iPhone accessory: Exovault's heavy metal case

Not exactly steampunk, but the Exovault iPhone case does take a cue from it. Its industrial styling and metallic fabrication ? machined from aluminum, brass or aerospace-grade titanium into two solid pieces ? will certainly tempt gearheads and metal freaks. Gizmodo calls this product style ?postapocalyptipunk.? Nice. I like made-up words, and that one's pretty spot-on.



Big and clunky? Yeah, totally. (And the brass version probably weighs a ton.) But who cares? If I were a cigar-smoking, babe-watching, bastion of manliness without concern about tearing delicate pants pockets or suits, I?d probably dig this case. But I?m a girl, and while I (really) like the aesthetic, I worry about ripping my purse apart cramming that chunk of metal into my bag.

There are some other practical worries with the Exovault, like whether or not there's interior padding. If not, scratches on the phone are nearly guaranteed. There's a grill-like detail on the back, but is that enough to ventilate heat? (If you play Aurora Feint for more than 15 minutes, you know what I?m talking about. The phone can get pretty darn hot.) Probably not. According to the company's site, the slots are actually there for the integrity of the antennae, since metal can block reception.

Then there's the weird feeling of putting solid metal against your ear. Maybe you wouldn't mind now, but wait till winter, when that feels like holding a block of ice to your head.

Despite these concerns, I?m still a fan of this case. It's great whenever manufacturers are willing to take some chances and do something different. Sure, you probably either really love or hate this thing, but that's the whole point ? creative design tends to evoke strong reactions. At least it's not yet another ubiquitious iPhone sock, rubberized sleeve or transparent case.

As for the issues mentioned above, well I don't really know if any of those pan out. I?m looking at the photo, just like you are, and those are the potential negatives that popped into mind. But I asked Exovault for a sample to review, so if they agree to send me one, I?ll let you know if the cases are actually worth the (not cheap) price tags.


Exovault iPhone case
Available for 2G, 3G and 3G S
Aluminum/Brass cases: $95
Titanium: $300

[via Gizmodo, BoingBoing Gadgets]