Dear all!
As usual, I'm back with a metal bumper review for a Galaxy device! I ordered this Belle Cleave metal bumper on October 7th, and on November 14th it finally arrived! That was 37 days.......ridiculous, but that's because of Canadian customs, holidays, no delivery on weekends. However, this case was worth it, SO worth it. Below I'll explain why. But before you cloud your decision of the blockage of signal and cutting off the NFC capabilities because of my metal back, be aware that many people don't really care for a minor signal drop and/or NFC functionality.
As a Hong Kong-er, we have a saying "要靚唔要命", meaning you'd sacrifice your health for beauty. In this case, I sacrificed supposed signal loss and NFC functionality, but hot damn, you would know why I was willing to.
My current setup consists of the metal bumper, the Spigen GLAS.tR tempered glass screen protector and a metal battery cover (hence no NFC). Please note that you can still use a normal screen protector and the stock battery cover to maintain NFC functionality and Qi charging!
As my typical metal bumper review, I will use my old template from my SII and Galaxy Nexus reviews.
Screw Shapes:
This is used to reference how the case is tightened.
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YOU CAN SEE OTHER COLORS OF THIS CASE FROM THE EBAY LINK BELOW, BUT TO SEE OTHER HIGH DEFINITION ANGLES, CLICK ON THE PHOTOS ABOVE.
Name: Scirocco/Belle Cleave (Aluminium Alloy Blade Metal Frame Bumper)
Material: Aluminium Alloy
Colors Available: Black, Silver, Golden, Grey, Sky Blue, Hot Pink, Navy Blue, Red
Weight: 70g
Weight + Phone Weight: 70g + 168g = 238g
Dimensions: 161.2 x 89.2 x 8.3 mm (L*W*H)
My Rating: 4.8/5
Screw Shape: Nutdriver
What's in the box?:
- Case
- 2x Main Screws
- 2x Extra Screws
- Nutdriver Screw Driver
Pros:
- Screw On Case
- Rigid, very very strong
- High Quality metal - Anodized Metal (Anti-Scratch)
- "Lay on the table" design on the front, when you place the phone on its screen down, it would not scratch the screen.
- More rounded design compared to the original Note 3 frame
- All chargers are supported and do not prevent any third party cables from being inserted.
- IR port perfectly aligned and does not block from the hole.
- Premium quality feel as the added weight makes it feel rigid and feels as if it is a part of the device.
- Easy to pick up from the table as the corners are raised rather than the entire device slab is on the tabletop.
- Easy to take off the S-Pen from the device.
- Speaker plays well.
Cons:
- With a metal backing, the metal back touches the table but it keeps the camera safe. No flush design on the back.
- Heavy - The phone and the case together
- It adds 5mm to each side of the phone, so it makes the phone seem wider and longer by a bit.
- The metal battery cover adds thickness, so when I screwed the case on, the case did not go on perfectly without making yourself feel scared of scratching the sides of the device.
- You cannot take off the battery cover with this case.
- Moisture indicator is blocked with this case.
- Deep headphone jack, but if you own this phone, use a bluetooth headphone!
- Sharp edges on the bottom where the charger port and S-pen holes are, you can scratch yourself, but highly unlikely unless you hold the phone like a dagger haha!
Links:
eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/16112161544...eName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648
Description: If you ever had a Note II with the anmboo metal bumper, this will be no stranger to you. You will feel the same rounded corners and sharp port holes. You can drop this case on the floor from a high height on any surface and only just scratch/dent your case with no harm to your device. You do have some cons, but for the uniqueness in the outside world and also the added weight to the device just makes your phone feel much more premium. The current set up I have makes the phone very sleek, and is amazing to hold. In my defense for signal loss, I always have 2 bars in a specific area in the house, I still get 2 bars. Maximum signal drop is ONE bar if anything, nothing more.
looks very gorgeous but the signal loss is a no go for me, and I assume wireless charging is a loss as well. Maybe if I lived somewhere with perfect reception all the time, but thats just not the case.
babyshanks said:
looks very gorgeous but the signal loss is a no go for me, and I assume wireless charging is a loss as well. Maybe if I lived somewhere with perfect reception all the time, but thats just not the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can always keep your original Note 3 cover on this case, so wireless charging using Qi would still work.
nicholaschum said:
You can always keep your original Note 3 cover on this case, so wireless charging using Qi would still work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh gotcha, didn't realize that metal back was another aftermarket part till I re-read the post.
---------- Post added at 05:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:09 AM ----------
did you try the bumper without the metal back? Any signal loss with the original back and the bumper?
babyshanks said:
[/COLOR]did you try the bumper without the metal back? Any signal loss with the original back and the bumper?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I have....no difference
nicholaschum said:
Yeah I have....no difference
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats a shame, really good looking bumper.
babyshanks said:
thats a shame, really good looking bumper.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually tbh, most metal bumpers drop some signal, you can't really prevent it unless you don't use metal bumpers haha
nicholaschum said:
Actually tbh, most metal bumpers drop some signal, you can't really prevent it unless you don't use metal bumpers haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ya I am aware, one can only hope though.
very nice case but it's not worth sacrificing a bar. Sometimes all you get is a bar depending on where you are and that means you lose signal completely. My experience with aluminum cases was slightly worse than 1 bar as well
thanks for the review though!
Related
Just got two of these after seeing that the guy that makes (designs them) them actually is on XDA a lot and was very helpful while NOT hocking his product everywhere.
*UPDATED*
Originally the case covered part of the upper mic. I just removed the upper portion of the case and realigned it so the mic was centered when I re-attached that case. To easy. That was really the only draw back I had.
Pro's
1- Delivery was fast
2- Case was cheap (9$)
3- Shipping was (5$ for both)
4- Case is VERY low profile
5- Mat Black is oh so smooth and the front rim is a nice glossy black with more grip to it. This is nice as it makes it easy to hang on to.
6- Back design icon is cool looking
7- Kick stand still easy to access
8- Nice port access
9- Doesn't pull my Zagg Invishield HD screen cover off
10- Easy to get on and off
11- Doesn't scratch my phones finish
12- VERY light weight
13- Mat black with red highlights of the phone looks very sexy and pro
14- phone still fits in my pocket easily and doesn't collect dust etc.
15- Snug fit on the phone
16- Bezel is high enough on the front that my phone screen doesn't touch anything when laid on its face.
17- Camera is protected by slight bezel around it.
18- No "case buttons"...you still access the phones buttons which are nice
Con's
1- Power button is a little hard to depress initially but this is because the button is so high on the phones profile. Case flexes to alleviate this after a few uses though. I don't think this is the cases fault
2- Not many styles - My wife liked the Green Cruizer Lite better but not that much better. The android pattern on those cases looked cool but I don't know...after a while I do like the professional and sleek design of the Diztronic better. Plus the Cruizer Lite *looked* a little more bulky
mind attaching a pic?
shipping is only 2.50 on his ebay page.
good review
wish it came with a screen protector (thought it did bc it did with other phones, but it didnt).
note: you can readjust the case starting from the top of the phone to align the mic you said was covered. i noticed it blocked mine after reading your review so i took it off and readjusted the case and it doesnt cover it anymore
Mine doesn't block the upper microphone at all?
Neither does mine. Every port lines up perfect, just like on my RAZR Maxx and EpTouch cases.
ImaWinRAR said:
good review
wish it came with a screen protector (thought it did bc it did with other phones, but it didnt).
note: you can readjust the case starting from the top of the phone to align the mic you said was covered. i noticed it blocked mine after reading your review so i took it off and readjusted the case and it doesnt cover it anymore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IDIOT! (Napoleon Dynamite voice)
Yeah I didn't even have to take the whole thing off...fix and looking perfectly.
*Updated Review*
Got mine in today and it fits nicely and looks good, I just have one main complaint about it....should of covered the buttons...after holding it in hand those holes in the case on the sides get annoying to me, and the thin strip where the volume rocker is, is so flimsy im almost scared it might stretch too much over time, or break...havent had a TPU case with buttons covered that the function was more difficult than the phone without the case on, so dont really see the reasoning why to leave them open now...
to each their own though i guess...
I received my cases as well today. Originally I liked the high gloss translucent one best because it just looks really sharp. After just a couple of hours though, it was covered in smudges and fingerprints(like anything glossy).
The fit on both of the cases I received are spot on. Snug fit, all my buttons/openings line up perfectly, and doesn't add much bulk. Simply great cases for the cost.
I will be sticking with the matte black one for the foreseeable future based on just the smudge factor.
Got to tell you - after listening to so many recommendations from the group here I decided to get the case and boy, I am so glad I did.
The case is snug with minimal footprint, all cut outs match perfectly (prefer this from covered) and the flat black matte just compliments the Evo. The kickstand is also easily accessible and it got here ahead of schedule..
Two thumbs up!
Got my case today as well. Now only if I had the phone to put it in....
SilentSummer said:
Got my case today as well. Now only if I had the phone to put it in....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, received the gloss and matte black case but no phone.
njfoses said:
Same here, received the gloss and matte black case but no phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto.
Kinda bummed but about to sell my 3D and go for tour of local Walmarts.
heres some picture of my matte black case. Love the feel of it and slim fit
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very nice photos! thank you!
Very nice pix. Anyone have the website I can order some from?
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Rippley05 said:
Very nice pix. Anyone have the website I can order some from?
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://tpu-cases.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=48_66
Rippley05 said:
Very nice pix. Anyone have the website I can order some from?
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.amazon.com/Diztronic-Fle...NV6G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338381313&sr=8-1
Also, free Prime shipping for those who qualify
I agree that the power button is a bit difficult to depress initially. >_< That's my only qualm about this case!
sgt. slaughter said:
Got mine in today and it fits nicely and looks good, I just have one main complaint about it....should of covered the buttons...after holding it in hand those holes in the case on the sides get annoying to me, and the thin strip where the volume rocker is, is so flimsy im almost scared it might stretch too much over time, or break...havent had a TPU case with buttons covered that the function was more difficult than the phone without the case on, so dont really see the reasoning why to leave them open now...
to each their own though i guess...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah case looks good overall, though I wish they had a version that covered the buttons and port so that the phone would be more water resistant (read: not waterproof, but at least ports/button holes would be protected from drippy hands at the least). Also, as people mentioned, it would be easier to precisely hit the various buttons if they weren't beneath the lip of the case.
New owner of a Note 3 but long-time lurker of XDA!
Noticed not too many users using aluminum/metal cases so I figured I'd give them a whirl~
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I decided to review this specific case because it's literally everywhere on ebay and seems to be the most popular aluminum case for the Note 3 currently.
1) What I received in the mail
Packaging was incredibly simple.
Here is what I received(This may vary depending on where and whom you buy yours from),
-Aluminum case enclosed in bubblewrap
-Keychain/Mini screwdriver(one side is flat head while the other is a philips screwdriver head)
-Mini bag with spare screws(Not pictured)
2) The Weight.
Weighed my Note 3 first to find it weighing at a paltry 6.05 oz.
After applying the aluminum casing, I found the weight to increase roughly 22%(From 6.05 oz to 7.35 oz)
Being that this is my first case for the Note 3, I'm unsure if the increase in weight is typical for most cases or abnormal.
3) Build Quality.
The casing actually feels very sturdy and tough in the hand despite it's thinness. This case is a SCREW-ON case.
There are rubberized strips inside the bumper to absorb any impact and the back panel actually replaces the stock back panel of the Note 3 to truly reduce bulk size.
But for some strange reason, after installing the case, I felt almost afraid of ever dropping my phone. Although the aluminum is thick and sturdy, I just didn't feel entirely safe holding it in my hand.
The buttons feel great! I actually prefer pushing the casing's buttons rather than the stock buttons.
All the cutouts are very accurate and easily accessible EXCEPT for the headphone jack.
You will NOT be able to use any 3.5mm right-angled cables with this case on!
This wasn't a dealbreaker for me because I never use my phone as my mp3 player.
As expected from anything made out of brushed aluminum, there is no grip to this case. If you are a butterfinger, stay far away from this case.
WARNING: the cutout near the S-Pen is just a tad bit sharp so please be careful when handling!
4) Aesthetics.
I must admit, I've gotten quite a bit of compliments after putting on this case!
It looks quite luxurious but the only downside is the obnoxious Engrish on the back of the casing. The logo almost looks like XXX or something and the description underneath is incredibly redundant(Seriously, it literally says "mobile phone metal frame cover mobile phone set Note 3").
The buttons remind me too much of the iPhone(especially the round volume controls). They look obnoxious on my Note 3 but atleast they work :/
For those who dislike reading long blocks of text,
Pros
-Looks luxurious and expensive
-Wifi is NOT affected by the aluminum casing (Download/Upload speeds were the same with and without the case)
-Buttons feel very good
-Cutouts are very accurate
-Phone does not move around in case due to the screws
-Pretty damn slim for a aluminum case. Does not add much bulk at all
-The added weight is not too large. This may not be a Pro for some.
-Compatible with most if not all screen protectors(I am using an iloome Screenmate Flex Tempered Glass Protector)
Cons
-Weird Engrish writing on the back(There are also blank versions of this case available on the internet!)
-3.5mm right-angled cables do NOT work on this case
-God damn slippery
-Feels somewhat unsafe to drop despite the robustness of the casing. This may not feel the same for other users.
-Gets cold when left untouched
-Sharp corners around S-Pen
-Screws are incredibly small and ridiculously easy to lose if not careful
More pictures!
Biggest complaint I've seen on this type of case is drastic decrease in signal.
Do you have anything to report in regards to signal?
Sent from my SM-N900V
I have this case in grey/silver and I did indeed notice some signal degradation in areas with weak signal. For this reason, I had to switch to a diztronic case. Otherwise this is a beautiful case - though makes the phone look a little thicker from the side view.
blaine07 said:
Biggest complaint I've seen on this type of case is drastic decrease in signal.
Do you have anything to report in regards to signal?
Sent from my SM-N900V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's odd.. I have yet to notice any decrease in signal with this case on. Perhaps this may vary depending on the user's location.
Most if not all aluminum cases cause signal drop. Sometimes it can be drastic and sometimes it can be very minimum. Every case I've owned that's metal is like that. Doesn't matter if it's cheap or expensive.
screws
I lost the screws and do not know where to find new ones, or what kind of screws they are? Can you help me?
I bought one of these cases. While it looks and feels great, i have to agree. It is crazy slippery. Like, really.
Also, more issues i had with it, is that I had practically no GPS signal, neither could I use the NFC. That's a pity, as I got numerous compliments about the case, and I would really like to use it full time. But alas, I am back to my slim fit carbon fiber case.
Can't you apply strategically placed strips of see through plastic armor to make it more grippy?
Does it provide any protection?
Sent from my SM-N9005
Good looking case ruined by their logo.
The case looks very nice - it's a shame the logo and decrease in reception mess it up.
I've got the Z5 premium recently and was very eager to get an otterbox/spigen case on it,sadly nothing,zilch,nah-dah...only cheap plastic cases and expensive aluminium bumpers.
So i found this,the love-mei case.its is also a cheap knockoff of the lunatik case for crapple's iphones (apple has more accessory selections).and decided to do a first ever review of this case.
Items included in the package -
1. rubber casing
2.aluminium outer case
3.screws to secure case & mini allen key
4.other rubbish that adds weight & wastes space.(lanyard,alcohol wipes..)
5.promotional booklet to make you want to spend your dough.(doesn't work for me)
Cost - USD22.79 (as of this posting & free international shipping from China)
(http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOVE-MEI-Go...hash=item25bb04138c:m:mg48pOET49NYLMNtxmzNQdw)
Pros -
1.feels like an otterbox defender case but with scaled up bad ass aluminium metal.
2.encases the phone fully with easy access to dedicated button,earphone jacks and charging port which also serves as dust protectors.
3.makes your z5p looks even bigger than it already is,sort of like how starsaber (from transformer g1victory(japanese anime))merge and become a robot)
4.keeps your phone really safe.i was more worried about making a dent on my floor tiles or hurting my foot than breaking my phone.
5.helps you do weights while running.
6.a good alternative to the otterbox defender case (not that there was one for the z5p to begin with)
Cons -
1. make your phone feels like a brick.(
2.no easy access to sim/sdcard (not that it matters)
3.blocks out the indication lights.
4.taking out the earphone jack is going to be a pain.
5.if someone tries to rob you,this is the next best thing to a knuckle duster (not really a con)
6.no more phone eye candy.
after thoughts -
i have used both otterbox (almost all my phones) and spigen (on my shortlived note 3),this case is a new one for me.i like the idea that it keeps my phone really safe and in a really sturdy case but i do not like the idea of holding a brick nor transforming and adding bulk to an already big phone.
I believe the Aluminum used is not aircraft grade, hence the weight. protection wise,i assure you, if you chose to use this to knock some sense into an idiot, it will be an unforgettable one.
The screen protector used seems to be some glass with cheap/pseudo Oleophobic coating and is still a fingerprint magnet but not a very good one.
i think this case is more for those who have to take their phones outdoors or places where things gets rough pretty quickly.i work in an office environment,so using this is like wearing medieval steel armor into the office while pushing papers.
overall ratings (5 being best) -
Functionality - 4.5
Weight - 1
Design - 3.5 (damn screws)
Eye candy - 3 (black color aluminum,me like)
Weight Specifications -
Case Alone - 7.35 oz
Phone-7.55 oz
Total 14.90 oz
Note 2 with otterbox commuter - 8.70 oz
Z3 tablet with case - 15.05 oz
Picture Links : http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/frostmorefrost/library/Love Mei
All pictures taken with Z5 camera (yes its possible coz i got 2 of em)
This is one of the ugliest things you could do to Xperia Z5 Premium. Why buying such a beautiful device and then make it look like something that came from 1980s? I know it will protect the phone, but I'd rather have my mobile unprotected and beautiful than looking like a mariage betweeen T-800 and a fridge.
I put one of these on my z5 premium dual sim and it looked hideous and the weight was unreal. Don't even try putting your phone in pants pocket with this case. I returned it and got a tw devilcase bumper instead. I wanted something aluminum but that doesn't ruin the device aesthetics.
jontr said:
This is one of the ugliest things you could do to Xperia Z5 Premium. Why buying such a beautiful device and then make it look like something that came from 1980s? I know it will protect the phone, but I'd rather have my mobile unprotected and beautiful than looking like a mariage betweeen T-800 and a fridge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sabooher said:
I put one of these on my z5 premium dual sim and it looked hideous and the weight was unreal. Don't even try putting your phone in pants pocket with this case. I returned it and got a tw devilcase bumper instead. I wanted something aluminum but that doesn't ruin the device aesthetics.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, after using the case for less than a week, i am returning "the fridge".
jontr said:
I'd rather have my mobile unprotected and beautiful
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd rather have mine working, and here's why......
I do very aggressive trail and street riding. I have had several, various phone holders on my MTB and none of them have held my phones securely enough that they don't come loose and hit the dirt or pavement.
There is no lanyard option on a phone other than a few ruggedised phones.
The LOVE MEI case has the lanyard hole and this securely attaches it to the handle bar, this is needed for my other sport as well, I do traditional mountaineering, where everything is attached to you by rope or lanyard, so not to loose it or yourself down a crevasse or off a cliff.
This is a fantastic case for people that are involved in active outdoor sports. I wonder how it will perform dropping it to the ground from 9500ft when sky diving?!
fair enough, but on a daily basis?
Ohhh ya!
jontr said:
fair enough, but on a daily basis?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm switching over my bike tires from summer to winter tires, I do ride (Weather permitting, but no lower than -20C) 12 months of the year.
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When the conditions in the Rocky Mountains, from southern Alberta to north of Jasper National Park, up to and including the Grand Prairie region, I will be doing waterfall ice climbing.
So it was a ruggedized phone, that that could not find to meet my specification criteria(something was always missing on the phone), or a full featured phone in a ruggedized case.
The only phone that came close to my needs in the rugged category was the Kenxinda W8(5.5" - 3000mAh Battery) or the W9(6.0" - 4000mAh battery). Unfortunately, the phone is shipped with a browser redirect malware from the factory(monetary generating malware), easily enough to remove the offending .apk once r00t is acquired, but it remains in the recovery and will always reappear when doing a Factory Reset. What is needed is the ROM, clean it out, scatter file created and a flash to the phone.
Kenxinda will not release the ROM, this is contrary to the Linux open source licensing agreement and Googles licensing agreement. Kenxinda is attempting to hiding their illegal activity by not publishing it or releasing it to the public.
The only way I will mod a phone is if the ROM is available due to some uncalculated brick or semi brick.
http://www.kenxinda.com/pro.php
Kenxinda W8 - 5.5": 84mm Wide x 158mm High x 13.5mm Thick
Kenxinda W9 - 6.0": 88mm Wide x 175mm High x 12.1mm Thick
So after hours of searching for a metallic bumper case that was premium and protective I came across this Chinese bumper case brand which I had low expectations of but it was cheap so I bought it.
After a 14 day wait for it to come from China to the UK, it came in a mediocre but secure packaging which consisted of a box and a plastic wallet to hold the bumper case alongside a screwdriver and a pair of spare screws for the bumper case. Enough rambling now lets get to the case
Pictures:
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So as you can see from the stupidly large images above which i'm not bothered to make smaller , the case comes in two pieces which are secured together with screws, IMO I like this because it reduces the the risk of scratching the device (an awful experience i have had with previous bumper cases with one securing point with past phones) while also giving that manly look . Speaking for the durability of the case it is awesome as the bumper case can withstand knock multiples times without succumbing to a single mark though i have not dropped my S7 on concrete yet i'm sure it should protect it well. Alongside my dBrand skin and this bumper case I have noticed that this phone has drastically got more grippier than my S7 bare or with a Spigen Thin Fit case. The I/O at the bottom are all still accessible with the all headphones and USB cables I have used so far. To end off the pros, DAMN this case looks awesome on the S7 as it really brings out the "curves" of the device.
To end off the only thing I would like to see an improvement in will be for the protection of the camera bump by making the side lip larger so it does not have to bear the brunt of a surface, but this would be impossible without damaging the sleekness of the case. Overall I definitely recommend it!
AliExpress: http://bit.ly/29ooDCb
eBay UK: http://ebay.eu/29acWNl
I've had something similar for Nexus 5 and the signal would drop significantly.
The S7 has all the antennas on the side, how is the reception with the bumper vs without ?
Corbu said:
I've had something similar for Nexus 5 and the signal would drop significantly.
The S7 has all the antennas on the side, how is the reception with the bumper vs without ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be short reception is hit hard as without I had usually 4 bars (indoors) and 5 (out) now its significantly less usually 2-3 bars.
BUT I still have access to 4G and to my usage the change reception did not impact performance when using the case.
MahaDEVELOPER said:
So after hours of searching for a metallic bumper case that was premium and protective I came across this Chinese bumper case brand which I had low expectations of but it was cheap so I bought it.
After a 14 day wait for it to come from China to the UK, it came in a mediocre but secure packaging which consisted of a box and a plastic wallet to hold the bumper case alongside a screwdriver and a pair of spare screws for the bumper case. Enough rambling now lets get to the case
Pictures:
So as you can see from the stupidly large images above which i'm not bothered to make smaller , the case comes in two pieces which are secured together with screws, IMO I like this because it reduces the the risk of scratching the device (an awful experience i have had with previous bumper cases with one securing point with past phones) while also giving that manly look . Speaking for the durability of the case it is awesome as the bumper case can withstand knock multiples times without succumbing to a single mark though i have not dropped my S7 on concrete yet i'm sure it should protect it well. Alongside my dBrand skin and this bumper case I have noticed that this phone has drastically got more grippier than my S7 bare or with a Spigen Thin Fit case. The I/O at the bottom are all still accessible with the all headphones and USB cables I have used so far. To end off the pros, DAMN this case looks awesome on the S7 as it really brings out the "curves" of the device.
To end off the only thing I would like to see an improvement in will be for the protection of the camera bump by making the side lip larger so it does not have to bear the brunt of a surface, but this would be impossible without damaging the sleekness of the case. Overall I definitely recommend it!
AliExpress: http://bit.ly/29ooDCb
eBay UK: http://ebay.eu/29acWNl
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Wow pictures look great! (obviously taken with an LG G4)...
Hey everyone, haven't done a review of anything in forever but I just had to take some photos and get my first impressions out for the Tudia Merge since for the Razor Phone 2 our case options thus far have been limited mostly to the OEM case which have been getting some mixed reviews. This review is NOT sponsored, I bought this myself. At the discounted price they were offering pre-release through a coupon code on reddit it was a no-brainer to try out considering the cost and availability of the OEM options.
The Tudia Merge is a two piece case, made with what seems to be a slightly thinner TPU material with a polycarbonate plate. Anyone familiar with Seidio and Spigen will immediately recognize this kind of construction. Compared to my Seidio Dilex that I had for my U11, i would say the TPU material is a little more rigid and with a more paper-like texture. It is more matte but picks up less of my greasy fingerprints. Being a two piece case means that you can keep your skin on the phone for when you wanna still have some abrasion protection should you want to run without the case at any point. The polycarbonate plate has a matte soft touch finish to it. I generally hate soft touch black matte because it has a tendency to show grease marks. I put this up on my forehead (gross), and it didn't automatically turn in to a freshly detailed black car. As a bonus to having a two piece construction like this, the annoying peeling sound from the stock glass back when you push down on it is gone since you can't push down on the back anymore...not exactly a fix for the problem in the first place but its a good side effect nonetheless. My generic wireless charger still works through the entire case.
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Aside from the two angled bands at the bottom and some debossed branding, the back of the case is without much flair, and maintains the slab profile of the phone. There are cutouts for both the camera and the RGB snakes on the back. Personally I would have loved to somehow have the RGB covered by clear polycarb but as recessed as it is I feel like the light will be adequately protected.
I was hoping the front would move in towards the screen more as we do have some significant screen bezel on the side which could be used for a more secure hold. The sides of the front should have no issues clearing most tempered glass screen protectors unless you have one that goes all the way to the edge of the glass. Because of the relatively shallow grab of the front, it is possible to peel the case off with the polycarb plate attached. I have had other cases where you could do that but they never fell out of the case in a drop.
Volume buttons are your standard raised pieces with tabs keeping them connected to the case. The tab sections are pretty robust and the buttons retain their clickiness, with the added benefit of having a slightly bigger footprint due to the shape. The bigger shape also makes it feel a bit more like a rocker switch to the touch.
Charging port is recessed quite a bit due to the case thickness. Tudia did make the opening bigger too accommodate all sorts of fat cable plug ends. It works with the stock cable of course but will also fit the more generic metal wrapped ends.
Power button is recessed with enough of a taper and a large enough cutout to not interfere with fingerprint sensor operation. It did take a slight bit of an adjustment on my part due to the fact that I have small hands so my normal grip when unlocking from picking the phone up is at a bit of an angle instead of fingertip dead on. If you can comfortably grip the phone and your fingers land perpendicular to the screen surface, it should not be much of an issue.
On my Spigen liquid crystal case for my U11 there are some cutouts on the corners where the phone does not actually make contact with the case. This is supposed to allow for better deflection of drop forces on the corner which should provide better protection by having less points of contact in the critical corners so more of the force makes it way though the case body instead of transferring to the phone. The Merge also looks to have this feature, whether it works I hope I never find out.
Overall I would say that at this price, first impressions are that it would probably do the job while maintaining the industrial aesthetics of the phone. Unfortunately I don't drop my phones very often nor am I going to drop my personal phone on purpose for a drop test so it might be awhile before there's any updates from me regarding the actual protective properties of this case for those of you that would depend on this to protect from daily drops. I will say that in comparison to many cases that I've owned from various brands, this case is probably about 80-90% what a Seidio two-piece non active or rugged case would be which should do the job for most people that aren't Ethan Hunt.
Excellent informative review! I really appreciated your breadth of coverage and greatly appreciated the photos you took. Thank you!
I also have the exact same case, like it so far. Hope I never get to "test it out" by dropping it... Does exactly like the OP says it does. Feels nice in the hands, takes the sharpness off the squared edges of the phone, puts my mind at ease. I'm no longer afraid to set it down anywhere anymore. I would recommend it
Is it bulkier then Spigen air cushion case?
I've had this case for about a month, but mine is grey. I'm not pleased... The back I'd super easy to scratch, and quite ugly.