ecoSnap iPhone 4/4S Case Review

I recently told you about the biodegradable and compostable iPhone 4/4S case from the guys who gave us the iBend iPhone and iPad stands.  The ecoSnap cases are made of organic (non-food crop) plant resins using sustainable manufacturing practices.  They even have minimal, low-impact packaging.  I thought the iBend was an ingenious stand, and I was intrigued to see the iPhone case they had developed.  I was happy to give the ecoSnap case a try.  Read on to learn about how you can save on an ecoSnap case for yourself.

You can see the minimal packaging in the top picture.  It’s just a simple piece of cardboard that wraps around the case.  The cardboard is made of 100% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable itself.  Or you can throw it into your compost pile just like other paper products.

The ecoSnap is available in Frost and Midnight.  I asked for and received the Frost to complement my white iPhone 4.  The Frost is a translucent white case.  It feels like normal plastic to the hand, so you don’t need to worry it will start to degrade before you’re ready to retire your phone.  You can see from the picture that the ecoSnap is a back cover; it also covers the two long sides of the phone.

The back has an opening for the camera and flash.  I didn’t notice any problems using the camera while the iPhone was wearing the ecoSnap cover.  There’s supposedly room between the iPhone and the cover to carry a business card or an iBend stand, and the long oval opening on the back of the cover is where you slide your finger to slide the card up and out of the case.  I found the opening at the top of the case, where the business card should be inserted, to be too narrow for a business card.

It’s difficult to see, but the case is branded at the bottom with the ecoSnap name and a stylized leaf logo.

You can see the sides wrap over the edges of the screen.  They don’t interfere with using the screen, but they do form a lip that keeps the screen lifted off the table and protected from scratches if you lay the iPhone face-down.  The sides also wrap up around the corners of the sides.  This provides a bit of protection for the metal banding, and it keeps the case on securely.  The wake/power button, the top microphone, and the headphone jack are all open and easily accessible.

The screen lock/mute button and volume buttons are exposed.  I had no trouble using any of these buttons.  This opening is sized to work with all models of the iPhone 4 and 4S.  The other long side is completely covered by the case.

The speaker, bottom microphone, and docking connector were all open and completely accessible.  I had no trouble charging my iPhone while it was wearing the ecoSnap case.

I’ve used the ecoSnap case for several weeks.  I like that the case is protective without adding much weight or bulk to my iPhone.  (It weighed 0.32 oz on my digital kitchen scale.)  The walls of the ecoSnap are thin and don’t add much thickness to the iPhone.  Compared to the Bumper I’d been using, the iPhone almost felt caseless.  Since I couldn’t fit anything into the card slot, I would have preferred that the case had a solid back to completely protect the back glass.  I liked that the case was translucent because I like to see my gadgets as much as possible.

It’s also nice to know that I don’t have to throw a piece of virtually indestructible plastic into the landfill when I finally replace my iPhone 4 with the next model.  Instead, I can return my ecoSnap, and they’ll see that it’s sent to a professional composting facility.  This professional composting is done at no cost to me, and they’ll even give me a discount toward the purchase of a new ecoSnap case for my new phone.  Sounds like a win-win situation for the customer and for the Earth.

And in a win-win situation for you and your friends, you can save 20% off your entire order at ecoSnap.  Simply enter the special promo code for Gadgeteer readers (GADGET20) when you order ecoSnap cases for yourself and for people on your gift list.