Of the cases we’ve covered for the fifth-generation iPod touch, Macally’s TankT5 Protective Flexible Case with Stand ($25) is one of the thickest — over two times the thickness of the iPod touch itself. Some of this added bulk comes from a flip-out stand on the back, useful for landscape orientation viewing, while some is in the front. The two-piece rubber and plastic protector comes in green/green and blue/yellow variations.
Both of TankT5’s layers are quite thick, and taken together they add noticeable size to the thin device. Part of this comes from the abnormally deep lip surrounding the iPod’s screen; it’s going to keep the display safe from drops, but it’s a bit taller than necessary.
The rest of the bulk comes from the thick rubber around the edges on the back of the device, and the plastic that sits flush against it when laid in place. This is where the kickstand is located. It works just as expected, although you’ll need to use a fingernail to pry it open.
At its thickest points, the rubber is actually quite hard and doesn’t feel much different than the plastic—an issue that ends up being a problem when it comes to the Sleep/Wake and volume buttons. All three are still usable, but the tactile feedback is all but gone.
For some users, this may not be a big issue, but plenty of cases get the feel right, and we consider it reflective of overall quality.
Despite the deep recession, we found there to be no issues with the camera or flash diffusion. Along the bottom, one long opening exposes the speaker, Lightning, and headphone ports. It’s worth mentioning that Macally effectively ignores Apple’s loop wristband functionality, as it hasn’t left an opening for the attaching button on the back of the iPod touch. Some users will dislike this limitation on the iPod touch’s loop functionality; others will not mind the added protection.
The idea behind TankT5 is a good one, but Macally missed on a few details here that make us weary of recommending it.
