I had the opportunity to try a few VRS Design cases for my new iPhone SE, including their Crystal Bumper Series Case ($32.99). While most iPhone 5s cases will "just work" out of the box, VRS deliberately created new versions for the iPhone SE. The result is, while the phone has the hard, flat edges of the iPhone 5 and 5s, when ensconced in cases from the Crystal Bumper Series or High Pro Shield Series or Thor Series, they resemble the soft, curved edges of the iPhone 6 and 6s. If you like that, then these cases can make the iPhone SE feel like the 6 series.
Another nice feature of the Crystal Bumper model is the clear back, which shows off the iPhone's color, which is particularly appealing to those of us who bought a Rose Gold model, which was never offered in the original 4-inch form factor. VRS Design offers the cases with different color bumpers, including Rose Gold, but it's more of a soft, brushed aluminum looking take on the metal finish. It's a nice combination.
To me, the most important thing about a case is protection. Otherwise, few cases will look as good as a naked iPhone. Fortunately, the two-piece design of most VRS cases ensures protection including at the bottom where many cases give up on protection. However, that protection means the case might not fit in some docks. On the other hand, I also tried the Dandy case which has a fairly open bottom, so it will fit in any dock. The Dandy line is a leather wallet-style case with two slots for credit cards, plus a hidden compartment for cash, business cards, etc. I liked the Dandy more than many other wallet cases because it's still slim, comes in assorted colors, closes magnetically, and is affordably priced at around $35. Plus, while many other wallet cases mix plastic with leather, the Dandy uses leather all around, including the part that touches and secures the iPhone, so it feels "richer."
Pros
- Two-piece design of specific cases ensures protection
- Clear bumper lets you show off new Rose Gold color iPhone SE
- Curved edges of bumper case reminiscent of iPhone 6s
- Reasonably priced
- Lots of color choices
Cons
- Some cases might not fit in some docks
Final Verdict
If you are looking for a case, for the new iPhone SE, and you prefer the curved edges of the iPhone 6 series, VRS Design has a plethora of options.
