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.
Related
Anyone used this case? I REALLY don't want to put a case on my Nexus One, but it's also so slim and thin that I am going to drop it eventually.
Silly as it is, I don't want the whole phone covered up, so while the Innocase Surface II looks decent it also covers up the phone.. The Boxwave Pure Crystal Slip doesn't, but I can't find any reviews on it.
Anyone used one of these things? I don't use the dock, although I do use a horizontal belt case so I might have to get one that's slightly bigger as the N1 barely fits in the existing one, but I can deal with that.. That would happen for any case honestly, except for a skin.. I do like Best Skin Ever, but the last two I've bought seem to not be quite as "tacky" as the first few I had, therefore the grip wasn't quite as good. Maybe my imagination..
I bought the Boxwave case off amazon a month ago probably. its a nice case but save your money and buy a resin case from dcmugen on ebay, exact same thing with a different logo. its a nice case though, not too thick and easy to take on and off (I use both docks) so it fits my needs quite well.
Boxwave here. Nice thin and classy. Has rubber feel but not too soft either. It's a pretty good case makes phone look ten times better in my opinion. Is easily recommend it, but I don't use docks, so can't help there. Never the less, happy casing.
DC Mugen FTW. eBay - Epik Case. I got two cases for $8 including shipping and two screen protectors.
check out the cyclone crystal clip from boxwave - it looks even better (sry cant post link)
stiCk.E said:
check out the cyclone crystal clip from boxwave - it looks even better (sry cant post link)
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Ah, I see.. I still think I prefer the Pure, no patterns on it, but otherwise the same.. Looks like Boxwave has the Cyclone (circle patterns), diamonds, a matte finish, some others..
Still haven't decided on which case.... I've always been disappointed in silicone cases, but I've almost always bought cheap $2 eBay ones..
I went with the Boxwave Pure Crystal Slip, we'll see when it arrives! God knows when, I had two shipping options.. 5-10 days ($2) or 1-3 days ($23!!)
So I'll see in 5-10 days
I got the Clear Pure Crystal Slip yesterday. Here's a quick review:
Overall, I like it and will likely use it when I'm out and about. It gives a much more secure grip on the phone without adding any weight or feeling larger. Although honestly I still think the Nexus One is a little TOO thin and a little slippery. This makes that better.
It feels like a cheap case, it's rubbery and smooth. If your hands are wet or oily it might be MORE slippery, don't know yet. In reality it seems pretty well made, and fits well. The Clear Pure version is crystal clear, no tint, no patterns, and you can clearly see the phone is a Nexus One.
I'm not doing any drop testing, but I think if the phone landed on a corner or an end this case could protect it. It's firm but pliable, not squishy like a silicone case and not a hard case. Primarily I think it'll protect it because it'll be LESS LIKELY to get dropped because the surface is a tackier and more surface area on the sides. I can pick up the phone with two fingers securely now, where before I'd have to tilt the phone up and get fingers under it to pick it up.
If anyone wants pictures I can do that, haven't yet...
Price summary: If it were $15 it'd be a deal. $20 seems too much.
Pros:
You can see see it's a Nexus. Google branding, colors, body build
It's thin, firm, and fits tightly
Covers up the power and volume buttons, but made to fit over them. Maybe a little rain resistance?
Adds better grip, more confidence holding the phone
Does not interfere with any ports (except a little on the power plug, see below)
Does not interfere with any openings (speaker, mics, camera, camera flash)
Does not interfere with the screen, particularly near the edges
Does not obscure the speaker when phone is on its back
Lets you lay the phone down face-down without resting on the trackball
Covers all corners, edges, entire back.
Cons:
It has a molding line all around it.. It's not that visible but you can feel it. Sides aren't smooth
Covers up the power and volume buttons, but made to fit over them. Makes it too easy to hit the buttons, and you can't feel the button very well (to feel it when touching) nor feel the action of the button itself.
Seems to make the stock charger plug (maybe others too) not feel "in", I think there's too much material around the plug
Takes away the nice texture and feel of the Nexus One
Thumb hits the case a little scrolling down on the trackball, but it doesn't make it harder to use
Other notes:
Does not protect the camera lens or the screen at all
Mine was clearly used, fingerprints all over and in the box backwards :/
A slim belt case intended for the N1 is too small to fit with this case
There is a weird cutout to the left of the HTC logo in the case, like maybe a hand strap could go there?
akifbayram said:
That case does look nice but 20 dollars seems a bit excessive. Look at other Amazon items. I found one for 5 dollars shipped that is pretty similar and doesn't have the hole in the back. http://www.amazon.com/Google-Crysta...X1DSC0SAJ94E&s=generic&qid=1275242975&sr=1-27
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I have that case as well as the Crystal Boxwave slip.
The Boxwave one:
- Is clearer obviously (not the "smoked look").
- Fits a good deal tighter.
- Has a full cover for the lip, not the chin strap method of attaching.
- Has Boxwave written across the back.
I actually prefer the patterned one because it's more interesting, both detract from the Nexus, so it might as well add some flavor, right? The Boxwave one is far tighter fitting (and slightly thinner) but neither is going to come off in any kind of normal use. I also own the desktop dock, so I need to take it off on occasion to allow the phone to fit. Both cover all the buttons, so you have to get used to pressing them through the rubber. They also both have that edge around the edge of the case from being molded.
Anywho, just my $0.02
akifbayram said:
Speaking of 2 cents...there are a lot of auctions for the patterned Nexus One cases for 99 cents. http://stores.ebay.com/Cimo-Cases_G...15QQ_sidZ192097565QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322 I wish I knew about this before
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And those are probably worth at least $1.10...... Sometimes you really have to make a minimal investment to get something useful.
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
This is the Ringke Hybrid Fusion Case.
Where to get it:
http://www.rearthusa.com/google-nexus-4-hybrid-fusion-case
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Google-Ringke-Fusion-Premium/dp/B00B7QGT6U
Personal rating:
8.5/10 -- Material
9.5/10 -- Grip
4.0/10 -- Button (Ease)
7.5/10 -- Fit/Openings
8.5/10 -- Style/Look
7.5/10 -- Protection
Material - TPU border w/ PC back. The actual case feels pretty solid, when I first held it I had a good firm grip on it, no slipping, the TPU borders have a solid feel and not plastic like the ol S-line TPU. The PC back looks and feels good, some users may have some "wet" spot issues where if you are using a screen protector it will stick to the back. Also if you press on it hard enough it will touch the back and even without a screen protector it will give a wet spot look but I never had that problem as the PC back is lifted high enough it doesnt touch. If it does touch then I would be putting a bit of pressure on it. This case is also a dust magnet to the max. Also I noticed two "melting points", thats where they seal the case but all the others are pretty smooth, the two markings make it look like another cheap case, not a biggie unless you're looking right at it.
Grip - Holding the phone the width reminded me of the official LG bumper, so for those who though the LG bumper gave it a bit of a bulk then you may feel the same with this, but honestly when I had the LG bumper I didn't like the grip very much but this one is actually good and maybe a little bit slimmer.
Buttons - When I went s-line tpu, official bumper, mybat hybrid to this, they all had different button pressure sensitivity. I though the s-line tpu was the worst but this case is the new king of worse button pressing hahaha... well the button is solid, its hard and it kinda feels like a capacitive button as in you press it, it doesn't give any feedback. So while other cases give off a click or you feel button actually going down, this doesn't. I only had 3 gripes and this is one of them. You'll eventually get used to it but when/if you go back to another case it is a noticeable difference.
Fit/Opening - Pretty snug fit, once the phone is in there is no gaps or offset. The PC back does not have a lip but they did add raised corners when you're placing it on its back, that gives it a little bit more of the slim look. All the opening looks properly measured. Only gripe I have is while the case can take my two ear phones, it doesn't fit the my aux cord I use in my car. With all the other cases it fits fine but this one is just a little off. Sure I can just get a BT adapter and whatnot but the fact is the cord worked for all the previous cases and not this.
Style/Look - Looks good, feels good, it is what I was looking for, a case with a clear backing and they made one. They could've tweaked a few more things but for the average user it is what they're looking for.
Protection - I think this case offers more protection than a regular TPU case but its certainly no ballistic or seidio case in which is bulky and will survive a 4' fall. This may absorb most of the shock but a big drop would probably break something on the phone.
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Pros: Looks good, feels good, clear backing.
Cons: Button pressing (lack of feedback), bigger 3.5mm cords have less clearance, dust magnet. (3 Gripes: Buttons!!, Melted spots, aux hole less clearance)
Price/Value: 8/10 - It is what I was looking for in a case, protection + clear backing. Pricewise I would probably say $9.99 value rather than the $13.99/24.99 they're going for.
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how bad is the dust attraction?
Thank you for the review!
I had better expectations with this case
bluesfear said:
how bad is the dust attraction?
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The dust attraction isnt as bad, I guess you can say when trying to take pics of the case had to wipe it down numerous times but being that the back is clear you will be prone to finger prints and dust on the case. I guess I over exaggerated the dust part a little bit but it sure is less than the rubber/tire hybrid type cases lol those attract the most.
I just got back from the gym and the most I've seen on the case is just finger prints of course that will depend on if your environment is super dusty and what not. But as far as dust attraction it isnt so bad. I was just trying to clean the inside and took a little while to clean it off for picture purposes :good:
good review
appreciate the complete review. i have one in the mail. im going to keep my expectations low so the case seems more impressive...
is this going to work well will front screen protectors?
skuubage said:
appreciate the complete review. i have one in the mail. im going to keep my expectations low so the case seems more impressive...
is this going to work well will front screen protectors?
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I would say it probably would as the lip doesn't wrap around the edges tightly but I would double check with the guys at the ringke thread as I don't have a screen protector on mine.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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.
I got this case this morning, it seems quite nice overall and doesn't seem to add too much bulk. I have the Unicorn Beetle pro with built in screen protector and overall I like the Otterbox better for one main reason, the port covers actually clip in. The Supcase doesn't do this, and the covers will stay popped out if you had it charging or a headset plugged in for little while. I have OCD so this of course drives me insane.
The fit and finish is very nice, seems like Otterbox is stepping up their production QC a little bit. I remember for a little while there were some issues with overly hard rubber and fit and finish issues. Thankfully that hasn't affected this case. The only thing I have noticed with it, is a slight bulge on the right side near the buttons where the rubber sits away from the phone just a little bit.
Port covers fit very neat and tidy, cutouts are in the right spots for the extra microphones and the button covers work properly. Not requiring too much force but not being overly easy to press. The cutout for the camera is also something I was looking for. I dislike cases that leave all of the metal trim exposed, I work in dusty, dirty environments so I need a case to seal the phone off as much as possible.
I mainly wanted this case because of my job as an Air Conditioning technician. It won't be abused but it will see its fair share of use and potential drops.
I will try to remember to post some pictures once I have used it for any length of time to show how it holds up to day to day activities in the field.
is it soft rubber ?
It's fairly soft. It's not like the older Otterbox cases where it was super flexible.
Depending on preference, it could be good or bad.