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Well it went and happened last night...
While getting out of a car, the belt clip release button got pressed in by my stab-proof vest that I wear for work (this is a design flaw in it's own right, in that any other belt clips like this I have seen, slot the handset 'down' into a channel, and not hang on a hook like the default XDA2 one does - this means that at least then, if the button release becomes pressed, it still needs the device to defy gravity before coming detached - with the XDA2 belt clip, as soon as the button is pressed, as it's just a hook, it falls off).
So my XDA fell just a couple of feet, if that, onto the ground. And even then, it had its standard leather cover on. But of course, the standard cover is less than cr*p, in that it leaves nearly all of the sides exposed!
And now I find I have a slight dent on the side of my previously impeccable XDA2. But worse, slight scuffing or scratching too.
And this is where my issue comes from. With any other device, a rough scratch could be polished out. But with the bl**DY stupid XDA2 material, this is the opposite, in that the normal finish is a brushed, fairly matt aluminium.
But if it gets even slightly scuffed, what actually happens is that it reveals the under layer, and produces in effect, a shiny polished scar. So polishing it is no use at all.
I have owned 28 mobile phones, blackberries, and various other devices in my time. And this is the first device I have ever owned, that has been scuffed beyond apparent easy repair. And worse, I have only owned it a month at most.
I am foaming about this - especially given the series of shortcomings with the device and cover/clip etc, that lead up to this.
But what I need to know now, given that my XDA2 works fine, is this:
Has anyone yet discovered a good way to 'get rid' off minor scratches or scuffs on the material of the XDA2, to cover the shiny material that gets exposed, and leave it with the same sort of brushed matt finish the it normally has, or any paints/primers/touch up cans, that match it?
Please help anyone!
I've attached a photo below, but it doesn't capture it too well, especially as what I HAVE done, is cover it all in lead pencil, then rub it in.
This has reduced a lot of the shine, but of course, this will soon polish off again, so I need a proper solution.
Not sure how to get the dent out, but just get another leather case, a better one than the free one in the box. That should cover the unsightly mark and you won't have to look at it any more. Either that or claim off the insurance if you have it, but then again they may not pay out for cosmetic damage
Some fair advice there mate - cheers.
Only thing is though, you can see it all to well when its on the cradle, and I don't like it cased up too much (both issues of perception I know).
Additionally, I do have insurance, but it's an extension to Home Contents, so my premiums would jump up next year, they would not pay for cosmetic damage, and if I were to even consider a failed ROM upgrade death by pulling power half way through (and I wouldn't dream of that now would I?), then the problem is, the scratches would make it look like the (THEN) failed unit was caused by dropping it.
So I couldn't do a warranty claim, and would be back to the insurance one.
So, given that I can live with the minor dent, has anyone found any cure or solution for scratches, to cover it up back to the original finish of the XDA2?
There must be some solution, paint, primer, filler, or something out there?
Sob sob...
This is funny... I have some scratches too (my XDAII I mean ) but underneath these scratches ale looming some dark material, nothing shiney at least.
I couldn't get rid of the scratches, but polite polishing removed the jagged edges so I won't cut my ear anymore while on the phone.
You could try going for a radical approach and give it a paint job.....either a can of spray silver/aluminium effect, or metallic or matt black - WOW. There are some great effect paints (although less is more in my view).
Use insulation tape (or masking tape) to cover off the screen, buttons, holes etc. You can use the covering as you see fit - you might want to leave some areas (top) silver.....
Hows about getting a dummy XDA II and swapping the cases over?
There is one on ebay at the mo
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4183588276&category=32242
Is it the same real aluminium, and is it difficult to swap over?
Has anyone done this, can give me an idea what is involved?
Although i haven't done it before, i would have thought it was a few torx screws on the back of the case to undo?
Dummy phones are usually proper phones without the internals, usually display models in shops. From my experience the ones in shops are the full casing, just without the inside.
Best thing to do is ask the seller what his is before you bid any money for it. Also ask the conditoin, as if its been mauled in a shop, it could be scratched as well
Ex-display shop ones also usually have some sort of anti-theft bolt through them, which might be less visually appealing than a little scratch on the side. :wink:
sublimatica said:
Ex-display shop ones also usually have some sort of anti-theft bolt through them, which might be less visually appealing than a little scratch on the side. :wink:
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Click to collapse
Yeah - that's the bit that worried me too...
I'll ask about.
Also, to remove the torx screws, means puncturing a Warranty Void label, which is a bit steep for a scratch.
Oh well...
wats the trouble ... ?
why dun you just get the casing REPLACED?! you had already paied 800usd for your machine ... another 100 bucks will get u a new casing. :idea:
Er no - I paid a mere £120 british pounds (around 150-170 USD?) for it on contract.
And more importantly, as I just put in one of my last posts, that would invalidate the warranty.
So if I HAD paid that much for it, there's no way I would invalidate the warranty for a few scratches.
They bother me a lot, for sure. But spray, or paint, is a bit different to invalidating the warranty on a one month old XDA2.
Cheers for the input though.
your damaged xda2
you can buy a new O2 XDA II Aluminium case athttp://www.mobiledatadirect.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=136_129&products_id=975
ok try that
Er thanks, but that's, well, er, a CARRY CASE, not the phone shell itself mate.
Cheers though.
And the correct link is:
http://www.mobiledatadirect.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=136_129&products_id=975
emobileinhand.com has teamed up with Amazon and they're selling the Seidio Innocase for $24.85 shipped. I added Priority shipping and the total was $26.85. I bought my first Innocase from them but I got wasted on St. Patricks Day and broke it. The phone is fine, thank God.
The Seidio Innocase is hands down, THE BEST case for the Kaiser. The holster (strongly recommended) really keeps the device safe.
Right now, I'm using my Boxwave as a backup. I like it, but the belt clip forces you to wear it with the screen facing out which could lead to damage.
This is a great deal.
http://emobile-in-hand.amazonwebstore.com/search.htm?keyword=B0012Y4IQA
I have this case and imo its overpriced crap. The thing rarely stays on all the way. It seems there's always a corner or something to press down on again to get it to stay on it.
If you want a nice case cheap, just buy a cheapy. I bought one off Amazon for less than $5 and it stays on all the time never have to worry about it at all. The only difference is the holster and finish. The Seido has a nicer feel to it due some coating they put on it. And the holster for the cheapy is one of those screw on job's.
But hey if you want to spend $20 on a coating for something that will fall off, go ahead its on sale!!
Satisfied
I've used it for 2 weeks now and it stays on, feels great on hand, and haven't found any peeling of the rubberized layer.
I used to put on PDAir Aluminium for my SE M600 and it also go roughed up. So you can imagine my usage habit and this Seidio performs beyond my expectation.
Yea, I dunno man, I never have had a problem with my Seidio. You just have to make sure you have it on correctly. The boxwave is a very close second though. I wish Boxwave had a holster similar to Seidio's.
The great thing about the Boxwave is that it has a "notch" for the reset hole so it's almost impossible to miss and end up messing up your USB port.
-haze- said:
Yea, I dunno man, I never have had a problem with my Seidio. You just have to make sure you have it on correctly.
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I don't know how someone could fit it on incorrectly. It only goes on one way and its pretty obvious which way that is.
My biggest problem w/the case is that if i slide that keyboard out it will knock off the bottom hinges.
IMO its not a secure case. Is it designed well as far as all the little notches and slots? Yes. Does it feel nice in your hand? Yes. Does it look nice? Yes. Is it worth more than $5? No.
Is this really much different to the 'crystal cases' that you can buy from the markets and crack after a week in your pocket?
Dont u dare!
Dont even think about buying this pathetic case. after much debate i bought this hoping it would protect my kaiser. i spent a week looking for the perfect case, went through everything i could find. i received the case, it snapped on easily, i hardly had an issue with the little hinges, the case lasted me a good 18 months. the rubberised outside is a nice touch, imo the phone doesnt look good with the case, but i stuck with it coz it protects your phone, right? well not quite. what the assholes at seidio dont tell you is that yeah they've rubberised the outside but done nothing inside the case. its plastic, which means after a couple of months you start to accumulate **** inbetween the case and the outside of the fone. ordinarily it might not be a problem, but if like me the fone spends most of its time in the back pocket, in bags etc then any grainy kind of crap between a plastic cover and a kaiser = ? you guessed it, major dents, scratches, gouges etc. i didnt check the phone for a good 3 months after i put the cover on, when i took it back off my phone looked like id rolled it down a hill and then threw it back up again. its ruined my kaiser and now i cant sell it on unless i buy another housing and put it on myself. it may be error on my part assuming that a protective case protects the outside of your fone, i dont know. this is my experience of this ****ty case, take it or leave. i think you'd be better off buying the cheapy crystal ones, coz then atleast you can see when your phone needs cleaning and you dont end up ruining it.
sorry for going on and on.
paradoox
Thanks for your feedback paradoox,
anyone else have similar long term reports?
On a separate note, i found out that Boxwave do a very similar (nearly identical) case and holster. Anyone handled both the Seidio and Boxwave for a comparison?
yep thats pretty much what i thought
paradoox said:
Dont even think about buying this pathetic case. after much debate i bought this hoping it would protect my kaiser. i spent a week looking for the perfect case, went through everything i could find. i received the case, it snapped on easily, i hardly had an issue with the little hinges, the case lasted me a good 18 months. the rubberised outside is a nice touch, imo the phone doesnt look good with the case, but i stuck with it coz it protects your phone, right? well not quite. what the assholes at seidio dont tell you is that yeah they've rubberised the outside but done nothing inside the case. its plastic, which means after a couple of months you start to accumulate **** inbetween the case and the outside of the fone. ordinarily it might not be a problem, but if like me the fone spends most of its time in the back pocket, in bags etc then any grainy kind of crap between a plastic cover and a kaiser = ? you guessed it, major dents, scratches, gouges etc. i didnt check the phone for a good 3 months after i put the cover on, when i took it back off my phone looked like id rolled it down a hill and then threw it back up again. its ruined my kaiser and now i cant sell it on unless i buy another housing and put it on myself. it may be error on my part assuming that a protective case protects the outside of your fone, i dont know. this is my experience of this ****ty case, take it or leave. i think you'd be better off buying the cheapy crystal ones, coz then atleast you can see when your phone needs cleaning and you dont end up ruining it.
sorry for going on and on.
paradoox
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I had a similar experience as paradoox, bought it, thought it looked crap but left it on to protect fone, few weeks later discovered one of the little little tabs holding the top half of the case on snapped so it wouldn't stay on.. this is when i found scratches and dents under the case too. imo ... the case is just too expensive for how it performs... better to go thu 3 cheapies i think..
It all depends on your usage and carry habit.
I carry my phone on a leather pouch on my belt, with the Seidio snuggly fit on it, so it won't slip whatsoever.
It does make sense that some grits, etc. will get under the case, but I just opened it up 1-2 weeks ago and found nothing. Remember, I live in Jakarta, taking public buses and lots of fumes, dust, etc. around the air.
Of course it has to be also counted that I rarely open my phone in public (dusty, windy area) mainly for security reasons. I don't flaunt my belongings. I worked in an office building, and the phone is often out, but it's a clean environment.
Again, YMMV. For someone who wants no dust, I read somewhere there's a waterproof case for Kaiser ..
For my use, Seidio works great.
I am a pretty big perfectionist when it comes to cases. I want something that doesn't add steps to the process of using the phone, and something that is durable as well.
I've been through the hard cover cases and found that they look terrible after a few dings. I also found that on most hard cover cases there is a certain point of weakness where the frame is smaller to compensate for port access, which led my case to crack.
Anyways, I just ordered the O24550LCST1BK from CarryMobile.
Google search O24550LCST1BK and click the first link to see it.
When will I have my url restrictions lifted? I've been a registered user for a bit now...
From the pictures it's just what I was looking for. It isn't blocky or otherwise ugly. I really like the rugged appearance and the metal hook on the back for misc usage!
The only downside is that it doesn't have a way to use the keyboard (thats another model that they offer though). I use mostly touch friendly apps anyways so I won't notice it.
When it arrives I will let you know what I think!
Is this the one you meant?
http://www.carrymobile.ru/all_HTC_HTC+Kaiser_HTC+TyTn+II+Sleeve+Type+Black.html
Doesn't seem very svelte. And having to take it off to use the keyboard is a big negative for me.
The O24550LCBSPBK-4550 may be more along the lines of something you would be interested in. I'm debating changing my order for that one and just removing the front cover flap.
Thx but all these cases are a waste of time and money. Just don't throw your phone on the floor and it stays fine. It's all common sense really. If you drop it, well that's your fault isn't it. Take care of your phone and it will last for years.
stuntdouble said:
Thx but all these cases are a waste of time and money. Just don't throw your phone on the floor and it stays fine. It's all common sense really. If you drop it, well that's your fault isn't it. Take care of your phone and it will last for years.
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Click to collapse
I can agree with your point of not dropping it being the number 1 way to make a phone last, but in my situation I need a case for both the protection and belt clip usage. I am normally pretty good about taking care of my phone, but I've had a few run ins with people bumping into me.
I know I am perfectly capable of taking care of my phone, but it's the other 'crazy drivers' im worried about. I'd think differently if I hadnt already had to replaced most of the internal components of my phone XD
I use Seidio hard case with local branded leather pouch (vertical, with flap magnetic cover). Pretty handy. Tried not dropping the phone, it's now 3 times already. All due to my own absent mindedness.
However, the Seidio holds up well, it hasn't cracked or anything. Phone working fine still ..
I had PDAir Aluminium on my SE M600 previously, but given Kaiser's bulk & weight, I decided going lighter. Besides I read somewhere the aluminium reduces signal quality (on M600 doesn't matter, not doing any Wifi - it doesn't have one but it matters for Kaiser, both GPS and Wifi)
Its similar to the case I had by SENA for my HTC 8525/HERMES. The only difference it had a flap the covered the entire screen/keyboard and did fully protect the phone. The only problem was you had to remove the phone for the keyboard. Generally didn't use the keyboard so it was perfect. Unfortunately SENA doesn't make one for the KAISER otherwise I'd buy it. Did protect the phone fully.
stim141 said:
Its similar to the case I had by SENA for my HTC 8525/HERMES. The only difference it had a flap the covered the entire screen/keyboard and did fully protect the phone. The only problem was you had to remove the phone for the keyboard. Generally didn't use the keyboard so it was perfect. Unfortunately SENA doesn't make one for the KAISER otherwise I'd buy it. Did protect the phone fully.
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Click to collapse
did you look at the O24550LCBSPBK-4550 model? Sounds like what you describe, except you can open it up and the keyboard keys are protected by a plastic layer. I finally broke down and got this case, so I am just waiting on it to arrive from hong kong now
Hey all,
I dented the back of my 6P because I'm an idiot. It has a hard shell case on it, but that apparently wasn't enough to protect the back of the phone from the hip-height metal post I walked into whilst talking to a friend. Smooth.
So now, I'm left with a smooth 1cm x 1cm dent, 1-3mm deep, just to the right of the fingerprint scanner. I've looked around, one option is a suction cup but I'm concerned about being able to fit it over the dent considering where the fingerprint sensor. Other options have included rapidly heating and cooling it, but obviously, it's a £500 phone full of electronics and magic (I assume), so that's just dumb.
Thoughts? I'd really like to progress to using a slickwrap instead of my case. At least in situations without inconspicuous metal posts.
You can buy replacement battery covers on eBay look original £20
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Do you have Nexus protect? If so that should be the first thing to look into. Otherwise, I think Huawei has a network of approved repair centers that you can consider.
In any cases, as unintuitive as this may sound, a soft case would be better than a hard case. A well-built TPU case (think Spigen or Adopted) absorbs and disperses any forces an impact has, while a hard case transfers the force straight to the fragile metal back.
My reviews of four cases after using each over the last 3 days. Not real extensive use, but enough to figure out what's good and bad about each, and how I feel about them. None of them are my "ideal" case, so I'll undoubtedly be trying more and adding more reviews to this thread.
X-dorna Defense Lux (“Cabon Fiber”)
First Impressions: This case has a lot of good reviews (on other phones) online, so I thought I’d give it a shot. I’m not sure how I feel about it. The case material is very hard and stiff, with no soft padding at all. It seems to me it will transfer the energy from an impact right into the phone. There’s a reason football helmets, motorcycle riding jackets, and pretty much every other impact protection have a compressible liner: compressing that material absorbs energy that would otherwise go through to the head / body / whatever.
OTOH, the box says it’s “certified to survive a 10’ drop onto concrete. But what does that mean. Does the case survive a 10’ drop? How about the phone? Does it survive with no damage at all, or does minor damage that doesn't affect function count as "survived"? No details are provided. It also “exceeds mil-std-810G.” Which doesn’t mean as much as you might think: https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/phone-cases-military-drop-test-standards/
The truth is that none of these claims by manufacturers amount to much, because they're all self tested, and no details are provided.
The aluminum band seems to be more for style than function, because it doesn’t actually cover the parts of the case most likely to see an impact: the corners and edges.
Oh, and I put “Carbon Fiber” in quotes in the title because it’s really not a very good imitation of CF. It looks like exactly what is is: molded plastic.
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https://xdorialife.com/products/galaxy-s9-plus-case-defense-lux?variant=360800059408
In use review: Disappointing. On the positive side, it has significant raised edges on the top and bottom to keep the screen safe when you set the phone face down. But that’s about it.
I’m still not convinced it offers as much protection as many less expensive cases. It’s also bulky, adding quite a bit to both the width and thickness of the phone. In fact, it’s by far the thickest of the cases I’ve tried so far. The added thickness makes it harder to get my fingers on the FPS in back, and I got some read errors with this case, and not any of the others. I have fairly small hands, and really feel the added bulk. The edges of the case contain sharp angles, rather than the rounded forms of most cases, and I found them pretty uncomfortable. The button action is pretty good, but stiffer than the other cases tested here. I’m going to see if I can send this one back.
Spigen Ultra Hybird
First Impressions: I had a similar case for my S7 Edge made by Ulack, which was one of my favorites. A hard, clear polycarbonate back surrounded by an impact absorbing TPU bumper, with addition corner protection in the form of "air bubbles" between the TPU and the phone. But the Spigen is disappointing in comparison, in multiple ways.
The Ulak case had raised “feet” in the corners of the back, which kept the polycarb off of whatever surface you laid it down on . The Spigen doesn’t. Put the phone down, and it’s going onto that clear plastic back. I suspect it going to get all scratched up very quickly. And even before putting it on a phone, the clear plastic back shows huge amounts of rainbow effect. Not impressed so far.
https://www.spigen.com/products/galaxy-s9-plus-case-ultra-hybrid?variant=570814824449
In use review: A mixed bag. The case looks nice, and the clear back shows off the phone, especially if you got something other than black. It’s narrower than the Caseology Parallax, so it’s easier for me to hold, but probably offers a little less impact protection as a result. It’s got raised edges at top and bottom for when you set the phone face down. They’re not as tall as on the X-doria or the Caseology, but should be good enough as long as you’re not setting the phone down on rough finished concrete. The button action is typical Spigen – very good. Oddly, the volume buttons are harder to press than the power button, but that’s not a real issue. My only real objection to this case is, as I mentioned in first impressions, that the clear back is going to end up getting scratched up pretty quickly, unless you always set your phone face down. The rainbows I saw with the case off the phone aren't visible when it's installed on a black phone, but I can't say whether they will be on a lighter one. Oh, and the back of this case is as much a fingerprint magnet as the bare phone.
Caseology Parallax
First Impressions: Similar to the better known Spigen neo-hybrid. Black TPU with a semi-rigid plastic band around the edge. In theory the plastic band should help distribute the force of an impact over a greater area, reducing the forces acting on the phone (like the hard shell of a motorcycle helmet). In reality, the band is so thin I’m not sure it makes much difference. But it certainly won’t hurt anything. The TPU isn’t as soft as some, but it’s certainly not as hard as the X-doria case. Probably a good compromise. The sides are thicker than some cases I’ve looked at, which is a good thing, but there doesn’t seem to be any extra corner protection. The box says it’s been “drop tested 26 times,” but without more data that’s meaningless. From how high? Onto how hard a surface? Did the phone suffer any damage in those drops? They don’t say.
The Caseology has one feature which none of the other cases offer. It has a sloping section below the FPS to, I guess, guide your finger to the sensor. I suspect this will reduce the likelihood of hitting the camera lens instead of the FPS.
https://www.caseologycases.com/products/galaxy-s9-plus-parallax-case
In use review: I like this case quite a bit. The TPU is a little thicker than the Spigen, which may translate into a bit better impact resistance. The tradeoff is that, if you have small hands, it’s a little harder to hold one-handed. The sides of the case are a little taller than the other cases, which may offer better protection if the phone lands on one side. They don’t interfere with the edge functions, either. Like the other cases, it has a raised top and bottom edge to keep the screen off whatever surface you set the phone down on. The button action is very good – every bit as good as the Spigen. This case, and the Ringke, have the opening for the flash and HR sensor in a separate little window from the cutout for the lenses and flash. That may help keep your fingerprints off the lenses. The slope to the FPS that I mentioned above, as it turns out, doesn’t help at all. I end up putting my finger on the slope, instead of the FPS, and then have to slide it up. The shorter cutouts on the Spigen and Ringke are better. But I could easily live with this case as a daily driver.
Ringke Onyx
First Impressions: Your basic “little black dress” of a case. Plain TPU, thinner and softer than the Caseology. But it’s very nice looking. I like the brushed metal look of the back. Should offer about as much protection as other inexpensive TPU cases without adding very much bulk to the phone.
https://www.ringkestore.com/products/galaxy-s9-plus-ringke-onyx?variant=6366033739803
In use review: It’s fine. If you value a case that doesn’t add bulk, this will do the job. The button action is the best of the four. It feels almost like you have no case on at all. Like the Parallax, it has a separate window for the flash and HR sensor, and the cutout makes the FPS easy to find and reach.
Conclusions: The X-Doria is a non-starter for me. Just too bulky for the protection it seems to offer, and uncomfortable to boot. The other three are all acceptable, depending on what you’re looking for. I like the look and feel of the Ringke Onyx the best, but it seems to offer the least protection. The Parallax probably offers the best compromise between bulk and protection, but the FPS opening is makes using the FPS more awkward than it needs to be. Finally, if you want to show off the back of your phone, the Ultra Hybrid seems fine, other than the issue of scratches. I probably wouldn’t choose it for a black phone, though.
Hope you find this useful.
Here's one more, and I have another Ringke case on order.
”Luxury” Ultra-Thin…..Hard Back Case
First Impressions: These are available in multiple colors, from multiple sellers on ebay. You can pay as much as $7 or $8 from a US seller, or as little as $3.50 from China. Shipping included. These must cost pennies to make. These are about as close to no case at all as you can get. It’s very thin, hard, and has no cushioning at all. If you drop your phone, all the impact forces are going to be transmitted right through to the glass. It has virtually no lip at the top and bottom to protect the screen if you put your phone face down. It might make more sense to consider this a very thick skin than an actual case.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Luxury-Ul...ar=512214969629&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
In use review:. The button action is great, however. You don’t really realize you’re using a case. Minimal protection (and that’s being charitable) from anything but scratches on the back and sides. And it’s a little bit slippery. That said, I find myself strangely attracted to it. It really does look nice, I love the button action, and that it adds no virtually no bulk to the phone. And it’s dirt cheap. If your goal is to protect your phone from scratches, you could do a lot worse than this.
And it’s so cheap you could by 3 or 4 of them. Some have silver tops and bottoms, some gold, but you could mix and match to get, say, a blue case with silver ends, or a silver case with gold ends (perfect for Christmas, eh?).
Ringke "Wave" Case
First Impressions: I really like the Ringke Onyx case I've been using, so I thought I'd take a chance on another of theirs. From the photos on the web site, the "Wave" case looked really interesting. A TPU inner case with a hard polycarbonate surround that also covers part of the back, and an interesting wave pattern molded into both the TPU and PC shell that gives it some visual interest. I got the one they call "Metallic Chrome," but neither the name nor the pictures really tell you what it looks like. The polycarbonate is a shiny, lightly textured metallic gray that is lighter than it appears in the photos. I think it's very nice looking, and breaks up the all black look without being too flashy.
https://ringkestore.com/collection...xy-s9-plus-ringke-wave?variant=6452285734939
In use review:. The button action is very good, although the volume buttons are not quite as light as the power button, or as the buttons on the Onyx case. But they're fine, not something I would complain about. The TPU is a little firmer than some TPU cases, and the PC shell adds still more stiffness. Your guess is as good as mine as to whether a softer TPU offerz more or less protection than a harder one, and whether the PC shell really adds much, but I'd say this is as protective as any other case that doesn't add a lot of bulk. The PC around the sides is slightly slippery compared to the all TPU Onyx, but I have no problem gripping it or picking it up off a table, and I'm not worried about dropping the phone. This case does have thicker TPU around the edges than the Onyx does. The case is about as wide as the Caseology I reviewed above. That makes it less comfortable for me to hold than the Onyx, but probably more protective. It has significant raised lips at the top and bottom to protect the screen if you set the phone face down.
The wave pattern on the back not only looks nice, it actually helps me hold the phone in certain ways. If I hold the phone in my right hand, with my little finger under the bottom edge, my index finger naturally rests in one of the depressions in the back, providing a nice secure feeling when using the phone one-handed. It's definitely a keeper. I'll probably use the Onyx as my day to day case, because it's more comfortable for me to hold, and this one when I want a little bit more protection, or a little bit more style.
Ringke Fusion Case
First Impressions: I really like the other two Ringke cases I've been using, so when Ringke sent me an email with a discount code that got me this case for $4, I figured I'd take a chance. This is similar to the Spigen Ultra Hybrid, with a TPU surround and a hard, clear polycarbonate back. Unlike the Spigen, this one has raised corners on the back that will keep the rear surface off whatever you set it down on, which should help minimize scratches. It even came with the lanyard included i that $4 price. Hard to beat that deal.
https://www.ringkestore.com/collec...-s9-plus-ringke-fusion?variant=6366003167259
In use review:. I think that if I had a color other than black, this might be my daily driver. It's narrower than the Ringke Wave or Spigen Ultra Hybrid, about the same as the Ringke Onyx. That probably trades off some protection for more comfort, so you pays your money and takes your chances. The button action is excellent, just like on the Onyx. Like the other Ringke cases, it has nice lips top and bottom to protect the screen if you put it face down.
Conclusion:
I'm really impressed with the Ringke cases. Especially given the excellent pricing. They're well made, seem to offer reasonable protection, and they look good. They all have good button action, raised lips to protect the screen, and the Fusion has raised corners on the back to help keep scratches off the polycarbonate.
I'm using the Ringke Onyx normally. It trades off a bit of protection for a narrower case, which is one I'm willing to make. If I wanted more protection, I'd choose the Ringke Wave. And if I had a blue or lavender phone, the Ringke Fusion.
New reviews added.
”iPulse Leather Wallet Case
TL;DR: If you like wallet style cases, or want to try a wallet style case, I don’t think you can do much better than this one.
Background: I really like leather accessories (wallets, key cases, attache cases, etc.) I like the look, the texture, the feel, even the smell. High quality leather made into high quality products just exudes a sense of quality and style than few other things do. And definitely more style than plastic phone cases, no matter how well made those plastic ones are made. Since received my S9+, I’ve been looking for a leather case, but wasn’t considering a wallet style case. I wanted a slim case that covered the back, like most of the plastic ones, but made out of nice quality leather. Unfortunately, no one makes one. The closest I found is “Vegan leather.” Not only is that an oxymoron, “Vegan leather” is a just a fancy name for leather-grained plastic.
But the more I looked at wallet cases, the more I thought combining my phone case and my wallet into one unit would work. So after looking at a number of different options, I bought this one. How do I like it? I like it a lot, but I’m not sure I’m going to use it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079ZRZL2S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
First impressions: This is a REALLY nice case. The leather is soft and supple. It feels great in the hand, looks fantastic and smells wonderful. (No “vegan leather” here.) The stitching is very well done: neat, straight and even. The magnetic clasp is really well designed. It closes firmly, without any user interaction, yet opens easily without any extra effort. The inside pockets are finely made and precisely cut. I’m extremely impressed with the quality of materials, construction, and design. With one caveat.
The phone fits into a plastic (TPU?) shell that’s mounted to the inside of the leather back. Functionally, this is probably a very good design, adding some padding and protection to the phone. And all the cutouts in the shell are precisely made and aligned. It’s just that compared to the quality of the leather it looks cheap. Trade offs. I wouldn’t let this keep my from buying the case, however.
In use impressions: I’ve been using this for about a day and a half. And as nice as this case is, I’m not sure it’s the right case for me, personally. I put my regular wallet in my back pocket, but wouldn’t put my phone there. Sitting on a big screen phone isn’t a good idea, I don’t think. And while the case does fit in my front pants pockets, it’s a tight fit in some of my pants. OTOH, the grip provided by the leather actually makes it easy to get the phone / wallet out of my pocket when it rings. Again, tradeoffs. Using the phone in the case is not as convenient as in a thin, open, TPU style case. It’s much bulkier, and is definitely a two-handed device now.
I’m of two minds about this right now. I really like the look and feel of the case, but I’m not crazy about the extra size. I like combining my wallet into the phone case, but don’t like giving up one-handed use. I’m going to continue using the case for a while and see if my feelings change, either for the better or worse.
My wife, on the other hand, LOVES this case. She carries her phone in her purse, so the extra bulk isn’t a concern for her. And she pretty much always uses her phone with two hands anyway, so that’s not an issue. When she upgrades her current phone, I’m sure I’ll be buying her one of these.
Conclusion: If you like wallet style cases, or want to try a wallet style case, I don’t think you can do much better than this one. I’m going to urge them to make a nice, non-wallet style case out of the same leather. If they do, I’ll be the first person in line to order.
A few other niceties: The case comes with a 1 year warranty, and a promise to replace it or refund your money if you’re not satisfied. The manufacturer says they donate a part of every sale to UNICEF (but don’t say how much).
I would agree with your assessment about "whether it's for me". I'm just so used to have these two items separate. If a user wants this functionality then this is a quality product I would recommend. I'm 47, there's little chance I'm going to change..
meyerweb said:
”iPulse Leather Wallet Case
TL;DR: If you like wallet style cases, or want to try a wallet style case, I don’t think you can do much better than this one.
Background: I really like leather accessories (wallets, key cases, attache cases, etc.) I like the look, the texture, the feel, even the smell. High quality leather made into high quality products just exudes a sense of quality and style than few other things do. And definitely more style than plastic phone cases, no matter how well made those plastic ones are made. Since received my S9+, I’ve been looking for a leather case, but wasn’t considering a wallet style case. I wanted a slim case that covered the back, like most of the plastic ones, but made out of nice quality leather. Unfortunately, no one makes one. The closest I found is “Vegan leather.” Not only is that an oxymoron, “Vegan leather” is a just a fancy name for leather-grained plastic.
But the more I looked at wallet cases, the more I thought combining my phone case and my wallet into one unit would work. So after looking at a number of different options, I bought this one. How do I like it? I like it a lot, but I’m not sure I’m going to use it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079ZRZL2S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
First impressions: This is a REALLY nice case. The leather is soft and supple. It feels great in the hand, looks fantastic and smells wonderful. (No “vegan leather” here.) The stitching is very well done: neat, straight and even. The magnetic clasp is really well designed. It closes firmly, without any user interaction, yet opens easily without any extra effort. The inside pockets are finely made and precisely cut. I’m extremely impressed with the quality of materials, construction, and design. With one caveat.
The phone fits into a plastic (TPU?) shell that’s mounted to the inside of the leather back. Functionally, this is probably a very good design, adding some padding and protection to the phone. And all the cutouts in the shell are precisely made and aligned. It’s just that compared to the quality of the leather it looks cheap. Trade offs. I wouldn’t let this keep my from buying the case, however.
In use impressions: I’ve been using this for about a day and a half. And as nice as this case is, I’m not sure it’s the right case for me, personally. I put my regular wallet in my back pocket, but wouldn’t put my phone there. Sitting on a big screen phone isn’t a good idea, I don’t think. And while the case does fit in my front pants pockets, it’s a tight fit in some of my pants. OTOH, the grip provided by the leather actually makes it easy to get the phone / wallet out of my pocket when it rings. Again, tradeoffs. Using the phone in the case is not as convenient as in a thin, open, TPU style case. It’s much bulkier, and is definitely a two-handed device now.
I’m of two minds about this right now. I really like the look and feel of the case, but I’m not crazy about the extra size. I like combining my wallet into the phone case, but don’t like giving up one-handed use. I’m going to continue using the case for a while and see if my feelings change, either for the better or worse.
My wife, on the other hand, LOVES this case. She carries her phone in her purse, so the extra bulk isn’t a concern for her. And she pretty much always uses her phone with two hands anyway, so that’s not an issue. When she upgrades her current phone, I’m sure I’ll be buying her one of these.
Conclusion: If you like wallet style cases, or want to try a wallet style case, I don’t think you can do much better than this one. I’m going to urge them to make a nice, non-wallet style case out of the same leather. If they do, I’ll be the first person in line to order.
A few other niceties: The case comes with a 1 year warranty, and a promise to replace it or refund your money if you’re not satisfied. The manufacturer says they donate a part of every sale to UNICEF (but don’t say how much).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something different: "Loopy" case review
"Loopy" Case
Now for something completely different: The “Loopy” case. If you look at the picture, the meaning behind the name is obvious.
I really like my S9 +, but it IS big. Too big for me to comfortably use one-handed. My S7 Edge was borderline, but with the extra height (and slightly greater width) I simply can’t reach everything I need to reach to use it one-handed even some of the time, and I just know that if I try I will, sooner or later, drop the phone and shatter the lovely screen. So enter the Loopy, a case which promises one-handed use AND greater security against drops. Sounds like a great combination. And with a 30 day no questions asked money-back guarantee, what’s to lose other than a few bucks for shipping? (Don't worry, it comes in other colors, too.)
First Impressions: I got the matte black version. Other than the strap, it looks like a $2 Chinese TPU case. Thin, flexible, devoid of any styling touches to try to enhance the look. This is very definitely function over form. Every other case I’ve purchased offers at least a little bit of style: a brushed metal appearance on the back, or fake Carbon Fiber, or something. In terms of protection, the case offers little padding, and there’s no extra cushion in the corners to protect it in a drop. Then again, the point of this case is to prevent drops, so maybe that doesn’t matter? It does have nicely raised edges at top and bottom to keep the screen off of surfaces if you put the phone face down. Which you’ll do a lot with this case.
I don't think they offered the "teak wood" version when I ordered mine. If they had, I would have probably ordered it. At least it doesn't look like a $2 case.
Edit: I contacted Loopy, and they let me swap my black case for the "teak" version at no extra cost other than postage to return the first one. No one would mistake this for real wood, but it does look nicer than the matte black one. The functionality doesn't change, of course.
https://www.loopycases.com/collections/samsung
In use review: Mixed, very mixed. It fits very well, and all the cutouts are precisely aligned and finished. But even $1 Chinese cases get that right, so that doesn’t really mean much. The button action is quite good. Not quite the best I’ve used, but close. Close enough that button action isn’t something you think about at all. The main feature, of course, is the loop, so how does it work? Pretty well, actually, with a few caveats.
It’s easy to put one (or two if you don’t have large hands) fingers in the loop, with your thumb and other fingers wrapped around the sides of the phone. And it definitely feels secure. I think you’d have to work really hard to drop your phone if you’re using this case correctly. And it certainly makes one-handed use more secure. But…..
Even with the loop, the S9 + is still too big for me to hold the phone in one hand and comfortably reach both the status bar and the navigation bar, especially the far icon on the nav bar. So, for me, it’s not completely a one-handed solution, but it’s an improvement. If your hands are bigger than mine, you might not have this problem.
And the loop does have some side effects that I probably should have realized, but didn’t occur to me. You can’t use a wireless charging pad with the case on. The loop holds the phone too far away from the charger. And you can’t lay the phone flat on a desk face up. You can use the loop as sort of a kickstand in landscape format, but it doesn’t really hold the phone at the right angle for that. So it’s not a completely positive experience.
Conclusion: I’m probably going to keep it. It won’t ever be my everyday case, though. It’s interference with wireless charging and inability to lay flat on a table are too annoying. But I can see myself using this when going into “high risk” environments, where the extra security against dropping the phone outweighs the inconvenience. Outdoor events, times when my hands might get slippery, on a boat…..
But the cost really does bother me. Without the strap, this would be a $2 - $4 case from a Chinese seller on ebay. And even many of those cases have more style than this one does. At $35, the profit margin on this must be HUGE. Or Yuuuge!
Finally, be aware that you need to choose a left or right handed version, because the strap is angled to one side or the other, not straight up and down. You can use it with the other hand, but it’s definitely less comfortable.
Would you mind reviewing the speck candyshell case? I had that on my s6 edge and found it invaluable. The rubber grip was super annoying with the phone in pocket but the trade off was that the phone was extremely easy to handle. I feel these curved glass edge screens are practically designed to slip out of the hand and speck candyshell has probably the best grip. They have another with a v shaped grip pattern instead of horizontal, I dont think those work as well.
Superb thread! Thank you.
Good job. Thx
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