After getting an Otterbox Defender case for my iPod Touch and liking the level of protection it gave, the minute I bought my Atrix 2 I hoped they made one for it. Luckily they have a couple cases for it, the Commuter and the Defender. After careful consideration I went with the Commuter for a few reasons, less bulky, I don't use hip holsters and I thought it would be like the Defender for my iPod and have a built in screen protector....Since the screen on the A2 is beveled on the edges I didn't think that would work out too good. I bought my case on Amazon from a seller named "Alwayz on Sale" for $24.99 + $4.48 shipping. My experience with this seller was as expected, quick order processing, quick shipping, product arrived as advertised, even a couple days early too. Just received it this afternoon and installed it this evening when I got home from work, here's my take on it.
The case consists of two parts, a silicone sleeve and a polycarbonate shell. Also included are a self adhesive screen protector, a screen cleaning cloth and a "squeegee" card to help push the air bubbles out from under the protector. The first thing I did was mocked up the screen protector to see how it fit. This is a major fail by Otterbox! The protector does not cover the whole screen, it just covers up to the beveled edge of it. Not only that but at the top where the cutout is for the speaker and camera is there are not separate cutouts for each, there is just one large notch type cutout. And since the camera is lower than the speaker, the cutout goes down far enough to clear the camera and then straight over, then up the right side of the speaker. The end result is some screen real estate not protected by the cover directly under the ear speaker. In the grand scheme of things this is just a tiny part of the screen, but it's a detail that should have been given better treatment. I imagine it would be difficult to produce a self adhesive screen protector to fit like a glove over the A2's beveled screen, I get it, but for those looking for full screen protection this is not the answer.
I was let down with the screen protector but still had high expectations for the case itself and it didn't disappoint. The silicone sleeve feels quality, is relatively thick and seems like it will absorb much of the shock and jarring from falls and what not. It fits nicely on the phone, it's a snug fit like you'd expect. Then came time to install the polycarbonate shell....being the impatient mofo I am I coudn't be bothered to look for instructions on the best way to do this. The shell encapsulates the sleeve/phone so it's not just a slide it into place and move on type of deal. The way I did it was slid the phone with the sleeve installed top first into the shell, then pressed the right side of the phone down into the shell taking care not to put too much pressure or force on the buttons as it slid into place. Lastly I grabbed the left side of the shell and kind of bent it backward, if that makes sense, and pushed the phone down into place and let the shell go so it "grabbed" the phone and held it in place like it should. I then checked the port covers to ensure they were lined up right and opened and closed properly, then tested the buttons to make sure they were lined up right as well. No problems here.
With the case fully installed I inspected it's build quality and fitment and was not let down. No sharp edges anywhere, no molding overhang, the mic opening at the top and bottom of the phone were aligned perfectly, the beveled edges surrounding the rear camera and speaker was a nice touch, ensuring no interference with either. Obviously, the case did add some bulk and weight to the phone but that was to be expected. However it's not an exaggerated bulk, it's just enough to put your mind at ease knowing that if you were to drop your phone, it's not likely to get damaged. The silicone sleeve is borders the face of the phone, allowing you to set it face down without worry of it resting on the screen. The raised buttons are easy to press and make for especially easy locking/unlocking of the phone for people with fat fingers like me. The only thing I don't like, aside from the screen protector, is the lack of silicone in strategic spots on the shell to ensure improved grip. There is none. The shell is just that, a plastic shell, so it's quite slippery to hold. There is so much room on both sides of the phone that they easily could have cut out a large opening in the shell on both sides and allowed the silicone shell to fit in said openings giving much improved grip. That's about the only thing I could see that could be improved with this case. And the screen protector. There is a good thing about the plastic shell though, it should allow easy entry and removal from pockets. That's one that I like about it over the Defender case for my iPod, which is housed in a poly shell with the silicone sleeve wrapped over the shell. And since I keep my phone in my pocket, should work well for me, as long as I don't drop it.
Luckily I had some experience with Otterbox before so when I placed this order I ordered an Xtreme Guard screen protector for it as well. This combo results in 99.9% frontal protection of the phone. The only part not protected is a tiny area above the camera as the cutout for it is a U shaped one, not a circle. I highly suggest the same skin type protector if you go with this case so you get a complete, form fitting screen protection. Overall I give this case 4 out of 5 stars, with a better screen protector and improved grip like I mentioned above, it would easily get 5.
Great write up. I have a speck case which cover the beveled edge nicely just waiting for a decent screen protector.
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
cuhrazy said:
Great write up. I have a speck case which cover the beveled edge nicely just waiting for a decent screen protector.
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
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Thank you. The Otterbox covers the beveled edge nicely too.
sent from my Motorola Atrix 2 via Tapatalk
Not sure what the issue is but I seem to have developed a case of the butter fingers cause I've dropped my phone 3 times now....not a scratch/dent/scuff on it
What about some pics?
nahuelarg86 said:
What about some pics?
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That would require that I go get some new batteries for my DSLR....maybe I'll pick some up while out shopping this weekend.
Here you go!
Got this case a few months back from amazon. So far i've had a few falls and it's protected the phone very well. It feels solid and fits like a glove, i'd recommend this case to anyone with an Atrix 2 (save those with an oversized 4000mAh batter).:good:
I've got the Defender and it's awesome !! I rate it 5 stars!
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
Hi,
Lately the last few Zagg HD's I have gotten, including my Galaxy s4 have had this weird packaging system with a tab you pull. Once you pull the top a top piece of plastic pulls off exposing the sticky size of the zagg. This sticky piece still has a piece of plastic on the back that is near impossible to remove. You are supposed to just apply the zagg to the screen, press it on with the rubber thing and then remove the back plastic leaving just the screen protector. But instead the whole thing pulls off. I have messed up 3 installs with this. The guys at best buy and half of youtube also hate it. What are your thoughts on this new "improved" packaging.
I actually like it, it allows more time for me to perfect where the screen protector is at. it's hard to remove the second backing, but if you wait until it is all the way dry, and carefully peel from the corner without touching the screen it seems to work ok. i work at radioshack and we put these on a lot for customers and it definitely takes practice.
Thought I'd add a quick review about the Spigen's Ultra Thin Air Soft Clear, this time the Matte type.
I wanted a case that didn't block the back of the Samsung S4's back cover, so opted for a clear version, but not the traditional glossy type. Previously had one for the iPhone 5 and was generally pleased with it, it has taken quite a bashing, drops, throws, etc and still has lived to tell the tale, sure, it has picked up some wear and tear, but protects the phone all the same, so decided to go for another Spigen for my Samsung S4.
I won't cover what comes in the box, just the case. But for those that did wonder what else you get with it, you get a Stienheil Screen Protector and three jelly home buttons.
The case is a matte type finish with a soft to touch feel, not quite the type like the glossy ones though. It's slippery, so be warned, you will find yourself dropping the phone at some point!
There are cut outs for the power button, volume rockers, camera, flash, back speaker, cut out on top left (antenna of sort?). On the back, just under the flash, is a 13 Mega logo, on the bottom right is Spigen's logo and the Spigen brand name.
Here's what I've observed once the phone is in the case. There is a HUGE lip for the front of the screen! I'm assuming Spigen have done this to cater for their Glas.t screen protectors. On a plus note, if you place your phone face down, you'll know that you won't be scratching it up!
I do have some gripes though, both the left and right hand side of the case SQUEAKS like mad when you handle it! So when ever you pick up or put the phone down, there's a squeak from the case, or even whilst you're using the phone. The softest touch when handling it causes it to squeak. It's already driving me mad and I don't want to touch my phone, LOL!
Now, I've tried several cases already with the Samsung S4, and none have squeaked, these are hard cases, not TPU ones.
Next gripe is the cut out for the power buttons isn't centered, you'll see once you look at the pictures, there's one of the power button cut out and one for the volume rockers. So pressing the power button isn't as easy, or maybe it's me? I don't know.
You will suffer the volume of the back speaker being blocked, so beware! It's just a cut out, so the back will sit flush when facing the phone with the phone back facing down.
Onto the next gripe, the case does suffer the "oil" effect on the back! This is more evident on the clear type cases, but somewhat a less effect on the matte type. The reason for this is, the inside of the case is a gloss finish, would've been nice if the inside was matte too. The iPhone 5 didn't have this effect as the back of the phone was matte. It was evident on the iPhone 4 as it was a glass back.
Overall, seeing as it's Spigen and the amount I spent (£16.62 on eBay), I would've expected a little better from Spigen and I'm in the process of getting a replacement or a refund.
Who knows, maybe I'm being over critical, or maybe I got a dud.
Hello there,
do you guys know if the type cover scratches the surface display? I do know that mine is just a few weeks old and I was good to it, meaning it didn*t fall down or anything like that. Still, I got some scratches in it. I now think that this could be because of the type cover. Do you guys have any experience with that. And: Are there better covers out there, maybe even thinner? I don't need the keys all the time anyway.
The type cover,you mean the keyboard thingy?it never did scratch my surface
Sent from my HTC S510b using Tapatalk 2
2 covers available at the moment. The type cover and the touch cover. They are being replaced with the type 2 and touch 2 which are slightly slimmer, backlit and in the case of the touch 2 have more sensors so should be more accurate plus support multitouch gestures on the trackpad. There is also the power cover which seems to be a thicker type cover with a battery in it for charging a surface pro, surface pro 2 or surface 2 but *not* the surface RT (where it would just serve as a thicker type cover).
None of those cases should scratch the display. They are plastic, the screen is gorilla glass. Gorilla glass can only really be damaged by very sharp edges, sand/other grit and a few minerals. In your case most likely grit damaged it. Plastic could not scratch it.
It's a hard surface that can grind dust into screen when it's closed up. That goes for anything really, the risk is there. I have a few tiny dot marks on screen after using type cover for a few months and keeping everything clean and in a sleeve when not used. No big damage that I can even notice with screen on, though.
johnchad14 said:
It's a hard surface that can grind dust into screen when it's closed up. That goes for anything really, the risk is there. I have a few tiny dot marks on screen after using type cover for a few months and keeping everything clean and in a sleeve when not used. No big damage that I can even notice with screen on, though.
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Mine is pretty noticable. I got a new surface RT without scratches and I'm kinda afraid now to use the type cover again...
Sephi said:
Mine is pretty noticable. I got a new surface RT without scratches and I'm kinda afraid now to use the type cover again...
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Is it in an environment with alot of dirt and grit? It wouldnt just have to be the cover, it lying face down, going into a padded sleeve or the touch cover could also rub dirt over the front of your tablet.
SixSixSevenSeven said:
Is it in an environment with alot of dirt and grit? It wouldnt just have to be the cover, it lying face down, going into a padded sleeve or the touch cover could also rub dirt over the front of your tablet.
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No, it's really not. For example, my Galaxy Note, and I really really wasn't good to it and it fell down quite a few times or were together with my keys in my pocket - does not have any noticable scratches. The Surface however has quite some big, deep ones which are clearly noticable even when the screen is on. And I don't know there they are supposed to come from other than the type cover.
OK, the type cover is DEFINITLY scratching the display. I got a few more scratches today after I took it with me in my bag and used the type cover as protection. The scratches all look kinda similiar and they are all in the upper region, I guess there is more contraction there. Horrible, I would NOT use the type cover as an actual display protection.
The strange thing is the scratches are all in the area without keys, the area where the touchpad is but to the sides, so it's no rough surface (no pun intended). I don't know where the scratches are coming from en masse but they are there, it's horrible. I know ordered this bag here: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00D1HQPQC/ref=pe_386171_38075861_TE_item
Any thoughts?
Thats an absolute physical impossibility.
All materials have a hardness (or several hardnesses dependant on the method of measurement but the general principle applies the same).
In order for material A to scratch material B, material A must be harder than material B.
Plastic is not as hard as gorilla glass, nor is it rough edged (a very sharp point of a softer material if forced hard enough will scratch another harder material). Expecting a flat piece of plastic to scratch the glass on the surface is like throwing a ball in the air and expecting it to fall, doesn't happen.
If there is something in between then it can happen. Sand for example, it is harder than gorilla glass, its also a small particle that tends to stick to your screen so when you shut the cover on it the cover will be forcing the sand into the screen, due to the nature of the hinge on the surface the cover can wobble forwards and back a few mm rubbing the sand grain over a small area. Other bits of dirt can do it again, small bits of mud or whatever.
Plastic at most could only transfer the coating of the plastic to the glass which would wipe off, and that I highly doubt would happen.
As for more contraction, that would entirely be down to how you store the device. The touch cover only attaches with a simple flap, its free to drop open or closed at any time, if its stored with slightly more force in one corner then its not going to apply the force terribly equally across the device.
But where is it coming from? Scratches are everywhere and by no chance I got sand in my bag or anywhere else. It's been months since the last time I saw some sand. Living in the middle of germany.
It doesnt necessarily have to be beach sand. Concrete dust, mud, construction sand. All could do it (mud less so). Sand has a tendancy to hide in small spots in bags if there is any (or transfer from other items). Anything could be the cause, i find it highly unlikely to be the cover itself.
One thing you could try, can you find a sheet of soft fabric or foam or something that you could cut to size and wedge between the cover and screen. Might reduce the impact of whatever is going on. Can keep the sheet loose in your bag, stick it in when closing the cover. Or simply fold the keyboard over the back of the unit and put it in a netbook sleeve but that would be leaving the glass exposed to knocks etc
Well, I really looked into my bag but I can't find any sand or anything like that. Dust, obviously, is everywhere all the time. Like I stated before, y my GNOte is basically scratch free after 1,5 years of abusive use. I don't get it.
Sephi said:
Well, I really looked into my bag but I can't find any sand or anything like that. Dust, obviously, is everywhere all the time. Like I stated before, y my GNOte is basically scratch free after 1,5 years of abusive use. I don't get it.
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YES, the type cover WILL scratch the display. I have heard it from other people and I have it myself.
NO, it is not the material, it is any grit that gets trapped in between them. Get a tiny grain of sand in there, you are in trouble.
YES, I use a screen protector now and it is getting trashed.
NOW I carry a large micro fiber cloth in my carrying case. Before putting the Surface away, I wipe off the display and keyboard. That has reduce the amount of damage. I'll still need to replace the screen protector often, but I'm OK with that compared to more glass damage.
I hate screen protectors with a passion. I will just stop using type cover then...
after reading this thread it is very bad news, this is a poor design by microsoft if they did not consider this. no laptop i have ever had scratches the display but many cheaper laptops ive had leave dust imprint around the keys and sometimes the keys even pressed the screen. now that the screens are so hard like glass obviously if little particles get trapped and rub it will scratch it. too bad as this was going to be my first gorilla glass product. i hate scratches so will ignore the type cover. even the touch cover will have the same issue if it is completely flush and pressed against the display.
what a damn shame
Indeed it does. I bought mine on Sunday night. Monday afternoon I noticed a scratch/pit on my screen when I was cleaning it off. I looked at the type cover, and there was a piece of grit/sand stuck in the soft, flat part where my right palm is not supposed to rest.
:crying:
willusdun said:
after reading this thread it is very bad news, this is a poor design by microsoft if they did not consider this. no laptop i have ever had scratches the display but many cheaper laptops ive had leave dust imprint around the keys and sometimes the keys even pressed the screen. now that the screens are so hard like glass obviously if little particles get trapped and rub it will scratch it. too bad as this was going to be my first gorilla glass product. i hate scratches so will ignore the type cover. even the touch cover will have the same issue if it is completely flush and pressed against the display.
what a damn shame
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Microsoft likely did consider it, and decided that having a slimmer overall product would generate more revenue.
Some laptops dont have this issue because they have "spacers" around the screen that maintain a small gap between the keys and the screen when closed.
My Thinkpad has markings on its screen from its own keyboard, even though theres a massive 2-3mm gap between the keys and screen when closed. This is because the screen can flex a bit and likely got smushed into my keys (I'm pretty rough with my Thinkpad).
There isnt much you can do about it, almost every product has this issue.
My HTC One sits in my pocket with nothing else in it, and it has markings on it. I haven't been anywhere near a beach since I got the phone.
So like someone else said, all sorts of particles can scratch your screen.
Even Macbooks have this issue, its the reason why people sell specially cut microfiber cloths that are meant to be placed between screen and keyboard when Macbook is closed.
Either get a screen protector, deal with it, or wait a few decades until they make glass strong enough to resist everything.
My HP sleekbook has an imprint from the keys on the screen. I had my laptop bag on the passenger seat of my car, was cut up really badly by someone at 50mph, immediately wished that my car had decent ABS which it doesnt as it made a nice tyre squeal. Laptop bag slammed to floor, opened it up, laptop 100% intact, just has key imprints on the screen which are actually rubbing off (does literally seem to be dirt rather than physical damage).
I have my Surface RT with touch cover. I have been using it for a year. I never put any screen protector and I have scratches on screen. I carry my surface in my bag pretty much every week day. I don't find the scratches affecting any usability or affecting the quality of display. When the screen lights up while using, you are not going to see those scratches that easy. Only when screen off and at certain angle you will be able to see some. It's just a device for use for couple years, relax and enjoy it. Putting screen protector will protect the screen from scratches, but degrade your display color, viewing angle, reflection, brigtness, touch feel, etc.
I have an Incipio clear case on right now. It makes my glass screen protector pop off. So that's off for now.
I'm on my second PH-1 after a very minor fall cracked the screen on my first. (It was naked) But I had dropped it a couple of times.
Here's the thing, the back and sides were completely unscathed. The screen chipped a tiny bit on the corner on the first fall and then cracked across it with some shattering in the corner on another (from about a 1.5' fall from pocket to concrete when I was sitting on a bench).
With just a glass screen protector, you can hardly even tell it's on there (aka the phone still looks great). It also seems like with a good positioning, the SP or the plastic surround would make the first contact on any fall (given a relatively flat surface with no protrusions), thus protecting the screen. Aesthetically, I would love to get away with just the SP. I don't like casing this phone.
On the other hand, most cases are designed to also make first contact on a fall via a lip around the screen, etc. (The point of conflict with the SPs). So it would seem that a case alone should provide protection against screen shattering in most mundane falls also (again, barring protrusions).
So, what is your experience? Does anyone go screen protector only? Or case only? Have you had a screen break with either?
I have the incipio as well and go without a screen protector. I also have a belt holster to protect the phone from falling out my pocket. I am very anal with phones and have not dropped this one or my prior Android phones (I've dropped my Lumia 920 once but that just had a dent in the plastic housing). I've seen that video in which somebody tested the PH-1 with falls from different heights and know that the first thing that will break on it will be the screen under the right conditions. The rest of the phone is rock solid. That might be one problem that leads to cracks when it falls onto the corners (no dampening and direct energy transfer to the glass). I don't think a screen protector will do much in that case either.
that's my experience.
I'm totally enjoying this phone
cheers
I've just been using a screen protector and fitBAG leather sleeve. The Halo Gray has soft touch texture on the ceramic which makes it easier to grips than the shiny colors.
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