Database Info

Otterbox v Ballistic

I've always been a fan of the Otterbox Commuter series. I had one for my Desire Z, SG2 and Nexus.
However, I have to say the Ballistic is the better choice for the HTC One X for these reasons:
1. If you are going to use one of these types of cover (i.e. protecting your device is more important than aesthetics / worrying about your device outweighs the delight of a slim phone), you have to accept it is going to be a bulky brick no matter what anyone tells you.
2. For that reason, the aesthetics of the case should be consistent with something that is rugged and protective.
3. The Otterbox tries to convince you that your phone is still thin when it clearly isn't.
4. The Ballistic doesn't: it goes and adds another layer of plastic to make the phone look like something you would find in the military or on a construction site.
5. For that reason, it actually has some style whereas the Otterbox doesn't.
6. The Otterbox has annoying rubber flaps over all holes which don't serve any real purpose but are very annoying to open each time you want to charge the phone or plug in headphones. The Ballistic has none and nice big apertures for easy access.
7. The Ballistic is a lot cheaper than the Otterbox, particularly if you are ordering from outside of the US.
8. The Ballistic power button makes the One X's horrible button very pleasant to use.

+1 for the ballistic. Power button is a joy with it lol.
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda premium

Another +1 for the Ballistic. I love everything about it and it is well worth the cost.

I have both and like them equally for different reasons. The Ballistic is more rugged and the buttons are WAY easier to use, but the Otterbox is slimmer and fits in my jeans pocket must better. I find myself switching them every couple days.

Commuter FTW
I have a different opinion here.
I prefer the Otterbox Commuter over the Ballistic SG.
When I held the BSG case, it felt like I was literally holding a black brick.
It is an ugly case, it has excessive rubber on the corners. The rubber is super THICK on the top and bottom. I couldn't even plug my L shaped headset jack into it and make it parallel to the phone to slide into my pocket. Granted I know my phone is safe in that case, but I feel the same way with the Commuter.
The commuter on the other hand makes the phone still feel slim. It adds minimal bulk. And this is obvious when I put my L shaped Jack in, I can actually slide it in properly and have it parallel to the phone.
It's easy to slide in and out of the pocket.
It looks good, not HOX naked good, but still looks good.
I do have to give the button operation to the BSG case, definitely easier with that case to click the power button and volume buttons.
I like the covers for the jack and power adapter, gives it a nice clean look with minimal gaps.
On the back the speaker cut out on the BSH showed the 1/2 the beats logo which irked me. The Commuter just has an opening for the speaker which looks clean.
Also with the BSG the rubber case is so thick that it is hard to touch the areas along the left and right side of the phone. This makes it very hard to put in and out of jeans or any pants in general.

+ another ballistix. Even if just for the power buttons. Works wonderfully.
It also offers pretty good protection and overall feel in the hand is good.
So far the best case I've seen for our ONE X.

+1 for the Ballistic. This came from my own experience with dropping my phone with the case on.
I was on a concrete platform and was trying to pull the phone out for a call. It slipped off my hand and fell from a height of around 8 feet. Hit once of the corner of the concrete platform and bounced away before hitting the ground. And obviously I was super terrified. But when I picked the phone up, there was no apparent damage that I could see. Removed the case and inspected every corner of the phone and everything looked the way it should. Regarding the case, the four rubber corners got some dirt and stuff; but it was easy to swipe them off. The case looks brand new. I'm very impressed with this case.

I just ordered my Ballistic from Amazon. I'll post a video review once I receive it.

I bought a commuter and its wretched... I felt like I was gong to break my phones screen trying to get it on (I had LCD ripples). Its REALLY hard to get off.. I like looking at how sexy not phone is and when you out the Commuter on its not coming off without a fight.
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda premium

+1 Ballistic
I would say it depends what type of work environment you're in and how much protection you need for your HOX. I'm in an automotive shop and I've dropped my phone 7ft from a hoist to straight cement and still good. Mind you depends how it was dropped. I've had otterbox cases for various phones before and was never satisfied with the overall construction. My HOX feels very solid with the ballistics case and won't be changing it for anything else.

I haven't had a Ballistic on my HOX, but i did on my iPhone (please dont hit me..) anyway they have very high quality cases with no false advertising whatsoever, so another +1 for Ballistic

Defender ftw. $35 shipped from the US to Canada from Ebay.

TPU + Hard Cover cases from China...good

I tend to prefer cases that have TPU on the sides and a hard cover for the rear. I also like cases that are sleek, especially in terms of how much material is around the screen. I dont like a ridge that is too high as it gets in the way of operating the screen.
I picked up this case from ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370678126009?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
For a "cheaper" case I am very impressed. Fit is snug and the all the openings line up perfectly. Only time will tell if the TPU sides will stretch over time and the phone gets loose but so far so good. The TPU is smooth and too "grippy" which I like. My only gripe is that the power and volume buttons lack any sort of feedback so its difficult to know that I am pressing the buttons. These buttons are also not that pronounced so its not easy to just feel for it.
Overall, I am very happy with this case regardless of the price.

Link is no good.
The buttons are not easy to press without a case and some cases make it easier some cases make it harder. I think a great bonus in a good case is making those frequently used buttons easier to find and press.

I have had my eyes on a very similar version to that case, but I'm not 100% it would fit the AT&T Version of the HTC One X.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-Color-Rim-Hyrbrid-Gel-TPU-Case-for-HTC-ONE-X-S-V-With-Screen-Protector-/180934095196?pt=UK_MobilePhones_MobilePhonesCasesPouches&var=&hash=item2a2083315c

I also have a nice cheapo tpu on mine which I prefer over my other otterbox (because of its size). I put a little duct tape on the inside of the power button and it works much better and easier.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

does it protect the camera when you lie the phone down on a flat surface?

knowskillz said:
does it protect the camera when you lie the phone down on a flat surface?
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If you are referring to the case I referenced then yes. The back of the case if hard plastic. The camera is recessed a bit behind the plastic.

tboooe said:
I tend to prefer cases that have TPU on the sides and a hard cover for the rear. I also like cases that are sleek, especially in terms of how much material is around the screen. I dont like a ridge that is too high as it gets in the way of operating the screen.
I picked up this case from ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370678126009?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
For a "cheaper" case I am very impressed. Fit is snug and the all the openings line up perfectly. Only time will tell if the TPU sides will stretch over time and the phone gets loose but so far so good. The TPU is smooth and too "grippy" which I like. My only gripe is that the power and volume buttons lack any sort of feedback so its difficult to know that I am pressing the buttons. These buttons are also not that pronounced so its not easy to just feel for it.
Overall, I am very happy with this case regardless of the price.
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Click to collapse
i have that same cover and the same complaint as u, also the speaker opening blocks the third row of the loud speaker openings, but sounds normally though.. its a really nice cover and every opening is exact to every port is accessible and i love the extension on the camera area, protects the lens

undergrad said:
I have had my eyes on a very similar version to that case, but I'm not 100% it would fit the AT&T Version of the HTC One X.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-Color-Rim-Hyrbrid-Gel-TPU-Case-for-HTC-ONE-X-S-V-With-Screen-Protector-/180934095196?pt=UK_MobilePhones_MobilePhonesCasesPouches&var=&hash=item2a2083315c
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I purchased this case.
I liked the way it looks, and i like the material composition.
I did not like how difficult it was to press the buttons down with the tpu.
but the thing that made me, ultimately, stop using this case was how smooth and slippery the matte plastic case was. it made it slide on all surfaces. it wouldnt stay on any slanted material(chair, laptop, car hood, and bed). it was very easy to drop, and wouldnt stay in my lap.
I just went back to my smoked tpu case, which has good button feedback and is just grippy enough, yet smooth enough to slide in adn out of pockets

For around $10 why not just pick up a diztronic case that's designed for the XL? Ebay cases are sometimes a mixed bag, if you go with a decent name at least you have some quality to expect. Even more so when the price point is similar.

chinaman_chong said:
I purchased this case.
I liked the way it looks, and i like the material composition.
I did not like how difficult it was to press the buttons down with the tpu.
but the thing that made me, ultimately, stop using this case was how smooth and slippery the matte plastic case was. it made it slide on all surfaces. it wouldnt stay on any slanted material(chair, laptop, car hood, and bed). it was very easy to drop, and wouldnt stay in my lap.
I just went back to my smoked tpu case, which has good button feedback and is just grippy enough, yet smooth enough to slide in adn out of pockets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not like the shell

unitedatom said:
For around $10 why not just pick up a diztronic case that's designed for the XL? Ebay cases are sometimes a mixed bag, if you go with a decent name at least you have some quality to expect. Even more so when the price point is similar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks like those don't protect the camera lens: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=diztronic+htc+one+x

Black ZeroLemon Razor Armor [REVIEW]

I received my case last Wednesday and have been very pleased with it. I have left the case on for a week straight, normally I don't use a case for my phone so it did take a bit to get used to although with this case the added bulk is minimal, it does feel nice and solid, great build quality.
Love the buttons. Nice and big, it takes just enough pressure to press the button. I will often pop in my ear phones and rest my phone in a cradle at work on my desk. When placing the phone in the cradle without the case I would (8 out of 10 times) accidentally press the volume up button and dam near make myself def! With the case on that hasn't yet happened.
All the cutouts for the ports, mics etc are perfectly matched with what they are cut out for. No issues getting the USB cover off to charge the phone. Speaker sounds as it did without the case, IR blaster is fine, camera and heart monitor work great. No issues plugging in headphones either.
The inner TPU part of the case is solid. There will be no stretching out with this one. At 1st glance before I actually held the case in my hand I was sure the corners were going to be a deal breaker for me. On screen they looked bulky, angled and bothersome. This was just not true. Corners are really no bigger than a rounded corner case but offer much better protection from drops.
There is a small ridge or seam around the TPU part of the case, about 1/8" back from the front. This seam is actually the only annoying part for me on this case. It seems to be rough, maybe even a bit sharp. Feels like it needs to be slightly cut or filed back. Tried to get a picture of it but its a bit hard to tell from the picture what I mean. It doesn't catch or grab on anything just irritates my fingers when holding the phone one handed where my pinkie would be resting under the phone by the charging port.
The outer shell snaps on nice and tight, no wiggling or movement, real sturdy. That said, trying to remove the case is not an easy task. It will come off but it takes some prying and pulling.
Overall I am totally happy with this case and plan on using it for the foreseeable future. I haven't used a case on any of my phones for more than a weekend camping trip or so in the past 3 years so this must be a good thing.
Great job ZeroLemon!

I'm going to add my review since there's already a lot of individual review threads already. Hope you don't mind.
I got the case 2 days ago and I can say it's a quality well built case. Some cases that I have used the buttons are mushy and hard to press. But you won't have an issue with that with this case. The buttons are very big and very easy to press. Since they aren't mushy you can hear the buttons click when you press them easily which I like.
I think this case offers better protection than the Spigen Tough Armor case which I think it's comparable to. The lip is a pretty good size which some people might not like but I don't mind it since the screen is protected when the phone is laying on the screen or I drop it and it lands screen first. As PappaFloyd mentioned the corners offer a good amount of protection.
Going back to the comparison the ZeroLemon case is a little thicker than the Spigen but not that much to make a difference. I feel like Razor Armor case is easier to hold in my hand because of the texture of the plastic. I don't know how to exactly describe it but it's like a rough or grainy texture to it which makes it pleasant to hold. I'm thinking since it's not a smooth or glossy finish like the Spigen that the back will be more resistant to scuffs or scratches. After a short while the back of my Spigen showed some scratches and other signs of wear.
As already mentioned the cutouts are all good. The heart monitor is easy to access. Also already mentioned was the finger print scanner. I feel like the lip would get in the way and make it more inaccurate than it already is.
After just a few days of using it I really like it and will be sticking with this case for now. I really haven't found anything that I haven't liked about it yet. It offers good protection, feels nice in the hand and the cutouts are correctly aligned. If I find anything I'll update my review. I'll share some pictures showing the cutouts and the difference in thickness between the ZeroLemon and the Spigen case I was talking about.

Verus case button stiffness

I just got my verus iron shield and love the case but the volume buttons are very stiff and volume up almost doesn't work. Is there some kind of way I can mod the case?
Sent from my Note 4

I noticed that right away with mine but... some cases are annoying with the ease of button presses. I have the Verus Thor and the power button requires intent to activate; no accidental engaging. The volume buttons are easier to press and sometimes actually do engage without intent when handling the phone in landscape mode. I think it is a feature. I wouldn't mind if my volume buttons were harder to press. Not sure if it gets easier going forward with use but I hope mine doesn't get easier. It's not often that I adjust the volume. It's more of a set and forget unless I accidentally bump it. The buttons are easy to see and feel; IMO, increases the value of this case.
So far the Thor is my best case; just wish the case had more grip when my hands are dry and the phone is cold. This time of year, both are impacting grip but it improves holding the phone. The hardness at the bottom where I tend to rest the phone's weight becomes uncomfortable and I frequently shift the phone so it doesn't get uncomfortable. I get compliments on the case's appearance. It's a keeper for sure but when I find a softer case, I'll use this one primarily for away from home for its appearance and added protection. I prefer a soft slipper for home. I've got the Samsung case+ on back order, I think that's what it's called.

donkon said:
I just got my verus iron shield and love the case but the volume buttons are very stiff and volume up almost doesn't work. Is there some kind of way I can mod the case?
Sent from my Note 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah the buttons are pretty hard to push... if you take the metal bumper off you'll see the reason they're so hard to push is that there is no cut out for the power switch/volume rocker in the TPU part of the case. So the pushing has to go through the TPU to get to the actual buttons on the phone (whereas the Neo Hybrid has the cut outs and are much easier to push). I guess you could make cut outs in the TPU if you had the skills/tools.

Poetic Affinity case for the Hauwei Nexus 6P Review

Hey guys last time I did a first impressions review so here's my full in depth review as promised. I did get this case for free by Poetic so that I could provide an honest review. Huge thanks to Poetic and @TalonFangs for this opportunity. I'll be doing the review based off a review up to 5 stars covering these: aesthetics,build quality/feel of case,coloring, durability, cutouts, and whatever else that comes to me lol.
Alrighty so first I'll talk about the aesthetics. I got to hand it to Poetic. The new revised version of the case looks awesome. The black borders match perfectly with the graphite body of the 6P. The revised version no longer has the "p" in the middle of the case nor the "affinity" written on the right side of the case. Everything looks simplistic now and showcases the gorgeous finish of the Nexus. It looks really clean. I definitely recommended this case for anyone who wants a clear case that showcases the phone.
The build quality of the case is great. The phone fits snugly into the case. The device doesn't move around and the case isn't so tight that its choking the phone. Its just right. The bumper lines on the case and the ridges on the sides help a lot with holding the phone. The 6P is a pretty big and very slippery phone, this case adds a lot of grip to the phone which I love. The case is very sturdy, not just some thin piece of plastic that just protects the back of the phone from scratches. Its a very durable case that adds lots of protection to the phone. I was sceptical at first when I got the case but after using it for a while I truly appreciate the added durability. Before I started using this case I was extremely nervous and cautious every time I lay the phone down because of the black glass visor on the back and then the glass screen on the front. The case covers the visor with an added bumper line and there is a slight bumper line around the front of the case so that of you place the phone screen side down then the screen is ever so slightly risen over the surface that you layed it down on. I've dropped the phone so many times (maybe 4-5ft high up,indoors,hardwood,tiles) and there has not been any damage thanks to the case. There are bumps on the 4 sides of the case that help a huge deal if the device falls. And the slight rise on the sides front make sure that that screen never touches the surface. This case has great build quality that provides solid protection yet its still lightweight. The case barely adds any bulk to the phone. Props to Poetic for that. Another huge props to Poetic. It looks as though they have fixed the yellowing issue. In the original case, the case started to yellow significantly after a few weeks. Now in the revised version it has not yellowed at all after intense daily use for a few weeks.*So far, after all this intense use, there are barely any noticeable scratches on the case. (Original case was full of scratches after a few weeks)
The cutouts are excellent. They are percise. There is a cutcut for the camera, Imprint (fingerptint sensor), proximity sensors, volume rockers, power/sleep button, and of course the type C usb file transfer/charging port. I am able to plug the cable in and out with ease. My finger is always resting on Imprint and this case doesn't hinder the scanner in anyway. Every single cutout is perfect. Huge props to Poetic for this.*
One feature I do wish was on the case is some way to distinguish between the volume rockers and power key. Without a case the power button has a rough, ridged texture too it that helps us to differentiate it from the smooth volume keys. On the case though both the volume rockers and power key is smooth. I've pressed power by accident so many times, especially at night. It would be great that Poetic adds this feature to the case. Its not a huge deal for me personally since I use MX and VLC Player to stream media. Both apps have on screen gestures to control volume. But it does get in the way when I'm watching downloaded videos on YouTube (Youtube Red) or any other app which doesn't have on screen gestures.
One issue that I've noticed is that the power button on the case is very tight. It takes more pressure now to press the power button. Another major issue is that the volume buttons on the case have damaged the volume rockers on the device. The volume up button is now bent in where the case was constantly pressing down.
Overall this is one solid case. Definetly gets points for durability, build quality, cutouts,etc. The only thing I really don't like about the case is the issue with the power & volume rockers. I barely put a lot of pressure on the volume rockers so I'm not sure what about the case caused the damage. What noticed on a daily basis was the awesome grip added to the phone. It made it a lot easier to hold the phone and the case has come through for me every time that I've drooped it so far. Obviously this isn't a Otterbox replacement or anything. I haven't dropped it outside on concrete/pavement yet and I'm not about to do so now. This case isn't for hard core durability. Instead its a nice lightweight case that offers enough protection for your average every day causal use like scratches, accidental drops (nothing crazy), grip,etc.
I give this case 4 stars out of a possible 5. I definitely recommended this case for anyone who wants solid protection for your 6P without sacrificing size,weight,etc. And to top it all you are getting a great case for a very low price. Hopefully I'm able to get my point across to all of you guys. I'm not a pro reviewer or anything. I'm just a guy who's giving an honest review for a product that I have been using as my daily driver since it arrived in the mail. I just want you guys to get an idea of what to expect after purchasing this case and some suggestions for Poetic for future products. I'm very clumsy and rough with my phone. The fact that this case did so good is great. I will be trying out other cases (possibly Poetic Revolution, i-Blason, Spigen, etc) until I find the ultimate hardcore protection for the 6P. This is a great case but I'm more of a heavy duty protection kind of guy (even if it does make the phone bulky lol). I got to admit though. I've been using heavy duty cases for ages now and it's been a releif to use such a lightweight case that offers such protection and grip. Huge props to Poetic for this awesome case and @TalonFangs for this opportunity to test out and review this case for all of you. Thanks. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask me any questions that you have about the case. ?

Oops I forgot to add pictures again so here they are.