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I'm curious if there is a stiffer/stronger silicone case out there. I had a hard silicone case for my ipod touch and miss it. The htc silicone case is just to flimsy and I'm not wanting a hard case never had any luck with them
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk
What you want is a TPU case. It's a different material than silicon, somewhat stiffer and tighter fitting (maybe a bit less shock absorbent?), but pretty much superior in every respect imo... It's still a soft case tho, you still stretch it around the EVO to fit it in and whatnot, and you could bend it if you wanted (only difference is it snaps back to it's original shape much quicker than silicon).
It seems to have more grip on your hand but it slides out of your pocket a lot easier, a LOT easier, and unlike silicon cases it attracts almost no dust and lint whatsoever! My HTC/OEM silicon case (bought at the Sprint store) attracted so much lint and crap in my pocket that within a day of cleaning it all up I'd have this crusty line of crap all around the edges, it was pretty irritating. None of that w/my TPU case, at all!
The TPU cases also feel a lot slimmer on your hand even tho they're not that much thinner than the silicon one, they're still thick enough so that the camera is recessed below it and fully protected (most of them are anyway, there's some thinner ones)... I guess part of the reason they feel more svelte is that the edges are more rounded off and not as squre-ish as the HTC silicon one.
Button press feel is also much better w/these, probably because of the tighter fit, they actually improve the handling of the power button if you ask me. The side edges of these cases don't move at all unless you pull on it tightly, totally different feel compared to the silicon ones which loosen up and from just swiping your finger across the screen you can end up stretching the edge out.
In short, they're just superior in every way, just get one and you'll thank me later. All you have to do is choose one of the different ones out there based on aesthetics...
Amzer sells one w/an Argyle pattern on the back, that's what I've got right now, it's available on Amazon and off Amzer's site for around the same price ($9-10), it's semi-translucent and the pattern is actually a lot more subdued and doesn't stand out nearly as much as you'd think from looking at the online pics. I actually like the pattern, if anything I'd say the shade of the skin isn't quite smoked/black, it has a slight hint of amber/brown...
That's the only thing that bothers me about it. I'm gonna be ordering a plain black one along w/a red one from DCMugen on Ebay, he's selling some made by Epik that look to be the exact same thing w/o the Argyle pattern, and they're cheaper to boot ($3.50, or $6.50 for two). I can get you a link if you can't find 'em... I think they have 'em in blue and clear and a few other colors too.
Just don't fall for the cheap off-brand Argyle ones on Ebay, you can tell them apart easily because unlike the two I've mentioned those have one large cutout for the camera/LED/speaker, whereas these other ones have individual cutouts and from what I've read they're a bit thicker. Those other Ebay ones also have a large silly cutout for the fingernail hole on the battery lid that you use to pry it off, seems like a goof on the mold/design.
If you don't care for the Argyle pattern on the Amzer one I'd get the Epik ones from DCMugen, I think the colors/tint on those are closer to the photos. Here's a link to the red one, you can click on the seller for the other colors and the package pricing for two or whatever.
If you're not into the translucent look of either of those TPU cases you can always grab the matte black one at www.evocases.net There's a thread for those right here at XDA where misticjeff has even thrown in a $1 code discount for XDA members. The sides/front are still glossy (perhaps a bit glossier than the translucent ones, judging by the photos), back's matte. The frost one is no longer available.
On the thread about those some people were complaining about the feel of the power button, seems it's not as great as the Amzer/Epik ones, some people resorted to sticking a lil' bit of tape in between to make it easier to press... One thing the evocases.net does have going for it is the slightly raised ring around the camera, which I guess might protect it more in the long run... Even tho they're all thick enough that the lens is recessed (as well as the screen obviously).
My 2 cents, hope it helps... I'm loving the feel of these TPU cases tho, I'll probably never get a silicon case for a phone again.
Whew, that second post got pretty long... A picture or two would've made it easier to explain I guess. Lemme know if you're interested in the Argyle one and I can grab my camera and post some pics of how it really looks, there doesn't seem to be many pictures out there of the actual case ON the phone (for either of them really).
I was gonna wait 'till I had the Epik ones so I could photograph them all side by side but I can take pics of the Amzer Argyle one in advance and post 'em up. Like I said, I actually dig the Argyle pattern because it's pretty subdued, it's more of an etch or a shade (it actually feels like an etch on the inside of the case), rather than a print. The only thing that bothers me about it is the overall shade/tint.
I probably wouldn't even be ordering the Epik one if I wasn't also ordering some of those clear battery doors that are about to go on sale... I think those plain Epik cases w/the clear battery door will look very slick.
Best buy might have what you are looking for. My only gripe is the buttons feel hard to push. But give it a shot (most BB will let you try on the case) it might be what you are looking for.
Seidio Innocase Active Cased - Limited Edition
After looking around the net for some time I bought the Seido Innocase Active Limited Edition.
Can't post a link but search Amazon for the title in my thread.
It's a semi-hard silicon cover with a siliconized hard plastic that exo-skeleton. Perfect combo in my opinion. My one complaint is that the edges on the hard plastic piece have the siliconized coating peeling off a little but I think I may have gotten a defective unit as I haven't seen anyone else complaining about it yet.
Also got the ClearTouch screen cover anti-glare version. I've had this cover on a few phones and it's also the best for reducing glare and fingerprints while maintaining clarity. Kinda hard to install without getting dust underneath but once you get it on right it looks and feels great. ClearTouch is sold by boxwave and is on Amazon.
Hybrid Flexi Skin Cover
Has anyone tried the Hybrid Flexi Skin cover from Daydeal.com? I'm also looking for a tighter case than my OEM silicone skin I got from Sprint. I just don't like the way the sides become flimsy and flaps off the phone when I swipe my screen. I'm looking at this case:
Hybrid Flexi Skin Cover for HTC EVO 4G, Honeycomb (Smoke & Clear)
Hybrid Flexi Skin Cover for HTC EVO 4G is a combination back cover consisting of a semi-hard, semi-soft Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) edge with a smooth hard back.
* Protects the side edges and back of your EVO 4G
* Hybrid cover consisting of a semi-hard, semi-soft TPU edge and a smooth hard back
* Stylish glossy TPU edge provides shock-absorbing protection
* Lightweight TPU is resistant to taring, stretching and deforming
* Compatible with HTC EVO 4G
Sorry, I'm a newbie and can't post links, yet. I don't know if the TPU edges would solve the flapping problem, since it's supposed to be firmer & tighter. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hiway said:
Has anyone tried the Hybrid Flexi Skin cover from Daydeal.com? I'm also looking for a tighter case than my OEM silicone skin I got from Sprint. I just don't like the way the sides become flimsy and flaps off the phone when I swipe my screen. I'm looking at this case:
Hybrid Flexi Skin Cover for HTC EVO 4G, Honeycomb (Smoke & Clear)
Hybrid Flexi Skin Cover for HTC EVO 4G is a combination back cover consisting of a semi-hard, semi-soft Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) edge with a smooth hard back.
...
Sorry, I'm a newbie and can't post links, yet. I don't know if the TPU edges would solve the flapping problem, since it's supposed to be firmer & tighter. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
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As I said in my previous post, TPU rocks as a material for cases/skins... I don't blame ya for skipping right over it tho.
TPU >>>>>> silicon
TPU doesn't attract dust at all, it's much tighter/rigid so the side edges don't flop out at all, but it's still got plenty of give (so it'll absorb a fall/bump), you could bend 'em in half if you wanted... Only difference is it'll snap back into form in a second unlike silicon which will probably just bounce around in an arc.
TPU also seems just as grippy on your hand, if not more so, but it slides in and out of pockets way way easier, and most of the TPU cases I've seen feel way more svelte in the hand than the OEM/HTC silicon scene... Probably in part because they're a tad thinner, probably also because the edges are more rounded off and not as blocky. Physically I'm sure it isn't a huge difference, but it sure feels like it.
This thread has some further discussion on TPU cases, it's really hard to judge them based on pictures alone, I was very pleasantly surprised with mine.
So I tried googling the title you posted and came up with this, only place I could find it at. Looks pretty interesting, seems the back is hard plastic and the edges are TPU. If you dig that honeycomb pattern I'd say go for it...
Altho if it's actual plastic it might get scratched up over time Looks like it's also clear/translucent, clear plastic usually shows every single flaw... A plain TPU case wouldn't have that issue. I'm just not seeing the advantage over 100% TPU, which are also like $3.50 vs $14 (look for DCMugen's Epik/TPU cases on Ebay).
OTOH that red back + black edges on the video in the link I pasted before looks pretty sweet... The rest look kinda gaudy imo ('cept for the all black) but red/black looks really different, I like it.
P.S. This is the Honeycomb (Smoke & Red) combination I was alluding to... There's also Honeycomb (Smoke & Smoke) and plain Black & Smoke (no honeycomb pattern, solid black sides). The red is the most distinct imo, those are all probably better in the long run than the clear back (less forgiving).
Jayr00 said:
Kinda hard to install without getting dust underneath but once you get it on right it looks and feels great. ClearTouch is sold by boxwave and is on Amazon.
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Tip for the next time you gotta install a screen protector and its the hard type: get some scotch tape, put it on the non adhesive side of the screen protector so you can peel it back without touching anything, and then grab another piece of tape and start taping the dust out of the screen or adhesive side of the protector and you'll be dust free in no time. Friends came over cuz they all needed new protectors and i did 4 phones in 20 minutes.
Hybrid Flexi Case
I got my new case today....went with the Smoke & Smoke combo. This case is awesome, I HIGHLY recommend it. the sides don't flap and it has a really tight fit and seems really durable. Got it off of EBay for about $8.50 ($4.50 for case + $4.00 shipping/handling) from Daydeal as opposed to going to their site and paying $13.99.
Impulses said:
P.S. This is the Honeycomb (Smoke & Red) combination I was alluding to... There's also Honeycomb (Smoke & Smoke) and plain Black & Smoke (no honeycomb pattern, solid black sides). The red is the most distinct imo, those are all probably better in the long run than the clear back (less forgiving).
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I went with the smoke on smoke honeycomb case and got it today. It's darker so I think it'll hide any scratching that my occur on the backing. I agree with you on the clear backs when I first saw them, but the back seems scratch resistant (only time will tell)
Hiway said:
I got my new case today....went with the Smoke & Smoke combo. This case is awesome, I HIGHLY recommend it. the sides don't flap and it has a really tight fit and seems really durable. Got it off of EBay for about $8.50 ($4.50 for case + $4.00 shipping/handling) from Daydeal as opposed to going to their site and paying $13.99.
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If possible can you please post pics? Im interested in this case but have only seen Daydeal's review on it.
Saw this over on the Case-Mate site:
https://www.case-mate.com/HTC-EVO-4G-Cases/Case-Mate-HTC-EVO-4G-Gelli-Cases.asp
I have the dark smoke Epik TPU case, but ordered the Tomato one for a splash of color.
Are they the rubbery feel that makes it hard to take out of a front jean pocket?
Let us know how this case is compare to the TPU case. I like tight fitting aspect of the TPU case but hate how the side/power button is too hard to press.
These ARE tpu
If you look carefully (also states in the description) there is a pattern on these. Sigh. It is triangles. I don't care for the pattern personally. I just did not want to see someone buy one without noticing this first.
I got mine yesterday and like it alot. It's much more refined and better looking than the Epik case. There are no rough edges or bulge near the volume rocker like on the Epik case, and the finish has a translucent quality to it. The case is also slightly thinner than the Epik case and feels much better in the hand.
At first I was going to return the case because it appears that the camera lens is almost flush with the edge of the case, so I thought there was inadequate protection for the camera. However, I noticed that when you place the case on a flat surface, the back is actually tapered so that the bottom half of the phone is level with the surface, but raises up slightly towards the camera lens. There is a good 1-2 millimeter clearance between the surface and the camera lens. The phone is completely level though and you can't tell unless you are looking at it sideways. Quite brilliant!
The only downsides are the volume buttons are harder to hit than on the Epik case, and the glossy skin is a little bit more slippery than the Epik case. The Epik feels more "grippy". It also came with a screen protector which is about average at best. Anyways, feel free if you have any questions.
Oh and the pattern is actually circles, not triangles.
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
Hi, few days ago I was happy Z3c owner. Phone is great but it's one of the most fragile phones on market so I'm looking for a case.
I bough Ringke Fusion but seems also not so protective comparing to cases I had before for older phones like Ballistic or Trident.
So, if You would like to help me choose right. Except one I have (Ringke) I found Cruzerlite - looks nice cause on left side only magnetic port is opened so not so many weak spots but it also like Ringke seems like tuned regular TPU for 2$.
Case Mate from Z1c after adding few cutouts looks promising and people are saying it's best protection case. I also found Incipio Dual Layer case but I heard that rubber part is stretching and I hate it when it does.
There are many other cases on eBay for 2-10$ but I would like not to buy another case like this Ringke which is not best choice for me for it's price.
Cruzerlite Bugdroid.
Bought 14 months ago. Great cover
I use the Case-Mate Barely There clear plastic case (edit: for the z3c, not the modified z1c in the poll). It's hard plastic, not TPU, but I like it because it has a very slim profile.
Thank You, but unlike all I prefer something more "bulky". I used that my phone can hit on the street when I'm running and get out of this without a scratch. Pity that there is no such case for Z3c.
Hama Crystal Case for Z3C, fits perfect(without plastic adapters)
This thread should include the Devilcase. It can take hits to concrete, leaves the USB flap and magnetic port exposed, and adds minimal bulk.
I never saw any crash tests with Devilcase but I don't think those tiny parts of foam or sponge between phone and bumper can absorb damage.
I know it looks great but without it phone also looks great and I think with and without this case screen is as well exposed as without it. If I depend only on scratch protection I would take any 0.3mm transparent case.
Anyway thank You for mention.
The sides of the bumper come up about 2mm,so that with a glass screen protector (that you should get no matter which case you buy) there is still about 1mm separating the protector from the offending surface.
And like I said, I've dropped it multiple times onto concrete to absolutely 0 ill effect. It's not like other slim cases, aluminum behaves much differently than silicone.
I'm working in a repair service center and I saw many iPhones after they hit the ground in a alu bumper and they looks same as phones without any protection. Thats why I conclude that all hard cases and bumpers acts the same in contact with the floor.
Of course I'm using tempered glass but it can help in case of direct impact on the screen but it wont help with pressure formed from the side impact.
Still I'd go for something more flexible cause I'd rather not to test aluminum shock absorption.
I think if I wont find anything decent I will order Cruzerlite and after comparing it with Ringke I'll stay with better one.
It sad there is no really rugged case for Z3c.
You can laugh but after reading some reviews I ordered Devilcase.
I didn't want to argue with you, as we had contradictory personal experience. I won't laugh, you made a good choice.
I once had the original Sony case.
Plus: The magnet that opens the screen when opening the case
Minus: The window that is positioned in a different place than the clock widget. One cannot change the position of this clock widget on the lock screen.
Minus: The book-wise opening which makes the front flap being a hindrance for easy handling
Now I bought a cheap one, opening from the top side:
Plus: Easy handling
Plus: Self installed magnet in the flap for automagic opening of the screen when opening the flap.
Plus: Good protection
I have some pictures.
The Sony Cover pictures are taken with original locked phone.
The other pictures with unlocked Marshmallow and destroyed DRM keyes.
It's easy to see the bad picture quality after unlocking. :crying: :crying:
The best by far is the Case-Mate Tough for the Z3 Compact.
It's dual layered with an inner rubber layer and a solid plastic outer layer.
It has cut outs so you can use it with the official Dock DK48 and leaves the usb and sd card flap accessible.
http://www.case-mate.com/products/black-sony-xperia-z3-compact-tough-case
Do You have or tested one??
I have one and it's awesome. Good grip too.
I skipped this one cause most reviews I found was negative. Mostly because like half of the phone is unprotected.
Only a portion of one side is uncovered, all the corners are protected and even if you dropped it sideways the case sticks out.so the phone isn't touched. Try it out you will see how tough it feels.
Make no mistake, the phone is very safe.
devilcase all the way
I dropped my Z3c several times already, sometimes on a pavement. not even a scratch on the phone itself, Barely There protects it really well.
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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Click to collapse
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.