Snappgrip for iPhone Review

Introduction

Every smartphone has a camera, but not all of them take the time to emulate the feel, performance, and looks of an ordinary digital camera. High-end smartphones, for example, offer exceptional quality that makes them perfect for being point & shoot replacements. However, unlike them, they don’t have the same feel in the hand. Generally speaking, we normally have to hold them around the edges and on the tips of our fingers – so they’re just not as comfortable.

Apple’s iPhone has always been a top contender when it comes to camera quality, so it doesn’t surprise us that one accessories company, BiteMyApple, is turning the beloved thing into a point-and-shoot camera of some sorts. Looking into the Snappgrip, it delivers that camera-like feel to the iPhone 5/5S – where it features some handy tools that can attract serious enthusiasts.

The package contains:

• Quick start guide
• microUSB cable
• Travel bag

Design

The grip is ideal for one-handed operation.

Consisting of two main components, a traditional looking snap-on case and a grip attachment, the Snappgrip does a decent job in giving us that camera-like feel in the hand. Sure, its design is rather boxy and straightforward looking, but it’s the in-the-hand feel that’s most profound here. Rather than holding the phone around its edges with two hands, the Snappgrip enables us to grasp the entire thing one-handed. Naturally, our middle and ring fingers wrap around the plastic textured grip – while our index finger appropriately rests on top of the two-level shutter key.

Graceful isn’t what we’d describe its design, seeing that it can only do so much to try and mask the iPhone’s overall “flat” shape. Even though we’re not inclined to shove the entire thing into our pocket, especially with the massive bulge we’d see in our pocket due to the grip, it’s comforting to know that we can remove the grip portion of the unit, and just rely on the snap-on case.

The case itself is as ordinary and plain as it can get. Despite the straightforward approach, all of the iPhone’s ports and buttons are easily accessible with the case on – including the 3.5mm headset jack. That’s because the top and bottom sides of the case have cutouts to make the various ports and buttons on them exposed, so there’s no need for a special adapter to get access to the headphone jack. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that a cutout around the camera lens allows the case to accommodate some of the optional lens attachments that BiteMyApple sells.

As for the grip component of the package, it can be dislodged from the case by simply pressing the large button on its side. Around the top, though, it features a mode dial, digital zoom buttons, and a two-level shutter key. Rounding things out, there’s a handy tripod mount, microUSB port, and on/off switch on the bottom on the grip.

Snappgrip iOS app

In addition to the actual hardware, the other component to the Snappgrip is the free, downloadable iOS app. Relying on good old Bluetooth connectivity, the app interacts with the actual Snappgrip to present us with ideal digital camera experience. At its core, the Snappgrip app is an enhanced version of the stock iPhone camera app, since it features various shooting modes. Honestly, you don’t necessarily need the actual Snappgrip to use the app, since it can be used independently. Ultimately, it’s the app’s ability to recognize the two-level shutter key that proves to be its standout feature.

Performance

The experience in shooting photos is similar to any camera, but the accompanying app lacks diversity to make it extraordinarily useful over the stock one.

Although it’s unlikely to impress most folks, the tripod mount on the Snappgrip is one of those unseen features that might not stand out as much as others, but nevertheless, it’s something that becomes useful in certain situations. For example, instead of being forced to snap a photo of the family, it can be attached to a tripod and capture everyone in the photo – including yourself!

Photo enthusiasts will surely appreciate the comforts that the Snappgrip brings along, like its point-and-shoot feel. Being able to press the shutter key half-way to adjust the focus is great, which is then accompanied by pressing it down all the way to get the desired shot – just like a normal camera. Again, this might not be a big deal breaker for some folks, seeing that touch focus is just as good, but it does nicely to mimic that ideal camera experience, which is complemented further by the menu driven interface of the app.

One of the biggest opportunities here is the app, which could benefit from having a more diversified portfolio with its shooting modes. In order to really win the hearts and minds of serious shutterbugs, it needs an equal set of manual controls as well – so there’s room for improvement in this area.

Conclusion

Pointing it our earlier in the review, serious photography enthusiasts will be sold most by the Snappgrip’s usefulness. It’s not something we’d be inclined to see every day iPhone owners wanting to use, more so when it’s stickered with a retail price of $70 online. No doubt, it’s a pricey investment considering that the iPhone 5/5s, by itself, is already a versatile point-and-shoot replacement. Unless you really adore the grip you get from holding onto an actual camera, you’re better off just doing what you’ve been used to with the iPhone.