Design:
The design of the Barely There Brushed Aluminum is very stylish and sleek with a thin convenient frame that easily fits into your pocket.

On the back is a lightweight aluminum plate that is glued to the back. The rest of the case is a hard plastic. It looks really stylish and adds a really modern look to the case.

The case snaps on in one simple motion. Installation starts by inserting the volume button side into the case then press down the phone into case. That’s it. It takes a little more finesse to take the case off. This is a good thing because the case will not fall off.

Most of the iPhone is covered but the case leaves open the bottom and top exposed. It is a very thin case that only protects the iPhone from small impacts and keeps it safe from scratches on the back.


Protection:
Overall this case does better protecting against scratches.

The back is tough because of the layer of aluminum. This is a smudge proof material that has a slightly rough texture. The texture keeps the phone from sliding around a much when it is placed on a smooth surface. We think that is pretty nice.

The ports and buttons are exposed which provides easy access but little protection. This is a good thing for docking and full access to the buttons and ports.

If there were a screen protector, it would protect the iPhone from scratches while matching the thin look of the phone and case overall. The lip is small around the screen. A larger lip would provide more protection while the iPhone lays face down, but this goes against the slim and sleek design and purpose.

Value:
Like mentioned above, this case is built for scratch protection, convenience and looks. It is a well polished design and performs well. It will provide the phone with some protection, but not against really damaging drops.

The price is a little bit more than your average iPhone case because of the special aluminum. It has an MSRP $40.00 at the time of this review. We have seen Amazon with prices as low as $20.00. Keep your eyes peeled for a good deal.

Conclusion:
The Case-Mate Barely There Brushed Aluminum case is a great pick for a stylish case. It is lightweight with little bulk to make it hard to fit into your pocket. It also adds a really cool, modern-industrial look to the iPhone with the metal on the back. This case works best for people who are less worried about dropping their phone and more worried about everyday wear-and-tear.