Display + Buttons
Oblique angles
Rear, Texture, Hump, repeat Hump
Corners
Cutouts
What is aramid fiber? I don't know, please go look it up and be mindful of marketing.
Synthetic materials like carbon fiber, fiberglass, composite, aramid, kevlar, etc are just fun names for the same concept. You take strands of something really strong in one aspect but catastrophically fails if twisted or sheared or rubbed against itself. That's why you lay out all the fibers in certain directions then glue them in place and hope the glue prevents situations where the fibers are weak.
When you see aramid, think amine-based (nitrogen). Carbon alone (like in carbon fiber) blocks radio frequencies so no-go for phones. Nitrogen helps the fiber form similarly strong chains without RF obstruction that pure carbon sheet linkages cause. From what I've read, aramid is closer to kevlar but doesn't require the same tension for strength. Being 0.7mm thick, it's definitely not protective and you should only think of this as an alternative skin. From what I've read, the shock absorption is somewhere between glass and plastic. You are def getting worse drop protection than any real case.
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Ordered 2/7, received 2/26 (19 days, if math hard). I didn't take a picture of the box, but think fauxfiber-wrapped cardboard with foam inside. Sturdier than your Amazon package, closer to particle board tbh.
I paid $26 on aliexpress and would not recommend it if you need a case. I like the slim case but need a lip. I don't lay my display face down but still ... I love the rear, the button cutout is tolerable, and the lack of lip is a dealbreaker. I don't see any suitable alternatives so it's my daily for now.
Texture: the plastic feels amazing. Soft and grippy enough. My XPS 13 9360 has 1/10th the texture and is grippier. I have no complaints about the texture or grip and would not adjust either. It can be slippery for those concerned about that. After a week, it still looks and feels new. I'm not sure how scratch-resistamt this material is, but it definitely still feels superlative.
Finish: Minor variation/bumps at the corners. In general, straight lines are cut perfectly while rounded edges have small imperfections (<0.5mm). If you're struggling to see it in the photos, trust your eyes. I chose the camera cover variant for piece of mind (also comes in no-top/-bottom or camera-cut-out or both). You can see that small space, which I really don't like. I can feel the case creak a bit in that area, and am certain that harder-than-glass particles will accumulate and scratch the lens.
Installation: it's not terribly hard to install, but removal can be scary. The small bridge of plastic over my 3.5mm port shows some visual strain. It's not quite a crack, but the aramid plastic is clearly discolored in a fracture pattern. It only appeared when I began to very gently remove it (to take inside pics for you...).
Ergonomics: I don't like the exposed buttons but feel like cutouts would have caused problems. Hard to install/remove, prone to stress fracture were avoided by just cutting that section out. This is why we see so many cheap hard cases just omit the top and bottom. You lose a little protection and also lose a little headache.
Personally: I didn't just buy a case to protect my phone. I was rocking the very protective and great-feeling case temporarily while the aramid fiber was en route. It's big and bulky, but it feels amazing in the hand and I highly recommend it if you can grab it for under $10. This aramid fiber one is basically a skin, and I like the look and feel despite the lack of protection. I'm going to keep using it while I seek an alternative or addition for some screen protection. I don't hate screen protectors, but would prefer just an ultra-minimal 3d-printed bumper or something. This is a lot of concession and effort for a case I paid $26 for. I don't think a skin would be a suitable alternative, but for anyone interested I implore you to reconsider a slim plastic that that has top/bottom coverage. How do I truly feel: god damn does this case feel good. Forget a skin, the in-hand feel during use is amazing and I recognize that my phone is basically caseless. I'll put the rugged case over this one rather than risk breaking it from frequent removal.
Things I would change: LIP, smaller button cutout . I paid $5 for a small sheet of fake carbon fiber for wrapping cars and plan on using it to pad the gap in the camera hump. It may be too thick, or just right. I might just cut a tiny ring to "seal" the camera holes. I originally intended on surrounding the buttons so it would be more flush, but think the effort is not worth the payoff.
Other: I had the Totallee leather case for the last couple months on my 3 XL (was $8 new on amazon) and the cutouts were atrocious. After several hours with an exacto knife and a small flame, I made the buttons easier to use and the USB-C port accept my big, thick plugs. I think with those mods, that was my ideal case. Very slim but stiff, ~0.3mm lip (1mm would have been nice), and the leather rear feels fantastic while the edges are more durable plastic for daily use.
Related
I bought one of those $10 rubberized two piece snap on rubberized cases for my Diamond and while it looks nice and fit perfectly, the rubberized coating started flaking at the edges slowly and growing larger as I continue using the phone more. Once the rubberized coating is lifted, there's a glossy black surface underneath... and that flaked too revealing the cheap white plastic.
I'm wondering if Seidio's cases has this same type of rubberized problem. For $30 I hope not But then again my $100 Logitech MX Revolutino mouse's rubberized sides are flaking too...
I had both types you are talking about. The snap on two piece was crap. The Seidio is VERY good quality. The inside is felt lined and the outside is high quality rubberized. It's very light too. Highly recommend.
Just received the innocase for my diamond today. I am very disappointed with the quality .
1) the innocase does not fit perfectly. the top left corner may have a 0.1mm gap and every time when I hold the phone I feel the case moves and it makes some sqeaky noise
2) very rough edges. three sides of the case (top, left and right) all have very rough edges and if I push my finger on it and move quickly, it actually cuts my finger! Just imagine what's going to happen when I answer a phone call quickly and push the phone onto my face/ear!
3) on the back of the case, on the silver colour surrounding the camera, near the Seidio word, there is a big dent. Just like someone had tried to push a big needle onto the plastic and drilled a hole (almost). ugly as hell.
The photos on seidio's web site are all so nice but the innocase that I got is actually a piece of crap - it is worse than crappy chinese imports.
I will be reviewing two white cases that I bought for my aluminum Nexus 6P.
Ultra-thin Protective Shock-proof Soft Case Cover (First 5 photos)
Link: http://r.ebay.com/sNSxZC
Quality: This is a matte TPU. The cutouts for the headphone jack, camera, flash and laser autofocus are spot on. The volume and power buttons are covered but work well. It adds some thickness (1.5-2 mm) that I wasn't a fan of considering how large this phone is already. While this case should provide some drop protection, the bottom is mostly uncovered and therefore unprotected. The case overall very flimsy, has noticeable wiggle room, and actually comes off a little too easily.
Color/design: The camera bar is colored black on all the different color options. It also has a smoother texture than the rest of the case. There is a nice leather-like design down the middle, which really enticed me originally. The white looks great on the aluminum phone.
Feel: The case definitely adds grip (the white area has a rough Saffiano leather-like feel) but also bulkiness of a TPU case. Since it's so flimsy and not a snug fit, it doesn't give off a premium feel. I also don't like that the camera area is black personally.
Overall, I do not recommend this case.
Slim Frosted Matte Hard PC Case Cover (Last 4 photos)
Link: http://r.ebay.com/EDVjsi
Quality: This is essentially identical to the snap-on hard cases from Spigen and Ringke. The fit is very snug with perfect cutouts for all areas. The plastic used here is stiffer than the Kugi slim hard case, so you'll need a credit card to remove the case. The bottom of the case was chipped slightly--barely noticeable. Don't expect much drop protection, only scratch protection.
Color/design: I love snap-on cases so I am being biased here. However, the unique aspect of this case is that it doesn't have the sandpaper coating that some hard cases have, which is good since the white versions of those love to pick up stains. This case has a soft-touch rubber feel, which so far has failed to attract stains.
Feel: Wonderful to hold. Adds the much needed grip to the Nexus 6P. Note this case adds more grip than what Ringke and Spigen have offered in the past. It barely feels like you have a case on the phone since it adds barely any bulk. Also love that it has no silly branding anywhere.
Overall, I recommend this case for what you pay for is considerably lower than the branded versions.
Hello! Poetic kindly provided me with both their Affinity and Revolution cases for review. As there are a bunch of similar threads here on XDA, I'll try to keep this post brief but informative.
General
One overarching statement I can make about these cases is that they have very distinctive designs, and probably won't appeal to those who appreciate a more minimalist aesthetic (e.g. those who use a Diztronic TPU or Spigen Slim Fit case). Style preferences, are, of course, objective, so I'll try to evaluate design based on function as much as form.
Affinity
Click here to buy it on Amazon.com
Album of pics here
Look and Feel - The case I received has an updated design (compared to the image currently on the Amazon page); the "P" logo is now between the cutouts for the microphone and fingerprint sensor, and the "Affinity" branding has been completely removed. I appreciate these changes, as it no longer obscures the phone's own "nexus" logo and overall reduces visual clutter. I've found the clear polycarbonate to be quite the fingerprint magnet; having not used any other clear cases to compare against, I'm not sure if this is a common thing or not. Hard TPU runs along the back, wraps around the corners, camera cutout, and buttons; however, the sides are a glossy plastic with raised bumps. I'm not fond of this plastic because while it does provide some extra grip, it's not quite as comfortable to hold as the rubber ridges on my Speck Candyshell Grip case. The slim profile of this case adds imperceptible bulk to the phone.
Cutouts - I've found no issues with cutouts for the ports, camera, or fingerprint sensor. Regarding the latter, the edge is pretty steeply bevelled, but doesn't feel sharp when I glide my finger over it. The thin profile of the case makes it not really an issue.
Protection - Speaking of the thin profile, the upper lip barely extends beyond the phone's screen; this is great for people who use (practically) edge-to-edge screen protectors. However, there is still enough of a lip for you to not worry about placing the phone face-down on a surface without a screen protector. Having TPU around all four corners should provide a little extra drop protection, as well. I haven't used the case long enough to see whether the TPU on the rear actually reduces scratching of the clear polycarbonate
Final Thoughts - This is a great case for someone looking for a clear back, but also wanting a bit more grip and drop protection than other clear cases on the market.
4/5 stars
Revolution
Click here to buy it on Amazon.com
Album of pics here
Look and Feel - This case is colossal with distinct, military/industrial styling. Personally, I don't really like the fake screws or seemingly-whimsical use of glossy TPU along the sides; if it provides no specific function, I don't think it needs to be a visual element (aside from some branding), in my opinion. If the hard polycarbonate back plate was really bolted onto the second TPU layer, that my opinion would've been different. The Nexus 6P is already a pretty large phone, and this case definitely makes it feel quite a bit bulkier. However, I really like the subtle texture of the TPU along the sides and button covers; it adds a nice amount of grip to an otherwise unwieldy case.
Cutouts - The headphone jack and USB-C ports are guarded by hard plastic and covered with TPU flaps; while I've found no fit issues with my headphones or stock charging cable, those with particularly bulky headphone jacks might run into issues, though the USB port opening is fairly generous. There's a much more gradual bevel towards the fingerprint sensor than with the Affinity case.
Protection - This case is obviously all about protection. The phone is first clipped into a plastic bumper with a built-in plastic screen protector before it's inserted into the TPU/plastic hybrid layer. This thing will be very resilient against drops! Having port covers is great protection against dust. Unfortunately, I found the built-in screen protector to be more of a hindrance than help, as there was a noticeable air gap between the plastic and the tempered glass protector on my phone's screen. This significantly decreased touch sensitivity, and I'd recommend just removing it in favour of a protector directly applied to your phone's screen.
Extra features - Aside from the Seidio Surface, I haven't seen any other phone cases with a built-in kickstand. This one is made of metal and feels very solid - a great addition for those who like watching media and like propping up their phone to do so. There is also a carabiner clip made of the same TPU as the rest of the case, increasing portability as this case is definitely not compatible for those who wear slim-fitting jeans.
Final thoughts - If you work in construction or any other rough/rugged environment, I'd recommend this case for the glut of protective features, short of waterproofness. However, its significant bulk and questionable styling makes me pause to recommend it to an average/casual user who doesn't need this level of protection.
3.5/4 stars
I received this case and used for few days now and here is what I feel about this case. The case is made out of polycarbonate and it feels like same material is used as Affinity, TPU area, which is very sturdy and high quality. There are contoured grips on both sides and top and it prevents from sliding off your hands. There are also honeycomb texture area near both sides on the back. Combining these two features should help a buyer who constantly drops the phone while holding.
The edges around the case on front have beveled edges and top and bottoms are great, but sides can be more beveled, few spots can feel a little sharp, but usage overtime will make this issue go away. Back cover can be detached and replaced if you want to. I am not sure why this feature exists, but if you would like to combine with different colors, you can do it. Given the price of this case being relatively cheap, that is possible. I personally like the case overall, doesn't add much to its thinness and I can still feel like holding a thin phone. Back cover is plastic and replaceable as mentioned above.
This is an excellent case for someone who doesn't have to see the phone natural color obviously because it covers the whole area, or someone who is looking for a case for your BLACK phone. I have coral blue as you can see in screen shots, but this will go great with black ones. But, honestly, this case with coral blue is not bad in my opinion.
This review is of the Schnail Savior Series Clear Case with Aluminum Frame Military Grade Full Body Protective Rugged Cover in Black for the Google Pixel 4 XL.
Overall I really like this case. I have been using it for the last few days, and I have to say that I am surprised. I normally use Spigen, Caseology and Otterbox cases, but I really liked the overall appearance of this case and wanted to try it out.
When I first received it, it came in two main pieces. The outer frame, which is a combination of aluminum and TPU, and then a hard plastic inner frame. Assembly is pretty straight forward. Clean your phone really well, insert the phone into the plastic inner case, and then nest it into the aluminum and TPU outer case. You will want to get a small flat tool of some sort to help the lip of the TPU surround on the aluminum frame to clear the plastic inner frame. I wish that a tool had come with the phone in order to do so, but I found that a toothpick worked just fine. Once nested together completely, the case has a extremely solid feel. There is no movement like I have experienced before with other nesting phone cases. While this means it can be a pain to disassemble and reassemble, it also means that if you drop it the case isn't likely to come apart.
The quality construction and build seems to be on par if not better than other well known brands that I have owned and used in the past. The use of the aluminum frame is implemented nicely, which just the right amount of exposure, but not so much that it makes the case slippery. The clear backing is nice thick, and the lens cut out accents the raised camera lens very well. The lip provided by the aluminum frame and the rubber/plastic surround gives ample distance from the glass, which means should I accidentally drop the phone, it should avoid cracking the screen unless I happen to land directly on a sharp corner or raised object that strikes the screen directly. If there is one con to this case, it would be the raised lip, especially if you are using the new "swipe to go back" feature that Google has implemented in Android 10. You can still swipe to go back, but there is a bit of learning curve as you will need to press your finger into the edge of the lip before attempting to swipe. I use my thumb to do so, and found that if I attempt to use the edge/side of the my thumb, it doesn't work as well as if I press my thumb flush before swiping. A small sacrifice to make in order to ensure if I drop this phone that the raised edge will protect the screen from harm.
All in all, this is a case that I can highly recommend and will be my daily driver over my Spigen Tough Armor.
So I was sent this case for review as well, and if OP doesn't mind, I would like to 2nd a lot of what is said here.
The case is difficult to put on, but once the case is on I feel like I could throw it off my roof, and have it survive. Not that I actually did that... I had to use a butter knife to get the inner frame under that lip all the way around the front/top, but once the case was on, it felt very solid. Its difficult to disassemble so hypothetically a big drop shouldn't split the case in 2 like some other 2 piece cases have a tendency to do. If I had JerryRigEverything money, I would have loved to test it like that. The camera is well protected by raised edges, but not actually covered. The screen isn't covered either (like a lifeproof case), but I'm ok with that, it means I can bring my own glass screen protector.
As far as look and feel, it is a bit bulky, but thats the price you pay for this much protection. I like the clear back, since Google makes such a big deal about their colors, its nice to still see the back of my phone. The buttons line up properly, and are a little mushy, but nowhere near as bad as some other big cases. I might be the only one who appreciates the little loop holes on the bottom right of the case for adding a wrist strap or something. A Peak Design anchor is probably going to live there forever now. Wireless charging still works, but your mileage might vary, it does add a tiny bit of distance between the charger and the phone. Like OP, I also found the raised lip around the edge of the screen to be a bit annoying, especially since gestures is the new Pixel default. The gestures are harder to use, and there is a learning curve, or just go back to using the soft buttons at the bottom.
Overall, if a lot of protection is what you're looking for in a case, I have no problem recommending this one! Pictures to come, I just haven't had time to get out my real camera and take any.