I know we already have a huge thread about UAG, but those are 65+ pages of people waiting/speculating/complaining and maybe 3-4 good reviews with pictures. So, I figured maybe to start an official review thread for UAG Note 2 case http://www.urbanarmorgear.com/collections/galaxy-note-ii
Since I don't own iPhone or S3, my experience with previous UAG cases was based on reading only reviews from others, and it seems those cases were quite popular with a huge fan base. Note 2 case introduced a new design, and that generated a mixed reviews. I'm personally looking at the case as is without comparing it to previous models.
The case came in a nice packaging box, nothing too fancy but with a clear display and highlights of the features. In addition to the case, UAG included a screen protector, a small screen cloth and a squeeze for sp installation. I can't comment on sp since I already have one installed, but I have a feeling its a basic one. I can comment it had a good cut, although didn't feel as thick as some other 3H film screen protectors.
Also, as part of new "vent" design, it came with 2 inserts in orange and black. Those are interchangeable and you can use either one. There has been a lot of discussion about quality of material used on these inserts and perhaps some people had higher expectations. These inserts are cardboard cut outs with diamond textured design and some thin laminating layer on color side. Each insert is colored on one side, while white on another side. In theory you can make your own inserts. Those have two side cut outs that align with guiding small pins inside of the case. Once you put down the insert, you better keep the case horizontal while inserting the phone, otherwise the insert will move. When phone is inserted into the case - inserts stay dead on, although if you shake the phone you will hear it move a little bit. Don't get me wrong, it looks cool as hell, and could be easily fixed with a little piece of scotch tape holding it down. The vent itself should keep air circulating which is a good idea while charging the battery.
The case is VERY light - amazing considering the high level of protection it offers at a minimum added bulk. Of course, just like any case it adds some bulk, but when you compare to other case with equivalent level of protection - this is feather-light! The construction is composite where inner protection bumper and outer shell are molded together. Yes, I would consider the inner rubber (hard TPU material) to be a bumper since it doesn't wrap around the back of the phone. The outer shell made of a very high quality impact plastic material, definitely not some cheap brittle stuff. The inner side of the plastic shell has honeycomb pattern, while the outer side is smooth and has sort of sandblasted finish. I do have to note, plastic does feel a little slippery in your hands. I have heard this will go away with time, but I still have to point it out. But since they have vent cut out in the back and also hard rubber bumper around the edges of the screen, you still get an acceptable grip when holding it in your hand. The rubber bumper doesn't pull away and fits around the edge of the phone very snugly. The only place where it pulls a little bit is at the bottom in the aread of micro-usb connector, but very slightly. It also offers a very nice lip to protect the screen of the phone when faced down, and a VERY good corner protection with some extra material while still keeping it slim and not exaggerated around corners like some other designs do. Furthermore, the back of the phone has 4 subtle stands in a shape of a torx screw head. Those are of course not real screws but rather rubber bumps, but functionally it's brilliant since you can put your phone down on the back and it will keep it from sliding!!! This little design detail is so subtle yet brilliantly functional and adds to "urban" style of the phone.
Port openings are very generous; mic openings big enough for a clear sound, micro-usb opening is wide enough to accommodate after market connectors, headphone jack should accept a connector up to 3/8". S-pen opening deserves a special mentioning. It's not your typical rectangular opening, and narrows down while still giving enough room for a nail to grab the edge of s-pen when pulling it out. Just a very nice detail. Speaker grill has a cross line which makes speaker design with a battery cover of the phone to look partitioned and cool next to the grill design. Camera and led flash openings are partitioned - a very clever idea for glare-free flash photos! Volume and power buttons have a very unique design to make them look like a separate external buttons. These buttons have a separate slit opening along one side to make them push easier. I very clever idea! I have documented all these details in my pictures.
Another comment I would like to bring up is the color of the case itself. Since I choose Navigator to compliment my white GN2, I want to mention that white of the case is a few shades brighter than white of the phone - not a big issue since those two colors don't come in contact. I do want to mention also, there is a little flex when you push down on the vents. I assume that was always part of the design even with solid back on iPhone/S3 cases. With vents cut outs, it's more visible now. I would say it could be looked as positive and negative point. Positive since it absorbs some shock if case falls down flat on its back, and negative since you are opening back door to lint and dust getting under the vent.
Overall, its a very unique design that offers both a visual eye candy and a decent level of protection to the phone. I tried to be fair in my review and describe all the positive and negative points I found, IMHO. But in my personal opinion - I highly recommend it!
As usual, I will leave the rest to the pictures. Please keep in mind due to case being white, my camera had a hard time focusing.
I'm sure some will share my opinion, others might disagree or want to add comments. If you can, please don't reply with all the pictures in the post to duplicate it.
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I guess you can consider this as the first mod. Actually someone else done it before, but I'm elaborating on details with more pictures!
Yes, you can have GN2 in OEM Flip case going right into UAG case and it works! Of course, there are some limitations. You can flip the cover all the way around, unless you modify UAG case by cutting it's side (which nobody in their right mind going to do). And, because the left side is covered by flip case, UAG volume buttons will not be pushing directly on phone's volume, which makes it a lot harder to work BUT it WORKS!!! So here you go, an alternative to add flip cover to your UAG case:
Good idea and nice pics...I'd like to add my review from yesterday here so if it helps anyone good stuff.. I'd like to add day 2 and the feel is better IMO less slippery and fit seems to have settled in nicely..Keeper ..
What up peeps..Just wanted to give a small overview of the case I received today. I will test drive it for a few days(week) and let y'all know how it flows for me..Haha
Excuse my noobness to the video making world..
Part 1: Case without phone..
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sfwqpcw278kob47/UAG_reviewPart1.mp4
Part 2: Case with phone...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yf62xa2oimqstb8/UAG_reviewPart2.mp4
bkdodger said:
Good idea and nice pics...I'd like to add my review from yesterday here so if it helps anyone good stuff.. I'd like to add day 2 and the feel is better IMO less slippery and fit seems to have settled in nicely..Keeper ..
What up peeps..Just wanted to give a small overview of the case I received today. I will test drive it for a few days(week) and let y'all know how it flows for me..Haha
Excuse my noobness to the video making world..
...
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Good job, videos are great! I'm actually thinking now about getting Scout/black for my white GN2 as well.
Just a quick question.
Ive owned a few white and clear cases and all of them started yellowing/browning.. Do you think this will happen to this one also?
vectron said:
Good job, videos are great! I'm actually thinking now about getting Scout/black for my white GN2 as well.
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Haha.. Your pics make me want the white..
《Take Note2 BK's here..》
Double0EK said:
Just a quick question.
Ive owned a few white and clear cases and all of them started yellowing/browning.. Do you think this will happen to this one also?
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Good question, but considering their make Navigator/white for iPhone 4 and S3 and I haven't read anybody complaining about those (since people been using it for awhile now), I assume it won't be an issue. I had a cheap clear case before, from ebay for a few bucks, after 3 days in my jeans pocket it got a shade of blue. I will give this case a benefit of a doubt that hard plastic material they use won't change the color. I guess time will tell, but like I said - this is an exactly the same material as older iPhone 4 and S3 cases and there is no complains about it. UAG for S3 has almost 980 reviews on Amazon with an average of 4.75 stars. I will take that as a positive sign
Thanks. Never even thought to read the reviews on Amazon..
Really liked your idea of adding the flip cover. After I colored the back of the orange back panel red, I threw the flip cover on and the new UAG case, and am lovin the results. Oh, I also used an exacto blade to remove the silver UAG lettering. Thanks for the great idea!
Hey just ordered mines thanks to your good review
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app
vectron said:
The case is VERY light - amazing considering the high level of protection it offers at a minimum added bulk.
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I started analyzing the case first hand and I'm beginning to appreciate UAG's design more and more. Some people complain about not getting their previous design you see on the S3, but I understand why UAG did this. It is all about trying to chip off as much excess weight from the case as possible without compromising protection and style. Throughout the case you will see that besides the vents, the insert is not a full piece but just covers the vents nicely (more weight off there), there are grooves, and the inside TPU back is also honey-combed, to reduce the overall weight as much as possible. With a big phone like Note 2, I think this is a very wise decision by them. If they used the old design, the case would probably be a bit heavier than what we have now.
Overall I think it is a great case. Possibly the best case out there that scores in every category in style, protection & functionality in my humble opinion. 9.5/10
@vectron, i appreciate your review. its basically the same thing i would have said i f i did a review on this case. at the end of the day this case is a great investment. functionallity, quality & great design are all incorporated into this and you will not be let down. i couldnt be happier with it.
Anyone try to use it with the Smart Dock?
IamPro said:
Anyone try to use it with the Smart Dock?
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Didn't work with smart dock. It would fit in if you force it but doesn't go in far enough to make any connection. Also will not work in the battery charger. Here it fits in but falls forward. Price you pay for protection I guess. No big deal to me, I will just take case off when I put in dock. Now if I was using dock every day for charging, it may be a bigger deal.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
Can any comment on the comparisonf of this UAG case with the likes of OTterbox Commuter and Ballistic SG series in terms of weight, protection, ease of use and slippery feel, etc?
garyart1 said:
Didn't work with smart dock. It would fit in if you force it but doesn't go in far enough to make any connection. Also will not work in the battery charger. Here it fits in but falls forward. Price you pay for protection I guess. No big deal to me, I will just take case off when I put in dock. Now if I was using dock every day for charging, it may be a bigger deal.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
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Are you talking about the spare battery charger dock?
Sent from my SGH-I317M using Tapatalk 2
My fondness of the UAG Navigator is starting to waver a bit. I am realizing it makes the phone quite a bit more wide, almost to the point I don't like the way it feels in my hand. As odd as this sounds, I might go back to the hyperion extended battery and case (newer style) as that feel is about as solid as I have found when it comes to cases on the Note 2. Plus, for about one milimeter difference, I am packing a 6200mAh battery, and the phone is quite a bit less wide in my hand. The attached photo shows the height difference between the hyperion and the UAG.
mdt73 said:
Really liked your idea of adding the flip cover. After I colored the back of the orange back panel red, I threw the flip cover on and the new UAG case, and am lovin the results. Oh, I also used an exacto blade to remove the silver UAG lettering. Thanks for the great idea!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How are you guys adding the flip cover on this case?
Sent from my SGH-T889V using xda app-developers app
sofia-captivate said:
How are you guys adding the flip cover on this case?
Sent from my SGH-T889V using xda app-developers app
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It fits perfectly. The only problem is the cover itself doesn't have a lot of room to move, so it won't open all the way, making typing with your left hand sort of cumbersome. Just install the flip cover, then the UAG case.
Yep, Note 2 with flip cover fits right into the UAG case. Take a look at my Post#2 in this thread, you can see from the pictures it fits right in, although with a few limitations like can flip the cover all the way back and volume buttons need to be pushed harder since you pushing on them through the flexible side of flip case.
Related
This is a review of DBA Cases Complete Ultra for Note 2: http://www.dbacases.com/ultra-complete.html?SID=99e6f1d35efbe84a83ca89bb6514fdbd
You gotta have a lot of confidence to introduce a new Note 2 case 6+ months after the release of this popular phone. And in such over-saturated market with so many cases - in addition to confidence you also have to bring something new to the table in order to stand out from the crowd. Although DBA Cases has already established themselves with Ultra Complete series for iPhone 5 and S3, let's find out if they were able to pull this task with Note 2.
I don't have any previous experience with Ultra Complete series, so this was the first time I got a chance to test these. The case itself is a dual-layer design. I will talk more in details about each layer further in my review, but DBA took this dual-layer concept to a next level by offering a selection of 4 unique colors for its outer Ultra PC layer and 5 unique colors for its inner Ultra TPU layer where you can buy each one separately or in predefined combos as part of Ultra Complete. This way you no longer locked into the same color combination and able to mix'n'match different PC/TPU colors to dress up your N2 for any occasion. For the review purposes, I requested samples with Blue/Lime and Red/White combos to see how these will look with my white Note 2. In the pictures below, I took snapshots of different variations interchanging pieces of these two combos to give you an idea of how it works.
Now about the case itself. The combo of PC/TPU is very lightweight; on my scale it was 38g (1.4 oz). Inner TPU layer is thin, yet feels very durable. Typically similar dual-layer design cases have inner silicone sleeve for shock absorption which is usually too soft and pulls around the edges. This one is made out of a more rubbery material and holds better around the edges, although you do get some pull next to volume buttons (due to the large cutout). All the cutouts are very precise and aligned perfectly. Power/Volume are not covered, and cutout around those areas makes it very easy to access corresponding buttons. This inner TPU layer can even be used by itself. In addition to back matte finish, the side grip and bottom parts of the case which are outside of outer layer are thicker and glossy. The sides actually offers a very nice textured design for an additional grip - a very important detail. For an enhanced protection, this Ultra Complete design adds an outer PC layer. And let me tell you, I never seen anything like this. This is definitely not your typical Polycarbonate plastic material. First of all it has a very nice rubbery-soft coating which is anti-scratch, thanks to its triple coated process. For the test purpose, I tried to scratch it with my nail, driving it deep into the material - not a chance. Apparently this PC is some advanced Flex material which according to DBA used in bullet resistant glass and cockpit canopy of F-22 Raptor Jet Fighter. I know it's a mouthful, but I was able to completely bend it without snapping it in pieces and it flexed back to its original shape like brand new. I took a picture of that as well. So pretty much it's designed to flex instead of breaking if you drop the case. I also want to mention that this outer layer offers a very decent back and corner protection once assembled together with inner TPU layer. Also, captured in pictures, you get an acceptable lip around edges of the phone so you don't have to worry about putting it face down on the surface. I wish the lip would have been a little bit bigger since I'm using thicker tempered glass screen protector which leaves less margin. But in general, you can put your phone down on it's face without a worry of screen touching the surface or phone sliding across the surface. The same goes for outer layer which adds some nice friction where you don't have to worry about phone sliding across the slippery surface.
Overall, I was very pleased with this product. It's not just another dual layer variation of a typical phone case. From all the reading about this case and talking to Scott (the brain behind this product), I found out how much work went into the design and the selection of the material which made me appreciate it even more. Now, would I consider this to be a rugged case or for active outdoor use? Not really. I think its great for everyday typical use with a decent drop protection to give you a piece of mind. This case would definitely suit anybody who is looking for a thin lightweight case and was considering TPU but also needed something with a better grip and a drop protection. Ultra Complete fits this category perfectly!
Now, here are the pictures. First two shots had flash on which I corrected later by turning it off for the rest of the pictures where you can get a more accurate colors.
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I wanna know your secret for getting all these review samples lol. I'm going broke from buying all my stuff. Keep buying new cases every week or so. Usually buy 3 or 4 at a time. You do have the best reviews around tho. Most people think 2 sentences and a few pics equals a review.
☆SoA: Son's of Android™☆
I like to break stuff!
Contact the manufacturer directly. Explain to them what you do and why. Show some examples of your work. "This is the biggest part, they want verification you are actually doing what you say your going to do." Request said product for review.
Back when I worked for ATT I used to do this for Incipio. I would test the product and write reviews on a couple different websites for them. People always trust the review from a user over that off the manufacturer. And the non professional photos help because you actually can trust them.
But regardless Vectron, awesome review and I think im going to pick one of these up.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app
-EViL-KoNCEPTz- said:
I wanna know your secret for getting all these review samples lol. I'm going broke from buying all my stuff. Keep buying new cases every week or so. Usually buy 3 or 4 at a time. You do have the best reviews around tho. Most people think 2 sentences and a few pics equals a review.
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Click to collapse
Well, I think you answered your own question with that last sentence of how NOT to approach the review if you want to request a sample It's not just about get freebies, you have to build a portfolio of consistent work so manufacturers would trust you. And in general, its a lot of actual work. I can't even get into YT reviews because of lack of free time. Kris summarized it very well in his post above.
Btw, I do feel somewhere guilty when I read feedbacks about people liking my reviews so much they are saving money to buy more N2 accessories. I know it's your money to spend, and I'm probably somewhat guilty of having a more optimistic review outlook, although pictures can't lie Keep in mind, a lot of my reviews are based on first impression out of the box, and I do try to come back later and update posts with a more longer term impression. For those who already have these or even a similar product for another phone, and been using it for awhile - I would really appreciate a follow up comments/feedback with your own impressions either if you like it or hate it. I send review links to all the manufacturers and they do closely monitor these. So any positive or negative feedback will be extremely useful for them to improve the product.
Thanks for the review. I ordered blue and lime. Looks great and I need something slim with some sort of drop protection so I am very excited about this one.
Sent from My Note 2
Vectron, how is this case compare to UAG? Are they in same category? Which one you prefer?
How thick is it compared to your usual TPU case?
sithjedi333 said:
How thick is it compared to your usual TPU case?
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With an exception of a slightly thicker side grips and bottom portion (the parts outside of PC layer) everything is on par with a typical TPU case.
VitaliyUvakin said:
Vectron, how is this case compare to UAG? Are they in same category? Which one you prefer?
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These are not in the same category, so it will be hard to compare. Although not exactly similar design, I would put this in Case-Mate Tough category because of inner rubber tpu and outter PC shell and being slim, although Ultra has an advantage of full inner layer coverage and better outer PC layer material. Also, option of different color combinations is a big plus. To be honest, for my specific needs I prefer UAG because of a thicker bumper and my use outdoors and in the lab at work. Also, I do so many reviews of different accessories that I'm in constant need to take case on'and'off where I prefer one molded piece design. But in comparison, UAG doesn't have as friendly grip due to it's squared off design and it's customization with a vent insert is not as bold as being able to interchange TPU and PC on Ultra.
I will probably still go with UAG based on your reviews, since it has another advantage over ultra : it fits in seidio convert holster.
VitaliyUvakin said:
I will probably still go with UAG based on your reviews, since it has another advantage over ultra : it fits in seidio convert holster.
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I just tested it out, and Ultra fits with CONVERT holster (a bit loose though, but secure due to it's spring-loaded latch) and ACTIVE holster (like a glove). What I forgot to mention in my previous reply the main reason why a thicker bumper of UAG is more important for me because I have thicker tempered glass protection.
To be honest, in a situation like this when you are split in between two cases - order both, test it out, and keep the one that you like. You never know, sometime you play around with each, and then realize they both are keepers Hopefully my reviews will help you to narrow it down out of the whole bunch of available cases, but at the end you will have to make your final decision because everybody has different needs and priorities.
I refuse to buy ACTIVE holster I just got my CONVERT today, UAG is coming tomorrow.
Note to self: stop reading vectron's reviews, spending way too much on accessories
Just received my blue and lime and it is awesome. I have 11 cases total and this is by far the best. Not mich bulk and looks like good enogh protection. Colors aee better than pictures
Sent from My Note 2
I almost convinced. ..
For those interested in purchasing... promo code "olympics" gets u 20% off...and "ultra15" gets u $15 off two complete ultra cases...they don't combine though
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
Promocode is good for direct site, or will on Amazon?
VitaliyUvakin said:
Promocode is good for direct site, or will on Amazon?
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Sorry for not specifying..its only good on their direct site...I havent tried it on amazon or anything although ive heard that they honor it sometimes
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
chillaxnphilx said:
Sorry for not specifying..its only good on their direct site...I havent tried it on amazon or anything although ive heard that they honor it sometimes
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
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i just ordered on amazon. the promotion for "olympics" works. it takes off 20% ($5.60) per case.
Seems that DBA Cases got more colors in stock. From what I see on their website:
PC: Black, Blue, White
TPU: Black, Lime, Pink, Tangerine, White
Complete: Black/Black, Blue/Black, Blue/Lime, Poppy/Snow, Poppy/Tangerine, Snow/Black,
So you can either get a predefined combo, or choose your own combo with mix'n'match of PC and TPU.
FYI - The Note II Black/Black and White/Black Note II combo's are now for sale. Also you can now buy the Black, Blue and White PC separately - www.dbacases.com
Black looks awesome!!!!!
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
This is a review of Zerolemon Zero Shock rugged case for Note 2. http://zerolemon.com/details.php/ze...ed-case-for-original-9300mah-extended-battery
I can't believe I'm finally reviewing a rugged case for Zerolemon 9300 mAh battery. It was just like yesterday when they announced about rugged case for their extended battery... wait, that yesterday was actually over 6 months ago But as they say, better later than never. As I understand it correctly, delays had to do with ZL wanting to introducing rugged cases around the same time for their entire line of extended batteries for different phones. With Note 2 we had an additional delay due to uncertainty with Note 3 size right before its introduction where nobody knew if its going to be the same. But either way, case is released, so let's take a closer look at it.
It looks like Zerolemon approached the design of this rugged case by basing it on a popular Defender mod. Why reinvent the wheel? You take what already works and improve it. That's exactly what ZL has done, starting with inner plastic shell and wrapping it around in TPU case. Its a same idea as Otterbox Defender where you introduce a cutout in the back plastic panel to accommodate ZL extended battery. A clever improvement of this design was to have a removable back panel to use it with OEM slim battery and to be able to do that without taking inner plastic shell apart. Furthermore, you can also use an extended double-capacity battery with a same setup. The point of being able to go between different battery sizes while keeping inner shell intact is very important. The latches that hold inner shell together will have some finite lifetime, and constant latching/unlatching will compromise its reliability. Being able to go easily between different size batteries has a lot of benefits. We all know 9300 mAh or 6200 mAh extended batteries take longer to charge. Once you run out of juice on 9300 mAh, power down your phone and swap it with another battery very quickly while 9300 mAh can go on one of those "fast" 600 mA wall chargers.
As I mentioned above, inner shell is made out of plastic. I'm sure it will do a good job protecting the phone during a drop, but I found the plastic material used in this design to be brittle and somewhat cheap. I know ZL is trying to keep the cost under a budget, but I wish they would have used plastic material similar to Defender. Outer shell is made out of TPU material identical to TPU case that came bundled with 9300 mAh battery. It does feels a bit slippery on the back, but it's compensated with an improved side grip bumps. Those definitely will come handy since you are dealing with a bigger and heavier bundle. Together with Note 2, ZL 9300mAh battery, and the case I measured it to be 356g with dimensions of 157mm x 87mm x 20mm. The case is actually a bit thicker than Defender. To add to its rugged appeal, all the ports are covered, everything from headphone jack, to s-pen and micro-usb port. And speaking of micro-usb port, that port was not easy to open, something I might consider cutting out moving forward. Another mod which I probably will do around micro-usb port is trying to widen it a bit with dremel tool. The port opening fits Samsung slim OEM micro-usb connector, but it was a problem with most of my other micro-usb cables that have a bigger connectors. I also would like to add that Volume up/down and Power buttons are easy to press with a nice tactile response, much better than original TPU case.
Although promised originally to have built-in screen protector, it was removed before shipment of this case - in my opinion a wise decision. I do use VITREO tempered glass on my phone, and there was no issue with fitment since it's only at the top where extended piece of front bezel is making a contact with my screen protector. I assume that was part of the design for original built-in screen protector support. Another important part of the design is a belt clip with a holster, very similar to Defender. As a matter of fact, Defender case went into this holster like a butter and I was able to securely latch it. The belt clip is easy to rotate for vertical or horizontal position, and as a bonus it latches to form a kickstand. It's a very convenient option since you can put rugged case facing in or out into the holster.
Overall, if you need a rugged case for your Note 2 and Zerolemone 9300 mAh battery, this is the only clear choice for you. Yes, you can try Defender mod but it means irreversible modification of your expensive Otterbox case. If you decide to use fake cheap Defender case, it's rubber outer shell doesn't stretch as well. So in reality you are down to one choice, and for $23 it's a good value. Is this a perfect case? Considering quality of the material and the fact that case doesn't fit the phone 100% tight (there is some noticeable movement when you hold the case with two hands by the opposite sides and try to twist it), there could be room for improvement. But I don't think any of these negative points will compromise rugged protection of Note 2, and you will feel more secure carrying your phone with Zerolemone 9300 mAh battery in comparison to original TPU case.
Here are the pictures.
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After posting my review, I got a feedback from Zerolemon guys with some important points I would like to copy'n'paste below:
1) We are using the same plastic material as Otterbox for thr inner case. The structural strength of the inner case is weaker due to the back being craved out for the extended battery. We are able to make it the same strength as otterbox case but that requires us to make the case even larger to provide more space for the plastic. We are working on the nexf revision with other materials such as aluminum to see if it can provide a stronger structure strength without increasing the cost too significantly.
2) Initial batch of case did not include screen protector due to the bubble effect. All new batch of all colors do come with Screen Protector now.
3) We understand there's a bit of a movement on the x axis inside the case. That is in fact the battery moving a bit. Without the x axis gap, it will be very difficult for our clients to remove the extended battery. We looking to reduce this gap on our next revision
4) Given the case has a removable blackplate, we believe clients will unlatch the inner case less frequently than other brands. In fact accessing the microSD and SIM card requires user to only remove the blackplate or battery.
Awesome. Finally we can stop posting about this case in the battery review thread. Nice one Vectron
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
Does anyone else have problems with the volume buttons? I have to press really hard and get almost no tactile feedback. The power button works perfectly.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
pixeldotz said:
Does anyone else have problems with the volume buttons? I have to press really hard and get almost no tactile feedback. The power button works perfectly.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have noticed a slight issue with "volume up" button bay. But, it still works. Just not fluent.
I too have some trouble with the volume up. Down works great. Almost too good. At least half of the time when I try to press volume up it goes all the way down to silent instead. It's a bit of a fight but I still like the case.
Would like it better if it didn't have that one issue.
Sent From My Ginormous Note 2
Dammit, I could have swear both volume buttons used to work OK. Now, I noticed volume up is lagging as well. Maybe I should twist my case again, or something to fix that fitment lol!
I think mine has gotten a little better than it was at first with the volume button. ..either that or I've gotten used to it and learned how to press it just right.
Sent From My Ginormous Note 2
Someone mentioned to me, as it was posted on FB (Zerolemon?), that you can take foam off that removable battery cover piece and use it as a spacer under TPU case to stiffen the whole construction. Anybody tried that?
Having the same issue with the volume buttons. Volume up takes pounds of pressure to change and still sometimes causes the volume to go down instead. The volume down button on the other time almost changes when breathed on.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
If some of you read about my issue with the case, I think it is important to point out that bastexwireless handeled my concern perfectly.
Right now I am waiting for two more cases to arrive. Can't wait to see the look of the new colors.
My purple and pink case came in this evening.
I am basically happy with it, although if someone wanted to go black/pink i would trade the pink plastic parts for the black/white when it comes out.
The purple matches my Decalgirl skin and wired headset.
Phogg said:
My purple and pink case came in this evening.
I am basically happy with it, although if someone wanted to go black/pink i would trade the pink plastic parts for the black/white when it comes out.
The purple matches my Decalgirl skin and wired headset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How are the volume buttons?
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
Phogg said:
My purple and pink case came in this evening.
I am basically happy with it, although if someone wanted to go black/pink i would trade the pink plastic parts for the black/white when it comes out.
The purple matches my Decalgirl skin and wired headset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you post pics so we see the color if you can maybe get a realistic photo?
Does anyone know when revised versions will be out? Also, does anyone know if us who purchased their product before it was perfect, could maybe get some discount when buying next version? I tried to ask them that but somehow they keep thinking I have some issue with colored ones and that I want to return them (I don't, I haven't even received them yet, I had an issue with black one, but that is resolved).
xperiaforme said:
Does anyone know when revised versions will be out? Also, does anyone know if us who purchased their product before it was perfect, could maybe get some discount when buying next version? I tried to ask them that but somehow they keep thinking I have some issue with colored ones and that I want to return them (I don't, I haven't even received them yet, I had an issue with black one, but that is resolved).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd ask them on their facebook page. Asking here might get you banned by an overzealous moderator with poor reading skills.
Just got my black/teal... It is extremely difficult to get apart. Came with a built in screen protector that isn't glued in correctly on about 40% of the perimeter.
Would upload pictures but tapatalk is being a PITA.
Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk
Brad.S. said:
Just got my black/teal... It is extremely difficult to get apart. Came with a built in screen protector that isn't glued in correctly on about 40% of the perimeter.
Would upload pictures but tapatalk is being a PITA.
Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would be nice to see pics
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
apallohadas said:
I'd ask them on their facebook page. Asking here might get you banned by an overzealous moderator with poor reading skills.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm.... You're scaring me. .
Sent From My Ginormous Note 2
Since I made a comment in my original review about case flex and then mentioned about someone talking about adding original battery cover on top of Zerolemon 9300 mAh battery, I decided to go ahead with this "mod". All you have to do is remove the foam piece from a battery cover. Not exactly an easy task since they used a good sticky tape. I ripped the foam off and then "rolled" the sticky residue with a remaining bits of foam with my thumb. Once everything is removed, you still get sticky glue layer. Just cut out a little piece of paper and put on top of it, otherwise your battery will get stuck to it - VERY IMPORTANT, make sure to put a piece of paper on top of the remaining sticky residue.
Afterwards, battery cover goes on top and as a matter of fact it actually latches in. Went right under the camera opening side without a problem, and on the other side I put a little bit of pressure which cracked it (you can see it in the pic), but still works ok. It will not be 100% flush, but once you put outer TPU shell, you will not see anything at all - perfectly even and smooth. Now it feels very solid, no flex at all - the way it supposed to be. Unfortunately, it didn't fix a problem with volume up. For that, you probably will need to put a piece of scotch tape around inner part of volume buttons pushing on the phone - that will add a bit of extension to push on Note 2 volume button. Also, I didn't notice any issue with a little frame piece above the edge of my tempered glass. You do have to keep in mind that if you want to use this battery cover with a regular Sammy battery, you will need to add some spacer to compensate for removed piece of foam.
Here are the pictures.
This is a Review of HTC One (M8) cases from UAG. http://www.urbanarmorgear.com/collections/all#htc-one-m8
Actually, I have to apologize in advance. As part of my review work I'm doing in this forum, please check out a link in my signature, I receive a lot of accessories from different manufacturers. Since I just recently got Galaxy S5 for my wife, I receive a package with a number of UAG cases and they also included a nice selection for HTC One (M8). I don't have the actual phone, but figured take enough pictures for you to get an impression of this case. I have reviewed UAG cases for iPhone, S3, Note 2, S4, Note 3, and S5, and this has been my go-to case with every phone I get. So, I have not a single doubt in my mind the fitment of HTC One (M8) will be as impeccable as with any other previous UAG case I reviewed. Below is my review of the case impression which is a similar to S5 case review I just posted early today (applicable to M8 as well).
UAG definitely got this distinct industrial design look, which unfortunately has been copied lately by some low quality look-a-likes. With a lot of companies once they got a winning design, they just continue making the same cases scaled for the next phone, year after year. With UAG, they are constantly tweaking the design with new details to improve the grip, to have it thinner and more flexible while still retaining max protection, and even to improve the packaging. So starting with packaging, they finally got some refreshing colors to make their box more appealing. Of course, you still get a detailed description of the features on the front and on the back, including an official stamp of approval meeting MIL STD 810G-516.6 Military Drop-Test. It's about time to add this stamp of approval considering it has been already drop approved by thousands of it's users over the years, myself including. As a bonus, UAG also provided HD screen protector which I found to be a very nice gesture.
The case is very lightweight despite its composite design where hard outer PC shell is fused with a softer TPU-like inner soft impact resistant shell with a signature honeycomb pattern. The idea of such fused design makes the case thinner while still retaining a decent drop protection, and also adding a convenience of quick one-piece case removal without dealing with two separate shells. You also still have an enhanced corner protection which blends in nicely with the rest of the outline. One new additional element was added to the sides of the case in a form of a lower/upper grip pads on each side which haven't been present in the previous design. This enhances the grip and also makes sides look symmetrical. I found this design improvement to be very effective. Along with a sculptured industrial lines of the back design with decorative hex screws, UAG M8 case definitely has a much better grip. Although case feels slim, you still get the same rubber lip around the screen to lift the display with phone placed down or to provide a protection when dropped. Along with corner protection, you still get rear skid pads that allow phone to be placed on the back without any wobbling and keeping it from sliding on a smooth surface. And of course you get all the generous port openings to accommodate usb cables, over sized headphone connectors, camera, flash, mic, etc. Volume buttons (speaking from experience of all of their cases) have a very nice tactile feedback and can be easily located just by sliding your fingers along the side of the case. I also like how they put an inner trim around camera/flash opening to enable a glare-free flash.
Overall, I know it's hard to choose a case with every new phone because market is saturated with new additions almost every week. And most likely nobody gets just one case because we change it for different occasions or extended batteries, etc. But when you are making this deselection don't be fooled just by something that looks "cool", because at the end of the day the purpose of the case is to protect your phone. Well, that and also making it look cool at the same time But protection should be #1 priority, and if the case is made out of brittle plastic that will crack if dropped or cheap TPU material that will stretch and pull, or fused layers that will come undone - you might as well carry your phone naked. Otherwise, look for reputable companies that has been around for awhile, those which have a lot of feedback on Amazon, and those who don't just sell a case but actually offer a support to back it up. UAG is definitely of those companies, and I highly recommend and use their cases all the time.
Here are the pictures.
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Anyone have any pics of the Clear UAG on an M8?
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
that empty case does look good i must say
ok .. now get the phone in there get some meaning full shots
jags_the1 said:
that empty case does look good i must say
ok .. now get the phone in there get some meaning full shots
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can see how the same cases look on white S5 in a review of UAG S5 cases I posted earlier today: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2722799
Jmack3d said:
Anyone have any pics of the Clear UAG on an M8?
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the clear one today and I'll have pictures up shortly. Need to charge the point-and-click.
Sisyphus306 said:
I got the clear one today and I'll have pictures up shortly. Need to charge the point-and-click.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, I bought the Clear one today and it should be here tomorrow so I'd love to see how its gonna look
Pictures attached. It's a really nice case, albeit a little difficult to remove (not as bad as Poetic Atmosphere for M7, though).
Sisyphus306 said:
Pictures attached. It's a really nice case, albeit a little difficult to remove (not as bad as Poetic Atmosphere for M7, though).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the pics, I wish that last pic would of had the phone in it. The pics with the case on the phone were a bit dark but still gives me a good idea of the appearance
First of all: There already is a thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2714087&page=5
Secondly: The case is, compared to the one for the S5, worse in quality.
Just compare the volume rockers! The S5 has bigger and better built ones! All of the pictures are from @vectron!
M8
S5
Also, the solution to get the light from the IR diode from the M8 "through" the case is really cheap! They just cut a hole.
As a result, the button itself feels weird, and the one I had collapsed easily.
And now the worst part: How the phone is held in place inside the case.
They use thin rubber pillars to hold it for the M8, whereas they mold the softer plastic nicely into shape.
M8
S5
I really don't know why.
Thank you @vectron for the images from this, and the S5s thread.
Cheers!
This case looks pretty good, despite some of its obvious flaws.
However, I had to buy an Otterbox.
I don't even like the otterbox for the m8, I think it looks plain and boring, and it just covers up the beauty of the m8. But I work in a dirty/dusty place, and I NEED the rubber port covers to keep the crud out of my headphone and charger ports. On my old phone, I had to use a toothpick to dig out the bull**** that collected inside my ports. For some reason, otterbox is the only company that seems to be using port covers.
If the UAG had rubber port covers, which I don't understand why it doesn't. I probably would have bought the UAG instead.
Hey everyone. I also received the UAG case for review on my channel and website. I did notice the volume rockers were made of a different material than on the Galaxy S4 model from last year, but I think it's due to how the buttons are on the M8. The material and everything is still very solid and high quality though.
If you have any questions about the case feel free to let me know! :good:
I have the all black. It looks great but I hate how slippery it is in my hands. I miss my Otterbox where just enough soft rubber stuck out from the inner sleeve that it really stuck in my hand.
Just got my clear UAG case! Hands down best case I've owned. The gunmetal color of the m8 shows through the back of the case and looks amazing.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk
Got the clear one yesterday here are some pics.
That clear UAG one would have looked great if they had repositioned their logo. The OCD in me would not be able to take how the vertical logo covers the horizontal HTC logo.
Sent from my VK810 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I got this case today on my mail (Rust Color). Brought it on Amazon last Monday.
I must Say the Case feel great on the phone. One of people biggest concerns with the first batch of cases was that the camera ring wasn't a perfect fit. I can happily say this have been fixed. My brother have a UAG on his S3, My wife have one on her S4 and I can say that this one feels as sturdy as the S3 and S4 version.
Now, some pictures for your pleasure:
Hmm, can't see the pics
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
hxdrummerxc said:
This case looks pretty good, despite some of its obvious flaws.
However, I had to buy an Otterbox.
I don't even like the otterbox for the m8, I think it looks plain and boring, and it just covers up the beauty of the m8. But I work in a dirty/dusty place, and I NEED the rubber port covers to keep the crud out of my headphone and charger ports. On my old phone, I had to use a toothpick to dig out the bull**** that collected inside my ports. For some reason, otterbox is the only company that seems to be using port covers.
If the UAG had rubber port covers, which I don't understand why it doesn't. I probably would have bought the UAG instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The trident aegis series also has all ports covered, and for phones that have speakers or openings on the back they put a screen/mesh filter over those as well. I had one for an S2 back in the day, and I loved the case. Only reason I don't have them for my current phone is that I got hooked on kickstand cases, and they don't have those in anything but their defender equivalent case.
I'm debating between the clear uag or rust case and I'm wondering does the flash glare with either of those colors? If someone could test that out, I would definitely appreciate it.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
onthezone said:
I'm debating between the clear uag or rust case and I'm wondering does the flash glare with either of those colors? If someone could test that out, I would definitely appreciate it.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I havent tried Night pictures with the case on but I'll let you know later . I could upload some sample pictures too
EDIT: This was taken in a Pitch black room with the Case. Soo.. No glare
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Where to buy:
$6.99 - Replica Nexus 4 Bumper Case for the Nexus 5
Alternate Sellers (in case your colour choice is not available):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-7-Colors-NEW-Metal-TPU-Frame-Bumper-Cover-Case-For-LG-Goole-Nexus-5-/360898185809?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Cases&var=630259271784&hash=item5407354a51
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Metal-TPU-Frame-Bumper-Cover-Case-For-LG-Goole-Nexus-5-7-Colors-for-choice-/321373805938?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Cases&var=510260397981&hash=item4ad35f1d72
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-x-Metal-New-TPU-Frame-Bumper-Cover-Case-For-LG-Goole-Nexus-5-/271469986797?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Cases&var=570317942443&hash=item3f34df43ed
For UK Residents:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271490214166
I had a lot of people asking where I bought this bumper from, so I figured I might as well do it justice and give a full review of it. I think I’m finally pretty happy with all of the accessories that I’ve got now, since I’ve bought so much for this phone already. I don’t think I’ve ever stockpiled this much stuff dedicated to one device before. So this will probably be my last review thread as I think that might be it.
As I mentioned in the transparent bumper case review thread, the options for a decent bumper case on the Nexus 5 are pretty crap. To put it bluntly, the vast majority of bumper cases out there for the Nexus 5 are trash. They look like crap, they feel like crap, the button feedback sucks, and the protection is substandard. You might as well just go naked as most available bumpers don’t offer much. Some come close to being pretty good cases, but still have some rather large flaws. It seems nobody really considered making a decent bumper case for the Nexus 5, instead focusing on TPU/Hybrid/Hardcases.
I guess the market for strictly true bumper cases isn’t very large, but there are people who would still like a true bumper case. Since I started putting skins on the back of my phone, a bumper was the best option. I still prefer minimalism (and would still be using the Quicksand hardcases if I didn’t put a skin on), so I opted not to have a normal case with a clear plastic window on the back as that would add too much bulk for my liking.
That’s where the Replica Nexus 4 Bumper comes in. When I initially saw it though, I dismissed it based on pricing alone! I mean who honestly would pay $25+ for a then unproven “Replica” of a last generation phone’s bumper case?
Not me!
I wouldn’t pay $25+ for any case, even if it was a big brand name. No piece(s) of plastic, regardless of what brand is stamped on it, is worth that price to me. The $0.99 Quicksand hardcases and semi-transparent hardcases also proved that you can have fantastic (IMO even better) cases for dirt cheap in comparison to the same style cases of the bigger brands (eg: Spigen Ultra Fit/Ringke Slim/Google Snap Case).
But enough ranting (sorry my bad, that was quite a long one…)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A little while later, the bumper dropped to something more reasonable, less than 1/4 of the price it was originally going for! Then I figured, “What the hell, why not? It’s only $6.99 now.”
And then… What turned out to be the best Nexus 5 bumper case was on its way.
“We have to go back!!”
So, it’s kind of funny that with all of these other bumper cases out for the Nexus 5 (I’ve bought a bunch and only put a review up for one other bumper as the rest just plain sucked), that my favorite would turn out to be not a new design, but an old design that was made for the Nexus 4! I guess that old saying of, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” really holds true here. I will say it. This replica Nexus 4 bumper case, is the best bumper case you will find for the Nexus 5. Take an old design, stretch it out a bit, slap it on the Nexus 5, WIN!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Materials and Build Quality:
This bumper case is made of a two piece construction. The black portion is a very flexible yet hard (dense not rigid) TPU. It’s durable, and from the rather massive tumble my phone took after being knocked out of my hand, offers great drop protection too! The gray/silver portion is a flexible hard plastic that seems to have just as much bend to it as the TPU portion. Both together absorb impacts pretty well and from the looks of it, despite landing and bouncing around on pavement, only scuffed up the silver finish on the hard plastic with no other visible damage whatsoever to the case, and more importantly, the phone is still pristine! You can think of this two piece construction along the lines of other hard and soft combo cases like the Spigen Neo Hybrid, minus the back.
The black TPU portion also has a texture with a ton of little indentations for a nice feel. Your fingers will like it. It adds a lot of grip and gives it an overall nicer look than just having the standard flat TPU. The TPU is also a matte finish, so there won’t be any visible fingerprints on the bumper. This is true for the hard plastic as well. Since it isn’t a shiny finish, and sticks to gray/silver, fingerprints don’t show.
Proper buttons are such a welcome addition!!
Most cases just have buttons that are part of the mold or holes that are cut out.
With regards to the first type, when the button is just a part of the mold, most times the tactile feedback is almost nonexistent. You don’t know if you’ve pressed anything, or the button double presses, or sometimes it just doesn’t work at all… When it is just a cut out hole, unless it is a thin case, a lot of the times the proportions become out of whack and it feels like you have to dig your finger in to press the button, or sometimes you miss the location completely. Neither is a problem with this bumper case! The buttons here are real additional buttons inserted in the plastic frame!!
The feels baby, the feels!
There is a nice tactile feedback. The buttons are loose but not giggly/rattle loose. And the most important part, when you press the button, it feels like a damn button! It clicks when it’s supposed to click, and you know it clicks. It works and feels just the way it should. You’d be surprised how so many case manufacturers get this wrong with their cases...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fit and Feel in Hand:
The bumper fits the phone like a glove. There are no gaps, it isn’t loose, and the phone doesn’t move around in the case. It fits perfectly and feels solid in the hand. That’s not to say that it’s so tight that you can’t take it off if you needed to. It does take a bit of wiggling, but it does come off without too much difficulty. All you need to do is stretch out a corner first, pop out the corner of the phone, and then the rest slips right out, no problems.
The bumper does add a bit of girth to the sides, top, and bottom of the phone. This is unavoidable of course, as all cases (unless it’s a snap on hardcase) will have to add some bulk. Despite it adding a bit to the width, the phone still feels good in the hand and doesn’t feel very bulky. This is because there is no back to the case, so the phone still feels thin in the hand even though it’s wider! So unlike other cases that can make it seem like you have a brick in your hand instead of a phone because of both extra width and thickness, this one still feels good. You can still feel the slight rounded back of the Nexus 5 and the overall profile is still pretty thin.
The part that can be a bit annoying, and I guess this goes for a lot of cases out there, is the headphone cutout. The case was designed to only accommodate thin earbud style headphones with the thin input jack. This tends to happen with a lot of cases, and while it kind of sucks, it’s not a deal breaker. I guess they assume most people will just use earbuds, but I like using a proper set of headphones sometimes and it would have been nice to have a bigger hole (all case manufacturers should take this into consideration).
I did resort to buying an extension adapter cable that is thin and fits in the hole. Then I just plug my headphones into the adapter cable and all is well. I wish I didn’t have to do that though, but it isn’t too much of a hassle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Protection:
Well of course being a bumper case it has to you know... protect from bumps and such. So does it fare well? I did mention earlier that the phone was knocked out of my hand and took a big fall and tumbled along the pavement. The bumper performed like a champ! The phone is still perfect, and there is very minimal damage done to the case, just scuffed paint. There are no dents, cracked plastic, or broken off pieces of TPU; the case is still pretty much in tip top shape. So in terms of drop protection, it’s all good!
There is a nice lip over the front of the phone for those of you who do the phone face down on a table thing. It is also good to note that the lip accommodates tempered glass screen protectors very well (and I assume plastic ones as well). You can see from the pic above that the lip perfectly presses against all sides of the glass screen protector but doesn’t lift it in any way. So for those of you who want additional protection for your screen, you won’t have any problems with this case messing with your screen protector. The lip, while high, doesn’t impede swiping at all. You can still easily swipe your fingers from the sides and screen feedback isn’t affected.
Another concern is the lift on the back. Being a bumper case, people may think the back still scrapes against the table, or that the camera might still scratch against things. Well you don’t have to worry. The top lip of the case lifts the phone up high enough that there is a nice gap between the phone and the table. You can see in the photos below how the top lip of the bumper case gives it a nice space. You can even see the camera lens hovering over the table. So don’t worry, the lens is lifted and the back of the phone won’t get scratches either. You may think that the sides help in lifting the phone, but the gap between the phone and the table is created entirely from the top and bottom lips of the bumper only.
In the last pic you can see better the nice lip at the top which is higher than the camera, the nice bottom lip as well, and the sides keeping a thin profile to keep the phone feeling slim overall.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Conclusions:
This is an easy one!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to remove the bumper:
Some people were having a bit of difficulty removing the bumper case from the phone as it is a nice and snug fit. So here is a video demo of what I do when I take it off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great review, thanks for taking the time to share it with us.
Ordered it a week ago! Still waiting eagerly and excitedly for it to arrive!
I don't like this guy. He keeps posting great reviews and makes me buy **** I don't really need. Not cool dude.
^ Agreed.After seeing his phone I am now planning to order this case and a skin for my phone.And I actually ordered a special debit card cause the one I had didn't work for international transactions.
tridibsahabd said:
I don't like this guy. He keeps posting great reviews and makes me buy **** I don't really need. Not cool dude.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, sorry dude!
This is probably going to be my last review thread though anyway, as I don't think I'll be buying anymore accessories for this phone. At least all of the accessories I made reviews for are not very expensive! They won't break the bank.
varunthapliyal999 said:
^ Agreed.After seeing his phone I am now planning to order this case and a skin for my phone.And I actually ordered a special debit card cause the one I had didn't work for international transactions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice! Be sure to post some pictures when you have it all put together.
Any UK sellers? All those auction for some reason do not ship to UK?!
prb304 said:
Any UK sellers? All those auction for some reason do not ship to UK?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've updated the OP with where you can buy it if you're in the UK. Unfortunately it's a little bit more expensive. But it seems that no sellers on ebay ship this case to the UK...
great!! thank you for this review...
i have this bumper too! is the best real bumper that i have bought
There weren't any problems putting the case with a dbrand skin on the back right? I have the white version of this case and I'm going to apply my dbrand back cover soon and was wondering if you had any trouble putting it on (i have dbrand matte frames on right now on mine)
charly_mad said:
great!! thank you for this review...
i have this bumper too! is the best real bumper that i have bought
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Yeah! It really is a fantastic bumper. By far the best out of all the bumpers I've bought.
AHomelessGuy said:
There weren't any problems putting the case with a dbrand skin on the back right? I have the white version of this case and I'm going to apply my dbrand back cover soon and was wondering if you had any trouble putting it on (i have dbrand matte frames on right now on mine)
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If it's just a back skin, there are no problems fitting the bumper on. The fit is pretty much perfect though on a naked phone, when I had side skins on, the bumper wouldn't fit. It would rub against the sides of the skin and start peeling it off.
I suggest if you are going to use this bumper, then remove the side skins from the phone first.
man I love your reviews!
thanks for the pics, I'm waiting for mine still
Bought one.
Hope it would be better with Mahogani dbrand skin.
Spigen Utlra Hybrid is a piece of crap for me.
Is this the same as the one that's on amazon by "notch it"??
carlost24 said:
Is this the same as the one that's on amazon by "notch it"??
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Yeah, notch it is reselling the same cases on amazon for more than double the price.
Berthaconners524 said:
another great review. You make it difficult to make a decision.
You should be a professional salesman, if you aren't already.
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Hah, thanks bud!
Not a salesman though, I'm a P.E Teacher/student (with too many breaks between classes). Just a nerdy one I guess that might be in the wrong field! :laugh:
mmmmBACON said:
I opted not to have a normal case with a clear plastic window on the back as that would add too much bulk for my liking.
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They do make cases with clear backs that add very little bulk. The Ringke Fusion Crystal View case is a perfect example. I'm just very paranoid about scratching the back. I want maximum resale value.
wolfen69 said:
They do make cases with clear backs that add very little bulk. The Ringke Fusion Crystal View case is a perfect example. I'm just very paranoid about scratching the back. I want maximum resale value.
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Well it's not just the bulk thing for me. I'm not the biggest fan of clear plastic windows on the back. They are fingerprint magnets, and my hands tend to be moist a lot of the time. And once you get scratches on the plastic, the window looks like crap when it's marked up. I also kind of think it just looks tacky with a clear window. Just personal preference (not trying to knock you purchase or anything).
With the bumper, the back of the phone is lifted off of the table so there won't be any scratches as there is no contact. And with a skin on the back of the phone, if by chance anything did scrape, it would be the vinyl skin and not the back of the phone that got marked up. Despite it not looking like it offers much, the combo of skin + bumper + tempered glass on the front is giving me fantastic overall protection, and I prefer the feel and thinness that the case with no back provides.
mmmmBACON said:
And once you get scratches on the plastic, the window looks like crap when it's marked up.
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That's the whole point. Better that the case get scratched than the phone. What do I do once the phone gets scratched? Get a new back? I can always get a new case for real cheap. If you don't like them, that's OK. But as mentioned earlier, to me resale value is important.
wolfen69 said:
That's the whole point. Better that the case get scratched than the phone. What do I do once the phone gets scratched? Get a new back? I can always get a new case for real cheap. If you don't like them, that's OK. But as mentioned earlier, to me resale value is important.
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It scratches the plastic because the back of the case is generally in contact with the table or surface. This bumper, if you saw all of the pics, raises the back of the phone off of the table making a nice gap. You don't scratch the back because the back of the phone is lifted. The skin also gives additional protection, and IMO looks better overall. Resale value is the same as the bumper lifts by a good margin and the skin gives additional scratch protection.
I understand you're all about resale, but you get just as good protection with this bumper and adding in the skin makes it that much more appealing to me without having to look through a plastic window. As much as possible, I went for protection, without sacrificing overall aesthetics. I love the look of the bumper + skin + tempered glass, and the thinness remains while still having all of the protection of a normal case. I bought the phone for me, I want to enjoy how it looks and feels in my hand.
Again, like I mentioned earlier, I'm not knocking your purchase, and I'm happy you enjoy your case. That style of case is just not appealing to me is all.
Which screen protector are you using on your N5? Looks really nice. Looking to replace my crappy plastic one.
This is a Review of Urban Armor Gear (UAG) cases for Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
In this review I'm going to look at Scout/Black version, available directly http://www.urbanarmorgear.com/products/galaxy-note-4-case-black or from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/URBAN-ARMOR-GEAR-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B00O3AE982/ and
Maverick/Clear version: http://www.urbanarmorgear.com/products/galaxy-note-4-case-clear or from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/URBAN-ARMOR-GEAR-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B00O3AE9DW/
For what it worth, I've tested and shared with you A TON of reviews of different smartphone cases, and always try to be unbiased in my write ups. But the truth of the matter, at the end of the day I'm still coming back to and use most of the time UAG cases on all of our phones. Of course it's a matter of a personal preference, but for me UAG cases represent a perfect blend of protection without adding a bulk and a practical style without being too flashy. Smartphones don't come cheap these days, either if you are paying full price or even on a contract. If you factor in a trend of regular smartphones approaching phablet size territory, they are also not as easy to handle in your hands or in and out of the pocket. Therefore, I consider a good case to be a wise investment to protect your phone from accidental drops and scratches, despite how tough you think they build or the promises of next gen Gorilla glass you hear about.
So what makes UAG cases so special? Besides meeting Military Standards drop test, I like their idea of composite design where they fuse a hard PC outer shell with a soft impact resistant honeycomb pattern inner shell forming a single piece case. There are a number of 2-piece cases with inner soft sleeve and outer hard shell to hold it together, but sometime I don't feel like dealing with 2 separate pieces of assembly where UAG lightweight design takes care of that. But I do have to comment that in comparison to all of my previously reviewed UAG cases for Note 2, Note 3, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy S5 - I found Note 4 case fitment to be tighter where you need to apply extra force, starting at the corners, to get the phone out. For those who are constantly switching your batteries and need a quick removal of the case, you will probably get a bit frustrated and can find UAG case for Note 4 to be not your cup of tea. I confirmed with both Black and Clear version of the case, and it was equally a bit on a tighter side. For me personally it's not a show stopper and actually gives an extra peace of mind knowing that if I drop my phone it will not separate from the case, as well as less dirt and dust gets under the case cover.
As I previously mentioned, the outside of the case is made out of a hard PC material, but it feels very comfortable and secure in your hand due to a soft textured rubber grip areas located symmetrically on the sides of the case. Furthermore, the top and the bottom of the phone is covered in rubber bumpers with reinforced corners and a rubber bumper going around the front edge of the display to allow you placing Note 4 face down without touching the screen. This bumper also has enough depth to accommodate any film screen protector or a typical tempered glass one. And speaking for screen protector, UAG included one as part of the accessories, along with a cleaning cloth. It's a nice bonus to have to protect your screen from scratches or if you are researching to get tempered glass protector. Due to a nature of Note 4 slopped down edges, the included screen protector provides just enough coverage for the visible flat area of the display.
Though protection is important, case also needs to keep your phone fully functional. Starting with power and volume up/down buttons, those are covered for protection, easy to push thanks to a clever side cutout, and have a nice hardware-like design/texture to easy locate them just by sliding your finger. Even so buttons are easy to push, you still get a nice tactile response. At the top, you get very generous cutouts for all the ports including headphone opening to accommodate even oversized plugs. At the bottom, micro usb opening is also VERY generous to accommodate even extra large plugs. S-pen opening is wide enough to access it even with your thumb, and it still has a good corner protection around that area. When it comes to both mic openings at the bottom, I'm happy to report UAG case accommodates even my Verizon Note 4 where as many of you aware the left mic is shifted in comparison to every other Note 4. The speaker opening on the back is precise, and camera/flash cluster has one common opening with a black inner rubber trim to deflect flash reflection and to provide an easy access to a sensor next to the flash. Furthermore, you have 4 scratch resistant skid pads in the corners on the back to keep phone leveled and to prevent sliding when placed on the back, even on a slippery glass surface.
The case comes in 5 different colors, and hopefully I will be able to get other colors for review so I can show you all the colors on my white Note 4. The colors are Navigator (white), Scout (black), Aero (blue), Rust (orange), and Maverick (clear). Solid colors are not just your basic common colors; they have a unique color shade and a tough scratch resistant finish. I used my white Navigator with Note 2 for almost two years and it still looks like brand new with exactly the same color shade. It's true I used to be a fan of white color cases, until... I saw Maverick and put it on my Note 4 for the first time. This is a case that's going to stay permanently on my phone! It has a slightly different design since in order to keep the back transparent there is no soft inner lining on the back, while UAG still used a honeycomb pattern etched into the hard shell for inner impact resistant layer. The transparent effect is really cool and gives the back of the phone a unique 3D look.
Overall, UAG always been my highly recommended case and still is for Note 4. Even with a tighter fit which can be a hassle if you are one of those road warriors who swaps their battery in the middle of the day, I still find it adequate to provide an excellent protection for my $700 Note 4 and to showcase my phone in style without adding too much bulk. As a matter of fact, when I put my Note 4 next to Note 2, both wearing UAG case, I found Note 4 overall to be thinner, slimmer, and just a tiny bit longer. Also, for those who point out other similar looking single piece cases that imitate UAG industrial design style - keep in mind that you can imitate the look, but you can't imitate the build and the material quality. That will become very apparent when those look-a-like cases start fading out or end up with scratches or separated layers after the drop. As a mentioned above, I have been using my UAG cases for years and they still look like new.
Here are the pictures.
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Out with an old, In with a new: Note 4 vs Note 2 in UAG cases:
Always the best reviews and counter tops. Thank You.
felloffthetruck said:
Always the best reviews and counter tops. Thank You.
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Cooking with Vectron
Did you notice any scratches or scuffs on the shiny chamfered edges after removing the phone from the case?
I believe the white Navigator would also look sharp on the white Note 4.
I have the maverick on my note 4 black version. I have to say that the maverick looks better on the white Note. Very nice review.
Sent from the TermiNOTEr 4!
felloffthetruck said:
Did you notice any scratches or scuffs on the shiny chamfered edges after removing the phone from the case?
I believe the white Navigator would also look sharp on the white Note 4.
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Didn't notice any scratches. I also think after awhile of break in, the case might loosen up a bit. I guess the next month will be busy with case reviews so I will be taking it on and off a lot, but after that - Maverick is stay on permanently. Hopefully will get Navigator for review and update pics.
borijess said:
I have the maverick on my note 4 black version. I have to say that the maverick looks better on the white Note. Very nice review.
Sent from the TermiNOTEr 4!
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Do you have a picture to share? Wondering if black Note 4 will look cool with Maverick once battery cover is removed. Though I'm not a big fan of it because dust will make it's way under the case, I think it will look sick on a black N4 with clear case and no battery cover.
Thanks so much for the reviews and detailed pics! I threw down an order at Amazon today and almost grabbed the SUPCASE w/ holster, just so that I'd have some protection already for when I get my N4 (next week? a bit after?... ), then planning on getting a super primo case & a quality tempered glass screen saver.... I've always dug UAG cases, but have never had one, I'd guess that most of my phone's have been covered by Seidio's. However, I ditched it a while ago, as the lack of cover on the top and bottom bezel (let alone port covers, which I'm pretty big on), and the Surface Flip I had for my N3 was rather poorly planned re: the kickstand placement.
Anyway, UAG should toss you some commission, I'm sold! I'm also very curious how the black N4 looks in the clear Maverick; the white looks fan-freaking-tastic! To the degree that I would consider, the practically unheard of move of, going back from black, strictly to rock that case! Perhaps a pic will be posted to compare
One question for the UAG aficionados: I don't recall if they all have built-in screen protectors, but how are the screen protectors on the cases that have them? Are they high quality, or would you all recommend replacing them? I was checking out that one that they sell at T-mobile (can't recall the brand... the one that has the "laminator" installation thing) and thought that one looks pretty nice; at least the likelihood of a perfect installation would be higher. I'd like to (well, more than "like to", this is a necessity as far as I'm concerned) walk out of the store with my new phone fully protected, would just ordering the UAG case by itself be sufficient, or should I also include a screen protector?
Thanks again man for sharing your thoughts / observations and all of those detailed pics! :good:
jazzmachine said:
Thanks so much for the reviews and detailed pics! I threw down an order at Amazon today and almost grabbed the SUPCASE w/ holster, just so that I'd have some protection already for when I get my N4 (next week? a bit after?... ), then planning on getting a super primo case & a quality tempered glass screen saver.... I've always dug UAG cases, but have never had one, I'd guess that most of my phone's have been covered by Seidio's. However, I ditched it a while ago, as the lack of cover on the top and bottom bezel (let alone port covers, which I'm pretty big on), and the Surface Flip I had for my N3 was rather poorly planned re: the kickstand placement.
Anyway, UAG should toss you some commission, I'm sold! I'm also very curious how the black N4 looks in the clear Maverick; the white looks fan-freaking-tastic! To the degree that I would consider, the practically unheard of move of, going back from black, strictly to rock that case! Perhaps a pic will be posted to compare
One question for the UAG aficionados: I don't recall if they all have built-in screen protectors, but how are the screen protectors on the cases that have them? Are they high quality, or would you all recommend replacing them? I was checking out that one that they sell at T-mobile (can't recall the brand... the one that has the "laminator" installation thing) and thought that one looks pretty nice; at least the likelihood of a perfect installation would be higher. I'd like to (well, more than "like to", this is a necessity as far as I'm concerned) walk out of the store with my new phone fully protected, would just ordering the UAG case by itself be sufficient, or should I also include a screen protector?
Thanks again man for sharing your thoughts / observations and all of those detailed pics! :good:
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The one that comes with the UAG case is decent.
You can see the black Note 4 in the clear Maverick case here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/accessories/buy-uag-case-note-4-t2900552/page4
You will have to click the links though.
Excellent review, made me have no regrets with my purchase of the UAG case this afternoon. It is on the pricey side but I am paying for peace of mind and expect any problems with my case to be taken care of by UAG since they do make a premium on these cases.
I do have a potential regret that I did not get the Maverick over the Scout but time will tell...
Here's what is like to know. Can you still put the phone in your pocket with this case on it? If not I think I'd rather order one of the cases that come with a holster.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Mato_Hota said:
Here's what is like to know. Can you still put the phone in your pocket with this case on it? If not I think I'd rather order one of the cases that come with a holster.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
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From my experience, shorts with slanted pockets is no problem. Jeans with straight pockets can be a bit of a hassle (more because of the size of the phone than the case). The plastic on the case is fairly hard and isn't sticky like silicone so it slides out of the pocket well, but in the case of straight pockets it also makes the phone itself harder to grasp and yank out.
My only complaints about the UAG case are the fake torx heads (this one really bothers me) and the volume rocker buttons are a tad stiff. The fitment, however, is excellent.
Also worth noting: The difference in durometer between the "hard" outter and "soft" inner is not large. The "soft" is still pretty rigid.
As always, fantastic review, my friend :good:. I really like the look of the Maverick. I may consider buying it. UAG definitely are top notch with their quality. I had them for my Note 2 and 3 as you remember. I've dropped my phone multiple times in the UAG and it was protected each and every time. Those of you considering it vs other similar tough cases...it really is a no brainer in terms of quality/durability/size.
@vectron, have you found a good screen protector yet? The other two I tried had halos, and I haven't yet opened up my SuperShieldz one yet. I might do that tomorrow. Thanks, Alex!
vectron said:
Didn't notice any scratches. I also think after awhile of break in, the case might loosen up a bit. I guess the next month will be busy with case reviews so I will be taking it on and off a lot, but after that - Maverick is stay on permanently. Hopefully will get Navigator for review and update pics.
Do you have a picture to share? Wondering if black Note 4 will look cool with Maverick once battery cover is removed. Though I'm not a big fan of it because dust will make it's way under the case, I think it will look sick on a black N4 with clear case and no battery cover.
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Sent from the TermiNOTEr 4!
You guys crack me up No commission from UAG, but I will get the rest of the colors sent to me for review and post pictures with other colors! For those who are not familiar with my review work on XDA (and also AndroidForums and Head-fi), I work with a lot of manufacturers and periodically get review samples. You can see a complete list of all of my reviews if you follow a link in my sig. It's one of those hobbies that sometime feels like a full time job
Regarding screen protectors, obviously we have seen a lot of problems with tempered glass ones already released. One that hasn't been mentioned yet is from Zerolemon guys. I received a review sample yesterday and hopefully will be able to install it and let you know about it in a few days. iSmooth is sending me their film protector for review, so I want to try it first before tempered glass.
Did you ever get the white UAG case in? Would love to see what it looks on the white Note 4.
That clear case definitely has a wow factor to it unlike any other case I've seen.
borijess said:
Sent from the TermiNOTEr 4!
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Mine will be here Thursday. Can't wait.
On my second UAG both white on white Note 4 and S5 . Always had otterbox commuter before, but I'm sold. Screenprotector included is really okay too. Good product and free worldwide shipping is a plus too
I got the Aero, blue, yes it is a tight fit but I wont be taking it on and off constantly.
So long as it DOES NOT SCRATCH the polished bezel when I take it on/ off or over time and it keeps general dirt/grit from getting inside I will be quite happy with it.
Main reason I bought it was the slim design and for the Milspec shock protection cause at some point it will get dropped.
Also Most of the car holders will not hold a phone in a case wider than 85mm or 3.4"
The Note 4 in the case is 157 x 83 x 12mm.
So hopefully it will fit in the exomount CD slot holder I have chosen.
Trying to avoid anything with a suction cup or magnets or that needs to be drilled or adhesive'd to the car.
Even the Exomount type sticky silicone suction cups many swear by but others reckon they will not adhere to the dash as advertised.
Here are some reviews. there are plenty of youtube reviews too-
http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-note-4/879044-review-uag-cases-note-4-w-lots-pics.html
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2514292
http://urbanarmorgear.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/otterbox-commuter-vs-uag.html