Two cases, both alike in dignity, in fair… New York is where we lay our scene? Well, not completely alike in dignity. Apple, is, after all, one of the most highly respected tech companies in the world. Meanwhile, Spigen sells their cases at more than 50% off on Amazon in a seemingly perpetual sale. Still, those who know smartphone cases know that Spigen makes some good ones.
If you’ve just gotten an iPhone 11, it might be tempting to grab Apple’s clear case from the Apple Store. After all, it’s right there. It looks great, has a clear finish, and secures your phone easily. But I’d caution against it. After all, it’s also $50, and, as stated, the Spigen case, while $30 from Spigen, is just $11.99 on Amazon.
These are both cases made to show off the brilliant colors of the iPhone 11. However, the Spigen is the better buy. Here’s why.
In This Article:
Durability – Win: Spigen
I heard a cracking noise as I put it on. Was that just the plastic flexing? No. Down by the corner of the phone, a crack in the plastic. Unbelievable! My brand new iPhone 11 case from Apple already had a giant crack on it! I stuffed my phone in my back pocket, grabbed a longboard, and skated to the Apple Store. It was the launch weekend, so the store was packed, and getting help wasn’t easy. Finally, an employee who was helping both me and someone else at the same time was able to swap out my broken case for a new one. He did so in front of the line of people waiting to buy the new iPhone. Something tells me few of them bought Apple’s clear case that day.
Apple’s Clear Case is made from one piece of hard molded plastic. It doesn’t have a lot of give, and can actually be a bit difficult to install. I cracked mine one of the first times I installed my phone in it. My replacement one is now cracked as well, though this is a much smaller crack than the first time. Also, this time I had a Phone Loop on it, so I don’t know for certain if that contributed or not. The first time it cracked, however, there was no loop.
My Spigen Ultra Hybrid, on the other hand, is in great shape. A small scuff on the corner because sometimes my phone brushes up against the grip tape of my skateboard when it’s in my back pocket, but otherwise in one piece. That’s because Spigen’s case uses a hybrid design. The back is a hard clear plastic to make the phone case as clear as possible. The sides, on the other hand, are made from a flexible TPU material. It’s more rubbery. This gives it more grip and flexibility, which is why it’s easier to get on and off.
Protection – Win: Spigen
Yesterday I decided to get started on this review because my phone survived one of the nastiest drops I’ve ever put a phone through. For some backstory, but not as much as you’d get when you’re just trying to look up a quick recipe (it takes 5 minutes to make this dish, Karen, I don’t want to read your 5,000 word intro), I’m currently sick. Even when I’m not sick, I’m completely useless in the morning. So, when I went to put my phone in the pocket of my robe, I realized a little late that my phone was nowhere near my pocket when I let it go. The phone went crashing down, corner first.
Thanks to that TPU and the small air cushion in the corners, the force of the impact was distributed evenly over the surface, and my phone somehow didn’t shatter. It made such a terrible noise, I felt for sure it must be broken. But it wasn’t.
The Apple Clear Case does not inspire this kind of confidence. I’ve considered doing drop tests for cases before, but this one is just one I couldn’t see trying it with. It’s a thick, durable plastic, to be sure, but because it’s so rigid and fits flush against the phone, I don’t know if it would distribute weight evenly over the surface or just send the impact straight through to the phone. It really depends on whether or not there’s any air gap between the plastic and the phone, and, knowing Apple, there is not.
That’s not to say that the Apple case won’t offer protection. It has protected my iPhone from numerous small drops. Nothing like a hip-level drop onto hardwood floor on the corner, but a few fumbles. It’s dense plastic, which surely absorbs some of that impact force, but I’d put my money on the thicker and more rubbery material used by Spigen, especially with those air cushions.
Furthermore, the Spigen case protects the bottom portion of your phone better. The lip comes up higher around the screen as well. This, to me, ruins the look of your phone slightly, but it surely offers more protection.
Looks and Form Factor – Win: Apple
Because the Apple case covers less of the phone on the sides and bottom, it just looks better. It’s slimmer, less obtrusive, and features no obnoxious branding. Hey, Spigen, I don’t need text reading “Air Cushion Technology >” on the corner of my phone case! I don’t need all the information on exactly where it was designed and manufactured either. I could understand putting a logo on the side somewhere nondescript, but having a literal arrow pointed at the corner of the case to highlight a pocket of air on the corners? Seriously? I can see the pocket of air! What were you thinking?
This is barely legible when it’s on your phone. It was actually difficult to take a photo of the text. It’s not as though someone’s going to see me on the train, read “Air Cushion Technology >” and ask me what that’s all about. And even if they do, I’m going to pretend my headphones are blocking all external sound, because who wants to talk to the kind of person who asks questions on the train during rush hour?
Spigen has been doing this for years, too. It’s a weird design, and it certainly means Spigen’s case loses out to Apple’s in the looks department.
Ease of Use – Win: Spigen
Who expected that one? Spigen is better at making pressable buttons than Apple! The buttons on the Spigen case feel like natural extensions of the iPhone below. They click, have the same travel, and are satisfying to press. The Apple case, on the other hand, features rigid buttons that make pressing the actual iPhone buttons a real pain. On more than on occasion I thought I had locked my phone and put it in my back pocket only to butt dial. God only knows what I was liking on Instagram.
Apple has no excuse for not being better with this. Steve Jobs used to test devices by holding them and seeing if they felt “right” in the hand. Now they’re putting out cases with unusable buttons? That just doesn’t seem very Apple-like.
Value – Win: Spigen
This isn’t even a contest. At just $12 on Amazon, the Spigen case is a steal. It’s a high quality case with usable buttons, fantastic protection, and decent enough appearance. The Apple case, on the other hand, is $50 for something that might crack the first time you put it on your phone. It’ll look pretty, but it will leave you wondering why you spend $50 on some plastic to get between you and your phone.
Sustainability – Win: Apple?
I’ve asked Spigen if their cases were in any part recyclable in the past. They are not. Their packaging, to Spigen’s credit, is 100% cardboard and recyclable. That’s pretty great. But the case itself? Destined for a landfill. How many cases do you think they sold this year? Millions? That’s a lot of junk.
The Apple case came with minimal packaging. A plastic display portion, which was recyclable, and a cardboard backing, also recyclable. Apple doesn’t say whether or not their iPhone 11 case is recyclable on their website, so I reached out. Two representatives informed me that it could be recycled, though they didn’t know specifically what kind of plastic it was, which leads me to believe they were telling me whatever it took to end the conversation. Because it’s not labeled, there’s a good chance that even if you put it in the recycling, it’ll still end up in a landfill. But you never know. Maybe someone will look at it, know what kind of plastic it is by its weight and rigidity, and sort it properly?
I doubt it.
This section cropped up in response to this case from Nimble. The Nimble Bottle case is made from recycled plastics, and can be sent back to them for recycling, or dismantled and recycled in your recycling. Seeing as cases are disposable products, all should be recyclable or compostable.
Overall
This is a different format for the reviews than I generally do. I think it was worth it to compare these two cases though. People may assume that, because of its high price and because it’s made by Apple, their case is best. But in practice, that’s not the case. I far prefer the Spigen case over Apple’s.
Spigen: 9/10
A bit thick, but good protection and a nice clear case.
- Protection: 10/10
- Durability: 9/10
- Looks: 7/10
- Ease of Use: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Apple: 4/10
Okay protection, but questionable durability and difficulty in use. Although it might be recyclable. Incredibly expensive.
- Protection: 6/10
- Durability: 1/10
- Looks: 10/10
- Ease of Use: 2/10
- Value: 1/10