Innerexile Glacier: Self-healing case for your iPhone 6, 6 Plus [Review]

There are lots of nice cases available for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. I prefer Apple's Leather Case as it looks great, feels fantastic, fits the device as it's supposed to and, last but not least, offers some much-needed grip. It is a bit expensive but, in my opinion, it is worth it.

However, Apple's Leather Case, much like other iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases, needs to be handled with a bit of care, to avoid scratching and damaging the material. Accessory maker Innerexile claims that it has developed a self-healing case for the latest iPhones, which can "[heal] itself from light scratches". Offered the opportunity to try out the premium-looking Glacier (there is also a similar Hydra model), I quickly started to put these claims to the test.

Design

The version that I have received is the transparent Glacier for iPhone 6 Plus; there is also a gray version. It has openings for the mute switch and volume and power buttons. To make pressing the volume and power buttons easier -- since they won't protrude anymore once the case is fitted -- there are three color-matching sets (one for each iPhone 6 color) of buttons which can be attached to the case itself, that press on the iPhone's own buttons. It is an interesting idea, but I quickly discovered that there might be an issue with them.

The Glacier buttons are made of a material that I think is likely to scratch the iPhone's own buttons. After putting the case on for the first time I decided to remove them to avoid this problem, so I removed the case. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a very, very small dent on the lower part of the volume switch. I cannot guarantee that it is due to Glacier's buttons, but I did not want to take any chances, so I used the case without them fitted.

Since this is not how Glacier is meant to be used, it made pressing the volume and power buttons difficult. For this reason, I think Hydra is better designed, as it has big-enough cuts in the case not to require the extra buttons. And it will fit just as well as Glacier. Oh, and Hydra is also offered in a pink version, on top of the transparent and gray models.

Slipperiness and Gold

One of the things that I love about Apple's Leather Case, as I mentioned in the first paragraph, is the added grip that it offers. My iPhone 6 Plus can be very slippery, but the leather fixes this. Glacier, on the other hand is just as slippery or even slipperier than the smartphone, which forces me to be extra careful when handling it. This is something to consider, but I think it is to be expected when going for a fully transparent case, like Glacier (I think Hydra would fare similarly).

The added slipperiness is bearable though, as the case exposes the lovely design of the new iPhones which I never get to enjoy in its full glory with the official leather case. My iPhone 6 Plus is the gold version, and, normally, that is only revealed by the gold ring surrounding the home button. Glacier is not the only case on the market that is transparent, of course; its most-intriguing feature is the self-healing coating, that Innerexile says is patented.

Will It Self-Heal?

When I said in the first part of the story that I went about putting the self-healing claims to the test, do not imagine that I got all the kitchen knives and keys ready and started to press them against the case. I did not have to, as the case has developed a couple of visible scratches through normal usage, which, I think, is to be expected. I keep my iPhone 6 Plus on the desk and nightstand at home and on the table when I'm at a bar or restaurant. I usually carry it in a leather bag, with nothing else in that compartment.

But, and this is a big, big but, the case does self-heal from minor scratches, just as promised. To see just how well it can heal, I used my Swiss Army Knife to make some light scratches on the back, and, in less than a minute, they were gone. This is really amazing, and I honestly did not believe it until I tried it. I imagine it will hold up very well over time, assuming bigger scratches can be avoided.

Should You Buy It?

Would I recommend it? It depends. I think that Hydra is the better option of the two for me, as it offers the self-healing capabilities of the Glacier, while also protecting the main camera's lens when laid on a flat surface, and without those extra buttons.

But, on the other hand, Glacier is fairly stiff for a plastic case, aided by the fact that there are no huge cuts in the case on the side for the buttons, so it will be more rigid than Hydra. It will have a better chance at keeping your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus straight.

Bigger scratches -- those are likely the ones that stuck during my daily usage -- remain, but smaller ones can vanish, and this is the thing that makes Innerexile's offerings stand out from the crowd. Both cost around $30 on Amazon, depending on the model and iPhone compatibility.

Photo Credit: Mihaita Bamburic