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[Review] Cruzerlite

First off I would like to thank Raul from Cruzerlite.com who found my style of reviewing interesting enough to inquire about me reviewing their cases. It is a great opportunity and I would just like to send a personal thank you to him and the company. I would also like to point out that my review is still going to be 100% honest, in fact I waited 4 days after I received the cases to do a complete review, including a day in each case I received.
The three cases I received were as follows
Clear Android Army
Blue Android Circuit
Green Androidified A2
I'll review them all at the same time, and anytime there is something special about a certain one, I'll mention it. First are Pro's,then Con's, and a summary at the end. Fairly simple.
Pro's:
-Like any premium case the cutouts are perfect at every port, button, and IR blaster on the phone.
-The TPU is pretty good quality, I've felt better in one other case, Diztronic, but Cruzerlite is a very close second.
-Double cutout of the camera and flash giving better protection overall on the back
-designs actually show up (on white S4 at least, cannot verify on black because I don't one) and looks very nice. I have recieved compliments on how cool they looked, the color enhances the device instead of detracting from it, and I see a lot of cases that detracts from the quality of the phone! (cheap and expensive cases alike)
-The raised lip around the front of the screen kind of folds over the bevel. I'm not sure how to explain it, but the lip extends over the full front of the bevel instead of resting on top of it like every other case I own does.
-Logo is not distracting from the overall design!
Con's
-On the Androidified case it just feels a lot thinner, I'm not sure if it was the unit I was sent, but the TPU feels thin all around, especially on the lip and sides.
On good reviews I usually put here that the cases were not free, but in this case they were...and I'm not sure how to make it sound like I wasn't completely satisfied, but had I spent money on them, I wouldn't put anything here, so this is a placeholder for my own sanity...
one thing to note about clear cases though, they discolor over time, I am not sure if these will, but it is something to think about. i honestly love clear cases over all other cases. but UV damage is not something plastic is known to combat well over time. lol
Overall:
If I could, I would return 3/4 of the cases I've purchased over the past month for the S4 because these are honestly the ones I'll be using for a good length of time. I cannot foresee me looking for another TPU case after trying these, and I would recommend them for anyone who is on the fence. If you want to purchase one TPU case, you'll want to go with one from either from Cruzerlite or Diztronic. Both are great companies and offer different types of cases depending on what you really are looking for.
As always, let me know if you would like a specific picture or more in-depth look at something in particular. The photos will be up tomorrow when the lighting is better.

Rhamza161 said:
First off I would like to thank Raul from Cruzerlite.com who found my style of reviewing interesting enough to inquire about me reviewing their cases. It is a great opportunity and I would just like to send a personal thank you to him and the company. I would also like to point out that my review is still going to be 100% honest, in fact I waited 4 days after I received the cases to do a complete review, including a day in each case I received.
The three cases I received were as follows
Clear Android Army
Blue Android Circuit
Green Androidified A2
I'll review them all at the same time, and anytime there is something special about a certain one, I'll mention it. First are Pro's,then Con's, and a summary at the end. Fairly simple.
Pro's:
-Like any premium case the cutouts are perfect at every port, button, and IR blaster on the phone.
-The TPU is pretty good quality, I've felt better in one other case, Diztronic, but Cruzerlite is a very close second.
-Double cutout of the camera and flash giving better protection overall on the back
-designs actually show up (on white S4 at least, cannot verify on black because I don't one) and looks very nice. I have recieved compliments on how cool they looked, the color enhances the device instead of detracting from it, and I see a lot of cases that detracts from the quality of the phone! (cheap and expensive cases alike)
-The raised lip around the front of the screen kind of folds over the bevel. I'm not sure how to explain it, but the lip extends over the full front of the bevel instead of resting on top of it like every other case I own does.
-Logo is not distracting from the overall design!
Con's
-On the Androidified case it just feels a lot thinner, I'm not sure if it was the unit I was sent, but the TPU feels thin all around, especially on the lip and sides.
On good reviews I usually put here that the cases were not free, but in this case they were...and I'm not sure how to make it sound like I wasn't completely satisfied, but had I spent money on them, I wouldn't put anything here, so this is a placeholder for my own sanity...
one thing to note about clear cases though, they discolor over time, I am not sure if these will, but it is something to think about. i honestly love clear cases over all other cases. but UV damage is not something plastic is known to combat well over time. lol
Overall:
If I could, I would return 3/4 of the cases I've purchased over the past month for the S4 because these are honestly the ones I'll be using for a good length of time. I cannot foresee me looking for another TPU case after trying these, and I would recommend them for anyone who is on the fence. If you want to purchase one TPU case, you'll want to go with one from either from Cruzerlite or Diztronic. Both are great companies and offer different types of cases depending on what you really are looking for.
As always, let me know if you would like a specific picture or more in-depth look at something in particular. The photos will be up tomorrow when the lighting is better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you have pictures ?

No pics?!
Sent from my Galaxy S4.

4 paragraph review with no pics lol

You can always refer to my review pictures http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2274876

Sorry, tomorrow is my first real day off in over a month. I have been working over 45 hours a week at my day job and then volunteering on my days off, I literally have not had any free time! But tomorrow I'll update all my posts with nice quality pictures, I promise!

He are some pictures outside of the phone, my full camera is having problems right now so they were laden from my phone.
Sent from my galaxy S4 using xda premium HD!

[Review] Noreve Ambition Couture Leather Case

Hi XDA,
Decided to share my thoughts on the new case I got from Noreve for the Xperia Z.
As some of you may know, Noreve is a French company that makes high quality, genuine leather cases for a wide array of devices. Chances are, if you have a phone or a tablet, then Noreve probably has a case for it.
Noreve is second to none when it comes to packaging their cases. Inside the attractive box comes a bright red cotton bag, which the case itself is stored in. Here are some pictures :
Installing the case is a piece of cake. You simply slide it in, and it's very secure as leather is quite grippy, so once it's in, it's not going anywhere. Here's a picture with the case installed :
And here are some more shots of the case with the phone installed. As always with Noreve cases, the case has perfect cut outs for all the ports you would ever need while using the device. The quality throughout, as expected, is superb.
Here are a few more shots with the case opened up, to give you an idea of how the device looks inside of the case.
And last but not least, here is a shot of the back :
After testing the case for a few days, I can say proudly that it's right up there with the best of anything I have seen from Noreve, and I have seen and tested a lot of their products. The quality of the leather, the workmanship and attention to detail is all sublime. The finish of this case is my favorite style by Noreve, the "Couture" design. It's a cross stitch pattern on which just looks amazing. I have the same texture on my Nexus 7 case, which I have been using for a good 8 months now, and it has not lost it's class since then. The stitching on it is still flawless.
One thing to note about Noreve is that they offer a ton of different colours and finishes for their cases. You can check out their product page for the Xperia Z here. The amount of finishes and colours they offer is staggering. Custom orders take up to 2 weeks to finish, but the wait is well worth it. Stock black ones ship immediately and they offer free shipping with DHL to everywhere in the world, which I think is fantastic.
All in all, another outstanding case by Noreve. Nothing else comes close to the touch, feel and smell of high quality genuine leather. If you're a leather type of guy (or gal) then I would definitely recommend that you check them out.
Cheers.

[Review] Urban Armor Gear for the GS5

Note: As you can see this is my first review on this account so please if you have any constructive criticism please leave it down in the comments below, and thanks to UAG for giving me this awesome case for me to review and their awesome costumer service is unparalleled compared to other case manufacturers. For this review I picked up the Aero case for my GS5, but you can go on UAG's website where you can find lots of other variations depending on your liking.
Lets start off this review with when you first get your case. The box is very nice and minimalist and comes with your case and a scratch resistant screen protector (that I personally don't use.) that is a nice extra for that 100% protection feeling. Putting the surprisingly light composite case onto my gold GS5 actually complimented the phone very nicely instead of giving it a huge bulkiness such as my otter box defender might give me, or my dreaded Lifeproof case which Is just horrible.
The case itself feels very sturdy. There are no creaks or give whatsoever once you put this case on, it kinda feels like a tank in that aspect,and is also (MIL STD 810G 516.6) certified which if you guys didn't know is military drop testing standards. The side has these rubber grips which keeps the case from slipping off your hands which is appreciated, and a nice touch. On the top and bottom you have these impact resistant corners which make your phone not only drop protected but also a very nice addition to the cosmetics of the case as well. On the front you have this frame that rises above the screen so that you can lay your phone face down with confidence that you won't scratch the screen. On the back you have 5 screws that give your case a very nice industrial feel and is very eye catching. The back also houses the impact resistant core.
Putting this up against the Otterbox defender not only does the UAG case wins in the looks and feel department, but also in the pricing. The Otterbox starts at about 60$ while the UAG case is only 35$ plus free international ground shipping with fed ex ( far superior than UPS) which is an awesome deal. It also comes to show the quality service they provide choosing Fedex over UPS, since Fedex is a bit more expensive and if you refuse to pay the brokerage fees then the sender has to pay them, which is why most sellers choose UPS so that its cheap and cost effective, but a hassle for international consumers like me with their ridiculous pricing for brokerage and unreliable service that is often never on time. (Koodos to you UAG)
A major problem that I find with protection case manufacturers is that their cases tend to have glare and blur when you use flash with the camera or they forgot to put space at the top for the IR blaster. UAG meticulously makes this not a problem for consumers by making these ports still function at the same time give you the same protection without compromise. Another problem is looks. Lifeproof and Otterbox are in direct competition with UAG for protection but will never come anywhere near UAG with their choices of bold colours and their style.
That's all I have to say about the case and don't forget the company themselves. UAG makes high quality cases putting style, comfort, usability, and protection at its top of the list without compromise. The case earns a 10/10 for me and is easily one of the best cases I have ever used for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and any other phone out there that they make. 2 thumbs up from me.
Go and pick up a case for yoursleves at http://www.urbanarmorgear.com/collections/all#samsung-galaxy-s5 Outland is a very nice colour choice in my opinion.

[Review/Guide] SlickWraps Note 7 (Metal/Leather/Color/Wood Series)

Disclaimer: SlickWraps sent me these skins to review for the Note 7
SlickWraps (SW): slickwraps.com
Over the years I’ve come to enjoy using various wraps/skins on all of my devices. SlickWraps has been a company that I’ve always purchased from despite having issues with some orders they promptly addressed the concerns.
SlickWraps has a goof policy which means that if you mess up the install SlickWraps (SW) will replace your skin so you can try again. I haven’t seen anything similar offered from any other company which is one of the things that makes SW stand out from the crowded market.
There is a very large variety of wraps offered from SW ranging from their popular carbon fiber to galactic series. Each style of skin has a different texture and is made from 3M vinyl excluding their natural series. There are also more premium variants offered in the form of the natural series. This series usually includes Horween Leather, cork, and bamboo. I’ve owned several leather ones, and a bamboo for my Nexus 6 all of which were great.
While the offerings listed on their website are always full sets (front, back, and sides), you can order just one part of the set by contacting them based on my previous experiences. SlickWraps will also take requests depending on what you would like to have done which is something I’ve done before.
Note: The words skin and wrap will be used interchangeably. Some wording may be carried over from my S7 Edge SlickWraps OP since there are only so many ways to phrase/describe these wraps in this context.
Overall Fit:
Back:
This part is crucial to whether you have a good looking wrap/skin or bad one when it’s installed on the phone. I’ve seen some terribly cut skins before that weren’t even worth using, thankfully this was not the case here. The back panel goes edge-to-edge (no pun intended) all while having all of the proper cutouts with tight tolerances for the camera/flash module. I did notice that one of my wraps was a little short length-wise although that’s generally not the case with these. Sometimes it could be user error (i.e. installing it too high/low/off centered) although I don’t believe that is what happened here.
Sides:
The sides still remain the hardest pieces to install because of the very thin area Samsung gave companies to work with. When installing the side wraps patience is key to a nice, good looking finished product. I sometimes rush, or make mistakes as you will see in some of the pictures below. Perfection is certainly achievable if you spend the time to do it right.
As with all of SW’s ‘side skins’ they come in 4 distinct pieces (top, Bottom, left, and right). I usually install the side pieces first, then the top and bottom out of preference. The sides do not interfere with the buttons function (granted you install them properly), and were relatively easy to install compared to what I was expecting. his process might take some time if you haven’t done it before, but patience will help out a lot here. All of the ports (top/bottom) are cut perfectly, and there is also a piece that covers the hybrid sim tray
Front:
The use of front skins allows you to effectively change the color of your phone once you have installed the other pieces of the wrap. Each of the two pieces completely covers the phones top/bottom bezel perfectly giving you a nice look. There is a home button piece included, but if used it will prohibit the fingerprint scanner from working. I personally use the iris scanner over the finger print scanner the majority of the time, so having the added protection on the home button is nice. If some of you weren’t already aware, Samsung uses a plastic material for the home button which means it will scratch before the glass will. This is why I would prefer to have it covered especially with the addition of the iris scanner on the Note 7.
Metal Series: Gold
I know some people prefer to have a flashy phone, so with that in mind the Metal Series offer ‘fancier’ looking wraps in a variety of colors. Texture on these wraps is similar to brushed aluminum, but in a way it feels better since it’s on your phone. This style is one of my favorites, and is the same series as the skin I’m currently using on my Nexus 6P. The color is vivid with a nice shimmer to it corresponding with the particular metal it is styled after. The gold wrap is bright in certain lighting, yet it also has a nice subdued look to it at other times. It is hard to truly capture the color of it because of the reflectance, so the pictures can’t do the wrap proper justice.
Wood Series: Gold Flake, Mahogany
If you enjoy a more traditional look the wood series might suit your needs. The texture is more granular similar to how some quality TPU cases feel. All of the pieces of this set are cut in sections to keep the grain consistent throughout the wrap which adds an extra level of detail. I was send the Gold Flake (Zebra) wood version; this one features nice long dark ‘zebra’ strips layered between a lighter colored ‘wood’. On the other hand if you prefer more of a classical wood styling then you can't go wrong with the Mahogany which is dark enough to blend well with anything. In the light it looks even better becasue it brings out some of the more subtle light tones in the wrap.r.
Color Series: Black, White
This is one of my favorite skins due to its texture. The skin feels like the OP sandstone back (not as ‘grippy’ because it’s a skin) giving it a nice texture. No matter what phone I have this is usually on the list of skins I end up buying (Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nvidia Shield Tablet LTE, S7 Edge, and the Note 7). Unlike the dbrand matte black skin (this isn’t technically a matte skin) this skin doesn’t show fingerprints, or oil. Here the black is a nice contrast to my silver S7 Edge, but it would also look really nice on the black version. Overall the skin isn’t reflective, it has the best texture, and it just looks unique. I don’t recall of the other color series skins have this texture as well, so I’ll have to check into that.
Leather Series (not the natural series): Brown
Leather wraps are a unique way of making the glass back on the Note 7 not only look better (depending on your taste), but it also gives you a better feel when holding your phone. The leather series wraps have a subtle faux leather feel to them that is comfortable. I haven’t used one of these since the days of my Nexus 6 (many phones ago), so it was nice to use one again. I would describe the wrap as slightly reflective so you won’t be blinded when using it outside like the normal back of the phone.
Hero Series Spigen Case:
The Hero series cases are something new for SlickWraps, and for me. This is the first one I’ve had the chance to use/mess around with so far, and it’s been great. SlickWraps partnered with Spigen to create a unique way to have a wrap for your phone on the case. I’ve personally applied wraps to cases before, but the result was never as good as it could’ve been. One thing I really liked was how the wrap was pre-applied to the Spigen Ultra Hybrid case leaving a nice, clean looking application that would be hard for most people to do given how precisely it’s cut.
Spigen cases have always been very popular, and the Ultra Hybrid is certainly one of their better offerings. I have 3 of them now for my Note 7 (clear, Hero Series Clear, and mint), so needless to say I’m a fan of this case. I won’t go into too much detail about the case itself since anyone that’s owned a recent Spigen case will know what to expect. All of the buttons are tactile, it fits snugly, and attracts less fingerprints thanks to the wrap.
 
SlickWraps will customize one for you if you send them a message. I haven’t requested a customer wrap in about a year now; however, when I did it was really nice. (I had a Horween Leather back for my Nexus 6 Ultra Hybrid case made). Let me know what you think down in the comments!

Thanks for posting!

Just a heads up: if you're using a case with a skin, some of them will make the buttons hard to push. This happens becuase the tolerances are so exactly for most cases that any tiny bit of extra thickness (screen protector/skin) cab cause issues. I've used these skins with the Speck Candyshell Grip, Speck Candyshell, Sponge Ultra Hybrid, Spigen Neo Hybrid crystal and a few other without any issues. The skins won't work well with some thinner cases like the Spigen Thin Fit/Ringke slim d despite the phone fitting just fine (buttons will be off centered).
Also for those of you on the fence between SW and Dbrand SW is the only company I've seen that offers a nice well cutout HRM/flash module skin. This is particularly important because Samsung covered that unit with plastic so it will scratch hence why using a skin is great.

I've ordered from Slickwraps (for note7) and they have the worst customer service I've seen in awhile. My order was not sent until a week after I purchased and after I had to email asking about it. Then took another week to get to me, but that's not really their fault. Before the package came I sent an email asking about a refund since it took so long I no longer needed it. It took them 2 weeks to respond to email. They said returns had to be received within 30 days of purchase, not within 30days receipt of product. I'm still waiting to to see what they say next.
Also the name and picture of the person from the company is a girl from a TV show (the 100), not that it matters too much but you coulda at least made up something original.
Sent from my SM-N930T using XDA-Developers mobile app

trini1201 said:
I've ordered from Slickwraps (for note7) and they have the worst customer service I've seen in awhile. My order was not sent until a week after I purchased and after I had to email asking about it. Then took another week to get to me, but that's not really their fault. Before the package came I sent an email asking about a refund since it took so long I no longer needed it. It took them 2 weeks to respond to email. They said returns had to be received within 30 days of purchase, not within 30days receipt of product. I'm still waiting to to see what they say next.
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I would send them a message on here as well to see if that helps out. I've had previous issues with both SW and Dbrand in the past although both were resolved in a relatively timely manner. As of recently (this year) I haven't had any issues with them, so I can't speak for then regarding that.
trini1201 said:
Also the name and picture of the person from the company is a girl from a TV show (the 100), not that it matters too much but you coulda at least made up something original.
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What do you mean by the above statement? I wrote the entirety of my review above which was taken in part from the one I wrote for the S7 Edge earlier this year. I don't think people understand how much time goes into writing these things up, taking pictures, and making a detailed OP. I stand behind what I write until I'm given a reason not to. No matter what I get sent i always write an honest impression of the product and company. I don't care if some people get offended and blacklist me because its happened before (Meenova), but that's part of reviewing things.

Pilz said:
What do you mean by the above statement? I wrote the entirety of my review above which was taken in part from the one I wrote for the S7 Edge earlier this year. I don't think people understand how much time goes into writing these things up, taking pictures, and making a detailed OP. I stand behind what I write until I'm given a reason not to. No matter what I get sent i always write an honest impression of the product and company. I don't care if some people get offended and blacklist me because its happened before (Meenova), but that's part of reviewing things.
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Sry, meant the person from slick wraps I was corresponding with, not anyone on here.
Sent from my SM-N930T using XDA-Developers mobile app

i would gladly use just the backing vinyl for half off like dbrand has it. those side decals look atrocious (especially white) and it will definitely slide off with dust and sweat and the action of taking in and out of a tight pocket especially in the summers.

Accessories My THREE caseborne/armadillotek case reviews

They came through this time and hooked me up for 2 cases, I had already bought the Vanguard on the 10th to make sure I had a case the day my S22U came.
CaseBorne R Series Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Case - Aluminum Frame-12 ft Drop Tested - Aramid Fiber - Black
I got this little gem and was surprised how sturdy it was in person. The look and the feel of the caseborn R aramid fiber was much more than I expected. It feels very sturdy, it looks great (almost like carbon fiber). Inside it has a coating and little tiny bumpers that keep it *JUST* from touching the back so the phone wont ever get scratched. I don't do drop tests but this will pass a carpet test no problem, and I believe the company when it say it will protect to 12 feet. It feels THAT solid for being so small and rugged.
Overall it's a nice little protective case that gets my thumb up and I say go for it if you like it. I don't think you will be disappointed in it.
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CaseBorne R Series Compatible with Samsung S22 Ultra 5G Case - Aluminum Frame-12 ft Drop Tested- Black
This case is almost exactly like the caseborne R aramid fiber one I got (I wasn't sure which one I would like better or feel safer using). I said in that review that it was solid and definitely would meet with the drop test on carpet and the 12 foot test. This one is really no different except it's clear polycarbonate on the back instead of black aramid textured fiber. I'm PRETTY sure the polycarb is specially reinforced because you can see a safety pattern if you look real real close (you can't notice it at all once it's on the phone).
Again, it has a peel off lining inside and safety bumpers to BARELY keep the back of your phone from touching the case (so it wont have scratches transferred from the polycarb). I like this case a lot and if I wasn't so scare of dropping my $1300 S22U, I would have went with one of the R series for full time but I went with the V (vanguard series, check that one out too on here). I have one of those on my note 9 (backup phone) and I have literally dropped that thing on dirt, rocks, carpet, the highway, concrete and each time the case saved my phone from damage. With caseborne phones, when you put your phone in them, no matter how long they stay in, no matter how hard you are on them, when you take the phone out it looks brand new like when you put it in. I personally like the aramid back black one better but that's a personal decision.
If you want a clear back case that will have your back and protect, I recommend this one (the R series with the clear back the frame color is up to you).
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Vanguard Series
I bought this with the 30% off coupon caseborne offered (you can find the link to it on the FB page).
I had the note 9 version and when I got the S22U, I knew I was going to get this case. The one for the note 9 saved my phone when it fell or dropped MULTIPLE times. I have no doubt that my phone would have broke or the screen would have shattered without a case of this quality. I have two more different models on the way to see how they compare (they are caseborne too, just slimmer and different material). I'll review them when they get here but *THIS* is the case you want for pure safety and durability. The price is right, the quality is top notch, the warranty is great (you'll never need it, these are american made to a high standard) and the customer service is outstanding. Buy a caseborne case, you wont regret it nor will you overspend on one of those "in store name brand" models that claim they offer the same or better quality. (they don't, they are close but not as well made as a caselogic). As long as they keep making cases for the phones I buy I'll keep buying them. They are loyal to their customers, and I am loyal to them. If i DID have any problems they would take care of me in a heart beat.
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Like I said, I have a V series on my note 9 and it saved the phone so many times that I didn't think twice once I saw the coupon on their FB page on the 10th and paid out of pocket for that one. HOWEVER, if I didn't have a case it would have been one I chose to review along with the aramid black one (I don't care for clear but the caseborne clear one is of high quality and I have nothing bad to say about it just that clear isn't for me). If my dexterity gets better this year I may switch to the thinner aramid fiber one but the V series saved my ass enough times to make me just say F it and keep it on forever, it's such a solid and protective case.
You can't really go wrong with any of the three, it depends on your situation and personal preference on which one you want to get