Cellhelmet iPhone Case [Review]

There are hundreds (if not thousands) of iPhone cases on the market today. From “barely there” slim plastic wafers to industrial strength monsters that can survive a drop from 10,000 feet, there’s seemingly something for everyone. And yet, the folks at CellPig believe there’s room for one more, and following a successful Kickstarter campaign they’ve launched the cellhelmet case for iPhone 4/4S in the US and Canadian markets.

The cellhelmet case itself is made from “a dense polyurethane rubber (TPU) shell with angled edges for drop-shock displacement around the device” that comes in either a smoke or clear colour. It also includes two interchangeable PVC backplates for glass protection and personalization. The case I received came with the black and white backplates, however additional colours are available when ordering.

While the case is fairly hefty, it’s not enormous like some other protective cases, yet it feels substantial enough that you should have a sense of security if your iPhone takes a tumble. The case surrounds your device on all sides and the back, with openings for volume/mute, headphone/speakerphone, home button, camera/flash, and dock connector. If you wish to use the PVC backplate, you simply insert this into the case before inserting the iPhone and you’re good to go. Note that this is a case you’ll want to leave on, as removing the phone takes a bit of effort. On the plus side, there’s no way the case will fall off the phone.

What really differentiates the cellhelmet offering is the fact that, aside from getting a durable protective case, you’re also getting 1 year of accidental damage coverage that covers your device once you register it with the company (US and Canada only). Coverage starts as of the date of purchase and you must register your coverage within 30 days. Coverage is only applicable to the device originally registered, and you must provide your carrier name, device model and IMEI number when registering.