary
- Protection 4 / 5
- Looks 5 / 5
- Weight 5/ 5
- Ease of Use 3 / 5
- Grip 1 / 5
- Durability 5 / 5
- Value 5 / 5