[REVIEW] Gumdrop Drop Tech Series Rugged Case for GT10.1 - Galaxy Tab 10.1 Accessories

I ordered this case yesterday with priority shipping (which was only $12.99 from CA to my town) and recieved it today around noon CST.
It comes in a pretty heavy duty plastic shell for shipping so even if you order it from a vendor who has less than optimal packing procedures, you should be covered.
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Inside the beefy plastic shipping case you have the actual droptech case which has the typical padding and fake Galaxy Tab cardboard screen. There are three pieces to this case: The heavy duty rubber outer part, the front plastic frame and the replaceable plastic insert with integrated screen protector.
Getting the rubber outer part off the plastic frame was a bit of a pain and I did it pretty slowly for fear of ripping the rubber but honestly I think it would take a great deal of effort to rip it, even at the rubber plugs for the headphone jack and bottom charger.
Once apart and with the Galaxy Tab inserted, it snaps very tightly into place. I will note that I have a full cover Invisible Shield on my tab which may have contributed to the more than estimated tight fit.
After snapping it into place, I put the outer rubber piece back on but I want to make it pretty clear that getting it snug and fit around the edges of the plastic frame was rather difficult and required alot of massaging it into the grooves of the plastic frame.
Along the lines of it fitting tight inside the case, I did notice a not so cool side effect of the front&back invisibleshield still on the tab. If you can see from the picture below, it creates an almost worse than Otterbox famous oil slick effect on the intregrated screen protector.
So, if you already have an invisibleshield screen protector on your tab I want to make it clear that its entirely possible you might experience this same look as well.
I will say that I do plan to try and remove the integrated screen protector this week in an attempt to address this issue and will update this review if I do.
In regards to the weight it adds, I would say that it feels a bit lighter than a Xoom but definitely not super light like a no case tab.
The overall dimension increase it adds isnt as substational as I originally estimated however. Below is a picture of the case next to my SwissGear slip I carry the tab in for reference.
In regards to port covers and buttons, the overall connector rubber for the component ports are very heavy duty and dont look as though it will eventually tear like my Otterbox Captivate plugs for the defender case. If anything, they may require some work to loosen up so that no additional stress is put on the charging port during charging.
In addition, although completely pointless now, I can still put the Tab inside the SwissGear slip with minimal effort although its a pretty tight squeeze once inside.
So I would indeed recommend this case to anyone that requires "alot" of protection for their galaxy tab on a daily basis or is more confortable with a full protection case. If you have an invisible shield already on your tab then you will have to make a decision to either remove it or the integrated screen protector because it does add a negative oil slick effect to the screen otherwise

Thanks man. I like it but I dont.. I dont like the screen protectors. I know what they do/ what they are for, but Id rather just push them out and have a normal one on the tab.

That looks like an amazing case and I'm really thinking of picking it up.
And yeah, I have the same question/issue as the above poster. I've got the Invisible Shield on my GT10.1 already, but I don't want to take it off, either.
I had an issue like this with my Trident Kraken and my Invisible Shield on my Evo 4G, and I started to think punching the built-in screen protector to keep using the Invisible Shield was probably not the best idea, since sometimes taking the case apart will pull the Invisible Shield up slightly on the sides.
ANOTHER THING: I'm kind of interested in the details behind your current ROM and home screen.

Thanks for the great review; but I'm not sure I understand the interest in this case. It's thick, heavy, and ugly as sin. It basically takes the best-styled, thinnest, and lightest tablet on the market and turns it into a spare tire. If you wanted a ruggedized android tablet, they have those (and they're warrantied). Well, thanks again for the great review.

How is the texture on the screen protector? I've heard the invisible shield can feel very sticky/unpleasant, which is why I've avoided it. I'm hoping the protector integrated into this case is a little smoother.

The texture on the screen protector is very smooth and nothing like the Invisibleshield. Another oddity is that even though there are effectively 2 layers of screen protectors on my tab (InvisibleShield + GumDrop Integrated) the overall screen sensitivity to touch has not gone down dramatically.
In regards to the question about the desktop and setup of the tab homescreen:
- Factory non-root Touch Wiz
- Minimalist Text
- Circle Launcher
- Icons for circle launcher - "The Icons of Rassilon 1 by Girl on the Moon" (From DeviantArt)
Backgrounds used:
-------------------------
Homescreen:
-----------------

I dont think there would be an issue with pushing out the integrated screen protector that is on the case.

mroneeyedboh said:
I dont think there would be an issue with pushing out the integrated screen protector that is on the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree and because the actual screen protector part is actually designed to be replace, if it all goes bad you can just order another protector.
Honestly my only concern is removing it, using the InvisibleShield and particle buildup around the frame (which always leads to scratching the device).
Its possible that the invisibleshield is thick enough to reduce the gap between the screen and the framr after the integrated one is removed and it may not be a problem at all....

> If you wanted a ruggedized android tablet, they have those (and they're warrantied).
Really? With Honeycomb? Where? (looks around, hears crickets...)

Related

[Review] Seidio Surface case

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Seidio-Sams...ccessories&hash=item564b61dbc4#ht_3764wt_1396
Packaging:
Nothing special, plastic box shipped inside a plastic bagvelope (bag/envelope) The box it comes in is much easier to open from the bottom than the top, learn from my mistake. No fancy packaging here, the case slides around inside the box a bit. Nothing inside the box but the case...no screen protector, no cleaning cloth, no fancy color brochure showing other products the company makes, nothing. In my opinion, $30 is a steep price to pay for a case so to see the case flopping around in it's box and no extras at all included with the case was kind of a let down.
Fit and finish:
When I first grabbed the case out of the box my very first thought was "oh boy, feels kinda slippery." I got the Garnet Red version, planned on getting the limited edition Gloss White when it becomes available...more on that later. The case is lined with a black felt material on the inside part of the back wall to protect the battery cover from getting scratched during installation/removal, might even add a little shock protection as well. Sliding the case on to the phone one thing I noticed is that the front edges do infact put a little pressure on the sides of the face of the phone, this is notable because those of you who have a wet application screen protector or other full face protection like the Moshi iVisor or any one of the curved full face protectors may have a little problem getting this care to play nicely with it. I think a wet application would be fine so long as it's fully cured before you go putting this case on and as long as you are careful when installing it...making sure it's not pulling up the protector as you go. The case slides on and locks in place to itself thanks to a little tab built in on it's inner wall on the back. Getting it off can be tricky, especially if you have an aftermarket, non-stock battery cover on like I found out. I highly advise not using the case with anything other than the stock battery cover. I had my white carbon fiber cover on which seemingly added no extra bulk but apparently the tiny little bit it did add made it next to impossible to remove the case. I ended up using brute strength to get it apart and luckily avoided causing any damage to it or it's locking mechanism. Putting the stock battery cover on made things much easier. Helpful hint, when trying to remove it, press down on the raised part in the back when squeezing the top part of the case on the sides.
With the case installed I noticed that the fit was so snug that there was no daylight at all between the face of the phone and the edge of the case, a good thing. The cutouts are all spot on but the bottom mic opening wasn't quite centered. There are no overlays over the buttons so they are easily accessible and engaged. Those openings are beveled/tapered to allow unobstructed access to the buttons...no need to tactically attempt to press the buttons, you just press them as you would normally as the case does not get in the way. The color I chose, Garnet Red, has a metallic sheen to it and is very easy on the eyes however it lacks grip. Holding the phone, it's not as bulky as I thought it would be, but it's not as easy to hold on to either. The finish is very slippery so make sure you have a firm grip on it. This is the first case I've had on this phone that requires you to stick your pinky out while you're holding the phone to ensure it doesn't slide down. Very disappointed. The design of the case does provide a front side lip, allowing you to set the phone face down with no worry of causing damage to the screen.
Final thought:
While the case looks nice, fits like a glove and allows easy access to all ports and buttons, it is very slippery to hold and can be a problem depending on what type of screen protector you're using. The locking mechanism is a nice touch but be aware if using an aftermarket, non-stock battery cover as it can make the case nearly impossible to remove. Am I going to order the limited edition Gloss White when it comes out? It'll surely have better grip but i'm not that in love with this case to say for sure.
I have the Seidio surface in blue and I do not find the case to be slippery it has a lot more grip than the stock battery door. The finish is a soft touch finish that does not show fingerprints.
Here are some photos and I have a full review up to.
from my AOKP galaxy s3
Grip is not a strong point of this case by any stretch of the imagination. It's coming off as soon as my TPU bumper arrives. The finish on this case is pretty much identical to that on the Incipio Silicrylic Dual Pro, the difference being the silicone sleeve which gives you the good grip. I like everything about this case except for the lack of grip and how it limits what screen protectors you can use with it.
via Galaxy S III
Gadgetz said:
Grip is not a strong point of this case by any stretch of the imagination. It's coming off as soon as my TPU bumper arrives. The finish on this case is pretty much identical to that on the Incipio Silicrylic Dual Pro, the difference being the silicone sleeve which gives you the good grip. I like everything about this case except for the lack of grip and how it limits what screen protectors you can use with it.
via Galaxy S III
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've amassed quite the S3 case collection. Post a pic of it later.
zmore said:
You've amassed quite the S3 case collection. Post a pic of it later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just trying to find "the one". The SGP Neo Hybrid is on my radar. Not really sure there's any others I really want to try out right now.
I have the platinum series which is pretty much this case with the holster. I have had it for my past three phones but am on the by bubble with this one. I have to agree that this case is more slippery then I remember my past cases to be. Because of that (and the fact that I dropped my OG Evo with his case on and the Efren shattered ) I am looking for another case. Thinking of getting an otterbox. Need something with good screen protection and a holster.
Does nfc work?
elosogrande7076 said:
I have the platinum series which is pretty much this case with the holster. I have had it for my past three phones but am on the bubble with this one. I have to agree that this case is more slippery then I remember my past cases to be. Because of that (and the fact that I dropped my OG Evo with his case on and the Efren shattered ) I am looking for another case. Thinking of getting an otterbox. Need something with good screen protection and a holster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was pretty disappointed with how slippery this thing is but i'm leaving it on until my TPU bumper and igadgitz clear tpu case show up...only other case I could see myself buying after this is the SGP Neo Hybrid.
GNja said:
Does nfc work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes sir
Alright guys, today was my first day out in the wild with this case and I have discovered something......moist hands = good grip with this case! Normally my hands are dry, no sweaty palms for me....but its pretty warm out today and I wear nitrile gloves alot during the day which cause my hands to sweat badly. So after removing my gloves and patting them dry I picked up my phone to take a few pics and I noticed it wasnt sliding in my hand. Figuring it was the moist hand I was holding it with I turned on the AC to dry my hand completely and sure enough, the slipperyness was back.
So those of you with sweaty palms, this is your case!
via Galaxy S III

[Review] Frugal setup

The Galaxy S III is a beautiful, expensive, fragile phone. I can understand how people would pay $30+ for a case. For me, I can't help but look for a deal so I wanted a setup that maximized each dollar I spent. I wanted a case that offered decent impact protection, a lip for the screen, and a slim profile. I'm very picky about screen protectors so clarity, smoothness, and most importantly, full screen protection was key.
Total cost: A hair under $5
Case: http://www.ebay.com/itm/280900471671?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Screen protector: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008FONF4Q/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
Review:
I've been a big fan of TPU cases. Silicone is too flimsy while hard plastic cases may mar the phone more than the environmental dangers it is supposed to protect against. TPU is rigid yet fairly soft and extremely light. However, it suffers from discoloration.
For $3 this hybrid offers a gray TPU frame and frosted clear plastic backing. The gray TPU and hard plastic resists discoloration from the hands and jeans and goes very well with the marble white version of the Galaxy. Cutouts are accurate and happily, the power and volume buttons are not difficult to press despite being covered by the TPU. The lip prevents the screen from touching the surface and the case in general is extremely rigid. The tight fit makes it difficult to take the phone out but offers more rugged protection. As an added benefit, the side of the case has grip which feels good in the hand.
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The screen protector is made by Chromo and its cutout is exactly how screen protectors should be cut. Many other brands take shortcuts, often times leaving the upper right corner of the screen (where the FFC is located) and lower portion of the home button vulnerable. Chromo leaves little exposed. It develops scratches fairly easy but it feels great, almost like glass. Chromo offers almost full screen protection but since it is not curved, it slowly lifts up around the edges. The trick I use is to tape the left and right sides of the screen protector down before installing it into the case. As shown in the picture, it's almost unnoticeable.
No only does this prevent the screen protector from lifting, it also protects the trim of the phone from gathering microscratches from the TPU material (which happened to my Galaxy S II). The benefit from this case and screen protector combination is that the tight fit holds parts of the film down.
Now I talked about how hard plastic might end up scratching the finish of the phone. This is where clear scotch tape comes into play. Using wide, clear tape, I simply applied it to the battery cover. Just like the wet full body films like Zagg, using a little bit of soapy water helps with the application process. The tape also helped protect the LED light and camera lens; a cutout is needed for the speaker though.
You can also apply a small piece of tape to the home button for added protection. As you can see, I'm a big fan of tape.
Sure this setup probably won't protect as much as an Otterbox. Ideally I would also like a fancy curved screen protector from Spigen. However, compared to the almost $40+ I would spend just on those 2 products, I have a satisfactory setup that keeps my phone protected and handsome.

			
				
the tape on the home button is just plain hideous
King Shady said:
the tape on the home button is just plain hideous
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I just stuck it on to get an idea. A few minutes would produce a better shaped product.
Looks like it works good in a pinch, but I dunno how I'd feel about putting scotch tape all over my brand-new phone. Honestly, I find my setup of a diztronic piano black tpu case and the SGP Ultra Nano to be a great combo, and well worth the $25 total it runs. You honestly can't tell there's a screen protector at all if you apply it correctly, unless you closely examine the borders, and the feel is indeed better than naked. You get a 3-pack, and if you have any issues with it they'll generally send you a new one for free. Honestly, I feel like anyone who can afford somewhere between $200 and $600 for the phone should be able to justify $25 or so for a nice case and screen protector.
+1 about silicon flimsy. I rocked a silicon case for a little while because that was all they had where I am. It would slide right off the phone when I put it in my pocket.

Seidio vitreo, beefy screen protector.

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http://www.seidioonline.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SPTSSGS3-BK
This product is compatible with our ACTIVE® and ACTIVE® with Metal Kickstand. It is not compatible with our SURFACE™, CONVERT®, OBEX™, or Innocell/CONVERT® Plus and is not guaranteed to be compatible with other manufacturers' products.
Seidio's VITREO™ is a tempered glass material that utilizes advanced technology to shield and protect your Samsung Galaxy S III's screen. Made from a high grade glass with a 9H hardness rating, VITREO™ is shatterproof, allowing it to absorb impact and prevent damage from occurring to your screen. The VITREO™ surface feels just like the device's screen without interfering with touch sensitivity or optical clarity while giving you an extraordinary level of protection. The design and lightweight material will provide peace of mind no matter what comes in contact with your device.
- High grade tempered glass with a 9H hardness rating prevents damage in the event of scratches and abrasions
- Tapered (rounded) edges provide a premium and more aesthetically enhanced profile for your device
- Engineered to reinforce the strength of the critical points of impact which results in prolonged durability
- Oleophobic coating resists marks and smudges with advanced technology that reduces the appearance of fingerprints
- Full panel protects the entire screen without leaving any portion exposed
- Promotes touch sensitivity and enhances optical clarity
- Easy installation without bubbling and lifting
- Only 0.55mm (0.02in) thin
Contains:
- VITREO™ Screen Guard
- Microfiber Cloth
- Alcohol Wipe
- Plastic Pick
- 4 Home Button Stickers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have preordered, and shall review as soon as it comes in.
wow wow wow $40....
scarrmrcc said:
http://www.seidioonline.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SPTSSGS3-BK
I have preordered, and shall review as soon as it comes in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
would love your feedback after a couple days/weeks use as the spigen version has poor feedback regarding the touch response... I def want one, but i need my devices responsivness
crazaytalent said:
would love your feedback after a couple days/weeks use as the spigen version has poor feedback regarding the touch response... I def want one, but i need my devices responsivness
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got mine today and from initial impressions, touch responsiveness appears to be completely unaffected.
And the oliophobic coating seems almost magical at dealing with my fingerprints.
Need to figure out something about the home button though. This thing is quite thick for a protector and makes the home button hard to press. Seidio includes stickers to put on it (2 pairs of clear and translucent blue), but they're transparent/translucent and apply a funky cylindrical magnification effect to the brushed metal look of the button which looks really weird and unattractive IMO, so I'm looking for an opaque option.
Bro, still no touch sensitivity issues? Seriously considering this glass screen protector as Spigen has discontinued their version (and they never made a blue one. -__- )
Does this interfere with putting a case on the phone? I have a puregear dualtek that I'm not gettin rid of, I'd hate to buy this and find out I need to choose one or the other.
offgrey said:
Bro, still no touch sensitivity issues? Seriously considering this glass screen protector as Spigen has discontinued their version (and they never made a blue one. -__- )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do have small issues with swipes being mistaken for taps (especially with vertical scrolling), but I had that problem before with no protector and I'm unsure if this has made it worse at all.
Though as for blue, you're SOL here too. You only get black or white.
kingston73 said:
Does this interfere with putting a case on the phone? I have a puregear dualtek that I'm not gettin rid of, I'd hate to buy this and find out I need to choose one or the other.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The protector stops ~3mm from the edge of the phone (and in from that is ~1mm of slight tapering). This is sufficient clearance for their active cases (plastic over silicone, like the otterbox commuter line), but they explicitly state it's not compatible with their Surface (just plastic), Innocell (their battery case), and Convert (like an active around the innocell case) cases.
I'm honestly not sure whether your case would fit or not. I could give you some pictures of what this looks like on mine when I have another camera available this weekend.
compro01 said:
I do have small issues with swipes being mistaken for taps (especially with vertical scrolling), but I had that problem before with no protector and I'm unsure if this has made it worse at all.
Though as for blue, you're SOL here too. You only get black or white.
The protector stops ~3mm from the edge of the phone (and in from that is ~1mm of slight tapering). This is sufficient clearance for their active cases (plastic over silicone, like the otterbox commuter line), but they explicitly state it's not compatible with their Surface (just plastic), Innocell (their battery case), and Convert (like an active around the innocell case) cases.
I'm honestly not sure whether your case would fit or not. I could give you some pictures of what this looks like on mine when I have another camera available this weekend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know they only make black and white with this, but at least I get the choice of a dark glass screen protector with this brand as opposed to Spigen's white only and Spectre's proximity, weird manufacturing pattern on glass problems.
In any case I'll wait for one of the big youtube reviewers to get this glass protector... If they ever will.
Got mine a few days ago when I get around to peeling off my Spigen ill update you guys
Sent from my GS3
I got mine yesterday. I don't notice any difference in sensitivity.
I do notice that it is really heavy. You will need a case with this because it is extremly ugly without a case. The fit is still too small for the screen. You can use a hybrid 2 piece case like the Musubo retro. You will hate having it with the UAG case or anything like that. It will fit but there will be a gap that just looks silly.
The sticker for the home button really cheap.
I purchased mine from Amazon and its going back. Gotta love Amazon.
Got mine today.
Hi Y´all!
Just installed it about 20 minutes ago.
Black was on back order so i ordered the white one.
Thought it would make an interesting contrast to the blue phone & case.
Now - not so sure but it´s too late.
Installation: Hmm - Not as easy as it sounds. At least not to me.
Lined it up with front speaker & home button first.
Problem arose the last couple of millimeters before the actual "contact" with the screen because there weren´t room to get a grab of the edges any more.
It ended up being about 3/10´th of a millimeter off centered at the home button
Won´t correct though. got a clean fit.
In use: Really slick surface. No fingerprints either
Sensitivity takes a hit No two ways around it.
Not much mind you. Subjectively i´d say about 95 % retained.
Is it a problem. Well -- non time critical use is fine - most of the time. Typing is a bit slower.
Temple run 2: Forget it. Just won´t work when one missed gesture is one too many.
I´ll leave it on for a while. Maybe screen sensitivity can be adjusted somhow.
Will post question in Q&A section. Search didn´t reveal anything.
As it is... well ... Close - very close.. but no cigar.
Honestly won´t reccommend it.
I can live with the slightly off alignment. But the sensitivity :crying: Rats - had such high hopes.
Regards
ELO
Everyone still happy with this. Seem to be many complaints on Amazon and want to pull the trigger.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

Review of Spigen Slim Armor case for S4 w/pics!!!

This is a review of Spigen Slim Armor Case for Samsung Galaxy S4: http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/samsung/galaxy-s4-cases/galaxy-s4-case-slim-armor.html
When it comes to slim and light weight cases, Spigen never disappoints with their unique and rich styles. But in the past they weren't exactly known for their rugged touch. With their Slim Armor case it looks like they decide to turn the table around. So let's see if they were able to add extra "armor" protection while still maintaining their typical slim design.
Slim Armor is actually consists of two layers. Inner TPU layer surrounds the phone with extra cushion to absorb shock impact and adds extra thickness at the top/bottom bumper beyond the boundaries of Outer PC layer which bounds the sides and the back of the case with hard plastic material. Still, even with two separate layer, case feels very thin. The fitment of both layers is seamless and almost feels like one piece. Every port opening is precisely cutout and perfectly aligned between inner/outer layers and with a phone. What I found especially amazing is that case is actually easier to fit in with a phone while two layers are together. This was a pleasant surprise since I know that a lot of people like to take their cases on and off and when you are dealing with two layers it becomes a hassle to constant align two together. For the purpose of pictures, I demonstrated how the phone looks with inner layer without outer shell, but in everyday use I would recommend keeping both of them together when taking phone out.
One of the details that keeps both interlocked perfectly together are the power and volume buttons. Those are part of TPU inner layer, but made to feel and to perform like hardware buttons. A separate cutout around sides of these buttons makes them very easy to push with a nice tactile feedback, and while aligned with outer PC shell cutout it keeps both layers together. There is not too much to complain about Slim Armor except for the lip around the display. Typically those are designed to keep your phone off the surface when faced down. To my personal taste I found this lip to be very shallow. Actually, it's more shallow around the side edges while a bit more thicker around top/bottom part of the case's bumper cushion. So in theory it will protect your phone screen down from touching a surface, but you will not get as much clearance thus I highly recommend having a decent screen protector when you use this case. For those familiar with Spigen, you know that quality screen protectors is one of their signature products. Another thing to mention, which was actually a pleasant surprise, is a bonus of 3 home button stickers labeled as "jelly bean" buttons. Those come in assortment of 3 colors and will help you personalize your phone even further. The case itself comes in a selection of 5 different colors for the hard outer shell. The one I got was in black, and somewhat a fingerprint magnet. For those who are bothered by this, probably a good idea to go with a lighter color PC shell
Overall, this is a very impressive and high quality case (made in Korea, which I find lately to be of a higher quality than HK built cases). You will still get a slim and light weight design while maintaining a piece of mind in case if you drop your phone. Even so I wish the lip would be thicker to offer a better "armor", bundled with a good screen protector you should be OK.
Here are the pictures of black Slim Armor case I tested with my S4 display model of the phone (thus a slight misalignment of mic port next to micro-usb connector):
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How's the case as far as drop protection go, is the lip high enough that dropping it face first won't crack the screen?
koraun said:
How's the case as far as drop protection go, is the lip high enough that dropping it face first won't crack the screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Judging from the last pic posted, screen would be hit first.. ._.
SilentRazor said:
Judging from the last pic posted, screen would be hit first.. ._.
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I did feel friction when case is placed down which suggests there is some minimum clearance. Also, in theory if you drop your phone and it lands flat face down, a bigger lip will only help you on a perfectly flat surface. Any uneven surface will come in contact even with a rugged case. I'm always paranoid about this stuff and have tempered glass on my phone (N2). I would definitely suggest that a screen protector is a must for this case. For example if you place it face down and you have some crumbs or whatever on a table and slide it across - you need extra screen protection to keep display from being scratched. I can also imagine that with tempered glass you will not have any margin at all.
I do want to mention again, I have a display model of S4, not the real phone. But its 1:1 scale and I also read other online reviews suggesting lip is on a shallow side. I would appreciate if more people who have this case will chime in to offer their feedback about Slim Armor. There are a few threads about this case so we gotta have more users with a real S4 and this case. Keep in mind, Spigen is reading these reviews and any feedback will be valuable for them as well.
How about sound? Does the case muffle the speakers at all?
Does it get scratched? I want to get the white one but afraid it would get scratches and black marks/lines easily. Can you post pictures of its current status? Scratched or not and how many days used?
It looks like it might.
This is the best case I've ever had. So perfect
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Case review: dbrand Grip for Pixel 5

Disclaimer: This review was neither sponsored, nor did I recieve any personal discounts. My personal opinion about this product is unbiased.
Pricing
dbrand lists the case with a skin for 39.90 USD. I applied a newsletter subsription and paid 35.91 USD. No shipping fees were charged.
Delivery
The case was shipped from Canada to Germany in about 12 days and a tracking code. Although I thought that sales taxes would apply and be collected by the customs, the package had a "customs free" sticker on it and no taxes were charged. I dunno why but I do not complain.
Pictures
Retail box
The retail box is a gem. I took some shots of it so you see what I mean. It contributes nicely to the product and makes you feel having purchased something precious. Nicely done, robots!
Assembly
If you purchased a skin with the case, you have to bring it up to the case first. If you watch and follow the video guide, this is fairly easy and led to a perfect result for me.
Build quality / Durability / Looks
For my last 5 phones, I used SPECK cases and therefore was used to bulky cases. In comparison, this case feels lighter and even slim. It sure is a good amount bulkier than typical "slim case" but it comes with a decent amount of drop protection. Thanks to the Pixel 5 being a compact phone, it still can be held with one hand in a comfortable manner when wearing the case.
The edges feature a slighly nobby texture that feels just great and should also prevent accidential slips. The texture of the Matrix skin looks dope.
All in all, this case looks high-class and also provides nice haptics. In my eys, it is worth the money.
Protection
The case feels sturdy and protective. I am confident that my Pixel 5 will survive some serious drops with it.
The lip on the frontside has the signature curve: Thick at top and bottom, flush at the sides. This makes the back-swipe gesture a breeze while still preventing screen contact when placed on flat surfaces. I am a bit unsure wether this will lead to trouble with face-down falls on uneven surfaces, but I assume that a evenly formed lid might not perform much better in this scenario.
Fitting / Cutouts / Buttons
The case fits like a glove. The buttons are super clicky and it's a joy to use them. The cutouts are precise and the port cutout should be big enough to provide space for most cables.
Unfortunately, the fingerprint cutout is rather small. This makes the "swipe down for notifications" gesture definitely harder to use although it still works. For me, this is not a show stopper but it might be for people with fat huge fingers. I just wish that dbrand would have made the cutout a little bit bigger since this is my only point of criticism with this case.
Durability
If you search the internet about the dbrand Grip cases, you will stumble upon many stories where the cases fell apart. Then I found this thread, where dbrand gave a comprehensive explaination why this happened and which counter measures were taken. This case is the latest generation and comes with all the described improvents. Only time will tell wether this case will hold up better.
Verdict
I highly recommend the drand Grip case for the Google Pixel 5: It looks and feels great, provides good protection without adding too much bulk. The customizablity with new skins is unique and might tempt you to spend more money. This being said: If you have huge fingers, the fingerprint cutout might be too small for you. I am confident that this case will not fall apart (or dbrand being obliging if it does).
Could you please take a picture from the top with the screen on and with a white background on (you could go to the settings or anywhere else that shows the entire screen from edge to edge)? I would give an idea of how much bulk it adds to the phone.
I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
does the Wireless Charger work on pixel+case?
trax69 said:
does the Wireless Charger work on pixel+case?
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Yes, I use an Anker PowerWave Alloy and wireless quick charging works flawlessly.
dragos281993 said:
Could you please take a picture from the top with the screen on and with a white background on (you could go to the settings or anywhere else that shows the entire screen from edge to edge)? I would give an idea of how much bulk it adds to the phone.
I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
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Here you are:
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its a good grippy case.. I love mine.
you gotta be out of your damn mind to pay for this...Ringke case, 12 bucks, owned, tested (not intentional) and it even got a cool Lanyard loop.
I have a new one for sale - has a sage skin on back - never used it - $20 delivered - PM me or email me at [email protected]
One of long term video reviews showed edges warping near cutout and buttons. How is it holding up so far? Price gives me a reason to pause even with the super 'grip" edges.
After using it every day, it is still in mint condition.
Thanks for the really good review. Just one point to clarify: can you please confirm that the back of the base (not just the side bumper) also has a grippy texture? If you put it on your pant leg when sitting, for example, will it slide off easily?
I love my Dbrand Grip with the red dragon skin and its super grippy texture.
If you're looking at phone cases to protect your phone's screen, you need to check out one of the screen guards. Screen protectors are becoming more advanced as the years go by. Some are built right in, some you have to put on separately. Either way, these are the best ways to make sure that your screen is safe. How can I make my phone case grippier?
You should also make sure that the cases you're looking at are anti-skid. This means that the case doesn't just slip over the phone, but stays put instead. If your phone slips out of the case, it will stop the phone from sliding all over the place. How can I make my phone case grippier? Start looking for cases with anti-skid features!
Another question you may be asking yourself is how can I make my phone case grippy if the material is hard and doesn't let the phone slide all over? Well, this is another problem that many phone cases have. So many cases are made of extremely hard materials that it's nearly impossible to slide your phone in and out. But luckily, there are some great soft cases available that are great at preventing your phone from sliding around.
I've been rocking this phone case for over a year. Just ordered the Leather skin insert from D Brand drop and a matte black skin as well. I've had the tear down on it for the year. The case is quite nice and offers good protection. The cut outs make it easy to use gesture controls.
ademmer said:
Durability
If you search the internet about the dbrand Grip cases, you will stumble upon many stories where the cases fell apart. Then I found this thread, where dbrand gave a comprehensive explaination why this happened and which counter measures were taken. This case is the latest generation and comes with all the described improvents. Only time will tell wether this case will hold up better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After over a year of frequent use, I switched to an Google Pixel 6 Pro and therefore also sent this case to rest. Time for a wrap up on durability!
Unlike older generations, my case stood the test of time. The rubber did not separate from the plastic and even after some serious drops on concrete, the case is still in mint condition.
Only the skin foil started to get loose around the fingerprint scanner which led to strange haptics when you remove the finger from the scanner (since the foil will move a millimeter with with your finger). A new skin will surely fix this and so would some glue.
Guess what? I already pre-ordered this case for my new Pixel 6 Pro!

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