【Dear Utol (2025): Maniac Photographer Episode 26】

You may not know it by its exact name,Dear Utol (2025): Maniac Photographer Episode 26 but if I showed you a photo of the iMac G3, chances are you'd recognize it.

The familiar all-in-one design with a bulbous cathode-ray tube screen would certainly bring back memories of the ads, which were ubiquitous in the late '90s. And now, you can get that same transparent-backside look for your iPhone.

Spigen's Classic C1 line of cases pays homage to the iMac G3 on its 20th anniversary. These cases let you bring back the look and partially the feel of the classic iMac to your iPhone X.

A rainbow of colors

While there's no flower-power edition Classic C1 yet, Spigen did manage to get the classic colors: Bondi Blue, Snow, Graphite, Sage, and Ruby make up the collection. And they stay true to the original colors of the iMac G3.

These colors were translucent and let you see the internals of the iMac; Spigen's cases mimicked this effect. As underneath the color polycarbonate case, you have a liner that looks like the internals of a computer (though it's pure decoration -- these aren't real components).

Motherboards, memory cards, and other components give you the feel of a computer. And it certainly makes for a unique first impression. You even are presented with a warning over what appears to be a crucial component -- "WARNING Authorized Service Provider Only." Apple's strict policies on service providers go back to the beginning.

The attention to detail is really nice to see -- the side of the device appears to have a vent design that continues the effect, along with holes for screws scattered throughout. A square window on the back keeps the Apple logo from being covered and gives it a slight tint in color.

While all of the Spigen cases feature the same design, Bondi Blue has a matte finish like the original iMac G3 of the same color. Spigen wants to emulate the original product as much as possible with the Classic C1 line. The rest of the cases opt for a glossy finish. I found with daily use that the matte finish gives you a firmer grip than the glossy ones.

Two layers of protection

In addition to providing a nice look that can complement the iPhone X and also disguise it as an iMac, protection is essential for a case. Spigen opted for a rubbery thermoplastic polyurethane or TPU inner liner. It has air-cushion technology in the corners that helps to absorb the pressure of any drops.

While this inner piece does feel a bit flimsy on its own, it gets more rigid when it's around the iPhone. But the one area that still doesn't have support without the plastic would be around the buttons and ports. It feels a little too thin for comfort, and I worry a bit that down the line it could rip.

The TPU liner also has a lip on the front, which protects the screen if it falls on it. It should stop the display from cracking, and acts as an additional area to hold the phone.

Luckily, the polycarbonate pieces for the back provide more support. You slide the top shell piece on first and then lock it in, as the tracks don't work that well. The bottom piece slides up from the bottom and hooks into the top component, providing a seamless back.

While it is a process to get the case on, it is nowhere as difficult as getting the case off.

Painful to get off

Whether you're the type of person who swaps out a case every day or the kind of person who leaves it on for months, eventually the case has to come off. Given that the Classic C1 is a two-piece case, with a soft inner liner and an outer hard plastic layer, this is more complex with the Spigen than you might expect.

To remove the case, you take the bottom piece off, slide the top piece off, and then peel back the inner layer. Sounds easy, but I had to use what I would call brute force to pull off the bottom piece, especially if the case has been on for a while.

Once you have the bottom piece off, its easier to pull the top portion off than sliding it. It seems that the hard shell plastic almost sticks to the inner layer, which gives the case a solid feel.

The downside is it can be a bit tougher than it should be to remove the case.

Compatibility

Given that the case does pack some thickness to the device, with an additional two layers, you might be wondering about ports and connectivity.

The Classic C1 still works with wireless chargers and gives you full access to the lightning port.

Nostalgia wins in the end

Bringing back classic designs or anything nostalgic is an easy way to win over consumers. While Spigen's Classic C1 case is not perfect, the nostalgia wins over the imperfections.

Being able to pay homage back to a classic design, with an array of colors too chose from, is nice. I found that the case can be a talking point amongst friends and even strangers.

At $40 it's priced on the higher end of iPhone X cases. But I don't think you will be disappointed with the design and level of protection it provides.