Since the iPhone first gained popularity there have been a huge variety of unofficial LEGO iPhone cases available, but now Belkin has partnered with LEGO to produce an officially licensed LEGO iPhone case. Does being an offically licensed product mean it meets the same high standard that LEGO bricks aspire too?
I have been an iPhone user for a few years, starting with the 4S and then moving to the iPhone 5 shortly after it was released. I am also somebody that has never had a case on my phone. I just use a simple pouch to protect my phone from scratches when it’s in my pocket. I had never found a case that offered me something to justify adding the extra weight and bulk to my phone. That was before Belkin announced the builder case.
Design
The Belkin case comes in two different colour options; black and blue or yellow, red and blue. My case is the yellow version, and I couldn’t be happier with the overall appearance of the case. The colour palette immediately evokes classic LEGO. If you grew up with basic bricks then the yellow version is going to instantly bring back those memories of building colourful creations. Some people may find the brighter colours a little more childish, but I would describe it as playful above anything else.
As an actual case designed to protect your expensive phone, it does what it should. The soft rubber sides of the case make it easy to get your phone in and out, and should also provide some cushioning if you happen to drop your phone. Unfortunately I don’t have a spare iPhone 5 lying around, so I wasn’t able to test this first hand. The sides of the case also cover the volume and power buttons, with a small cut-out for the mute switch.
The back of the case features a 15×7 stud baseplate, with a 2×4 stud cutout in the top left corner for the iPhone’s camera. The height of the studs has the added bonus of keeping the camera elevated when the phone is placed face up on a surface. This may help keep your camera lens scratch/fingerprint free.
The case also leaves the speakers on the bottom of the phone uncovered, as well as the lightning connector and headphone jack.
Testing
As a LEGO blogger reviewing an officially licensed LEGO product I was keen to test out how well it performed as a LEGO product, not just as a case. One of my biggest concerns was going to be the quality of the base plate itself. The unoffical products that I have looked at always had a distinct rubberiness to the actual studs. I didn’t find that to be the case at all with the Belkin case. This very much appears to be the same standard of ABS you’d find in a regular baseplate. Both look and feel are spot on, with the case giving off that distinctive sound of LEGO.
The only difference visually is the presence of three tiny dots on the top of each stud, which can’t even be made out in my photos.
LEGO places a lot of emphasis on the high precision of their molding processes, and it shows in how well LEGO sets stay together. The first thing I did was place a 2×6 stud brick on the back of the case and tried to remove it. Removing the brick was at least as difficult as removing the same brick from a standard baseplate. Next up was a bit of a torture test for the clutch power of the baseplate. Could an iPhone be lifted with a single stud connection? After trying a few pieces I managed to successfully suspend my iPhone using a single part
Play
Having LEGO base plate in your pocket is going to make you feel like building, which is a desire that can already be quite strong on busy work days. While I didn’t go crazy with integrating the iPhone into some large scale MOCs I did have a great time thinking up fun ways to add some bricks to the back of the case. Click on an image to see a larger version.
Check out what others have been building on the Belkin site. http://www.belkin.com/us/LEGOXBelkin
Wrap-Up
As somebody who doesn’t normally use a case I am definitely going to make this a permanent addition to my phone. I am tempted to stash a few spare parts in my desk at work so I can redesign my case during those moments when I need a break. As a LEGO product the LEGO® Builder Case for iPhone 5 is a great accessory for any iPhone using AFOL.
The LEGO® Builder Case for iPhone 5 is in stores now for $39.95 RRP, but can be found cheaper.
Shop for the Belkin Lego iPhone case on Lasoo
This case will also be compatible with the iPhone 5S
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