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:
Related
No affiliation with them, just really pleased with this case. It's a little snug, but looks and works amazing.
I ended up buying two of them. ;-)
http://www.lightwedge.com/Shop/Kindle-Fire/Verso-Prologue-Antique-Cover-Size-E-Tan
http://www.lightwedge.com/Shop/Kindle-Fire/Verso-Prologue-Antique-Cover-Size-E-Red
Wish they made one that would fit a 8.9 tablet!
It doesn't look like it can support the tab in viewing mode. It looks kind of nifty if you like that kind of look, but otherwise is limited as a case.
True, if you want to set it on a desk or table this is not the case for you.
My dock at home takes care of that for me.
This case lets me put it in my bag fairly protected, and yeah I really like the style. I can feel all sophisticated while I play Angry Birds.
Interesting! I'm also using a Verso (Kindle Fire) case for my 7.7. Gorgeous case and fits surprisingly well.
http://www.amazon.com/Verso-Artist-...UG/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1337310238&sr=8-12
You should post a picture of the tab in it...
Yes, please post pictures. $40 is a bit much to take on just word.
After doing some online research about this case I decided to give it a try.
I had this cover on for a few weeks and was overly pleased on how it looked and felt. It is indeed a tight fit. You have it squeeze the tab into the strap, very carefully. The top right strap will press down on the power button so you have to be careful there.
I had more than a few people comment on it. It is very stylish, functional and it does not look like you are carrying around an electronic device, especially something as expensive as our tablet.
I did not have any issues other people are claiming with this case. It fits very well with our tablet. It lies flat so the top does not bulge out. That was my main concern about the case.
HOWEVER, this is a huge one, the inside pocket where you can either store documents or use it as a handle, caused an indentation on my screen - a burn-in mark. I did not notice it until I changed my lockscreen to a white/light background.
I then noticed it whenever I had a non dark background in that section. I ran a screen test and sure enough, there is the burn-in outline of where the inside pocket forms.
I took a picture, hopefully it will come out clearly.
So beware if you are going to purchase this case. If it wasn't for the burn-in, I would have highly recommended it.
Wow, thanks for the warning. I double checked my tablet and I don't see that mark but I might see if I can use something to remove that extra pocket since I don't use it.
I have been using the official Samsung 7.7 book cover case since I got a good deal on it. Didn't know how nice of a case that is!
Like the look but not a fan of the flip case with no zipper. I can just use the sleeve in that case. Got myself a brookstone case. Love it.
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
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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.
While there are two distinct OP's regarding skins in this section, there is not set place to see pictures of then without scrolling through 100's of pages to find them.
What I have below is a consolidated picture OP of the skins that I have and future skins to make choosing which skin you want easier. So far I have tried dbrand and Slick Wraps skins for my Nexus 6 and I will write my thoughts of both companies down below as well. I am a bit of an accessories hoarder when it comes to my phones so I'm happy to share more about each one with the forum. I will be buying more skins and updating my OP when I get them with plenty of pictures, don't be afraid to ask for more pictures because I have a plethora of them.
dbrand: dbrand.comdbrand.com
I have been ordering from dbrand for a while now, and I enjoy their skins. They have a nice amount of customization when it comes to phones especially the Nexus line. dbrand offers accents, back skins as well as front skins and you can order them in any arrangement that you choose. Their skins are made with 3M vinyl which means the material is the best quality they can use for skins. The color choices that dbrand offers are fairly standard, but not near as large as some other companies out there. The company ships from Canada which means you can expect the delivery time in the US to be 1-2 weeks. I've had orders take much longer than that (30+ days) but that is not normal and it is caused by USPS's slow movement. The cut of dbrand's skins is very precise leaving you with a virtually edge to edge fit. If you install the skin correctly you will have a fantastic looking device that is sure to attract many looks. I have people ask me if my phone was custom made and how did you get that back etc... with many of the skins that I have used including SW.
SlickWraps (SW): slickwraps.com
Initially I had some issues with SW not sending out shipping emails when I first purchased my Nexus skins. SW rep on the forum (usually Weston, but there are others who use the account) was nice enough to fix everything for me. I then ran into an issue with USPS delivering my package to the wrong address (the correct one was on there) but thats not SW's fault. They shipping my order out swiftly, and it arrived in about 5 days which is great compared to dbrand. SW also uses 3M vinyl which as mentioned above is the best material for skins. They also have custom colors made by 3M for them and a couple of other companies. Their color selection is superior to any other company so far, and they offer the Motorola "M" cutout on their Nexus 6 skins. Some people may like this while others may not (I personally like it). SW makes back skins, frame skins, and front skins which can give you a nice 360 degree coverage on your phone. SW also has a "goof" policy which states that SW will replace your skin if you "goof" up the install. This is great for those of us that aren't the best at installing skins or are new to it and make a mistake. Their skins fit is identical to dbrand in my experience so you don't have to worry about which one fits better. It's a matter of preference and what color/style of skin you want to buy. It should also be noted that SW does accept custom orders for skins. I ordered some without the Motorola "M" cutout and and another with just the Nexus "X". If you are on the edge between the two companies the option to have your skin customized should aide with that decision. If you contact Slickwraps (send Weston a message) with your order # and request he will do his best to accommodate you. I will post pictures of the "custom" ones I ordered below in addition to the regular skins.
I recommend both companies skins based on my experiences, and I hope this guide helps you decide what is better for you.
Carbon Fiber:
The texture is very subtle on this skin and it provides more grip than the stock plastic back. The look is unmistakably carbon fiber, but we know the skin is made out of vinyl. The skin itself is moderately reflective while maintaining the nice style of carbon fiber.
Red (dbrand)
Black (dbrand)
Blue (dbrand)
Green (SW)
Metal:
The texture of this is very similar to raw steel or aluminum with lines/ridges running along the vinyl. The feel is very slightly "ribbed" and is slightly more slippery than the carbon skins above. The skin is moderately reflective depending on which color you get. Each color has a "metal" like undertone if you look at it in the correct lighting.
Silver Titanium (dbrand)
Black Titanium
Leather:
This skin has a very nice leather look to it. There are a couple different styles of texturing as far as the leather look goes. I have the brown leather one pictured below for reference . The skin is not very reflective at all and has the most grip out of all of the textures. The feel is soft and very close to synthetic leather. My wife described it as a "snakeskin texture" and was quite impressed by it.
Brown (SW)
White "Alligator" (SW)
Color:
The "color" skins are exactly that, different colors without having any real texture. The skins have a low reflectiveness and are generally smooth with a very subtle texturing. Their texture is almost identical to the "matte" skins. There isn't much else to say about these, but note that they are more "grippy" than the factory back. These skins don't attract or show fingerprints from what I have seen.
Blue (dbrand)
Matte:
The matte skins are an almost identical texture to the color series which means they are generally very smooth. As the name suggests the skin is indeed "matte" with virtually no reflectiveness to it. The skins is quite "slippery" but it still has more grip that the phone without one.
Update: Other users have reported that they don't have any issues with fingerprints showing up. The fingerprints and oil issue may just be my hands, however I will see if other members experience the same thing that I did. As always everyone's experience can vary based on how "oily" their hands are naturally.
Black (dbrand)
Here are some quick guides that I made on installing and removing the vinyl skins:
Removal (Slickwraps)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueAoROEB_tY
Installation (Slickwraps)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_DXoYgpLEs
Installation of the dbrand front skin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coyWtBvN2WQ&feature=youtu.be
Installation of the SlickWraps side skin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNjjziStkNo&feature=youtu.be
MODS:
Off topic discussion is allowed to an extent, but I do not want any "x company is better than y" or bashing in my OP. Personal experiences are okay as long as they follow the forums rules and don't "bash" any company in a manner which could be taken the wrong way.
Please be respectful of your fellow forums members and don't start any arguing in my OP or you will be reported. There is too much OT arguing on here lately and thats not what this forum is for. Remember we are all here to help each other
All of the Skins that I currently have together:
new pictures are in a post down below due the restriction of 60 images per post with the 'img' tag.(See post #4)
Update [12/20]
I will add/revise to this OP even though I no longer own a Nexus 6 (moved on to the 6P). I still have a fair amount of skins, and will gladly answer any questions regarding any of the ones in this OP or in general.
I've used multiple skins from both companies on my nexus 5 and i found both had pros and cons.
Here are my experiences.
dbrand:
Pros - great price, modular purchasing, quick delivery, great textures, thick vinyl (feels quality and durable) . good side parts.
Cons - my nexus just didn't want to align with the cut outs. Glue seeped from the sides and had to be trimmed otherwise a thick, white edge would be visible
Slickwraps:
Pros - for my nexus, a more accurate cutting, no seepage (except on one design which I got a free replacement for), great customer service
Cons - felt less textured and thinner. Didn't like how the sides fit as much.
These are my personal experiences with my nexus 5. They will differ to those of others.
Overall I've enjoyed using both and wouldn't hesitate to recommend either company. They're both really good at what they do. I've had both, I'll have both again.
Pilz said:
While there are two distinct OP's regarding skins in this section, there is not set place to see pictures of then without scrolling through 100's of pages to find them.
What I have below is a consolidated picture OP of the skins that I have and future skins to make choosing which skin you want easier. So far I have tried dbrand and Slick Wraps skins for my Nexus 6 and I will write my thoughts of both companies down below as well. I am a bit of an accessories hoarder when it comes to my phones so I'm happy to share more about each one with the forum. I will be buying more skins and updating my OP when I get them with plenty of pictures, don't be afraid to ask for more pictures because I have a plethora of them.
dbrand: dbrand.comdbrand.com
I have been ordering from dbrand for a while now, and I enjoy their skins. They have a nice amount of customization when it comes to phones especially the Nexus line. dbrand offers accents, back skins as well as front skins and you can order them in any arrangement that you choose. Their skins are made with 3M vinyl which means the material is the best quality they can use for skins. The color choices that dbrand offers are fairly standard, but not near as large as some other companies out there. The company ships from Canada which means you can expect the delivery time in the US to be 1-2 weeks. I've had orders take much longer than that (30+ days) but that is not normal and it is caused by USPS's slow movement. The cut of dbrand's skins is very precise leaving you with a virtually edge to edge fit. If you install the skin correctly you will have a fantastic looking device that is sure to attract many looks. I have people ask me if my phone was custom made and how did you get that back etc... with many of the skins that I have used including SW.
SlickWraps (SW): slickwraps.com
Initially I had some issues with SW not sending out shipping emails when I first purchased my Nexus skins. SW rep on the forum (usually Weston, but there are others who use the account) was nice enough to fix everything for me. I then ran into an issue with USPS delivering my package to the wrong address (the correct one was on there) but thats not SW's fault. They shipping my order out swiftly, and it arrived in about 5 days which is great compared to dbrand. SW also uses 3M vinyl which as mentioned above is the best material for skins. They also have custom colors made by 3M for them and a couple of other companies. Their color selection is superior to any other company so far, and they offer the Motorola "M" cutout on their Nexus 6 skins. Some people may like this while others may not (I personally like it). SW makes back skins, frame skins, and front skins which can give you a nice 360 degree coverage on your phone. SW also has a "goof" policy which states that SW will replace your skin if you "goof" up the install. This is great for those of us that aren't the best at installing skins or are new to it and make a mistake. Their skins fit is identical to dbrand in my experience so you don't have to worry about which one fits better. It's a matter of preference and what color/style of skin you want to buy.
I recommend both companies skins based on my experiences, and I hope this guide helps you decide what is better for you.
Coming soon:
Purple Carbon (SW)
Alligator White Leather (SW)
Edit: Pictures fixed!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for these!!! I'm curious, do you switch your skins often? Do they remove fairly easily and put back on the backing for later use? Or is it a one and done type thing. I'm looking at buying a few of these and have never used either company before. Thanks again!
Green Only "X" cutout (SW)
Purple (SW)
Orange no cutouts (SW)
Silver (SW)
Natural Series
There are a variety of "skins" in the natural series ranging from real cork to Horween Leather. I have the Bamboo posted below and soon I will have the leather ones. The bamboo is exactly that, bamboo. It is smooth as you would expect but you can still feel the grain which gives it a nice subtle texture. There is not real "grip" with the real bamboo, but lets be honest we buy the bamboo for how it looks. The bamboo is thicker than the standard skin so be careful when you buy it because not all cases may work. It does work with the Spigen Ultra Hybrid but it makes the screen virtually flush with the case. The bamboo is about as thick as a tempered glass screen protector and its flexible enough to curve with the phone. The adhesive works really well on the phone and is much stronger than the standard ones. To sum it up you won't be disappointed with the bamboo!
Real Horween Leather:
The Horween leather "skins" if you call them that are excellent quality. They look feel and even smell as good as you would expect leather to. SlickWraps uses the same leather as the Moto X 2014 so you know that its quality leather. I currently have the Dark Brown (football will be here Friday 2/13) and I could not be happier. The leather can be installed instead of the factory back which allows it to sit flush with the frame to give you that "factory fresh" OEM look. These are the best hands down "skin" you can buy at the moment. The leather will give you a huge amount of grip compared to the stock OEM back plate not to mention the nice look it provides. The leather itself is thicker than a standard skin as you would expect and comes in close to the bamboo's thickness. Using a case over the leather will be hard without using it as a replacement back. I also had a piece custom cut to fit the back of my Spigen Ultra Hybrid case so that I can have more grip than the slippery clear PC back it has. Overall you cannot go wrong with Horween leather and if you want a unique phone use it as a back replacement its a simple process. There is a guide here on XDA by another member showing the process (I did it and it took ~15 minutes from start to finish)
Dark Brown Horween Leather:
(I "aged" my leather on my phone so it looked more broken in because leather looks better when it gets used )
Camera Accent and Motorola "M" are from dbrand
Bamboo:
[URL=http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Tmpilz/media/Bamboo%20Nexus%206/IMG_20150130_162431437_HDR%202.jpg.html]
woah I don't even like green color that much but daaang! this green looks awesome on the phone!
thanks for the pics !
th3xeroeagle said:
woah I don't even like green color that much but daaang! this green looks awesome on the phone!
thanks for the pics !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its brighter than I imagined, but it looks awesome with the blue supcase and blue camera accent. Its going to be my DD for a while.
I've has issues with slicks wraps and won't ever purchase from them again. I made a comment on a dbrand Facebook post about the crap slick starts on XDA. Slickwrapa went on my Facebook and found my company and wrote in to all the officers of my company stating I was harassing them. They even went as far to screen shot my facebook comments and demand my work change our internet policy. I'm an honest buyer and give honest reviews. But I can not believe the amount of effort they went through to track me down and treaten my place of work for something I posted on Facebook on the weekend.
1SiK1500 said:
I've has issues with slicks wraps and won't ever purchase from them again. I made a comment on a dbrand Facebook post about the crap slick starts on XDA. Slickwrapa went on my Facebook and found my company and wrote in to all the officers of my company stating I was harassing them. They even went as far to screen shot my facebook comments and demand my work change our internet policy. I'm an honest buyer and give honest reviews. But I can not believe the amount of effort they went through to track me down and treaten my place of work for something I posted on Facebook on the weekend.
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Click to collapse
That is rather unfortunate I never use my social media accounts for anything other than connecting with friends and family. I also don't have my real name on there for privacy reasons I keep it minimal and my friends know this. I'm sorry to hear about that, I believe I read about your experience on the 'posts to page' section on FB. I would not tolerate someone harassing me because what you do outside of work is your business not your companies. It's not my business to comment on these thing, but I hope that you can get this sorted out.
Now that I'm sufficiently of topic I wanted to say that I'm going to get some more dbrand skins as well. I was thinking about matte white and maybe another color series one. Does anyone have recommendations or want to see any in particular?
I'm rather found of the titanium skin on the blue nexus. I'll post some pictures soon.
1SiK1500 said:
I'm rather found of the titanium skin on the blue nexus. I'll post some pictures soon.
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Click to collapse
That was my favorite skin but I only had it on my phone for a short time because of a RMA. My Nexus is now the cloud white color so that's why I have both colors pictured above. The leather looks nice too on the CW Nexus. I'll see how the purple one turns out when it arrives.
Edit: I'll update you guys when I get a shipping notice from SW for my purple CF and white leather skins.
SW skins seek be here by Friday. Look for pictures then, I will update the OP.
Pilz said:
SW skins seek be here by Friday. Look for pictures then, I will update the OP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pilz.
Superb work chap. I actually spend days scouring both the DB and SW thread for pictures. Living in the U.K things get slightly inconvenient when importing products over from the states.
Just before you started this thread I ended up placing an order for a couple of skins from SW mainly because I liked the way Weston conducts himself on here.
Seeing your old MB on a titanium looks lovely. This will be the first I install. How did you find it in terms of fingerprinting?
Also how would you say these types of skins would fair against repeatedly placing and removing from a leather pouch?
Regards
S
ShahV said:
Pilz.
Superb work chap. I actually spend days scouring both the DB and SW thread for pictures. Living in the U.K things get slightly inconvenient when importing products over from the states.
Just before you started this thread I ended up placing an order for a couple of skins from SW mainly because I liked the way Weston conducts himself on here.
Seeing your old MB on a titanium looks lovely. This will be the first I install. How did you find it in terms of fingerprinting?
Also how would you say these types of skins would fair against repeatedly placing and removing from a leather pouch?
Regards
S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the kind words!
The MB and titanium skin was my favorite set up until I got the cloud white Nexus.
The only one that attracted fingerprints was the matte black, all of the other ones were great at no shoeing finger prints.
I think all of the skins would be fine in s leather pouch with the exception of the 'leather' skin. My only concern with the leather style skin is the amount of grip it had compared to the other skins. It has a softer feel to it which over time could wear from going into and out if a pouch. I've never had any skin start to peel on me and I had the same skin on one of my G3's for 4-5months.
I use a case on my phone and I also have a pouch (not a leather one) and even with the constant changing of cases I haven't had any issues. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask away. I just started my spring semester so I will do my best to respond in a timely manner, but engineering work gets very time consuming.
This is really making me want a leather one. I may have to pull the trigger on it
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
iomthd said:
This is really making me want a leather one. I may have to pull the trigger on it
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you aren't sure my white one is coming by Friday (alligator texture) and I could post more pictures of my brown leather one. It has a nice feel and the most grip out of all the textures. I think the wood skins are a close second, but I don't have on currently. I might get the mahogany or teak in the future.
I am open to suggestions for skins if anyone wants to see one in particular I will consider it for my next order.
Great points. Here are my thoughts on the 2 brands as I've had both for the Nexus 6. I did note that the Nexus logo on the dbrand is a little wider than the one on the slickwraps. Other from that, I prefer the M logo versus the filled or exposed circle. I feel like the exposed circle breaks the lines, but the filled one leaves a big empty gap that looks a little off. On the other hand, I like the M logo, but the edge of the middle of the M is sharp and has me worried that it may eventually peel. time should tell.
dbrand
Pros:
- Great customer service! My initial order went missing over 15 days. I emailed them about it, and they immediately sent out replacement ones.
- More customization options on the site in regards to the Nexus logo and the circle.
- Website allows you to see what it will look like with the color phone you have and not covering the sides
Cons:
- Shipping to me is terrible. the replacement order that they sent me? I'm still waiting on it. And it's been close to a month. I actually ordered more of them because of the great customer service. So I have 2 seperate orders that were shipped on 12/12 that I have yet to receive.
slickwraps
Pros:
- Colors! Tons of selection of colors and styles. I'm in CF heaven right now
- More coverage. If you want to cover the sides, you have the option. slickwraps seems to do a good job of offering coverage of the sides and corners. I noticed this on the iPhone 6 as well, where the wrap goes completely around the corners
- Shipping is fast and free. I chose the slowest/free method, and I received mine in about a week. (I was away at CES, so I don't know exactly when it arrived.) Compared to paying $3 for shipping, it taking a month now....
Cons:
- Website experience isn't as good. Not sure if it's my computer or not, but using Chrome, I can't hit the devices button. So I can never get to the nexus 6 page without googling it. Works fine in IE. Also, when I select Back Only, I wish it would show the back only. This would give me a better idea of what it will like.
Overall, I started out using dbrand since they had great customer service, and they were the first to have N6 wraps available. However, I may still with slickwraps for now since they have the M logo cutout (which I prefer,) and shipping to me is a lot quicker and free. Both have excellent products and I don't think you can go wrong with either one.
The purple CF and white leather (alligator texture) arrived today. Pictures will be up soon
Pilz said:
The purple CF and white leather (alligator texture) arrived today. Pictures will be up soon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
USPS is on the ball yet again.
You ordered this Monday?
Free Shipping to USA is pretty badass.
Weston
Slickwraps.com
slickwraps said:
USPS is on the ball yet again.
You ordered this Monday?
Free Shipping to USA is pretty badass.
Weston
Slickwraps.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I believe so, and USPS actually put my mail in the right mailbox this time!
I updated the OP with new pictures. I will take better ones when its daylight tomorrow if I get some free time.
I have Orange CF and another Green CF coming from SW with some changes check back for pictures and updates.
Hello everyone.
I was sent this case over from artech21 for a material review and general overview of the case. Since the phone is not out yet I cant do a full review but i can tell you what i thought of the materials and how I feel its built.
So lets start off like this. if you have ever had a artech21 Vivid Arkansas series case before for a previous phone then its very similar but at the same time they have made some changes to it for the better . For me i had the dark blue and gold version for my Note 5. I loved this case but the second layer didn't really stay on the side well enough for my liking because it had to be placed under the tpu material on the sides to hole it down.
Well on this case they have fixed that. Now the side rest right against the tpu vs under the tpu. The secondary shell/hard plastic also clips in to place a lot nicer than my note 5 version did. With the case put together its flexible of course but ridged enough to feel good in the hand with out a phone in it. I feel once i get a phone in this case it will fell very good and offer up a far bit of protection. From the photos you can see that they kept there nice and discrete labeling.
Hope this overview helps.
Mod edit: Sales link removed.
Sorry everybody I did have an affiliate link here on purpose I did not do it intentionally.
Mod edit: Affiliate links removed.
Image Links sorry tried posting but it they was massive.
Inside of case
Back of case with secondary hard plastic on.
Back of case setting next to hard plastic piece.
No matter how protective case is, it should still look appealing. IMO this one doesn't even come close to something I would put on my phone, even if they gave me a 100% guarantee that it would protect my phone.
elijahblake said:
No matter how protective case is, it should still look appealing. IMO this one doesn't even come close to something I would put on my phone, even if they gave me a 100% guarantee that it would protect my phone.
Click to expand...
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It's fair to not like how the case looks, but its not like you represent the majority of humanity haha. It's not really my cup of tea either, but so what?
Prfndhatrdofman said:
It's fair to not like how the case looks, but its not like you represent the majority of humanity haha. It's not really my cup of tea either, but so what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
make sense
52brandon said:
lol, "military grade" is just a new trendy term. I read a long ass article about how there's a million criteria to certify something as "military grade" and any manufacturer can brand their products as "military grade". That's not to say they're bad cases by any means, just that that is probably the most misleading and overused term of 2016. From cars to now cell-phone cases. It's not like an otterbox can be used to replace a ceramic plate in a pinch like they make that **** sound
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i aint gonna say that even iron man got beat-up as shioiiit , the most important thing is that stop abuse the phone
dallasmanic said:
i aint gonna say that even iron man got beat-up as shioiiit , the most important thing is that stop abuse the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% in agreement with you there. I was just stating that "military grade" is the most misleading term in product advertisement today
krypticos said:
Hello everyone.
I was sent this case over from artech21 for a material review and general overview of the case. Since the phone is not out yet I cant do a full review but i can tell you what i thought of the materials and how I feel its built.
So lets start off like this. if you have ever had a artech21 Vivid Arkansas series case before for a previous phone then its very similar but at the same time they have made some changes to it for the better . For me i had the dark blue and gold version for my Note 5. I loved this case but the second layer didn't really stay on the side well enough for my liking because it had to be placed under the tpu material on the sides to hole it down.
Well on this case they have fixed that. Now the side rest right against the tpu vs under the tpu. The secondary shell/hard plastic also clips in to place a lot nicer than my note 5 version did. With the case put together its flexible of course but ridged enough to feel good in the hand with out a phone in it. I feel once i get a phone in this case it will fell very good and offer up a far bit of protection. From the photos you can see that they kept there nice and discrete labeling.
Hope this overview helps.
Mod edit: Sales link removed.
Sorry everybody I did have an affiliate link here on purpose I did not do it intentionally.
Mod edit: Affiliate links removed.
Image Links sorry tried posting but it they was massive.
Inside of case
Back of case with secondary hard plastic on.
Back of case setting next to hard plastic piece.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The sales link has been removed from your OP. Artech 21 is actively recruiting XDA members to spam and sell on their behalf. This will not be tolerated.
Thanks for understanding.
Put in my pre order but that's a lot of glass with the 2 screens and folded back is my plan if there is no peek feature for notifications...
Hearing its shipping with a bumper in white but has any seen any ideas on cases.
That's an expensive phone and 100% different form size to get used to...seeing dropping it as easy till you get use to it.
I have been thinking about the same thing, I think it kind of depends on how you want to carry your Duo. I think there will be some challenges because many common case options will either mess with the aesthetics of the Duo or Cause problems with the folding action of the device.
Some options may be:
-There are Skins available that will protect it from case scratching.
-There are glass protectors that can be applied to the screens. (Possibly the external panels but I am not certain on that one)
-There is a type of belt clip that reminds me of the old Blackberry holsters (By Kensington)
-There are generic belt holsters that will likely work.
-There are also belt pouches that could be used to carry the Duo with some accessories (that will likely be a bit much for most people tho)
Cheers,
BR
It's definitely going to be difficult to completely protect. I'm curious as to how well the bumper adhesive will hold up to day after day of pulling it out and putting it back in pockets. It looks like the lip of the bumper would be prone to catching or grabbing pocket seams or other rough materials.
scienceguylabs said:
It's definitely going to be difficult to completely protect. I'm curious as to how well the bumper adhesive will hold up to day after day of pulling it out and putting it back in pockets. It looks like the lip of the bumper would be prone to catching or grabbing pocket seams or other rough materials.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, I have been considering case options, I don't want it too snug so the case does not stress the bumpers and cause them to fall off. I like to have something that protects, allows easy carry with good access. I don't want something too big that will be cumbersome. A fine line between too little and too much
Cheers,
BR
Belt Holster Case for Microsoft Surface Duo https://store.kensington.com/products/belt-holster-for-microsoft-surface-duo
Might get this myself
Looks like Dbrand for now...but the youtubes of people trying the demo models at Best Buy and Att are not looking good. Each one has super sketchy software that is not working!
T&C said:
Looks like Dbrand for now...but the youtubes of people trying the demo models at Best Buy and Att are not looking good. Each one has super sketchy software that is not working!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am pretty sure that is retail demo mode. Because i went to best buy and they let me use it before they put it in demo mode and it was smooth as butter. tested it after demo mode and it was horrible.
Went to an At&t store today and got to spend about a hour with it...the phone was really nice, crazy thin but its just super awkward to text and type.
The the keyboard is wide enough that you have to use 2 hands and just couldn't get comfortable.
I would download swiftkey because lots of mistakes typing with the standard keyboard.
Camara was average quality and even running two apps, youtube and email it just was hard to type and hold the phone in book mode and feel comfortable.
I did put the bumper and zero protection. I see a lot of people dropping this phone.
I think for the cost I'm going to wait it out and see what the reviewers and influencers say...Coming from a 5g phone its going to be hard to take a step backwards.
Interested to see what you all think once you get it in hand.
T&C said:
Went to an At&t store today and got to spend about a hour with it...the phone was really nice, crazy thin but its just super awkward to text and type.
The the keyboard is wide enough that you have to use 2 hands and just couldn't get comfortable.
I would download swiftkey because lots of mistakes typing with the standard keyboard.
Camara was average quality and even running two apps, youtube and email it just was hard to type and hold the phone in book mode and feel comfortable.
I did but on the bumper and zero protection. I see a lot of people dropping this phone.
I think for the cost I'm going to wait it out and see what the reviewers and influencers say...Coming from a 5g phone its going to be hard to take a step backwards.
Interested to see what you all think once you get it in hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its funny. Microsoft using Swiftkey as a default keyboard
avetny said:
its funny. Microsoft using Swiftkey as a default keyboard
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Click to collapse
Didnt look swiftkey for the stock keyboard and didnt see any adjustment in the keyboard size also and or the number row?
T&C said:
Didnt look swiftkey for the stock keyboard and didnt see any adjustment in the keyboard size also and or the number row?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is Swiftkey, (shows in the specs) that said, If I recall, there is some customization that makes it act certain ways in certain situations.
Cheers,
BR
The bumpers are lint magnets. Not sure how long I will be keeping them on
I don't think they are going to offer any protection anyway...
It will be interesting to see in a few weeks the post of people dropping these and the outcome!
This does not look to offer total protection, bit I dig the folio style and functionality.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/otterb...oft-surface-duo-black/6422085.p?skuId=6422085
https://www.otterbox.com/en-us/surf...aaa—&cjevent=c0134510f5d311ea80ba02690a240612
2 versions here
Try some of the Nintendo DS Carry cases that are still around. It has virtually the same form factor and I can confirm the Duo fits snugly inside of them.
---------- Post added at 01:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:40 PM ----------
Bandage said:
This does not look to offer total protection, bit I dig the folio style and functionality.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/otterb...oft-surface-duo-black/6422085.p?skuId=6422085
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Click to collapse
I got this case for two reasons: 1 ) I drop everything. Repeatedly. 2) I'm not using my Duo as a phone. In fact I turned the ringer off so spam calls don't bother me.
It's a high quality case as you'd expect from Otterbox, but it does work by sticking the Duo to it with adhesive, so you can't remove it. With the case on, you cannot fold the Duo completely around into "phone mode" so if you do plan to use it as a phone, do NOT get this case. The other annoying bit, when I do fold it around most of the way, the duo turns off the right side screen instead of the left that's now buried in the case, so you either have to do the "double tap" to swap screens, or just don't do that.
Also, the pen slot is REALLY tight on this case. Tight enough I put my 2nd gen surface pen in it and it pulled the pen apart trying to get it back out. I bought the slim pen (hate it) and it works much better there because there's not a back cap to pull off. I think over time it'll slide out easier as the elastic stretches.
It reminds me of when I did sales back in the early 90's and carried a dayplanner everywhere. That's essentially what your Duo becomes with this case - a digital dayplanner.
It's hard to play games on it due to the folding issue and how much weight the case adds to the device. All in all, I'm very pleased with the case, but I think a lot of people won't be due to those limitations.