If you’re thinking you’ve seen these cases before, you’re not alone: Philips’ new iPhone 4 cases Hybrid Shell ($25) and Soft Shell ($20) are so incredibly close to Griffin’s previously released Reveal and Motif designs that they either came from the same Chinese factory or ones with very similar… well, everything. Like Reveal and Reveal Etch, Hybrid Shell comes in two versions, one with a completely clear back and the other with a faux carbon fiber opaque back — both have soft rubber sides. The Philips versions have more defined volume and Sleep/Wake button covers alongside a more unusually tailored headphone port hole, with a smaller carbon fiber pattern on the opaque one’s back. Soft Shell follows the same pattern, using a nearly identical TPU plastic material with a rear diamond pattern — once again with smaller elements than Griffin’s — plus slightly more defined button covers. Philips went with a somewhat stiffer TPU and different colors for Soft Shell, plus a front bezel that’s a hint more protective. Apart from the prices and the small differences, these would be hard for the average person to tell apart in a lineup, and don’t include screen protection.
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Company and Price
Company: Philips
Website: www.OnTheGo.Philips.com
Model: Hybrid Shell + Soft Shell
Price: $20-$25
Compatible: iPhone 4