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Desire Alu Leather flip case

Im waiting for the PdAir leather flip case to come up, but meanwhile I spotted this for £20. Works for both Desire and N1. What you guys think?
http://www.clove.co.uk/viewProduct....rce=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=pound

That looks a good price £20+vat = £23.50
Proporta are charging £30!
-Joe

Yes. Not bad at all... not sure if the PdAir one is better... below a sample of one on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PDair-Genuine..._PDAsAccessories_PDACases?hash=item335c381f19
I had PDair before - and I do like their quality. The Alu leather one seems to keep the whole screen free from obstruction, which I like...

The problem with the PDair, like the one for the HD2, is that the leather along the sides of the screen actually make it more difficult to use the touch screen at the edge of the screen. I prefer the Clove case mentioned above and a similar design from Noreve.

jah said:
The problem with the PDair, like the one for the HD2, is that the leather along the sides of the screen actually make it more difficult to use the touch screen at the edge of the screen. I prefer the Clove case mentioned above and a similar design from Noreve.
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Click to collapse
I agree with that. I had a PDAir case on a previous phone and found it did restrict access to the edge of the screen and also to the buttons at the bottom.
On the other hand, I am worried that the Desire Alu Leather flip case does not protect the edges of the phone from other things in the pocket and, even, whether small coins can slip under the cover onto the screen.
I may have to stick with a simple pouch. (But I also like the look of PDAir's Luxury Silicone Case like they make for the Nexus One.)

Good point.. the sides are open, but I think it should cover if it falls on the floor etc. I think I will go for the Prpoporta alu case, but get a screenprotector film as well.

Just orderered the Alu-Leather case from Clove. Will let you know when get it and how it feels.

Got the Alu Leather flip case today. Looks great!!! Finally I dont have to worry too much about scratching or damaging the phone. It looks stylish with black and inside white leather. It gives access to the headphone jacks and is easy to open quickly to answer calls etc.
Seems keeping the phone sturdy in place and nothing blocking the screen (unlike PdAir).
Will let you know how it feels after couple more days use!!
But looks really stylish!

Is the stud used to close the cover stands over the screen? I like flip cases, but on most of them the studs is just over the screen, and I'm worried about been able to broke it.
jannen said:
Got the Alu Leather flip case today. Looks great!!! Finally I dont have to worry too much about scratching or damaging the phone. It looks stylish with black and inside white leather. It gives access to the headphone jacks and is easy to open quickly to answer calls etc.
Seems keeping the phone sturdy in place and nothing blocking the screen (unlike PdAir).
Will let you know how it feels after couple more days use!!
But looks really stylish!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

The stud.. or magnetic button... stands almost exactly over the optical trackball. But I wouldnt worry at all as the cover is lined with aluminium sheet. Means its well protected from impacts to the front and back of the phone.

How much depth would you say it adds to the phone?
Are you able to upload any pics? Would be awesome if you could, particularly one with the stud closed

Here are few pics... please dont pay attention to all the dust that the flash picked!
It does add little depth to the phone - as does PdAir etc. At least it has a aluminum layer strengthening it, but with the leather its smooth. I got this phone on a 24mth
contract so I want to protect my baby well at least for the first year or so...

Jannen, what is it like taking portrait photos now with the flap at the top? Does it get in the way at all?

Just took some pics... just hold the flip with your left hand. To me, no big deal really... and as it was sunny the flip actually blocked the sun reflecting from the screen. But honestly, I think that is personal taste. I prefer flip cases to others as they give some protection if you drop the phone while using it. Slip in ones dont protect if you drop it while using it.

Otterbox Commuter v. Incipio DualPro v. Seidio Active

Hello all,
I've always only had the Otterbox Commuter as my one and only case for phones, and with them being so slow to get out the color I want for the S4, I was wondering if I should keep waiting for a bit longer or go with another choice like the Incipio DualPro or Seidio Active. I don't have any experience with either of them, so I'm wondering if anyone who has used them can shed some light (both good and bad) on them.
Thanks.

facetubespam said:
Hello all,
I've always only had the Otterbox Commuter as my one and only case for phones, and with them being so slow to get out the color I want for the S4, I was wondering if I should keep waiting for a bit longer or go with another choice like the Incipio DualPro or Seidio Active. I don't have any experience with either of them, so I'm wondering if anyone who has used them can shed some light (both good and bad) on them.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Incipio Dual Pro is horrible. Fitment is off and constantly slips on an end, exposing the screen with no lip coverage. Luckily it was free from the ATT store for me, but i wish i chose a different case from them. I ended up ordering a minimalist JL case from amazon anyway.

I have an Incipio case and I think it's great. Probably the best case I've had for a phone. Only like $25 too.

its_dale said:
Incipio Dual Pro is horrible. Fitment is off and constantly slips on an end, exposing the screen with no lip coverage. Luckily it was free from the ATT store for me, but i wish i chose a different case from them. I ended up ordering a minimalist JL case from amazon anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm I've been reading up on it for the S4 and.....that's the first I've heard of it. Will look into it more. Got pictures of it?
itslinx said:
I have an Incipio case and I think it's great. Probably the best case I've had for a phone. Only like $25 too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's $16 on Amazon right now :good:

no pics sorry, its sitting at home

Consider having a look see at the Casemate Toughcase if you like the otterbox, its actually less bulky while providing better protection for the phone. I'm very surprised this case doesn't see more play here becuase its a truly good case and I get people asking my out of the blue what it is and where I purchased it. I've got probably a dozen friends on it now and I did nothing to convince them, they mauled and pawed at the case for a few and were sold. If you are of a mind you can quickly pull up a few reviews on youtube of the case.

I've been using the Seidio Active case for a few days now. I used a 10% off coupon I found searching Google and it came out to $31 shipped. I bought the one with the grooves for your fingers. Also has a kickstand. I pull out the kickstand when holding the phone and put my ring finger under the kickstand so I have a good hold of the phone and my thumb can reach more of the screen. Kickstand also comes in handy with the smart stay option so the screen won't turn off when I'm reading. It is easy to take on and off so I can get to the battery easily. All the proper cut outs are there and are lined up perfectly. Complaints - When typing or pushing the menu / back key my fat fingers will hit the edge of the case. I just have to work on using the tip of my thumb. Depending on the angle of the phone you may not be able to see the notification light. There are covers for the volume and power button which took some getting used to but I can now hit them without looking.

krabman said:
Consider having a look see at the Casemate Toughcase if you like the otterbox, its actually less bulky while providing better protection for the phone. I'm very surprised this case doesn't see more play here becuase its a truly good case and I get people asking my out of the blue what it is and where I purchased it. I've got probably a dozen friends on it now and I did nothing to convince them, they mauled and pawed at the case for a few and were sold. If you are of a mind you can quickly pull up a few reviews on youtube of the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How well does that case work with a glass screen protector?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app

I have the Incipio Dual Pro Carbon now as my temporary case. The rubber is constantly coming off from around the lip. You see the silver when this happens. Not a huge deal but in a drop it won't be that good. Also the silicone grabs a little bit of lint.
Seidio active... I have it on my Nexus 7 and had it on my Note 1.... Huge lint magnet, OLD OLD design, silicone can be warped and won't lay flat in some areas.
Otterbox Commuter.... I will order one of the colored models when available. Buttons were terrible on the S3 but it seems to have an improved design....Putting the case on seems to be better than the S3... Overalll good design.
I also ordered the Cygnett Workmate... It seems to cover the issues from the other case and offers better grip... I will know in a couple of weeks.

Ttrain721 said:
How well does that case work with a glass screen protector?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The edges of the case do come over the top of the device to the screen side but this is only the softer inner portion of the case and I'm thinking it would work fine but I do not use screen protectors so I'm not certain. You can see it pretty clearly in some of the youtube videos of the case so you should be able to make a call from that. A link is here ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l3X7Oxgx5I and the same fellow reviews several others which might catch your interest as well.
I've included a couple pictures that show something you cant see there. The one is of my year old S3 case next to my brand new S4 case. Notice how the thing still looks new? The other seems like kind of an oddball picture but what you are looking at is the largest portion of the soft inner case and the thing to notice there is the lack of lint. While these do catch a tiny bit of lint it is very little as you can see there. I did not clean the case up, it went from my pocket to the drawer after my S4 got here.
On my S3 I have had my phone in that case directly alongside a friend who had his in a commuter case and we both agreed that this case felt better in the hand and it had a more premium feel. It also has better grip but does not hang in the pocket. He in fact is one of the people I know who ditched his case and got the Casemate instead. Now I've obviously not seen the Otterbox for the S4 yet but it appears much like the Casemate counterpart to be pretty much a rehash and I would expect that they will compare similarly again.

facetubespam said:
Hmm I've been reading up on it for the S4 and.....that's the first I've heard of it. Will look into it more. Got pictures of it?
It's $16 on Amazon right now :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought mine (Dual Pro) at a TMob store. I totally disgaree regarding overlapping screen. It TOTALLY protects the screen via it's superb fit overlapping. Plus it has a nice "feel just holding it'. Used to have a Body Glovefor my S3. The bodyglove was on the thick side and it just didn't have the same tactile feeling when holding the phone. Mine is black with Grey...IOW two tone. Only saw it in a TMob store. Solid colors online from this link.
http://store.androidcommunity.com/incipio-dualpro-hard-shell-case-with-silicone-core/4A225A14120.htm

krabman said:
The edges of the case do come over the top of the device to the screen side but this is only the softer inner portion of the case and I'm thinking it would work fine but I do not use screen protectors so I'm not certain. You can see it pretty clearly in some of the youtube videos of the case so you should be able to make a call from that. A link is here ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l3X7Oxgx5I and the same fellow reviews several others which might catch your interest as well.
I've included a couple pictures that show something you cant see there. The one is of my year old S3 case next to my brand new S4 case. Notice how the thing still looks new? The other seems like kind of an oddball picture but what you are looking at is the largest portion of the soft inner case and the thing to notice there is the lack of lint. While these do catch a tiny bit of lint it is very little as you can see there. I did not clean the case up, it went from my pocket to the drawer after my S4 got here.
On my S3 I have had my phone in that case directly alongside a friend who had his in a commuter case and we both agreed that this case felt better in the hand and it had a more premium feel. It also has better grip but does not hang in the pocket. He in fact is one of the people I know who ditched his case and got the Casemate instead. Now I've obviously not seen the Otterbox for the S4 yet but it appears much like the Casemate counterpart to be pretty much a rehash and I would expect that they will compare similarly again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man, that is some kind of funky back they have there. How does it feel? What is it?
And you said that Casemate offers better protection than the Commuter, any links to vids/proof to this? Cause if that's true, then that's a great deal. It looks like it is as bulky as the DualPro. Lastly, how are the colors with the Casemate? Got sick of all black, and that's why I've been looking elsewhere while waiting for the Commuter colors. Thanks.

Incipio DualPro
I purchased my Incipio DualPro from an AT&T store ($35 + tax) just to have something to protect the phone while I figure out what I really want as far as a case. I went in to get the cheapest thing they had but really liked the look of the fake carbon fiber which looks even better in person. But, the silicone layer is so loose and floppy that even with the stiff Plextonium frame:laugh:, it won't hold its shape leaving the bezel exposed where the fancy named frame isn't. This case had the makings of a winner.
Love this look:
Hate this:
Returned to AT&T store today!

The outer shell is plastic. It has the appearence of the knurling you see on a ratchet handle for example. In person it looks good and has a better feel than that of the Otterbox counterpart. The bulk of the case is about the same as the commuter, it is designed for protection and those who would avoid the Otterbox commuter for that reason would want to avoid it as well. That said it is slighly less bulky than its commuter counterpart because it is thinner.
As to protection there are no sure proofs, no 1000 phones dropped and here is the absolute numbers, test. You have to look at the case and make a judgement. The casemate clearly covers the corners better and has a better fit which combined with what are visibly better materials means you can pretty much figure your phone has a better chance than it does in the commuter. There is no sure thing. I had my S2 and then S3 both in the same case for those phones and while I haven't dropped the S4 yet I did have occasion to drop both of those several times and neither suffered a scratch although again no case will protect against bad luck.
In regards to the colors, I've no idea. I always go black so have never looked. Best bet might be to check the case out in a store. Its popular enough that I noticed our AT&T shop here had some on the shelf for S3s. Or if you have a case kiosk at the mall they will likely have one and you can check out the material yourself. Casemate has many other cases but I have no experience with them. I was Otterbox all the way till I ran into the toughcase which just plain out commuters the commuter at its own game. IMO

Looking at the dimensions of all the products, it looks like Casemate is the bulkiest, with Otterbox second, and Incipio DualPro the least bulkiest.
The one thing I'm not a fan of the Casemate from the pictures is that there seems to be more open exposed areas, especially at the top.

I ordered the Dual Pro case and have been waiting for it to come in.... I bought the Body Glove Dimensions case from the T-Mobile store just to have something on it until the Dual Pro case came in...The Dual Pro case looked really nice in the store but I want the white and gray one that they didn't have.. Now I'm hearing all the crappy reviews about the Dual Pro case and I'm having buyers remorse...Maybe I will get one from a good batch that will fit like a glove...UNLIKELY!!!! Anyway the Body Glove Dimensions case feels really good in my hand and looks nice however it doesn't protect anything just nice and slim.

facetubespam said:
Looking at the dimensions of all the products, it looks like Casemate is the bulkiest, with Otterbox second, and Incipio DualPro the least bulkiest.
The one thing I'm not a fan of the Casemate from the pictures is that there seems to be more open exposed areas, especially at the top.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not sure where you are getting your dimensions from but I can tell you from actually having both in my hand with the S3 the toughcase is slimmer. Since it appears that the Commuter is a reboot with a few minor changes just as the toughcase is for S4 I'm pretty sure you are going to see the same thing again. Also the only openings on the tough case are where the IR and headphone jacks are and the same applies on the bottom where there is no opening other than the two ports there. The Otterbox possesses exactly the same openings in their case and then unlike the otterbox the casemate piece does not have the wide open corners which are the single most likely spot for the phone to hit in a drop.
lol Sometimes you just cant let a favorite go, I do it myself. Either way you're getting a good case that stands a real chance of saving your overpriced ludicrously profitable for Samsung device so its all good. :good:

prototype.77 said:
I ordered the Dual Pro case and have been waiting for it to come in.... I bought the Body Glove Dimensions case from the T-Mobile store just to have something on it until the Dual Pro case came in...The Dual Pro case looked really nice in the store but I want the white and gray one that they didn't have.. Now I'm hearing all the crappy reviews about the Dual Pro case and I'm having buyers remorse...Maybe I will get one from a good batch that will fit like a glove...UNLIKELY!!!! Anyway the Body Glove Dimensions case feels really good in my hand and looks nice however it doesn't protect anything just nice and slim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do have to remember that those that have problems are usually the ones that take to online to complain, so just take all the amount of bad stuff with a grain of salt.
krabman said:
Im not sure where you are getting your dimensions from but I can tell you from actually having both in my hand with the S3 the toughcase is slimmer. Since it appears that the Commuter is a reboot with a few minor changes just as the toughcase is for S4 I'm pretty sure you are going to see the same thing again. Also the only openings on the tough case are where the IR and headphone jacks are and the same applies on the bottom where there is no opening other than the two ports there. The Otterbox possesses exactly the same openings in their case and then unlike the otterbox the casemate piece does not have the wide open corners which are the single most likely spot for the phone to hit in a drop.
lol Sometimes you just cant let a favorite go, I do it myself. Either way you're getting a good case that stands a real chance of saving your overpriced ludicrously profitable for Samsung device so its all good. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:silly: I think on the corners, they both go about it differently, Otterbox has the silicone there, and casemate has both, with the plastic outside. Bet they both have their own science reasons for doing it that way lol.
I'll wait it out a little while longer before deciding. I think my biggest concern about the casemate is that I won't like how the textured back feels.

JawjaBill said:
I purchased my Incipio DualPro from an AT&T store ($35 + tax) just to have something to protect the phone while I figure out what I really want as far as a case. I went in to get the cheapest thing they had but really liked the look of the fake carbon fiber which looks even better in person. But, the silicone layer is so loose and floppy that even with the stiff Plextonium frame:laugh:, it won't hold its shape leaving the bezel exposed where the fancy named frame isn't. This case had the makings of a winner.
Love this look:
Hate this:
Returned to AT&T store today!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine does exactly this.

I just saw that UAG (urban armor gear) is going to start shipping their cases soon.... might have to look into them now :/
Never had a one piece polycarbonate silicone case before.

Review of Four Different Cases

Okay guys I'll start this off by saying that I am not impressed with the current case selection for this phone. Now, let's begin with the review.
1.The first case I'll start with will be my Rearth Ringke Fusion hybrid case. I loved this case to death when I first received it on the same day I got my phone, and it has been my favorite case since I got my new one (more on that in a minute ). It feels great in the hand, as it's completely ergonomically similar to the phone itself, and the button feedback is a dream. The clear plastic back has much to be desired, however. The plastic smudges, smears and attracts fingerprints like no other. It also is slippery. VERY slippery. Keep in mind that I have hands that are almost always moist in some form or fashion, so the back plastic of this thing felt like butter. All in all, a very good case and I highly recommend it, except for those with moist hands!
2. Next is my replica Google official bumper. (Replica is perfectly identical to the actual one.) I bought this bumper in conjunction with a carbon fiber dbrand skin, (I still have that on, props to dbrand for making the best skin in the world!) and I was honestly a little disappointed. The stippled texture that bands the sides and sandwiches the fake aluminum plastic piece together feels amazing in the hand. My moist sweaty hands had no problems gripping this bumper, except for the fake aluminum plastic piece that I just mentioned. It's not totally matte, but it's not totally glossy either, it's an odd mixture that feels great to touch, but for me it was a tad slick. It wasn't nearly as bad as the Ringke Fusion case but it was enough for me to take it off sometimes. The buttons clicked with pride and although it did add quite a bit of width to the phone, it had an awesome fitment, no flex or peeling of materials found on this bumper! I would still definitely recommend this case despite the negatives.
3. The other day, (Friday), I received my Mercury TPU case (black), and boy let me tell you something. My hands promptly said NOPE right when I got it on the phone. For some reason I must've been on some crazy drug and bought the thing thinking that it would be some grippy, sticky rubber case. WRONG. All I'm going to say on this one is, misaligned speaker and microphone cutouts, super slippery and the finish on the face of the skin where you see it almost all the time has an orange peel look to it, almost like a ZAGG screen protector. However, the sparkles on the back really made me want to play some funky music!
4. Today, (about 15 minutes before I wrote this), I got my Ringke Slim case in the mail. One complaint: I got an older version, the one with the loose volume slot, but it's not a big deal as I can't really hear any creaking. Other than that minor mishap, for the fifteen minutes I've been using this thin case, and it is EXTREMELY thin, I'm proud to say that this is my favorite case thus far. The matte finish has a soft-touch coating on it that feels like heaven, the button cutouts and speaker, mic cutouts are spot on and without flaws. Most people don't notice it, but this case actually has four little feet on the screen side on the case that allows you to set the phone on it's face and not get the screen scratched. Nice!
The complete lack of top coverage is nice FOR ME because I can finally put my ATH-M50's in my phone without having to remove the case! :good:
Keep in mind that the Slim is a totally different case than the other three, most similar to the bumper however.
Here are links to each of the cases on their respective websites, (if such site exists).
1. http://www.rearthusa.com/google-nexus-4-hybrid-fusion-case
2. https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_4_Bumper_Black?id=nexus_4_bumper_black&feature=accessories#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDExMSwiZGV2aWNlLW5leHVzXzRfYnVtcGVyX2JsYWNrIl0.
3. http://www.amazon.com/Mercury-Flexible-Google-Nexus-Black/dp/B00AOW8ICQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369864701&sr=8-1&keywords=nexus+4+mercury
4. http://www.rearthusa.com/google-nexus-4-ringke-slim-case

I've been in search of a case i'll actually like. Been thinking about getting the ringke slim but i'm just afraid of the lack of protection. I've never dropped my n4 but for that one time that i do, it'll be great to have the protection.
I also have the ringke fusion, it's a nice case but the back gets dirty and gross pretty easy. The official bumper just feels bulky and my headphones don't fit.

got my Ringke Slim 4 days after i got my n4, had the official bumper ordered with the phone but it just made it too bulky for my taste.
Had my ringke the rest of the time and never looked back. it IS the best case i've ever used on a phone. this comiing from a person who doesnt like to put cases on phone but with this phone just wanted that extra protection. its very slim and doesnt add any bulk what so ever. going on 6 months with the slim and still rocking it.

I own three of the four cases that op reviewed. Exactly my same thoughts for the most part. Pretty well done review. Kudos. Although I would be semi cautious about the official bumper as its known to cracking on the bottom of the usb port. The slim is a really nice case but if covering the back isn't your thing then it isn't the case for you.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Tempist305 said:
3. The other day, (Friday), I received my Mercury TPU case (black), and boy let me tell you something. My hands promptly said NOPE right when I got it on the phone. For some reason I must've been on some crazy drug and bought the thing thinking that it would be some grippy, sticky rubber case. WRONG. All I'm going to say on this one is, misaligned speaker and microphone cutouts, super slippery and the finish on the face of the skin where you see it almost all the time has an orange peel look to it, almost like a ZAGG screen protector. However, the sparkles on the back really made me want to play some funky music!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would be tempted to request another one, mine is an absolute perfect fit with all the cut outs being in the correct places. Regarding its slippyness after a couple of days use it starts to get more grippy.
Out of the 4 cases i have bought for the Nexus 4 this is the only one i have kept lol
The Rinke Slim i had was the worst of the lot, made my phone really slippy and offered zero protection.

Honestly I'm surprised there aren't more people using/reviewing the Acase Superleggera pro. I've tried a hatful of cases and by far the Acase is perfect for me. The only complaint that people have for it is that it's bulky, but for me that's a pro. I want my pocket to feel slightly heavy (like 40 grams more than the phone?) to know that my phone is still there, and then I can avoid those mini heart attacks that you get when you think you've lost your phone.
The protection is the best out there,it looks great, isn't slippery at all, feels premium in your hand, button feedback is excellent, not too much of a fingerprint magnet and doesn't interfere with my screen protector.
The only downside is that the back isn't transparent but you get over that initial fascination of showing off the back soon anyway.

I like the Acase pretty well. The amount of lint that it picks up bothers me more than anything. I think it would be nice if the inner case was a light - medium grey, so the lint is less apparent. I have the Mercury, Superleggera, Ringke Slim, and Poetic bumper. I change them out all of the time because I'm not completely satisfied with any of them.
Sent from my Nexus 4

since you have protection on the back and you are using the Rinke slim which is made to fit precisely, do you feel like it is adding too much pressure to the phone? I have a feeling that may have happened to mine and when i squeeze the top part of my phone it creaks. I'm not sure if this was the cause, but if yours has zero creaks then I will assume it is safe to have the skin on the back along with the case.

Mohit12 said:
Honestly I'm surprised there aren't more people using/reviewing the Acase Superleggera pro. I've tried a hatful of cases and by far the Acase is perfect for me. The only complaint that people have for it is that it's bulky, but for me that's a pro. I want my pocket to feel slightly heavy (like 40 grams more than the phone?) to know that my phone is still there, and then I can avoid those mini heart attacks that you get when you think you've lost your phone.
The protection is the best out there,it looks great, isn't slippery at all, feels premium in your hand, button feedback is excellent, not too much of a fingerprint magnet and doesn't interfere with my screen protector.
The only downside is that the back isn't transparent but you get over that initial fascination of showing off the back soon anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ordered one of these yesterday after reading many reviews. Looks like the best bang for the buck and some decent drop protection, which many of the other cases don't have. I also like the fact that the measurements have it only slightly more bulky than the Diztronics case I have, so it will fit in my leather holster perfectly.

Bumper
Tempist305 said:
Okay guys I'll start this off by saying that I am not impressed with the current case selection for this phone. Now, let's begin with the review.
1.The first case I'll start with will be my Rearth Ringke Fusion hybrid case. I loved this case to death when I first received it on the same day I got my phone, and it has been my favorite case since I got my new one (more on that in a minute ). It feels great in the hand, as it's completely ergonomically similar to the phone itself, and the button feedback is a dream. The clear plastic back has much to be desired, however. The plastic smudges, smears and attracts fingerprints like no other. It also is slippery. VERY slippery. Keep in mind that I have hands that are almost always moist in some form or fashion, so the back plastic of this thing felt like butter. All in all, a very good case and I highly recommend it, except for those with moist hands!
2. Next is my replica Google official bumper. (Replica is perfectly identical to the actual one.) I bought this bumper in conjunction with a carbon fiber dbrand skin, (I still have that on, props to dbrand for making the best skin in the world!) and I was honestly a little disappointed. The stippled texture that bands the sides and sandwiches the fake aluminum plastic piece together feels amazing in the hand. My moist sweaty hands had no problems gripping this bumper, except for the fake aluminum plastic piece that I just mentioned. It's not totally matte, but it's not totally glossy either, it's an odd mixture that feels great to touch, but for me it was a tad slick. It wasn't nearly as bad as the Ringke Fusion case but it was enough for me to take it off sometimes. The buttons clicked with pride and although it did add quite a bit of width to the phone, it had an awesome fitment, no flex or peeling of materials found on this bumper! I would still definitely recommend this case despite the negatives.
3. The other day, (Friday), I received my Mercury TPU case (black), and boy let me tell you something. My hands promptly said NOPE right when I got it on the phone. For some reason I must've been on some crazy drug and bought the thing thinking that it would be some grippy, sticky rubber case. WRONG. All I'm going to say on this one is, misaligned speaker and microphone cutouts, super slippery and the finish on the face of the skin where you see it almost all the time has an orange peel look to it, almost like a ZAGG screen protector. However, the sparkles on the back really made me want to play some funky music!
4. Today, (about 15 minutes before I wrote this), I got my Ringke Slim case in the mail. One complaint: I got an older version, the one with the loose volume slot, but it's not a big deal as I can't really hear any creaking. Other than that minor mishap, for the fifteen minutes I've been using this thin case, and it is EXTREMELY thin, I'm proud to say that this is my favorite case thus far. The matte finish has a soft-touch coating on it that feels like heaven, the button cutouts and speaker, mic cutouts are spot on and without flaws. Most people don't notice it, but this case actually has four little feet on the screen side on the case that allows you to set the phone on it's face and not get the screen scratched. Nice!
The complete lack of top coverage is nice FOR ME because I can finally put my ATH-M50's in my phone without having to remove the case! :good:
Keep in mind that the Slim is a totally different case than the other three, most similar to the bumper however.
Here are links to each of the cases on their respective websites, (if such site exists).
1. http://www.rearthusa.com/google-nexus-4-hybrid-fusion-case
2. https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_4_Bumper_Black?id=nexus_4_bumper_black&feature=accessories#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDExMSwiZGV2aWNlLW5leHVzXzRfYnVtcGVyX2JsYWNrIl0.
3. http://www.amazon.com/Mercury-Flexible-Google-Nexus-Black/dp/B00AOW8ICQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369864701&sr=8-1&keywords=nexus+4+mercury
4. http://www.rearthusa.com/google-nexus-4-ringke-slim-case
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I bought a Minisuit (transparent) for protection when going camping, beach, or a very wet day. And I also bought the Poetic bumper. The minisuit is great, the only problem is that the power button sometimes is hard to press. With the Poetic I had problems with the first unit they send me, it broke in a week. I called poetic and they replaced the bumper with (2) new ones, they told me that they had problems with the first batch they ordered, but they assured me that the new one was perfect, today it's been 4 months since I'm using the Poetic and I can say is been great, no pealing, no plastic coming off, and I still have a replacement new one just in case.

I got a white color of ringke slim case. the material is too slippery. never like it. plus the corners feel really sharp by touching it it may scratch my N4.
I ordered Incipio feather case. It may not be slim as ringke but it feels really good.

Leather Backplate or Case

I'm looking for a leather backplate replacement for my Galaxy S4. Really dislike the grimy feel and fingerprints of the stock plate, so I'm thinking a nice leather feel would be great. Don't want any kind of metal or aluminum to possibly interfere with signals. Also prefer it to be quality not cheap PU leather.
Also a leather back cover case may work as long as its not too bulky. I like the Spigen Argos case but don't want any flip front cover.
I've spent a few hours searching this forum, any recommendations?

ChuckWow550 said:
I'm looking for a leather backplate replacement for my Galaxy S4. Really dislike the grimy feel and fingerprints of the stock plate, so I'm thinking a nice leather feel would be great. Don't want any kind of metal or aluminum to possibly interfere with signals. Also prefer it to be quality not cheap PU leather.
Also a leather back cover case may work as long as its not too bulky. I like the Spigen Argos case but don't want any flip front cover.
I've spent a few hours searching this forum, any recommendations?
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Haven't tried it, but this looks good: http://www.amazon.com/Bear-Motion-Genuine-Buffalo-Leather/dp/B00BRT6FUW/ref=cm_rdp_product
If you end up getting it let us know how it is!

Cool, I went ahead and purchased it. Will report back when I get it in 4-5 days.

ChuckWow550 said:
Cool, I went ahead and purchased it. Will report back when I get it in 4-5 days.
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Has it come in the mail yet? How does it look/fit? Thanks!

Been using this new Bear Motion leather case for several days now, and so far I'm very happy with it. Upon first glance and feel its pretty flimsy and cheap, and that's because its so thin. But after you put it on it looks and feels fantastic. I wanted a thin leather case that look and feels nice and this is just that. It claims to be buffalo leather and I suppose it really is. Looks like real leather, feels like real leather and even smells like real leather. Someone else's review on it was that the edges or the lip would start the fade or shred. I can see that possible happening as that seems to be the weak point. Hopefully it doesn't happen for me since I always have my phone in my right front pocket by itself.

ChuckWow550 said:
Been using this new Bear Motion leather case for several days now, and so far I'm very happy with it. Upon first glance and feel its pretty flimsy and cheap, and that's because its so thin. But after you put it on it looks and feels fantastic. I wanted a thin leather case that look and feels nice and this is just that. It claims to be buffalo leather and I suppose it really is. Looks like real leather, feels like real leather and even smells like real leather. Someone else's review on it was that the edges or the lip would start the fade or shred. I can see that possible happening as that seems to be the weak point. Hopefully it doesn't happen for me since I always have my phone in my right front pocket by itself.
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Thanks for the review! How is the fit, is it really snug? If you have had any other cases could you compare the fit on them to this case? Lastly, what color is your S4 and what color case did you get?

nyonya said:
Thanks for the review! How is the fit, is it really snug? If you have had any other cases could you compare the fit on them to this case? Lastly, what color is your S4 and what color case did you get?
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The fit is really snug, it locks in tight and you don't feel any movement once it snaps in. Its not really a case that you can depend on if you drop your phone a lot, the protection is very minimal.
Doesn't cover the entire corner, and I imagine the phone would still get damaged if it were to drop straight onto the top or bottom of the phone. But its still better than nothing, and the grip is good and I just don't drop my phone period. I only got the case because I needed something, anything to cover up the cheap awful plastic backplate, and this case just makes the phone feel really good in the hand.
The only other case I have for the S4 is the S View cover, more of a stylish case and I just got annoyed with having to open up the cover all the time, which is why I didn't want to get the spigen leather flip cases.
My S4 is the black mist so I got the matching black colored leather, simple and classy. I don't want the leather to get dirty or stained in the brown or the red, and well I just prefer all black phones anyways.

Urban Armor Gear for the HTC One M9

So I decided to do a review on a case which I've been using since my HTC One M7 days. It's the Urban Armor Gear case. This is my first ever review so I do apologise if it seems a bit biased but I'll try and make it as honest as possible.
Let's start off with some basic overview of the product itself.
The UAG Rugged Case for the HTC One M9 is a fused composite case that consists of a hard polycarbonate plastic and soft (but rigid to the feel) rubber. I personally love the military design of the back of the case. The rugged feeling is further enchanced by the rubber bolts that are near the edge of the case. The corners have rubber bumpers that absorbs impact from a drop on the corner of the device because let's face it, no device drops face down all the time right? A new addition from the old M7 case is the grips on the side of the case. I did find myself trying to grip my M7 firmly when I took it out of my pocket with the old case that didn't have the grips at the side but with the new M9 case, the added side grips are a godsend. While not everyone is into the solidness and rugged feel, I personally LOVE it.
Picking it up, you can immediately feel how solidly built it is with the plastic and rubber construction. It definitely adds some heft to the device but there's always two sides to a coin. I personally love the added weight because it tells me that I have a quallity product in my hands and I'm not afraid that anything will dent at all should a drop occur. Doing some research, there are other cases out there that have similar features like the Otterbox series of cases. I find that two seperate pieces is way too troublesome for me as assembly and deassembly can be a pain whereas the UAG can easily slip in and out although it's a bit difficult to get it out once it's in there which is good so I know that my M9 won't fly out of the case anytime soon lol.
Everyone knows about that shiny black top on the M9 right? It's the IR Blaster. UAG has actually thought of that and made a cut out at the top of the case for the IR! A nice addition! The only problem that I could find with the case after about one week of use is that the buttons are a bit hard to press straight out of the box. You need a period of "burn-in" for the rubber at the buttons to soften up before it feels normal to press. Another thing is the lack of colour options on the website. It's currently available in Ash (Smoked) and Maverick (Transparent) which is really little compared to when I had the M7 and it had colours like Aero, Outland and so on. I do hope UAG brings those colour options back for the M9.
Other than that, I really have nothing else to say about it. It's a rugged and solidly built case and I really like it a lot. It has both beauty and protection in one. Not many cases have both. If you're in the market for a rugged case and don't like the hassle of a seperate piece case like Otterbox, look no further than UAG.
I hope I wasn't too biased in this first mini review of mine. Do add your opinion in the posts below. I'd love to hear what others think of UAG's recent colour options like ash and maverick as compared to the solid colours.

Looking for a new case myself. Was kind of sold on the tech 21 but I've never had uag before and might invest..

dladz said:
Looking for a new case myself. Was kind of sold on the tech 21 but I've never had uag before and might invest..
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If you're into the rugged protection type, then UAG is for you. But if you're into the slim cases or TPU cases, you might find that UAG cases adds a bit of weight and thickness to the phone.

Androidian10 said:
If you're into the rugged protection type, then UAG is for you. But if you're into the slim cases or TPU cases, you might find that UAG cases adds a bit of weight and thickness to the phone.
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If I could get away with it then I'd probably go without a case, but weirdly on the flip side to that, out of the cases I have had, I don't mind chunky ones, I'm not a small bloke by any means and have pretty big hands ( note 4 was no problem) having said that, I've just ordered the verge versus in titanium, that's a two parter, next pay day which is a few days I'm going to get a few of them, uag, spigen hybrid and if I can find a tough case with the dot style then I'll be more than happy with that. I'd prefer not lose a feature.

dladz said:
If I could get away with it then I'd probably go without a case, but weirdly on the flip side to that, out of the cases I have had, I don't mind chunky ones, I'm not a small bloke by any means and have pretty big hands ( note 4 was no problem) having said that, I've just ordered the verge versus in titanium, that's a two parter, next pay day which is a few days I'm going to get a few of them, uag, spigen hybrid and if I can find a tough case with the dot style then I'll be more than happy with that. I'd prefer not lose a feature.
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Maybe you could take a look at the Speck cases as well. I used to have the candyshell on my old old iPhone 3G S. Was a pretty good case with dual protection as well. I was choosing between the UAG and Candyshell as well. I'm planning on getting the Candyshell Grip for my next case.

Androidian10 said:
Maybe you could take a look at the Speck cases as well. I used to have the candyshell on my old old iPhone 3G S. Was a pretty good case with dual protection as well. I was choosing between the UAG and Candyshell as well. I'm planning on getting the Candyshell Grip for my next case.
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Still waiting on the verge to be delivered, I'm a massive fan of Tech 21 as they've actually revolutionized the technology, also they can accommodate a phone with minimal footprint.
I've never heard of speck but i'll have a nose and see what they have to offer.
Strictly speaking i would love to have the hunter f for my phone but i doubt they'll make one, best looking cases period.

dladz said:
Still waiting on the verge to be delivered, I'm a massive fan of Tech 21 as they've actually revolutionized the technology, also they can accommodate a phone with minimal footprint.
I've never heard of speck but i'll have a nose and see what they have to offer.
Strictly speaking i would love to have the hunter f for my phone but i doubt they'll make one, best looking cases period.
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I think the UAG stands out for me is because it eliminates the curved back of the phone. When you slip the phone into the case, it becomes a block so it won't wobble around when I put it on the table. But yeah, I'd say Speck and UAG are in the same category. But do come back with your views on the verge tho.

Androidian10 said:
I think the UAG stands out for me is because it eliminates the curved back of the phone. When you slip the phone into the case, it becomes a block so it won't wobble around when I put it on the table. But yeah, I'd say Speck and UAG are in the same category. But do come back with your views on the verge tho.
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Will do, should be here tomorrow.

Dude.... that's not related to the thread at all. Make a new one with your question.

If the case came in other colours like Black or Orange, I'd be all over it. I'm not a fan of the transparent cases. This does seem like a well built, nice looking case though.

nice looking case