I test a lot of iPhone cases and rarely get comments. Most of them aren’t that distinctive. But a new iMac-inspired case from Spigen attracted the attention of my teenage kids and even elicited a compliment: “Cool case, Dad!”
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
iPhone case-maker Spigen is launching a set of iPhone X cases inspired by the original see-through iMac G3 and the first-generation iPhone.
With a see-through outer shell, Spigen’s Classic C1 resembles the original iMac. The case commemorates the 20th anniversary of the machine, which Apple launched in 1998. The iMac was the first of a string of hit products following Steve Jobs’ return that turned Apple around.
Just like the original iMac, the Classic C1 comes in a range of colors: Bondi Blue, Ruby, Sage, Graphite and Snow. Two more “surprise” colors will be announced later, Spigen said.
Make your new iPhone X look like the first iPhone
Meanwhile, the Classic One case makes your iPhone X look like the first-generation iPhone. Featuring an aluminum-colored back with a black bottom plate, it makes Apple’s latest handset look just like the first one. How’s that for retro cool?
All the cases are a dual-layer design. A hard plastic exterior protects against scratches and scrapes, while a rubbery interior protects against drops.
I’ve been using one for a week or more. It’s rugged and well-made. The case fits snugly and, while it adds a bit of bulk, the phone still slides easily into and out of my back pocket. My phone took a tumble, and there’s nary a mark.
The iMac-inspired case looks good. My kids snatched it up at dinner over the weekend and passed it around. They liked the see-through back that shows mock internal components.
The cases are available on Indiegogo through a campaign that runs for 30 days, starting Monday.
The Classic C1 costs $25 for a limited time during the campaign, but a super-early bird special reduces the case to $18.
The cases are also be available in a pack. A Multicolor Classic C1 iPhone X Pack is $80 for the five original iMac G3 colors.
Spigen is also offering bundles of the Classic One case and its F306W wireless fast charger for an early bird price of $70.
For more information, head over to the Indiegogo page.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Leander Kahney is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac.
Leander is a longtime technology reporter and the author of six acclaimed books about Apple, including two New York Times bestsellers: Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products and Inside Steve’s Brain, a biography of Steve Jobs.
He’s also written a top-selling biography of Apple CEO Tim Cook and authored Cult of Mac and Cult of iPod, which both won prestigious design awards. Most recently, he was co-author of Cult of Mac, 2nd Edition.
Leander has been reporting about Apple and technology for nearly 30 years.
Before founding Cult of Mac as an independent publication, Leander was news editor at Wired.com, where he was responsible for the day-to-day running of the Wired.com website. He headed up a team of six section editors, a dozen reporters and a large pool of freelancers. Together the team produced a daily digest of stories about the impact of science and technology, and won several awards, including several Webby Awards, 2X Knight-Batten Awards for Innovation in Journalism and the 2010 MIN (Magazine Industry Newsletter) award for best blog, among others.
Before being promoted to news editor, Leander was Wired.com’s senior reporter, primarily covering Apple. During that time, Leander published a ton of scoops, including the first in-depth report about the development of the iPod. Leander attended almost every keynote speech and special product launch presented by Steve Jobs, including the historic launches of the iPhone and iPad. He also reported from almost every Macworld Expo in the late ’90s and early ‘2000s, including, sadly, the last shows in Boston, San Francisco and Tokyo. His reporting for Wired.com formed the basis of the first Cult of Mac book, and subsequently this website.
Before joining Wired, Leander was a senior reporter at the legendary MacWeek, the storied and long-running weekly that documented Apple and its community in the 1980s and ’90s.
Leander has written for Wired magazine (including the Issue 16.04 cover story about Steve Jobs’ leadership at Apple, entitled Evil/Genius), Scientific American, The Guardian, The Observer, The San Francisco Chronicle and many other publications.
Leander is an expert on:
Apple and Apple history
Steve Jobs, Jony Ive, Tim Cook and Apple leadership
Apple community
iPhone and iOS
iPad and iPadOS
Mac and macOS
Apple Watch and watchOS
Apple TV and tvOS
AirPods
Leander has a postgrad diploma in artificial intelligence from the University of Aberdeen, and a BSc (Hons) in experimental psychology from the University of Sussex.
He has a diploma in journalism from the UK’s National Council for the Training of Journalists.
Leander lives in San Francisco, California, and is married with four children. He’s an avid biker and has ridden in many long-distance bike events, including California’s legendary Death Ride.
You can find out more about Leander on LinkedIn and Facebook. You can follow him on X at @lkahney or Instagram.
