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Recently received the Phantom Skinz Full Body set and have gone through installation.
Here's the breakdown:
The Pros:
- The Screen Skin looks good and feels good. The extra drag vs. the stock glass is slight and the overall clarity is very good (doesn't have any noticeable detraction from the crisp, contrasty screen).
- The main screen skin and front overlays were fairly easy to apply and once dried have a very nice unobtrusive look
- Comes with 2 sets of skins
The Cons:
- included directions are WAY OFF from the install video on their site. Soaking times, how long to let it sit and dry, etc...
- Edge bubbling on every corner for the back overlays. Directions say to "cup the corner with palms and hold 30 seconds", but I've done it over and over again and they keep popping off after a short while
- A WHOLE LOT of wet work involved in applying these skins. Application involves soaking the skin in water first, then (as instructed) with your fingers fully wet, take the wet skin and put it wet onto the phone and then use the included credit card shaped "squeegy" to push out the extra water. Not so much a big deal for the screen skin, but getting that much water around and near the audio/mic/power and such ports while putting on the body skins is asking for trouble.
Final Thoughts
I imagine in some small (heck, maybe in large) part, the corner bubbling issue is due to me not applying the skin properly. But I'm not some clueless granny that doesn't know the difference between a mouse and a blackberry and the included instructions are vague in important places and almost completely different than the video instructions shown at their website (for example; The included instructions say to use warm water WITH SOAP)
Bottom line: Stick with just the screen skin, skip the full body.
The online video instructions say to use soap as well. IIRC, she said that at their facility, they use one drop of Johnson's baby shampoo per 32 oz of water.
I would avoid Phantom Skinz altogether. Here's the review I posted about my experience with one of them on my Moto Droid in the skins topic.
Phantom Skinz
I got a PS for my Moto Droid because I didn't want something as grippy as the Zagg. PS had great reviews and came with 2 full sets for the price of 1 zagg with 33% off on top of that ($16.50 in the end). The first installation of the screen got some dust and fuzz under it since I was OCD about getting it perfect, so I emailed them and they sent me a replacement for free no questions asked. I know it did come with two sets of protectors but I wanted to keep one as a backup still. Second installation was perfect. No dirt, dust, fuzz or finger prints. Screen was perfectly smooth (no orange peel) and the touch felt almost the same as the glass. Put the rest of the body on without a problem as well with just a few bubbles in some of the tougher spots. I was very impressed, but now a month later I am not so much. After daily use taking my phone in and out of my pocket (sometimes shared with keys) the skin is filled with knicks and wrinkles. While the film may not technically scratch, it is vulnerable to indentations and air bubbles forming which do not "self heal". Instead of scratching, it seems like the skin stretches in place, resulting in a wrinkle/groove with little marks that look like air bubbles underneath. Not only does it make the screen look dirty, but you feel them while using the touch screen. As I write this, I just dug my finger nail into the screen and tried to scratch it, leaving another permanent groove. Needless to say, I will be taking off the PS and throwing it in the trash. The rest of the body has surprisingly stayed pretty clean of wrinkles, so it may have something to do with its application on glass. I will put some pictures up when I get the chance this evening. Overall, I would not recommend PhantomSkinz. It looked and felt great for a couple weeks, but now every day I am finding more and more knicks and wrinkles and that is just unacceptable compared to others. This skin is NOT scratch proof like other comparable skins on the market! However, I will commend their customer service for being very helpful and quick to reply.
And here a pictures of what it looks like:
h ttp://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=5415251&postcount=44
(remove the space after the h, I can't post links yet)
Bottom line here as that they are smoother than other brands but scratch pretty easily. You should check back in on this topic in a month or two and see if your opinion has changed.
I applied the full body skin about a week ago. There's definitely a lot of water involved but most of the danger can be avoided with some caution. I used Q-tips to do a lot of the credit card work around the edges so that it soaked up the water it pushed out.
A good trick for the corners is to use some sealant/piping tape to hold them down. This is a lot better than using your hand for 30 seconds, and you can leave it there for as long as you want (I left the tape on mine for 2 days since I wasn't going anywhere that I needed to show off my phone, I figured why not? Now my corners are perfect).
So far I like PhantomSkinz because it wraps the corners a little better than the other skins. Bodyguardz is a little better in clarity and material. InvisibleShield has too much of the orange peel effect. Haven't had a chance to try BestSkinsEver.
As for detonation's review, it's too early for me to tell if I'll have the same problems, but I agree that the material doesn't seem on par with InvisibleShield or BodyGuardz. But since I still used the carrying case and treat my phone with much care even with the skin on, I don't think it'll be too much of a problem.
I recently got the phantom skinz full body set, after I read the instructions I thought that there was no way I was applying wet/soapy film to my N1, it just doesn't make any sense. Water/soap plus electronics? Its a recipe for disaster, besides the fact that I suck at arts and crafts type stuff just like this. I would imagine I would get water somewhere inside the device, and knowing me it would reach the many water detectors in the phone. It doesn't seem worth it, so I applied just the screen part sans water/soap, and needless to say it sucked big time, even when I got all the bubbles out.. it had a terrible gray haze on parts of the screen it was bad (maybe due to not using the water/soap method). Can any one suggest just a simple screen protector that doesn't' require to dunk your device in water?
boxmander said:
I recently got the phantom skinz full body set, after I read the instructions I thought that there was no way I was applying wet/soapy film to my N1, it just doesn't make any sense. Water/soap plus electronics? Its a recipe for disaster, besides the fact that I suck at arts and crafts type stuff just like this. I would imagine I would get water somewhere inside the device, and knowing me it would reach the many water detectors in the phone. It doesn't seem worth it, so I applied just the screen part sans water/soap, and needless to say it sucked big time, even when I got all the bubbles out.. it had a terrible gray haze on parts of the screen it was bad (maybe due to not using the water/soap method). Can any one suggest just a simple screen protector that doesn't' require to dunk your device in water?
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Dude... you BARELY have to use any water to get the screen to turn out right. Sorry you wasted your PS... but ask them for a replacement, and mail it to me! I do this **** with my eyes closed. It's really not rocket science, and you don't have to "dunk" your phone in water.
boxmander said:
I recently got the phantom skinz full body set, after I read the instructions I thought that there was no way I was applying wet/soapy film to my N1, it just doesn't make any sense. Water/soap plus electronics? Its a recipe for disaster, besides the fact that I suck at arts and crafts type stuff just like this. I would imagine I would get water somewhere inside the device, and knowing me it would reach the many water detectors in the phone. It doesn't seem worth it, so I applied just the screen part sans water/soap, and needless to say it sucked big time, even when I got all the bubbles out.. it had a terrible gray haze on parts of the screen it was bad (maybe due to not using the water/soap method). Can any one suggest just a simple screen protector that doesn't' require to dunk your device in water?
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you didnt follow the instructions and it didnt work well for you? gtfo
boxmander said:
I recently got the phantom skinz full body set, after I read the instructions I thought that there was no way I was applying wet/soapy film to my N1, it just doesn't make any sense. Water/soap plus electronics? Its a recipe for disaster, besides the fact that I suck at arts and crafts type stuff just like this. I would imagine I would get water somewhere inside the device, and knowing me it would reach the many water detectors in the phone. It doesn't seem worth it, so I applied just the screen part sans water/soap, and needless to say it sucked big time, even when I got all the bubbles out.. it had a terrible gray haze on parts of the screen it was bad (maybe due to not using the water/soap method). Can any one suggest just a simple screen protector that doesn't' require to dunk your device in water?
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Try clairivue or martin fields. Just do a google search since I can't post links yet.
typ_ex said:
you didnt follow the instructions and it didnt work well for you? gtfo
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LOL! i agree. i have had no issues at all with my phantomskinz- both on the magic and now my nexus- i'll admit i do suck at installing them but what i do is get a bowl o water, put a few drops of baby shampoo in swich it around a bit, then dunk the piece in there- hold it over bowl until excess is removed then you can put it on device- the soap/water allows you to move it into position easily and helps squeegee the bubbles....
i wouldnt blame a product because you didnt follow their instructions how to install it...
I actually prefer the bowl of soapy water to the sprays that come with other skins. Submerging it ensures the entire skin is lubed up, and the small amounts of drips on the device is harmless. Just let it dry out overnight before turning it on.
I think Martins is completely over priced. I tried BSE and Phantom and all works great. Once dried it is practically invisible with only the slightest orange peel effect. I'm pretty OCD and it is minimal enough that it doesn't bother me. What does bother is that both of the screen protectors are slightly shorter than the screen.
As for applying the phantom and drowning in water as people are saying I don't do that. I've put on enough of these to know you only need a slight amount. I use a spray and just mist the backing so that it is enough to be able to adjust when putting on but not dripping with water. I use a cloth to absorb the water on the edges as I push the bubbles/excess water out. Fairly easy process. It just takes a slow hand and patience.
pongalong said:
A good trick for the corners is to use some sealant/piping tape to hold them down. This is a lot better than using your hand for 30 seconds, and you can leave it there for as long as you want (I left the tape on mine for 2 days since I wasn't going anywhere that I needed to show off my phone, I figured why not? Now my corners are perfect).
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Ok I have to ask: what is sealant / piping tape? And where do you buy that? Home Depot? Bed, Bath and Beyond?
Paul22000 said:
Ok I have to ask: what is sealant / piping tape? And where do you buy that? Home Depot? Bed, Bath and Beyond?
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Some might know it as teflon tape, thread seal tape or plumbers tape. It's a thin white non-adhesive tape that you use on pipes/hoses to make connections water tight. Home Depot would have it or any hardware store - it's pretty common. Just cut a few good length pieces and wrap your phone up like a mummy on the difficult spots. It works well because it's stretchy, conforms to shape and naturally adheres to the phone skin.
pongalong said:
Some might know it as teflon tape, thread seal tape or plumbers tape. It's a thin white non-adhesive tape that you use on pipes/hoses to make connections water tight. Home Depot would have it or any hardware store - it's pretty common. Just cut a few good length pieces and wrap your phone up like a mummy on the difficult spots. It works well because it's stretchy, conforms to shape and naturally adheres to the phone skin.
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...and it's non-stick!
typ_ex said:
you didnt follow the instructions and it didnt work well for you? gtfo
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Like I mentioned before, my application didn't work well cause I didn't follow the instructions. And I wasn't hating on PS, get a grip. Besides after some people posted about this topic I might give it another go, PS gave me two for one so I can redo it. Why are you here? Perhaps you should try posting things that are more constructive.
pongalong said:
Some might know it as teflon tape, thread seal tape or plumbers tape. It's a thin white non-adhesive tape that you use on pipes/hoses to make connections water tight. Home Depot would have it or any hardware store - it's pretty common. Just cut a few good length pieces and wrap your phone up like a mummy on the difficult spots. It works well because it's stretchy, conforms to shape and naturally adheres to the phone skin.
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Interesting. I'll definitely get some. Thanks for the tip.
Hmm... I'm going to go to Home Depot to buy some kind of special tape I've never heard of to wrap up my phone like a mummy in order to prevent the corners from lifting on my phone's skin protector. Phone enthusiast or what?
Phantom does have the best skins by far...
The trick to installation to make it perfect:
Use the Johnson's/water mix as they advised.
Ignore all of their other directions.
Peel off the piece you want to apply. Dryly.
Dip your fingers in the water and apply it to the skin using your fingers.
Once both sides of the skin are wet, use your fingers as a squeegee to pull off any excess water.
Apply the skin to your phone. Keep the skin sitting on your phone in it's original shape.
Use your fingers, not the applicator card, to squeegee out the air bubbles. You don't need to apply very much pressure at all. The bubbles move around extremely easily.
Now, let the skin dry for about 2 minutes. Once you notice the skin starting to cling to the phone a little harder, grab the ends that you need to wrap around the phone and stretch them into place. This is the key step. Stretching it makes it stick so much better, the corners align perfectly with the phone when you do this, and all the gaps left between the skin pieces when you don't stretch it are gone. The skin has to be stretched to fit the phone, otherwise the pieces will all be a little to small and the corners will blow.
Repeat with the other pieces.
Enjoy your sexily phantom skinned N1.
anyone with pics of this case ?
I just wanted to comment about Phantom Skinz because I have had a really good experience with them and I am going to get another set from them as soon as they release it for the HD2!
I got Phantom Skinz for a Nano about a year ago and it has been awesome! I bought the PS retail (they have a location in my area) so I only got one set, but I did it myself with no problems. I had to take it off for a warranty replacement on the Nano and I put the same skin back on the new Nano and it looks just as good as it did on the first application. It's awesome that it can be taken off and put back on again using only water.
I got GA for my G1, but it is the worst product ever. I had it professionally installed at a Ghost Armor location because I wanted it to be perfect for my baby. But it didn't even last a month before it started peeling! GA can only be applied once with a special solution (thats what the GA salespeople told me) and it can't be fixed with water like Phantom Skinz. Phantom Skinz has never actually peeled like the GA did, but at least I could fix PS with water if I needed to!
I literally had the full body GA skin replaced 4 times in the course of a year because it peeled so bad and I am not just talking the corners! I did everything they told me to; keep the phone in a case so it doesnt rub in your pocket, keep any liquid of the phone (durr), don't leave the skin in prolonged sunlight, blah bla blah.
It was $35 for the original GA skin and installation and then they charged me $10 labor for the "free warranty replacement" every time I had the skin redone. Oh, and they changed the GA product for my phone 3 times out of the 4 I got it replaced and the changes never fixed any of the problems I had with the skin. GA also yellowed really bad and actually got progressively worse over the course of their " improved product revisions". The last time I had the G1 wrapped the skin was a pretty moderate yellow in about a week...
The salespeople sucked me in every time with leading me to believe the GA skin for the G1 was revised and the problems were fixed. I spent way too much money on their crappy ass product!
Ghost Armor is an awful product! Please just stay the hell away from them!
There is no need to submerge anything in any fluid. I have installed clear skins on many devices by using soapy water. I dont spray it on the phone, I spray a small mist on the protector before applying. Trust me there is not enough water to damage anything because as i push out the bubble I wipe the water.
If you are concerned about it then remove the battery and wait a day like the other people have suggested. once the process is complete the skin will need to settle for a few days before it looks good.
I used some spray that came with a skin before and I did not like it compared to the soapy water MIST.
I also do not use the skin on touch screens because my finger drags on it compared to other screen protectors that are designed to protect the screen.
With Gorilla Glass 2 on the Infinity, what is your opinion on placing a screen protector on this device? And if 'Yes,' which one?
I have one on my phone and it has been great, but does a tablet like this warrant a screen protector.
For myself, I plan on having the device in a rooCase when it becomes available.
Thanks for your input.
I had a protector on my NexusOne that has Gorilla V1.
Dumbest idea ever!
I removed it about a year ago. It fell down so many times, no scratches.
Screen is like when I bought it.
I don't think you need a protector with Gorilla anymore.
if you take it on the go a lot - screen protect it
if you have kids - screen protect it
if you like to set it up and down on stands - screen protect it
if you dont have a leather case - screen protect it.
if you just like the awsome smooth feeling of the glass, then leave it naked and touch it all you want
sag365 said:
With Gorilla Glass 2 on the Infinity, what is your opinion on placing a screen protector on this device? And if 'Yes,' which one?
I have one on my phone and it has been great, but does a tablet like this warrant a screen protector.
For myself, I plan on having the device in a rooCase when it becomes available.
Thanks for your input.
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Screen Protectors usually make for a tight fit with docks. You may have to do a little trimming around the docking points depending on the protector you choose.
When I carry it arround the house, I don't need a protector, Gorilla Glass doesn't seem to get scratches easily (nor does the back of my Infinity, despite what some said).
For going out I either take the dock which encloses the screen within the whole thing or I take TranSleeve (originally meant for the Prime), which is helpful for typing or watching media (two standing positions). I don't see a point of having this kind of sleeve for both (although this seems nice: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=28593251&postcount=19), although I have bought the cheapest (~$3) neoprene etui/sleeve for 10" netbooks available (somehow they tend to be cheaper than the same products for 10" tablets): http://vegacom.eu/data/gfx/pictures/large/6/6/9566_7.jpg?337768
This is more for suddently-dropping-the-bag-on-the-floor kind of situation than to avoid scratches, but I feel better with these precautions (I also carry a few books in the backpack quite often, so it seems safer to have some kind of cover).
d14b0ll0s said:
When I carry it arround the house, I don't need a protector, Gorilla Glass doesn't seem to get scratches easily (nor does the back of my Infinity, despite what some said).
For going out I either take the dock which encloses the screen within the whole thing or I take TranSleeve (originally meant for the Prime), which is helpful for typing or watching media (two standing positions).
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Are we talking screen protectors or cases here? I'm thinking I'm going to grab a slip case for the tablet/dock to just slip it in something light.
KilerG said:
Are we talking screen protectors or cases here? I'm thinking I'm going to grab a slip case for the tablet/dock to just slip it in something light.
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I was answering the question if one should protect the screen with gorilla glass, but ok, good point. I would never use something that would blur the image on the Infinity, but I can understand somebody would want to do it to be able to use the tablet in direct sunlight. But to avoid scratches? Hell no!
You can some brutal things to gorilla glass without scratching it. Most people don't need a screen protector. The huge elephant in the room is dust, which might surprise some folks who don't have to live with much of it. If you live in an especially dusty region, you should seriously consider protecting even a GG2 screen. The glass has not been invented that won't scratch if the right piece of dust gets dragged across it just so. Hammering a nail with an HTC one x is impressive (reference to a youtube vid I saw once), but not the most practical test. Some dust particles are harder than nails, I assure you.
d14b0ll0s said:
I was answering the question if one should protect the screen with gorilla glass, but ok, good point. I would never use something that would blur the image on the Infinity, but I can understand somebody would want to do it to be able to use the tablet in direct sunlight. But to avoid scratches? Hell no!
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I don't think I'll put one on mine. It's not gong to get thrown around like my phone does lol. My phone has to have a screen protector...
An anti glare screen protector could be a good idea
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
fortunz said:
You can some brutal things to gorilla glass without scratching it. Most people don't need a screen protector. The huge elephant in the room is dust, which might surprise some folks who don't have to live with much of it. If you live in an especially dusty region, you should seriously consider protecting even a GG2 screen. The glass has not been invented that won't scratch if the right piece of dust gets dragged across it just so. Hammering a nail with an HTC one x is impressive (reference to a youtube vid I saw once), but not the most practical test. Some dust particles are harder than nails, I assure you.
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Definitely +1 concerning the dust, but concerning the damage reduction potential of Gorilla Glass: when I got my LG Optimus 2x about one and a half years ago, I rubbed the tip of a knife on the screen (Gorilla Glass v1) to and fro in a ballsy whim during a dinner with friends. Turns out it was a bad idea: although I have since upgraded to the SGS2 and the LG is now carried around by my wife, it still bears a nice mark (scratch).
Although, with a probability close to certainty, a normal screen would've been utterly destroyed (I wasn't exactly gentle), the potential for damage is still there and it doesn't even take visceral violence. It is chemically hardened glass, it can take a beating but it is only an extra line of defense.
For the sake of on-topic conversation: I have never used a screen protector on any device I own. I take good care of them and mostly use them eitehr indoors or in a shaded area (inside the train, for example). If you'd need outdoor visibility, consider it. If you have the dock, think about a good sleeve or case (I have bought an relatively cheap leather one on eBay and, although it does add significant bulk, it does a commendable job as far as protection goes).
fortunz said:
You can some brutal things to gorilla glass without scratching it. Most people don't need a screen protector. The huge elephant in the room is dust, which might surprise some folks who don't have to live with much of it. If you live in an especially dusty region, you should seriously consider protecting even a GG2 screen. The glass has not been invented that won't scratch if the right piece of dust gets dragged across it just so. Hammering a nail with an HTC one x is impressive (reference to a youtube vid I saw once), but not the most practical test. Some dust particles are harder than nails, I assure you.
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Dust? Really? Have you seen the Gorilla Glass 2 vendor video? They threw everything at it but the kitchen sink. If dust was ever to be their demise, Gorilla would lose ALL credibility with their product. I'm hardly worried.
I love the "Guerilla" typo, it should be an extra-hardened version! ;D
My post here shows why you'd use a anti-glare film on the TF700T.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=28362111&postcount=2806
When I got mine I found it was almost impossible to use out on the pattio without the anti-glare film.
The glass is simply a perfect reflector giving very crisp and detailed images of everything around and abowe you overshadowing the data on the screen.
The same issue faces almost all tabs and phones though.
The anti-glare screen does do odd things to the pixels due to the high density, but overall it works.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=28366344&postcount=2815
xRevilatioNx said:
Dust? Really? Have you seen the Gorilla Glass 2 vendor video? They threw everything at it but the kitchen sink. If dust was ever to be their demise, Gorilla would lose ALL credibility with their product. I'm hardly worried.
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GG is tough and great, but you underestimate the power of dust.
+1 for an Anti-glare protector. Not for it's "protection" qualities, but for it's anti-glare qualities... I just got my TF700 and the screen is beautiful, but very reflective... Plus the anti-glares help reduce finger prints significantly. Just get a good one - you usually get what you pay for when it comes to anti-glare protectors.
However, I do worry that it may interfere with the screen quality too much on the TF700 though (they usually create some level of "pixelation" effect which may ruin the TF700 "experience" - not sure as I don't have one yet!
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
I refer to the effect of anti-glares as the rainbow effect. It acts a little like a prism per pixel, especially noticeable on white screens as you'd expect. Some people just see it as noise. Some don't see it.
I'm undecided about whether or not its worth it. It always has been before (bonus: fewer prints), but I've never had a screen this beautiful before either, and I'm not sure I want to obscure it.
My argument is pretty simple: the Infinity is so pretty I would never want to blemish it with any permanent type of screen protector. And it gets so hot in direct sunlight during summer here anyway that I prefer to stay indoors with it ;>
d14b0ll0s said:
My argument is pretty simple: the Infinity is so pretty I would never want to blemish it with any permanent type of screen protector. And it gets so hot in direct sunlight during summer here anyway that I prefer to stay indoors with it ;>
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The screen have too much resistance it grabs the finger.
It's not as smooth to touch on ipad screen, didn't anyone noticed it?
~ not sure WHY there is so much confusion............
Infinity comes with Gorilla GLASS ....>> best best thing since slice bread ...
Like adding a bumper bar to a TANK ..............
IMHO =adding 'protector sticky thing = sounds , looks DUMB , and not to mention COMPLETE WAISTED CASH ....
** send me that 20-40$ pls ** Lol lol
**********peace ********
I received this case from Roocase for evaluation and wanted to share here. As you'll see, the review is not entirely positive. I asked the Roocase people if I could post in a public forum and they said "yes" without even seeing the review. To me this is a good sign of a company that cares what its customers think, and isn't afraid of negative feedback. I haven't changed the review, and while I still think that this case is probably a "don't buy" I will certainly consider Roocase the next time I'm in the market for a tablet case.
I tried to give as critical a review as possible. To me, when a product is titled “executive” it receives an additional layer of scrutiny, especially for an image-conscious businessperson whom might be a target consumer. Thus this review considers of particular importance the looks and usefulness as a business tool.
Here is an Amazon link to the case: http://amzn.to/1Vy5AGv
I received the portfolio in a nondescript cardboard box that was adequately sized to protect the case. The packaging was simple, which is a positive in my mind. I’m not a fan of big unrecyclable plastic boxes. That said, a product called “executive” should probably have a slightly more premium-looking packaging. I suggest reviewing the images, fonts, and content of the current packaging to something matching other, more modern designs.
The exterior leather is adequately solid and the stitching is tight enough to give a premium feel. The only error in the stitching is where the binding strip overlaps itself on the bottom corner at the fold. The error here is small and will probably not be a point of failure, so I’m not overly concerned. The interior stitching left something to be desired. On the inside left, the card slots and pockets have a little too much give, leaving a “pouch” look. Probably useful if one plans to keep a lot of papers in there, but it doesn’t look great when empty. The stitching around the inner tablet was not perfect, but that’s just being nitpicky.
The zipper is tight but the zipper handles are annoyingly large and there is absolutely no reason to use a double-ended zipper since they both need to be completely retracted to open the case. The handles have a small point on both sides of the base that causes the zipper to catch; every second or third time I used them they got momentarily stuck. That said, they feel solid; I’m not concerned that they will break any time soon. Another annoyance is that the zippers hang out even when completely retracted; holding the case against your stomach you end up with the zipper sticking into you (this would be solved by using a single-ended zipper, BTW). Finally, when completely closed the zippers sort of clatter together, not a big deal, but annoying. Besides these points, the zipper looks and feels good and did not have any problem closing the case, even when filled with materials.
The Roocase logo is attractive and nicely embossed in a good place on the cover. I appreciate that you understated the logo and hope you (and everyone else!) will continue to do so. I would not have had a problem with a second logo in the same place on the back, or an embossed logo on the interior.
The pockets on the inside left are adequate, though I personally do not think I’d use them much. They are too small to fit a standard sheet of paper (though this is the size of the tablet, not the case). The credit card/business card holders are of an appropriate depth and held tight to even a single card. The windowed pocket is similarly good, though I don’t see myself using it for anything. It might make sense to have more specific pockets, such as for a particular size of notebook. For me, I’d probably forgo the pockets altogether, or make a single pocket in which a (smaller) notepad could be hung horizontally.
The sides and spine are a perfect combination of rigid and thick and work well for both protecting the device and preventing objects held in the case from impacting on the screen. The overall feel in the hand is satisfying, though, considering the weight of the tablet is so low, it might be nicer to have a little less weight in the case.
The interior tablet holder is, unfortunately, where this case fails. There are several problems. First, the enclosure looks and feels cheap, both with and without the tablet. I personally hate tablet cases that cover the bezel; on the tab s 10.5, one of the more important gestures (swipe in from the right) is actually hindered by the case, which is unacceptable. The interior case should have used the hard plastic/metal corner compression style. As it is, the interior case looks and feels like strapping a bit of cardboard with some loose plastic on the front to an expensive tablet. The Velcro slipped under the bottom of the tablet causes a slight lift, bulging the bottom end of the tablet out. This means that when placed flat on a surface the bottom middle pushed up just enough that the whole thing wobbles when touched, even when using the small integrated lifting mechanism.
The faux leather hangs loosely around the screen no matter how tightly I pushed the Velcro attachment. The exterior case may be leather, but the inner case is clearly not. Pressing buttons on the tablet on the top and side is hindered, though this is a relatively minor nuisance. The port for the charger cable is accessible, but the 3.5mm headset jack is close; my best headphones have a square-ish connector that can’t be turned while the case is on. Both front and back cameras are fine, as is the light sensor. The fingerprint sensor, home button, and two capacitive buttons are fine, but the bezel-covering looks the worst here, sticking up from the screen. The case I received is slightly different than the one pictured on Amazon; they've (smartly) removed the strip of leather above the home/capacitive buttons.
The hand strap is tight and nicely recessed; the material touching the back of my hand was OK but should have been better; if I’m going to hold this thing with a hand strap for any amount of time the material should be a bit less abrasive. The small lifting mechanism on the back is also a nice touch, it worked well and gave the tablet a small lift when placed flat on a table. That said, I’d never use this case alone, and the rest of the case is intended to prop the tablet up already, so I don’t see when I’d be using this. The small lift also is placed just behind the button attachment (discussed below) so that it cannot be comfortably extended or replaced while buttoned in the case. This might actually have been a useful mode for the case; I briefly used it like this and found that it held the top of the case open fine, and provided some top-down privacy on the screen. I think certain business users might have actually liked such a feature.
Beside the bezel-covering faux leather, the single worst feature of this case is the button clasp that attaches the inner case to the outer. When the inner case is placed flat on a surface, the button always touches first, though not excessively. When attaching to the outer case, the button must be pressed very hard; this required placing pressure on the middle of the screen. I did not enjoy doing this. I assume the tablet can handle it, but I won’t be doing it again for fear of damaging the screen or the electronics.
When attached in the full case, the case works well in both landscape and portrait. While more options for angles are always nice, I think the angle you get is pretty good. I found it odd that, when used, the logo is on the table; I don’t like logos, but I’d think Roocase might!
The pen/stylus was a nice though unnecessary addition. It works about as well as most styli, and feels acceptable in the hand, if a little small. The tip feels very cheap. I did notice that it has both black and blue ink pens, but unfortunately you can’t tell which until you start writing. A perfectly good free add-on; nobody is buying this case for the pen/stylus.
The outer case is solid and I’d be confident that my tablet would survive a significant fall so long as the zippers were closed. However, if the zippers were open or if only using the inner case I’m sure that even a small fall would result in disaster. The bezel-covering inner case doesn’t even cover the lower corners of the tablet, which hangs out just enough to be the first thing that would impact in a fall. It becomes difficult, with this description, to even call the inner case a “case.”
In summary, the case looks nice from the outside, though the zippers are a bit annoying. The outer case is sturdy, tough, and would provide exceptional protection from both falls and pressure applied to the exterior. The interior pockets are fine, but I don’t see them being particularly useful given the application and size. Using the tablet propped up was stable in both tablet and portrait orientation, and the angle of the screen was good. The inner case feels cheap, particularly the loosely-fitting bezel-covering faux leather, which made an expensive tablet look cheap and negatively affected both my ability to use swipe gestures on the screen and the 3.5mm audio connector, and caused the tablet to wobble when placed without the outer case on a flat surface. The button clasp is also unacceptable, as connecting it required putting pressure in the middle of the screen. Both of these things would need to be corrected for me to be able to recommend this case to anyone. As it is, I am unlikely to use this case, which is a shame, considering that from the outside it is very nice looking and clearly would provide a lot of protection.
Nice Review, I too got the same Case and haven't done a review yet, as I wanted to get to know it a little and use it as much as possible. I have to say I like the product a lil more than you describe. Somethings I totally agree on. Such as the inner case covering the bezel. A little less would be adequate, But I do notice its soo tight on the tablet, it pulls it one direction causing the left side of the screen to become covered up. I remove it from the outer shell a lot to utilize the hand grip while I'm at work, which I use it to pull up blueprints and what not, so I love that feature.
Gotta say you put more detail in a review than most people. Good job.
I'll start off by saying that I was given this case solely for the purpose of writing an unbiased review. Here it goes!
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: Poetic has now revised the case where the formerly intrusive "P" logo is now moved above the fingerprint sensor. The "Affinity" branding that used to be on the right edge of the case is now completely removed. All other dimensions, accents, materials, cutouts, etc. have not been changed. The updated version can be purchased from Amazon (where I acquired mine) from the link below. Two additional pictures have also been added; one that compares the cases side-by-side and one with the phone in the revised case
<MODERATOR EDITED - SPAM REFERRAL LINKS DELETED>
My phone: Nexus 6P 64 GB Aluminum. Slickwraps skin applied; white carbon fiber back with white carbon fiber frame with matte black visor. Intelliarmor TGSP version 2.
Overall quality: There are two types of materials here; Black TPU and the clear stuff. I don't know what the clear material is, but I'd describe it as a malleable plastic. There are no rough edges
Overall Appearance: This one's subjective, but I like most of the design. I never wanted a case that was opaque. I always liked customizing my phone with skins and whatnot, so a transparent case is to my preference. However, I ultimately prefer having no back cover. Yup, I like true backless bumpers. Down the road, I might introduce a hobby knife to the back cover and remove the center clear plastic section for two reasons:
1. I like the phone to feel thin in the center
2. I don't like the possibility of trapping dirt/dust/sand/lint between the case and the phone (although the vinyl would protect my phone anyways)
Fit: The fit is pretty snug. When trying to get the phone into the case, it was slightly tight. I would probably credit that to the fact that I have frame vinyls applied. That being said, I don't think it's tight enough to warp the phone in anyway. "Snug" is the perfect descriptor here. Referring to the picture that shows the screen of the phone right at the edge, you can see that the entire screen glass is exposed. That means a full edge-to-edge glass screen protector should work here. I emphasize the word "should" because I don't have an edge-to-edge TGSP. I also think the frame vinyls might push the case outwards a slight bit, but it doesn't seem like that makes any considerable difference if you want to use a full coverage TGSP.
Buttons: Before I used the case, I only had the frame vinyls applied. The frame vinyls made it a bit more difficult to find and click the buttons. The case actually adds the "clicky" feeling back to the buttons. This is because the inner surface of the case that comes in contact with the buttons has protrusions that make direct contact with their perspective buttons. The vinyl no longer dampens the feedback of the buttons while using the case. The buttons are not considerably any more or less sensitive than a naked phone.
Cutouts: Please refer to pictures for cutout measurements.
Regarding the USB-C port, the cutout is sufficient. If you look closely at the picture where the phone is plugged in and laying with the screen up, you may notice that that case is slightly bulged outwards when plugged in. The stock USB-C cable makes slight contact with the case and causes the said bulging. This did not cause any difficulties when trying to plug the phone in. In fact, most probably would never even notice this at all. I'm just weird like that.
Referring to the headphone port, the cutout is enough for my headphones (which has a pretty civilian sized plug). However, I know some people like to use studio quality headphones that have huge plug heads. Those who use headphones with larger plugs may need to enlarge the cutout, but I'd venture to say that the included cutout dimension would suffice for the majority.
Referring to the camera cutout, only the area around the vital hardware are exposed. The rest of the visor is covered. Seeing that some people are afraid of shattering this glass, this may be a relief. Looking closely at the rectangle of black TPU around the camera, you'll notice the top and bottom bars are resting on the aluminum body as opposed to the glass visor (mostly). I would think this helps in the event of a dropped phone, as the impact would hopefully spread onto the aluminum body instead of the glass. I'm just guessing that would be how it works out. I'm not testing that for you guys!
Referring to the Nexus Imprint cutout, it's well bevelled. It's not rough on the fingers, but Imprint was more comfortable to use without any case (well duh). It's not difficult to put my finger onto the sensor, but it just felt like an extra edge to feel while trying to unlock the phone.
Feel in the hand: The case is actually pretty minimal. It doesn't add significant bulk to the phone, and allows the phone to still feel pretty thin. The side edges have have some ridges that add to the grippiness of the case. Aside from the vinyls, I've been running the phone without a case. The extra grip is actually much appreciated. The edges also raise the screen slightly off a flat surface when placed screen down. Huge plus because I like to leave the phone out at the dining table, but face down because I don't want the phone to interrupt my meal. The four corners of the case are also bulged ever so slightly. I assume this is good for shock dampening in the event of a corner impact drop.
rice923 said:
I'll start off by saying that I was given this case solely for the purpose of writing an unbiased review. Here it goes!
My phone: Nexus 6P 64 GB Aluminum. Slickwraps skin applied; white carbon fiber back with white carbon fiber frame with matte black visor. Intelliarmor TGSP version 2.
Price: It's $10 on amazon. Not expensive, not cheap. Pretty normal pricing.
Overall quality: There are two types of materials here; Black TPU and the clear stuff. I don't know what the clear material is, but I'd describe it as a malleable plastic. There are no rough edges
Overall Appearance: This one's subjective, but I like most of the design. I never wanted a case that was opaque. I always liked customizing my phone with skins and whatnot, so a transparent case is to my preference. However, I ultimately prefer having no back cover. Yup, I like true backless bumpers. Down the road, I might introduce a hobby knife to the back cover and remove the center clear plastic section for three reasons:
1. I like the phone to feel thin in the center
2. I don't like the possibility of trapping dirt/dust/sand/lint between the case and the phone (although the vinyl would protect my phone anyways)
3. I'm not a fan of the logo smack in the center of the back, especially when the original Nexus logo is obstructed. Considering there are three total logos/labels on the case, this one should've been omitted.
Fit: The fit is pretty snug. When trying to get the phone into the case, it was slightly tight. I would probably credit that to the fact that I have frame vinyls applied. That being said, I don't think it's tight enough to warp the phone in anyway. "Snug" is the perfect descriptor here. Referring to the picture that shows the screen of the phone right at the edge, you can see that the entire screen glass is exposed. That means a full edge-to-edge glass screen protector should work here. I emphasize the word "should" because I don't have an edge-to-edge TGSP. I also think the frame vinyls might push the case outwards a slight bit, but it doesn't seem like that makes any considerable difference if you want to use a full coverage TGSP.
Buttons: Before I used the case, I only had the frame vinyls applied. The frame vinyls made it a bit more difficult to find and click the buttons. The case actually adds the "clicky" feeling back to the buttons. This is because the inner surface of the case that comes in contact with the buttons has protrusions that make direct contact with their perspective buttons. The vinyl no longer dampens the feedback of the buttons while using the case. The buttons are not considerably any more or less sensitive than a naked phone.
Cutouts: Please refer to pictures for cutout measurements.
Regarding the USB-C port, the cutout is sufficient. If you look closely at the picture where the phone is plugged in and laying with the screen up, you may notice that that case is slightly bulged outwards when plugged in. The stock USB-C cable makes slight contact with the case and causes the said bulging. This did not cause any difficulties when trying to plug the phone in. In fact, most probably would never even notice this at all. I'm just weird like that.
Referring to the headphone port, the cutout is enough for my headphones (which has a pretty civilian sized plug). However, I know some people like to use studio quality headphones that have huge plug heads. Those who use headphones with larger plugs may need to enlarge the cutout, but I'd venture to say that the included cutout dimension would suffice for the majority.
Referring to the camera cutout, only the area around the vital hardware are exposed. The rest of the visor is covered. Seeing that some people are afraid of shattering this glass, this may be a relief. Looking closely at the rectangle of black TPU around the camera, you'll notice the top and bottom bars are resting on the aluminum body as opposed to the glass visor (mostly). I would think this helps in the event of a dropped phone, as the impact would hopefully spread onto the aluminum body instead of the glass. I'm just guessing that would be how it works out. I'm not testing that for you guys!
Referring to the Nexus Imprint cutout, it's well bevelled. It's not rough on the fingers, but Imprint was more comfortable to use without any case (well duh). It's not difficult to put my finger onto the sensor, but it just felt like an extra edge to feel while trying to unlock the phone.
Feel in the hand: The case is actually pretty minimal. It doesn't add significant bulk to the phone, and allows the phone to still feel pretty thin. The side edges have have some ridges that add to the grippiness of the case. Aside from the vinyls, I've been running the phone without a case. The extra grip is actually much appreciated. The edges also raise the screen slightly off a flat surface when placed screen down. Huge plus because I like to leave the phone out at the dining table, but face down because I don't want the phone to interrupt my meal. The four corners of the case are also bulged ever so slightly. I assume this is good for shock dampening in the event of a corner impact drop.
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Click to collapse
Good review, thank you
The frosted P kills it for me, which is too bad because I like every other design aspect of it.
Elnrik said:
Good review, thank you
The frosted P kills it for me, which is too bad because I like every other design aspect of it.
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After I get my "x only" Dbrand skins, it should look more acceptable. I'm probably still gonna end up making a true bumper out of this down the road[emoji1]
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: Poetic has now revised the case where the formerly intrusive "P" logo is now moved above the fingerprint sensor. The "Affinity" branding that used to be on the right edge of the case is now completely removed. All other dimensions, accents, materials, cutouts, etc. have not been changed. The updated version can be purchased from Amazon (where I acquired mine). Two additional pictures have also been added; one that compares the cases side-by-side and one with the phone in the revised case
I also received this case for review purposes, so if you don't mind, I'll just tack some of my thoughts to your review rather than creating another one? If you don't want this, just let me know!
I've been using this case for the past few days. I received the "updated" version that has the P above the fingerprint reader.
I enjoy the overall feel of the case. I like the ridges on the sides, it really allows you to get some grip on the phone, I feel less likely to drop it.
The buttons feel nice and click nicely, but because of the ridges I have a harder time finding them (and determining power from volume keys) when I'm not looking at the phone. I'm sure this will get easier over time.
I like the clear plastic on the back, I'm running mine stock without any skins, but it's still nice to see the faint nexus logo from the graphite version. As you mentioned that it felt like a snug fit, mine actually feels a little loose in some places, like the top and bottom.
The opening for the finger print reader is larger than the scanner, and I actually prefer this to one the same size as the reader. I feel like it's easier to find and unlock, and recognizes a little easier
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
heleos said:
I also received this case for review purposes, so if you don't mind, I'll just tack some of my thoughts to your review rather than creating another one? If you don't want this, just let me know!
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Absolutely fine by me! It's a review thread and you have some thoughts about the same product. All good
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
I bought this case. Overall a good case,but my phone keeps turning on in my pocket (I've butt-dialed and accidentally texted gibberish several times since getting this case)
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
diomark said:
I bought this case. Overall a good case,but my phone keeps turning on in my pocket (I've butt-dialed and accidentally texted gibberish several times since getting this case)
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Something sounds fishy about that. Never had that problem even once. Also, it takes a fair amount of effort and coincidence to butt dial on a 6p. Gotta press the power button, followed with a way to unlock the device, then precisely press the dialer icon, and choose someone to call. You may want to look into it a bit deeper. I've never butt dialed a single person since owning any smartphone in any configuration in the past 5 years.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
I have smart lock paired with my watch, so all it takes is a swipe (which I guess it can register in my pocket) after it wakes up (which it does from power button being easy to press)
Add that opening to a hangout notification and I've had it send my location to one person and call another - plus I'm frequently finding it having typed random characters (but not necessarily sent) while in my pocket.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
diomark said:
I have smart lock paired with my watch, so all it takes is a swipe (which I guess it can register in my pocket) after it wakes up (which it does from power button being easy to press)
Add that opening to a hangout notification and I've had it send my location to one person and call another - plus I'm frequently finding it having typed random characters (but not necessarily sent) while in my pocket.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
I see. Sounds like all the planets aligned. If you decide you still want to use the case, I would recommend actually shaving down the inside of the button (the side that physically touches the power button of the phone). That should cut back on the sensitivity, but it's effort that I don't know if you'd like to invest.
Design of the Poetic Affinity has changed
They have now removed the AFFINITY branding and brought the P to be above the fingerprint scanner.
Bhalraam32 said:
They have now removed the AFFINITY branding and brought the P to be above the fingerprint scanner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep its nice. I still need to return my old ones.
good combo on the frost :good: my main concern is protection as im pretty prone to dropping my phones lol, so could u plz update on how it has held on till now, and how good is it at actually protecting the phone.
Lord. Tech said:
good combo on the frost :good: my main concern is protection as im pretty prone to dropping my phones lol, so could u plz update on how it has held on till now, and how good is it at actually protecting the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It actually has good protection for as thin as it is due to the way its built. Very sturdy case.
Disclosure: This review is provided in exchange for a free case.
Imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/v77CJ
Let’s get this out of the way up front. This case is a beast. It’s big, thick and makes your phone feel like a tank. It’s not what I’m looking for in a daily driver, BUT it has a permanent place in my inventory for special occasions. As the pics show, it’s a two piece affair with an integrated screen protector. It’s a clear, thick plastic cover that completely encases the phone. More on this feature later.
The most noteworthy thing about the case, at least from my perspective, is the lanyard clip. I’ve never owned a phone or case with this kind of fitting and it opens up lots of possibilities for securing the phone. My family and I go camping a lot in the summer and I think that’s when this case will really shine. It’s tough enough to make me not worry about taking it into the mountains for a weekend. The loop can be used to conveniently suspend the phone from a back pack or perhaps hang it up in a tent away from moisture and stray bears.
The button feel is pretty good, but I think I’d like them better if they protruded a bit more. The cutout for the fingerprint sensor is accurately sized but makes it feel like you’re sticking your finger in a deep hole. I never had any problems getting the phone unlocked, but it did take a little adjustment to just how cavernous the hole is. The openings for headphones and USB have tight fitting rubber doors to help keep out moisture. It’s clear that this case does not fully waterproof the phone, so don’t go thinking you can take it under water or in the shower. It should, however, provide a greater degree of protection from the occasional splash or sudden rain shower.
As the pics show, it has an integrated kick stand that works well in both portrait and landscape mode. My only complaint is that when using it in landscape, you don’t have access to the power/volume controls unless you orient it with the lanyard clip on the bottom. If the clip were on the upper right instead of upper left, you could easily manipulate the controls.
Now, about that built-in screen protector. It’s very thick plastic and you won’t confuse it for high-quality glass. I experienced a little trouble with getting the screen to respond to my touches. I had to press down so hard that it felt like I was using a pressure sensitive screen and not a capacitive one. However, I do need to point out that I have a tempered glass screen protector on the phone and didn’t want to remove it for purposes of this review. It’s very possible that the added thickness of the TGSP contributed to this problem. Regardless, given that I won’t be using this case unless I’m roughing it in the mountains, having to press down a little is no big deal for me. But if you need this kind of protection on a daily basis, this is something to consider.
All in all, I think this is a decent case for the money. It’s not perfect, but if you live in a war zone or work in a rough environment, it should greatly improve you phone’s chance of survival.