It’s been getting harder and harder for accessory makers to distinguish themselves among the sea of iPhone cases. While some would go with unique and over-the-top designs, some would take the utilitarian route. This particular case, the C102 USB from South Korean based Lab.C has gone the utilitarian path that’s combined with an understated design which has resulted into one of the most unique iPhone cases I have ever used.
What's inside the package: the C102 USB case with 8 GB USB stick, screen protector, cleaning cloth, anti magnetic sleeve, 2 home button stickers and camera flash inhibitor
The C102 USB is a snap on case that’s custom molded for the iPhone 4 and 4S. It’s form fitting design is pretty much on the spot with nary a misaligned port hold. The case is made up of a material called Makrolon which Lab.C claims is used inside the interior of BMW luxury cars. While I don’t have a BMW car to test the validity of this claim, the case itself seems pretty durable. It’s not as hard as plastic, but it does have a certain degree of elasticity and flexibility to it. It’s not brittle which means it can take a few drops without breaking. I can twist and bend the case and it would still remain pretty much in its original form. One benefit of the C102 USB case’s elasticity is that the iPhone can be easily placed and removed from it. One caveat though is contrary to what the manufacturer claims–Lab.C says that the material Makrolon has a very grippy surface, but I actually find it more slippery than I’m comfortable with.
When the C102 USB is attached to the iPhone, there is a bit of a space between the case itself and the back of the iPhone. The space is intentional as it is made in order to accommodate one plastic card. It can be your credit card or ATM card, but the space was specifically built to accommodate NFC cards like the Hong Kong MTR Octopus card. An ant magnetic field sheet is included with the case, to be used as a protection in the event you do place your credit card or NFC card inside the case.
You might be wondering why the case has “USB” in its name. The reason for this is simple–the C102 USB case has an actual USB thumb drive attached to it. The USB thumb drive is quite thin and it is inconspicuously housed on the back of the case near the charging port at the bottom. The USB thumb drive is of the 8 GB variety and it slides in and out of the back of the case quite easily. The USB thumb drive is held securely in place so the danger of it falling off the case is miniscule. Personally, I find the inclusion of the USB thumb drive to be a great idea. I carry my iPhone with me wherever I go and with the C102 USB case, it means that I won’t be caught without a memory card. Great for student to copy notes with and other media files *wink* *wink*.
Look Ma, my case has a removable 8 GB USB thumb drive!
One more thing worth mentioning about the C102 USB case: The packaging that comes with it is not only a marvel to look at but is quite useful as well. The case holder can be used as a tray to hold some office supplies like paper clips and a pen. An extremely nice touch which shows that Lab.C not only cares about design, but also producing as little wastage as possible.
Bottomline:
What’s not to like about the Lab.C C102 USB Case? It looks good, it’s durable, can hold a plastic card, and has an 8 GB USB thumb drive built into it. A lot of value is packed into the case and it’s priced at a very reasonable cost of Php 1,890. I’ve used a bunch of iPhone 4S cases, but the C102 USB Case is quickly becoming my favorite.
Likes:
- Can accommodate one plastic card
- Has a removable 8 GB USB thumb drive
- Case feels pretty durable
- Reasonably priced at Php 1,890
Dislikes:
- The case lacks grip and is a tad slippery
Price:
Php 1,890
Availability
Exclusively available at Power Mac
