Agent 18 Eco iPhone Shield Case review

[monkeykit]

Hey iLounge folks-

I have yet to see a review on the Agent 18 Eco iPhone Shield case yet, so I decided to write one.

You can check the full review on my blog: http://blog.monkeykit.com/2007/09/14/review-eco-iphone-shield-by-agent-18/

Overall: Its better than the Incase I had before (the first gen one with the grim scratching the chrome problem) and it seems like a very solid case without having the dust and grime settle in between the case and iPhone..

Hope this helps someone on their search for their perfect case.

[floepie]

Thanks for the review. Is there enough room for the vibrate switch to easily activate it?

You mention it being better than the Incase 1st gen case. Does a 2nd gen Incase case exist that is better? Would you say that the Agent18 case is as grippy as the Incase one was for you?

[cyclingplatypus]

I appreciate the review too...thanks.

[don711]

nice review but how thick is it. Does it make the iphone alot bulkier

[k2zed]

just got this case, it is really nice. Doesnt make the phone bulky at all. The black case makes it look like its just a solid black iPhone. The best part is the way it fits together there is no way for the case to split apart if you drop the phone. Like it more than the incase or any of the acrylic cases.

[muffinmanAZ]

Thanks, this was just what I was looking for...

[monkeykit]

Thanks for the review. Is there enough room for the vibrate switch to easily activate it?

You mention it being better than the Incase 1st gen case. Does a 2nd gen Incase case exist that is better? Would you say that the Agent18 case is as grippy as the Incase one was for you?

floepie- There is enough room for the vibrate switch to be easily activated. I would say it's about 1.0 mm thick, which isn't that thick. The only trouble I would say would be the design of the case. Its kinda hard to press the volume up and down keys because the top half of the case is on the same "level" as the volume buttons.. (if that makes any sense), but its certainly not interfering with the way it works thats for sure.

I dont think they made a second generation of the InCase, but I heard good things about the revo if your into a rubbery kind of case..

[MidnightSlade]

The only thing that worries me is the screen. Have you found that you need screen protection with this case or is it something that you don't worry about too much? I mean, I have a screen protector on right now but that thing annoys me so I'd prefer to go without it.

[monkeykit]

The only thing that worries me is the screen. Have you found that you need screen protection with this case or is it something that you don't worry about too much? I mean, I have a screen protector on right now but that thing annoys me so I'd prefer to go without it.

I haven't found the need to put a screen protector on the front of the screen yet. I really lik the smoothness of the glass.. I originally had a BSE skin on the front and it was harder to scroll and zoom and even type... but it's a personal preference

[trip024]

I just got this today and I must say I am very impressed.

Prior to this I had the BSE, extremely satisfied but I always worried that once dropped there would essentially be no protection. I also had the iskin revo which is a great case but I felt that it changed the look of sleek design of the phone.

The Agent 18 Eco case adds very little bulk, maintains the beauty of the phone w/ its minimalistic design and the protection it provides is superb. You can use the BSE screen protector for ultimate protection but you will have to remove the back portion of the BSE as it will not fit w/ the ECO case. I however decided to try the powersupport crystal film as well and must say although the BSE and the powersupport film protect the screen equally well. The powersupport film feels natural, meaning as if there was no screen at all as opposed the the BSE which has more of a rubbery feel to it.

Bottom line : Agent 18 Eco Case + Powersupport Crystal film = Best Overall feel and protection in my humble opinion.

[norei]

this is the first "hard" case i bought for my iphone and it's great.

doesn't scratch the shiny edges of the phone and you can easily remove the bottom half when docking it.

it doesn't come with a screen protector but it's fine. if you used the Power Support Anti-Glare Film, which I did, there is a tiny gap of unprotected surface of screen that the case doesn't cover (alignment was tricky).

the best perk: keeps the iphone slim and slick, not bulky looking like the other cases

the challenge: finding a leather upright case that will fit my iphone with the agent 18 case ON, i want double the protection. who knows what's lurking in my bottomless purse!

[podsmack]

i like cases that are simple and doesn't add too much bulkiness to the device. i just wish agent 18 didn't put that ugly logo on the back of the case.

[rayzha]

I second trip024's opinion: Agent 18 Ecoshield Case + Power Support Crystal Film is the best I've seen yet, and I've tried many, many, MANY cases and combinations. Ditched the Showcase in favor of this, ad don't expect I'll ever look back.

It's the only hard case that doesn't add significant bulk, preserves 100% functionality (no obstructed speaker, mic, or mute switch), and is easy to get in/out while preserving a solid locking mechanism. I use the dual dock and won't give it up so that was very important to me.

The included universal dock adapter sized for the iPhone in the case is also a nice touch for future accessory compatibility.

No doubt iLounge will slam Agent 18 for again not including a screen protector, but unless they packaged a Power Support Crystal Film it would be lost on me anyway.

[MyND BeNDer]

I just got my Agent 18 Eco Shield, I like it a lot. I thought it was going to have a slight rubbery feel, however it doesn't, its a bit slippery to me, I will have to be careful with it but overall its probably the best case I've had so far. I also use the powersupport crystal film on the front. Very happy with this combo.

I had an iSkin Revo but it was ripping and they have poor customer support so I finally ditched it otherwise I did like the Revo quite a bit.

[Clumsy]

That Agent 18 case is almost exactly what I was looking for. However, it is a bit pricey. I went on eBay and find this one that looks very similar to the Agent 18 Eco case but for 1/4 of the price.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Black-HARD-CASE-COVER-HOLSTER-for-AT-T-APPLE-iPHONE-cl_W0QQitemZ200155487689QQihZ010QQcategoryZ15036QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Does anyone here have bought one of those?

I'm on a tight budget, but if the Eco is much better quality, I'll get it instead.

[cyclingplatypus]

That Agent 18 case is almost exactly what I was looking for. However, it is a bit pricey. I went on eBay and find this one that looks very similar to the Agent 18 Eco case but for 1/4 of the price.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Black-HARD-CASE-COVER-HOLSTER-for-AT-T-APPLE-iPHONE-cl_W0QQitemZ200155487689QQihZ010QQcategoryZ15036QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Does anyone here have bought one of those?

I'm on a tight budget, but if the Eco is much better quality, I'll get it instead.

You know that looks EXACTLY like a clear one I bought at Best Buy, it came with a little hanger attachment that I removed, the fit is tight (in a good way). One thing though and it appears to be the same on any of the acrylic cases is that once it's on and until you figure out the trick to getting it off you'll wonder if it is locked in there while fighting the fear that it is going to somehow fly out of your hands when you are trying to remove it.

[Pigs]

Got my Agent 18 case on Friday and have used it since then. Great case so far, perfect fit, great protection and nice being able to lay the phone down on any surface now without scratching it.

The only downside is it does add enough bulk so that it will not fit in the Marware CEO Premiere Holster that I was using so I switched to another holder from Bestbuy that fits it perfect with the Agent 18 case on it.

Anyone looking for the combination of case and holster check out this one at Bestbuy....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7816474&st=q+case&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1142294005772

[AllanCook]

I went to my nearby Apple store today and looked at one. I asked the salesperson if anyone had one on an iPhone. She produced one which fit perfectly. No shiny metal visible on the face. So I bought one. Sadly, one I bought did not fit properly and leaves a good deal of shiny metal visible in three of the four corners. Looks pretty chintzy. I think I'm just gonna go naked with screen protection.

[ashmufc]

So can you fit an Incipio ORION Sleeve with this cover on?

And btw, Agent 18 are working on a cover for iPod Touch! :)

[smacman]

Check out my brushed aluminum Eco Shield....

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=88127&d=1193099312

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=88128&d=1193099312

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=88130&d=1193099312

[solstice]

Check out my brushed aluminum Eco Shield....

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=88127&d=1193099312

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=88128&d=1193099312

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=88130&d=1193099312

OMG. How did you get it?! Did you DIY or buy it form somewhere? PLEASE SHARE!

Now i feel like throwing away my white one. haha

[atariskidd]

Anyone know where to get an extra dock adapter that came with the case? I have 2 universal docks and I'd love to have one for that one.

[Soybean]

I got this case yesterday and I absolutely love it. The only thing I'm afraid of, though, is scratching the silver bezel around the iPhone. Some people have reported problems with this, most likely because debris enters the case, and when the case is removed, this debris scratches against the metal. The case looks pretty tight around the screen, though, so I don't anticipate a whole lot of stuff getting in there.

Anyone having problems with scratches?

I only really care for resale (i.e., when the 3G iPhone comes out). Otherwise, the iPhone is to be used on a daily basis, and scratches are expected.

[marcfogel]

I placed an order with Agent 18 directly to get another case almost a week ago. I have no idea what is going on with the order. Their customer service sucks. I just emailed them to cancel the order if it didn't ship. i am going to purchase incase instead.

[foush]

I used the Agent 18 Eco for 1 week and noticed scratches on the chrome where the case slides on/off. Everyone seems to like this case but I don't get it. I am planning on returning it to the Apple store tonight. I have been searching for a good case that protects the iPhone, looks nice and doesn't cost a fortune and my quest continues....

[dcsipe]

Got my Agent 18 case on Friday and have used it since then. Great case so far, perfect fit, great protection and nice being able to lay the phone down on any surface now without scratching it.

The only downside is it does add enough bulk so that it will not fit in the Marware CEO Premiere Holster that I was using so I switched to another holder from Bestbuy that fits it perfect with the Agent 18 case on it.

Anyone looking for the combination of case and holster check out this one at Bestbuy....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7816474&st=q+case&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1142294005772

How well does it fit in the Motorola Q case? Is it a nice snug fit?

[pixelator]

I STRONGLY advise against using the Agent 18 cases.

The design almost assures that you will scratch the delicate finish of the back of your phone - perhaps moreso than you would without a case at all. I didn't have my iPhone more than a couple of days before I noticed glaring scratches along the black plastic AND the chrome Apple logo. I got a second iPhone the other day and the Agent 18 scratched the chrome Apple IMMEDIATELY upon installation, and that was after I used a can of compressed air AND a lint-free cleaning cloth on both the phone and the case to remove dust..! No kidding. :shake:

Why they made this so you have to slide it along the length of the iPhone and not just press it on from behind is beyond me. The thickness of the plastic and resulting bulkiness is also a negative (2mm).

IMHO, the only thing this case is good for is that its rough finish resists scratching. It's just too bad it in turn scratches your phone.

[infinitespecter]

I STRONGLY advise against using the Agent 18 cases.

The design almost assures that you will scratch the delicate finish of the back of your phone - perhaps moreso than you would without a case at all. I didn't have my iPhone more than a couple of days before I noticed glaring scratches along the black plastic AND the chrome Apple logo. I got a second iPhone the other day and the Agent 18 scratched the chrome Apple IMMEDIATELY upon installation, and that was after I used a can of compressed air AND a lint-free cleaning cloth on both the phone and the case to remove dust..! No kidding. :shake:

Why they made this so you have to slide it along the length of the iPhone and not just press it on from behind is beyond me. The thickness of the plastic and resulting bulkiness is also a negative (2mm).

IMHO, the only thing this case is good for is that its rough finish resists scratching. It's just too bad it in turn scratches your phone.


I have this case, and I haven't had a problem with it. I'm of the belief that it is insane to cover up the phone to keep it from getting scratched since you can't enjoy it either way. It's like putting plastic on furniture.

Anyway, I have to wonder what everyone is doing to generate scratches. I bought this to cover up a big scratch since my iPhone was dropped, and I have to say that other than the chrome, scratching the anodized aluminum cover on the back is nearly impossible. That said, the case isn't meant to be put on and taken off repeatedly (as evidenced by the inclusion of the dock adapter), so I am wondering why people are doing that.

[jeffcruz]

I like this case, but to be honest, the ONLY reason I got a case at all is because I have TWO friends who both dropped their iPhones (from short distance) to the floor and when it hit the corner on the ground, it SHATTERED The screen on both of them. The lady at the Apple store said a 30 case now, or a 200 screen fix later (or a new phone) And AppleCare does not cover that....

They reccomeded the Agent 18 as the best they have for slim case, and best protection. So I was sold.

I have had mine for a few weeks now and got the CLEAR plastic one, so I can SEE that it is NOT scratching the back of my iPhone.

Also, if you get the CLEAR one, they do not put that silly Tree logo on it. Instead they leave it a clear box so you can see the apple logo.


~jeff

[pixelator]

I'm unclear as to why someone would post to this thread saying 'I have this case, and I haven't had a problem with it.' And follow that up with 'I'm of the belief that it is insane to cover up the phone to keep it from getting scratched since you can't enjoy it either way.' - The two statements seem to contradict each other.

As for 'I have to wonder what everyone is doing to generate scratches.', please re-read what I posted: 'I used a can of compressed air AND a lint-free cleaning cloth on both the phone and the case to remove dust' ...And I STILL got a grain of dust in there that laid down a long 1"+ etch in the Apple logo and into the aluminum. There are fine scratches other than that, but one noticeable one. In other words, I did everything I could NOT to get it to scratch. That is why I say - the Agent 18 case will scratch your phone even if you take precautions.

If it hasn't happened to you, then lucky you, or perhaps you already have some fine scratching and don't notice it. Either way, after having my iPhone free of the Agent 18 for about three weeks now (no skin or other protection other than the crystal screen overlay) and it's still free of any damage or scratches - which is more than I can say for the 'protection' of the Agent 18 case.

They could easily remedy this issue, too - just make it snap on form behind or have a front ring or lip that snaps into the back. At least that way you minimize the DRAGGING of the tight plastic case against the entire length of of the iPhone.

PS: I had the clear one. It scratches the iPhone. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow... But soon.

[verbal]

I have the clear one. Seems good so far. Only issue I don't like is taking off the bottom to dock it. I think I'm getting the universal dock soon.

[jwill2489]

mine has scratches. anyone know if brushing the case with steel wool or something like that will work/look good?

[iAMbuzz]

Try these. I have all three of their cases and they're great. The 'suede jacket' protects from scratches, but the 'smart case' has good screen protection.
http://www.sfbags.com/products/iphonesuedejacket/iphonesuedejacket.htm
http://www.sfbags.com/products/iphonesuedejacket/iphonesuedejacket.htm
http://www.sfbags.com/products/iphonesmartcase/images/iphone-smartcase-topfit-md.jpg

[iAMbuzz]

If you're worried about screen protection, try these. I have all three of their cases and they're great. The 'suede jacket' protects from scratches, but the 'smart case' has good screen protection.
http://www.sfbags.com/products/iphonesuedejacket/iphonesuedejacket.htm
http://www.sfbags.com/products/iphonesuedejacket/iphonesuedejacket.htm
http://www.sfbags.com/products/iphonesmartcase/images/iphone-smartcase-topfit-md.jpg