The Week in iPhone Cases: The ring

  

Despite all the excitement about Apple’s new iPad mini, our mailboxes continue to be inundated with announcements for new iPhone cases for all tastes and needs. Of course, that’s good news for you, because it means that we get to bring you another one of our weekly case roundups.

ArmPocket's Xtreme i-30

Armpocket: As its name suggests, the Sport i-20 (iPhone 4 and 4S; $30) is an armband case designed for the active user. It’s water- and sweat-resistant, fits most arm sizes, and features an extra zippered pocket for money or headphones. It comes in blue, pink, purple, white, red, black, yellow, or orange. If you’re looking for something that will fit the iPhone 5, you’ll want to check out the Xtreme i-30 (iPhone 5; $40).

Freedom Pop's Freedom Sleeve Rocket

Freedom Pop: The Freedom Sleeve Rocket (fourth-generation iPod touch; $99) turns your iPod touch into an actual mobile-data device thanks to Freedom Pop’s 4G network, which allows you to gain access to up to 500MB of monthly wireless bandwidth for free. It also acts as a hotspot for up to eight devices at a time, and still maintains over six hours of battery life.

Noreve's Leather Case

Noreve: The Leather Case (iPhone 5; €46) features a convenient front cover, held fast by a sturdy clip, that keeps your phone protected during transport but flips open at the flick of a finger. The case is available in a large selection of colors and styles, many with unique stitching patterns and luxury textures such as crocodile and ostrich.

Padacs's Fortress

Padacs: The Fortress (iPhone 5; $30) is a screen and back protector that incorporates a special shock-absorbing layer to help prevent scratches and cracks. The shields are stretch resistant and feature a repositionable silicone-adhesive layer that leaves no residue and ensures that you can apply the film precisely. The Fortress’s design helps air bubbles escape to form a perfect seal, and it is, of course, sized to fit your iPhone 5.

The Sensus

Sensus: The Sensus (iPhone 5; $59) is a case that brings the touch sensitivity of the iPhone’s screen to its back. The company is pitching this functionality as a great way to extend the handset’s functionality without having to keep your fingers in front of the screen. Advertised applications include gaming. The case is currently available for pre-order, and programmers can get their hands on a software development kit to adapt their apps to the Sensus’s additional control opportunities.

SwitchEasy's Kirigami

SwitchEasy: The Kirigami (iPhone 5; $25) is a lightweight case that sports one of several cute three-dimensional patterns, including butterflies and heart shapes, intaglioed into the back of the case and highlighted by a special stick-on backplate with gold-foil accents. The case is made from a strong, polycarbonate material that offers an excellent grip, and it comes in red, pink, white, lavender, green, or black.

TopKase's Aegis 5

TopKase: The Aegis 5 (iPhone 5; $40) is a stylish, wraparound cover that keeps the front and back of your iPhone 5 safe from scratches and dents. It features a five-layer construction with an external aluminium frame and a special sliding front cover—that reminds of us an old, roll-top desk—that cleans your device’s screen with its soft microfiber interior. The case comes in black, red, cherry pink, blue, or royal purple.

Unu's Ecopak

Unu: The Ecopak (iPhone 5; $80) is a clever case that includes a detachable external battery for your iPhone 5. The battery provides extra juice when you need it, and it detaches to reduce the bulk added to your handset’s profile when you don’t. The company is also helping customers recycle by offering a $60 discount if they send in their old battery packs. The Ecopak comes in green, aqua, grey, back, red, pink, blue, or purple.

Zero Gravity's Boombox

Zero Gravity: The Boombox (iPhone 5; $25) is a snap-on back cover that protects the back of your iPhone from dents and scratches. But wait—there’s more! The protective back plate features a faithful reproduction of a portable stereo like those that kids older than, say, thirty or so, remember taking to the beach or stashing conveniently in the back of their third-hand cars.