REVIEW: Magpul iPhone 3G Case vs. China

I am a victim ... Like any reasonable person, I wanted to dress up my iPhone 3G in Magpul. And after this cover - just like the one for the iPhone 4 - has finally been released after over a year, we immediately searched on Ebay. Only found in Hong Kong, the Americans apparently did not deliver abroad yet. And impatience is punished. Fake and truth are close at first glance: Chinese counterfeits at the top, genuine Magpul Field Cases at the bottom. SPARTANAT took a look at what is different there.

Here the two candidates side by side: original on the left, Chinese fake on the right. The logos are different sizes, the lettering is recessed in the genuine one, raised in the fake. We won't talk about the color there ...

I was surprised by the inelegant solution for the openings for the charger and speakers (left), that is of course China. Magpul (right) has a good cover and two separate openings.

Also completely different accesses here: China with brutal casting seam and opening for silent lock: Magpul has thought more here too.

Here it is most evident: China is a simple silicone case. Magpul is made of polymer, like the PMag, which the case is supposed to resemble.

Chinese, crumpled. With the genuine Magpul, you have no chance there, it is a tough protection for the iPhone. It is supposed to be a "Field Case"...

Top side: Large slot (China) vs. covered openings for On/Off and headset with Magpul Original.

CONCLUSION: The iPhone 3G and 3GS need to be protected. That's where Magpul comes in handy. The Chinese condom for the phone serves its purpose, that cannot be denied, but it lacks the finesse that the genuine Magpul 3G Field Case offers. And it costs the same amount...

The genuine Magpul iPhone 3G and 3Gs Field Case costs around 9 dollars on Ebay.com (without shipping), the Chinese product costs 20 dollars (with shipping).