InkCase i7 Review : iPhone gets another face
- E Ink Display is swift and decent
- Displays images sent from iPhone
- Adds relatively small bulk to iPhone
- Protects iPhone, doesn't just carry E Ink display
- Displays PDFs for easy reading
- Uses its own unique charging cable
- Software could be slightly more intuitive
This week I've been working with both versions of the InkCase i7 – one for the smaller iPhone, one for the Plus. Both are from the newest generation of e-ink case from the folks at Oaxis, who've made these cases for the following people: "adventurers, bookworms, the businessperson, selfie-takers, and everyone else." Thus far I've found the case to be not only interesting, but helpful and downright fun, too.
The case itself checks off my list for needs in a smartphone case – it's protective, it's sufficiently grippy, and it doesn't make the phone too big to fit in my pocket. I'm fairly forgiving when it comes to big cases, but there is a limit – and this InkCase i7 model is well within my bounds for size. The protective elements are here, which means I can move on to the more unique features.
![](https://www.slashgear.com/img/gallery/inkcase-i7-review-iphone-gets-another-face/eink2.jpg)
NOTE: This case adds 4.5mm / 0.18in to the back of the iPhone – which means it is not relegated to the protective layer. If you're all about that protection without anything special added on, I recommend the Silicone Case straight from Apple. At this moment there's simply nothing better when it comes to basic protection, grip, and style.
The E Ink display on this device is a Carta 1.2 E Ink panel. It's 540 x 960 in its "Plus" iteration – which means its around 217PPI. The smaller case is 4.3-inches while the larger "Plus" screen is 5.2-inches. It's sharp enough to display some rather sharp images and well above and beyond sharp enough to read text with.
![](https://www.slashgear.com/img/gallery/inkcase-i7-review-iphone-gets-another-face/sending.jpg)
The app that pairs with the case connects with Bluetooth, and the Bluetooth connection is swift. The only time the phone will really need to connect to the case – or the only times I've needed to so far – are in sending images and PDF files for reading. There's also a "realtime selfie" mode which displays what the device sees from its back-facing camera in a very strange vision – which allows the back-facing camera to be used as a "selfie" camera.
Much like the iPhone itself, the case is resistant to water, and dust ingress. The case is certified IP67 – which is the same as the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus itself. IP means International Protection (from the IEC) while 6 means "no ingress of dust, complete protection against contact (dust tight)" for 8 hour periods. Don't leave your case or your iPhone out in the desert longer than that. The 7 in the rating means it can be underwater for up to 30 minutes up to 1-meter deep.
![](https://www.slashgear.com/img/gallery/inkcase-i7-review-iphone-gets-another-face/connectpr.jpg)
This device needs to be charged on its own – and it does include its own unique charging cable, which is generally a bummer. I've got so many different cables I'm surprised I don't lose contact with the vast majority of them on a regular basis – I'm not a fan of needing more. On the other hand, this cable connects with magnets, which makes it intuitive enough to not be a deal-breaker.
This device allows the user to sync with the iPhone to attain to-do lists as well as the current time, date, and a basic look at the weather forecast. These elements shown on the case instead of the main display of my iPhone should be saving me some battery time. I've not noticed a MAJOR change in my daily phone-checking experience though – on the contrary – I've been using my phone MORE now that I have this case.
![](https://www.slashgear.com/img/gallery/inkcase-i7-review-iphone-gets-another-face/inky.jpg)
Because I can use the case to read a book, and because I can change the picture on the case whenever I like, I can't stop using it. It's too entertaining. Thus far I've found the whole setup to be more of a fun experience than a battery-saver.
This case can be attained through the Oaxis homepage which will likely lead to the Kickstarter for the newest version of the device for around $89 USD. That's for the "Plus" version of the case, while there's also a standard version for the smaller iPhone. This is just the newest version of the E Ink case collection for the iPhone as made by Oaxis – they've been doing this for a while!
NOTE: This case should not be mistaken for the Popslate E Ink case we looked at back in 2015. That wasn't quite the end product we'd hoped for. This new Oaxis-made case is far more of a real deal than that other piece of equipment ended up being.