Case with only raised corners - Nexus 5 Accessories

Is there a case that has only raised corners, i.e. where the case sides are not higher than the screen (so you can still swipe from the side ...)? Has anyone seen a case like that?

.... something like this: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mod-3/radius-by-mod-3 (without the crazy X on the back though)

That's quite an acquired taste if I do say so but at least its different. looks like a pen pushers case though or for someone working from home. I wouldn't trust it with anything more than a cheaper end gadget. thanks for the info though and hopefully someone will find it useful (not saying I didn't).
im new to nexus etc and been with apple for years but ditched that now although my nexus 5 doesn't arrive until tomorrow so I cant do much comparison as yet.
can anyone confirm if this "side swipe gesture" or whatever it is will be an issue with a case with raised edges? its all new to me.
I see spigen have some with just raised edges but would a spigen armor and glass tr protector cause issues for side swipe?
I take it you have to swipe right at the edge inwards?
hope OP gets his answer

I would buy that case. I'd be concerned about whether or not it would stay on the phone but otherwise I really like it!

http://www.amazon.com/RELEASE-FUSION®-Selling-Absorption-Yourself/dp/B00EPLTFIS
I got this case for my nexus 4 and I got 1 on order with my nexus 5
It's got very small slightly raised corners

@GTDarthYoda: hhmm, not quite what I was looking for, but nice case though. I ended up ordering a fitbag instead: http://shop.fitbag.de/classic-grau-handytasche-aus-alcantara-nach-mass.html (site is in German) because I'd like to use it naked (does that sound pervy? :laugh while still protecting it.

Related

Samsung Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 Hybrid Case

Hi,
I just got my SGS2 and wanted to order a case for its protection so I took a look around and found this from Astrobile. ( Google it, forum doesn't let me to post url ) It's pretty awesome on paper, cause i didn't get it yet, but I looking forward it is indeed cool.
They have a 1 plus 1 event now, so you can get 2 for a price of one. They also include 2 screen protector with it. It's Made in Korea.
Why is it Hybrid? Its made of plastic, but at the back of it there is a metal plate which "make your device looks slimmer". Imo it could also helps keep your device cooler. My SGS2 is getting real hot when playing constantly for an hour or more.
Im already excited about it, can't wait to get it! I will update when i get them, they said it will take about 10 days.
And the best of all, there is free shipping to worldwide. Of course you can take a Express Shipping, but that's not for free...
Arrived!
Hello!
As i promised, i will write a mini-review according to my first few impressions about the case when i get it, so here you are!
First things first, it has arrived fairly quick according to it was a free shipping. +1!
It has came in a pink plastic bag, nothing special. The package of the case itself is nice, suggests quality, +0.5!
The first problem face me when i actually opened the box and got the black case in my hands. I noticed it is kinda thick,-0.5, and has some shimmering material mixed in the black TPU, -1!!!. This is weird, but must be the Korean taste for beauty...OK.
The next thing I didn't like about thie case was it thickness, ok I already mentioned it, BUT the holes for the buttons are also that deep that they're hardly accessible. They could have made some "case-buttons" or I don't know the expression for that. -1!!! Maybe something like on this one.
The metal backplate also has some color transition from black to silver (mostly silver for a "black" backplate), and I don't like it. I have to give a -0.5.
Alright, enough of the CONs, let's see some more PROs. This case is not that bad at all. Its Sturdy enough, but still flexible so I can believe my phone is protected from small height drops (if not landed on the screen - tho the case has some edge which laps over the phone, so if you turn it face down, your screen won't be scratched, also the screen protector is there.) So this worth a +1! The touch of the material is good, less slippy then the phone naked, but still not as good as it could be. (Maybe my hands are just to small for such a huge screen and while im tryin to reach the other end of the screen with my goofy fingers it just wants to slip off of my hand. - So I won't give penalty on this.
The matte screen protector included is absolutely superb quality! It has a really nice touch, a colors doesn't distorted and it's free of any oil, fingerprints, +1. Tho I have to mention that on the website they were talking about 2 screen protectors will be included, this is a -0.5...
And of course don't forget about the extra case included with every purchase of this model from the color of your choice (even the same your ordered originally). They have black and white with various backplates.
I won't give penalty points on this, cause this was a gift
So, the thing is it is kinda the same as the black, since it also has that crappy shimmering thing mixed into the material, but it is less visible than on the black one. Backplate is the same aswell, weird color transition...But again, it was gift. So it is OK
The Verdict:
Summa Summarum, the case has finished with a +1 in its stash. My impressions is just confused as this rating.
I like it a bit, but I don't think I will stick with it too long. For a first case it's just perfect, since my main goal is just to protect the phone, and it does the job well. Tiny imperfections like the deep button hole is a thing i could get used to by time, not really a big issue.
Next time I will definitely go for a bumper-style case which preserves my phone's slick for factor, which I love.
Here you can see some high-res pics of the cases.
Hope you found my very first review helpful! Please press the "Thanks" button! Cheers I'm off...
P.S: This is my 10th post, let's celebrate :lol:
The phone + case look rather thick on the photo's. Is the mic on the upper side not covered? There is no picture of that.
TheWizardbc said:
The phone + case look rather thick on the photo's. Is the mic on the upper side not covered? There is no picture of that.
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Hey!
Thanks for the input! Yeah, sorry I forgot to mention that, actually I didn't even knew that is a mic also!
Returning to the topic, yeah the case also has a cut for the second mic too!
Can you please tell me what is it for?
the second mic
the second mic is use for the noise cancellation feature.
if you want a cheap and cheerfull hybrid case then look for a fake sgp neo hybrid case
if you want a more exspensive hybrid case look for genuine neo hybrid sgp cases
a fake one will cost up to £12 and usually start at about £6
real sgp cases will cost you £18-£22 and no less
iam using a fake neo hybrid at the minute as i broke my genuine one and its a pretty good case for the money , it fits standard battery and 2000mah battery , its lasted a good few months and has kept the phone pristine , it covers the phone well even with the 2000mah battery
they are the best hybrid case ive found and add minimal bulk to the phone , look good , fit nice , protects the phone from drops and if you buy a fake one you can get them for pretty good prices
That 'shimmering' effect looks nasty. It's good that you get a second case though.
i think there are better cases out there and at cheap prices, but in the bright side it does look nice.

Gumdrop Rugged Case

Has anyone used a ruggedized case? I bring my tablet EVERYWHERE and need something decent to protect it and was thinking about the Gumdrop cases. Any suggestions?
I use the Gform Extreme Sleeve 2 for extra protection. It says it fits the Ipad but I can confirm that it will fit the galaxy tab even with the stock book case on it. This is the best combination of protection and comfortable usability I have found.
It is kinda spendy but I bought both cases on ebay for less than retail and the samsung book case is definitely not necessary.
http://g-form.com/product/ipad-extreme-sleeve2/
If you don't think this case is beefy enough check out their torture test videos online.
http://g-form.com/technology/
Dose the gumdrop have a built in screen protector like the otterbox?
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
streetrider nick said:
I use the Gform Extreme Sleeve 2 for extra protection. It says it fits the Ipad but I can confirm that it will fit the galaxy tab even with the stock book case on it. This is the best combination of protection and comfortable usability I have found.
It is kinda spendy but I bought both cases on ebay for less than retail and the samsung book case is definitely not necessary.
http://g-form.com/product/ipad-extreme-sleeve2/
If you don't think this case is beefy enough check out their torture test videos online.
http://g-form.com/technology/
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Always been curious about these cases that look like tires. Is there any advantage to this over an equally-thick material without the pattern? It seems to me like the tread on this would actually make it more likely to be damaged, not less. There's thin points (for puncture or pressure), and its easier to bend. And though there's probably a small difference in weight (though minimal; the heavier outer coating is larger than if it was flat), I can't imagine the tread makes it more fun to put into or take out of a bag. I've never used one though so I'm curious if there's something I'm not considering.
slack04 said:
Always been curious about these cases that look like tires. Is there any advantage to this over an equally-thick material without the pattern? It seems to me like the tread on this would actually make it more likely to be damaged, not less. There's thin points (for puncture or pressure), and its easier to bend. And though there's probably a small difference in weight (though minimal; the heavier outer coating is larger than if it was flat), I can't imagine the tread makes it more fun to put into or take out of a bag. I've never used one though so I'm curious if there's something I'm not considering.
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There's something you've not considered. I think the design helps with the shock displacement. Maybe not, but it's what I figure.
Have you watched the videos? This is one a$$ saving case. LOL
If you're as tough on your tab as in the videos you crazy, but then again, stranger sh!t has happened on accident.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using one stinky finger.
I have one and love it. I got one for my daughter's kindle, too. It does have a built in screen protector but I didn't install it for my case (affects screen responsiveness and feels crappy). The screen is protected from being recessed behind protruding, reinforced edges, so if i drop it it won't break anyway. Also, the case prevents accidentally hitting the power button, which used to drive me crazy. I take my tab to work everyday...get lots of compliments on the case. The material and ridges let me sit it on my couch or lap and not slide out of position. They also feel nice in the hands. I have an otterbox defender case for my evo4g. That's a great case, but I recommend this grippier type of material instead for a tablet. My phone case lets me slide in and out of my pocket easily, but i want traction with my tablet case. I also tried one of those folding tablet cases, but they seem ridiculous to me.
I have the white gumdrop case for my tab 10.1. As far as protection it is great. The corners are reinforced and it has a built in screen protector. You will have no doubt that your tab is very well protected inside this case. It also offers a LOT more grip and security in your hands. The only downside it that is easily doubles the thickness and weight of your tab. With this case on you can easily drop, throw, bang etc.. without even a thought of damaging your tab.
I love my Gumdrop! I wrote an in-depth review if you want to check it out, with more pictures and details then you can shake a stick at, lol.
http://romrepo.info/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=664
I got a gumdrop case shortly after I got my tab 10.1, Love it. The silicon cover is very thick especially on the corners, the frame is solid and fits on the tab well, the cover and frame fit together very solid, and the screen protector is actually pretty good. It makes the whole setup look very clean, and my touchscreen is still very responsive with the gumdrop screen protector AND a static adhesive screen protector on.
tldr gumdrop A+
slack04 said:
Always been curious about these cases that look like tires. Is there any advantage to this over an equally-thick material without the pattern? It seems to me like the tread on this would actually make it more likely to be damaged, not less. There's thin points (for puncture or pressure), and its easier to bend. And though there's probably a small difference in weight (though minimal; the heavier outer coating is larger than if it was flat), I can't imagine the tread makes it more fun to put into or take out of a bag. I've never used one though so I'm curious if there's something I'm not considering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the delay, I am working on my capstone project for an EE degree and I have not been on the internets for fun since sunday.
I cannot say I would be able to point out any major advantages between the current design and one that is equally thick throughout, I would probably guess weight and cost. I believe the case is made of a fancy foam that stiffens on impact and does not seem like there is much of an outer coating over the foam but I have not yet cut into mine to find out.
The "tread" really has not caused me any problems getting this into or out of my backpack. The case is not frictiony like rubber but not so slippery that I am afraid to drop it when I carry it around either. I would say they found a happy medium between fly paper and a greased watermelon.
Overall I am very happy with this case and I recommend it to anyone who needs some heavy duty protection. I am even considering buying one for my laptop!
I got mine today left the screen protector off I have a zagg on mine super case I'm going to order one for the wifes Asus transformer
+1
I got my Tab last Fall and a Samsung Book Case shortly afterward. I had looked at the Gumdrop case and thought it'd be good to have, but didn't pull the trigger. That was a big mistake.
My son decided to grab the Tab from the kitchen counter & play games on it in the family room, but the dropped it on the tile floor before he got to the couch. I ended up with a $200 repair bill for a new screen. Needless to say, I had a Gumdrop waiting to be put on the tablet as soon as the repair was complete. This thing feels sturdy & strong. I just wish I had bought the case when I first saw it. I'd be $150 richer.
Got my gumdrop last week and really like it wasn't to sure bout the screen protector at first but its very responsive. Def worth the $.
Sent from my GT-P7500 using Tapatalk
I ordered one yesterday and then saw this thread. I checked this forum for case info before but didn't see the gumdrop case mentioned. I found it googling rubber corners galaxy tab 10.1.
Great to see positive reviews. Two concerns I have are:
- could the rubber case interfere with the wifi antenna?
- could the battery/electronics get too hot in it under normal conditions?
I notice that when you put your hand on the corner near the power button, the back and front get warm with no case. I imagine the glass acts as a heatsink. If you feel around the warm corner it doesn't spread to the rest of the glass. When I get the case I'll see if the warm area seems bigger.
In the manual it recs use in the temp range O-45c. I searched to see if 10.1's have overheating issues and I see anything to indicate that.
I've had the Gumdrop case on my Tab for about two months now & I've never had overheating issues.
Fat Tires said:
I've had the Gumdrop case on my Tab for about two months now & I've never had overheating issues.
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Cheers, good to hear.
I just read somewhere that someone said that a silicone cover on their phone caused wifi loss, but others tested theirs and didn't have any loss.
I haven't noticed a decrease in my wifi reception. It works the same at home, the office, & in public spots like the coffee shop.
I don't think you'll notice any negative issues with the case other than added bulk & weight. Those are a fair trade for the better protection you'll get from the case.
Great, I'll do a proper test when I get it. I should try it with my Samsung Book Cover case as well.
I figure the thickness and security of it might make it easier to hold for long periods despite the weight. I like the idea of being able to grip it by the raised edge while carrying it, and I think I'll now have the confidence to bring it places and let other ppl actually play with it!
It looks like it might even survive a fall down stairs which even iBallz wouldn't
Hey NexVision
Which Gumdrop case fits your P7500? They don't list it on the site and it would suck to get a case and the buttons don't line up. Everywhere I look there seems to be a hundred different model #s (for each carrier, 4G and wifi only etc) and nothing seems to list which models are similar.
I want to chime in here with nothing more than +1 to everything positive mentioned here and No, I haven't had any of the problems asked about in this thread either.

Nex Fishbone Case Thoughts/Pics

Just thought I'd share some thoughts and pictures of a new case I got (I am a bit of a case junkie... usually end up with 10-15 cases per phone). Typically I either wouldn't be the first to post about a case (so I don't bother) or I don't feel strongly enough to share. I didn't see anything about this case, though... so here goes.
Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0073YAAVK/ref=oh_o02_s00_i00_details
Various colors are available.
Notes: My device is the Verizon/LTE variant. This is a 2 piece case (black silicone base and red fishbone part).
Looks: I really think the case looks great, the pictures below won't do the colors justice but the black is a very nice matte black and the red is a very cool shade. The design is appealing, of course, or I wouldn't have purchased it... heh.
Fit: The fit is nearly perfect (might actually be perfect, this is the first time I'm ordering this style of case). One of the... ribs has a teeny tiny slight gap between it and the black base. It is not highly noticeable and I couldn't capture it well in a picture... but it's there.
I don't know if this is related to my phone being the VZW version.​I don't know if this gap will go away as the case "settles in" since it is pressed down easily and doesn't feel too tight.​I don't know if the case will fit with the extended battery, but since I have the extended battery at home I will test it out and report back.​
Feel: I really like the feel of the red part on my hand when I'm holding it. It's not any extra grip or anything, but it is comfortable. The side grippyness is sufficient to not be slipping out of your hand, but it's not as grippy as many other cases that have a more textured design.
Function: The lip is sufficient to protect the screen when face down. The only thing I don't really like about the case is that the button parts aren't super noticeable by touch. Don't get me wrong, they work perfectly and you can feel them just fine when you are trying to, but when I am not paying attention I find myself not being certain where they are for a moment or two. I will probably get used to this, though.
Hope that gives everyone the info they're interested in... if you have questions, feel free to ask.
Thanks for the write up and pics. That case looks awesome. Curious if it would fit with the extended battery. Hope to hear back from you about it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
I tried it with the extended battery...
The silicone part fits perfectly, the fishbone part is a little close but does fit too.
The... spinal parts at the top on the back are slightly raised. Just a bit, only an issue if you are pretty nit picky... But it definitely fits and the clips/ribs and top/bottom fit perfectly.
Happy to confirm that the slight gap on one of the ribs has gone away over night. The case fits perfectly now (regular battery). Still fits good, but not great with the extended battery (might improve if left alone over time).
Thanks again. I might check into getting one of these on payday. The price isn't too bad even if I end up not liking it.
Zomb!e said:
Thanks again. I might check into getting one of these on payday. The price isn't too bad even if I end up not liking it.
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No problem... good luck if you decide to buy it, hope you enjoy it. I myself am a case junkie. I've only had the Galaxy Nexus for 2 weeks and have 6 cases and I still have 20 or so for my last phone (Epic 4G Touch).
How is the silicone? Is it a dust/lint magnet and is it a chore to get out of medium to snug fitted pants?
redrapt0r said:
How is the silicone? Is it a dust/lint magnet and is it a chore to get out of medium to snug fitted pants?
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No issues getting it in and it of pockets (even the tighter "cell phone pockets" a couple of my pants have).
It does acquire a bit of dust like you'd expect, but FAR less than most silicone cases I've had (guessing because a lot of it is covered/broken up by the fishbone part).
I tend to be pretty nit picky and with this case I do not feel the constant urge to clean it.
How "protective" would you say it is?
Just ordered a nexus and am looking at cases my primary concern is protection, although I want a cool look too.
How do you think this would compare to come of the other cases in terms of protecting against drops? I figure a self-described "case junkie" might be the person to ask this sort of comparative question to
Ok, so this is all just my opinion... I'm not dropping my phone on the ground to support this, lol.
Both pieces (the silicone case and the red fishbone that locks it into place and secures it) are pretty secure and well made. The lip around the face is a good size (not so tiny that it is insignificant and not so big to cause usage issues).
I won't sit here and pretend I have a rating system for this stuff, but I have some cases that feel like they won't protect anything beyond it sliding around the desk or a gentle fall onto some clouds/carpeting and some cases that feel like they will do their drop and protect it from a moderate drop and fall. This case falls into the latter/better group.
I like the appearance, but not so much that I'd use it if it was a piece of crap. Thankfully, it seems well made to me.
Woah
what struck me on first glance is the design!
Its quite eye catching
I'm just not sure if it is durable...
This look good. I bought one
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Official Google Nexus 5 Bumper (semi-review?)

When I ordered my official Google Nexus 5 Bumper in Red I was more than excited to have an official case I knew I wouldn't have any problems with.
Upon opening I loved it. The red bumper on my Nexus 5 looked fantastic! I was thrilled that I was going to be carrying it around now.
First:
It fits perfectly with the buttons on the sides as well as cutouts for speakers and buttons. There's no doubt about it, although the buttons may be a a little harder to push at first, due to the case's button popouts being rigid, you can quickly get used to this and it isn't a real problem. The cutout for the speakers don't seem to limit the sound at all, so that was all good. And the cutout for the charging port fits most chargers without any issue. I only had an issue with one of my cables that has a huge plastic piece around the micro USB metal piece, but it wasn't made for the Nexus 5 so it doesn't really affect my opinion of the cutout. Plus it works with wireless charging, so that's a plus. The cutout for the headphone jack fit all my headphones perfectly, even ones with the L-shaped jack, so I was happy with that as well.
Other than that, I loved the relatively slim design of the case as well as the nexus logo on the back. I can noticeably feel the case's added width when I take it off, but it isn't a huge difference like many other cases may add. So it keeps the device still relatively slim.
BUT I WAS DISAPPOINTED after I put it on and started assessing the actual fit. I thought it would be a harder material. Although it "snapped" on perfectly, the case was loose around the top and bottom.
On the top:
The case could be pushed in, to where it would make a sound from rubbing on the Nexus 5. I adjusted the case and put it on again but nothing. It almost felt like the cheaper silicon cases bought for devices that eventually warp and don't fit properly. This is extremely annoying (at least for me) because I expected the case to be a perfect fit on the top and bottom without me being able to push parts of the case and have them move, or make a rubbing sound.
On the bottom:
The same thing occurred. The small piece of rubber above the charging port (closest to screen) is very flimsy. I noticed wear from two days of use. This involved taking it out and putting it in my pocket. My pants aren't tight so it wasn't a squeeze. It came from me grabbing the case right above this small piece of rubber and pulling it out. As with the top, I can push this piece of rubber pretty easily and have it move in and out (or up and down, however you want to say it). It seems it will continue to get looser until it is warped a bit.
Overall:
I was disappointed with the case. I contacted Google and as per their return policy they offered a refund without returning or swapping the case. The top and bottom "mis"-fits really killed the excitement for the case. With the top being able to be pushed in AND making a rubbing sound, it irritated the crap out of me. And with the bottom rubber piece over the charging port being flimsy and possibly warping JUST from everyday use of the case, I can't love the case like I wanted.
Last thing:
Anyone else have this issue? Or any other issues? When I read and watched multiple reviews, none of them seemed to show all of the bad things I found with my case. So part of me thinks it may be just mine. I am considering ordering another with the refund offer but I am hesitant to spend money on another and have the same results.
I use the official bumper case for my 5 in the really dark grey/black color. I really like this case. I didn't pay full price for it so that might be why I don't mind it as much.
I do not have any loose areas anywhere on mine and fits very snug.
I seem to be in the minority here as I really like using this case. It's simple, slim, feels good, fits nicely, it's everything I need and want in a case. I'm extremely cautious with my phones and would never be caught with an otterbox or any other humongous case. For me slim and simple is the way to go.
Sorry to hear you encountered some problems with yours.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
eazyweazy3 said:
I use the official bumper case for my 5 in the really dark grey/black color. I really like this case. I didn't pay full price for it so that might be why I don't mind it as much.
I do not have any loose areas anywhere on mine and fits very snug.
I seem to be in the minority here as I really like using this case. It's simple, slim, feels good, fits nicely, it's everything I need and want in a case. I'm extremely cautious with my phones and would never be caught with an otterbox or any other humongous case. For me slim and simple is the way to go.
Sorry to hear you encountered some problems with yours.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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same here. it works perfectly with my phone too. no loose top or bottom areas here. i don't know about slim but it is handy and gives a good grip. also the charging point rubber you talked about? for me it's a bit tight fit for the charging pin but it just gives way when pushed with a bit of presssure and comes back when pin is removed. otherwise no problems for me with this case and i'm pretty satisfied.
eazyweazy3 said:
I use the official bumper case for my 5 in the really dark grey/black color. I really like this case. I didn't pay full price for it so that might be why I don't mind it as much.
I do not have any loose areas anywhere on mine and fits very snug.
I seem to be in the minority here as I really like using this case. It's simple, slim, feels good, fits nicely, it's everything I need and want in a case. I'm extremely cautious with my phones and would never be caught with an otterbox or any other humongous case. For me slim and simple is the way to go.
Sorry to hear you encountered some problems with yours.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Where did you get it ?
I saw a video about the replica bumper cases from China and decided to get a couple of them. They said the quality was identical to the ones from Google. Plus, it was only $20 for 2 cases. When I get them, I'll post here with a mini review.
wolfen69 said:
I saw a video about the replica bumper cases from China and decided to get a couple of them. They said the quality was identical to the ones from Google. Plus, it was only $20 for 2 cases. When I get them, I'll post here with a mini review.
Click to expand...
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Are they really the same quality ? And if they are would you post a link too ?
Vanilla Pudding said:
Are they really the same quality ? And if they are would you post a link too ?
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Here's a youtube video of the replica case. Looks good to me. Btw, just search ebay for the cases.
wolfen69 said:
Here's a youtube video of the replica case. Looks good to me. Btw, just search ebay for the cases.
Click to expand...
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Can I buy from eBay with something other than PayPal ?
Vanilla Pudding said:
Can I buy from eBay with something other than PayPal ?
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Do you want me to hold your hand? Figure it out.
I would buy this, if the peeling issue wouldn't be present.. how is your opinion?
ToZoX said:
I would buy this, if the peeling issue wouldn't be present.. how is your opinion?
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I haven't received them yet. Will let you know as soon as I get them. Shipping from China takes a while.
I got a red one about 3 weeks ago.
It started peeling (sort of) at the corners within 10 days, black material was showing up.
Upon removing the case, I discovered that it left long marks on the rubbery back of the black Nexus 5, along the ridges of the bumper.
Thats when I decided to sell it off.
Simply put, it looks awesome, fits awesome, but as a product, its bad, and not at all worth the money.
Atleast those marks are slowly dissappearing (Trust me, those arent dust or something)

[CASE REVIEW] CaseMate - Tough Case for Sony Xperia Z3c

Hello everyone
I'll be doing a short review, for the CaseMate - Tough Case for Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Smartphone.
I'm not a professional reviewer, so I'll speak as a casual user.
Here's the official page for this case : Tough Case
Let's start with the basics, I ordered mine through Amazon for 27 euros and it arrived in less than a week , wonderful job from them during this time of the year.
I received the package this morning at my favorite drop point (Relais-Colis, quite useful here) and I decided to pick it up on my way to work.
As I am the impatient type, I decided to try it on as soon as I got back in my car
Unboxing
Well, let's be honest, I'm kind of disappointed with this case... The plastics look cheap and dont have the "tough" feel I expected from them.
But it's not the most problematic point since most manufacturers tends to do this, the case doesn't fit my brand new phone the way it should do it but it's easy to see why.
CaseMate didn't think through the whole thing, by leaving the left top side (the USB connector zone) unprotected to allow us to easily charge our phone, they weakened the corner construction and allowed a gap to exist between the case and the back of the phone.
Gap between phone and case
Another view angle
Coming from a product with this price tag, this is a huge let down for me.
I even tried to force the case to fit (not too much, didn't want to break my precious...) but to no avail, the gap is here.
Well, on the bright side we can see that CaseMate really tried to do something sturdy, the 3 corners where the phone is fitting nicely confirm this.
All in all, it could have been a wonderful product but something, somewhere, went horribly wrong...
[EDIT] Right below, @madsb produced pictures of his own Z3c with this case, so I tried it again to check if I did something wrong, well I made it fit a little better but it's still not perfect and I still don't think it will really protect the whole thing.
The pros
The 3 fully protected corners looks... well... protected
Unusual design
The cons
Cheap plastics (both internal and external layers)
Wrong assembly for the top left corner
High price
Verdict
I'm fairly disappointed at CaseMate for selling me some sweet dreams with this case and for delivering this kind of finitions, they could have really worked a little harder to fix the top left corner, as for the look and feel, it's nice but not enough to redeem the former flaw.
So for me, this case is a no-no
I've already arranged the return & refund with Amazon, I hope my next case will do the trick this time.
[EDIT] I've just ordered a Ringke Fusion (Black mate), should be at my doorstep in a week, I'll post a review asap.
Q&A
Anyone here bought the same case but didn't have this issue ? Or are we all doomed with this not-so-good case ?
There is someone who used a Case Mate Tough case from a Z1 Compact. He said fit was perfect but minor alterations will need to be done for the camera flash. Buttons lined up and worked, power button was slightly off but said it still worked fine. I'm tempted to buy the Z1 case and cut it for the flash and the magnetic charger, if you look in the Z1 forums the magnetic charger cutting has been done and is fairly simple. A bonus will be our USB port while exposed to a point the Z1 case cutout isn't large enough so it should keep this port shut. Just wish I could find the case cheaper then about $30 + shipping.
I am also using this case and in my case (no pun intended...) it covers all four corners just fine. If I push on the corner in question I can make it sit in the position shown on you picture, but without manipulation it will sit as intended.
You can see how it sits on mine on:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yb8nirtsb9gaffu/20150102_103907.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rcza07b8w5krb59/20150102_094301.jpg?dl=0
So far I have dropped my Z3C in the ground twice and in both cases it survived without a scratch which I attribute to the Casemate Tough Case. Others have voiced their opinion over the fact that most of one side is not covered by the case. I think that it is highly unlikely that this will actually be a problem since the case protrudes further out over both corners which mean that the phone would have to drop on its side on an object (and not just a flat surface) to hit anything.
In the end I think case design for the Z series devices is a compromise between water protection and drop protection. If the case covered the magnetic charging connector (like the Z1C Casemate Tough Cover did) you would have to open the USB port cover every day which will compromise the water protection in the longer term. Personally I prefer the solutions Casemate made in the Z3C case compared to the Z1C Case.
FSRBIKER said:
There is someone who used a Case Mate Tough case from a Z1 Compact. He said fit was perfect but minor alterations will need to be done for the camera flash...
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@FSRBIKER it could be a viable solution altough I'm not very fond of fiddling with the case, they're not intended to be cutted and if something bad happens they will simply say "you should not have modified our case, it's not our problem".
madsb said:
I am also using this case and in my case (no pun intended...) it covers all four corners just fine. If I push on the corner in question I can make it sit in the position shown on you picture....
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@madsb thanks for the heads up, maybe mine has a defect, I'll try it again just to check but it's kind of strange that things like that happen with such a pricey product.
[EDIT] As a matter of fact, I did try to get it to fit like @madsb, and it seems that this time it looks like it fits, but I'm still wondering if it's a perfect match or not.
Either way, as soons as I receive the new one, I'll try it out and check which one I'll keep. I'll update my initial review with this new fact.
Have this case as well. Used it for 1 week. The bad fit on the corner is really bad. Dropped it on the screen, and the casing was pushed back on the top, leaving no lip to protecting the glass. Considering this to be a tough case, this is unaccepteble.
cyphomatic said:
Have this case as well. Used it for 1 week. The bad fit on the corner is really bad. Dropped it on the screen, and the casing was pushed back on the top, leaving no lip to protecting the glass. Considering this to be a tough case, this is unaccepteble.
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Thanks for sharing this.
It confirm the fear I expressed when @madsb mentionned the fact that he was able to make it "fit", the loose top left corner can be problematic if not checked by the phone's owner.
excellent Ethenyl.. ill wait u review for the ringke fusion.. i want to order too..
sh4d0wf0x said:
excellent Ethenyl.. ill wait u review for the ringke fusion.. i want to order too..
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Thanks
As for the Ringke Fusion, it arrived this morning, I'll try to post a product review tomorow afternoon (too dark for good pictures). If you want to see something I didn't include in this review for the Ringke feel free to ask.
So how does the Ringke Fusion compare?
quarrymanpaul said:
So how does the Ringke Fusion compare?
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Check this thread : [CASE REVIEW] Ringke - Fusion (Smoke Black) for Sony Xperia Z3c
Thanks. I spotted your 2nd thread after I posted but couldn't edit my post due to noob limitations.
quarrymanpaul said:
Thanks. I spotted your 2nd thread after I posted but couldn't edit my post due to noob limitations.
Click to expand...
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No problem

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