Wave for iPhone
Company: Griffin Technology
Price: $24.99
http://www.griffintechnology.com/

When it comes to iPhone cases, it’s obvious that we’re not talking about just any mere Wave here—we’re looking at a tidal wave of options for iPhone owners when it comes to protecting their precious 4 or 8 GB cargo. Griffin alone sells 11 different models of iPhone cases. There are literally hundreds of models from other manufacturers, and new cases appear virtually every week. So how does the Wave stack up?

The Wave’s claim to fame rests in its unique closure system, which is, as you might have guessed, wave-shaped. The iPhone slides into the bottom (back) half of the polycarbonate shell, then the top (front) half is pressed down so that two of the "wave" tabs slide around to the outside of their corresponding bottom tabs, while the upper "wave" closure point rests inside its corresponding top tab. This gives the case a secure feel with no clips or visible closures, while still providing full access to all ports and controls. As with many of their other iPhone cases, Griffin also includes a transparent static peel screen protector and even a soft cleaning cloth, both thoughtful additions considering the case offers no protection for the front of the iPhone.

Here’s a closeup of the right side of the case. The unique design of the locking tabs almost makes it seem as if the case is molded as a single piece, and the wave-shaped edges of the tabs are just part of the overall design.

The translucent color of this case (mine is red but Griffin offers blue, orange, green and pink as well as black) and the virtually undetectable closure system do score some big style points. In the Wave’s case, however, style comes at the price of functionality, especially when considered in light of Griffin’s other offerings for iPhone protection. My biggest beef with this case is that there is no belt clip or lanyard, which means that, unless I want to carry it around in my hands wherever I go, I have to toss the phone in a laptop bag or shove it in my pocket in order to transport it. This makes it difficult to retrieve the phone quickly to answer an incoming call, especially if I’m sitting down. Obviously if you use a Bluetooth headset this is not as much of a concern, but even then, I still like to see the screen to know who’s calling.

My other issue with the Wave is that because its unique design requires two separate pieces, there is a bit of finagling required each time you put the phone into its case to ensure that you slip the upper right "wave" tab inside the tab of the back piece but keep the lower tabs outside the back tabs. When I’m already late for work in the morning, I simply want to remove the iPhone from my dock and pop it into my case, rather than take on the challenge of first determining whether the front piece is right-side up, then assembling the two puzzle pieces in precise fashion. By contrast, my old-school, style-challenged brown leather belt clip case provides far greater protection (particularly for the front of the iPhone) along with far simpler ease of insertion, and I can easily retrieve the phone from the case with one hand, as opposed to trying to fish it out of my pants pocket while seated at a conference table.

Your mission: In the 7:00 A.M. semi-darkness of your bedroom, determine whether the top/front piece is right-side up, assemble the case around the iPhone, align the tabs either inside or outside the bottom/back piece, snap tight and slide the phone into your pants pocket before the #23 bus to Manhattan pulls out. This caption will self-destruct in five seconds.

Bottom line: For the style-conscious among us, the Wave is an eye-catching and very attractive case that appears to provide a respectable amount of protection to the back, top and sides of the iPhone, and comes in a wide range of colors (plus black). For those who value function over form, you could get Griffin’s ClearBoost polycarbonate case, which purportedly boosts your cellphone signal while providing the same degree of protection as the Wave. Or, you could choose their embossed black leather Elan Holster for far superior protection, at the expense of the Wave’s cool translucent color options. Either of those cases demand a paltry $5 premium over the price of the Wave.

Sure, those two cases are so ’90s when viewed alongside the Wave, but at my tender age, I tend to value simplicity and functionality above sheer good looks. So when it comes to the Wave, the more style-conscious among you might be justified in thinking I’m just, er…all wet.

MyMac.com Rating: 3 out of 5