Full disclosure: The guys over at Cruzerlite helped out Carbon when no one had heard of use by donating a few free cases so we could run some giveaways on our social networks. We went to them because we liked their product and the way that they interacted with the Android community. They were so excited about their new skin product that they arranged to ship a MotoX and one of their skins to me so that I might review it and give them, and you, my honest feedback. The device and skins have been since sent back to them. I was not paid or otherwise compensated for this review. Mostly I just wanted to check out a new product, have an excuse to play with a Moto X, and play with the lightbox I built last week.
I hate cases. To me, they've always been a necessary evil. I generally go with the thinnest TPU case I can find so I know my phone will be protected, and try and find one that actually looks cool. Which is why I've always liked the Cruzerlite cases. Very android friendly, and there were always lots of looks to choose from - android themes, art, etc. My favorite was the Tardis case. I was always very careful with my device. But scratches and things happen, and like many of you I never plan to stay with one device for more than a year or so. That means you gotta keep it looking like new so you can sell it later.
To me, that's the niche that the Cruzerlite skins occupy. If you drop your phone all the time this product isn't going to keep you from denting it or smashing the glass. It's vinyl, not TPU. If you're a purist who insist on rocking a totally naked phone, this product also isn't for you. If you're one of the many who hate cases but want to protect the phone in some way, or are confident in your ability to not drop your phone but want a custom look, then this product is where it's at. It'll protect your device from light damage, give you any look you want, and preserve the size and feel of your device.
The product comes in the form of thick vinyl stickers. As it's a brand new product they don't yet have a set of instructions on the site. They tell me they have that in the works and we should see them soon. With that in mind, I'll overshare my installation process and what I learned for you folks. Cruzerlite clearly wanted to make sure that you'd be happy with the installation of this product, so they've given you a single sticker for the back, two sets of stickers for the sides, and three sets for the front. You can screw this up and try again without ordering a new set. Note that I say stickers, but this is actually vinyl of a nice thickness, not some elmo sticker you'd get from the doctor after a checkup.
So having checked out both the vinyl and the Moto X I setup my lightbox and got down to business. I applied the back vinyl, taking great care to align the camera and microphone. It worked, after a fashion - it looked like a sticker slapped on a phone. A phone with a lot of curves. So far... meh. I stuck the sides on as well. It looked... like a bunch of stickers slapped on a phone. They didn't conform to the curves of the phone at all. So I called up Joel at Cruzerlite and told him that while I thought he had a nice idea, this was probable something that would only work on a phone with simple surfaces like an iphone. I showed him how it looked and he asked me when I was planning to finish the installation. Finish the installation? What? Heat. You apply heat after installation. Ohhhhhh. For a guy who was just told that his half-installed product wasn't very good, he was pretty cool about it. Thanks Joel.
Ok, so with that in mind, I dug out the hair dryer and got to heating. It looked a lot better. With a bit of heat and some pressure with my fingers, the vinyl conformed to the curves of the device and started to look like they belonged there. That said, because I installed them like they were stickers, there were gaps. Teal gaps. It didn't look great - but that was on me.
You might want to color match better than I did. Teal and
wood grain aren't known for being a classic combination.
So the first install didn't look so great. The vinyl was curved to match the phone, but I had ugly gaps that ruined the look. When I put the sides on, I aligned things like I would with regular stickers - not heat shrinking vinyl. But Cruzerlite clearly anticipated that, so I had more! Off came the vinyl on the sides and and back to square one. This time, I made sure there was some overlap so that when heat was applied, it would properly fit. Here's what it looked like:
You can already tell it's going to come out better this time. Out comes the hair dryer!
Now we're talking. No gaps, all the buttons are nicely cut out... it looks great. Again, the color combination shows why I'm not ever going to be a graphic designer, but it certainly highlights just how well the product fits the device. There's a slight edge where the vinyl on the sides and the back overlap. It's not unpleasant, but I'd like to play with this product some more to see if I could even avoid that. I've asked Cruzerlite to send me a few more and another phone, and hope to have a follow up on this in the future.
Yes, it has front stickers. The great thing about this product is it's up to you what you apply - if you don't want the front stickers, don't put them on. You could even mix and match them if you wanted. Get different colors and make the phone version of this:
Yes, that's a real thing. It's a Harlequin Golf and comes
that way from the factory. Please don't do this to your phone.
So after installing and playing with this, I like it. The vinyl is thick enough to feel like a high quality and durable product and on the whole I found it to be easier to apply than a screen protector. Sure, it's a bit tricky to align, but you don't have to worry about dust and the use of heat makes this a relatively forgiving product. I'm certain that I didn't do a perfect job with this, but I don't hate it the way you'd hate a screen protector with a bit of dust under it. I did manage to tweak the back a bit when applying it, and you can see the bulge from it. Again, this is something that I'd be able to differently now that I know how the product works so I'm not particularly concerned about it.
Cruzerlite has a whole range of vinyl to choose from too - 57 at the time of this review. There's wood grain, antibacterial colors, metallic, and leather skins. We're spoiled for choice and if you can't find something you like you might want to ask yourself why you're so picky.
I'd say this is a buy. They look great, feel great, and will do a fantastic job of protecting your phone from light damage. They're easy to apply, and at just under ten dollars you can't beat the price. For those of you who picked up a Moto X before Motomaker was a thing, this is a great way to change your phone's look without buying a new one, or get the look of wood without paying an extra hundred bucks for a single woodgrain option. (bamboo? seriously?) At the time of this review, the skins are available for the Moto X, Nexus 5, Note 3, Galaxy S4, and iPhone 5/5s.
I'll update this thread in the future if I can get my hands on another device and more vinyl. If possible I'll try something other than wood grain, too.
Check out the rest of their skins at http://www.cruzerlite.com/skins
It looks like a great idea. I also hate cases. The Note 3 is the first phone in a long time that i've kept a case on (mainly because I paid full price for it).
I can't imagine that the vinyl provides any level of protection, right? It sure does look good though. Maybe you should pop a link at the end of the review for people who want to buy one. I'm gonna search for it now and see what the price is and what other colors/patterns they have.
against drops? no. minimal. against scratches? absolutely. It's nice and thick. it's definitely better than going naked.
dg4prez said:
against drops? no. minimal. against scratches? absolutely. It's nice and thick. it's definitely better than going naked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you get your note 3 to look like a Moto X that is some skin?!:silly:
I recently picked up a LG G3 Slim Guard case and I wanted to share my thoughts and a few photos with my fellow XDA members, as I honestly believe this is one of, if not THE best case I have ever owned.
Let me start by saying that I have a very love/hate relationship when it comes to cases on my devices. While I am always striving to keep my phone in pristine condition, making some form of protection a near-necessity, nothing bothers me more than having to cover up the natural look of a beautifully engineered device. This is especially true with my G3 given that it is arguably LG's first smartphone to truly show the company's design language coming into its own. It wasn't until I stumbled upon the OEM Slim Guard case where I felt I was truly getting both added protection without sacrificing aesthetics.
A truly ingenious design choice is shown in the fact that this case forgoes the original back cover and instead both replaces and integrates a replacement back in the case itself. This keeps the added bulk to an extreme minimum and also maintains the original look and lines of the G3. Wisely, instead of a straight swap in exact dimensions, the substitute rear protrudes out ever so slightly to provide a bit of elevation from the camera lens. The material has also been changed to a slightly textured plastic and while I sorely miss the surprisingly great look and feel of the stock faux-metal, I appreciate the added grip and complete fingerprint resistance that the switch provides.
Further upping the ante on protection, the case seamlessly wraps a slim but substantial-feeling bumper of TPU around the edges of the device. While this style of case is nothing new, the integrated backplate design allows the G3 to maintain it's original contours and in-hand feel. Seriously, I can't stress enough how immensely better this feels compared to other TPU or hybrid case options. The bumper lines up perfectly with the edges of the screen and while I personally may have prefered a more pronounced "lip" that protrudes ever so slightly further to protect the gorgeous LCD, the minimal cutout should better accommodate a glass screen protector. As some users will attest to, a lot of other cases don't play too nicely with naturally thicker glass protectors and can cause fit issues or bubbling to occur. I recently just ordered a glass version for this exact reason and I'm assuming (and hoping) that they will complement each other very well, both with protection and looks.
LG currently does not sell the Slim Guard in the US which ultimately is the source of some of the negative aspects of this case. Because you will have to import this directly from Korea, as you can imagine it will not come cheap and interested parties should plan on spending over 50 dollars with shipping costs. Also, because it is designed for the Korean spec model, the case accommodates a non-existent TV antenna which will leave a small gap in the rear corner. Admittedly, this is a minor annoyance but undeniably present and noticeable as it breaks the otherwise clean lines. And finally, although the case advertises the addition of hardware for wireless charging, the spacing between the connectors don't seem to line up with my T-Mobile model. Just to be sure, I tried testing the functionality with my Nexus charging pad and unfortunately the wireless charging was unsuccessful. I unfortunately can’t attest to other brands of wireless charging pads because this is the only one I have access to but these initial results are obviously disconcerting. This incompatibility was probably my biggest letdown, as I was hoping to regain use of my wireless charging base since the American carriers strangely opted to exclude this feature.
In spite of these downsides, I still firmly believe that this is the best case I have ever used for any device. Clearly this is a matter of personal opinion, as you may value protection or slimness above a balance of both and the cost of admission alone may be enough to turn away many buyers. However, for anyone looking for some protection and great aesthetics with oem-quality finishing / color matching, I highly recommend splurging on this accessory.
Great review. Very well worded and thought out. I do like the overall design of the case and the idea that it replaces the back cover. I'll be living with my TPU case until these because readily available int he U.S. without the antenna cutout. (Assuming that happens)
I agree...EXCELLENT review! I am impatiently waiting for this US version case. This sounds like the perfect case for my preferences. Something extremely slim with better grip than naked along with not messing with the lines of the phone. :good::good::good:
Now if LG would just get the accessories rolling...I also need another battery and external charger.
I see 4 pins on it. Is wireless charging supported, then?
Transmission sent from my LG G3.
Pheno.menon said:
I see 4 pins on it. Is wireless charging supported, then?
Transmission sent from my LG G3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like this case is for the Korean market. The pins are slightly different for the US phone so the wireless charging would not work on a US phone. Check out this ebay link to see the differences in pin placement:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-LG-...Cell_Phone_PDA_Cases&var=&hash=item25919164e2
Really hope they release a US version without the antenna cut out, that supports QI charging. And also in shine gold. That would be perfect.
I don't understand why case makers don't take this cue from LG make replacement back covers that also act as a protective case. I'm hoping this gets released stateside. I have a feeling it won't, though, because LG doesn't have the best product support history from my experience. I was looking to get either this or the Slim Hard case. At this point, I just need anything to cover the back because this is the most ridiculously slippery phone I've ever had.
Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk
partylikeaninjastar said:
I don't understand why case makers don't take this cue from LG make replacement back covers that also act as a protective case. I'm hoping this gets released stateside. I have a feeling it won't, though, because LG doesn't have the best product support history from my experience. I was looking to get either this or the Slim Hard case. At this point, I just need anything to cover the back because this is the most ridiculously slippery phone I've ever had.
Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% agree. Integrating the back cover into the case should be a standard
Also, small update to my review. I mentioned that I ordered a glass screen protector assuming the fit would be perfect with the Slim Guard. I ordered a 0.3mm "Mobile Pioneer" brand screen protector from Amazon and it looks great. Fits perfectly flush with the edges and looks great to boot
elterible said:
I recently picked up a LG G3 Slim Guard case and I wanted to share my thoughts and a few photos with my fellow XDA members, as I honestly believe this is one of, if not THE best case I have ever owned.
Let me start by saying that I have a very love/hate relationship when it comes to cases on my devices. While I am always striving to keep my phone in pristine condition, making some form of protection a near-necessity, nothing bothers me more than having to cover up the natural look of a beautifully engineered device. This is especially true with my G3 given that it is arguably LG's first smartphone to truly show the company's design language coming into its own. It wasn't until I stumbled upon the OEM Slim Guard case where I felt I was truly getting both added protection without sacrificing aesthetics.
A truly ingenious design choice is shown in the fact that this case forgoes the original back cover and instead both replaces and integrates a replacement back in the case itself. This keeps the added bulk to an extreme minimum and also maintains the original look and lines of the G3. Wisely, instead of a straight swap in exact dimensions, the substitute rear protrudes out ever so slightly to provide a bit of elevation from the camera lens. The material has also been changed to a slightly textured plastic and while I sorely miss the surprisingly great look and feel of the stock faux-metal, I appreciate the added grip and complete fingerprint resistance that the switch provides.
Further upping the ante on protection, the case seamlessly wraps a slim but substantial-feeling bumper of TPU around the edges of the device. While this style of case is nothing new, the integrated backplate design allows the G3 to maintain it's original contours and in-hand feel. Seriously, I can't stress enough how immensely better this feels compared to other TPU or hybrid case options. The bumper lines up perfectly with the edges of the screen and while I personally may have prefered a more pronounced "lip" that protrudes ever so slightly further to protect the gorgeous LCD, the minimal cutout should better accommodate a glass screen protector. As some users will attest to, a lot of other cases don't play too nicely with naturally thicker glass protectors and can cause fit issues or bubbling to occur. I recently just ordered a glass version for this exact reason and I'm assuming (and hoping) that they will complement each other very well, both with protection and looks.
LG currently does not sell the Slim Guard in the US which ultimately is the source of some of the negative aspects of this case. Because you will have to import this directly from Korea, as you can imagine it will not come cheap and interested parties should plan on spending over 50 dollars with shipping costs. Also, because it is designed for the Korean spec model, the case accommodates a non-existent TV antenna which will leave a small gap in the rear corner. Admittedly, this is a minor annoyance but undeniably present and noticeable as it breaks the otherwise clean lines. And finally, although the case advertises the addition of hardware for wireless charging, the spacing between the connectors don't seem to line up with my T-Mobile model. Just to be sure, I tried testing the functionality with my Nexus charging pad and unfortunately the wireless charging was unsuccessful. I unfortunately can’t attest to other brands of wireless charging pads because this is the only one I have access to but these initial results are obviously disconcerting. This incompatibility was probably my biggest letdown, as I was hoping to regain use of my wireless charging base since the American carriers strangely opted to exclude this feature.
In spite of these downsides, I still firmly believe that this is the best case I have ever used for any device. Clearly this is a matter of personal opinion, as you may value protection or slimness above a balance of both and the cost of admission alone may be enough to turn away many buyers. However, for anyone looking for some protection and great aesthetics with oem-quality finishing / color matching, I highly recommend splurging on this accessory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would be nifty if you could provide a link where you bought this case.
Semantics said:
It would be nifty if you could provide a link where you bought this case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually bought it on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/16135601481...eName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
elterible said:
Also, because it is designed for the Korean spec model, the case accommodates a non-existent TV antenna which will leave a small gap in the rear corner. Admittedly, this is a minor annoyance but undeniably present and noticeable as it breaks the otherwise clean lines. A
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey elterible,
Can you take a pic of the corner with the Korean antenna hole? No big deal if you can't. Just curious what it looks like since the back is removed. I am thinking it might not look too bad with just the cutout as long as it still showed finished section below. What do you think so far? Still holding up well? I really don't need wireless charging. Thanks!
Here you go. Although annoying, I will admit the cutout hugs the lines of the phone perfectly. This includes the ridges, which is nice because it doesn't leave any gaps for dust to get in
elterible said:
Here you go. Although annoying, I will admit the cutout hugs the lines of the phone perfectly. This includes the ridges, which is nice because it doesn't leave any gaps for dust to get in
View attachment 2859417
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I may give it a little longer to see if they make a US version. This doesn't look bad but it costs $48. If it were the US version I would pay quickly.
j76ms said:
Thank you! I may give it a little longer to see if they make a US version. This doesn't look bad but it costs $48. If it were the US version I would pay quickly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem.
Even now I will admit that the price tag is tough to swallow. Especially considering that, as nice as this is, it is still just a freakin case at the end of the day. However, I still stand with my decision to take the splurge. Let us know if you do the same!
Just to entice you a little more, here's one more pic with my glass screen protector installed. It looks and feels amazing! [emoji1]
elterible said:
No problem.
Even now I will admit that the price tag is tough to swallow. Especially considering that, as nice as this is, it is still just a freakin case at the end of the day. However, I still stand with my decision to take the splurge. Let us know if you do the same!
Just to entice you a little more, here's one more pic with my glass screen protector installed. It looks and feels amazing! [emoji1]
View attachment 2859868
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stop the madness!!!:laugh:
I am trying my best not to purchase the Korean version yet to see if the US version will release soon. :fingers-crossed: It looks exactly like what I want! Thanks for the pics!
This is definitely the case I want. I am going to give it some time and see if LG comes out with a US version. For the time being, I got the Circle case and it has the same finish on the back and I love it. These are very high quality cases and just do so well to keep the phone's original shape and form factor.
awtryau89 said:
This is definitely the case I want. I am going to give it some time and see if LG comes out with a US version. For the time being, I got the Circle case and it has the same finish on the back and I love it. These are very high quality cases and just do so well to keep the phone's original shape and form factor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mobilefun.com has the slim guard case available for preorder but the description doesn't mention wireless charging.
I think an enterprising individual could modify the Korean variant to work with the US model phone by making an adapter that moves the contacts out wider. Another option, although more expensive, would be to try to remove the circuitry from the Verizon Qi quick circle case and put it into the slim guard case. I don't know how easy that would be to do but it looks like they are really just put in there with adhesive.
This is THE case. Please let this come out for the US (especially Verizon)!
j76ms said:
Thank you! I may give it a little longer to see if they make a US version. This doesn't look bad but it costs $48. If it were the US version I would pay quickly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't hesitate to pay top dollar for the LG OEM cases. These cases are much much better quality than any other cases I have seen. I was hesitant with the Circle case and I paid the full $59. After a few days, I wouldn't think twice about doing it again.
awtryau89 said:
Don't hesitate to pay top dollar for the LG OEM cases. These cases are much much better quality than any other cases I have seen. I was hesitant with the Circle case and I paid the full $59. After a few days, I wouldn't think twice about doing it again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I don't mind paying $50 for this case. I just want to give it a little longer to see if they will release the US version. Hopefully it will happen soon.
lovemeicases.com/love-meir-powerful-bumper-for-lg-g3/
So after reading many bad reviews i give a try and i bought Love Mei case.
Im very impressed. Yes, case is really big and a little heavy but i like it. I don't like skinny cases so for me its a plus. Another pros. is awesome looking and color. I choose yellow and its really deep and high visibility.
If you don't know its metal case with good quality rubber.
Screen is very sensitive and feel much much better then every screen or case i ever used on G3 or other phones. Its awesome, i would like to be all day on phone because touch is awesome smooth and nice.
What isn't true what you can read everywhere :
Sound quality - you can find many reviews about poor sound / voice quality or mic/speaker. Its not true.
Sound is like without case if not better :0
Poor quality material - another BS. This case is very high quality, nice rubber and metal. Screws are like screws, small and easy to unscrew.
Signal strength - i don't notice any signal change. For better or worst i have the same signal strength. Its another BS
What i think is people bought this case from amazon or other wired store and they get fake/damaged case because even otterbox defender which i had lasts months can lick love mei "screws". Now i feel like Otterbox is low quality and everything what you can read about love mei.
Or 2nd option is somebody doesn't want lost costumer like very popular and liked otterbox, describing love mei as worst ever made case.
Thanks God i bought Love Mei and threw out cheap otterbox.
I prefer buy from love mei store or good eBay seller. I know amazon can sell fake products. I get shocked when i bought RayBan sunglasses. I checked amazon reviews and found pictures compared fake from Amazon and original from RayBan store. On pic. My ( also from RayBan store) were looks like his original and fake just like wow. After that i change mind and i try buy from manufacture / original store or good eBay seller with return.
Love Mei case I buy from http://www.ebay.com/usr/sports_outlet13?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2754
Received a day before estimated if you wander
But i found 2 cons. First is small which doesn't bother and don't care but you should know about it. Im too lazy now to make a picture (maybe later) but i found on YT Its here https://youtu.be/87WF8bWEYZY?t=6m32s
Can you see horizontal metal piece between screen and speaker/camera, etc? Is not glued well. I thought its just his/manufacture or something but i have similar on my case so if you decide to buy you should expect it.
2nd is or was a bigger problem. This piece on top right https://youtu.be/87WF8bWEYZY?t=6m5s is very easy to remove/lost even if you dont touch it. Today i had to unscrew 2 times and put it back. So it can be a problem but i think i found a solution. First time i didn't put correctly in place because now is very hard to remove even if i try. Ill update review if ill have same problem or was my fault.
If you like love mei case go for it.
Update:
So after few weeks of usage i can change my mind only for let say "hearing me" so microphone.
My g-f is already pis off on me and my case because she have to press her phone into ear to hear me. Idk why only she complain. but im ready to buy another new case im so sad because its the best case, for me most perfect for bulk,protection and weight, looking, feeling, etc. Just the best. And my g-f is #1 for me not the case ill miss you love mei case ;;;(
You didn't link to the case.
hahaha the follow up is great good review i was thinking of buying one but gone with the zero lemon as i need more juice!
I'm really hang on between the love mei and otterbox,normally I'm more interested in otterbox,yet seems there don't have some improvement on their design and it may make my G3 a vintage one which seems like a 2010 phone,meanwhile,I'm also stop the forward to lovemei for someone don't think highly of them with some reasons say the huge size,effect signal,too heavy,even some doubt on their workmanship etc.,however,if purchased from amazon or bad eBay seller not included on this issue.Anyway,now I'm relax to purchase directly from lovemeicases.com and thanks for your review again!
Tried that case and it's a bloody brick xD. It's so big and heavy I can't see someone putting it in their pants pocket. Though I found one nice pro: it's a very good self defence weapon. I bet you can actually kill someone with it xD.
Steadily deteriorating performance on my LG4 while in the Love Mei case.
Problem went away immediately when phone removed from case.
RE-casing today(8-JUN-2016) and will report back.
Hello,
I'm looking for some case that allows me to dive under water with my phone up to 10 meters with no worries.
Anyone having any experience here with something similar?
I saw that case
https://www.mobilefun.com/lifeproof...be&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=lifeproof
It's already slim case with underwater protection as they said and also slim and not bulky, that's great to be true indeed but I'm very afraid.
So, could anyone help based on personal experience?
MamomaN said:
Hello,
I'm looking for some case that allows me to dive under water with my phone up to 10 meters with no worries.
Anyone having any experience here with something similar?
I saw that case
https://www.mobilefun.com/lifeproof...be&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=lifeproof
It's already slim case with underwater protection as they said and also slim and not bulky, that's great to be true indeed but I'm very afraid.
So, could anyone help based on personal experience?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard that lifeproof case durability is not good.. Many of them have problems just after several months of usage (most of them, the USB flap is broken).
While I am not an underwater phone user, I once planned to buy a ghostek nautilus or ghostek atomic for the phone, since I heard the brand is quite good.. Perhaps you can check on it. Their review is quite good as well..
StardustGeass said:
I heard that lifeproof case durability is not good.. Many of them have problems just after several months of usage (most of them, the USB flap is broken).
While I am not an underwater phone user, I once planned to buy a ghostek nautilus or ghostek atomic for the phone, since I heard the brand is quite good.. Perhaps you can check on it. Their review is quite good as well..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks very similar to the case I posted
But we need some personal experience about that matter because it will be more honest than the sellers words.
Up
I have bought this two last summer.
https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B079VRXD4G/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B07CJ877VT?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
With the first one you can dive to 2.5m, with the second (according to the description) up to 100m.
I don't know if this is true as I didn't dive, I just had my phone and money with me in the ocean. I just dive for maybe 1.5m. The quality of the second product is better. But the first one has an extra Bracelet for your arm and we kept this one.