Review: Contour HardSkin Inked

review by Bill Palmer

While one piece hard plastic snap-on shields are all the rage when it comes to protecting your iPhone, there’s something to be said for a full-blown case that recesses the iPhone’s screen and covers its easily scratchable silver bezel. One of the more interesting candidates to come along in awhile is Contour Design’s $34 two-piece HardSkin Inked, essentially the same as the company’s $29 HardSkin but with a choice of white patterns etched into the material.



The Inked gets all the standard things right, like making the cut-outs the right size (not a given when too many casemakers are still making the cut-out for the silencer switch too small), and the hard plastic actually has a smooth rubbery feel, accentuated by the etched lines to create a unique-feeling texture. Assembly consists of setting your iPhone into the back piece, then snapping the front piece into place, which is effortless. Removing the case officially requires putting a coin into a slot on the case’s lower right side, which would be mildly unacceptable if it were true, But in my tests I was able to easily remove the front face with my fingernail each time I tried, no coin needed, and I suspect you’ll be able to do the same.



This is a well-done case. It even comes with the bonus of a pair of small grooves on the left and right side, presumably for your thumb and middle finger, which aid in gripping the case in your hand. Unlike its standard HardSkin counterpart, the Inked is only available in Apple Stores (online and retail), which is fine, but I’m less thrilled by its price tag. I’d be more okay with it at $34 if it came with screen film, or maybe priced at $29 without film, but as it is the Inked feels a bit more expensive than it should be. That having been said, it’s a major upgrade over one-piece plastic shields. And though not quite the best in its class, the Inked is one of the better plastic iPhone cases I’ve tested.

Learn more about the HardSkin Inked at ContourDesign.com.