Freeform3 creates a Bumper worthy of the iPhone 5 [Review]

Freeform3 aluminum case is the perfect Bumper for iPhone 5

When Phil Schiller unveiled the iPhone 5 in front of a sea of exclusively invited press last September, he proudly stated that the smartphone is “an absolute jewel.” Schiller went on to say that the iPhone “is the most beautiful product we have ever made. Bar none.” So when Apple decidedly refrained from releasing a Bumper case for the iPhone 5 as it had done for the previous iPhone design, it was immediately clear that Apple wanted to showcase its new “jewel” and leave case making to third party companies.

That’s where Freeform3 comes in. What began as a crowd-funded Kickstart project has materialized as a beautiful new Bumper finally worthy of the iPhone 5.

The Freeform3 aluminum case protects your iPhone 5 with a solidly built aluminum Bumper that elegantly compliments Jony Ive’s design. Now I’m a sucker for any accessories that can pull this off, but this case feels like it was designed by Apple alongside the iPhone 5.

While I’m not a huge fan of wrapping my iPhone 5 in a case unless the situation warrants it, the Freeform3 aluminum case tactfully respects the beauty of the iPhone while still offering substantial protection from drops and foreign material. The iPhone 5 is thin enough that Freeform3 was able to deliver a case that’s still thinner than the iPhone 4S (0.04 cm by my measurements).

Freeform3’s aluminum case (Bumper) retails for $89.99, which is a bit more expensive than Apple’s Bumper for iPhone 4, but it’s constructed with aluminum rather than plaster and rubber, so it feels as native as a caseless iPhone 5 in your hand. It also includes a glass backing that easily slides in, a dust lint remover, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and a front facing transparent screen protector for 360 degrees of protection without feeling bulky or hiding the hardware.

Oh, and did I mention it comes in four colors? Studio Black, Matte Silver, Espresso, and Graphite (pictured left). Looks great on white and looks great on black.

Freeform3 even designed its packaging to double as a portrait and landscape dock that compliments the design and build quality of the aluminum case. The Freeform3 aluminum case is a very competent case that both respects the design of Apple’s hardware while still protecting your iPhone 5.

If you would like to own the Freeform3 aluminum case for yourself, Freeform3 has provided 9to5Mac readers with a special promo code for 30% off through June 30. Just enter “9to5Zac” at checkout in the promo field (after the PayPal page) and save $27. It works, trust me, I tried.

Again, if you’re as emotionally attached to your iPhone 5’s design as I am but still want to protect it, then the gorgeous Freeform3 aluminum case is the one you’ve been dreaming of. Pick one up today.