This thread is simply designed to help those who are currently looking at cases and want to decide which case is best for their needs.
I guess you could say I am a "Case Expert" - I have spent a lot of time collecting and trying different types and brands of cases for not only my HTC Thunderbolt, but previous phones like my Samsung Fascinate.
Keep in mind different phones will have different cases and brands available to them, but this guide should cover the most popular brands. Enjoy!
I will divide this guide into several sections:
- Case Types
- In-Depth Look at Specific Cases
- Best Protecton
There are several different Case Types (Four Basic Types)
*** Hard Cases: Typically snap together or "slide" on using two sections
Examples: Seidio Surface Case, "Shell" Cases, Snap-On Cases
Opinion: Typically not the greatest cases as most snap on cases are a PITA to both put on and take off - also very vulnerable to dust and dirt contamination, thus scratching your phone - does more damage than protection
Exceptions: Seidio Surface Case - this case has protective material on the inside, preventing scratching, although doesn't completely protect from dirt and dust
*** Rubber/Jelly Cases- Fairly self-explanatory, very low cost - not to be confused with silicon or TPU cases
Examples: N/A
Opinion: For the cost, these aren't bad actually. However, with that being said you can find many different cases in the same low cost price range that are better. These cases take the cake when it comes to dirt, lint, and dust attraction. Simple solution: Clean them often using dish washing soap, which over time will eliminate some of the dust and dirt attraction. These cases are also the hardest to slide in and out of pockets, so if your into those skinny jeans, stay away from these :laugh:
Exceptions: N/A
***TPU/Silicone Cases - Great cases, in fact...these happen to be some of the cheapest cases and are actually some of my person favorites
Examples: TPU Cases - http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Rubberi...8594&sr=1-2&keywords=HTC+Thunderbolt+TPU+Case
| http://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Rubber-...677&sr=1-19&keywords=HTC+Thunderbolt+TPU+Case
Opinion : First off, they are some of the cheapest cases available. Second, these cases attract very minimal amounts of dust, dirt, lint, etc - I would say the least amount out of all the other case types. Easiest cases to slide in and out of pockets. Finally, if you take your cases off to use accessories such as car docks, music docks, etc then these cases are great for you as they are some of the easiest to take on and off. Great protection too, both shock resistant and typically have enough of a lip to protect the screen.
Exceptions: N/A
***Premium Cases/Hybrids - These are the pricier cases, also tend to be the most protective
Examples: Seidio Cases, Otterbox, Platinum, Incipio, Casemate, Body Glove, Trident...
Opinion: For the most part these are great cases, they tend to be more expensive but if you are rough on your phone, they typically prove to be a good investment. Typically offer the most protection and use the best materials and includes several layers of protection(Hard Shell, Rubber Shell, etc).
I will go into depth on the majority of these cases in the "In Depth Look at Specific Cases" section.
Exceptions: N/A
***In Depth Look at Specific Cases - Some of these may not be so "in-depth"
Otterbox Defender - This case is probably the most protective case you can buy (Seidio Convert case is very comparable). It utilizes several layers - a snap on hard shell, an outer rubber shell, and an optional holster. The snap on inner shell comes with a rubber-like pad mounted on the inside, providing the phone with a protective surface, keeping it safe from scratches. The rubber outer shell is a thin shell that simply wraps the inner hard shell - it fits very well. It also comes with a built in screen protector - its junk, so I simply took it off. The rubber shell does attract a decent amount of dirt and lint, which can be a pain, but overall not too bad. The inner shell can also be a PITA to put on and take off, so if you need to take your case off quite a bit for connecting to accessories, this may not be the case for you
Rating: 7.5/10
Seidio Convert Combo - This cases utilizes three layers or protection, four with the holster. First is the inner hard shell - protective material layers the inside of the case, slides together. Second is the rubber shell - very similar to the Otterbox rubber shell. Third is a hard plastic skeleton - goes on top of the rubber shell, keeping it in place and adding additional protection. Fourth is the optional holster. This case is much easier to take on and off compared to the Otterbox, although it can be easy to scratch the phone when sliding the inner plastic shell on and off. If you need the ultimate in protection, but take your case off a decent amount, this may be the case for you.
Rating: 8.5/10
Casemate Pop! - This case is one layer of protection. However, it has a hard rubber/silicone inner lining, which is excellent protection for you phone. The outside of it is wrapped in a glossy, hard plastic shell. Easy to take off, however, after taking it on and off for a while, it begins to wear the hard rubber inner lining down. Also, the hard plastic shell looks old after a couple uses, as it scratches very easily - White color also begins to yellow after time.
Rating: 7/10
Trident Kraken - This case utilizes two layers of protection - First, a soft silicon inner lining. Second - a hard rubberized snap-on shell. This case is definitely a cool looking case, but a major PITA to take on and put off...one of the most poorly fitted cases out of the cases I have tried. Nonetheless it is a good looking case and offers good protection.
Rating: 6/10
Body Glove - This cases uses one layer of protection - hard snap on case with a cool rubberized wrap. This case doesn't add to much bulk, but provides great protection, however it is a tough one to get off (almost snapped the tabs off when taking off). It does not attract much dust and dirt like other cases and isn't too bad when it comes to slipping it in and out of your pocket.
Rating: 6/10
Incipio Silicrylic: One of my favorite cases as it provides great protection and is one of the easier cases to put on and take off. Does not attract much dust, lint, and dirt. Great color schemes as well!
Rating: 8.5/10
***Best Protection - Of course, this is opinion based, but very much based on observations over the years.
Best Look/Cool Factor: I am a huge fan of Ghost Armor - it is a wrap (they have several different styles including Clear, Matte, and Carbon Fiber) that protects almost every inch of your phone from scratches. They also have the best screen protector hands down (in my opinion)...I currently have my Thunderbolt wrapped in Android Green carbon fiber - very cool. I have also used white, in which I have never experienced any sort of yellowing at all, also very easy to clean! Of course, Ghost Armor does not protect your phone from drops, it simply protects it from scratches, so I top it off with a nice clear TPU case such as this one: http://www.amazon.com/Rubber-Thunde...095&sr=1-5&keywords=HTC+Thunderbolt+clear+TPU
This provides an amazing look and some of the best protection - also TPU cases attract little to no dust, dirt, and lint! Also, once you buy the full wrap and screen protector, you get full lifetime replacement, meaning you can get everything replaced for $10, you can even change colors! I highly recommend having a Ghost Armor employee do it if you have any stores near you...if not it doesn't seem like too hard of a task to apply yourself.
Ultimate Protection: Ghost Armored - including screen protector and topped off with the Otterbox Defender case or Seidio Convert Combo!
I spent a lot of time on this guide, so I hope this helps out when it comes to choosing a case.
If you have anything I can add to this guide or suggestions, feel free to comment!:laugh:
Posted here too I see! great guide man. Since my post on rootz I have decided to put the Otterbox back on. I have heard of some just ripping out the screen protector on the otterbox as it is the worst part of the case in my opinion.
bond32 said:
Posted here too I see! great guide man. Since my post on rootz I have decided to put the Otterbox back on. I have heard of some just ripping out the screen protector on the otterbox as it is the worst part of the case in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice! Yea it a good case, but yea the screen protector is junk IMO...if you have the time you can even paint the inner hard plastic shell whatever color you'd like, a lot of people do it and if you do it right it looks amazing
Related
I'm curious as to current thoughts on the whole rubber v plastic cases debate. I'd like to go with a rubber case personally as I like the feel and generally think they are less intrusive, but at the end of the day, I'm buying a case for protection over anything else.
What is the current thoughts in 2013 about case types, and who is the leading brand? Is otter boxes still way ahead of most of the competition?
i used otterbox defender for 10 months and switched over to an aluminum bumper on my note 2, which is slightly better because of the bulk
twistededge said:
I'm curious as to current thoughts on the whole rubber v plastic cases debate. I'd like to go with a rubber case personally as I like the feel and generally think they are less intrusive, but at the end of the day, I'm buying a case for protection over anything else.
What is the current thoughts in 2013 about case types, and who is the leading brand? Is otter boxes still way ahead of most of the competition?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rubber. always rubber.
Actually, a hybrid with fused rubber/plastic is a much better alternative; like UAG cases.
one rubber case saved my phone more times, for 1$ una tantum
very good!
:good:
I usually get cases made of flexible plastic, but hard plastic mixed with rubber is pretty awesome too, like an otterbox
I would go with rubber. Seems to offer better shock protection
Rubber for me too.
I prefer to feel the original cover of the phone. However, as it may fall anyhow i've just ordered a plastic crystal cover to protect it without losing the view of the beautiful back of my white Nexus 5.
rubber ftw
more elastic i think
rubber and plastic
Rubber for me too.
Rubber for me too.
Some rubber cases are pretty much dust magnets so beware of those. Other than that, I'd generally still stick with rubber over plastic mainly because I feel that it absorbs shock/ fall damage a lot better than plastic. With plastic, feels more like crack on impulse. I have an Otterbox Defender and I dropped my phone while holding the door for someone and well, phone was still functioning so glad Otterbox worked. However, i haven't tried any other brands.
I did read about other phone case makers using fancy names like silicone, TPU, and what not. No clue what they are, but would be interesting to see an actual in-depth review of that.
I first had the Seidio Surface case with kickstand and while I liked the case the kickstand was worthless in portrait mode, it was also a bit slippery to hold. Next I bought the SupCase and it does provide more protection than the Surface without adding too much bulk. The edges were a bit sharp but had started to wear down and the case provides more grip then the Surface & has a dimple. A downfall of this case is trying to type while the phone is on a desk/table as it slides around.
So I recently purchased the PureGear GripTek case in green. This case is not bulky but provides great grip due to the multitude of grooves in the sides and back of the case. The lip around the screen protects it if placed face down but thin enough that it doesn't interfere with swiping. The buttons have a good feeling to them and the bumpers on the corners will provide more impact protection without being obtrusive. The case slides very easily in/out of my pocket as well. Overall it's hands down the best case I've owned or seen. I plan on taking a Dremel with a round stone and carefully making a small dimple myself in the case, shouldn't be very hard to do and will make the grip even better.
I do wish that PureGear offered more color choices, I would like to see a darker blue & red along with other options. I bought the case from www.WirelessGround.com for $14 shipped with an online free shipping coupon.
http://www.pure-gear.com/griptek-impact-protection-for-motorola-moto-x.html
I kinda like this. Is it pretty much a TPU case with softer/more rubbery corners?
tallgrasshawk said:
I kinda like this. Is it pretty much a TPU case with softer/more rubbery corners?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the main material is not as gummy as Cruzerlite TPU cases I have had but it still flexible and easy to install. The added grip of the case is a big benefit with this case, I think I'm going to get a black one also.
Hi, few days ago I was happy Z3c owner. Phone is great but it's one of the most fragile phones on market so I'm looking for a case.
I bough Ringke Fusion but seems also not so protective comparing to cases I had before for older phones like Ballistic or Trident.
So, if You would like to help me choose right. Except one I have (Ringke) I found Cruzerlite - looks nice cause on left side only magnetic port is opened so not so many weak spots but it also like Ringke seems like tuned regular TPU for 2$.
Case Mate from Z1c after adding few cutouts looks promising and people are saying it's best protection case. I also found Incipio Dual Layer case but I heard that rubber part is stretching and I hate it when it does.
There are many other cases on eBay for 2-10$ but I would like not to buy another case like this Ringke which is not best choice for me for it's price.
Cruzerlite Bugdroid.
Bought 14 months ago. Great cover
I use the Case-Mate Barely There clear plastic case (edit: for the z3c, not the modified z1c in the poll). It's hard plastic, not TPU, but I like it because it has a very slim profile.
Thank You, but unlike all I prefer something more "bulky". I used that my phone can hit on the street when I'm running and get out of this without a scratch. Pity that there is no such case for Z3c.
Hama Crystal Case for Z3C, fits perfect(without plastic adapters)
This thread should include the Devilcase. It can take hits to concrete, leaves the USB flap and magnetic port exposed, and adds minimal bulk.
I never saw any crash tests with Devilcase but I don't think those tiny parts of foam or sponge between phone and bumper can absorb damage.
I know it looks great but without it phone also looks great and I think with and without this case screen is as well exposed as without it. If I depend only on scratch protection I would take any 0.3mm transparent case.
Anyway thank You for mention.
The sides of the bumper come up about 2mm,so that with a glass screen protector (that you should get no matter which case you buy) there is still about 1mm separating the protector from the offending surface.
And like I said, I've dropped it multiple times onto concrete to absolutely 0 ill effect. It's not like other slim cases, aluminum behaves much differently than silicone.
I'm working in a repair service center and I saw many iPhones after they hit the ground in a alu bumper and they looks same as phones without any protection. Thats why I conclude that all hard cases and bumpers acts the same in contact with the floor.
Of course I'm using tempered glass but it can help in case of direct impact on the screen but it wont help with pressure formed from the side impact.
Still I'd go for something more flexible cause I'd rather not to test aluminum shock absorption.
I think if I wont find anything decent I will order Cruzerlite and after comparing it with Ringke I'll stay with better one.
It sad there is no really rugged case for Z3c.
You can laugh but after reading some reviews I ordered Devilcase.
I didn't want to argue with you, as we had contradictory personal experience. I won't laugh, you made a good choice.
I once had the original Sony case.
Plus: The magnet that opens the screen when opening the case
Minus: The window that is positioned in a different place than the clock widget. One cannot change the position of this clock widget on the lock screen.
Minus: The book-wise opening which makes the front flap being a hindrance for easy handling
Now I bought a cheap one, opening from the top side:
Plus: Easy handling
Plus: Self installed magnet in the flap for automagic opening of the screen when opening the flap.
Plus: Good protection
I have some pictures.
The Sony Cover pictures are taken with original locked phone.
The other pictures with unlocked Marshmallow and destroyed DRM keyes.
It's easy to see the bad picture quality after unlocking. :crying: :crying:
The best by far is the Case-Mate Tough for the Z3 Compact.
It's dual layered with an inner rubber layer and a solid plastic outer layer.
It has cut outs so you can use it with the official Dock DK48 and leaves the usb and sd card flap accessible.
http://www.case-mate.com/products/black-sony-xperia-z3-compact-tough-case
Do You have or tested one??
I have one and it's awesome. Good grip too.
I skipped this one cause most reviews I found was negative. Mostly because like half of the phone is unprotected.
Only a portion of one side is uncovered, all the corners are protected and even if you dropped it sideways the case sticks out.so the phone isn't touched. Try it out you will see how tough it feels.
Make no mistake, the phone is very safe.
devilcase all the way
I dropped my Z3c several times already, sometimes on a pavement. not even a scratch on the phone itself, Barely There protects it really well.
Yesterday I recieved the SPECK Presidio Grip for my new Google Pixel 2 XL. I thought that you might enjoy some photos and a short review. This review is neither sponsored, nor did I recieve any discount in order to write this review.
Pricing
SPECK lists this product for 44.95 USD. I paid ~10 USDs at an German online retailer who lists the case for ~25 USD and applying an available-to-all discount for new customers. The list price is pretty hefty, the reduced one is a steal.
Retail box
This case comes in the standard SPECK retail box which allows to take a sneak peak at the case without unboxing.
Build quality / Durability / Looks
Unlike the classic glossy CandyShell cases, the Presidio Grip is made of matted plastic with rubber stripes on. This looks nice and makes the phone much more easy to hold. The rubber removes the slippery quality of the phone's material.
This case has a two-layered construction: The outer layer is sturdy plastic while the inner one is soft rubber. The edges and corners have some air-cushion. SPECK promises that the case would resist scratches easily. Since it is only a day old, I cannot tell. But judged by the feel of the product, I tend to believe the promise.
The lid above the USB port is rubber only (without a plastic housing). I believe this to be a weakness as I experienced deformed/broken rubber at the exact same place earlier on other cases. Time will tell.
The lid in combination with the curved glass panel leads to deep ridges which are predestinated to collect lint. It might be necessairy to remove this cases from times to times in order to clean it.
Be aware that this case adds some bulk definitely more than rubber cases. And as the edges are air-cushioned, the device grows in dimensions to a point where a person with smaller hands might have trouble to hold it in a comfortable manner.
Protection
I am quite confident with the protection level: The sturdy outer shell combined with the air cushioned edges and the inner rubber layer might protect the phone from serious drips. The frontside lip is thick enough to protect the screen while dropping on almost flat surfaces and avoids scratches when putting the phone face to the table.
Fitting / Cutouts / Buttons
This case fits like a glove.. All needed cutouts are there. They are located perfectly and are surrounded by rubber to keep lint out of the case.
The buttons are rubber-made and are easy to press. The covered buttons still provide great tactile feedback.
Active Edge
Active Edge is still working with this case put on and not much pressure is needed to activate it.
Verdict
I highly recommend this case: It looks and feels great, provides great protection without adding too much bulk.
Please rate
Enjoyed this review? Do not forget to push the "thx" button!
Have it. Great case must own for my devices.
ademmer said:
Yesterday I recieved the SPECK Presidio Grip for my new Google Pixel 2 XL. I thought that you might enjoy some photos and a short review. This review is neither sponsored, nor did I recieve any discount in order to write this review.
Pricing
SPECK lists this product for 44.95 USD. I paid ~10 USDs at an German online retailer who lists the case for ~25 USD and applying an available-to-all discount for new customers. The list price is pretty hefty, the reduced one is a steal.
Retail box
This case comes in the standard SPECK retail box which allows to take a sneak peak at the case without unboxing.
Build quality / Durability / Looks
Unlike the classic glossy CandyShell cases, the Presidio Grip is made of matted plastic with rubber stripes on. This looks nice and makes the phone much more easy to hold. The rubber removes the slippery quality of the phone's material.
This case has a two-layered construction: The outer layer is sturdy plastic while the inner one is soft rubber. The edges and corners have some air-cushion. SPECK promises that the case would resist scratches easily. Since it is only a day old, I cannot tell. But judged by the feel of the product, I tend to believe the promise.
The lid above the USB port is rubber only (without a plastic housing). I believe this to be a weakness as I experienced deformed/broken rubber at the exact same place earlier on other cases. Time will tell.
The lid in combination with the curved glass panel leads to deep ridges which are predestinated to collect lint. It might be necessairy to remove this cases from times to times in order to clean it.
Be aware that this case adds some bulk definitely more than rubber cases. And as the edges are air-cushioned, the device grows in dimensions to a point where a person with smaller hands might have trouble to hold it in a comfortable manner.
Protection
I am quite confident with the protection level: The sturdy outer shell combined with the air cushioned edges and the inner rubber layer might protect the phone from serious drips. The frontside lip is thick enough to protect the screen while dropping on almost flat surfaces and avoids scratches when putting the phone face to the table.
Fitting / Cutouts / Buttons
This case fits like a glove.. All needed cutouts are there. They are located perfectly and are surrounded by rubber to keep lint out of the case.
The buttons are rubber-made and are easy to press. The covered buttons still provide great tactile feedback.
Active Edge
Active Edge is still working with this case put on and not much pressure is needed to activate it.
Verdict
I highly recommend this case: It looks and feels great, provides great protection without adding too much bulk.
Please rate
Enjoyed this review? Do not forget to push the "thx" button!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the review. I had this case for the original Pixel XL and noticed the fit became more loose in a pretty short amount of time (like 4 days). I ended up going through 3 of these before I ended up with a Tech21 case instead which has retained its tight, glove like fit for at least 6 months now. Have you noticed this case becomes noticeably more loose over time?
Today was my 5th day of use. I removed and put the case back on several over the last few days. Until now, I haven't noticed any signs of a loosening fit.
Does it play well with tempered screen protectors?
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Don_Perrignon said:
Does it play well with tempered screen protectors?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have one but according from the look of it and the available space I'd say yes.
I have the Speck Presidio Show - which is the same case but with a clear back and without the grippy texture there. I love this case. It has a nice beefy front lip more so than the other three cases I have. Definitely not a slim case, but it's not overly thick either. Provides more serious drop protection than most cases as well, without being big like an Otterbox Defender.
pixelsquish said:
I have the Speck Presidio Show - which is the same case but with a clear back and without the grippy texture there. I love this case. It has a nice beefy front lip more so than the other three cases I have. Definitely not a slim case, but it's not overly thick either. Provides more serious drop protection than most cases as well, without being big like an Otterbox Defender.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also have the Speck Presidio on my XL2. Love the case. I'm bad with dropping and this was by far the least slick case. No drops yet. I'm wanting to get a tempured glass to go with but can't decide after tons of readings seems like they are mostly all bad minus maybe the Dome whitestone. Which I'm not sure if it fits with this case and I'll be highly annoyed if I spend 45 and it doesn't. Although from looking at the edges I'd guess it would fit.
Don_Perrignon said:
Does it play well with tempered screen protectors?
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had the Presidio Grip on my Pixel 2 XL since I got it in November (week of Black Friday). I agree with the reviewer -- fits very well, excellent grip and it certainly appears to offer excellent shock protection -- but it DOES make the phone significantly bulkier.
Re: the question about screen protectors: I have an InvisShield from SG Fresh Idea on the phone, and the Presidio Grip is perfect with that. There's only a tiny bit of clearance between the InvisShield and the Presidio grip, but it's enough so that the case never touches the protector, and therefore doesn't lift the protector at all -- even when I squeeze the side to trigger Google Assistant.
Since it fits the InvisShield perfectly, you can also be confident that it would be fine with the Whitestone Dome Glass, since that's a bit smaller than the InvisShield.
What's the name of the retailer?
ademmer said:
Yesterday I recieved the SPECK Presidio Grip for my new Google Pixel 2 XL. I thought that you might enjoy some photos and a short review. This review is neither sponsored, nor did I recieve any discount in order to write this review.
Pricing
SPECK lists this product for 44.95 USD. I paid ~10 USDs at an German online retailer who lists the case for ~25 USD and applying an available-to-all discount for new customers. The list price is pretty hefty, the reduced one is a steal.
Retail box
This case comes in the standard SPECK retail box which allows to take a sneak peak at the case without unboxing.
Build quality / Durability / Looks
Unlike the classic glossy CandyShell cases, the Presidio Grip is made of matted plastic with rubber stripes on. This looks nice and makes the phone much more easy to hold. The rubber removes the slippery quality of the phone's material.
This case has a two-layered construction: The outer layer is sturdy plastic while the inner one is soft rubber. The edges and corners have some air-cushion. SPECK promises that the case would resist scratches easily. Since it is only a day old, I cannot tell. But judged by the feel of the product, I tend to believe the promise.
The lid above the USB port is rubber only (without a plastic housing). I believe this to be a weakness as I experienced deformed/broken rubber at the exact same place earlier on other cases. Time will tell.
The lid in combination with the curved glass panel leads to deep ridges which are predestinated to collect lint. It might be necessairy to remove this cases from times to times in order to clean it.
Be aware that this case adds some bulk definitely more than rubber cases. And as the edges are air-cushioned, the device grows in dimensions to a point where a person with smaller hands might have trouble to hold it in a comfortable manner.
Protection
I am quite confident with the protection level: The sturdy outer shell combined with the air cushioned edges and the inner rubber layer might protect the phone from serious drips. The frontside lip is thick enough to protect the screen while dropping on almost flat surfaces and avoids scratches when putting the phone face to the table.
Fitting / Cutouts / Buttons
This case fits like a glove.. All needed cutouts are there. They are located perfectly and are surrounded by rubber to keep lint out of the case.
The buttons are rubber-made and are easy to press. The covered buttons still provide great tactile feedback.
Active Edge
Active Edge is still working with this case put on and not much pressure is needed to activate it.
Verdict
I highly recommend this case: It looks and feels great, provides great protection without adding too much bulk.
Please rate
Enjoyed this review? Do not forget to push the "thx" button!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what's the name of the German retailer? I'm in the UK so no customs fees...thanks
I had this case as well. I returned it, though, because the grip texture started to peel after a few weeks.
edgeicator said:
I had this case as well. I returned it, though, because the grip texture started to peel after a few weeks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow...that's unusual for a Speck case. The Candy Grip has been around for several years, and the Presidio Grip is a similar concept, and they've been incredibly popular case for iPhones and many Android phones for years. I've had a Presidio Grip on my Pixel 2 XL since Thanksgiving -- just about 3 months now -- and use my phone a LOT, so the case is getting handled many times a day, sits in my pocket when not in use (except when on my nightstand charging at night), gets pulled in and out of my pocket dozens of times a day, etc., and -- it's indistinguishable from new.
Most people I know who have had Speck cases over the past 5 years or so have never had issues. I've read a tiny handful of reports online of folks who talk about peeling -- in most of these, it seems they bought online from a reseller, and it's been suggested that these were likely counterfeit Speck cases (apparently pretty common), sold as the real thing. Of course it's possible you have the real thing and it's peeling -- just a pretty rare occurrence -- I'm not challenging your experience -- just wondering if it's possible you had a counterfeit, or if Speck's quality control let a bad batch through. Where did you buy yours?
Same here, no issues with Speck cases! Best protection and grips!!
jonstrong said:
Wow...that's unusual for a Speck case. The Candy Grip has been around for several years, and the Presidio Grip is a similar concept, and they've been incredibly popular case for iPhones and many Android phones for years. I've had a Presidio Grip on my Pixel 2 XL since Thanksgiving -- just about 3 months now -- and use my phone a LOT, so the case is getting handled many times a day, sits in my pocket when not in use (except when on my nightstand charging at night), gets pulled in and out of my pocket dozens of times a day, etc., and -- it's indistinguishable from new.
Most people I know who have had Speck cases over the past 5 years or so have never had issues. I've read a tiny handful of reports online of folks who talk about peeling -- in most of these, it seems they bought online from a reseller, and it's been suggested that these were likely counterfeit Speck cases (apparently pretty common), sold as the real thing. Of course it's possible you have the real thing and it's peeling -- just a pretty rare occurrence -- I'm not challenging your experience -- just wondering if it's possible you had a counterfeit, or if Speck's quality control let a bad batch through. Where did you buy yours?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought mine from target.com when it was on sale during the holidays. 3 of the smaller, outer strips at the midline of the phone horizontally were peeling for me.
paulbadassbriant said:
what's the name of the German retailer? I'm in the UK so no customs fees...thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.otto.de/p/speck-hardcas.../?variationId=649310242#variationId=649310242
17 EUR voucher + free delivery for new customers: https://www.otto.de/user/register?entryPoint=loginPage
Makes this case a steak!
edgeicator said:
I had this case as well. I returned it, though, because the grip texture started to peel after a few weeks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine's still good as new.
Case reviews: Rhinoshield CrashGuard & SolidSuit, Zeking Ultra Slim, Crave Slim Guard
i've used a number of cases that you can easily purchase from amazon before including the spigen tough armor, spigen neo hybrid, spigen crystal shell, ringke fusion and the rhinoshield crashguard. I think the 2 most important aspects of a good phone case is reinforced corner protection and elevated front edge to protect the screen. When I got the pixel 2 XL, I started looking for a slim yet protective case and I ended up trying the 4 cases below. I used each case about 1-2 weeks and thought I'd share my thoughts. I did receive the Rhinoshield cases from the company for free but they are not involved with my write up in any way, shape or form.
The photos attached are in accordance to the order of which the cases are reviewed.
Rhinoshield CrashGuard bumper case:
This was my favorite case when I had my galaxy s7 and when I moved on to the LG G5 then G6, I was disappointed to find out that they don't make the CrashGuard for them.
From my experience using this case with the galaxy s7 (which I had for about a year before it was stolen...), this case simply works. I am not the best when it comes to handling my phone therefore it gets dropped a lot; this case really does the job well when it comes to impact protection while being minimalistic. During the past 2 weeks with the case, I've dropped my pixel 2 a few times from different heights, mostly from standing height and some from when I get out of the car and the case has been effective. According to Rhinoshield, their cases have a 11.5 ft impact resistance rating which supposedly far exceeds the " US MILITARY DROP TEST STANDARD".
Many others have commented on how slippery this case is. Well, it is and that's because Rhinoshield now coats the cases to make them more stain resistant. For me, personally, I don't mind as I find it easier to slide in and out of my pockets.
Some physical changes I've noticed is that the case fits A LOT more snug to the point where it is quite difficult for me to take the phone out of the case. That's an inconvenience for me as I fly a drone here and there and in order for the phone to fit into the remote controller I have to take the case off. Now I may have to buy a separate phone holder for the remote controller. Another change that's worth pointing out is that in my old s7 case, the raised lip on the back of the case was more pronounced at the corners and the top and bottom edges. This gave me more of a piece of mind since it is a bumper case and the back of the phone is exposed. However, it seems like they have eliminated that from their design of the new cases and I wish they kept that. Lastly, now you can change up the color of the power button but the colored buttons have to be purchased separately. The power button is very responsive but the volume rocker you'd have to press a little bit harder.
Other non-noticeable changes they've made since I had their case for the s7 is they now use a different material (fancy name 'ShockSpread Material') for their cases which is suppose to be lighter, thinner but just as protective and durable.
The case is friendly with their screen protectors, as well with the Sparin TPU screen protector that I got from amazon. In terms of skin, it will not work with the Dbrand precision fit skin but fine with standard fit. However, it will leave an indent on the standard fit skin as shown in photos.
Lastly, if you happen to have a Feiyu tech SPG-c gimbal, with the heaviest counterweights the phone with this case just barely works.
Rhinoshield SolidSuit
Overall, very similar to the CrashGuard bumper case.
I'll highlight the differences:
- compatible with the RhinoShield add-on lens
- of course, heavier and bulkier (heaviest of the 4)
- feels very solid because of the overall construction, as well the back is protected
- most of the finishing is the same as the CrashGuard, however the back of mine has the carbon fiber finishing which I guess made it less slippery
- volume rocker is much more responsive than the CrashGuard
- did not work at all with the Feiyu tech SPG-c gimbal
Zeking ultra slim TPU case from amazon canada
In my opinion, very good case. For less than $10, you get padded corner protection plus raised front edge without much added bulkiness; this is just as good as cases such as ones from Spigen or Ringke but for 1/3 or 1/2 the price.
It is made of TPU and I haven't had the case long enough to speak about yellow-ing, but the TPU feels decent not cheap. On the inside of the back of the case, there are these microdots and I can't understand their purpose. You can actually feel them when you brush you finger across. The side buttons are responsive, clicky. A really thoughtful and unique design is that along the sides of the case the TPU's texture is different and it allows for better grip (almost like there's a very smooth sandpaper strip). The advantage of this case in comparison to the two Rhinoshield cases above is that it does feel slimmer in hand.
When it comes to impact protection, it doesn't have that "over 11 ft of impact protection" that's marketed for the Rhinoshield cases, however the few times I dropped the phone in this case it was completely fine.
I did try to use this case with the Dbrand 'precise fit' skin. It will not work well with the skin if you have the tendency to take your phone in and out of the case. As i took my phone out, it lifted the skin that goes around the the corner on the side of the phone. On the other hand, the 'standard fit' skin did just fine. In terms of screen protectors, it is compatible with the Sparin TPU screen protector as well as the protectors from Rhinoshield.
Similar to the Rhinoshield CrashGuard, this barely worked with my Feiyu Tech SPG-c gimbal.
Crave Slim Guard from amazon canada
This case is very similar to the Ringke Fusion in a sense that both have the TPU bumper that goes around the case, and the clear polycarbonate back. This case, however, has a very pronounced elevated front lip to the point where it almost feels like the phone is sunken in inside the case. It's very good if you're looking for extra raised front protection, however when you're swiping left or right on the screen you will feel the edge more so than the other cases. It may help if the company just round off the raised edges a little bit more. A thoughtful part of their design is that they raised the back corners a tiny bit; my guess is they are there to raise the back a little bit so when you sit the phone on a flat surface it doesn't scratch up the polycarbonate back. All the buttons super responsive and clicky; probably the best buttons of the 4 cases. The phone does feel pretty slim in this case and I think even slimmer than the Zeking TPU case. I don't remember dropping my phone while using this case, but based on its construction it should do just as good as the Ringke Fusion case but definitely not as good as the other 3 cases above.
Overall I think this case is just as good as the Ringke Fusion if not better protection because of the pronounced elevated front edge. Keep in mind, from my experience using these cases with a polycarbonate back they will get scratched up over time and you will see more finger print smudges.
When it comes to compatibility with skin and screen protectors, it is the same as above.
Similar to the Rhinoshield CrashGuard and ZeKing ultra slim, this barely worked with the Feiyu Tech SPG-c gimbal.
Long review but hope this helps. I will start another post for my screen protectors review as well as a review of the add-on lens from RhinoShield.
Nice reviews! Kudos
My fav is the Zeking ultra slim TPU!
Not related to the topic, but can you tell me where you get the yellow skin for your Pixel? I'm interested in that yellow lock button.
allweknowisa said:
Not related to the topic, but can you tell me where you get the yellow skin for your Pixel? I'm interested in that yellow lock button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
from DBrand
see my review here
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pi...and-skins-review-hyperblack-titanium-t3780607
The yellow power button is from rhinoshield. you can purchase the colored buttons separately on their site and it's compatible with their cases.
Thanks for your detailed review. One thing is that I tried Ringke Fusion and Crave Slim Guard; I think Ringke Fusion does provide a bit more of FRONT lip, doesn't it?
drvalianto said:
Thanks for your detailed review. One thing is that I tried Ringke Fusion and Crave Slim Guard; I think Ringke Fusion does provide a bit more of FRONT lip, doesn't it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have the exact measurements and my experience with the ringke fusion is with the lg g6 case. To me it seems like the crave slim guard has a slightly more raised front lip than the ringke fusion but then i am not comparing apple to apple.
Update:
I stuck with my RhinoShield Crashguard and it has protected my phone... extremely well. I have lost count how many times I've dropped it face down, down the stairs, and more.... yep, a bit clumsy with phones.
I stayed at this villa in Bali, and it literally tumbled down these stairs from top to bottom..and my phone remains immaculate. (except when i was in Bali I decided to use it briefly without the case..and of course I dropped it..... )
Included photos of the case with the worst scratches and also...the staircase where it literally bounced its way down...