So I know there are now threads pertaining to the durability of the glass back of the N4, as well as other threads related to the use of screen protectors, cases, etc. However I'm wondering so far what everyone thinks of the shiny chrome-like band on the edge of the phone. To me that is the one part I'm probably most worried about getting dinged or scratched. Honestly I have no idea why the hell LG did just carry the nice rubberized, less-likely-to-scratch side material all the way up to the top edge of the phone. IMO that would have made it the perfect design from a durability standpoint: you'd have heavy-duty Gorilla Glass 2 on the front and back, and the nice rubbery material on the sides. Instead, I guess because LG insists on adding those touches of glitz or shine, they add this chrome component in the one area that is absolute most likely to scratch or otherwise receive damage. I mean eventually I'm going to have this phone in a Seidio case, or similar, but in the mean time I'm only rocking a leather pouch and will have to be super careful.
Thoughts or experiences thus far from the masses?
I have a nic on the left edge of the chrome about a half inch above the volume rocker. Whatever its made of, it's soft.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Had my N4 for a couple days now. It suffered a couple low-altitude drops, mostly onto wood floor or table. The only damage to the plastic chrome band so far is a little dink on the bottom edge where it's very very slightly dented, but more importantly, chipped, revealing a tiny spot of the less shiny material underneath. I think a bumper seems like a good investment for this bad boy, because this plastic chrome band is not durable. Weird design choice, I agree. Otherwise though, the glass is flawless, and the rubber texture is great to hold. Overall build quality, 4.5 stars, -.5 because of the weird plastic chrome band. Either should have been metal, or aluminum, or whatever, just not plastic. If it chips, it's very noticeable
I have nic or two on the chrome bezel as well. It's super easy to scratch and being that it's chrome, it becomes the most noticeable thing on the phone come resell time Hopefully it doesn't drop the value too much. On a positive note, if you get a case on it early enough you may preserve the chrome. However, most of the 1st batchers are just now getting cases after about 2 weeks holding it ass naked...
Hi,
I'm looking at various cases for the Nexus 4, and wondering what everyone thinks of them.
I've never used a case for any of my phones before, and I've never really minded the scratches, nor have I gotten any cracked screens despite dropping my phones dozens of times. However, the Nexus 4's glass surfaces have got me thinking perhaps it's a good idea to get some protection.
I'm primarily protecting against scratches, and the occasional drop. I'd like the thinnest and most non intrusive case possible, and one with some grip so the phone doesn't fall so easily.
So far, my choices seem to be Nillkin, Rearth, Poetic and Diztronic. I'm leaning more towards hard cases than soft TPU cases due to aesthetics.
Any pros and cons for the above?
Thanks!
This is exactly what we need, there doesn't seem to be much comparision between tpu and hardcases.
How does the S-Line case compare to others say as it's only around £3 which is dirt cheap but is it crap and wouldn't protect my Nexus at all (If it actually arrived that is )
I'm definitely curious to the difference between soft and hard cases. In my experience some hardcases are damaging the phone a little...
DutchDisturbed said:
I'm definitely curious to the difference between soft and hard cases. In my experience some hardcases are damaging the phone a little...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UPDATED 2013-06-07
OK. Let me try since I've tried 9 cases and I'm not 100% happy with any of them. I was spoiled by the Galaxy Nexus Ringke Slim case. Super Slim, all edge protection in a drop and super grippy. Nothing I've tried for the N4 yet has given me the same satisfaction.
These are in the order that I purchased them.
1. S-Line (TPU)
Like: Cheapest of the bunch. The soft rubber gives the most grip of all the cases I have.
Don't Like: IMO it looks ghetto. Poor molding so there are sharp edges everywhere. I guess you could trim this but it already looks like a hack job. The buttons are covered and are difficult to push.
Overall: I tried this for 5 seconds and then tore it off. Garbage.
2. Rearth Ringke Slim (hard case) - MY CURRENT CASE.
Like: Slimmest of all of the case I have. Super tight fit. Looks awesome. Buttons are exposed and are fairly easy to reach. If you want slim, this is a nice case. Judging from the photos I've seen of the Diztronic slim equivalent, it also gives better corner coverage.
Don't Like: Rearth changed the material and design from the Galaxy Nexus which was my favourite case. The material isn't as grippy and offers no protection in a drop to the front/top and front/bottom. The Gnex version was way better as it totally covered the top/bottom front and was super grippy....so I'm super disappointed in the N4 version.
Overall: Even with the negatives I mentioned, I keep coming back to this case for my daily use. It's the best blend of looks, feel (big time) and protection for slim case.
3. Poetic Bumper (Bumper)
Like: Great fit. Looks way better in person compared to photos. Buttons are covered but are very easy to push (this is a big deal for me). Get to see the N4 backing. Good drop protection because all sides are covered. Easy to remove. Of all the cases, this case gives me the most confidence NOT sliding on a slanted surface.
Don't Like: Makes the phone feel wide. There's no backing so it's not as comfortable to hold compared to a case with a backing. This isn't something no one seems to talk about...it just feels odd. Makes one-hand operation tough.
Note: The back of the phone is exposed so you may want to put a rear screen protector or vinyl (i.e. DBrand). I rocked a DBrand vinyl rear cover for a while with this bumper and really liked it. Great way to customize the look of your phone and you're not constantly cleaning the N4's glass back.
UPDATE:. I've realized I don't like bumpers. The feeling of the recessed back kills it for me. This bumper/vinyl combo is excellent for protection, button feedback and looks....but the recessed back is a deal breaker for me. Just a personal preference.
4. Diztronic (TPU)
Like: Feels great in the hand. Solid. Probably my fav in terms of feeling. Great build quality. Confidence in a drop situation. Looks great.
Don't Like: Suffers from the same problem as the Rearth hard case. Material isn't grippy. Feel like it's going to slide off a slanted surface. Buttons are covered and because the rubber is stiff, it's hard to push and there's very little feedback. The lip that surrounds the screen is pretty pronounced... occasionally get's in the way of swiping. Not as bad as the Mercury though.
Overall: Although it has some negatives it the best of the TPUs I've tried.
UPDATE: After reading some other posts on the topic, I used an Exacto blade to put little slits along the edges of the molded buttons and it made a huge difference in button feedback. I really like the case now. This is my "rough activity" case.
5. Official Nexus 4 bumper (Biggest mistake purchase)
Like: Looks cool. Best button feedback (feels like the original button). Good drop protection as all sides are covered.
Dislike: Widest case on the list. The hard plastic sides make it slippery and uncomfortable. Port/mic holes are smaller than the Poetic. The back plastic edge is dimpled which a) is uncomfortable and b) makes it slippery on a surface (or more so than the Poetic). The USB port hole is deep so you need a skinny USB cable end. Oh ya, and the price is ridiculous. After shipping and taxes it was $33.
Note: Like the Poetic bumper the back of the phone is exposed so you may want to put a rear screen protector or vinyl (i.e. DBrand)
Overall: This was my biggest waste of money of all the cases. Far to expensive for what you get. Get the poetic.
6. Meifeng Hard Skin Cover Case (Hard case)
Like: Great feeling. It's a hard case but the coating on it makes it feel squishy. Grip feeling is excellent. Button and port openings are excellent...better button openings than the Ringke Slim. Although I've only had this one for 30 minutes it doesn't appear to be a fingerprint magnet like the Ringke is. Wow. I really like this case. Inexpensive too...$7.
Dislike: Like the Ringke Slim the top/bottom front edges are totally exposed so no protection on those edges. Corners are covered but not as much as the Ringke Slim.
Overall: Want a slim case that feels good that protects the sides and back, this is the case. I'll post some pics in this thread.
eBay Link
7. Rearth Hybrid
I'm a huge fan of Rearth because of my previous purchases. Unfortunately, the Ringke Hybrid is a big miss.
Likes: Very small lip on the holding on to the LCD screen which makes it easy to do edge to edge swiping. The clear plastic (when not covered in fingerprints) looks cool.
Dislikes:
1) The button feedback is almost non-existent so you can never tell if you've pushed them hard enough. You can mod by cutting the button sides but you should have to if it was designed properly.
2) The clear plastic back, although good in theory, is terrible in practice because it's a fingerprint magnet, dirt/dust/fuzz is impossible to keep out so you see it, and I imagine that the first scratch I get will ruin the look of the case.
3) The small 4 feet that keep the back off a flat surface provide no grip. The phone slides very easily. The feet also feel awkward when handling the phone.
4) On my particular model there was a small molding defect. It wasn't a big deal but not in line with Rearth's high quality products.
Rearth took a chance on a unique design so I applaud them for that. But I would not recommend this case.
http://www.rearthusa.com/google-nexus-4-hybrid-fusion-case
Overall: A lot of people like this case but, next to the S-Line, this is my least favorite. Great in theory...awful in practice.
8. Poetic Palette slim hardcase UPDATED
Like: Excellent feeling coating on the plastic. Even better than the Meifeng. It's also grippy in the hand and on flat surfaces. Not as much as the Meifeng but more then the Rinkge. The bottom and top edges of the case cover more than 50% of the top/bottom edge of the phone giving it more protection on those edges than the Ringke Slim and Meifeng.
Dislike: It doesn't have raised corners like the other two so you get very poor screen-down protection. I would never but my phone screen down with this case. Less corner protection than that Ringke Slim but more than the Meifeng. It has the smallest button openings of all the slim cases. They've put slits on each corner to make it easier to take the case off but that gives it a very lose fit. I'm not going to test it but I'm willing to bet that your phone would pop out of the case if dropped. It's also the widest of the hard cases cases I've reviewed making it less comfortable to hold than the other two,
Overall: If you take your phone out of it's case to clean often, this is your case.
9. Mercury TPU UPDATED
Like: Looks. I have the black one and the sparkle effect is really nice. As long as it's somewhat free of fingerprints, it's pretty grippy too. Great protection as the rubber is soft and covers all front edges of the screen.
Dislikes: The button cutouts are the smallest of all the cases making it uncomfortable to push a button. The cutouts for the mics/speakers are a little off. That doesn't cause a function issue but looks ghetto. It's a fingerprint magnet. The overall fit isn't that good so when you grab it from the sides you can see that the case deform slightly. The mold lines bad and noticeable to the touch. Although I don't have a scale, I feels like the heaviest of the bunch. Also the raised front edge the surrounds the screen is big making the screen look recessed and makes it tough to touch the edge of the screen.
Overall: Not recommended. If you want TPU spend the extra few bucks on the Diztronic and you'll be way happier. This is a "you get what you pay" for case.
So my personal ranking choices are:
Slim hardcase: Rearth Slim because of the feeling (almost like there's no case), superior slimness, great button cutouts, full exposed ports, and looks. Meifeng is the runner up because of the cost, great feeling due to grippy coating and big button cutouts.
TPU: Diztronic TPU because of protection, button feedback (after slits made), feel in the hand and looks. Don't bother with anything else.
Bumper: No brainer. Poetic for the button feedback, surface grip due to rubber edges and protection.
goister said:
Hi,
I'm primarily protecting against scratches, and the occasional drop. I'd like the thinnest and most non intrusive case possible, and one with some grip so the phone doesn't fall so easily.
So far, my choices seem to be Nillkin, Rearth, Poetic and Diztronic. I'm leaning more towards hard cases than soft TPU cases due to aesthetics.
Any pros and cons for the above?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you are going to have a hard time satisfying all your conditions. The hard cases I have seen do not provide the best protection due to the stiffness of the material. More shock is going to be transmitted to the device and less absorbed by the case. Also many of the hard cases I have seen leave a portion of the bezel open where a drop could damage it. The tpu cases are thicker but that thickness provides protection. The elastic nature of polyurethane provides some shock protection. Also the tpu is much better than the older silicone cases as far as friction being removed from a pocket (also not as bad a lint magnet). It all comes down to how much risk your phone is exposed to and how much you are willing to compromise your desires. Me, I feel this phone is relatively fragile and I err on the side of protection. If you are only concerned about scratches just get a screen and back protector.
AdamUpNorth said:
<snip>3. Poetic Bumper (Bumper) - MY CURRENT CASE.
Like: Great fit. Looks way better in person compared to photos. Buttons are covered but are very easy to push (this is a big deal for me). Get to see the N4 backing. Good drop protection because all sides are covered. Easy to remove. Of all the cases, this case gives me the most confidence NOT sliding on a slanted surface.
<snip>).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad I went with the poetic bumper case.I just couldnt get down with spending so much for the official google one. It Should be delivered today. Now if I only I had my nexus 4 already lol:silly:
i have a Rearth Ringke Slim (hard case) and i like very much
I just ordered one from diztronic. Pretty simple basic TPU.
Stanerefor said:
I just ordered one from diztronic. Pretty simple basic TPU.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let us know what you think of it and whether it would survive a drop from say chest height.
On a different note, what do people think of this case, it seems like a hard case with a leather cover over the screen which double up as a stand for the screen. Thinking this would be very useful for watching or reading a pdf off the screen.
What kind of case are you guys thinking, im torn between diztronic, a bumber and the above case.
mufc09 said:
Let us know what you think of it and whether it would survive a drop from say chest height.
On a different note, what do people think of this case, it seems like a hard case with a leather cover over the screen which double up as a stand for the screen. Thinking this would be very useful for watching or reading a pdf off the screen.
What kind of case are you guys thinking, im torn between diztronic, a bumber and the above case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although I wouldn't test it, I would say the Diztronic TPU would save the phone in a chest height drop.
The cover case you linked to looks good. For me it's a no go because I look at my phone too many times a day so the cover would drive me nuts.
As promised in post 4, here are some pics of the Meifeng Hard Skin case. Love the feeling of this thing. See my 2 cents in post #4.
AdamUpNorth said:
As promised in post 4, here are some pics of the Meifeng Hard Skin case. Love the feeling of this thing. See my 2 cents in post #4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey is that a glass screen protector you have on? Seems thick, just want to confirm. If so which one? TY
Crisisx1 said:
Hey is that a glass screen protector you have on? Seems thick, just want to confirm. If so which one? TY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's the Rearth Ultimate Clear Plus (link)
The original one without the proximity sensor cut out...although I've never had a problem with that.
It is a little thick but the way the light is catching it makes it look much thicker than it is.
AdamUpNorth said:
No, it's the Rearth Ultimate Clear Plus (link)
The original one without the proximity sensor cut out...although I've never had a problem with that.
It is a little thick but the way the light is catching it makes it look much thicker than it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh gotcha... this is what I just bought: http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/google/nexus-4/google-nexus-4-screen-protector-steinheil-dual.html
Hopefully its as good.
AdamUpNorth said:
Although I wouldn't test it, I would say the Diztronic TPU would save the phone in a chest height drop.
The cover case you linked to looks good. For me it's a no go because I look at my phone too many times a day so the cover would drive me nuts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this a couple of days ago with my Diz TPU. I was pulling the phone out of my shirt pocket and it slipped out of my hand and landed on the concrete sidewalk face down. As i was going to pick it up I was expecting the worst but when I turned it over not a scratch. The case has a few scuff marks though, I can live with it.
joe rz said:
I did this a couple of days ago with my Diz TPU. I was pulling the phone out of my shirt pocket and it slipped out of my hand and landed on the concrete sidewalk face down. As i was going to pick it up I was expecting the worst but when I turned it over not a scratch. The case has a few scuff marks though, I can live with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good stuff!!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
What about a bumper + a best screens ever screen protector ?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Here is the case I bought...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AH86WMU/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
Anyone who has bought this, feedback is appreciated
AdamUpNorth said:
UPDATED 2013-02-05 7pm EST
1. S-Line (TPU)
Like: Cheapest of the bunch. The soft rubber gives the most grip of all the cases I have.
Don't Like: IMO it looks ghetto. Poor molding so there are sharp edges everywhere. I guess you could trim this but it already looks like a hack job. The buttons are covered and are difficult to push. Tried this for 5 seconds and then tore it off.
3. Poetic Bumper (Bumper) - MY CURRENT CASE.
Like: Great fit. Looks way better in person compared to photos. Buttons are covered but are very easy to push (this is a big deal for me). Get to see the N4 backing. Good drop protection because all sides are covered. Easy to remove. Of all the cases, this case gives me the most confidence NOT sliding on a slanted surface.
Don't Like: Makes the phone feel wide. There's no backing so it's not as comfortable to hold compared to a case with a backing. This isn't something no one seems to talk about...it just feels odd. Makes one-hand operation tough.
Note: The back of the phone is exposed so you may want to put a rear screen protector or vinyl (i.e. DBrand). I have a screen protector (which is really slippery when finger grease is on it so I've ordered the carbon fiber vinyl back from DBrand..it's in the mail).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the poetic bumper and the TPU S-Line Case and agree with this review. I'm currently using the poetic bumper for the exact same reasons mentioned above. I think I'm going to order the Diztronic Matte Back Black TPU Case since it seems to offer more protection. Has anyone ever purchased accessories from HandHeldItems.com (really inexpensive but not sure if thats good or bad)? I purchased a couple of cases (hard case and soft gel case) and a few screen protectors from them and will see how they are when I receive them.
These are the two cases I ordered:
Black Rubberized Hard Case
Slim Fit Flexible Jelly Rubber Case
AW: Case suggestions
mammenj said:
Anyone who has bought this, feedback is appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could be the first
Looking for a tough case for my nexus 4 - any recommendations please?
(note: I'm not looking for a wallet-style case, or a holster - something to stay on it all the time)
I have this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AVAT76M/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Its a bit bulky but really does feel like it adds a good amount of protection.
Ive got an "astronoot" case from ebay
im actually pretty satisfied with it, feel like it could withstand a good fall. grabs some lint on the silicone part, but the holes line up and its grippy, looks decent too.
case smells like burning tires for a bit though...
Generic knock off but I like it
http://www.meihongjia.com/stores/buybay007/-p-26905.html
Ballistic case and it isn't even close.
http://www.goballisticcase.com/products/lg-nexus-4-ballistic-shell-gel-sg-series-case
Sent from my Nexus 4
Rugged Case
Its a bit bulky but really does feel like it adds a good amount of protection.[/QUOTE]
I also have this case, the kick-stand is nice vertical or horizontal, a bit bulky but still fits nicely on my pocket. The rubber case is textured and I can already see this becoming worn at the corners, but for the price I'll replace it when it starts to look tattered
I am looking at a few designs but not sure which ones offer the best protection. Some of my lists are:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01HHAPIZC/ref=twister_B01MG8YWJ8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/152202213435?var=451393076924
Was even looking at flip cases
https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B01EHP3STS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.ca/KaiTeLin-Asus-Zenfone-ZE552KL-Case/dp/B01KU3NZ58
Altough the problem with flip cases I might have is that once open, they protrude beyond the width of the phone, since the hinge is lined with the back side. So it makes it awkward to hold.
So do you guys have any opinions or experiences with any of these? Are you recommending any other? I'm inclined to get the Nillkin. Looks very similar to the Ringke case, but at almost a 1/3 of the price. My main objective with the cases would be very good corner protection, since if dropped, phones tend to land on the corners and a rised enough lip that it will prevent scratches on the screen when placed face down or scratches on the camera, since it does protrude outwards, when placed on it's back. Only problem with non flip cases is that the screen tends to get scratched as you keep the phone in the pocket.
As a reference, I had the Ionic Guardian case for my Nexus 4 and it protected the device really well. Loved the extra material at corners.
https://www.amazon.ca/Ionic-GUARDIAN-Armor-Nexus-Black/dp/B00A06Z41E
http://www.lazada.co.id/calandiva-s...transaction_id=102652ab51bc113472d447cebc3f52
This case offers really good protection with extra inner fins inside act as shock absorber, even protruding camera is nicely covered. The thing is it tends to get yellowish after some time. If you somehow manage to get the grey one nearby your location, it'll be a decent choice.
I first went with Nillkin sparkle flip cover https://www.nillkin-case.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=4911 . It is functional, the Asus Cover app works fine, it offers decent protection for back and sides but it doesn't cover the upper and lower sides leaving them vulnerable. The material on the back is hard plastic. It is very hard to remove the phone from the case and it even scratched the paint on the upper left corner while doing so. The reasons I abandoned it is because it's not very comfortable to use, you can't hang a call while flip is closed, it's too sparkly in some lighting conditions. The black one is actually a shade of gray and It gets all kinds of marks on it without actually being scratched. The flip is too rigid and it tends to close automatically or refuse to close depending on what you did last. The materials look cheap and it can't even be described as "leather imitation". The leather version looks better though. I still keep it for the sake of diversity but now I'm using http://nillkin.org/smartphones-acce...ssories/nillkin-asus-zenfone-3-ze520kl-nature . It's far more practical and also offers decent protection without making the phone look a lot bulkier. I also installed a Nillkin tempered glass screen protector and I guess that's all the protection I need without sacrificing the aesthetics too much.
Just bought this for 28 bucks:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HJZ4KGZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
FIt:
Perfect, goes together like a dream and is rock solid
Weight:
Kinda Heavy, but the 360 hand grip is fantastic for reading in any position
Bulk:
A little Thick, but doesn't add much to other dimensions
Screen Protection:
Has nice lip above screen, screen protector build in works well with everything except the fingerprint sensor(which I don't care about)
Pen:
Holds well, but annoying to get the pen out. Just can't get a grip to pull it out of the sleeve.
Genereral
This is a great case with lots of protection. I just wish they had done a clip in pen holder instead of the sleeve. It does add weight, but with the 306 grip I have no issues reading with it in either portrait or landscape. I will probably remove the screen protector as I like glass.