Phone cases - Rubber vs Plastic - General Accessories

I'm curious as to current thoughts on the whole rubber v plastic cases debate. I'd like to go with a rubber case personally as I like the feel and generally think they are less intrusive, but at the end of the day, I'm buying a case for protection over anything else.
What is the current thoughts in 2013 about case types, and who is the leading brand? Is otter boxes still way ahead of most of the competition?

i used otterbox defender for 10 months and switched over to an aluminum bumper on my note 2, which is slightly better because of the bulk

twistededge said:
I'm curious as to current thoughts on the whole rubber v plastic cases debate. I'd like to go with a rubber case personally as I like the feel and generally think they are less intrusive, but at the end of the day, I'm buying a case for protection over anything else.
What is the current thoughts in 2013 about case types, and who is the leading brand? Is otter boxes still way ahead of most of the competition?
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Click to collapse
rubber. always rubber.

Actually, a hybrid with fused rubber/plastic is a much better alternative; like UAG cases.

one rubber case saved my phone more times, for 1$ una tantum
very good!
:good:

I usually get cases made of flexible plastic, but hard plastic mixed with rubber is pretty awesome too, like an otterbox

I would go with rubber. Seems to offer better shock protection

Rubber for me too.

I prefer to feel the original cover of the phone. However, as it may fall anyhow i've just ordered a plastic crystal cover to protect it without losing the view of the beautiful back of my white Nexus 5.

rubber ftw
more elastic i think

rubber and plastic

Rubber for me too.
Rubber for me too.

Some rubber cases are pretty much dust magnets so beware of those. Other than that, I'd generally still stick with rubber over plastic mainly because I feel that it absorbs shock/ fall damage a lot better than plastic. With plastic, feels more like crack on impulse. I have an Otterbox Defender and I dropped my phone while holding the door for someone and well, phone was still functioning so glad Otterbox worked. However, i haven't tried any other brands.
I did read about other phone case makers using fancy names like silicone, TPU, and what not. No clue what they are, but would be interesting to see an actual in-depth review of that.

Related

Finally found a case i love... the Hybrid

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150714195631?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Hybrid case with hard plastic around each corner but the rubbery feel/grip where you will hold the phone. really tight and not bulky.
this is my 3rd case. Kickstand case - waaay too bulky. tpu case - nice but kind of slippery didn't think it protected the phone that well. this hybrid case is just great...highly recommended.
knives of ice said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150714195631?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Hybrid case with hard plastic around each corner but the rubbery feel/grip where you will hold the phone. really tight and not bulky.
this is my 3rd case. Kickstand case - waaay too bulky. tpu case - nice but kind of slippery didn't think it protected the phone that well. this hybrid case is just great...highly recommended.
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How is the case. I saw it and was thinking about it. My biggest thing is how much bigger and heavier does it make the phone? I'm using a tpu for that exact reason.
Holy crap that thing looks THICK... look how recessed the camera bezel is! And that sticks out of the phone!
I never understood why anyone would want a hard case. Hard cases will transmit all the shock right through the case to the phone - which is what you buy your phone to protect.
I've got a TPU case, it's got a feel like hard rubber, so if I dropped it, I'd feel better that the case itself would absorb shock and protect the phone.
Plus, it's thin - look at pictures of it and compare how the lens looks. It fits well enough that it doesn't even look like a case, honestly.
because hard cases stop PUNCTURE assaults. Soft cases stop impact assaults.
so a "hybrid" is usually preferred. soft on the corners where impacts do the most damage and "hard" on the back to stop puncture style impacts.
at least that is the theory.

A new case for my Vibrant

Hi all, I am looking for a new case for my Vibrant. I currently have the "Officially the best Case.." but unfortunatelly it is falling apart after a good 1+ year run. Now I am looking to replace it with the same one or with something better (have not been keeping up)
Looking at the "Officially the best case.." I do not see any current links for it. And I have to say that I am limited to purchasing a case from ebay and worldwide shipping. Can you guys recommend something?
I would recommend any type of TPU case. I have one, and it has lasted me 1+ years. Absorbs shocks well and is relatively thin. There are a bunch on eBay.
I am looking at some black TPU cases, but on the poor images they put, I cannot see if there are buttons, cut out buttons on the actual case.. For example this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-New-T...ccessories&hash=item20bdf50ab6#ht_2636wt_1392
I do not see power and volume buttons on the side..
From what I know, I doubt that any will have cut out buttons. But you could make the holes yourself.
Ya, ok, not cut out buttons, but at least take the shape of the buttons...so you can distinguish them where hey are by touching the phone..
The cases will have protruding buttons for the places where the buttons are located. I hope you get a good case.
You should get the otterbox. I've had mine since it came out and it still looks like new. Dropped it a couple of times and you'd never know to look at it. I'm sure that you can find it on ebay.
I just got the Trident Aegis case. It looks nice and provides good protection (silicone + hard plastic). The buttons are also easier to press than before.
However, the thing is a dust magnet (what kind of silicone isn't?), so I'd recommend keeping it out of dirty pockets as much as possible. It's also not cheap ($25 on Amazon), but is worth it IMO.
I also bought a Mercury jelly case off eBay today, so that's a cheaper option.
3D0
The 3D0 case seems to be pretty good. I just wish it covered the entire back like the model for the SGS II does.
casemate hard case and screen protector keep my phone mint, and very thin. Was $35 and I have a picture from my wedding on the back that i constantly get comments about. Had it a year and hardly shows scratches.
I'm returning my Trident Aegis. The plastic started chipping off and I wasn't really a fan of the dust it attracted.
I'm using the Seidio innocase now. Seems kind of flimsy, but is a lot lighter and thinner than the Aegis.
Get a TPU. It protects from scratches and dropping quite well, I'm reluctant to buy any other kind of case. I haven't seen any TPU cases with the buttons cut out. They're one piece units that are hard to rip, tear and really damage in any way. And all the functions of the phone are still easily accessible. The buttons may feel a little hard to press at firsts, but you get used to it. I bought one like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TPU-Silicon...576411?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item3371ccc19b
Trident Cyclops here. Available on ebay starting at $17.50 shipped and it is a tank. I did remove the built in screen protector as it annoyed the crap out of me. Gorilla glass is awesome and as far as I am concerned I do not need a screen protector.
My only gripe is getting it into and out of my pockets the silicone does tend to grab the cloth.
I have the Otterbox and would highly recommend it. It has good shock protection with an outer layer to prevent scratching. The silicone layer does attract lint but good luck finding one that won't!
As I understand it, the silicone cases are more environmentally friendly than the TPU. I've been using silicone, rotating through 6 colors (liturgical) seasonally, and have dropped my phone more times than I can count. It just bounces. Not a scratch to be seen, and given the softness of the silicone, it does a better job than most non-water resistant cases at keeping things dry. And, like Martha Stewart's silpats and silicone lubricant, nothing, but nothing sticks to it. Yes, it's a bit rubbery, but I can put it in the back pocket of some jeans I probably should finally put in the skinny-pants bin as easily as without the case. That's pure silicone, which isn't TPU. TPU is pretty plastic-y, rather than rubbery, usually, but it depends on what other, er, crap you put in it. I think the folks selling it don't care what kind of plasticized, probably-a-little-toxic material their selling, they just want to move them.
What I like most about it, though, is that it stays on when I want it to, but I can pop it off in .75 sec. OK, then there's the price...
Thansks for the info. I need back case asap. This thread helped.
i hope im not too late into recommendations but a silicon case should be the best choice, the vibrant is an extremely tough phone and hard cases would be almost a waste( plus the overall thickness will increase greatly)...
My case is a hard case and is very thin, the silicone case is good unless you carry your phone in your pocket. Then you get to experience lint and your pocket turning inside out whenever you need your phone . I recommend casemate hard cases, you can customize them.
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Quick Review of the Incipio NGP, AT&T Gel and Case-Mate Tough Case

I got 3 cases for my Lumia 900 and wanted to do a quick review of them so that it could help some of you guys decide one which ones to buy.
Prices listed are directly from the manufacturers website, I am sure you could find them cheaper elsewhere.
Incipio NGP
Price: $19.99
This case isn't too thick but it is thicker than the AT&T Gel case and will offer more protection against drops. Incipio's NGP is a TPU style case, so it's more stiff than traditional silicone cases and it doesn't attract any lint. The fit is very tight and leaves all the ports open, and covers all the buttons.
The only issue I had with this case was that the buttons are a bit tough to press. Especially when taking photos because it's hard to press the camera button on it's first stage for focus, I found it was a bit frustrating when using this case and taking photos. Other than that it's a very nice TPU style case that isn't too expensive.
AT&T Gel
Price: $20.00
This is more of a silicone type case, it's very flexible and has a smooth feel and doesn't attract lint. All the ports are left open, the buttons are covered.
This case is awesome if you like the look and feel of a naked phone because you can hardly tell this case is on the phone. The buttons are very easy to press. It does offer some protection but not as much as the Incipio NGP. I really enjoyed this case due to the fact that it feels like there's no case on the phone at all. It's not too pricey at 20 bucks.
Case-Mate Tough Case
Price: $35.00
This case has an inner soft silicone piece and an outer polycarbonate shell that fits over the silicone. The shell also has a rubbery coating. This case is the thickest of the three, it is also the most protective against drops. I really like this case due to the protection it offers. It fits very well.
This case seems like something Otterbox would have made, it reminds me of their commuter series cases. It leaves all the ports open, it covers the buttons and they are easy to press. The one thing to note is the camera cutout is much small than the other two cases which I personally like, that means that little chrome strip in the back is less likely to get scratched up.
The silicone on this case does collect a bit of lint which is kind of annoying. It's a bit of a trade-off for the protection. It fits very well and looks good. It does thicken the phone up a good amount but that doesn't bother me personally.
Overall it's a very nice case, and the best choice if you want protection, a little more expensive than the others but you are getting something more protective.
[Unfortunately I don't have enough posts to add my link to all the photos I took... :-(
I also have the Incipio NGP case in Translucent Mercury and I have also noticed that it is hard to press the buttons. I'm not sure if my case is bad but it looks like the buttons on the case are about 1-2mm lower than the buttons on the phone which I think is causing the button problem.
I also have the casemate barely there case in black which matches with the phone color really well. My only problem with the case mate is the top and the bottom of the phone is exposed with no coverage. the only top and bottom protection seems to come from the case being a little longer than the phone causing a some what annoying over hang.
I'm kinda new here too so I can't post any pictures but I will try too when I am able too.
I thought about purchasing the barely there case but it just doesn't offer the protection I need. I am pretty happy with their Tough Case though.
I wanted to update this now and post the link to the photos, so here they are!
Thanks for the photos.
Just what I wanted to see.

Otterbox COMMUTER vs Case Mate TOUGH

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.
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Plasticy Case?

Anyone know if there is a decent Plastic type case for our T989? I'm looking for something that will emulate the back cover feel. I don't like silicone cases and really looking for something that will protect the phone but have basically the same feel that it does right now.
Basically I want it to take some punishment but be able to take it out of my pocket easilly like it does now.
The diztronic TPU cases seem to fit your criteria. I have one and like it. It's not silicon and stays on quite firmly. I've dropped my phone many times with no dings or scratches. Without a case, the t989 actually is too thin sometimes.
i got a smoke color TPU from ebay and its smooth and glossy like the back cover - doesnt feel too rubbery or too much like plastic
Try this case i bought on amazon. its not very expensive and it has a hard plastic back but the sides are TPU material. the case feels great on my phone and its very snug. it can surely take a beating and it doesnt add much bulk to the phone. i recommend it.
only downside is that the power and volume buttons are not cut out but everything else is.
i still highly recommend it. if you look under the sellers page and type t989 in the search bar it will give you more of the same case in different colors.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006LPARZG/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00
musicguy99 said:
The diztronic TPU cases seem to fit your criteria. I have one and like it. It's not silicon and stays on quite firmly. I've dropped my phone many times with no dings or scratches. Without a case, the t989 actually is too thin sometimes.
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I agree, I've been using the Diztronic case on my Galaxy S2 and I am very happy with it.
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