Hey everyone, I'm back with another review. This time it's on Draco Designs' Aluminum Bumper for the Galaxy S3(Astro Silver).
Video Review:
Build Quality:
The CNC machined aircraft grade aluminum used to make the bumper is extremely solid. It's not overly heavy, and the aluminum itself feels nice and high quality. In addition, I have never seen a case so well sculpted and engineered. Every subtle detail and curves are done absolutely perfectly. There are just no jagged lines and every part of the case is flush with each other and flows.
Design:
Without a doubt, the S3 Bumper is sexy. Its curves and sleek metal aesthetic make for an all around extravagant appeal that complements the Galaxy S3 very well.
Feel:
Gone are the days where you no longer have to worry about holding onto a "cheap, plasticy feeling phone." With the Draco bumper, your phone will feel brick solid and smooth.
Protection:
Protection lacks with the S3 Bumper. Sure it's made out of aluminum, but when you leave a big opening on the front and back of the phone, there is a lot of risk and potential damage for those parts. The sides and edges are well covered, but the part of the phone where it most matters like the front where the screen is, is left exposed without any coverage. Because of this, I would highly recommend using a screen protector along with the bumper.
Cutouts:
All areas of the phone are well accessible besides the headphone jack and micro USB charging port. The headphone jack cutout is way too small and recessed to accommodate what I would estimate as 99% of headphones. As for the micro USB port, the stock cable will work just fine, but any docks and stuff of the sorts will not work with this case because of the recession of the cutout.
One thing I really liked was how Draco used aluminum button coverings for the volume rockers and power button. They look great and match well with the overall "metal theme." They also give great feedback when pressed.
Signal/Reception:
According to the tests I've taken with and without the case on, network speeds are not affected at all whatsoever with the Draco bumper. A video showing the comparison is on its way.
My final thoughts:
Overall, I like the Draco Designs S3 Bumper, but it's not for everyone. First of all, it's for a niche market because not everyone has $90 to spare on a case. Also, despite being made out of aluminum, the case is not overly protective and because it's a luxury product, I would definitely not want to drop my phone when it's in the case. If you're the type of user who can spend $90 on a case and either doesn't mind dropping his or her phone or doesn't drop it at all, then I can definitely recommend the S3 Bumper. You really do get what you pay for in terms of the craftsmanship and quality that goes into the product.
Pics
Free USB strap cable(included with the case) - pretty much just a strap that attaches to the bumper via a lanyard and has a built in micro USB to USB connector for charging/syncing your phone on the go.
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The inner rubber lining is there to protect the corners of the phone. Each corner is lined with the same clear rubber.
FOR THE FULL PICTURE SET, VISIT MY WEBSITE.
Related
Just wanted to offer my 2 cents on a case i recently bought:
CaseMate POP! via AMAZON
Now this version [CM020099] is the updated revision of [CM017311], i'll address the changes below.
( all images are clickable to enlarge! )
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Very decorative interior design and the overall exterior design is easy on the eyes.
Back design is composed of a hard plastic [white area] and rubber [grey area] side grips.
A close-up of the CASE-MATE logo shows that its a very subtle logo for those who don't hate manufacturers SHOVING THEIR LOGOS IN YOUR FACE LIKE THIS.
View attachment 1710325View attachment 1710326
The layovers extend outward for the PWR and VOL buttons and are excellent to the touch, they provide perfect tactile feedback with a super addictive clicky response.
Though I did wish the VOL buttons were separated into UP and DOWN buttons individually.
View attachment 1710327View attachment 1710331View attachment 1710328
A deep cutout for the camera so you won't have to worry about scratching any part of that.
This revision has the top hole cutout for the noise-cancellation mic (the previous revision did not have this hole).
The slot for the speaker is cut perfectly and deep as well.
You can see cutouts for the microUSB slot, bottom mic and headphones. Now the headphones that i tried had jacks that were a bit on the thinner side (sennheiser, sony, apple) and they fit just fine, but it MIGHT have trouble fitting headphones with HUGE jacks.
As you can see my microUSB cable(GSM stock from google play store) fits perfectly, with room to spare. (the previous revision had trouble fitting in a majority of different sized microUSB cables).
I also tried my nexus 7 microUSB cable, different motorola microUSB cables as well as a variety of generic microUSB cables i had lying around; they all fit easily.
And lastly, hopefully you can notice that the case provides a rather decent sized lip around the front of the case that allows you to have the phone facing downward without worrying about scratches.
Summary / TL;DR
Adds quite the bulk and girth to the phone.
I personally wish I was able to find a fixed revision in a black/grey colorway.
The Grey side grips are a very smooth rubbery material that provides rather decent grip on the device.
The price is a bit high, but it's not bad considering the quality imo.
Even though the amazon link says it is for the verizon [toro] and sprint [toro plus] versions, it fits my gsm [maguro] pretty damn near perfectly, so don't worry!
Feel free to ask me any questions I didn't answer :good:.
Great review. I love the detailed pics. Thanks for sharing.
Sent from my Nexus 7
I bought this case earlier in the year after my otterbox defender case broke. I really like the looks, and the bulk is not to bad. But its definitely not for those who like slim cases.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
I just got my amCASE hybrid case and I'm quite pleased with it! First time buying an amCASE case but definitely won't be my last time.
Packaging
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One thing I like to see with packaging is when its kept to a minimum. It's more eco-friendly and it keeps cost down for the manufacturer and consumer. We don't need a flashy package do we? They spend the money were it belongs, on the product!
Build Quality/Design
The build quality seems to be high. No rough corners, sharp edges or defects. All lines are clean and well made. It does have a white "amCASE" logo on the back that doesn't seem to quite fit with everything else but it's not too noticeable or distracting. They went with a two tone two material hybrid design. The back is a harder frosted plastic while the sides are a glossy tpu rubber material. It transitions from on material to the other seemlessly.
The frosted back is transparent but gives a smoked/blurry effect when looking through it. Which I kinda like; sort of artsy don't you say?
All cutouts seem to be perfectly aligned. No ports are covered. I like how they went with a big cutout for the micro usb port so we can use any micro usb cable to charge our phones. Also the cutout for the headphone jack is decently big. Would like it to be a tad bigger so ANY headphone plug can be used but it looks like most if not all plugs would be okay with this case. I hate it when a cases headphone cutout is too small to use with your headphones but that wasn't the case with this one.
The "buttons" on the case to simulate where the actually buttons are of not the best quality but definitely not the worst I've seen on tpu cases. Finding the buttons in pocket wasn't a problem as it has a good feel to them. Pressing them was good also. I never felt like I had to exert too much effort to get the button press to register with the phone.
It's also worth mentioning that the edges are raised to prevent scratching the phone when placing it face down on a table.
It's not the slimmest nor the bulkiest but a good compromise between the two. It won't protect your phone from a drop 2 stories up but it will provide good protection all the way around your phone for those minor drops we all have.
Giveaway! A brand new unopned hybrid case
Totally free but continental USA only as I'm covering the shipping. Sorry other countries.
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Write on the wall that you read this review AND provide a link to this review in the post.
Then write a reply with your thoughts on this review and this will end in 1 week. I will PM the winner for his/her address and I will send it out. I will send it via usps. No insurance so if it gets lost in the mail; sorry but I won't be buying another one to send you.
phew; just dropped my phone and the case protected it like a champ!
Have same case.
Great hybrid case if you are into TPU feel.
Pros:
- Precise cutouts
- USB cutout works with larger samsung cable
- Not slippery, comparing with YESOO Ultra slim Frosted http://amzn.com/B00GG2KWZY
- Just a tiny bit bulkier then YESOO Ultra slim Frosted
- Great (read tight, but not over tight) fit
Cons:
- Power button became not responsive, it works, but you cannot feel the click, I might just get exacto knife and remove it from case.
- Glossy sides, I would prefer matte, but it's personal design preference
Conclusion:
I would definitely recommend this case if you like TPU feel of the sides and don't mind glossy black sides.
All in all a lot more protection from the rubbery sides!
Doing a giveaway now! Read the review and the rules are there! Ends in 1 week. Merry Christmas!
Wooot I need to order me a case soon lol
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
The price of Otterbox brand cases was always a huge turnoff as was the size. I didn't want my slim One having additional bulk---at least any more than was necessary. Enter Commuter series.
The case is comprised if two pieces; soft rubber interior case and hard plastic exterior that protects the back, sides, and the bottom/top of the phone. The inner case has soft plastic nubs that cover both the charging port and headphone jack. IR blaster is exposed as are the bottom Mic, rear Mic and camera. Volume manipulation is easier with this case as the soft plastic raises the button height. Feels decidedly sturdy and premium. Fits well but does take some time to get the outer case to snug up to the inner case. Comes with screen protector though I haven't and will not install it.
In hand the case feels sturdy without the additional bulk associated with Otter Box cases. Grip is much improved over going caseless, and as stated earlier it's much easier to manipulate the volume.
Protection wise it seems to offer what you would think an Otterbox would offer. Corner impacts are absorbed by the soft plastic interior case, and the screen won't touch the surface you lay it on because the screen is recessed a few milimeters due to the case design. It's also nice that both ports have covers installed to keep debris from entering them. Only gripe on that point is one handed operation to plug in the usb cord and headphone jack is tricky but doable.
The good thing about this case aside form the protection is the fairly slim profile and the ease of going in and out of your pocket. Both pieces of the case are hard and slick enough to not snag up going in and out of your jean pockets.
The only real complaint that I have is how hot the phone seems to get during gaming. Though it's a phone issue and admittadly the plastic never feels as hot as the phone felt caseless.
If you are looking for a case that offers great protection while still maintaining a slim profile; this case is ideal. A little pricey, though (35 USD @ Sprint Store)
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Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
I've had this case since the second week of having my one. I initially had bought the incipio dualpro shine, but it made my signal go in the toilet, even though the package said it wouldn't affect it... Signal issues aside, the commuter is a much better case. The port covers and shape of the IR blaster cutout are the winning features.
5 Stars Case!
I had this case after 3 weeks Using my one..Its been almost 8months now and my One fell down so many times. And still working great..Protection is great and the look is great.I have nothing to complain about this case..
Love the commuter case on any phone that I had it on but when I got my One I thought it made the phone feel a little wider than usual so I ended up going with another case but my fiance got it cause she has the case of the drops and it has taken a beating and keeps on ticking.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk
Thanks to MobileFun for providing me with the Seidio Dilex Case, they have a large range of accessories for any mobile/tablet device especially the Nexus 7 so it is worth checking them out
The main area where this case excels at is protection for your Nexus 7, if you have used a case like the Case Mate Tough for your phone, this is pretty much the same but with a few extra features.
Overall, it is relatively easy to fit and remove the case.
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We have two layers of protection, a shock absorbent soft silicone layer that surrounds the back, sides and front edges of the tablet completely and a outer hard plastic shell that houses the main body of the device, there is also a hard plastic shell that can clip onto the front of the tablet and protect the screen, this particular part also has the multi angle media viewing stand on the other side.
There are cut outs for the speakers, 3.5mm jack, micro USB socket, there are no cut outs for the power and volume buttons, however, the soft silicone rubber does not impact the buttons and ease of activating them, only the "feel".
The soft silicone layer covers the edges on the front and adds about 2mm above the screen, this is to provide a raised edge for when the tablet is placed flat down on the surface to stop the screen from touching the desk surface.
We also have an integrated multi angle media viewing stand, there are 10 different viewing angles in a landscape and portrait orientation! There is very little risk of the stand/case slipping since we have two non-slip pads on the front of the screen plastic cover.
Overall, the case adds a fair bit of bulk and not much weight. The case is very nicely designed.
With this case on, you have more grip when holding the tablet and it feels pretty comfortable in the hand too, personally I still prefer the feel of the Nexus 7 "naked".
My biggest gripe with cases that use a soft silicone layer is that they are a dust magnet! Within a day, you will have dust built up on the silicone layer and it is very hard to remove the dust...
Lastly this case does NOT interfere with NFC and is compatible with SOME wireless chargers, however, not the Nexus wireless charger.
Like the Case Mate Tough for my One S, I have no doubt that the Nexus 7 could take quite a few knocks with this case on and still come out in superb working condition, not willing to test this out though!
Conclusion:
If you are wanting the very best protection with a few neat features and don't mind losing the minimal look/feel of the Nexus 7 then this is the case to get! Whilst the case is superb overall in terms of design, protection and features, it is still a bit expensive (£39.99) in my opinion.
Pros:
Superb protection
Great multi viewing angle stand
Nice design overall
Compatible with most wireless chargers and NFC still works
Cons:
Silicon layer is a dust magnet
Adds a fair bit of bulk
A bit expensive
I just bought one of these myself, I'd like to add that my N7 2013 still fits into my back jean pocket even with the front cover on, and still works on my Nokia DT-900 Qi charger.
I am very impressed by the apparent ruggedness and protection that this case has to offer at this price point. There is a generous lip around the entire screen that should give your phone's screen a pretty good chance of surviving a face down fall onto most surfaces unless into gravel or something like that.
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The case feels pretty comfortable in the hand. The texture along the side edges allows for a good grip so the case is definitely not slippery. This outer edge is a soft rubber material while the rest of the case is a hard plastic. So, the soft outer edge should provide some fair cushioning for drops.
It is not what one would describe as "slim" but that's not really the category this type of case is usually aiming for. It feels appropriately sized for the protection it offers
As far as design goes, overall I like it very much. I'm not exactly sold on the plastic "hex nuts" on the back. They seem a bit tacky and are not flush with the case so they add a bit of discomfort when your hand slides across them while holding the phone. So, while not being aesthetically pleasing or comfortable, they are not a welcome feature in my opinion. Plus, they seem susceptible to dust/dirt collection.
I'm not personally a fan of the dust covers over the charging port and headphone jack but this is a common feature on heavy-duty cases and as such I don't view it as a fault - they seem well designed and fitted.
This is a 2-part case, there's a plastic frame that goes over the phone first, then the assembly is fitted into the outer case. It is a bit difficult to get the phone in and out of the case. The inner frame doesn't have any cushioning between the phone and the frame so I am a bit concerned over getting scratches. The buttons are plenty responsive and easy to push.
I am very happy that this case has a kickstand - it's pretty much a requirement these days for any case I use as a daily driver. The kickstand feels nice and sturdy and it's cool that it can support the phone in landscape and portrait. I do wish the kickstand were a bit easier to close but at the same time you wouldn't want it to close too easily. I like that you can see through to the back of the phone when the kickstand is in use. It also acts as a pretty great handle while holding the phone in portrait mode, kind of like a pop-socket or a ring; you can put your finger between the kickstand and the kickstand frame.
I will definitely be keeping an eye on this brand from now on. I really love the color selection that they offer. I hope they come out with some clear case options...with a kickstand!
Link : <Mod Removed>
Use coupon: AMDTEK20 for extra 20% off
Win a free case here <Mod Removed>
I love these type of cases, i've got a youmaker case...
Looks like UAG case with extra front layer
Links removed, thread closed