Kubxlab’s Wood-Backed iPhone 5 Case Is Impossibly Light [Review]

When I wrote up the Kubxlab Ultra Thin iPhone Case a short while back, I liked the look of it but figured that it would be yet another iPhone shell case to add to my stack of potential gifts (I’m serious – if you visit my home you won;t be allowed to leave without an iPhone or iPad case in your hands).

Then one arrived. Or rather three arrived, one in each color (dark, light and brown). I carelessly ripped open the packaging, picked one of the three (dark, I think) and pressed it onto my naked iPhone 4, still warm from my damp front pocket.

And I was so surprised that I actually put down my coffee.

What Is Is

The case is made from a rear wood panel plus a plastic bumper, all in one piece. The wooden back has the Kubxlab logo inset in metal, and there are precisely cut, individual holes for both volume switches, the mute switch, the camera and the power button. The bottom edge is protected only at the corners, leaving the jack, speaker and mic open to the air.

The Good

The case fits like a glove. The plastic sides grab onto the iPhone 5’s aluminum edges and don’t add a layer so much as adding an outline. A handsome, translucent gray outline. And it’s thin. So thin that the buttons still protrude out over the holes, which means you can easily find the volume and mute buttons without looking – really handy for taking photos.

This is a case so light and thin that it’s perfect for people who hate putting cases on their iPhones

And the case is light, weighing in at just 5 grams. Five! That’s 0.1754 ounces. To be more precise, it adds so little to the size and weight of the iPhone that it may as well weigh zero grams.

In case I didn’t make it clear, this is a case so light and thin that it’s perfect for people who – like me – usually hate putting cases on their iPhones.

It also feels good: you can scratch at the grain with your fingernails, or enjoy the hard-but-frictiony [1] plastic of the edges that makes the case feel secure in your hand. You can even run your fingers over the slightly raised lettering of the metal logo.

The Bad

There’s really nothing wrong with the case at all, so I’ll point out some design decisions that you should consider if you want to buy this case. First, the edges end up completely flush with the screen, with a bevelled edge. That is, there’s no protrusion to protect the screen if you put it face down on rough surface.

Next, while you can choose the color of the wood, you clearly can’t choose the grain. I don’t like any of the versions on the product page, but I do like the one I have been testing. You’ll just have to keep your fingers crossed.

The Verdict

If this case were a condom, it’d be a fancy fetherlite one, perhaps with a little ribbing or texture for your fingering pleasure. The Kubxlab is light enough and thin enough that you’ll forget it’s there, apart from the added grip and protection. And it also looks fantastic, especially with the white iPhone. Recommended.

Product Name: : NAMEThe Good: GOOD The Bad: BAD The Verdict VERDICT Buy from: Kubxlab

[rating=excellent]