When I first got my iPhone 3g a few weeks ago I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to get a case. However, over the next week I found that the phone was slightly too slippery and nerve wracking to carry around naked (ohhh la la). So I started doing some basic case research. Checking out reviews at the Apple Store, Macrumors forums, and asking for ideas on Twitter. Eventually I settled on the Contour Flick. A fairly minimalist case with a supposed incredible look and feel.

Here are my first impressions after a few days of use:

First off, the price point on all iPhone cases is ridiculous. They should all be $15 or under. That said, if I have to spend over $25 I mind as well get the best looking and feeling case I can. The Flick comes in at $35, a bit steep but in the ballpark of many other hard iPhone cases. I have the white and contrary to what I read on some reviews the white matches the phone’s white pretty darn well. It’s not a complete color match but it definitely looks better than almost any case I’ve seen. Primarily because it’s super thin. The thickness has a trade off however because it isn’t a largely protective case. It’s probably enough that it might save your phone if you drop it once but I would still aid on the side of caution. One concern is the bottom edge of phone (by the dock connector) because the case offers no covering for the metal rim on that section. However, for me it seems worth the trade off for such a minimal body shell and natural iPhone feel.

If you want a minimalist case this is a good buy for sure. It fits snug, looks great (minus no apple logo showing) and seems durable for basic wear and tear. I.E. a night at the bars, a skid across the picnic table, or the occasional water contact. Over time I assume the white will look cleaner than the black in regard to prints and scratches. Still, dirt might be another story. The case does scratch fairly easily but can only really be noticed from an inch or two away. The rubberish clip hinge on the bottom for docking is secure and feels good. However, if you plan on docking it nightly I could see it wearing out and not fitting as well over the course of a year.

To summarize: I recommend the Contour Flick highly but want to emphasize that this is really a case for people that want some protection in that awful “oh… crap… I just dropped my baby on the concrete floor” type of moment. This case is not for the “I leave my phone wherever I want to whenever I feel like it” type of owner. And definitely not for construction workers, waiters/waitresses, or stunt men. If you have additional questions please feel free to ask them in the comments. Also, if you’ve had particularly good or bad case experiences we’d love to hear about them.