Diztronic Samsung Galaxy S2 T989 Matte Back Black *Rev 2* TPU Case Review
I have had this case for about a month now and I am writing this review as there doesn't appear to be any particular review of the case for our phone. *to view a larger image just click on the thumbnail*
Delivery/Packaging |9/10| & Pricing |8/10| :
I ordered the case from the Diztronic website so it was delivered from their main facilities. I live outside of the US so I had to choose the "USPS First Class Mail" method which was $2.50 CDN. The package arrived in my mail box close to 2 weeks, which was a longer wait than I hoped for but it was noted that international shipping would take 7-30 days. The package itself came in a grey plastic envelope with the shipping information labelled on it. Inside the package was the case wrapped in a clear plastic with the logo label and a cut piece of cardboard that was placed to help retain the shape of the envelope. When taking the case out of the plastic, there is an image of the phone printed on a piece of cardboard within the case to show what the case will look like on the phone. The packaging the case came in was more than secure enough to provide protection when being shipped (there were no tears or faults in the packaging at all).
The pricing and availability of the case will vary at the time you read this. Although, the cost for the case itself was a decent $10 for what you get, by far not the most affordable however. I used the discount code "XDA" to get an extra $0.99 off the order which was convenient. It would have been nice if they included a screen protector like they do with some of the other phone cases they offer.
Installation & Fit |10/10| :
Putting the T989 in to the case is extremely easy since it's a one piece, TPU style case, so there are no tools or attachments needed. My approach in putting on the case was by starting off with placing the top of the phone (where the headphone jack is) in the case since the top of the case has 'lip' that goes slightly over the top bezel compared to the bottom. Then I just pushed in the rest of the phone in the case making sure the sides of the case did not catch the buttons, which was not a problem at all, right until the bottom of the phone was securely in place.
The case itself is extremely slim and the fit is almost close to perfect, every side of the case is snug to the phone, however, note that I am using the case on top of the body skin I reviewed here. So for anyone who was wondering, yes, this case will work with a body skin applied on the phone. The case is so firm in fact that even the left and right sides of the case do not move as easily when sliding your fingers towards them moving outwards , however, this may change in time... I just haven't experienced it as of yet.
Build Quality |10/10| :
This particular case has a very premium feel, there is a certain weight added to the phone with the case on. It also may have to due with the matte back option I chose for the case. The feel of the matte texture finish is almost identical to the feel of the Razer gaming mouse I have (if you have used a Razer mouse, you would understand what I mean). It has a very paper-like characteristic yet is soft to touch. The matte finish is carried from the outside of the phone to the inside as well which adds to the overall quality of the case (it is also provides a softer surface for the phone compared to the raw plastic). The benefits of having the matte finish is that it is less prone to fingerprints, the downside is that if the matte part gets scratched it will be very noticeable. The matte finish is smooth making it easy to take the phone out of the pocket.
I'd like to mention however, the matte finish is not applied to the outer border/rim of the case as that part is left glossy. It appears as if the case was made with two pieces which may be the instance since the separation between the glossy/matte finish is symmetrical around the circumference of the case. I believe this was done because it is the area that would get worn out the quickest and it probably was easier to manufacture that way. In my opinion, I think the glossy rim for the case was a great idea, it definitely looks aesthetically better for the whole front of the phone. Also, the glossy finish offers a better grip to the case, since the matte finish may be too smooth to grip at times.
Now, when it comes to the cut-outs of the case, they are placed accordingly for every necessary part of the phone. The cutouts for the power button/volume-rocker is perfectly placed and provides a substantial amount of room which provide easy access for any finger size. The cutouts for the headphone jack and micro-USB port are evenly spaced out which leaves enough room for anything that you would like to connect. The headphone jack of my Shure earbuds which is somewhat wide, fit without a problem, at the same time the stock USB cable that came with the phone fits just as expected with the case on (I have provided pictures above with the cables attached below) . Regarding the USB cut-out it was noted that in revision 2 of the case they have enlarged the cutout to leave room for the bottom microphone (I have not experienced any call echo with the case on, even on the stock T989 ROM). The cutout for the top microphone is also precisely placed, there are no issues.
The back cutouts for the case are just as accurate as the cutouts on the side of the case. The camera cut-out does not obstruct the lens of the camera or the LED flash at all. I particularly like how close the cut-out for the rear speaker is, it's nicely placed at the same time it does not reduce the volume produced from the speaker. I'd also like to mention that the case somewhat lifts up the rear of the phone around the speaker area which lets some sound still leak out when the back of the phone is faced down. Lastly, for anyone who is wondering about the reception quality when using this case, I have found no issues during use which is expected since TPU isn't a material that interferes with radio signals.
Protection Quality |8/10| :
The most important part of any case is the protection it offers and this case in my opinion provides more than satisfactory protection for day to day use. Due to its slimness it may not have the drop protection that cases like the Otterbox offer, yet, the TPU material used is particularly good at protecting the phone from average height drops such as from a computer table to stomach height. The case is thick enough to protect the camera area as it lifts the glass part off the surface, this also applies to the front glass of the phone as the rim of the case provides about 1 mm of clearance when setting the phone down on it's front. The rim of the case is formed perfectly over the edge of the front right before the glass, so if you have a screen protector it will not lifted/bubble up.As for scratch protection goes, the case definitely prevents scratches to the back housing of the phone. The disadvantage with this case is that since there are cut-outs for the buttons, dust/sand particles can enter sides of the case which can cause scratches to the bezel of the phone (which is the major reason I bought a body skin to be used right underneath the case). If you are worried about scratches on the phone, the combination of the body skin with this case offers amazing scratch protection if you are willing to spend the money for it.
Overall |9/10| :
If you are looking for a sleek looking slim case to protect your T989, the Diztronic TPU case is definitely a great option! The build quality of this case is notably impressive and there's no questioning to why this case is somewhat pricey compared to the TPU alternatives on Ebay. You definitely get a premium case, particularly with its Matte back finish. As for protection goes, the case offers the best balance between protection and keeping the slim profile of the T989, the TPU qualities with this case is more than enough in protecting your phone from everyday drops. Overall, the Diztronic Matte Back Black *Rev 2* TPU case is definitely a product I recommend for any GS2 T989 user, there are enough noteworthy features that this case offers for you to get one if looking for a case.
I know the review is long, please read what's written under "Overall" if you do not want to read everything or just don't read it at all, lol. Hope this review will be of some use to people. Cheers!
I can agree with everything said here about this case. It's really nice and extremely comfortable! It's the first case I got a while back and it's the last one I'll need.
Great, authentic review
I also have this case and I agree with everything said here. It is a really good case.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
I bought about three cases before this'd one and love it!! Great review and well said I love mine
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
Thanks for this. Diztronic has my heart when it comes to protecting my phone.
Didn't know how it would look on a black S2 though until now. So thank you again.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
would you guys prefer the d30 case or this one?
mycars12 said:
would you guys prefer the d30 case or this one?
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I've been running d30 for about a year and 1 month and the case isn't dirty or yellow (it's white) and it still stands today with the many falls
Sent from my 4.2.1 xLoud Paranoid Grouper with Motley Kernel
I have the same case and its the best case I have ever owned. I drop my phone quite a bit and phone/case still look perfect. Fits great on device, and has a nice non slippery feel that does not attract dust. My wife has the pink version and its the same quality but a little slicker, she really likes it too.
diztronic
I have the matte black diz rev 2. I bought my t989 at tmobile store and wanted titanium but was told they aren't made anymore. Now this was from corp office. So I got white. The diz covers it nice black with a little white showing fitting for ICS . I really don't care if it scratches it. I May buy New housing anyway!
Related
I just got this case from eBay for around $5 USD and I am so impressed with it I had to write a quick review. I think the name brand is Fusion.
-The fit of the case is just perfect. Very snug.
-The thickness is just enough to protect the camera lens and screen without adding much bulk.
-The sides of the case have a nice texture to make it very easy to grip.
-The TPU material doesn't attract lint and is very easy to slide in and out of your pocket.
-All of the holes match up fine.
-The buttons on the sides of the phone are covered but in my opinion this makes the pressure required just right so you don't accidentally press them.
The only negative at all is that the hole for the headphone jack may be too small for some plugs. The Samsung headphones and my Bose headphones fit just fine though. (Update: My Bose speakers I had to trim a little plastic off of the audio cable but it fits fine now.)
Here is the eBay link if anybody wants one. This guy shipped one to me in 2 days in the US.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Clear-Fusion-Samsung-Galaxy-S2-i9100-TPU-COVER-CASE-/260780906673?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item3cb7c0d8b1
If you're willing to wait a few days more, you can get them for 2,5$ in Dealextreme.
I have exactly the same one, purchased for £2.95 off ebay in the UK, and I would agree with all the points outlined above.
bought two of them from Dealextreme, but in black color, best TPU
Do they make them in matte black?
I ordered a similar one from eBay on the 14th, and it arrived today. Fits pretty well and leaves a bit of a bumper around the display, adding a bit of protection.
bmstrong said:
Do they make them in matte black?
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I believe I saw a matte black on Dealextreme. Most of the black ones I've seen are part matte, part glossy.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SAMSUNG-GALAXY-SCREEN-PROTECTOR-ACCESSORIES/dp/B004WO6ISI/ref=sr_1_23?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1306245039&sr=1-23
The thickness is just enough to protect the camera lens and screen without adding much bulk.
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Hard to tell from the image, but isnt that simply a hole in the case where they camera lense is, so offers no protection for the lens at all??
Its an impossible task trying to find a case that offers protection for the camera.. they are so hi spec and good quality these days, the last thing you want is muck or scratches on the optics.. surely a case designer can be innovative enough to design some sort of sliding cover....
I purchased the Black one as well. However, the glossy part scratches too easily. Handle with care.
Well i've both the TPU case (but it's all black) and the Samsung case:
http://www.happybirthdaytoyou.com/bmcdigital/SS-I9100-VENT-BLK-1.jpg
I've tryed both, and i really prefer the samsung one, the tpu case attracts way too much dust, while the samsung case it's a lot easier to clean. The dust on the tpu case pile up on the sides, and from there it's a hell to remove it.
Artius89 said:
Well i've both the TPU case (but it's all black) and the Samsung case:
http://www.happybirthdaytoyou.com/bmcdigital/SS-I9100-VENT-BLK-1.jpg
I've tryed both, and i really prefer the samsung one, the tpu case attracts way too much dust, while the samsung case it's a lot easier to clean. The dust on the tpu case pile up on the sides, and from there it's a hell to remove it.
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It's true, that was my experience with this TPU case as well. Dust would pile up on the edges of the screen and under the TPU lining. I'd have to constantly take off the TPU case and wipe the screen to keep my SGS2 nice and pretty. With the official Samsung vent case i can simply wipe the screen clean in one go without taking off the case. Sure, the official case offers less protection, but it also preserves the form and weight of the phone quite well, whereas the TPU case adds significant weight and thickness to the phone in comparison.
I just got a few of these delivered from buyaccess. Delivered in a week and they fit like a glove. Nice ridge around the screen so it won't scratch if you put it face down and extra grip on the sides.
€2 each and free shipping you cannot go wrong. Link to the sellar if anybody wants it.
http://myworld.ebay.ie/buyaccess/?_trksid=p4340.l2559
i am using nillkin tpu case ，absolutely good awesome。I was driving motorbike in raining day.made my hand wet and glutinous 。then using my phone，that is feeling good。not like some case make your hand oily
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150635443...43813&_sacat=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1
For those interested, here is my OTTERBOX COMMUTER vs CASE MATE TOUGH comparison. I now own both of these cases and found some interesting differences.
OTTERBOX COMMUTER
+ Very solid case 9/10
+ Rubber has extra cushioning bumpers on corners to better protect against drops
+ Cutouts also have secure plugs to prevent dust and water from intrusion
+ top, bottom and sides have hard plastic protection over the rubber making a more secure fit all round.
+ Rubber is of a higher quality 8/10
- Sound quality of speaker phone is slightly affected by the raised plastic that sits closely around the speaker. Sound comes out a little louder and sharper but still sounds fine.
- Case can be quite difficult to remove because the plastic cover sits over all four sides and is very tight
- Plastic cover surface is very smooth and nicely designed but will be slippery with oily or sweaty hands
- Screen protector cutout is a little short near the top where the earphone is compared to other screen protectors I've used, but quality is fine, average.
- headphone and charging ports are a little smaller than I'd like but should fit most accessories.
- ON and VOLUME buttons are a bit difficult to press, quite like most TPU cases
- Having plastic covering on the front sides, it can be easily knocked off a table when sitting face-down, and back down is even worse.
CASE MATE TOUGH
+ Very solid case 8/10
+ headphone and earphone ports are a perfectly cut to fit all brands.
+ Very easy to remove with only sides covered by plastic cover
+ Plastic material has excellent grip on sides and back making it much more secure in the hand.
+ Plastic is less likely to show scratches over time
+ Quite easy to remove with only the sides cover the the plastic cover.
+ ON and VOLUME buttons are very easy and nice to press, with perfect feedback, almost a little 'too' easy actually.
+ The entire front is rubber, so when sitting face-down, it does not move and has a secure grip on surfaces, less likely to be knocked of a table etc
- Because the plastic cover only sits over the sides, the top and bottom have the rubber exposed and it could catch on things, such as removing from a tight pocket. not a huge deal in use.
- headphone and charging ports are open and exposed.
- rubber is a little thinner than the Otterbox's and more stretchy/flexible, though may not be a big deal in use/drops.
So in conclusion, I really like both cases for different reasons. At first impressions, the Commuter appears to be the better case due to it's port covers, more secure fit with plastic covering all sides and the extra protection given to the corners of the case.....BUT....
....the Tough case just feel better in the hand, more secure. While both are almost identical in size, thickness and weight, the Tough has a nicely textured hard surface (that looks like rubber in photos) and this is what I would call 'active' protection, compared to the passive protection on the Otterbox. What I mean is that the Commuter is more likely to slip out of the hand, but be better against drops, and the Tough case is less likely to slip out of your hands, but make be less effective against drops. Also with the Tough case having rubber all the way around on the front, it's rock solid when sitting face down on a table surface and less likely to be knocked off.
Also, if you like to change your case on a fairly regular basis, the Otterbox is not an easy case to remove. Not that difficult, but the Tough is about 3x easier. This is a big deal for me, and combined with the nice secure feel, the Case Mate Tough is the preferred case for me as a daily wearer. If there are days where I feel I may need some extra protection against, say rain, I may be a little more inclined to throw on the Otterbox Commuter.
Either way you can't go wrong as both are great cases.
leicashot, any chance of any piccies with the Galaxy in the commuter case ? I'm thinking of getting one for my shiny new precious !
Also, do you have a car holder of any type that fits with the commuter on it ?
Do provide pics of these two cases if possible...
Interesting! I always wanted to compared them, but I dont wanna buy those cases because I know i would never use them after.
abhifusion said:
Do provide pics of these two cases if possible...
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Will try take some pics later today....
do these cases come with screen protectors or no?
My tough case did not come with a screen protector which is fine by me since I hate them. Bout all I can say is that I had the tough case on my sgs2 both of which I got when they came out (each respectively, the case followed by a week or two) and have no complaints about it. Phone lived through a few drops one of which was standing in the back of a pickup to unload stuff and it fell out of my pocket onto the pavement, some 6 or 7 feet I would guess. The phone was fine and the case showed no mark whatsoever. I have not had any issue with the rubber on the ends sticking to anything and it does not pick up lint. The phone is easy to get in and out of the case but still completely secure in it and wont come out unless you take it out. The case has no movement on the phone and feels solid. The texture on the case is just about perfect for grip and more has an undefineable "good" feel. The ports and all openings line up perfectly with the headphone and microusb ports being opened up a little extra to let larger based headphone jacks or usb cables fully insert to their base. Something I appreciate because I have some headphones that sometimes wont go in without trimming the case.
To be honest I only see one real downside to this case and its going to come down to preference. If you want your phone as slim as possible this case isn't for you. The lip around the top is probably near two millimeter by itself and while it fits like a glove you have the width of both the rubber and case across the bottom and sides. To someone like me its a win because I think modern phones are too thin and I would want to do something to bulk them up even if I didn't need the protection.
I considered the otterbox to try something new but did not. I have no beef with it and it seems like folks that have them like them but for me it was hard to get away from something I knew worked great and for which I had no gripes.
I have a Case Mate tough too and i realy like, i used it on all my phones i had.
Here are some pics http://www.case-mate.com/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-Cases/Case-Mate-Samsung-Galaxy-S3-Tough-Cases.asp.
Never had the Otterbox but it looks clunkier and bigger, the Case Mate is a bit more elegant and has a good grip and feel.
Do any owners of either case use them in car holders at all ? If so any chance of pics in the car holder ? Also, does the case interfere with the operation of NFC at all ?
Hey guys,
I have the CaseMate Though since last week when i got my S3.
Before that I had the Otterbox Commuter on my DHD and I must say, I like the CaseMate much better. It may does not protect the ports as already said, but it does feel very good in my hand.
Car mounting is not a problem for me, I have an universal holder in which it will fit in easily
leicashot said:
Don't mean to be negative but I got the case today and it feels great except I'll be returning it. Why? Because the top front and bottom front of the case don't have hard plastic holding down the rubber lips, so they get caught and stretch in the pocket when retrieving. This over time may cause the rubber to tear or stretch too much cause it's very elastic and thin.
Whereas the Otterbox Commuter has the plastic sides cover top, bottom and both sides so that no rubber is loose, but held down tight. A much better product from my experience in the past and looking forward to having it when it arrives in the next week or so. This review will cover what I was talking about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Dxcyfm3Vg
UPDATE: See my review on both cases here. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=27997216#post27997216
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I read a negative point about Tough case from you in another thread. Didn't see it mentioned here.
So is this problem a big thing or can i go with Tough case?
I have the Otterbox Commuter case on my S3 and I love it!! I had a defender case on my Tbolt and it added weight and size to it. I did not like it for that reason. The commuter case for the S3 fits just right and doesnt take away from the size that much. I have to believe this is a must have case for some protection for your phone.
anyone know if the case mate tough fit the active holster because it does appear to be the same size as the commuter
What are the dimensions of the case mate tough.
Nice review! Have u ever used the incipio silicrylic? seems very much comparable to the Case-Mate Tough and I dont know which one to choose.. Heres a link http://www.amazon.com/Incipio-SA-302-Silicrylic-Silicone-Samsung/dp/B0085VAP38/ref=sr_1_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1353870767&sr=1-2&keywords=incipio+s3
Hi, just got my casemate tough for the galaxy s4. I've been using one with my galaxy s3 and am very pleasedwith it but, unfortunately the one for the s4 is a bit disappointing. Although the look is the same the lip around the screen isn't as deep and the rubber doesn't come over the metal border fully. The volume button only has the rubber over it without the plastic surrounding which makes it feel fragile. I'll be returning the case and have ordered an otterbox commuter, although I would've preferred the casemate. Hope it's helpful.
I have 2 brand new Otterbox Defender series warranty replacements for sale, a Grey on white and Black on black with clip holsters for sale. Looking to sell both for cheap in a bundle. Shoot me a PM if your interested.
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk 2
Stopped by AT&T and picked up a Moto X and bought a body skin and CaseMate case which the guy there applied.
I got home and tested the audio quality of the speaker and thought it was terribly low in volume and tinny sounding.
Turned out the CaseMate case I had bought had a layer of plastic skin that covers the entire back of the phone, blocking the speaker, flash and camera entirely.
The case is the one with bumpers, the Naked Tough. I got the clear one, which apparently isn't available yet online.
Just a word of caution.
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Oh lawd guy at AT&T thought the backing was supposed to be there, so he rung me up for two skins and put one on the back of the case. My fault.
So this will be a general review.
Case level of protection: 8/10
With a built in bumper overall it should absorb most shock from a fall and the bumper provides inlaid chrome buttons allowing easy access to power and the volume rocker. Makes it a bit clicky feeling. Subtle lip protects the front when placing it down.
Aesthetics: 8/10
The Moto X is a highly customizable phone, so the clear Naked Tough case provides full view of the back and matted view of the sides. If you have a customized Moto with colored volume rocker, etc, your customization except for the camera ring will be covered over and not visible.
Feel: 6/10
Feels entirely like it's materials, slightly plasticky and ergonomically the naked phone is better contoured than the Naked Tough. The Motorola indent is more pleasing on the hands with a caseless phone especially while making a call, as you can put your index finger in the contour of the indent. The case is fairly thin but no poetic atmosphere style like on a nexus. The naked phone rolls more when placed down on a flat surface, this feels a bit more secure.
Cost:
I picked mine up for at AT&T, for which you can read the story. Overall a fairly reasonable price for a case, however no monoprice status.
Overall: 7/10
I prefer the naked phone, but who doesn't? On the HTC One the Double Dip case is known to scratch the phone on removal, removing this case is protected by the bumper, but to me I would worry like how my HTC got scratched from the slide motion that removing this case might do the same as it fits very snug. I have removed it twice, once to see if my ears were hearing things when the protective backing muffled the sound, and a second time to take it to AT&T and have Rob view his handiwork.
Thanks guys.
temporalinertia said:
Stopped by AT&T and picked up a Moto X and bought a body skin and CaseMate case which the guy there applied.
I got home and tested the audio quality of the speaker and thought it was terribly low in volume and tinny sounding.
Turned out the CaseMate case I had bought had a layer of plastic skin that covers the entire back of the phone, blocking the speaker, flash and camera entirely.
The case is the one with bumpers, the Naked Tough. I got the clear one, which apparently isn't available yet online.
Just a word of caution.
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Are you sure that's not the body skin, or the guy didn't put it on properly? http://www.case-mate.com/Moto-X-Cases/Case-Mate-Moto-X-Naked-Tough-Cases.asp
The product images there showing the back case with cutout for all the things you mentioned! I'm not a case mate fanboy, but I've got several of their products, and I can't say they're bad or problematic.
I bought the same case and it does have a film on the back, but that's just a temporary protective film for the case. Just peel it off.
keinx said:
I bought the same case and it does have a film on the back, but that's just a temporary protective film for the case. Just peel it off.
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LOL..
I'll be grabbing mine today since the AT&T site shows my local stores have stuff in stock now.
keinx said:
I bought the same case and it does have a film on the back, but that's just a temporary protective film for the case. Just peel it off.
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This is why the world is in complete turmoil. Thanks Keinx for bringing this to the attention of the OP. Measure twice, cut once is a good rule for everything, including forums.
Yep, yep yep ohgodwhy, the body armor is on the case. He charged me for two, he put the front protector on the front, rear protector on the back, opened another and put the front protector on the case. Disregard the case notice, but fair warning against AT&T touching your phone at all.
EDIT for clarity: I stopped by to return the case and the guy said he was sorry he "removed the backing, so put another on" and offered to give me my money back for the second skin.
Just got this case straight from AT&T (they've got the exclusive clear/clear version, whereas elsewhere on the web, including case-mates's site, you can get the clear/black version). I like it alot - even better than the Hyperion TPU case I had been using. The plastic is very smooth (means it might slide about on an equally smooth surface), and the rubber bumper provides a nice bit of extra protection - good for someone like me who puts the phone in a generic vehicle dock and doesn't want to see the side of the device getting scratched up.
Really loving this case. I have the Verizon developer edition and the black/clear case combo look so much better than the clear version in my opinion.
The black bumper keeps the front looking neat and the back can still be shown off and looks nice with the black bumper.
I got the clear/clear from AT&T and placed an order on the clear/black. I think it will flow with the phone much better.
Seems very slippery.
Also noticed that the USB cutout, the back edge, isn't rounded so when you're holding it there with your finger it can get a little uncomfortable.
I recently recieved my second SPECK CandyShell Clear for my HTC 10 (I broke the first one by trying to mod it but that's a different story), so I took the chance to take some photos and give you a short review. Disclaimer: This review is neither sponsored, nor did I recieve any discount in order to write this review.
Pricing
I paid ~30 USDs at an online Android accessories retailer (used some available-to-all coupon that reduced the price by ~5 USDs).
The price is pretty hefty when compared to other HTC 10 cases except the original ice view ones.
Retail box
This case comes in the standard SPECK retail box, which looks nice IMHO and is very easy to open.
Build quality / Durability / Looks
Although it is made of plastic, this case definitely screams premium. The way it shimmers and feels in hand sets it apart from its competition.
Unlike the (now retired) Gem Shell I had for my One M9 and similar to the original CandyShells, this one has a two-layered construction: The outer layer is sturdy plastic while the inner one is soft rubber. Both layers are completely transparent (although the rubber has a very slight frozen look only notably when the case is not yet put on the phone).
SPECK promises that this case would resist UV yellowing and I can mostly confirm this: My first CandyShell Clear did not yellow for two month except the buttons. The buttons did yellow indeed but this did not affect the overall looks too much since the rest of the case stayed perfectly clear.
I had some CandyShell/GemShell/CandyShell Grip cases before and one of the very few downsides is that they were quite prone to scratches and looked worn after a couple of days. I was really astonished to see that SPECK made some serious improvements here: The first case had very few scratches after two month, none of 'em were obvious. No comparison to the elder cases where the gloss disappeared quickly due to the surface being covered by scratches all-over.
One nice detail is the SPECK logo. It is placed quite nicely to complement the HTC logo and not to interfere with it. But what it really makes it a stunner is how it is done. It is embossed in the rubber layer of the case in such way. that it appears to be embossed in the metal body of the phone. Nice idea, SPECK!
The only downside in this department is that this case adds some bulk. Not too much and nothing like UAG-like cases, but those who like their device as slim as possible might find it too bulky.
Protection
Protection is where this case really shines. The sturdy outer shell combined with the cushioning inner rubber layer keeps you covered in most drop situations. The front-side lip does not only protect the screen when putting it face to the table but is also thick enough to protect the screen while dropping on almost flat surfaces.
Fitting / Cutouts
This case sits like a glove. It is manufactured to fit the contours of the 10 like a perfect ten (pun intended). All cutouts are surrounded by rubber that will keep dust out of the case.
The small cutouts for the bottom-side and back-side microphone fit perfectly. The headphone jack cutout is big enough so that most headphones should fit into it. The camera cutout is quite big but this way, the flash should not interfere with the case (although I have not tested this). The bottom speaker cutout fits also well, same goes for the USB port cutout.
But the USB port cutout may be the biggest downside of this case: It is so tight that some cables won't fit. The original HTC charger cable, which comes with the 10 does. But my 3rd party cables with metal plugs did not fit and so won't any cables whose plugs are significantly bulkier than the rather slim plug of the original cable.
Remember that I told you, it was a different story that this is already my second CandyShell Clear? I broke the first one while extending the USB port cutout with a drill. Unfortunately, I did not spend enough attention and damaged the inner rubber layer which looked pretty ugly. So I replaced the damaged case with this new one and also replaced my cables with ones that provide slicker plugs. Quite some hassle but this case is definetly worth it.
In case you wonder which cables I was talking about: Aukey CB-CMD5 (pack of 5) will fit while Aukey CB-CMD2 (pack of 5) won't.
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Does the tpu on the front fit properly? The lip would get pushed in and down when I put the phone one and I couldn't get it to actually be a lip on the screen. I sent mine back. On the bright side speck has a very easy return process.
if you take a picture with the flash on, does the light bleed through the case?
aer0zer0 said:
if you take a picture with the flash on, does the light bleed through the case?
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At least the flashlight does. Have not yet checked whether this affects photos. I'd assume so but I remember having read otherwise somewhere. As soon as I tested it, I will let you know.
TotallyAnxious said:
Does the tpu on the front fit properly? The lip would get pushed in and down when I put the phone one and I couldn't get it to actually be a lip on the screen. I sent mine back. On the bright side speck has a very easy return process.
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This case is a tight fit indeed. It took me some patience to get the phone in while keeping the lid in place. Once the phone is in, it takes some force to remove it. Great for being sure that the phone won't slide out accidentally on drops. Not so great if you want to remove your phone frequently.
I'm a new Axon 7 owner and am currently searching for a case to use on this phone. The stock transparent case that comes with the phone is great but due to the fact it's a glossy plastic, it attracts a lot of grease from my fingers and feels dirty after a while. I also dislike it because the sweat from my hands will form into condensation on the back of the case. I also have a problem where the jack on my headphones (Audio Technica ATH-M50) is too large to fit in the hole provided.
I decided to purchase the Spigen 'Rugged Armor' case from Amazon after reading a lot of positive comments about it, but I have been left disappointed and debating whether to return it due to the sheer size and thickness that makes handling the phone (Which is already large enough!) incredibly difficult with small hands. The case does not add much friction despite the material used having a rubber-like appearance, and I actually feel more likely to drop the phone as a result of trying to fumble with the added size. As well as this, the cut-out for the headphone jack is still too small even though it's larger than the wider than the one seen on the stock case. I also find it a lot more difficult to access the fingerprint scanner due to the thickness of the case surrounding it. Another problem is that the case is quite difficult to put onto the phone and a lot harder to remove, to the point where it feels like i'm actually going to damage the phone by attempting to do this!
For my previous phone, a Lenovo ZUK Z2, I had a fantastic Nillkin 'Frosted Shield' shell case that was made from a soft-touch rubber-like plastic. It was very slim at about 2mm in thickness at most, and although it didn't offer much in the way of drop-protection, it did have a nice textured back and that increased the grip tremendously. So, despite the case not being able to protect the phone quite as much from being dropped, it didn't matter because the chances of dropping the phone in the first place were a lot less likely. I wondered whether there was something similar for the Axon 7, but instead in a TPU-style with the sealed corners, and the same thickness as the stock case that's included with the phone? Any recommendations would be most appreciated.
This one is the best one, hands down: https://www.amazon.de/ARTILVST-umgebene-Struktur-Oberfl%C3%A4che-Protector/dp/B01MTLLSPA/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1505381744&sr=8-2-fkmr2&keywords=axon+7+slim+case+sand
It is ultra slim and has a very nice feel.
Sui77 said:
This one is the best one, hands down: https://www.amazon.de/ARTILVST-umgebene-Struktur-Oberfl%C3%A4che-Protector/dp/B01MTLLSPA/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1505381744&sr=8-2-fkmr2&keywords=axon+7+slim+case+sand
It is ultra slim and has a very nice feel.
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That looks nice, it's kinda like the old Sandstone Black finish on the OnePlus One. There was one similar to this on Amazon UK but I don't think it had the same texture to it. My only compliant with that one is that it isn't a TPU case which completely covers the corners, but on the other hand the sand texture probably adds a lot of grip to reduce the risk of it being dropped.
I'm currently looking into getting the J&D case from their official website. It's in TPU-form which covers the entire phone (Except from the power/volume buttons!) and has the textured soft-touch back I wanted. The only problem with this one is that the glossy plastic edges look a bit tacky in the pictures, but hopefully it's not as bad in person as it looks on the website. I have a discount code which knocks a subtle 15% off the price listed, so it might be worth a shot.
Looking into this now myself. The stock clear case will go yellow as they all do. Getting cheap see through black case as a temporary till I find a good one. I find the clear one a tad loose at the side.
Sui77 said:
This one is the best one, hands down: https://www.amazon.de/ARTILVST-umgebene-Struktur-Oberfl%C3%A4che-Protector/dp/B01MTLLSPA/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1505381744&sr=8-2-fkmr2&keywords=axon+7+slim+case+sand
It is ultra slim and has a very nice feel.
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Hi there,
Does this case provide good grip?
Thanks for confirming!
joaste said:
Hi there,
Does this case provide good grip?
Thanks for confirming!
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Yes.
In my opinion it's the perfect one.
My buddies ordered it for their Samsung cause of the nice touch.
Color is anthracite, not fancy but decent
Sui77 said:
Yes.
In my opinion it's the perfect one.
My buddies ordered it for their Samsung cause of the nice touch.
Color is anthracite, not fancy but decent
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I'm mostly interested in the grip. I had a similar case from Amazon. fr but it was in fact quite slippery (it had a satin feel to it). Had to send it back.
The stock case that came with the Axon 7 is quite grippy but it is slowly going yellow.
joaste said:
Thanks. I'm mostly interested in the grip. I had a similar case from Amazon. fr but it was in fact quite slippery (it had a satin feel to it). Had to send it back.
The stock case that came with the Axon 7 is quite grippy but it is slowly going yellow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one is a different story.
It's the best pick you can get
Sui77 said:
This one is a different story.
It's the best pick you can get
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Thanks. Just ordered it.
joaste said:
Thanks. Just ordered it.
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Hey, have you received the case yet? Just wondering what you thought to it. If either you or @Sui77 could post a picture of it, that would be great as well. I'm still debating whether to choose this or the J&D TPU case that completely conceals the corners. I can't stand using the case which came with the phone much longer, as it's made from glossy plastic and attracts a lot of filth and grease. I imagine the ARTILVST case would be a lot better in this regard.
P650SE said:
Hey, have you received the case yet? Just wondering what you thought to it. If either you or @Sui77 could post a picture of it, that would be great as well. I'm still debating whether to choose this or the J&D TPU case that completely conceals the corners. I can't stand using the case which came with the phone much longer, as it's made from glossy plastic and attracts a lot of filth and grease. I imagine the ARTILVST case would be a lot better in this regard.
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Yes I did. Or is ok, but not as grippy as I was hoping for. The original case provides more grip.
Some pics attached.
joaste said:
Yes I did. Or is ok, but not as grippy as I was hoping for. The original case provides more grip.
Some pics attached.
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Thanks for posting those pictures! That's a shame to hear the grip wasn't as good as expected. I wanted something which provided more grip than the stock case, so maybe this isn't the right one for me. I also live in the United Kingdom and having the case shipped from Germany would make it more expensive in postage costs. It does look like a nice case but I am worried it might not offer much protection if the phone is dropped. I think the J&D case would perhaps be better because it has a soft-touch back and conceals all the corners properly.
I have that same Spigen case as above, an Incipio TPU case in smoked brown, and another thin "shell case". This thin shell offers zero protection in case it is dropped, making using one pointless , IMO.
The Incipio case is OK, but again thin and will show wear very quickly. The Spigen one is my favorite hands down, doesn't add bulk to the phone all ports easily accessable, and the edges offer good grip.
christoophat said:
I have that same Spigen case as above, an Incipio TPU case in smoked brown, and another thin "shell case". This thin shell offers zero protection in case it is dropped, making using one pointless , IMO.
The Incipio case is OK, but again thin and will show wear very quickly. The Spigen one is my favorite hands down, doesn't add bulk to the phone all ports easily accessable, and the edges offer good grip.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions regarding the cases available for the Axon 7. It's interesting to hear how you found the Spigen case not to be bulky, because I found the opposite and returned it for that exact reason. I eventually purchased one of the cheap, plastic shell cases from AliExpress similar to the that in the pictures Joaste posted above.
My overall opinion on this case has been positive but it has worn on the edges and there are cracks down all four corners. As you mentioned, a shell case does not offer much drop protection but it's definitely better than not having a case at all and it does improve the grip quite notably. However, I wish it had a textured or 'Sandstone' back to help avoid grease buildup.
I am now looking for another case, but options in the UK are limited since the Axon 7 is not officially sold here.
I've been using my TPU smoke black case with a glass screen protector for a while and enjoyed that. I got fed up with the Poetic Revolution case because of the dry protector built into the front. It allowed dust and stuff in between the screen and protector. Tonight I stripped out the dry protector and put the case on with the glass protector still on the screen. Fits nice. I have a full coverage protector to fit and might see if it will work with the Poetic. Might need to trim the inner edges of the corners near the speaker grilles.
I've been using this Proworx case since right after I got my Axon 7, so for a bit over a year now. I wasn't super impressed when I got it so I figured I'd replace it as soon as I found something better or it wore out, but I'm still using it, which says something about it.
It isn't the slimmest, for sure, but it isn't as bulky as the Otter Boxes and whatnot that everyone with a non-cracked iphone seems to have. It protects very well - TPU around the edges, fully covering the corners (which is a must, in my eyes), polycarbonate back, enough of a lip on top to protect the screen if you set it down face-down, and the cut-outs and buttons are perfect. Good drop protection - I've "thrown" it onto asphalt, tile, and concrete without the phone getting a scratch. Also works well with the glass screen protectors we covered in another thread. Easy enough to put on and take off too, with no chance of the phone just falling out.
Again, not the thinnest, but not huge, and the protection is excellent. Plus they're cheap and come in multiple colors. And as is typical with cheap stuff manufactured in China, I've seen this same case under at least a couple of other brand names, CoverOn for one. For $5-$6 I recommend trying it - I like it enough that I pretty much never think about replacing it, even though it (a clear one) has yellowed a tad. After trying like 10 cases for my G3 and finding faults with each of them, I can say I like this one enough that I'll probably replace it with the same one, eventually.
emepher said:
I've been using this Proworx case since right after I got my Axon 7, so for a bit over a year now. I wasn't super impressed when I got it so I figured I'd replace it as soon as I found something better or it wore out, but I'm still using it, which says something about it.
It isn't the slimmest, for sure, but it isn't as bulky as the Otter Boxes and whatnot that everyone with a non-cracked iphone seems to have. It protects very well - TPU around the edges, fully covering the corners (which is a must, in my eyes), polycarbonate back, enough of a lip on top to protect the screen if you set it down face-down, and the cut-outs and buttons are perfect. Good drop protection - I've "thrown" it onto asphalt, tile, and concrete without the phone getting a scratch. Also works well with the glass screen protectors we covered in another thread. Easy enough to put on and take off too, with no chance of the phone just falling out.
Again, not the thinnest, but not huge, and the protection is excellent. Plus they're cheap and come in multiple colors. And as is typical with cheap stuff manufactured in China, I've seen this same case under at least a couple of other brand names, CoverOn for one. For $5-$6 I recommend trying it - I like it enough that I pretty much never think about replacing it, even though it (a clear one) has yellowed a tad. After trying like 10 cases for my G3 and finding faults with each of them, I can say I like this one enough that I'll probably replace it with the same one, eventually.
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I decided to order one of these in black to try out. Have been quite happy with my Spigen, but after installing this Proworx case yesterday, I think I am falling in love. Seems to offer enough protection, fits & looks nice, AND I kind of like how the buttons are a bit harder to push in, which actually prevents me from squeezing open the screen every time I try to pick it up. :good:
RobboW said:
I've been using my TPU smoke black case with a glass screen protector for a while and enjoyed that. I got fed up with the Poetic Revolution case because of the dry protector built into the front. It allowed dust and stuff in between the screen and protector. Tonight I stripped out the dry protector and put the case on with the glass protector still on the screen. Fits nice. I have a full coverage protector to fit and might see if it will work with the Poetic. Might need to trim the inner edges of the corners near the speaker grilles.
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Quoting myself here.
Today I fitted the full coverage protector to my Axon 7 and it fits into the Poetic Revolution case nicely! Glad I stripped out the dry protectors in the Poetic cases. I've also now fitted a plastic protector over the glass one as a quick and easy tear off to sacrifice for wear and tear but the glass one makes the front of the phone flat. Even with two stacked protectors, touch works perfectly.
The picture is slightly misleading as the black section also covers the capacitive buttons so there's no indicator of position, but not being backlit anyway, it makes little difference.
Here's a quicky bunch of pics. I have a soft TPU smoky case, black Poetic Revolution and a blue/grey Poetic Revolution which can be mix and matched. Got a couple of little bubbles under the plastic protector and will fix that later, or just remove it. Looks good with just the full coverage glass one.
If anyone is looking for a slim case I just picked up a Bear Motion Sand from eBay. Best case I've had so far for my A7 and I've tried quite a few. Feels like my OPO did.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J9Y5CQ...d_r=3683683e-ab8d-11e8-96dd-777fa7fb2507&th=1
Been using this one for over 6 months now with out any issues , not as bulky as it looks and the stand is useful . I also have a full body clear skin from clear-coat that fits superbly, clear-coat has various outlets through the UK and installs as you wait , is a bit pricey at £30 for the full skin .
I work in the building trade so need it well protected .