Just as the title says - I am looking for a flip(-down) case for the z1c that does add close to nothing width- and thickness-wise. The few I've seen so far seemed to add at least 6 mm in overall width (feel free to correct me, I didn't have a ruler with me) and quite a bit in thickness, too. Are there any suggestions? Basically, just a plastic shell and a plastic flap with thin piece of microfibre clothe on the inside ... kinda like that.
(Just in case, here's a bit of silly reasoning - to people accustomed to growing smartphones, a few mm more might not be much ... but I'd like to keep the already-not-sooo-compact compact as compact as possible while gaining a certain degree of trouser pocket capability)
I tried one looking just like that (also saying "mini" on the inside of the plastic shell) and I don't like it. Apart from being quite bulky, the flapping part wouldn't want to stay put (moving too easily vertically).
I am using a some soft rubbery case, which makes the phone look incredibly cheap and trashy, and a glass screen protector for now.
Related
I've been using the CM Tough for a while now. While it's a great case for protection (very reassuring), its very bulky, and the silicone inner traps all sorts of dust and hair from the inside of my pockets.
For the past month or so, I've been walking around with my phone in my hand, fearing the attack of the lint, and wiping the lint and dust off the silicone whenever I could.
I've decided that if my friends can have sexy, slim cases for the iPhone, allowing it to come easily in and out of the pocket, there's no reason I shouldn't do the same.
Protection, for me, isn't that much of a problem. The easiest way to protect your phone is to basically not drop it, and in the half year I've had my phone, I've never dropped it once.
SO, I've been looking at...
The Momax iCase Pro: TPU sides and plastic back, slim.
SGP Slider: Hard case with cutouts for the volume/power. Looks rather slim.
Not a big fan of cases that don't cover the bezel. I honestly don't get the point, no scratch protection for bezel, and I can't put my phone face-down.
Are there any more cases I should be aware of? Are there people who can give a mini-review for the cases I mentioned above?
Thanks!
Have a look at this, just picked one up yesterday
http://www.case-mate.com/Samsung-Ga...axy-S-T-Mobile-Vibrant-Barely-There-Cases.asp
Fits perfectly on my European GT I9000, feels much nicer than bare phone or hard silicon case I previously used, and it's as easy to get out of your pocket as the bare phone. The only issue you might have is with the bezel, as it doesn't really cover it, rather it leaves the psuedo chrome visible, and only adds at most 0.5mm clearance if you place the phone face down.
Personally, I'm very happy with it. The phone is grippier, the volume and power buttons are much easier to use, and it looks good.
Headphone jack access is better too.
Read the reviews on the link.
Here's another I had a look at recently, seems to give great protection, but it's fiddly to get on and off if you need to do a battery pull, and I didn't like the squidgy button covers, but it might be more in the line of what you're after.
http://www.otterbox.com/Samsung-Galaxy-S-Commuter-Series-Case/SAM4-GALXS-20-E4OTR_A,default,pd.html
I also use the Case Mate Barely There and it is the best I have tried so far.
It doesn't collect dust and the phone slides into the pockets.
I prefer the Momax. My workmate has the barely there, which is slightly slimmer but at the expense of losing some protection. The momax is the best option if you want slim but can still feel comfortable that your phone is safe imo.
I also had the toughcase and became frustrated with it for the same reasons as you. I'm very happy with the momax. Only issue is the power button is a bit harder to push now but a small price to pay.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Using the SGP Ultra slider, totally in love with it as i prefer to have direct access to hardware buttons
I have the Momax case and I have to say, it's pretty good.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=790318 - PhoenixFX has provided a review here.
Things i like:
It has a hybrid design, the back is not fully rigid but feels solid, soft sides.
Sides are flexible enough so that it goes on easy but stays in, also like how TPU doesn't become stretchy like silicone .
Lip that protects the screen, didn't notice too much dust getting in.
It's easy to keep a good grip on it.
Dislikes:
As the one posters above me said, the power button is harder to press. the same kind of applies for the volume keys but nor as much. It might be annoying in the long run.
Other than that the case is perfectly fine although I don't really know if it can be classified as slim by my standards , the back plate part is around 1.5mm thick. The back is a matte finish that doesn't offer too much grip but the sides are very grippy.
Hope this helps (I haven't tried any of the other cases so I can't really compare).
i think, case mate barely there is really good for slim profile somehow. and also capdase soft jacket xpose 2 also looks okay.
Check out carrymobiles, melko cases as well
I use the same Case-Mate Barely There case as DMD9, and I don't see myself changing it anytime soon. Very sleek, provides a little bit of a rubbery feel but not enough to make it difficult to slide out of pockets
After protecting my SGS like a baby for the last 11 or so months, it has suffered some damage here and there (home button doesn't work very well, scratches etc).
Thus I decided to ditch the case and go totally slimline with a replacement battery cover (the stock one is a fingerprint magnet, and I have kinda sweaty hands!). Ordered a silver one from focal price (the ones with the samsung logo, but clearly fake) and its a pretty good fit.
I totally recommend going caseless, it fits so well in the pocket when you go out!
I also support caseless usage,
I had a invisibleshield protector on the phone for a few months and that one worked well but it came off.
Now i still use the phone as if there was a protector on it and....not a scratch added.
the screen can really handle some abuse
-Title of product: "Otterbox MOT4-ATRX2-20-E4OTR Commuter Series Hybrid Case for Motorola Atrix 2 - 1 Pack - Retail Packaging - Black"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005V155YO/ref=oh_o03_s00_i00_details
-Price: $21.99 + ??? Shipping (Newegg has it at the same price with free shipping)
-Pictures (sorry if flash makes it too bright, one is blurry but I did a retake of that angle) : http://imgur.com/a/hiioo
These pics should show angles from all six sides, and from top and side while detached to show the added thickness. It also shows the port flaps open, and the hybrid case taken apart. OOPS! Forgot the back angle and the wideness comparison: http://imgur.com/6PlW6; http://imgur.com/2fHb5
-Functionality: Does the job well. All ports and microphones have an opening or a flap, and as you can tell on the pictures, the ports with flaps are the Micro USB/HDMI and Headphone port regions. The flaps are a part of the silicone lining of the inside of the case. The polycarbonate outer shell has openings for these flaps, as well as one on the bottom to allow to pull the phone and the soft inner case out. The flaps fit nicely into the case and don't seem to come free on their own, but I will deduct a point here because the clearance, especially on the Micro USB/HDMI section, is very small, and it's not easy to put in the charging cable, and almost impossible to do in the dark (as I usually charge it as I am going to bed). The buttons are all covered by silicone that protrude out of holes in the polycarbonate shell. They are pretty easy to press, unlike the last case I reviewed. I would like to mention as this is an expensive case, that the included screen protector was a cheap dry-method die-cut that was a little small. I like the cheap screen protectors, but I had to mention it. I am not formulating this into the ratings, but this should be of note if you think that because you are buying an Otterbox means you are getting a good screen protector or something, which I would say that it isn't all that true. Anyways, the silicone liner/case was really loose fitting, but the case makes it extremely hard to insert/remove your phone. Also, the silicone tends to be a dust magnet. The polycarbonate case is susceptible to scratches, which I have already noticed after about a week, and the silicone case looks very easy to tear, and I have no doubts that the flaps will not last forever, and that the unprotected bottom of the case towards the mic and home/back/etc. buttons (just silicone there) seems like it could tear somewhat easily.
Overall rating: 4/5
-Aesthetics and feel: the black color doesn't clash with the phone, and looks very professional. Also, the corners can get dust on them, so if you want it looking clean and pristine after taking it out of your pocket/purse, it probably won't happen without some lint (which comes off easy if you have a air-duster can). It adds a significant amount of weight to the case, 1.3 ounces, which adds nearly 31% to the total weight of the phone and case (1.3oz + 5.2oz). This is acceptable due to the amount of protection it offers. The thickness is also very visible in the photos. The polycarbonate shell feels very slick, even slicker than the other TPU case I reviewed. I want to be able to have a firmer grip on my phone while I use it, so it fell short for me here. The Defender Series case looks like it picks up better on this point, even though its features are slightly different. The differences on the corners and the bottom, where the silicone protrudes through the spaces in the polycarbonate shell, are slightly annoying because they aren't uniform.
Overall rating: 3/5
-Protection: Almost perfect. Really, this case could make the phone survive just about any reasonable fall. The silicone corners and bottom are somewhat of a soft spot, both literally describing them and relationally to the overall protection. While I am mostly sure it would survive a drop at waist level, any higher I would have doubts on my phone's safety. As I said earlier, the polycarbonate shell is quite slick/slippery, but I doubt that a fall from holding it at a normal height would do anything to compromise the phone. This protection really is extremely good, even though I list its shortcomings. It will protect in almost all practical applications.
Overall rating: 5/5
-Arbitrary rating: based from 0-5 on nothing rather than my own opinion for how much I like it: 4/5
-Total overall rating: 16/20
-Conclusions: this is a great case with a lot of protection. Very functional, and looks great.
-Retrospect: would have gotten the slightly more expensive, slightly bulkier, and much heavier Defender Series case if I had the chance to do it over. The texture looks better, and it looks like there is even more protection.
-Also, this case has already been reviewed by another reviewer, 916x10, so I feel that I should link to their review (which, coincidentally, gave the same rating I did) and give them credit for being the first, and also check their review out if you want more insight on the case :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1329075
As always, please feel free to post comments or questions, and I will respond as soon as I can!
I finally received my review case Wednesday evening in the mail. I immediately put it on to get a feel for how it differs from my (then) current Incipio NGP slim case. I should preface this review by stating that I prefer casing to be as minimal as possible. I feel that a bulky phone and case can be cumbersome as I generally keep it in my pocket (the reason for using an Incipio NGP slim case).
First off, this case is sturdy. It's inner shell is a "Soft TPU" which, by itself, is strong enough protection. The shell is snug with a rugged, yet refined feel. I don't anticipate there to be any stretching of the shell over time. The outer casing clips onto the shell in virtually lock-down fashion. The entire case as a whole gives you the impression that your phone is definitely protected. By comparison, my other slim case doesn't quite feel adequate. ZeroLemon managed to give the shell and casing a smooth, matte feel that's easy to grip. Face up, the phone can slide across smooth surfaces, although I'd imagine it would take a certain degree of decline for it to happen by itself. Face down, the phone resists sliding much more. The degree of decline would need to be pretty significant.
The ridges of the Razor Armor case give the phone a recessed look that will certainly protect the screen and back camera from any falls. The holes (mic, USB, headphone, camera, noise cancelling mic, speaker, and IR blaster) are perfectly aligned and cut with just enough space for plugging in accessories. I use the fingerprint reader and have not noticed any impact on functionality.
I've been looking for a reason not to like the case, as I'm trying to remain objective. Considering this case was free, I didn't want to give a positive review and have people think that a $13.99 free phone case was enough to influence my opinion. There simply is nothing wrong with it. After a day and a half of use, I decided that I prefer this case. It is marginally bigger than my prior case, but certainly slim enough to appease a minimalist such as myself. Bravo ZeroLemon!
I was going to make a post of my own review on this case (although mine's Navy, not black), but we seem to have several review threads on this same product already, so I'm just adding my comments to yours..
I got my review sample in Wed. also, and I've also noticed how easy the case slides. I think that's due to the little 'feet' on the back of the case not quite being big enough (they are about half the size of my Spigen's feet, and it slides much easier on it's back than the Spigen). I think with a small tweak to the size and 'grippyness' of those nubs, you'd completely get rid of the problem. Mine seems to slide on the front (face down) almost as easily as on the back though. Could be the TPU my case is made of doesn't have quite the same grip as yours?
As for the matte feel, I'd much rather have it be closer in feel to the Spigen I have, it feels more like it's made of metal than the ZL case does, but that's more of a personal thing.
The front bezel surround is a bit thicker than my other case, and it seems to catch easier when I'm taking it out of my pocket than the Spigen. It also does affect my use of the fingerprint reader, but I'm betting the more I use that feature, it'll come easier. I would change the front bezel to be a bit more beveled towards the screen, at least down towards the fingerprint reader, it may help.
It looks like the ZL is about 1.5-2mm thicker overall than the Spigen, not sure if it would affect my Nillkin wireless charger, as I removed it before putting this case on.
As for the buttons, I'd say they are worlds better than the Spigen case. I can find them in the dark without any issue at all, they are easy to press, and it hasn't (thus-far anyway) taken the volume button presses as being for both buttons as of yet (my Spigen does that pretty regularly, volume bounces up one down one until I release and reposition my thumb higher or lower).
I'm definitely not a huge fan of large cases either, and even though this is a bit thicker than the Spigen, you'll most likely not notice it in use. Even with my issues, I'm still using it in place of the Spigen, it definitely feels like it's slightly better protected than it was before..
I'm going to attach a couple pictures of both cases for direct comparison of the two when I get to the house this evening.
Hey,
I got sent one of these cases, and did a video review on it, let me know what you think, i included the main transcript to.
https://youtu.be/AhbFXsQspdc
Build -
Back - Sandstone looked finish with a hard plastic feel. glossy coat on the sides of the back for shiny soft touching surface, side on the case has a hard plastic which is smooth to the touch, with the glossy plastic bending round to the middle of the edge.
Ports
All three microphones are open, the usb is open and easily accessible aswell as the headphone port, I personally prefer cases that add cover to the buttons, for example, spigen cases often make the buttons on most phones more clicky and satisfying to press. If you use the s-pen at all then you wont need to worry as it is still easy to remove.
Id prefer if the speaker cut out had a bit of lift, so it didnt sound muffled when put onto flat surfaces.
The case is simple and easy to put on and remove, It has an overall gippy feel, which isnt as high as other cases, but is definitely a step up from the note 4s overall grip, the case comes with a shock proof screen protector for extra protection if desired. this case is great for users wanting top add protection to their phone but not bulk.
Is it a 3-piece design such as an otterbox? Or is it a 1-2 piece design? Their website isn't displaying any descriptive information and my reception is not great enough to watch a video right now. Thanks for the post!!! Looks like an awesome case!!
ErikFry said:
Is it a 3-piece design such as an otterbox? Or is it a 1-2 piece design? Their website isn't displaying any descriptive information and my reception is not great enough to watch a video right now. Thanks for the post!!! Looks like an awesome case!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the extremely delayed reply, its only 1-piece, its like simple protection with great grip. I dunno why, but the side parts of the case make it feel a lot slimmer.
Disclaimer: This case was provided by Poetic for free in exchange for an honest review. So here is my take:
First thing first, this case is big, bulky and heavy duty. It’s a “TANK”. It’s rugged and so well made that you feel like dropping your phone + case on purpose just for fun. It gives you that confidence that nothing is going to happen to your phone. I, however, didn't try. At some level I feel that Revolution series is going after Otterbox cases that are known for their ruggedness.
Before we talk about other things, let’s take a look at how the case looks like and how it’s built.
Look and feel:
Case I received is made of Black Plastic and Brown TPU bits. This case is constructed in two parts where the frame that holds the phone inside is made out of plastic. This plastic frame also has a built in screen protector. If you don’t already have one installed on your phone this does the job just fine. Once you have inserted the phone inside the plastic frame, you can take this sub-assembly and insert it into the main cover which is constructed out of plastic and TPU material. Putting together the two pieces really takes some effort. However once done right, the fit and finish is good and tight. So no dust or lint is getting in there.
Cutouts and Ports:
On the front it has usual cut outs for speakers, camera and sensors and they all line up perfectly. Right side has buttons which, unfortunately, are flushed so you really have to feel them, find the right one and push it to make it work. I really wish Poetic had made these buttons slightly raised from the main body. However since buttons are slightly textured, they are easy to find and operate. Ports for headphone jack and USB are perfectly aligned as well as covered with flaps (for dust protection), which is a good addition for a case like this. On the back side, cut outs for camera assembly (complete with laser and flash) and a round cutout for finger print sensor that is large enough for easy access while holding the phone in hand.
Specialties:
Two things that are special about this case are:
It has a built in carabiner loop on one end. I am sure the design intent of this loop is to put a lanyard in it but I don’t really see people walking around while wearing this phone around their necks. However, I found this feature to be extremely useful when disassembling the case. You can push down on the loop to start separating the two pieces apart which are really tight fit when assembled correctly.
Party piece of this case is the kickstand on the back. This is one of the most rugged and rigid kickstands I have ever seen on a phone case. I think its made out of aluminum (not sure though) and is very easy to open and close. It closes with tight snap giving a quality sound and feel. A perfect companion for a phone like Nexus 6P, that has a large screen for media consumption. Having this kickstand means hands free Netflix or youtube which is awesome. I wish more case manufacturers start putting kickstands on their cases.
Closing thoughts:
This case is rugged and strong enough to withstand day to day abuse and beyond. It adds weight and size to a already big phone so it’s not easy to carry it around in your pocket unless you wear a really baggy jeans or trousers. I personally would rather use this case when I am outdoors biking, trailing or hiking.
Since I already have a TGSP on my phone, I ended up removing the plastic shield that comes preassembled with this case. Having a screen protector in combination with this plastic shield makes the phone almost impossible to operate due to screen not registering touch input.
It’s currently available on Amazon for $16.95 which I think is an excellent deal. I would definitely recommend this to people who do a lot of activities outdoors. However if you are not one of them but still looking for something like otterbox but with a kickstand and a carabiner loop then this case is a perfect choice.