One of many new cases Incipio is offering for the iPhone 5c, Phenom ($40) is so named for what the company claims is “phenomenal drop protection;” it actually uses three different materials molded together for superior shock absorption. From the outside, it looks a lot like the company’s [OVRMLD] case; it’s only on the inside that you see the real difference. Also like [OVRMLD], Phenom comes in a variety of colors.
The case has a soft-touch finish to its hard plastic back, with a quarter-inch strip of rubber running along the outside border.
This, along with the size and shape of the port openings on the bottom, and the dampening of the Sleep/Wake Button, are carryovers from [OVRMLD]. Really, the only difference is the honeycomb pattern lining the inside. Made with “dLAST material,” it’s there to offer a higher level of protection from drops.
Whether or not this is as important with the iPhone 5c’s plastic back may be up for debate, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Phenom is a good pick for users who want to take as many precautions as they can to protect their phone without adding extra bulk or pieces. The extra shock absorbency does push the price to a relatively high level though, which will be a turn-off for some people, especially considering the case is for Apple’s mid-tier handset.
