[REVIEW] Spigen Neo Hybrid Case + Spigen screen protector crystal - HTC 10 Accessories

Disclaimer: I DID NOT received this product for free or was given any discount nor the seller/manufacturer knows about this review before posting. I bought it with my own money.
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Since I upgraded my phone to HTC10, it was time to buy some new gadgets and the case and screen protector were on top of my list.
I bought Spigen NeoHybrid (SatinSilver) case about 3 weeks ago along with the 3pack of Spigen Crystal screen protector.
HTC 10 Screen Protector Crystal by Spigen
Lets start with the screen protector first.
It comes in a nice package with anti dust stickers, Zeiss wet screen wiper and also positioning stickers. In the package you will find 3 pieces of the film. I payed about 10USD for it.
My first aplication was unsuccessful but I gained some experience, leveled up, changed armor and sword and oh wait...
And second try was a lot better. Positioning stickers help a lot since the screen protector is perfectly cut for the front but to align it perfectly it should almost touch the upper edge of the fingerprint reader which I did not like and I left a little margin which you will see on the photos. The film does not cover entire screen leaving little margin around screen for the curved edge of the glass. I think it could be a bit wider but I do not know if it would affect aplication by the end user. I think I would be very fine with it being a little taller and wider.
The screen is very clear and very hard to see once aplied. It is unfortunately very soft and thin - using your fingers and nails leave little "rivers" or traces which are visible only on very steep angle to the light. They are not visible from the front, you need to angle the screen to see them properly. Also you can permanently mark the film with your nail, often where the buttons are.(like GooglePlay store top left menu for example).
At first I was very concerned and a bit mad just knowing it is there but after one day when you do not see it and that it is only 10USB/3pcs film I stopped bothering. I looked at my previous phone which has a quite hard film and it look like scratched with a chainsaw so no point in whining really.
Overall I am satisfied but nothing fancy and If I had an opportunity to try other 3pack of film I would do it just for comparison.
HTC 10 Case Neo Hybrid (SatinSilver)
I bought for ~20USD the first version of the case which had cutouts on the top for scrapped IR blaster which was considered by the HTC and did not make it to the final design. Last week I contacted Spigen about updated case and they told me they will send me new one for free. Shipping was also very fast from USA to Europe. I was very glad and happy about, the support was very proffessional and they care about their customers base. Very good job Spigen. Kep it up!
You will find photos of both cases and the end of the review.
Neo Hybrid is my second case from Spigen overall. I have also NeoHybrid Gunmetal (or blue as I call it) for Iphone6+ which is quite more slimmer than case for HTC10.
HTC10 version has bigger and more edged frame and it feels more sturdy. At first I was sceptic for the chosen color - Satin Silver was really bright and eye catching which I wanted to avoid but after spending weeks with it I think it is the best color option for black HTC10. The silver frame looks gorgeous and adds a character to the entire design. Gunmetal or Black frame would be very stealth, way too much for me. Silver frame really follows the chamfered edge design of the phone making it more uniqe and eye catching.
Case front edges stick out a bit protecting the screen, maybe a bit too much for me but nothing really to whine about. It could affect you fingerprint scans though if you slightly put your finger on the case front edge. Rear is very well protected and the lens glass and LEDs are protected well enough. Also no problem with taking pictures but I do not personaly take any photos other that work stuff and "memos" so I can not say if the flash is affected. In the field or on a trip I am using my DSLR for photos, not a fan of taking pictures with my phone.
Case quality is very good. The design quality and frame fitting to the inner TPU/rubber case is nearly perfect. On the photos you will see the the top left corner on the rear does not completely flush with each other. It is present on the both cases off and on the phone.
Rubberised inne case is very nice to touch and the texture add to the grip. What I did not like very much is the lack of textured Power button. In my opinion it is a must to follow the original design of the HTC10 and for some people it might be a little confusing since all buttons are the same size and have almost same spacing between them. They do not stick out very much from the case.
As for the plastic frame grip, it could be a little slippy. I would like to see it textured just on the side edge around the case. Something like on the back would be very nice for grip and would feel the phone much more secure in my hands.
But overall design and looks are one of my favorites and Neo Hybrid for HTC10 nails the design very well. Same model for Iphone does not come even close. Over all I am very happy about it. Even more happy with Spigen support who sent me updated version of the case.
If anybody is looking for a nice looking case which is well built I could definitely recommend Neo Hybrid from Spigen.
What I liked:
- nice design, high quality case
- protects front and the rear glass on flat surfaces
- good price for such a product, Spigen customer support
What I disliked:
- lack of textured Power button, SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED!
- plastic frame could be slippy
- front case edges a little to tall for my preference, could be a bit slimmer

Nice review thnx
Sent from my HTC 10 using XDA-Developers mobile app

I can also vouch for the screen protector and agree with your comments. Hard to beat a 3 pack for 10 bucks. I also got the spigen "Rugged" one piece slip on style case and I am loving it. It looks just barely thinner than this case. One thing I'm slightly conscious of is scratching the sides of the metal body. My note 4 has a nice metal frame which is unfortunately scratched to hell from a similar style case.

guys, anyone has this case?
can i only use the tpu piece? or it will fall off?\
thanks

cobrax2 said:
guys, anyone has this case?
can i only use the tpu piece? or it will fall off?\
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only using the TPU piece will cause it to feel flimsy and not secure.

hmm, yeah i was afraid of that

Related

Case Mate Barely There review

Photos at the bottom of the post for those looking to get straight to the phone p0rn
When I got my DINC2 the VZW rep was "nice" enough to throw in a silicone case for free. I say "nice" because silicone is made for bakeware and o-rings, not phone cases. I was pulling the case off the phone as I walked out the door and it got ditched in the first trash can I saw.
I set out to find a case based on some specific requirements:
Thin and light
Grippy exterior
Excellet camera lens protection
The last one is really important and I'm surprised more folks don't highlight it in case reviews, especially for HTC phones. As anyone who owned the original DINC will tell you, HTC loves to leave their camera lenses flapping in the breeze where any hard object passing by can scratch/crack/smudge it.
My DINC wore a Seidio Surface case from day one and it was phenominal but with the DINC2 being slightly larger the Surface seemed to add more bulk than I was willing to stick in my pocket. I had read about the Incipio Feather case here on the forums and ordered one based on other's experiences. I was extremely disappointed when it arrived already broken still inside it's packaging. I returned it but the seller took six weeks to send the replacement, so in the meantime I got the Case Mate.
Once I had both of them in hand I was surprised at how different they were. It's the same basic design, a super thin case that wraps around the two sides and the four corners leaving the top and bottom exposed. What struck me was the difference in materials. The Case Mate was noticeably more rigid, fit more tightly and the "soft touch" surface was more grippy. The Incipio was certainly a quality case but the Case Mate just felt better.
Lastly, to the point of protecting the camera, the Case Mate takes the cake. The Incipio adds pretty much nothing in terms of shielding the camera but the Case Mate has a deliberate lip which gives the camera 2-3mm of setback. When you put the phone down in the Incipio case the lens still touches the table which means if you put it down on something less forgiving you're just asking for lens damage. The Case Mate's lip puts some distance between the lens and whatever you put it down on. When you take into account that your phone spends a great deal of time in your pocket, along with change/keys/etc the Incipio offers pretty much no protection to what I would call a design flaw on HTC's part.
In the end I'm glad I didn't pay for the Incipio (the seller refunded my money and let me keep the case to avoid negative feedback for the six week return delay). The Case Mate is a fantastic minimal case for the DINC2 that adds very little bulk, makes the phone easier to grip, protects the camera really well and feels much more durable than a 1mm thick piece of plastic.
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Cool review thanks. Still just waiting for my red or white battery cover so I can show it through my Griffin Reveal look alike case
Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk
I got the Innocase Surface, I really like it. Viewing from the pictures it looks like the casemate is abit thinner but not by much. I was considering the Casemate but I wasn't too sure how much I wanted a case that doesn't really protect the bottom or the top faceplate. Glad you enjoy the case though!
After spending some more time with the Case Mate I've discovered what might be it's only flaw and frankly I don't think I completely blame the case for this one.
The power button on top of the phone is already pretty minimal but with the case it's just slightly harder to actuate. The case comes up close to the button and stands off from the phone about the same distance. That means the button is pretty much flush with the case.
Now Case Mate didn't design the phone to have a slightly-too-small power button (I don't care for it even without the case) but they might have considered leaving a bit more clearance to make it a little easier to press.
Cool review. Incipio Red feather user here. I posted my review on Amazon.com, mine is the only review that's posted there. I've been very happy with my Red case as it is my favorite color and it is the thinnest out there(1mm).
I have to disagree with your comment on camera protection, the incipio feather has an ample lip which covers the camera. The only thing you can expect from these thin case is to have just a tiny lift off from surfaces and the feather gives the lift. I honestly do not see the point of thicker lip because it literally does nothing more than just a slightest lift off.
However since I've never touched the Case Mate Barely There, I have to take your words on the material. I wish they make more bright colors.
Very nice review! I went with the CaseMate as well and I really like it for easy pocket carry. I had the same concern with reduced ease of access to the power button, so I did a quick mod on mine with a Dremel wheel. I will probably go back and clean it up so it doesn't look so angry-beaver-ish but it is really nice to use with this tiny modification and with the change it truly lives up to the "Barely There" name.
If rooted I can MOD your ROM to make it so you can pull the phone out of sleep with the volume keys, that seems to be working for me.
nice review. I am catching this thread a little late I know but the aspect I dont like about this case is I dont see much protection for the screen in the event of a drop. I would never think that would be an issue but two days ago my Dinc2 feel out of my bag as I was putting it in my car and landed face down flat on its screen and shattered the screen. Had to dish out the deductible for a replacement. Now I am using a TPU case as is has just enough lip to protect the screen if it happened again.
I want a case similar to this, but it just doesn't protect the screen enough.

[Review] Seidio Surface case

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Seidio-Sams...ccessories&hash=item564b61dbc4#ht_3764wt_1396
Packaging:
Nothing special, plastic box shipped inside a plastic bagvelope (bag/envelope) The box it comes in is much easier to open from the bottom than the top, learn from my mistake. No fancy packaging here, the case slides around inside the box a bit. Nothing inside the box but the case...no screen protector, no cleaning cloth, no fancy color brochure showing other products the company makes, nothing. In my opinion, $30 is a steep price to pay for a case so to see the case flopping around in it's box and no extras at all included with the case was kind of a let down.
Fit and finish:
When I first grabbed the case out of the box my very first thought was "oh boy, feels kinda slippery." I got the Garnet Red version, planned on getting the limited edition Gloss White when it becomes available...more on that later. The case is lined with a black felt material on the inside part of the back wall to protect the battery cover from getting scratched during installation/removal, might even add a little shock protection as well. Sliding the case on to the phone one thing I noticed is that the front edges do infact put a little pressure on the sides of the face of the phone, this is notable because those of you who have a wet application screen protector or other full face protection like the Moshi iVisor or any one of the curved full face protectors may have a little problem getting this care to play nicely with it. I think a wet application would be fine so long as it's fully cured before you go putting this case on and as long as you are careful when installing it...making sure it's not pulling up the protector as you go. The case slides on and locks in place to itself thanks to a little tab built in on it's inner wall on the back. Getting it off can be tricky, especially if you have an aftermarket, non-stock battery cover on like I found out. I highly advise not using the case with anything other than the stock battery cover. I had my white carbon fiber cover on which seemingly added no extra bulk but apparently the tiny little bit it did add made it next to impossible to remove the case. I ended up using brute strength to get it apart and luckily avoided causing any damage to it or it's locking mechanism. Putting the stock battery cover on made things much easier. Helpful hint, when trying to remove it, press down on the raised part in the back when squeezing the top part of the case on the sides.
With the case installed I noticed that the fit was so snug that there was no daylight at all between the face of the phone and the edge of the case, a good thing. The cutouts are all spot on but the bottom mic opening wasn't quite centered. There are no overlays over the buttons so they are easily accessible and engaged. Those openings are beveled/tapered to allow unobstructed access to the buttons...no need to tactically attempt to press the buttons, you just press them as you would normally as the case does not get in the way. The color I chose, Garnet Red, has a metallic sheen to it and is very easy on the eyes however it lacks grip. Holding the phone, it's not as bulky as I thought it would be, but it's not as easy to hold on to either. The finish is very slippery so make sure you have a firm grip on it. This is the first case I've had on this phone that requires you to stick your pinky out while you're holding the phone to ensure it doesn't slide down. Very disappointed. The design of the case does provide a front side lip, allowing you to set the phone face down with no worry of causing damage to the screen.
Final thought:
While the case looks nice, fits like a glove and allows easy access to all ports and buttons, it is very slippery to hold and can be a problem depending on what type of screen protector you're using. The locking mechanism is a nice touch but be aware if using an aftermarket, non-stock battery cover as it can make the case nearly impossible to remove. Am I going to order the limited edition Gloss White when it comes out? It'll surely have better grip but i'm not that in love with this case to say for sure.
I have the Seidio surface in blue and I do not find the case to be slippery it has a lot more grip than the stock battery door. The finish is a soft touch finish that does not show fingerprints.
Here are some photos and I have a full review up to.
from my AOKP galaxy s3
Grip is not a strong point of this case by any stretch of the imagination. It's coming off as soon as my TPU bumper arrives. The finish on this case is pretty much identical to that on the Incipio Silicrylic Dual Pro, the difference being the silicone sleeve which gives you the good grip. I like everything about this case except for the lack of grip and how it limits what screen protectors you can use with it.
via Galaxy S III
Gadgetz said:
Grip is not a strong point of this case by any stretch of the imagination. It's coming off as soon as my TPU bumper arrives. The finish on this case is pretty much identical to that on the Incipio Silicrylic Dual Pro, the difference being the silicone sleeve which gives you the good grip. I like everything about this case except for the lack of grip and how it limits what screen protectors you can use with it.
via Galaxy S III
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've amassed quite the S3 case collection. Post a pic of it later.
zmore said:
You've amassed quite the S3 case collection. Post a pic of it later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just trying to find "the one". The SGP Neo Hybrid is on my radar. Not really sure there's any others I really want to try out right now.
I have the platinum series which is pretty much this case with the holster. I have had it for my past three phones but am on the by bubble with this one. I have to agree that this case is more slippery then I remember my past cases to be. Because of that (and the fact that I dropped my OG Evo with his case on and the Efren shattered ) I am looking for another case. Thinking of getting an otterbox. Need something with good screen protection and a holster.
Does nfc work?
elosogrande7076 said:
I have the platinum series which is pretty much this case with the holster. I have had it for my past three phones but am on the bubble with this one. I have to agree that this case is more slippery then I remember my past cases to be. Because of that (and the fact that I dropped my OG Evo with his case on and the Efren shattered ) I am looking for another case. Thinking of getting an otterbox. Need something with good screen protection and a holster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was pretty disappointed with how slippery this thing is but i'm leaving it on until my TPU bumper and igadgitz clear tpu case show up...only other case I could see myself buying after this is the SGP Neo Hybrid.
GNja said:
Does nfc work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes sir
Alright guys, today was my first day out in the wild with this case and I have discovered something......moist hands = good grip with this case! Normally my hands are dry, no sweaty palms for me....but its pretty warm out today and I wear nitrile gloves alot during the day which cause my hands to sweat badly. So after removing my gloves and patting them dry I picked up my phone to take a few pics and I noticed it wasnt sliding in my hand. Figuring it was the moist hand I was holding it with I turned on the AC to dry my hand completely and sure enough, the slipperyness was back.
So those of you with sweaty palms, this is your case!
via Galaxy S III

[REVIEW] DualPro CF Case For HTC One

Hey everyone, back again with another case review for you guys. Let me know if you have any questions or if you've already bought it I'd like to hear your take on it as well. I've posted a ton of pics but none of them are with my Black HTC One installed so if you want those just hit me up and I'll set aside some time for picture taking.
The retail packaging is thoughtfully considered. It prominently displays the case front and center while offering a detailed description of the features and functionality on the back. I'm not entirely sure of every brick and mortar store they can be found in but when I walked into my local Sprint store a couple of weeks ago, the Incipio retail package for the Note 2 immediately caught my eye.
DESIGN
I'm going to just come out and say it, the DualPro CF is my absolute favorite case by Incipio. Immediately after unboxing it, there was something different about the way it felt in the hand, it felt right. It reminded me of the first time I picked up the HTC One and I like that a lot. It combines the necessary protection with a side of rugged fashion that I have yet to see on any other case. It's as if they decided to shave off as much bulk as possible from the DualPro while still retaining everything that made it great.
The silicon core provides a soft shock absorbant layer of protection which clings to the front side of your device not allowing any dust, sand or other particles from sneaking in and scratching the HTC One. I went to the park with my daughter and although originally concerned that one of the sides would lift and let in a grain of sand, I found that it wasn't the case. The reason I mention that is because I've tried out tons of cases and they all have their own execution of what we call the "lip". The DualPro CF is distinguished by what I like to call a wedge design instead of the rounded edges which gradually rise and give an almost flat look to the top of the case.
Every port is adequately accessible with only the volume rocker fully sealed off which believe it or not actually makes them easier to distinguish and press. No need to wonder if the power button/IR blaster is hindered as it is nicely recessed and easy to press. Cutouts for both microphone ports, 3.5mm headphone jack and most importantly the Ultrapixel camera on the back are nothing short of perfect.
There is a beautiful Carbon Fiber pattern on the back side of the case which I've found makes small scratches almost impossible to detect but the same can't be said for the transparent smoke sides which have picked up a few visible knicks but nothing that would compromise the construction of the product. The Carbon Fiber pattern is smooth and undetectable by running your finger over it which seems a bit strange but it looks fantastic and has not flaked off or rubbed off despite my constant use on hard surfaces.
BUILD QUALITY
The two part protection offered by the DualPro CF above average. I've dropped it a few times, nothing major but enough that it has protected my HTC One from some scratches and possible dents and for that I am thankful. The silicon core is extremely flexible and thin except in the exposed areas which are reinforced. These areas include the top and bottom where the ports are located and no hard shell is present.
The case is compatible with most dry installation screen protectors but I don't think it would fit any of the tempered glass ones although I didn't actually have a chance to try that out myself. The specific color depicted in the images above is the Silver one but now that I also have the Black HTC One I kind of wish I knew what it looked like outfitted with tone on tone. If you wish to know the exact measurements please refer to the following:
Length: 5.57 in (141.48 mm)
Thickness: 0.11 in (2.79 mm)
Width: 2.87 in (72.90 mm)
Depth: 0.51 in (12.95 mm)
Weight: 1.4 oz
CONCLUSION
At first glance the DualPro CF gives off a sophisticated look with dual layers of protection and a beautiful carbon fiber finish which make it perfect for the workplace. It fits right in on your desk at work, a day at the park or on a night out on the town. It retails for $34.99 and is available in either Silver/Black (as seen above) or Black/Black although I'm sure you could find a deal or two if you look around Amazon.
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Nice review! Got same exact case yesterday and fully agree with you.
My only dilemma is: should I use case at all? This phone is too beautiful to hide. I pay for the design and now it's hidden under (beautiful) case.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
I take the case off while at work to randomly hold it and just stare at it lol but when I get up to go somewhere I never forget to put it back on and it's saved it a few times already.
What is that stand ? I want one...
It's called a Podprop comes in different colors and I LOVE it especially when I take my case off, the material is soft so I'm not afraid of it getting scratches
Have you noticed any Speed or connection issues with WIFI or Mobile Data with this case on? I recently got the Dual Pro Shine case, which is basically the same as this case but not carbon fiber, its a fake plastic brushed aluminum. I have noticed a lot of problems with WiFi and Mobile Data with the case on, most of the time it wont even connect to LTE! I just wonder if I exchanged mine for the CF one if I would have the same issue.
No sir I am getting the same signal strength with and without the case on. Could be do to having a silicon layer in between that helps with that, who know.
Ok, thanks a lot for the quick reply. I got the Dual Pro Shine Silver. So its basically the same as this, but not CF, its like brushed aluminum. Its this case: http://www.amazon.com/Incipio-HT-355-DualPro-Shine-Case/dp/B00BJH1DRW
I read a few people had issues with WiFi, but not mobile data. It's almost like night and day with case on and case off. Lets hope they will exchange it for sometime else!
Thanks again man!
Oh gotcha, wow yeah that sucks not sure why the SHINE case would cause that big of a problem. Let me know what they end up saying.
Just picked up the black Dual Pro, so far so good, I've been using the Incipio Feather as my daily case with the Otterbox Commuter as my protection case. I however had a problem with the Otterbox due to poor cutting on the rubber (leaving jagged and frayed rubber sections around the case) as well as the rubber pushing out on the sides to give a warped look. The Incipio Dual Pro has a much better build quality feel to it and looks to offer nearly the same amount of protection. (The obvious exception being to the port covers that are part of the Otterbox). Long story short I'm very happy with this case and haven't noticed any wifi issues so far.
Dual Pro case fits macro and fisheye lens.
Hey guys I just ordered these lenses off of amazon, called Skina 3 in 1 lenses, and found out that they will fit perfectly in the rubber circle around the camera on the phone, the alignment is only marginally off, and the lenses take great pictures if you are looking for effects.
Good review! Thank you
Just ordered the same case
amadablam said:
Good review! Thank you
Just ordered the same case
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine arrived today and I have to say, it is my current favorite case, closely followed by the Tetded one
The CF case is a beautiful thing and a great fit.
Really cant see myself changing it too often as its an every day case with class and protection.
I just bought one of these Incipio duo pro shine cases and I LOVE it.
Thanks for the review!

Review of Spigen Slim Armor case for S4 w/pics!!!

This is a review of Spigen Slim Armor Case for Samsung Galaxy S4: http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/samsung/galaxy-s4-cases/galaxy-s4-case-slim-armor.html
When it comes to slim and light weight cases, Spigen never disappoints with their unique and rich styles. But in the past they weren't exactly known for their rugged touch. With their Slim Armor case it looks like they decide to turn the table around. So let's see if they were able to add extra "armor" protection while still maintaining their typical slim design.
Slim Armor is actually consists of two layers. Inner TPU layer surrounds the phone with extra cushion to absorb shock impact and adds extra thickness at the top/bottom bumper beyond the boundaries of Outer PC layer which bounds the sides and the back of the case with hard plastic material. Still, even with two separate layer, case feels very thin. The fitment of both layers is seamless and almost feels like one piece. Every port opening is precisely cutout and perfectly aligned between inner/outer layers and with a phone. What I found especially amazing is that case is actually easier to fit in with a phone while two layers are together. This was a pleasant surprise since I know that a lot of people like to take their cases on and off and when you are dealing with two layers it becomes a hassle to constant align two together. For the purpose of pictures, I demonstrated how the phone looks with inner layer without outer shell, but in everyday use I would recommend keeping both of them together when taking phone out.
One of the details that keeps both interlocked perfectly together are the power and volume buttons. Those are part of TPU inner layer, but made to feel and to perform like hardware buttons. A separate cutout around sides of these buttons makes them very easy to push with a nice tactile feedback, and while aligned with outer PC shell cutout it keeps both layers together. There is not too much to complain about Slim Armor except for the lip around the display. Typically those are designed to keep your phone off the surface when faced down. To my personal taste I found this lip to be very shallow. Actually, it's more shallow around the side edges while a bit more thicker around top/bottom part of the case's bumper cushion. So in theory it will protect your phone screen down from touching a surface, but you will not get as much clearance thus I highly recommend having a decent screen protector when you use this case. For those familiar with Spigen, you know that quality screen protectors is one of their signature products. Another thing to mention, which was actually a pleasant surprise, is a bonus of 3 home button stickers labeled as "jelly bean" buttons. Those come in assortment of 3 colors and will help you personalize your phone even further. The case itself comes in a selection of 5 different colors for the hard outer shell. The one I got was in black, and somewhat a fingerprint magnet. For those who are bothered by this, probably a good idea to go with a lighter color PC shell
Overall, this is a very impressive and high quality case (made in Korea, which I find lately to be of a higher quality than HK built cases). You will still get a slim and light weight design while maintaining a piece of mind in case if you drop your phone. Even so I wish the lip would be thicker to offer a better "armor", bundled with a good screen protector you should be OK.
Here are the pictures of black Slim Armor case I tested with my S4 display model of the phone (thus a slight misalignment of mic port next to micro-usb connector):
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How's the case as far as drop protection go, is the lip high enough that dropping it face first won't crack the screen?
koraun said:
How's the case as far as drop protection go, is the lip high enough that dropping it face first won't crack the screen?
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Judging from the last pic posted, screen would be hit first.. ._.
SilentRazor said:
Judging from the last pic posted, screen would be hit first.. ._.
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I did feel friction when case is placed down which suggests there is some minimum clearance. Also, in theory if you drop your phone and it lands flat face down, a bigger lip will only help you on a perfectly flat surface. Any uneven surface will come in contact even with a rugged case. I'm always paranoid about this stuff and have tempered glass on my phone (N2). I would definitely suggest that a screen protector is a must for this case. For example if you place it face down and you have some crumbs or whatever on a table and slide it across - you need extra screen protection to keep display from being scratched. I can also imagine that with tempered glass you will not have any margin at all.
I do want to mention again, I have a display model of S4, not the real phone. But its 1:1 scale and I also read other online reviews suggesting lip is on a shallow side. I would appreciate if more people who have this case will chime in to offer their feedback about Slim Armor. There are a few threads about this case so we gotta have more users with a real S4 and this case. Keep in mind, Spigen is reading these reviews and any feedback will be valuable for them as well.
How about sound? Does the case muffle the speakers at all?
Does it get scratched? I want to get the white one but afraid it would get scratches and black marks/lines easily. Can you post pictures of its current status? Scratched or not and how many days used?
It looks like it might.
This is the best case I've ever had. So perfect
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Cheap cases, delivery 3 to 4 weeks, protection OK

Hi,
We renewed our phones plan and got 2 Pixel3. For cases, my initial plan to order 2 Spigen rugged armor on Amazon (2 x $13). Not in a hurry, I wanted to check out the quality of cheap cases. For the same amount of money I can buy a lot of cases on eBay ans still have enough money for some screen protectors. I spent sometimes to review images of the cases on eBay, mostly to avoid the crappy ones (like hard cases) or very expensive or weird looking. Sorry I prefer to avoid giving the eBay link I bought. You can find out easily by searching for Pixel 3 cases. Here is the quick summary of my "cheap case" experiment.
I don't do any drop test. However, with common sense, I think we can feel a below or above average protection. I think the cases I tried are as good and some could even be than the Spigen RA I got on my Pixel1. In my opinion, there is not a lot of hitech in a case. After all, brand name cases are probably also manufactured in China in anyway.
More expensive doesn't mean better. In fact the best is the cheapest ($1.75)
Avoid the multiple layers case with a hard polycarbonate shell (#5 in photo below). They are heavy, bulky and slippery
Plan in advance! Fastest delivery is 3 weeks (ship from China to US), probably 5 if non-US. The colors of the cases shown in eBay photos are not always accurate.
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My criteria of a good case is modest: good protection (corners, raised lips to protect camera and screen) and hold well in hands (no bulk and not slippery). I am not very concerned about the look. Colors is the only fancy factor. The photo above shows the models sorted by most preferred to least. Here is the rational of my ranking.
Rank #1: This case is incredible. I can't believe the cheapest case could be that good. I would even say I like it better than the Spigen rugged armor on the Pixel1 I got in the past. Very well thought, minimal bulk. I like the chamfered edges and the sanded surface on both side edges to increase grip. In spite of the glossy surface of the back, this case is NOT slippery. I am not sure how to explain that, maybe this has something todo with the Van der Waals force. The 4 corners have subtle raise to lift slightly the case/phone above a flat surface. If you knock the corner of the phone on a hard surface, you will hear a slightly muffled sound. While cases 2, 3, 4 you will hear a harder sound. Those air bubbles are not just for show.
The material is a TPU slightly harder and thick enough. Not like the softer rubbery TPU I got in the past with cheap $1 "crystal" cases. This case will turn slighly smoke/yellow in time. Personally this yellowish thing is not a problem at all. The buttons are slight hard, but fortunately I don't use that much. The case don't pick up too much dust entering by the back of the case.
Rank #2: Feel harder and slightly heavier. Add 1 millimeter in width and height compare to Case #1. The raised lip above the screen is slightly shallower than case #1. There is barely enough room for a glass screen protector. The buttons are very clicky and responsive. The button "click feel" is the best among the 5 models I tested.
Rank #3: Same dimensions as case #1 without the bubbles at the corners. The look maybe nicer if you don't like transparent case. The faux leather texture "seems" to increase grip. Actually this case is more slippery than case #1 (and also #2). This case has lower ranking simply because I feel that it's protective property is inferior. In case you are interested in this case, be aware that the colors is not always accurate on eBay. I ordered a light coffee color and got a dark gray instead. The photo above shows the navy blue model.
Rank #4: Minimal protection, barely a skin. The TPU is slightly thinner than Case#1. But still not rubbery. No raised grooves (as in case #1) to lift the case above a flat surface. Overall sloppy design, money wasted.
Rank #5: In terms of protection, this case is the best. The light gray rubber layer is not only a soft rubber but has ample air space to absorb shock. I use this case a few minutes and got immediately annoyed. It adds almost 10 millimeters to both width and height. Once the case is on, it becomes very hard to operate the phone with one hand. The back looks nice, it's a hard polycarbonate shell. But it is super slippery. I am certain I will drop the phone all the time with that case. Maybe this case is designed for rock climbers, but I really don't like it. Personally, it confirms a weird trend, each time I buy a multi-layered case, I always regret it. This one is the worst in particular, very bulky, slippery and a fragile assembling mechanism.
More photos
Notice the sanded stripe on the side-edges of the crystal case
Notice the bulk of case #5
Case #3 slighly wider by 1 millimeter
Case #3, ordered gray which looks like "light cappucino" on eBay images. The real gray is really dark.
Update 2019-05-13: After 2 months of daily use, this case now becomes my favorite. Like very much the rugged rubbery. Excellent material, thicker than the average TPU case (better protection). Hard but with a rubbery feel. Snug fit with device, give a good impression of protection. Bought 2 new colors.

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