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So I was looking around and it turns out there aren’t very many reviews for bumper cases for the Nexus 5. I ordered a Bright Red 32GB as a replacement for my old Black 32GB phone that suffered from a Dognado. I also wanted to give a few @slickwraps skins a shot, so a bumper case was my only option. Now I know why there aren’t very many reviews for bumper cases… Turns out the selections for bumper cases on the Nexus 5 are quite crap… There are maybe 2 or 3 different bumpers out there and that’s pretty much it. They are also a mixed bag in terms of opinion here on XDA and elsewhere. But I did stumble upon these “lucency” transparent bumper cases. They’re pretty much available for every smartphone out there, so I figured why not give it a shot. (Last pics are my finished product with the red bumper + red phone + black carbon fiber skin!)
Knowing my problem with never being able to order only 1 of anything, I ordered all of the colours except for purple, pink, and somehow I missed black… I have since ordered a black bumper, once I received them and realized I didn’t have it… so that one’s still a few weeks away. Anyway, let’s get on to business.
Price:Currently $2.88 USD
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/3011059081...eName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Materials and Build Quality:
I was a bit hesitant when I was ordering them because I thought they were made entirely of TPU. I figured that since clear TPU tends to yellow over time, that I might be stuck with yellowed bumper cases. I went for it anyway though. To my surprise, the clear portion is not TPU but flexible and bendable transparent polycarbonate. Basically it is a harder plastic casing, with only the coloured portions being TPU. The closest I can describe it would be similar to a Poetic Borderline case, but instead of different colours of shiny plastic, you have clear plastic instead. In this case though, I think the clear plastic is a bit thicker as when you place the phone on its back, the camera is raised off of the table; while other people have said the camera was still in contact with the table in the Poetic Borderline case.
That brings me to the second point here. With it being made of a harder plastic, the drop protection is a little bit less than TPU. While I think it should be fine with a drop of maybe 1 or 2 feet, that would probably be the max though. Any higher, and the shock from the impact probably wouldn’t dissipate well and go right through the phone instead of being absorbed/dispersed/repelled like a normal TPU case would. This case should be able to protect from a light drop, but don’t expect the phone to survive a fall on the edges from higher than a couple of feet. Still, the drop protection and TPU lining on the front and back are perfect for my needs, and much better protection than the phone being naked of course.
The case seems to be built well and doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy. The TPU and clear plastic are molded together very well and don’t look like they will peel apart, tear, or snap. So the build quality of the bumper I think is actually quite strong and sturdy; pretty good for the price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fit and Finish:
There are pros and cons when it comes to the fit and finish of these bumper cases. So I’m going to break in into those 2 sections:
Pros:
Snug Fit: The case fits on perfectly. It is not loose in the case, doesn’t wiggle around at all, and feels sturdy and solid once it’s attached. There is no way that the case will be coming off of the phone unless you take it off yourself. There is also enough give on the sides so that it isn’t super tight, just snug.
Transparency and Contrast: This is personal preference of course, but I love the fact that the framing is clear and you can still see the back and sides of the phone through the case. I also like how it is just the bordering and buttons that are made of coloured TPU, so the lay on the table (face down) and raised back protection (for the camera) are both there. And the contrast between the clear + coloured TPU + phone make a very nice look.
TPU Protective Lining: I just mentioned this above, but it does serve additional purposes. Other than providing the lip for the front of the screen and back as well, it also serves to protect the clear plastic from making any contact with the surface you are placing your phone on. This protects the clear portion of the case from getting scratched up by dirt and debris on tables etc.
Also, the TPU lining protects the phone from getting scratched by the edges of the clear plastic. On the back of the phone, where the clear portion ends, the TPU acts as a cover over the rough edge of the clear plastic to protect the back of the phone from getting scratched by the case. On the front, the lip is entirely TPU, so the hooked edge holding the case on the phone is TPU and not hard plastic.
That brings me to the next point.
No Scratching: You might think with it being a mix of harder plastic and TPU that it may scratch the phone, but it won’t. All of the parts that hold the phone in the case are made of TPU. So it will pop in and out, and the only thing “rubbing” against the phone (corners/sides/etc.) when you put it on or take it off, will be TPU material.
Tactile Buttons: This is a concern that a lot of people have when they buy cases; is there still going to be feedback when the case covers the buttons. I am happy to say that yes, the buttons still have good tactile feedback when you press them. Using TPU over the buttons was a good idea, and the snug fit of the case means the TPU sits firmly over the buttons. Basically when you click, you feel it click.
Cons:
TPU isn’t neatly done in some areas: This is nitpicking a little bit, but there are some parts of the case where the TPU material doesn’t look as nicely finished. What I mean is there are a few bits of extra TPU material here and there, and a few bits remain from the moulding process. I guess it can be a bit difficult to melt TPU onto clear plastic and keep it super tidy…
Small headphone cutout: It is basically just enough to fit your standard jack from a set of earbuds, but don’t expect it to fit anything larger. It’s a relatively small opening. They basically made it "just enough" but nothing more.
Smallish USB cutout: The cutout is actually big enough to fit every microUSB cable I have, but the TPU lip over the bottom front of the phone gets in the way. It’s not really a problem as you can just lift the TPU up and plug in the cable, but it is a bit of an annoyance.
Colours: This isn’t really much of a big deal, but it is something to note. The dark blue isn’t really a dark blue (even though the pictures show it that way). It is more of a mix of purple and blue. The orange as well isn’t really orange; it’s more of a "peach" orange colour. Some people may like the colours that way, but for me I would rather have a real dark blue, and a real orange…
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pictures:
Anyway, on to the pictures! Since I have the majority of the colours, I might as well show pictures of all of them on the phone. These were mostly done on my Black Nexus 5, but I think they would still look pretty good on the white one as well. My Red Nexus 5 I think will be limited to only Black, White, and Red as the rest of the colors sort of clash.
** NOTE: The macro pictures really do a good job of highlighting DUST between the cases and the phone. You don’t see it at all to the naked eye.**
Green:
Dark Blue:
**Note: This colour looks dark blue in pictures, but is actually more of a purple blue.**
White:
**Note: You can see with the white case what I was mentioning earlier about some of the TPU not being neatly done in some areas.**
Orange:
**Note: While the pictures don’t really show it, this case has more of a peach colour than all out orange. It is orange, but “peachy” orange… **
Light Blue:
Red:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Conclusions:
I’ll keep it simple. I like them! They’re sturdy and fit well. And being clear really highlights the contrast between the phone and the TPU lining. :good:
Bonus:
My new Red Nexus 5 with a Slickwraps Black Carbon Fiber Skin + Red Bumper!
GhostNGoblins91 said:
Looks good! Nice colors on these cases.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, I really like the contrast the colours make with the phone. It kind of reminds me of Tron! haha.
While these cases aren't really appealing to me, I've gotta say I love your reviews. I hope you buy a whole lot more **** for the nexus 5 so we get more reviews from you ?
Sent from my Nexus 7 2013 using Tapatalk
The best combination by far(red N5 with black carbon back and clear/red bumper!)
Why are you doing that? Now I want a couple of this bumpers! But I said that I'm going to stop buying cases because now I have 10.?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
D3_ said:
While these cases aren't really appealing to me, I've gotta say I love your reviews. I hope you buy a whole lot more **** for the nexus 5 so we get more reviews from you ?
Sent from my Nexus 7 2013 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Haha, thanks bud! I think I'm running out of accessories that appeal to me though!
And yeah, the cases are definitely personal tastes. It's understandable that they won't suit everyone. I might have already cleared out ebay of all of the things I want.
dsmpampis said:
The best combination by far(red N5 with black carbon back and clear/red bumper!)
Why are you doing that? Now I want a couple of this bumpers! But I said that I'm going to stop buying cases because now I have 10.?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah the Red Phone + Black Carbon Fiber Skin + Red Bumper really is an eye catcher! Black and Red is just such a good combo.
I think you're suffering from the same thing I am. Accessory Addiction! hahaha. I have so many cases and Qi chargers it's ridiculous.
Thank You!! Looks Slick!
We need to get some Glow in Dark accents in there for that Tron look. Reach out to me.
Thank You!
Weston
Slickwraps.com
slickwraps said:
Thank You!! Looks Slick!
We need to get some Glow in Dark accents in there for that Tron look. Reach out to me.
Thank You!
Weston
Slickwraps.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done and done! Sent you a DM. Much appreciated!
I have a red N5, I'm buying online from a China site, they get the stocks directly from the manufacturer so they're relatively cheaper, about USD$1.5 ea, but I think that most of the colours will clash with my red N5, so I got the red and black only.
Now I wish I had gotten a black N5 thanks to all your pictures......
Here's the full range of colours available on the Chinese site, if anyone's interested!
Sent from Jonn,
Jiayit's OMG-MY-EYES Neon Nexus.
jiayit said:
I have a red N5, I'm buying online from a China site, they get the stocks directly from the manufacturer so they're relatively cheaper, about USD$1.5 ea, but I think that most of the colours will clash with my red N5, so I got the red and black only.
Now I wish I had gotten a black N5 thanks to all your pictures......
Here's the full range of colours available on the Chinese site, if anyone's interested!
View attachment 2643738
Sent from Jonn,
Jiayit's OMG-MY-EYES Neon Nexus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the thing about black though, it pretty much goes with anything. So it's kind of too easy! It's like you're cheating.:laugh: Just be creative, try putting on some different types of skins for the sides and back. It can completely change the look of your phone.
I chose the red Nexus 5 as a replacement, because I knew I was going to be putting skins on the phone and wanted the letters to be red. I didn't actually choose it because I wanted a red phone, but the contrast the red letters make through different skins is a really nice look.
Also, if you want to give the link to the website you use for the cases, I can add it to the OP.
This combo looks good. It's the Light Blue Bumper + Red Nexus 5 + Black Carbon Fiber Skin. So you don't just have to stick with red and black.
mmmmBACON said:
That's the thing about black though, it pretty much goes with anything. So it's kind of too easy! It's like you're cheating.:laugh: Just be creative, try putting on some different types of skins for the sides and back. It can completely change the look of your phone.
I chose the red Nexus 5 as a replacement, because I knew I was going to be putting skins on the phone and wanted the letters to be red. I didn't actually choose it because I wanted a red phone, but the contrast the red letters make through different skins is a really nice look.
Also, if you want to give the link to the website you use for the cases, I can add it to the OP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait? You didn't have a red one to start? They let you change color?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
ethan.r.besbris said:
Wait? You didn't have a red one to start? They let you change color?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, they didn't let me change colour. I bought a new one. I have both a black and a red Nexus 5. My dog broke the screen on my black one (that's why I don't show the front of it), instead of sending it in to get the screen fixed,I ordered a red one as a replacement. It would have cost over $200 anyway with shipping+tax, and not having a phone for several weeks wasn't an option for me. I wanted red NEXUS lettering when I put a skin on it.
mmmmBACON said:
No, they didn't let me change colour. I bought a new one. I have both a black and a red Nexus 5. My dog broke the screen on my black one (that's why I don't show the front of it), instead of sending it in to get the screen fixed,I ordered a red one as a replacement. It would have cost over $200 anyway with shipping+tax, and not having a phone for several weeks wasn't an option for me. I wanted red NEXUS lettering when I put a skin on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just picked up the white and black ones. I have the alligator leather wrap on my phone, so hopefully these cases will make it look even better. It will be nice to have a little added protection, but keep the sleek look of the wrap.
I really like the way the white and orange one looks. These are pretty cool. But I've already got a "light" case - the Ringke Fusion. I'm not sure when I'd use something like this over the fusion - especially when the fusion has the cool back plates.
But either way, these are fantastic looking.
Great post, thanks for the pics!
kopower said:
Just picked up the white and black ones. I have the alligator leather wrap on my phone, so hopefully these cases will make it look even better. It will be nice to have a little added protection, but keep the sleek look of the wrap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think they'll look good on your phone with the wrap. That's pretty much the reason I got these ones. I wanted to show the skin without adding too much bulk. It also helps that the bumper is mostly clear! A little bit of extra protection while staying for the most part, out of the way.
IceCatraz said:
I really like the way the white and orange one looks. These are pretty cool. But I've already got a "light" case - the Ringke Fusion. I'm not sure when I'd use something like this over the fusion - especially when the fusion has the cool back plates.
But either way, these are fantastic looking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, they contrast really well with the black Nexus 5. They suit my needs quite well, generally minimalism. I'm not really into full cases. And with my hands usually moist a lot of the time, a clear backed case would be covered in fingerprints and smudges instantly. For me at least, you won't really notice the fingerprints on a bumper as much.
Also, I can use my magnetic car dock and still attach it right to the back of the phone without the need for a case + metal plate! :good:
Oh true, but despite the look, I still do want a little more protection. I've got a Trident case on the way that I'll use whenever I'm heading to work or just feel that I'll be clumsy that day, but I love rocking the thin case whenever I'm off. Using it in your car, as you've said, is totally a bonus worth looking over, though. Hmm..
Well, I'll pick up a few soon and I'll mess around with them. I know I'm going to be picking up a slickwrap lens skin soon, so maybe I'll get one of these to go along with it.
IceCatraz said:
Oh true, but despite the look, I still do want a little more protection. I've got a Trident case on the way that I'll use whenever I'm heading to work or just feel that I'll be clumsy that day, but I love rocking the thin case whenever I'm off. Using it in your car, as you've said, is totally a bonus worth looking over, though. Hmm..
Well, I'll pick up a few soon and I'll mess around with them. I know I'm going to be picking up a slickwrap lens skin soon, so maybe I'll get one of these to go along with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, being bumpers these won't provide lots of protection, just a few bumps on the edges and maybe a light drop. They'll never match a real case. I'm coming from Quicksand hardcases though, in terms of drop protection (where most times it's a corner or edge) these things are like tanks in comparison! :laugh:
These bumpers are pretty cheap as well. So it's easy to just buy a couple and play around with them. If you don't really like them, they didn't exactly break the bank.
The magnetic car dock thing was kind of a bonus; I didn't realize it at first. Using the quicksand cases, there's a small round metal plate you put in between the case and the phone, then it attaches to the mount no problem. With the bumper and skin, the car dock just locks on to the metal plates meant for the Qi charger in the back of the phone. Super convenient. I just got in my car and thought crap... but I just stuck it against the phone and it worked perfectly.
This is the CD slot car mount I have: http://www.amazon.com/InfiniApps-Smartphones-Cradle-less-Quick-snap-technology/dp/B00DPMNNUO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395707885&sr=8-1&keywords=infiniapps. There's actually a generic one on Amazon that is pretty much the exact same thing for $15.99.
mmmmBACON said:
Yeah, being bumpers these won't provide lots of protection, just a few bumps on the edges and maybe a light drop. They'll never match a real case. I'm coming from Quicksand hardcases though, in terms of drop protection (where most times it's a corner or edge) these things are like tanks in comparison! :laugh:
These bumpers are pretty cheap as well. So it's easy to just buy a couple and play around with them. If you don't really like them, they didn't exactly break the bank.
The magnetic car dock thing was kind of a bonus; I didn't realize it at first. Using the quicksand cases, there's a small round metal plate you put in between the case and the phone, then it attaches to the mount no problem. With the bumper and skin, the car dock just locks on to the metal plates meant for the Qi charger in the back of the phone. Super convenient. I just got in my car and thought crap... but I just stuck it against the phone and it worked perfectly.
This is the CD slot car mount I have: http://www.amazon.com/InfiniApps-Smartphones-Cradle-less-Quick-snap-technology/dp/B00DPMNNUO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395707885&sr=8-1&keywords=infiniapps. There's actually a generic one on Amazon that is pretty much the exact same thing for $15.99.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm. I'll definitely have to look into that, as well. I have a carmount already - it's a home made one that functions as both a wireless charger and car mount, but I have to take my case off to use it. (I made the catch a smidge too small.) I actually use it in my home office (because it can swivel and I can have it standing and facing me next to my computer.) However, I think that it'll actually fit with one of these cases. Now I definitely want to pick one of these up. Thanks for both of the links. I might get a car mount to actually use in my car.
IceCatraz said:
Hm. I'll definitely have to look into that, as well. I have a carmount already - it's a home made one that functions as both a wireless charger and car mount, but I have to take my case off to use it. (I made the catch a smidge too small.) I actually use it in my home office (because it can swivel and I can have it standing and facing me next to my computer.) However, I think that it'll actually fit with one of these cases. Now I definitely want to pick one of these up. Thanks for both of the links. I might get a car mount to actually use in my car.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh nice. I'm not that handy when it comes to making stuff! I can put a skin on my phone pretty damn perfectly, but I think that's the extent of my skills. :laugh:
I can't really use wireless charging in the car though. I use navigation and stream music pretty heavily and wireless charging won't provide enough current to charge it simultaneously while doing that. Also, the phone get's hot enough just using navigation + streaming music; if I added in wireless charging I'm pretty sure my phone would melt into a puddle.
mmmmBACON said:
Oh nice. I'm not that handy when it comes to making stuff! I can put a skin on my phone pretty damn perfectly, but I think that's the extent of my skills. :laugh:
I can't really use wireless charging in the car though. I use navigation and stream music pretty heavily and wireless charging won't provide enough current to charge it simultaneously while doing that. Also, the phone get's hot enough just using navigation + streaming music; if I added in wireless charging I'm pretty sure my phone would melt into a puddle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It gets REALLY hot whenever I charge and do a conference/video call, so yeah, I wouldn't try it. It's not that big of a deal, either - it was really just adding clamps onto the side of a flat QI charger I had lying around so it would hold the phone (because I'm too picky and didn't trust the magnet.) I'll eventually post pictures next time I'm at my home office. But it's relatively simple in comparison to these fancy ones.
I do have a question regarding these cases, though. I know you mentioned that the case doesn't "feel" cheap - just how bendy is it? If I leave it around, will my wife's 1 year old niece bend it beyond repair?
Related
Hi everyone,
I was asked by Blake from RearthUSA.com to evaluate their new rubber case for the Sprint EVO 4G. I have the white EVO really wanted to get a good case for my favorite little everything device.
There are things that I was looking for. From my past experiences with other types of case I had some requirements.
1. I hated the hard cases, because they were very difficult to get off. So hard that eventually the face plate of the hard case will break. You have to pry them off and that cause scratches and nicks and scars on the edges of the seams of the case.
2. The silicon cases fit and give great grip, but everything sticks to the surface. The material grabs the lint and crap in your pockets and out of the air. It is very hard to pull out of your pocket. This make it more annoying when the phone is ringing and you are trying to get it out in time. You have to force it out and grab tighter, this causes you to accidently push buttons on the screen or the hard buttons on the phone.
3. I did not want the case to add to much thickness to the phone. I love how thin it is. Can’t understand why people want a thin sexy phone, but then add on these thick cases that give huge protection.
4. I don’t want it to look cheap. Most generic rubber cases look so plain, cheap, and non-sexy. They are like a potato bad on a sexy runway model.
5. I am also very concerned about the back camera lens. I am still trying to figure out what was on the designers mind when they thought it was a good idea to push the lens farther than the body. To be exposed to damage.. being on the back.. which will always hit all surfaces when you put it down.
Now for the Ringke cases that Blake wanted me to evaluate. They sent me 2 case to evaluate.
http://rearthusa.com/products-page/ringke-gadget-cover/htc-evo-4g/
I asked for the Red Wine and the Aqua Black.
Colors:
The colors are a little miss leading.
In normal indoor lights the color is lighter than you would think the name suggests. In the sun, it is looks more like cherry red. It is fine for me.
The Agua Black is completely miss-leading (unless I got the wrong color). Based on the only 2 dark colors available: Slate Gray or Aqua Black, what I have can not be Slate Gray because it is darker on the website. I wanted a “black/dark” cover. From what others that have gotten the Slate Gray, they said it it was too gray. The Aqua Black is partially transparent and the color is Gray! On the back side, you can see the my white EVO cover; and can read the “Sprint 4G” logo right above the kick stand.
Fit:
The 2 cases are different . The Red fits perfectly. All ports and buttons are aligned. All the edges hug the phone just enough. The phone is snug. Red case “fit” is perfect.
The Gray is slightly too small. On the front screen, the sides; the tight fit causes the lip to LIFT off the glass screen and pulled outwards to the sides. This causes the sides to not have clean straight lines. Around the kickstand the opening does not hinder it function, but lines do not match up right. I even used the Aqua for a week so that it might have time to “work itself in”, but it never changed it’s fit or shape. This also means that the Red case will keep it’s great fit; and not loose it over time.
Finish:
All the sexy lines of the EVO are not lost by this case. It highlights all the sexy curves. The detail is very good. I like the extra line that follows the battery cover. The add opening for the “htc” logo is a good touch and give it a quality design image. The added texture of the skin is nice too and give a plush feel while providing better grip.
To my 5 requirements listed above:
1. Check: it is a rubber case and is easy to get on and off. Simple.
2. Check: it has a great feel. Not sticky or grabby. Goes in the pocket and slides out clean.
3. Check: it adds a minimum of extra thickness, but still provides a good add rubber protection.
4. Check: the design and attention to extra detail keeps my EVO sexy and slim.
5. Check: they added a little extra padding around the back lens for protection.
Price:
The price is $16.99 with free shipping. This may seem a little high.
We all know we can buy generic rubber or silicon cases for $5 plus $3 shipping all day online. But at that low price, I still say they are not even worth the $8. For a good quality case that you will want to use daily, $17 is a good deal.
Conclusion:
The quality is great. (don’t order the Aqua Black unless they remake the mold)
The price is good, because you can spend more in retail stores.
Ringke case is a must buy for anyone that has the same concerns and requirements as I do.
Suggestion for RearthUSA.com:
They should have a 2 pack deal for $19.99 with free shipping.
With each color selection, it will include a solid jet black case.
Thanks and I hope this review is able to help others.
Special thanks to Blake at RearthUSA for his help to get these awesome cases to me for review.
Sincerely
Dan330
great review....looks like a nice case
Great review. I have been contemplating buying one of these cases and one of my options was going to be the wine color or slate grey. Looking at it in your pictures it looks more red than I thought I would be. I have to agree that their colors are deceiving. I notice they sell a solid black for other phone but the Evo only gets dark grey. If they had a solid black I would have purchased already. The slate grey is just a dark grey. I want this case but the colors are keeping me back.
The price is also a concern and should be changed to two for 19.99 like you stated. That would be a great deal.
Let me know if your looking to sell these if your not looking to keep them.
Ordered two as well. Should get them soon and will have my review. I got the white and dark grey for my white evo. Sold my otterbox commuter so I can buy one.
mikfroyo evo!
Good work (as always) Dan... love the write-up.
I agree: they make good stuff, and customer service is top notch.
Jjday7 said:
Great review. I have been contemplating buying one of these cases and one of my options was going to be the wine color or slate grey. Looking at it in your pictures it looks more red than I thought I would be. I have to agree that their colors are deceiving. I notice they sell a solid black for other phone but the Evo only gets dark grey. If they had a solid black I would have purchased already. The slate grey is just a dark grey. I want this case but the colors are keeping me back.
The price is also a concern and should be changed to two for 19.99 like you stated. That would be a great deal.
Let me know if your looking to sell these if your not looking to keep them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will be keeping them. I think it would be wrong if I sold them.. and they loose a sale.
They will be sold with my EVO.. when the time comes
stricklerjosh said:
Ordered two as well. Should get them soon and will have my review. I got the white and dark grey for my white evo. Sold my otterbox commuter so I can buy one.
mikfroyo evo!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why did you sell the Otterbox? what was it that u did not like?
Tre Lawrence said:
Good work (as always) Dan... love the write-up.
I agree: they make good stuff, and customer service is top notch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks dude.. after I was done writing it.. I was surprised it was so long. sorry
Alright time for my review of the rearth case:
My biggest issue was lint on my otterbox commuter, and the added weight and thickness.
I really liked the protection the commuter provided but it was a lint magnet. Was constantly wiping lint off as well as attaching the bottom flap.
I own a white evo and I didn't like the fact that the commuter completely hid that. I ordered the white cover to accentuate the white back.
I think it looks excellent. Also got a black one and you can see the white accents and it looks very good. All the cut outs are perfect.
Fit it very snug, the sides could be a little tighter but overall great fit.
Camera protection is perfect.
Most importantly for me it slides perfectly in and out of my pocket with no lint. I love it!
Came packaged very professionally.
Price is a little high but shipping is included, it is a local usa seller, and the build quality seems excellent. If you have any questions feel free to pm me.
Great job rearth on a great evo case!
mikfroyo evo!
mikfroyo... what color did you order? my Aqua Black was not like that! it was gray transparent.
update:
Blake from RearthUSA.. said that they are looking into my 2 pack deal... they liked it.. and are considering it. NO actual word to when or if they will.
Told him the same thing about 2 pack. I think it should be for the $16.99 though. I think that is aqua black. I like my white one best.
Dan330 said:
mikfroyo... what color did you order? my Aqua Black was not like that! it was gray transparent.
update:
Blake from RearthUSA.. said that they are looking into my 2 pack deal... they liked it.. and are considering it. NO actual word to when or if they will.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mikfroyo evo!
So the red isn't a dark red? Any pics of the white one? How does this case compare to the otterbox impact?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-reviews/238720-rearth-usa-silicone-case.html
there are 2 pics of the white.
I have never used an otterbox... to me they are just too big!... they make phones look frankenstien-ish
Dan330 said:
http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-reviews/238720-rearth-usa-silicone-case.html
there are 2 pics of the white.
I have never used an otterbox... to me they are just too big!... they make phones look frankenstien-ish
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, leaning toward a white and red one but ill hold on to see if they have a bundle option soon. Would you say the red is a good choice?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
i would have liked the red to be darker... more "wine" color.
but still nice. of course that is a totally opinioned answer. I think my pics are very accurate to real world looks. so base it off that.
waiting....
he only said they are looking into it... it may or may not happen and maybe not soon.
and if your phone is walking around naked... hate for it to be damaged.. while you wait.
I bought this case before realizing that the reviews i've been reading about it have all been sponsored by Rearth... oh well. It was a good choice. I'm a case eilitist and silicone cases suck due to the "grippiness" of them.
TPU cases are pretty good but I found mine to be too thick.
The Seidio Innocase is really nice but their first round of production were too big, cases too expensive and even after they fixed production to make it fit better I still found the case to feel larger than the advertised "1mm' thickness. It made an allready wide phone super-wide.
This Ringke by Rearth is damn good. Best of both worlds imo. I've never felt a material like this before. I'm not stoked about the overlap on the front of the case--how it covers the borders around the screen--but I'm trying to look at it as a feature, that is, it keeps my screen protector's corners down and protected.
This thing is so thin, yet strong and smooth = no lint, no inverted pants pockets. It will, however, slide on a smooth surface so that may be a drawback for some. Off the phone it is as floppy as it looks in the video but reliably stiff once it's on the phone.
This message was not sponsored by Rearth
ALSO...
I emailed Rearth asking if they'll ever have a true black colored case, not grey, not transparent and they said they may have it as soon as one month from now.
Is it a tight fit case? I like tpu cases because of their tight fit no bulk.
Sent From My HTC Evo 4G On The Now Network From Sprint Using Tapatalk Pro!
yes.. it was sponsored.. but i was totally honest.. did not hold anything back.
yes.. it is a very tight fit.. the phone is hugged from all sides.
Dan330 said:
i would have liked the red to be darker... more "wine" color.
but still nice. of course that is a totally opinioned answer. I think my pics are very accurate to real world looks. so base it off that.
waiting....
he only said they are looking into it... it may or may not happen and maybe not soon.
and if your phone is walking around naked... hate for it to be damaged.. while you wait.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the commuter from otterbox, seidio white, and the impact as well. Red would be a nice color change and looks like they would be easy to swap out if I get a red and white one.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
yeah... very easy to swap.... simple...
scirio said:
ALSO...
I emailed Rearth asking if they'll ever have a true black colored case, not grey, not transparent and they said they may have it as soon as one month from now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did he ever respond? about the black case?
Dan330 said:
did he ever respond? about the black case?
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Click to collapse
Yes. He said he sent his supplier (manufacturer) in Asia an email inquiring whether they would produce it in a (what I called) "true black."
He responded that they might and to check again and that he'd let me know at the end of the month. Haven't heard anything since, today's the last of the month and I understand these things take time.
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..
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Okay, let’s get this out of the way first. These are minimalist cases! They’re meant for people who would prefer going bare back, because the best is nothing at all. Scuffs, scratches, and the last time you looked, things that just shouldn’t be there, no protection can be too risky. Even though that’s what you want.
A hardcase gives you the absolute minimum coverage, so it can be as close to nothing as possible.
They won’t protect well against drops with any substantial height, drunk stumbling Friday nights, Nexus Frisbee, or if your name happens to be Freddy Fumblefingers. Please buy something softer, thicker, rubberier, or with multiple layers, because sir or madam, these cases will not be able to keep up with you.
They will protect well against scrapes, dirty tables, fake bumping into people to say “hello”, or if your better half has long sharp nails and you need a protective shield.
Currently I am using my white Ringke Slim as a baseline for comparison. It’s a great minimalist case. Fits snug and solid, and was exactly what I was looking for. I looked at eBay and saw a bunch of cases for $0.99. I figured, I’ve spent more money on dumber things, let’s take a shot and see how these compare.
I ended up buying 5 cases in 3 different styles. I limited myself to the top end only, the crème de la crème, the $0.99 category. Yes I know, big spender. Each of these cases also included free shipping. I don’t know how, but each one, all in, is literally just under a buck.
*EDIT: Some of you may be worried because you scratched the corners of your Nexus 5/heard people have scratched the corners of their Nexus 5 with hardcases (Ringke Slim, Spigen Ultra Fit, etc.) If you think you might have problems scratching your Nexus 5 taking a hardcase off, watch these video tutorials I've made. And stop worrying!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2601790
Card Trick:
Properly bending the case over corners (1 at a time): Use the camera cutout with your index finger as the pivot point/fulcrum to make it easier to bend the case out and over the corner.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Hard-Plastic-Back-Cover-Case-Skin-For-NEW-LG-Google-Nexus-5-4-E960-Candy-Color-/251377476993?pt=US_Cell_Phone_Screen_Protectors&var=&hash=item3a8743e581
First up was the candy color hardcase, in dark blue. “You’re my boy Blue!” (UPDATE: Not Recommended. Case design is not consistent, see below)
The pictures just don’t do justice to how deep of a blue this is. It’s fantastic. Build quality wise, other than the spot where you can clearly see they took it off the mold, it’s not bad. The button cut outs are correct. The headphone and micro USB cut outs are also good. The camera cutout is acceptable and there is enough space to make sure nothing is blocked, but it isn’t quite centered.
It’s a smooth plastic so it may be slippery depending on your hands. If they’re moist, no problem, but if you have dry hands, have a decent grip. Like the back of the black Nexus 5, this finish is a bit of a fingerprint magnet.
There are no sharp edges, and the plastic is a little softer and more malleable than the Ringke Slim (it’s thinner plastic). While the case fits snugly with no risk of coming off, the softer material makes it easier to bend to put on/take off the phone. Though there is less corner coverage than the Ringke Slim. The lip over the front is also miniscule, so while you could place it face down and not have the screen touch the table, you probably wouldn’t want to take the chance.
Overall, this case has an amazing shade of blue. But other than that, it’s definitely just an average case, along the “get what you pay for line.” Okay deal for a buck but don’t expect much more. If you want a case with colors that are really intense and pop, this one will suit you well. I’ll use it on occasions when I feel like there’s just not enough color around.
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Click to expand...
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Znamir81 ordered the same blue Candy color case as above and got something completely different. Maybe the seller sent him the wrong case, but either way, should probably skip the Candy Color cases. The power button cutout is different, it is larger and includes the simtray/eject. See this post for full details.
Some examples:
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http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Case-Semi-Clear-Ultra-Slim-Skin-Shield-Cover-For-LG-Google-Nexus-5-D820-w-s-Film-/321261886455?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Cases&var=&hash=item4accb35bf7
Next up are a pair of semi-transparent frosted hardcases. I got these in blue and black. They each came with a screen protector (I don’t use screen protectors so can’t comment) which was a nice gesture for a buck. They also included little keychain nub touchscreen pens. You can tell they’re cheap and hollow, but when you’re in a pinch, or maybe if you don’t want to take off your mitts in the cold, they might come in handy. I tested them and they work quite well.
Both cases were made well, no complaints. No sharp edges, no remnants of the mold where it was detached either. The material is again smooth plastic, but with a neat absorbent coating or something. My hands were semi wet/warm and I was leaving fingerprints and smudge marks all over the place. But looking at the case, the fingerprints would just dry up and disappear. It was neat, don’t know how long it will last but it was nice how I didn’t have to wipe it, it just went away on its own. Definitely not fingerprint magnets.
The cases fit snugly, and the lip is enough that if you would like to put it face down you could. Corner coverage again is minimal, and less than the Ringke Slim, a little bit more than my boy Blue up there.
The colors, while I quite like them, don’t meld too well with the black Nexus 5. The nice bright blue, turned into a dirty teal color, and the black just looked smoke gray. I think these cases would look fantastic on the white Nexus 5 (especially during the summer months). I do like that you can see the Nexus branding through the case though.
You can also see dark spots around the edges, those are where the case has more pressure against the phone than on other areas. It’s more prominent on the black Nexus 5, but I’m sure it would be minimalized or not show at all with the white.
I quite like these cases, but due to the color of the phone, I’ll probably only use them at the gym for wear and tear. The black phone really dulls the colors, but otherwise I highly recommend them (for white Nexus 5 owners) as the build quality, finish, and finger print magic are quite good. The screen protector, and touchscreen nubs are a good bonus. Fantastic deal for $0.99.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here are a few pics of the semi transparent on a white Nexus 5 from EddyOS. Those of you with a white Nexus 5 who are interested in the semi transparent cases, know that they will look much better on your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/HOT-QuickSand-Matte-Hard-Skin-Cover-Case-For-LG-Google-Nexus-5-D820-w-s-Film-/321261912603?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Cases&var=&hash=item4accb3c21b
Last is a pair of quicksand cases. There are some bigger brands that people have mentioned here that do this style, such as Bear Motion and Poetic. So let’s see how a generic version at a fraction of the price compares. These cases also came with screen protectors and touchscreen nub keychains as a bonus.
I ordered Black and Orange. At first I was going to order the Bear Motion case, but when they didn’t have black, the $0.99 club came calling.
Firstly the colors, the black is fantastic, just a slightly off black, gritty, scattered color. The “orange” on the other hand, yeah… Not quite the citrus fruit I was looking for. It’s more of a watermelon pink orange. I don’t have a problem with that; I love watermelons and their mushy, juicy, deliciousness. But for a phone, wrong fruit for me. I’ll probably give it away, or save it for a bright summer day.
Build quality is excellent! The material is durable and malleable. I love the texture of it. It’s grippy without being tacky/sticky, and it feels like something you just want to hold. I actually don’t miss the phone being naked when the quicksand is on it. I would love a phone manufacturer to make a phone with a quicksand style back!
Fit and finish are perfect. All of the cutouts line up correctly, everything is centered and it is snugly fit. There is a good amount of lip on the front to place it face down if you like and there is more corner coverage than either of the previous 2 styles. The coverage on the top corners is equivalent to the Ringke Slim, while the bottom is slightly less but still comparable.
Honestly, this is the best $0.99 I’ve ever spent, and it’s replacing my Ringke Slim as my primary case. I’ve ordered all of the remaining colors for random days when I’m in the mood for a ridiculous bright green or sky blue. Gray will be nice too.
Overall, this is the minimalist case deal of deals for me. $0.99 gets a fantastically built case, perfectly lined camera and button cutouts, screen protector (don’t know quality), and touchscreen nub.
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The only down side to any of the cases I’ve listed, is of course the delivery time. A buck doesn’t get you next day air, it’s in the ballpark of 3 – 4 weeks. If that’s no problem, and you’re a fan of minimalism, consider skipping the big names, and join the $0.99 club!
Few more black quicksand case pics from today. Just because I still can't get over how this can only be $0.99!
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Here are the rest of the colors for the Quicksand cases:
Gray:
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Sky Blue:
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Lime Green:
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Feb 21, 2014 "B-Type" Quicksand Cases:
Mini Review:
NOTE: For these ones, just do an ebay search for “Nexus 5 Quicksand” and you will see them.
This is the seller I used. I suggest doing your own ebay search to see if there are sellers offering the cases with a lower price. At this current moment, the seller I used is at $2.05 and I saw some for around $1.98.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thin-Quicksand-Frosted-Hard-Case-Cover-Skin-For-Google-Nexus-LG-5-/171189921854?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Cases&var=&hash=item27dbb6e83e
Okay, here are the “B-Type” Quicksand cases. These ones differ from the ones I reviewed in the OP in a couple of ways. The camera cutout is slightly different. It has an upside down tear drop versus a light bulb style cutout. All of the remaining cutouts, power, volume rocker, headphone jack, and USB port are all accurate and centred. The camera and flash also line up nicely in the middle of the tear drop.
The more noticeable difference you will see between these ones and the original Quicksand cases (other than the camera cutout) are the Quicksand finish itself, and finer “neatness” details. This case is a little bit more “rough around the edges,” not in a sense of actually being “rough” to the touch, but more along the lines of not being completely neat and tidy. For example there are a couple spots on the bottom and top where there are a couple of extra bits from the moulding process remaining. They aren’t sharp or really all that noticeable unless you are actively looking/focusing on finding them, but they are there.
The other is the finish. This Quicksand finish is ever so slightly different. The finish is a little less “quicksandy” (yeah yeah not a real word) and a little more “plasticy”/rubbery with texture. It still has a quicksand finish, and you can tell it’s there, but it is not as prominent. It still feels nice in the hand, grips well, and won’t slide around. It’s seems like a quicksand “lite” I guess. One thing I did notice was that this finish seems incredibly durable, like it is meant to take a beating. To me it seems as if they took a quicksand case, and gave it one more protective coating dip or something. It lost a bit of the quicksand, but gained a bit of toughness. Not an entirely bad tradeoff. I have no problems with the durability of the normal Quicksand cases, but it can’t hurt to have a little extra shielding.
So, ultimately it’s not quite as clean and “finished” as the original Quicksand cases, but it’s still pretty good in my book. Also, since the original Quicksand cases are no longer $0.99, going up to $2.99+ now, these ones are still an okay buy at around $2.00 shipped. Also, you get more colour choices, so that’s a bonus. If you can find the original Quicksand cases in the colour of your choosing, I still recommend them first. But if you can’t find the colour you want, these ones aren’t a bad backup and are still pretty good cases. You’ll never beat the original $0.99 Quicksand cases, but I still like these too. And as you’ll see, the red is a nice deep red too!
Red “B-Type” Quicksand Case:
I really like the shade of red this case came in. I've been wanting a red case for a while, but the original Quicksands didn't come in it. Only that watermelon pink-orange colour... This shade is quite nice. It isn't overly bright (like an orange-red) or very dark (like a blood red), but a nice deep saturated red. They did well with this shade.
White "B-Type" Quicksand Case:
The white is white. By that I mean not "off white" or "eggshell" but white. It gives a good Stormtrooper look. I think with the slightly different coating this has, that I don't believe it will stain as easily. The lighter colours of the original Quicksand cases (like my lime green case) tended to pick up stains a little bit easily, but this slightly different coating seems like it will hold up a bit better against that (we'll see of course). So stick with the darker colours for the original Quicksand cases, but if you want to venture into lighter colours, these ones might be the better option.
Watermelon Pink-Orange Original Quicksand vs. Red "B-Type" Quicksand:
Here's a comparison between the original and B-Type Quicksand cases. You can see the different camera cutout as well as clear difference in colour. Whoever marketed that watermelon pink-orange case as "Red" should be smacked in the back of the head. Whoever said it would be good to call that case "Orange" as well, should also be smacked in the back of the head. It's clearly a Watermelon Pink-Orange....
But you can see what a real red actually looks like. The pictures don't show the finer details, but there are a couple imperfections on the top and bottom of the red case (and white) that I was mentioning earlier. You might be able to see them in the pictures of the white case + phone.
Wrap Up:
So I'm not disappointed with these cases. Sure, they're not as good as the original cases, but they're not far off. They also do gain a bit more of a durable finish, even if it does lose some of the Quicksand goodness. If the original Quicksand cases are the base line of 100%, I'd put these ones at 80% - 90%. Still pretty good, not perfect, but you won't be disappointed if you buy it. Also, with the additional colour choices, and lower price (now that the originals are no longer $0.99) I'd say they're still a good buy.
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I'm deadly afraid of scratching my phone with slim cases. How is the material? Have you gotten any scratches from it?
FuMMoD said:
I'm deadly afraid of scratching my phone with slim cases. How is the material? Have you gotten any scratches from it?
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Which one?
I haven't had any issues with scratches with any of them. My phone is still perfect. I also tend to baby my electronics though, and am very careful when putting on/taking them off. I also did swap around all of these cases a bunch of times as well as the Ringke Slim and still have no scratch issues.
In general all of these cases had more flex and were a softer hard plastic (bit of an oxymoron but you get the idea) in comparison to the Ringke Slim which is excessively rigid. I also didn't have any scratch problems with the Ringke Slim though, as some others have mentioned they did.
In any case, these cases are all easier to bend outward and are very smooth. There are no sharp edges on any of them. There's always a risk especially with how soft the side plastic is on the black Nexus 5, but I think if you're very careful you won't have a problem.
mmmmBACON said:
Which one?
I haven't had any issues with scratches with any of them. My phone is still perfect. I also tend to baby my electronics though, and am very careful when putting on/taking them off. I also did swap around all of these cases a bunch of times as well as the Ringke Slim and still have no scratch issues.
In general all of these cases had more flex and were a softer hard plastic (bit of an oxymoron but you get the idea) in comparison to the Ringke Slim which is excessively rigid. I also didn't have any scratch problems with the Ringke Slim though, as some others have mentioned they did.
In any case, these cases are all easier to bend outward and are very smooth. There are no sharp edges on any of them. There's always a risk especially with how soft the side plastic is on the black Nexus 5, but I think if you're very careful you won't have a problem.
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That's great! The blue looks amazing, so i'll probably be ordering a few. They're all 1.68 though, how did you get them for .99?
FuMMoD said:
That's great! The blue looks amazing, so i'll probably be ordering a few. They're all 1.68 though, how did you get them for .99?
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All of the links I provided were from the exact seller I used. They all still say $0.99 (USD)
I'm not sure how you're getting $1.68.
Those are links to the Canadian eBay.
*edit: sorry, I did see the $1.68...
I guess on the candy color cases they raised the prices. It was $0.99 when I ordered in November. It still says that price as well until you choose a case. Sorry.
The other ones are still $0.99.
mmmmBACON said:
All of the links I provided were from the exact seller I used. They all still say $0.99 (USD)
I'm not sure how you're getting $1.68.
Those are links to the Canadian eBay.
*edit: sorry, I did see the $1.68...
I guess on the candy color cases they raised the prices. It was $0.99 when I ordered in November. It still says that price as well until you choose a case. Sorry.
The other ones are still $0.99.
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The cases are all great, thanks for the review and pictures. I ordered 4 of the quicksand ones and that dark royal blue hard case. :good::good::good:
FuMMoD said:
The cases are all great, thanks for the review and pictures. I ordered 4 of the quicksand ones and that dark royal blue hard case. :good::good::good:
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No problem, glad I could help.
Let me know what you think when you eventually get them. I'm sure they ship them by sail boat on calm days.
I definitely agree on your 4 quicksand choices! I think it's just such a good deal.
I bought the blue case for exactly the same reason. The color is just intense. It does suck that they raised the price though. But $1.68 is still dirt cheap in comparison to most cases.
i was about to make a new thread and say i got a hard case for 3$ locally (toronto) and a bumper case that im in love with.
anyways the hard case like you mentioned was shockingly good, no sharp edges, no left over molds, its nice and smooth
and best part of all its not super hard plastic, you can bend it and its semi flexible sort of .
its the black version of the (solid) blue one you got.
the bumper is also shockingly good for 5$ and its the one im currently using
the only question i have is, doesnt the quicksand kind of feel rough on the phone ? since the inside of the case is also the same rough material ? logic tells me that putting it on and taking it will scratch the phone since the case kind of acts like sand paper ? sorry for my ignorance !!
I've got same one, Unfortunately it came with chipped of corner but function is still good also seller send me a replacement one so all is well :victory:
mmmmBACON said:
join the $0.99 club!
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I hate you man... Last hour or two I've spent on ebay browsing $0.99 covers and clicking 'Buy it now' more often than not. You've got me addicted!
damn them not delivering to the UK, its a conspiracy i tell you!
Giroyac said:
i was about to make a new thread and say i got a hard case for 3$ locally (toronto) and a bumper case that im in love with.
anyways the hard case like you mentioned was shockingly good, no sharp edges, no left over molds, its nice and smooth
and best part of all its not super hard plastic, you can bend it and its semi flexible sort of .
its the black version of the (solid) blue one you got.
the bumper is also shockingly good for 5$ and its the one im currently using
the only question i have is, doesnt the quicksand kind of feel rough on the phone ? since the inside of the case is also the same rough material ? logic tells me that putting it on and taking it will scratch the phone since the case kind of acts like sand paper ? sorry for my ignorance !!
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Nice, $3 is still pretty good, especially without the wait time. And $5 for a bumper is good too.
After seeing that these $0.99 cases that I figured would be just cheap pieces of garbage were comparable or better (the quicksand for me) than cases 10 - 20x their price; I don't think I'm going to bother with a bigger brand name anymore on any future phone.
The 3 - 4 week wait is worth it when I can buy a variety of different styles of cases and swap them around for the price of 1 Spigen or Ringke. I still think my Ringke Slim is a great case, but I've been spoiled by $0.99 haha.
As for the quicksand texture, don't think of it as a coarse scratching material. Think of it along the lines of 1000 grit smooth sandpaper, but not sand, instead a textured/coated plastic. It's difficult to describe really, but it's not a material that will scrape the phone up. It just adds a nice grip.
Znamir81 said:
I hate you man... Last hour or two I've spent on ebay browsing $0.99 covers and clicking 'Buy it now' more often than not. You've got me addicted!
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Haha, at least it's a cheap addiction! You're not burning a hole in your wallet at $0.99. :good:
Great reviews. Think I'm going to have to pick up a few different quicksand case colors.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
jonyid said:
damn them not delivering to the UK, its a conspiracy i tell you!
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There are other sellers that sell the same stuff, you don't have to use the one I did.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-QuickSand-Matte-Hard-Skin-Cover-Case-for-LG-Google-Nexus-5-D820-Green-Film-/271331661823?pt=UK_MobilePhones_MobilePhonesCasesPouches&var=&hash=item3f2ca097ff
This seller has the blue and black quicksand and is located in the UK.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hard-PC-Snap-On-Plastic-Back-Case-Cover-Shell-for-LG-Google-Nexus-5-/231088070573?pt=UK_MobilePhones_MobilePhonesCasesPouches&var=&hash=item35cdec1fad
This one has all of the candy colors and ships to the UK.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Shield-Case-Semi-Clear-Ultra-Slim-Skin-Cover-for-LG-Google-Nexus-5-D820-/281217108571?pt=UK_MobilePhones_MobilePhonesCasesPouches&var=&hash=item4179d88a5b
These are the semi-transparent cases, ships to the UK.
If you do a http://www.ebay.co.uk search and just look up "Nexus 5 hard case" you should find the same cases that ship to you. They're all coming from the same factories anyway, I'm sure they wouldn't exclude the UK. It's probably just because the links I posted were for the Canadian site.
Thought I'd go for a white semi-transparent case, worth a go for 99p!
mmmmBACON said:
Haha, at least it's a cheap addiction! You're not burning a hole in your wallet at $0.99. :good:
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Well, just ordered quicksand in all colors (ordered black one before) and I'm thinking if maybe I should have bought two or three pieces of each color. You know, just in case
Znamir81 said:
Well, just ordered quicksand in all colors (ordered black one before) and I'm thinking if maybe I should have bought two or three pieces of each color. You know, just in case
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The quicksand cases are such a good buy. Once i get the order and if i really like it ill place another order so i can have replacements lol.
mmmmBACON said:
Okay, let’s get this out of the way first. These are minimalist cases! They’re meant for people who would prefer going bare back, because the best is nothing at all. Scuffs, scratches, and the last time you looked, things that just shouldn’t be there, no protection can be too risky. Even though that’s what you want.
A hardcase gives you the absolute minimum coverage, so it can be as close to nothing as possible.
They won’t protect well against drops with any substantial height, drunk stumbling Friday nights, Nexus Frisbee, or if your name happens to be Freddy Fumblefingers. Please buy something softer, thicker, rubberier, or with multiple layers, because sir or madam, these cases will not be able to keep up with you.
They will protect well against scrapes, dirty tables, fake bumping into people to say “hello”, or if your better half has long sharp nails and you need a protective shield.
Currently I am using my white Ringke Slim as a baseline for comparison. It’s a great minimalist case. Fits snug and solid, and was exactly what I was looking for. I looked at eBay and saw a bunch of cases for $0.99. I figured, I’ve spent more money on dumber things, let’s take a shot and see how these compare.
I ended up buying 5 cases in 3 different styles. I limited myself to the top end only, the crème de la crème, the $0.99 category. Yes I know, big spender. Each of these cases also included free shipping. I don’t know how, but each one, all in, is literally just under a buck.
The only down side to any of the cases I’ve listed, is of course the delivery time. A buck doesn’t get you next day air, it’s in the ballpark of 3 – 4 weeks. If that’s no problem, and you’re a fan of minimalism, consider skipping the big names, and join the $0.99 club!
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Thanks for the review, I ended up buying black and blue quicksand cases.
Can anyone with the second and/or third case let us know how tight the cases are? I know some scratch up the corners of the phone during installation
Znamir81 said:
Well, just ordered quicksand in all colors (ordered black one before) and I'm thinking if maybe I should have bought two or three pieces of each color. You know, just in case
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I don't think the quicksands I have will wear out anytime soon. But I'm probably going to buy extras anyway, they're just such great cases. Also, just in case they up the price! I don't think I could handle any blasphemy like $1.50 or something!! haha.
OregonLawyer said:
Thanks for the review, I ended up buying black and blue quicksand cases.
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No problem, hope you enjoy them.
henry_gale said:
Can anyone with the second and/or third case let us know how tight the cases are? I know some scratch up the corners of the phone during installation
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Well I reviewed the cases in the OP, so I guess I might have the 2nd and/or 3rd one! :good:
In terms of tightness, they're snug, and there's no risk of them falling off. They don't wiggle in the case or anything. They fit the same as the Ringke Slim. All of the cases I mentioned though (including the 2nd/3rd you were referring) are easier to put on and take off than the Ringke Slim I have that I was comparing them to.
This is because the type of polycarbonate these cases are using is not as rigid and stiff as the Ringke Slim (or Spigen Ultra Fit). They have a little bit more of a flex and give to them. When you are installing or removing the phone you can bend the sides out further, minimizing the rub against the corners of the phone. The Ringke Slim (and Spigen Ultra Fit) are very stiff cases, so some people were scraping the corners as they tried to pull the phone out because they didn't or couldn't bend the case out enough. The corners on the cases listed in the OP are also rounded and tapered more, and there are no sharp edges.
So rounded corners plus a little more flexible polycarbonate, and if you take care when putting it on (ie: don't just snap it in) and taking it off (ie: bend the corners out, not just pull on the side of the case), you should have no issues.
Do keep in mind though, I've never had the scraping problem with my Ringke Slim either. I followed the same procedure with these cases as I did with the Ringke, and have had no issue. It was in fact much easier.
This is going to be a long post, so I figured I would just make a new thread. I welcome anyone else to add their reviews, opinions, and pictures here as well (or if you disagree with me, let me know). The other thread was getting quite long anyway, so a new one full of reviews from people who have it would be nice.
So, does it live up to the hype? How sexy is that Nexus logo? I know some of you already have it, but here’s my take on it.
Maple Syrup:
White:http://www.puremobile.ca/lg-aaa75187802-hardshell-nexus-5-white
Black: http://www.puremobile.ca/lg-aaa75187801-hardshell-nexus-5-black
Football:
White: http://www.puremobile.com/lg-aaa75187802-hardshell-nexus-5-white
Black: http://www.puremobile.com/lg-aaa75187801-hardshell-nexus-5-black
Cup-o-Tea:
White: http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/lg-official-nexus-5-bumper-white-p42340.htm
Black: http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/lg-official-nexus-5-bumper-black-p42351.htm
Red: http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/lg-official-nexus-5-shell-case-red-p42344.htm
I was lucky enough to pick it up when it was $14.99, then got a 10% discount on top of it before they caught on and bumped the price/killed the discount. So all in, came to $14.16 CAD. Not bad for an OEM case. It’s currently listed as $17.99 in Canada/US, and £24.99 in UK. For Canada and US that’s still a pretty good price, but UK I think is getting the shaft here.
Now you probably already know I love my quicksand hardcases. To me nothing is going to beat those $0.99 lovelies. The look, feel, and texture of the quicksand cases can’t be beat in my eyes. But, sometimes a guy just wants that NEXUS logo showing proud. It’s an amazing phone, and deserves attention every now and then.
That’s where this case was supposed to come in. I have a lot of hardcases already (10+); the prospect of an OEM hardcase with NEXUS printed down the centre was too hard to pass up. It was enough to consider occasionally pulling me away from my quicksands. Pearly white, tri-side coverage, sleek and thin, stormtrooper/panda look, and the NEXUS logo down the middle. It could have been perfect. But alas, unicorns don’t exist and puremobile lied to me as well…
When I asked them, they confirmed to me the Nexus logo was there. I said I would cancel my order if it wasn’t, as that was the only reason I ordered it. They said yes… but it really wasn’t…
Anyway, enough of my wallowing in self-pity… Is this case still good despite the logo being absent? I know my main reason for ordering it is gone, but if it’s still a great case, those of you who don’t care about the logo might be in for a treat. So let’s get to reviewing.
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Construction:
The material is standard issue polycarbonate hard plastic. I have the white case, so can’t comment on black. It is a matte finish similar (if not the same) as my white Ringke Slim. It has a nice feel, albeit a bit slippery if you have dry hands. Also, when I say feel, I mean it’s almost nonexistent. This case adds next to no bulk. I would consider this more of a skin (a hard skin) than an actual case.
This case is thin. I mean super thin. When Ringke Slim and Spigen Ultra Fit say they’re thin, this case takes a gander at them and tells them they’ve been eating too much cake! That is good and bad. For me, I’m a minimalist, I want a case that’s there, but isn’t there. Scuff and scratch protection is all I want, and this case literally follows ONLY that, anyone expecting this to give you any protection beyond scratch only is dreaming. Take this into consideration, my quicksand cases seem like otterboxes in comparison to this.
With how thin this case is, you should realize that it will offer ZERO impact protection. I can’t emphasize that enough. Since there is next to no bulk, there is next to no case. It is very thin, so dropping your phone with this case on, is like dropping your phone naked (which is why I said the case is more like a hard skin). So for those of you who may drop your phones, don’t buy it. For minimalists, you may like it.
Honestly, this case reminds me of the 0.3mm TPU cases that were available on ebay. Only this is a better plastic and higher quality mold. If I didn’t know any better, I would seriously say those 0.3mm cases were the “beta test” design for this case. (If you saw my opinion on those 0.3mm cases, I hated them…) The different type of plastic used and the slightly more rigid feel, make it substantially better than the 0.3mm TPU cases.
You can see here, the striking similarities between the LG Hardshell and the 0.3mm TPU ebay cases:
Fit on the Phone:
This hardcase has tri-side coverage. Most hardcases as you know stick to covering the sides, the back, and some of the corners. And they snap into place with a lip that hooks over the sides/face of the phone. This also creates that “face down” gap that lifts the screen off when you place your phone screen down (don’t know why people would do that though…).
The LG hardshell gets rid of the lip and hook method of securing the case to the phone and adds top coverage in its place. This fundamentally changes how the case attaches to the phone. It is not hooked on and snapped in place. It follows the contours of the phone and hugs the sides tightly. Since the phone is wider in the back and narrower in the front (Dat Azz), the case follows those dimensions and holds itself in place just by shape alone. By hugging the sides instead of snapping in place, the LG hardcase does not create the face down gap. So, if you have this case, don’t put your phone screen down.
You can see the design difference and lack of lip the LG hardcase has vs. one of my quicksand cases.
The fact that this case does not snap on also means it will be less likely to scratch the corners of your phone. This case does not attach in the same way as a normal hardcase (it attaches by hugging the sides only) (remember Dat Azz). There is no lip to catch on the corners, so you can slide it on and off without worrying as much about scratches.
The downside of course, is the lack of the ability to place your phone face down. If you’re the type of person who likes to put your phone down like that, be aware. Again, this case is more of a skin than an actual case. For pure minimalists, this case is fantastic (I just want the damn NEXUS logo….)
Here you can see that face down, the case is actually lifted off of the table. That’s full on screen contact there.
The volume and power buttons I also find to be a bit odd to press. There is no problem pressing them, but the narrow cutouts make the feel a bit weird. It’s hard to explain, but I prefer the cutouts to be a little bigger, like standard hardcases where the cutout goes behind the back a bit.
Build Quality:
Okay, this is a bit tricky. In terms of design, button cutouts, and everything lining up perfectly, it does the job very well. The camera and flash cutouts are perfect, the volume and power button cutouts are centred nicely, and the headphone jack cutout lines up perfect as well. Don’t worry about not fitting fatter headphone jacks on with this case attached. The case is so thin that it doesn’t even matter. In terms of cutouts and fit, this case did very well.
Now the tricky part, since this case is so thin, the actual case itself is quite flimsy. There is only so much strength you can get out of a ridiculously thin piece of plastic (remember, think hard skin vs. case). It bends very easily, and honestly, I think if you bent it a little too much it would crack easily, make a crease in the plastic, or even tear. Add in cold weather, and I think it could crack with a gentle bump if the plastic got cold enough. If you were to compare this case vs. a quicksand in terms of strength, feel, and durability; the quicksand case easily takes it no question. If you were to compare this case vs. a Ringke Slim or Spigen Ultra fit, this case takes it in terms of fit/finish/detail, but both the Ringke Slim and Spigen Ultra Fit are more durable cases.
So in terms of build quality, this is a mixed bag.
Will I keep it?:
I was contemplating whether or not I would keep this case. If it impressed me enough despite not having the NEXUS logo on it, I would keep it. Honestly, after testing it out for a while, it’s going back. I like the minimalism and look, but the actual feel in hand for me was a turn off. It reminded me too much of the 0.3mm TPU cases, and this is what I thought of those when I posted it here. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=49827734&postcount=44
The slipperiness, narrow power and volume cutouts, and it being a bit too flimsy for my liking really sealed the deal of the trip back. The surprising thing for me is, I would probably still send it back even if it did have the NEXUS logo on it. For some reason, I just don’t like the way it feels in the hand. It might be my love for the quicksand cases clouding my judgment, but it just doesn’t feel as nice in my hand. And that’s a big factor in a case for me. Looks are one thing, but feel is definitely important as well.
Surprisingly, this case, after the [email protected]#$ of information and wondering if it would ever come out, turned out to be a bit of a disappointment for me. Maybe I overhyped myself, or was just expecting too much, but I’m just not that impressed.
I think it all boils down to just feeling a bit too cheap and flimsy for my liking. For an OEM case, it just doesn’t hold up. I still think my $0.99 Quicksand cases have this beat hands down.
Feel free to add in your own reviews, as I’m sure there are a lot of people who will disagree with me
Pros:
- Perfectly centred cutouts
- Thinness (double edged sword here)
- Minimalism taken to the extreme
Cons:
- Narrow volume / power cutouts
- Flimsy/cheap feeling (due to the thinness... which is quite the conundrum)
- No face down lip (if you place your phone face down)
- No NEXUS logo
Awesomely done review! Thanks for taking the time to do this review even though you're not keeping the case. Very good read
Good review. I don't really see the point in such a thin case. Adds bulk, decreases the feel of the device, and adds zero protection.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
_jordan_ said:
Good review. I don't really see the point in such a thin case. Adds bulk, decreases the feel of the device, and adds zero protection.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Thin cases such as these are meant for protection against scratches and small bumps. Personally, I don't like using a case any thicker than these thin hard shells
mine came in today, and even sans the nexus logo this is by far the best case for me. I don't drop my phone and want it for scratch protection only so I want as close to nothing as possible. this fits like a glove. even the spigen ultra fit was too big for me, but this is definitely thinner. the black feels similar to the black nexus, but is slightly more slick. it reminds me of the bear motion super slim, with just a bit more grip. I'm very disappointed there is no nexus logo, it's the only thing that is holding this back from being truly perfect, but I'll be keeping this and stop looking for other cases
I like how it makes the black Nexus look like the white version. I'll probably keep mine once I get it. How's the material with picking up stains or smudges? I hate how all whites cases I've owned get dirty after a week.
On a side note, do you happen to know which eBay listing has a Quicksand case in red, not watermelon color. Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
I was just about to write an in-depth review, but you beat me to it.
For me, this is the perfect case. The fit is precise and covers what can be covered, it's extremely thin (by far the slimmest case I've used), and it has the very same soft touch finish as a naked Nexus 5. However, if you're the adventurous sort, this case probably isn't for you; it has no lip (the case sits a hair lower than the front face), it's not made of sturdy plastic, and the jury is out on whether or not the white will stain over time. It's clearly not meant to protect your phone from a fall, but it will protect it from normal day-to-day use for most. But other than that, this is about as near naked as you could hope for if you're in the market for a minimal case.
Hopefully Bacon doesn't mind, but I've attached a few more macro shots for good measure...
Ngo93 said:
Awesomely done review! Thanks for taking the time to do this review even though you're not keeping the case. Very good read
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, and no problem.
Atticustrd said:
I like how it makes the black Nexus look like the white version. I'll probably keep mine once I get it. How's the material with picking up stains or smudges? I hate how all whites cases I've owned get dirty after a week.
On a side note, do you happen to know which eBay listing has a Quicksand case in red, not watermelon color. Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I didn't use it terribly long (I am returning it, so it's wiped clean and repackaged haha) and I wanted to keep it in new shape. But from the time I used it smudges were not visible. It's a matte finish, so it won't show smudges clearly. As for stains, I couldn't tell you. It just came out so most people haven't even had it for more than a couple of days.
As for the quicksand cases, the original ones I bought don't have it in red (only watermelon/orange/pink, or whatever colour that is supposed to be). There is this one (I've ordered white and red, they haven't arrived yet) but it isn't the exact same design, and some other xda members who have it say it isn't as high of quality as the one's I've posted about before. I had to get it though because I just wanted white and red quicksand cases to go along with the rest I've got.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultra-Thin-Quicksand-Matte-Frosted-Case-Cover-Hard-for-Google-Nexus-5-/380788789723?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Cases&var=&hash=item58a8c7d1db
Jason_MCG said:
I was just about to write an in-depth review, but you beat me to it.
For me, this is the perfect case. The fit is precise and covers what can be covered, it's extremely thin (by far the slimmest case I've used), and it has the very same soft touch finish as a naked Nexus 5. However, if you're the adventurous sort, this case probably isn't for you; it has no lip (the case sits a hair lower than the front face), it's not made of sturdy plastic, and the jury is out on whether or not the white will stain over time. It's clearly not meant to protect your phone from a fall, but it will protect it from normal day-to-day use for most. But other than that, this is about as near naked as you could hope for if you're in the market for a minimal case.
Hopefully Bacon doesn't mind, but I've attached a few more macro shots for good measure...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry about that. I didn't see one up and I got a request to do a review when I received it. Also I welcome the pictures! The more the better. And other reviews as well (I did put an "s" in the thread title). I know my opinion isn't going to match everyone else.
I was seriously surprised that I didn't like this case. I'm a minimalist and I thought this would be exactly what I was looking for. But for some reason, just a bunch of little things compounded into my not liking it.
mmmmBACON said:
Sorry about that. I didn't see one up and I got a request to do a review when I received it. Also I welcome the pictures! The more the better. And other reviews as well (I did put an "s" in the thread title). I know my opinion isn't going to match everyone else.
I was seriously surprised that I didn't like this case. I'm a minimalist and I thought this would be exactly what I was looking for. But for some reason, just a bunch of little things compounded into my not liking it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't apologize - it's a great review! I just didn't want you to think I was trying to hijack or anything.
I briefly entertained the thought of returning it because it is so thin and it's like you said: it's not going to really protect the phone. I'm not a clumsy person, but falls do happen...I just don't want my love of minimal to be an Achilles heel.
I was looking at those Quicksand case couple days ago, let me know how those two cases turn-out. White and red are the exact color I'm looking to get next. I Pre-ordered the Spigen ultra fit case in red.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Poetic quicksand is really nice for about 4 bucks. Shipping is faster than the 2.99 generic quicksand. Both are extremely sleek and nicer than the lg case
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Jason_MCG said:
Don't apologize - it's a great review! I just didn't want you to think I was trying to hijack or anything.
I briefly entertained the thought of returning it because it is so thin and it's like you said: it's not going to really protect the phone. I'm not a clumsy person, but falls do happen...I just don't want my love of minimal to be an Achilles heel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries.
Yeah, that was one of the main things I was thinking about. I love minimalism, and I don't need drop protection as I baby all of my devices, but if a drop did ever happen, this isn't protecting anything. With the (white) case on I feel I would be more likely to drop it compared to the (black) phone naked. It's quite slippery unless your hands have some moisture to them.
Atticustrd said:
I was looking at those Quicksand case couple days ago, let me know how those two cases turn-out. White and red are the exact color I'm looking to get next. I Pre-ordered the Spigen ultra fit case in red.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will do.
If you check out the mobilefun site (UK) there is the listing for Red as well as black and white - this has only appeared today.
No pictures as yet but im guessing this matches the red nexus 5 in colour.
How about scratches when you try to take off the case? Because the Ringke case had scratch all the corners of my phone
Tapatalked with my Nexus5(AKA The Hammerhead)
Great review. I have to say it's infinitely superior to the 99p 0.3mm case I received (which had sharp edges and was rough to the touch, nothing like this OEM case). It's very similar to the OEM HTC One hard shell in that it doesn't have a lip but I much prefer that. My phone is always face up so it's a non-issues for me.
Yes, it's expensive foe us UK early adopters but I'm sure it'll end up cheaper once it's on eBay a bit more but I don't care
EDIT: @mmmmBACON - does it work with a wireless charger? I'd imagine so but just checking
It should be noted that the black version has the same soft touch feel as the black nexus and is not slippery at all. Great minimalist case.
dsmpampis said:
How about scratches when you try to take off the case? Because the Ringke case had scratch all the corners of my phone
Tapatalked with my Nexus5(AKA The Hammerhead)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read the OP I talked about this case and any issues with scratched corners. I also have a Ringke Slim and have never had scratched corners. I made some videos on how to remove hardcases without scratching your phone.
Take a look here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2601790
EddyOS said:
Great review. I have to say it's infinitely superior to the 99p 0.3mm case I received (which had sharp edges and was rough to the touch, nothing like this OEM case). It's very similar to the OEM HTC One hard shell in that it doesn't have a lip but I much prefer that. My phone is always face up so it's a non-issues for me.
Yes, it's expensive foe us UK early adopters but I'm sure it'll end up cheaper once it's on eBay a bit more but I don't care
EDIT: @mmmmBACON - does it work with a wireless charger? I'd imagine so but just checking
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, it is definitely better quality than those 0.3mm TPU cases, but the feel in hand to me was too similar. Not the type of material and texture, but the shape, contours, and button layout. I think maybe if I had never bought those 0.3mm cases I might have liked this case more, but those were such crap, and this one was just similar enough in feel to remind me of them.
And there are no problems with wireless charging with this case on.
pemz82 said:
If you check out the mobilefun site (UK) there is the listing for Red as well as black and white - this has only appeared today.
No pictures as yet but im guessing this matches the red nexus 5 in colour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Updated the OP with a link to the Red case as well.
mmmmBACON said:
If you read the OP I talked about this case and any issues with scratched corners. I also have a Ringke Slim and have never had scratched corners. I made some videos on how to remove hardcases without scratching your phone.
Take a look here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2601790
.
And there are no problems with wireless charging with this case on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The second time I took off the case, I tried your way from the video but I scratched the 2 left corners.....maybe I made something wrong.....
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
dsmpampis said:
The second time I took off the case, I tried your way from the video but I scratched the 2 left corners.....
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try the card method (video #2), that works for EVERY hardcase I own and I still don't have any scratched corners. I don't know what to tell you otherwise.
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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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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"??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.