Suit + Slim iPhone case + Drop Protection = Element Ion
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Need an incredibly slim iPhone case? See if this case is right for you in our Element Ion Review for the iPhone 6. This is one of the slimmest (yet droppable) iPhone cases that we’ve come across and is one of the best cases when it comes to handling your iPhone but it offers a little less protection when compared to to other cases.
The shape of the case isn’t uniform like a lot of other cases which adds to the improved handling of the iPhone and the blend of materials of the case are quite nice which is expected given the higher than average price of the case. From our perspective, this case is going to offer a lower level of protection since your iPhone is exposed a little more than other cases.
Based on our this case, we gave the Element Ion a score of 4.1 Eh’s out of 5. This case does better than the Spigen Slim and tough Armors, it does better than the Otterbox Symmetry and Commuter but not as well as the Thule Atmos X3 and Tech 21 cases. If you’re wondering how this case fares against other cases, check out our comparison tool!
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Design – Great materials, great shape but it flexes?
In terms of design, the Ion will add very little bulk and weight to the iPhone. The case is made out of several different types of material that feel quite expensive. You have a slick back made from carbon fibre, a middle piece that’s a little gripper and the edges of the Element Ion are quite rubbery which adds to the improved handling of the case.
One of the things we didn’t like about the case is that it doesn’t fit the iPhone 100%. The edges of the case still flex a bit and on our original case, it really flexed. Now this isn’t going to be an issue for most people but it’s something that we’ve noticed for this slim iPhone case.
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Protection – Not drop rated but it seems pretty tough
In terms of protection, this iPhone case is drop rated to Mil Spec 810 G though Element doesn’t explicitly state how high you can drop it but we’re guessing it’s going to be 4 ft which is pretty awesome given how slim this case is.
However, we feel this case won’t provide as much protection as other cases that are rated to 4ft because the cutouts on the Ion are quite large so If you accidentally drop it on something a little rockier, the chance of your iPhone being scratched increases.
And as a result of the larger cutouts and the flex in the case, we feel that the dust protection is also little lower than other cases. The buttons don’t completely cover the iPhone as there are small cutouts either above or below the buttons on the case.
When it comes to screen protection, the case does have edges but they are fairly low but it will still keep your iPhone’s screen off a flat surface. We would recommend that you get a screen protector to go with this case.
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Functionality – The Element Ion deforms slightly when using headphones
When it comes to accessing your iPhone inside the case, the Ion is awesome. We’re big fans of the buttons on the Ion as they still maintain the tactile response of the buttons on the iPhone. The shape of the case also improves the handling of the iPhone inside the case which why the Ion gets close to full marks in the functionality score. The edges are fair enough away from the iPhone’s curved edges that you’ll be able to use most screen protectors.
One of the things we did notice was how close the case was to the headphone jack. Plugging in stock Apple EarPods will actually deform the case which means that you’ll be able to use slightly larger headphones but you will be deforming the shape of the case.
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Now, this case is not cheap. It’s $50 dollars on Elements website which 10-15 dollars higher than the average case that we’ve reviewed at MobileReviews Eh. This higher cost doesn’t add more protection but the quality of the material of the case is generally a little higher than the average case.
Have questions about our Element Ion Review? Please ask them on our Google+ page or on our Facebook page.
Erik
December 5, 2014 at 5:09 pm
I got the fire red ION case. I feel like it fits as snug as it possible can… almost to the point that I wonder if even the fixed mold for the black case still isn’t perfectly fixed. Anyway, I’m loving this case. I feel like the phone is very protective while still maintaining a very slim, light feel, but also adding much more gripability to the phone. Although the slits around the buttons might let in some dust, I really appreciate how easy it is to push the phone’s buttons like you mentioned. Also like you mentioned, the case does bend a little bit when you put in headphone jacks, especially larger ones, but I think it is also a good thing that you can actually fit larger jacks with this case. On that same note, I can easily fit an Amazon Basics lightning cable. Both port holes are not so accommodating on the Thule X3, which is the primary reason I chose this case over the Thule. I honestly don’t fear the larger holes in the case on the bottom, because I feel the overwhelming risk of me dropping my phone is on flatter concrete surfaces… and likely at four feet or less (as mentioned in the review). Overall, the case is absolutely beautiful and a nice addition to the iPhone 6. The carbon fiber looks amazing on the back, but it is smooth, so I have found the phone slippery enough to fall off my leg if I rest it on my jeans.
Aaron Ho
December 5, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Thanks for the comment and feedback. Glad you like the case!
john zawicki
February 21, 2016 at 10:59 pm
i just ordered this case will it work with the Dreo lightning cable or is it to big
Aaron Ho
February 22, 2016 at 3:15 pm
It should be ok. The cutouts are pretty big on this case.