Michael Johnston
July 31st, 2007, 05:51 PM
<img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelansnapin-front_thumb.jpg" align="right" />
Griffin's new line of iPhone cases offers both style and protection, keeping your iPhone safe and beautiful. The Elan Holster protects your iPhone from all angles while providing a very professional look. The Elan Snap-In allows easy access to all the phone's features and adds a clip for mobility.
The Elan Leather Holster is a slip-in style leather case and provides relatively complete protection against your average bump and scratch. The case comes with a clip which can be oriented vertically and horizontally for placement on a belt or bag strap. Both cases come with a screen protector and microfiber cloth, which is always nice. I personally don't believe a screen protector is necessary for the iPhone's glass screen, but you can never have too many little iPhone cleaning cloths.
<br clear="all" /><center><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelanholster.jpg" height="270" /></center>
While I was impressed with this case for the most part, there were a couple of things that keep me from calling it a perfect solution. While by definition, a slip-in case is supposed to cover all angles but the top, this proved to be troublesome as the speaker is covered by the case. iPhone's speaker is weak to begin with, so any extra obstruction could mean missing a call if you're not paying close attention. The inside of the case is lined with a microfiber cloth which won't damage your iPhone easily, but I did find that it made a big dark line on the back of my iPhone. It wasn't damage, thankfully, just a bit of dirt which likely came from the fiber's coloring. I was able to clean it off in the end, but it did indicate that quite a bit of hard rubbing was occurring.
<center><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelanholster-box.jpg" /></center>
The Elan Snap-In isn't as much a case as it is something that adds a clip to your phone. It's a fairly simple device with a swivel clip on the back that attaches to just about anything you can think of. Simply slip your iPhone in from the top and it catches on the bottom, holding onto it fairly well. Even though the bottom cups the phone to hold it from slipping, there have been holes cut to allow for speaker and microphone access. My only concern with a case that shows off the entire front portion of my iPhone is that it makes a fairly easy target for thieves looking for something shiny to grab.
<center><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelansnapin-front.jpg" /><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelansnapin-back1.jpg" /><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelansnapin-back2.jpg" /></center>
I didn't have too much of a problem with the Snap-In. It did just what it was supposed to do. My biggest issue was, again, with the speaker. While it does have holes cut which should allow for sound to pass through, it still seems to muffle quite a bit. Speakerphone is still a viable option, but only from a very close distance. I also had a problem with the clip. It did everything it was supposed to do (i.e. clip to things), but after some very light use, the swivel broke. It didn't case the phone to fall, but the swivel is now extremely loose. Checking comments at The Apple Store, I'm not the first to have this issue. There are multiple instances of clip breaks and a few which involved the iPhone flying off and cracking on pavement. After seeing this, I'm not sure that I'd recommend this case to anyone.
<center><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelansnapin-box.jpg" /></center>
Both cases have their drawbacks, but my obvious favorite was the Elan Holster. It's very versatile and provides about as much protection as you can get without wrapping your iPhone up in a little iCocoon. The Elan Snap-In would maybe fair better living its life as an iPhone car-mount than a belt clip. Unfortunately there wasn't any easy way to do that as the clip is better for grasping a belt.
My recommendation for those looking for a professional way to protect their iPhone and add some portability goes to the Elan Holster. After having the clip break so easily on me and seeing the comments on Apple's site, I can't recommend it. If you do end up with this case, however, keep a watchful eye on it while walking down the street.
The Griffin Elan Holster is available for $29.99 at <a href="http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/elanholster/" target="_blank">Griffin's website</a> as well as <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=6C04E07A&nplm=TN556LL/A" target="_blank">The Apple Store online</a>. The Elan Snap-In is also available for $24.99 at <a href="http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/elansnapin/" target="_blank">Griffin's website</a> and at <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=DD490256&nplm=TN555LL/A" target="_blank">The Apple Store online</a>.
Griffin's new line of iPhone cases offers both style and protection, keeping your iPhone safe and beautiful. The Elan Holster protects your iPhone from all angles while providing a very professional look. The Elan Snap-In allows easy access to all the phone's features and adds a clip for mobility.
The Elan Leather Holster is a slip-in style leather case and provides relatively complete protection against your average bump and scratch. The case comes with a clip which can be oriented vertically and horizontally for placement on a belt or bag strap. Both cases come with a screen protector and microfiber cloth, which is always nice. I personally don't believe a screen protector is necessary for the iPhone's glass screen, but you can never have too many little iPhone cleaning cloths.
<br clear="all" /><center><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelanholster.jpg" height="270" /></center>
While I was impressed with this case for the most part, there were a couple of things that keep me from calling it a perfect solution. While by definition, a slip-in case is supposed to cover all angles but the top, this proved to be troublesome as the speaker is covered by the case. iPhone's speaker is weak to begin with, so any extra obstruction could mean missing a call if you're not paying close attention. The inside of the case is lined with a microfiber cloth which won't damage your iPhone easily, but I did find that it made a big dark line on the back of my iPhone. It wasn't damage, thankfully, just a bit of dirt which likely came from the fiber's coloring. I was able to clean it off in the end, but it did indicate that quite a bit of hard rubbing was occurring.
<center><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelanholster-box.jpg" /></center>
The Elan Snap-In isn't as much a case as it is something that adds a clip to your phone. It's a fairly simple device with a swivel clip on the back that attaches to just about anything you can think of. Simply slip your iPhone in from the top and it catches on the bottom, holding onto it fairly well. Even though the bottom cups the phone to hold it from slipping, there have been holes cut to allow for speaker and microphone access. My only concern with a case that shows off the entire front portion of my iPhone is that it makes a fairly easy target for thieves looking for something shiny to grab.
<center><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelansnapin-front.jpg" /><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelansnapin-back1.jpg" /><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelansnapin-back2.jpg" /></center>
I didn't have too much of a problem with the Snap-In. It did just what it was supposed to do. My biggest issue was, again, with the speaker. While it does have holes cut which should allow for sound to pass through, it still seems to muffle quite a bit. Speakerphone is still a viable option, but only from a very close distance. I also had a problem with the clip. It did everything it was supposed to do (i.e. clip to things), but after some very light use, the swivel broke. It didn't case the phone to fall, but the swivel is now extremely loose. Checking comments at The Apple Store, I'm not the first to have this issue. There are multiple instances of clip breaks and a few which involved the iPhone flying off and cracking on pavement. After seeing this, I'm not sure that I'd recommend this case to anyone.
<center><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/reviewimages/griffin/griffinelansnapin-box.jpg" /></center>
Both cases have their drawbacks, but my obvious favorite was the Elan Holster. It's very versatile and provides about as much protection as you can get without wrapping your iPhone up in a little iCocoon. The Elan Snap-In would maybe fair better living its life as an iPhone car-mount than a belt clip. Unfortunately there wasn't any easy way to do that as the clip is better for grasping a belt.
My recommendation for those looking for a professional way to protect their iPhone and add some portability goes to the Elan Holster. After having the clip break so easily on me and seeing the comments on Apple's site, I can't recommend it. If you do end up with this case, however, keep a watchful eye on it while walking down the street.
The Griffin Elan Holster is available for $29.99 at <a href="http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/elanholster/" target="_blank">Griffin's website</a> as well as <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=6C04E07A&nplm=TN556LL/A" target="_blank">The Apple Store online</a>. The Elan Snap-In is also available for $24.99 at <a href="http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/elansnapin/" target="_blank">Griffin's website</a> and at <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=DD490256&nplm=TN555LL/A" target="_blank">The Apple Store online</a>.