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Favorite Speck cases under $40 [Gift Guide 2012]

Violet Blue visited Speck Products to go hands-on with its phone and tablet cases, and came back with her holiday hotlist.
By Violet Blue, Contributor
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1 of 10 Violet Blue/ZDNET

Day of the Dead CandyShell for iPhone 5 ($34.95)

My favorite artwork in the new designs: Speck's Day of the Dead CandyShell for iPhone 5 ($34.95) has a hard, shiny exterior and shock-absorbent interior. It's glossy and lightweight.

See photos and read my impressions from my Speck HQ visit in this gallery: Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012].

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2 of 10 Violet Blue/ZDNET

iGuy Family for iPad Mini ($29.95) and all iPads ($39.95).

Speck's newest creation manages to kid-proof (and adult proof?) Apple's tablet line. The iGuy for iPad Mini ($29.95) and all iPads ($39.95) is squeezable, drop-tested and stands on its own.

See photos and read my impressions from my Speck HQ visit in this gallery: Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012].

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3 of 10 Violet Blue/ZDNET

SmartFlex Card for iPhone 5 and 4S/4 ($34.95)

If Speck made its SmartFlex Card for iPhone 5 and 4S/4 ($34.95) for the Samsung Galaxy S3 and added a wrist strap (like the iPod Touch Kanga) and retractable stand (like the SmartFlex View), I'd be in heaven. Even still, I think iPhone owners got lucky with this one.

See photos and read my impressions from my Speck HQ visit in this gallery: Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012].

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4 of 10 Violet Blue/ZDNET

CandyShell Flip for iPhone 5 ($34.95)

The CandyShell Flip for iPhone 5 ($34.95) comes in many color combinations, has a hard protective shell and a flip-back panel for docking without case removal. In person the colors are rich.

See photos and read my impressions from my Speck HQ visit in this gallery: Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012].

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5 of 10 Violet Blue/ZDNET

FitFolio for iPad Mini ($34.95)

I loved the color, vegan-leather FitFolios for iPad Mini ($34.95). In the hand, its clasp snaps the case shut neatly in either direction, a nice touch. It comes in many colors, materials and patterns, and has a quadruple angle stand.

Here I am examining a turquoise iPad Mini case (with Mini in it); more hands-on shots include a stand shot and its back stitching.

See photos and read my impressions from my Speck HQ visit in this gallery: Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012].

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6 of 10 Violet Blue/ZDNET

SmartFlex View for iPhone 5 and 4S/4 ($34.95)

Until you slide the stand out, and then feel how snappily it retracts shut, you can't really appreciate the eloquent way the SmartFlex View for iPhone 5 and 4S/4 ($34.95) employs its discreet stand. The rest of the case is rubberized with a grip, and felt pretty tough.

Also: a hands-on shot of the SmartFlex View in color combo Grape/Lavender/Peacock.

See photos and read my impressions from my Speck HQ visit in this gallery: Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012].

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7 of 10 Violet Blue/ZDNET

Holiday CandyShell for iPhone 5 in BeBaubled Blue/Peacock (limited edition, $34.95)

The blue of Holiday CandyShell for iPhone 5 in BeBaubled Blue/Peacock (limited edition, $34.95) is much more deep and vivid than in photos; I think it's the prettiest of Speck's holiday limited editions.

See photos and read my impressions from my Speck HQ visit in this gallery: Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012].

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8 of 10 Violet Blue/ZDNET

Holiday Candyshell cases for iPhone 5; also available for Samsung Galaxy S3 ($34.95 each)

There are so many designs and colors in Speck's CandyShell line that the array of options pose a dangerous challenge to anyone's pocketbook. Above are Speck's Holiday Candyshell cases for iPhone 5; a smaller selection is available for Samsung Galaxy S3 ($34.95 each) - they all have a hard and shiny designer outer shell, and a soft rubber inside.

See photos and read my impressions from my Speck HQ visit in this gallery: Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012].

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9 of 10 Violet Blue/ZDNET

Kindle Fire WanderFolio ($39.95)

My Speck A-Line bag is still in perfect shape after I packed it with gadgets and dragged it around the world (literally) in October when I covered Hack In The Box 2012 Malaysia. For this frequent traveler, Speck's Kindle Fire WanderFolio ($39.95) was love at first sight, and I'll be buying one before I go to CCC/29C3 in Hamburg this December.

See photos and read my impressions from my Speck HQ visit in this gallery: Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012].

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10 of 10 Violet Blue/ZDNET

Toughskin for iPhone 5 ($39.95)

Speck's spokespeople told me that the Toughskin is one of the most popular cases, and I realized why when I got it in hand. It's seriously shock absorbent, has an inner removable hard case, and a rotating belt clip. This one isn't on the website yet, but will be soon.

See photos and read my impressions from my Speck HQ visit in this gallery: Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012].

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