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As the guy who always walks alongside the road when I find myself on a sidewalk, say, during a date (yeah, I know, hard to believe), one can assume certain things about how I think. No, I don’t think I can physically stop a car from hitting my companion, at least not anymore. It does, however, reflect my protective instincts, which apparently also extends to my gadgets. That includes my smartphones, which usually end up in a protective case the moment they leave their packaging.


As such, I’ve tested my fair share of smartphone covers through the years. One such case I tried recently is the Ballistic Every1, which has models for both the iPhone 4 and 5 as well as Samsung's Galaxy line (I tested the iPhone 4S variant). Unlike more style-oriented cases such as the Pantone Universe Bookcase and the Marware Revolution, the Ballistic Every1 is primarily designed for protection. In that sense, it shares more similarities with cases such as the Seidio Obex and Rokshield V3. In the case of the Ballistic Every1, protection comes in the form of a hard-case plastic shell that envelopes the iPhone within. In addition to its hard shell, the case also comes with rubber trimming on the side, which helps absorb shock and also provides grip when holding the phone. Meanwhile, a clear front cover protects the screen from nicks and scratches. The case also comes with a holster that it can clip onto when not in use.

The design works well as it protected my phone after being dropped several times on a hard surface from five feet.

I also dropped the phone with the holster clipped on and the main case remained within the holster without breaking off. At the same time, placing the phone within the case is quite easy. You just unfasten its corners, put the phone inside and snap stuff into place. Docking and undocking the case from the holster is pretty easy as well, which is helpful when answering calls.

To access stuff such as the headphone jack, mute toggle and the charging slot, the Ballistic Every1 comes with openings that have rubber covers. The rubber sidings also have nubs you can push down on in order to access buttons for volume and power, as well as the “Home” button. Look at the back and you’ll see a mini stand that folds out, allowing you to rest your iPhone on a table or other surface to watch video hands-free.

The Ballistic Every1 is not without its issues, however. One involves the plastic edges surrounding its clear screen cover. Because they are raised, they can make it hard to tap icons on the outer edges of your iPhone screen, especially during one-handed operation of your phone. As with many hard cases, the Every1 adds chunk and weight to the phone, though it isn’t quite as fat as some of the other protective cases I’ve tried. The extra width also makes the case unusable with many charging or speaker docks. I basically had to take the case off if I wanted to charge my phone via a dock or connect it to an iPhone-compatible speaker via a pin connector. The kickstand, meanwhile, feels flimsy and cheap and appears susceptible to breaking off easily when unlatched. Also, although the Ballistic Every1 offers good protection, it is not waterproof.

Despite those drawbacks, the Ballistic Every1 is a solid case overall. Pricing is also good for a protective case — although the suggested retail price is $50, I’ve found the case selling for less online. If you’re looking for a tough case that also comes with a holster for your iPhone 4, 4S or 5, or Samsung Galaxy phone, then the Ballistic Every1 is worth adding to your list of cases to check out and compare.

Final rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

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Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.