ElementCase Vapor Aluminum iPhone 4 Case


I’m fascinated with CNC machines. I think it comes back to my childhood love of Legos, and my current fascination with cars and trucks. That’s why I love products like this, even though it’s not quite yet on the market.

It’s called the Vapor, and it’s an all-aluminum case made by ElementCase. It’s carved from pieces of aluminum, and then you bolt it together to insert it on your iPhone. But since this thing is made of aluminum, which is a conductive metal, doesn’t that cause even more problems with the Antennagate issue? Guess not:

The inside of the Vapor case is lined with a very high tech shock absorbing material that reduces the G-forces of an impact. It also creates a non-conductive barrier to help maintain the iPhone’s antenna signal strength.

Nice. Right now, this is still vaporware – pardon the pun – but hopefully it is put out on the market soon. Yes, $79.99 is a bit pricey for a case, but it’s made out of carved aluminum, and apparently there may be some customizable etching available in the future as well. Here’s to hoping it actually gets built.


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

3 Comments

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  1. I tried the Vapor 4 also, ordered the blue/stainless version and loved how it looked, functioned and how it felt but experienced the same issues with loss of signal strength. I was at a conference out of town recently and the majority of the training was in the basement level/first floor. I rarely could text or call. No big deal I thought until I say everyone else being able to place calls and text without issue. What added insult to injury was the fact that my training partner had his 3GS with him and he simply said something along the lines that he was glad that he didn’t have the supposed latest and greatest because of my problems trying to communicate on my iphone4. I couldn’t do anything about it because I didn’t have that little tool to remove the case and didn’t want it unprotected so I left it on thinking when I went on to the next training a few days later in a much more open facility everything would be fine but same issues. I’ve since changed the case out for a Scosche bandEDGE (g4) and immediately noticed a difference in my call ability and quality and data transmissions. The bars are at 4-5 instead of 1-2. I returned the Vapor4 for a refund.

    I have a problem with the bumper case too though as well as the Scosche which is connecting it to my Alpine head unit connector. It utilizes a larger connector and the connector won’t remain seated. The Vapor was open enough but too deep to make any connection whatsoever. I just don’t get why case manufacturers feel they need to create these minimal openings especially at the connection end of the case?!

    Sure you can modify the opening but then it looks like crap, no matter how careful you are.