Based upon its impressive 2009 update to the colored transparent SeeThru series of iPhone 3G/3GS cases, Speck’s new SeeThru Satin ($30) evolves the glossy prior design with soft touch rubber. Each case comes with a clear screen protector, and features the same combination of hard and soft plastics that made SeeThru easy to pop on and off the iPhones, while the new rubber finish has proved less susceptible to showing surface scratches; a smart angled lip on the front looks great and protects the device’s face from some accidental drops.
Though the company has chosen subtle colors for the initial SeeThru Satin rollout, including the dark green and dark purple tones shown here, it also showed a Special Edition aqua blue version that is in person a dead ringer for the classic Tiffany color — a version we really hope will make it to production.
Updated March 25, 2010: As a brief note following continued testing of SeeThru Satin, though we have absolutely loved using this case—even more cosmetically than Speck’s earlier CandyShell—we’ve found that its durability is comparably much, much weaker due to separation problems with the rubberized front and hard plastic side pieces.
Two of us have managed to break three SeeThru Satin cases in a two and a half month period of use, with repeated failures around the bezel at the case’s left and right sides, as well as at the bottom front. Peeling of the soft touch rubber finish has also been an issue, particularly when the iPhones are used in pockets.
