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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Related
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.
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How did you get your note 3 to look like a Moto X that is some skin?!:silly:
Just curious, how many of you are going without a case as opposed to with one? Also, for those going without a case, are you worried about cracking the glass or simply satisfied with drop test results?
Personally, I despise cases but bought one anyway. After using it for a few hours, I took it off. Can't stand the extra bulk, but hating having to be extra careful almost as much.
kobezklutch said:
Just curious, how many of you are going without a case as opposed to with one? Also, for those going without a case, are you worried about cracking the glass or simply satisfied with drop test results?
Personally, I despise cases but bought one anyway. After using it for a few hours, I took it off. Can't stand the extra bulk, but hating having to be extra careful almost as much.
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I just can't cover up this amazing device. NAKED all the way. At lease for the first 60 days ... If all goes well, it will stay that way. My credit card will replace or repair it if broken (bought at full price off contract).
you can get some really slim cases for this phone, and for me, that's a must..
but, if you just cant handle a case, there are clear front and back skins/protectors that you can use that will afford some protection from scratches and stuff..
^May have to go the skin route, some protection is better than none I suppose!
I have large hands, so some sort of case actually makes it easier for me to hold this tiny, slim thing, but everyone is different..
I have 3 cases shipping from Korea next week. 2 are the official Samsung clear covers - one in gold & one in green.
One is the Ingram transparent TPU case.
Sent from my SPH-L720
Got a case neo hybrid case n its slim and adds grip which is a big plus
£700 phone defiantly a case for me
Got an N6 on the way, looking for a flip case that can easily be removed. I'd like to be able to clip the phone into the case when I'm out and about, but remove it when I'm at home or at the office. Anyone have a case like this? I've done some looking but it seems like most of them are TPU cases attached to the flip cover. For my other phone I found one that clipped around the edges in only a couple of spots. I'm hoping to find something similar or at least one that can stand up to the abuse of many in/out cycles.
Might give this one a shot. It's a bit bigger than some other cases but it feels pretty nice. I will warn you though, while not a huge issue, the edges on the flip cover started to look a little frayed after a few weeks. Probably just wear and tear though.
http://www.case-mate.com/collection...cases/products/black-nexus-6-stand-folio-case
Naked Sam said:
Might give this one a shot. It's a bit bigger than some other cases but it feels pretty nice. I will warn you though, while not a huge issue, the edges on the flip cover started to look a little frayed after a few weeks. Probably just wear and tear though.
http://www.case-mate.com/collection...cases/products/black-nexus-6-stand-folio-case
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Click to collapse
Do you experience any of the button issues that the amazon reviewers had?
http://www.amazon.com/Case-Mate-Google-Nexus-Stand-Folio/dp/B00PIOTZ04
Not particularly, no. I will say they are not the best though. Theres a little bit of play to them. If you can get it cheaper than the 30-some odd dollars they charge, I'd go for it. Personally I usually carry my nexus 6 w/o a case just due to how nice it feels, although if you find a thinner, rubberized flip case let me know.
All in all, I'd give the casemate a shot. Does the job just fine.
I know you might have your reasons for wanting a flip case, but because I wanted to do the same as you (protection when out and about but naked when at home) I went with a really nice larger pouch case instead.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B015HD74YO/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the help guys. I considered the case-mate, especially since it was originally sold on Google play so it's close to "official"/oem but the multitude of bad reviews scared me off. I like the pouch idea too but I like to have some protection when I'm using the phone on the go since that's the most likely time I'd drop it. I only remove the case when I'm home or at the office since I'll be at the table/couch/desk there's less risk of dropping it and I prefer using the phone naked as much as possible.
I ended up finding one of these in eBay for 25 and it seems to work well, although it isn't as easy to remove as the flip case for my last phone. I haven't used the card slots yet as I'm a little concerned they could scratch the screen and I don't want to use a screen protector.
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Motor..._1_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1448630683&sr=1-2
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
bchaney16 said:
Thanks for the help guys. I considered the case-mate, especially since it was originally sold on Google play so it's close to "official"/oem but the multitude of bad reviews scared me off. I like the pouch idea too but I like to have some protection when I'm using the phone on the go since that's the most likely time I'd drop it. I only remove the case when I'm home or at the office since I'll be at the table/couch/desk there's less risk of dropping it and I prefer using the phone naked as much as possible.
I ended up finding one of these in eBay for 25 and it seems to work well, although it isn't as easy to remove as the flip case for my last phone. I haven't used the card slots yet as I'm a little concerned they could scratch the screen and I don't want to use a screen protector.
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Motor..._1_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1448630683&sr=1-2
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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I've been using this inexpensive but very form-fitting case since I bought the n6. Easy to slip it out of the case, and I've used nillkin book-type cases for multiple phones. They usually last the life the phone (for me, that's about 2 years)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00RJ..._SL500_SR100,100_&refRID=0G25GYGXGH6EY90F8YAQ
bchaney16 said:
Thanks for the help guys. I considered the case-mate, especially since it was originally sold on Google play so it's close to "official"/oem but the multitude of bad reviews scared me off. I like the pouch idea too but I like to have some protection when I'm using the phone on the go since that's the most likely time I'd drop it. I only remove the case when I'm home or at the office since I'll be at the table/couch/desk there's less risk of dropping it and I prefer using the phone naked as much as possible.
I ended up finding one of these in eBay for 25 and it seems to work well, although it isn't as easy to remove as the flip case for my last phone. I haven't used the card slots yet as I'm a little concerned they could scratch the screen and I don't want to use a screen protector.
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Motor..._1_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1448630683&sr=1-2
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
This is the one I use, and definitely have enjoyed it. I haven't had any problem with cards scratching the screen yet.
If you're still looking for a wallet themed case, you can try out this one by VENA, I have had it for 2 months and it's been great.
http://www.amazon.com/Google-Nexus-...8&qid=1449112949&sr=1-4&keywords=vena+nexus+6
I like my phones naked or as close as it comes (ultra thin transparent tpu case), but I also like to have something to put it in when out and about. My Nexus 5 was kept in a Mofi Kangaroo pouch case which was great. Unfortunately, they seemed to have stopped making them and only ever made them just about big enough for the N5. There are similar alternatives but none seem as good as the Mofi.
So, finding a removable pouch type case big enough for this beast is a challenge! I ordered a hand made fabric one from etsy which is well made, but at the size of the device, looks more like a small sleeping bag than the home of a sleek Nexus device .
So I took a bit of a gamble and ordered something not designed for the Nexus 6. Its primary advertising is for the Iphone 6+, but also states is suitable for Note 4. Looking at both devices dimensions, I concluded it was almost big enough. The Nexus being little longer, thicker and wider than both devices, but not much.
It seems to have paid off. Its a very nice luxurious pouch wallet case in genuine brown leather from what I gather is a brand owned by tuffluv. You can't tell from the site, but the phone pouch part on the side, top and bottom is elasticated so happily accommodates the Nexus's superior girth!
I can even squeeze it in with tpu case - just, but its a bit tough to pull out. Might have to seek an ultra thin tpu case - any recommendations? Without the TPU, its next to perfect! Fully loaded with cards in the card slots makes it slightly tighter to close fully, but still very acceptable in my book.
Currently its in the sale on Tuffluv site where its claimed to be a £50 case (and going by the other similar cases going for in excess of £50, I believe them!). With the sale price and discount it came to £17.99 delivered.
Just thought I'd share in case anyone else was looking for something similar but hadn't found anything labelled as suitable for the Nexus 6.
Can't paste a link but go to tuff-luv dot coms site and search for "Alston Craig Vintage Genuine Leather Wallet Case Cover Pouch for Apple iPhone 6 Plus / 6s Plus / Samsung Galaxy Note 4 - Brown"
Alston Craig have their own site, but there is a discount code for a couple of quid off on tuff-luv
Hope this helps someone.
Oh, ps, there is a small slip of paper in the packaging that states you should have a screen protector fitted to protect the screen before use. Its material lined; not the soft microfibre type, but not something I would be concerned about.
pps. Only issue I've found is the elastic straps are centred, so covers headphone and usb port. Shame, not a deal breaker for me.
Hello Everyone,
I created a 3D printable case for the Razer Phone since my case wont be here until Dec 5th. It's not the greatest but I'm pretty pleased with it so I'm sharing with everyone. Of course you will need to have a 3D printer, know a friend with a 3D printer or simply pay thingiverse for a printed version (I've never utilized their services).
Here's the link to thingiverse.com:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2665131
Let me know if you have any design changes you'd prefer. Also, please hit the "Thanks" if you like it.
Just some color options, otherwise, I like the idea of a minimal case, the phone is big enough as is.
Very cool that you took the time to make this, it's much appreciated. :good:
Sent from my Samsung SM-N935F using XDA Labs
just out of coincidence what printer did you print this on, please?
I used a Creality CR-10 which is one of the favorites for low cost on YouTube due to the printable dimensions of near 400x300x300mm and good print quality. Currently it is on sale for $319 with coupon when I just looked here.
By the way I just re-printed it in red so here is a picture of what that red filament PLA looks like.
Very cool! This could be a whole other chapter to XDA
mazubo said:
Very cool! This could be a whole other chapter to XDA
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That's what I was thinking earlier and not sure why more people haven't created their own for other phones. In my case I needed something to last me until until Dec 5 to 25 for my Amazon order. But honestly I'm loving the minimal 3D printed case so far.
So yesterday I dropped my phone from face level, while taking a photo, to a hard store surface. Three sides of the 3D printed case broke but the phone was unscathed! I'm very happy that this inexpensive case actually protected the phone but your miles may vary.
Attached is an image of the broken case.
Munk0 said:
So yesterday I dropped my phone from face level, while taking a photo, to a hard store surface. Three sides of the 3D printed case broke but the phone was unscathed! I'm very happy that this inexpensive case actually protected the phone but your miles may vary.
Attached is an image of the broken case.
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guaranteed it's a lot more robust than the razer thin case and the rugged the green rubber on the inside of the rugged is so thin there is no way back it would absorb any shock, biggest waste of 40 quid, I'm hoping one of the big case manufacturers make something or we get some decent cases from China because all 3 if razer's cases are **** a complete rip off, they should get done for calling the rugged case rugged and where are the regular updates we were promised decent phone let down by **** unfinished software and poor accessories.
Sent from my Phone using Tapatalk
nexy33 said:
guaranteed it's a lot more robust than the razer thin case and the rugged the green rubber on the inside of the rugged is so thin there is no way back it would absorb any shock, biggest waste of 40 quid, I'm hoping one of the big case manufacturers make something or we get some decent cases from China because all 3 if razer's cases are **** a complete rip off, they should get done for calling the rugged case rugged and where are the regular updates we were promised decent phone let down by **** unfinished software and poor accessories.
Sent from my Phone using Tapatalk
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The rugged case is more durable than you give credit and as much as I like the creativity and inexpensiveness of the printed case, I'm sure the material is much more brittle than that of the rugged case (no offenese to OP). In fact to the OP well done sir. I have no design experience with 3DP what so ever. I'm curious though, and again i have no experience with 3DP, but would rounded corners make much difference in changing the impact angle or would that lower the integrity of the strength of the corner "clips"?
Sent from my Razer Phone using XDA-Developers Legacy app
2ndcarpenter said:
would rounded corners make much difference in changing the impact angle or would that lower the integrity of the strength of the corner "clips"?[/URL]
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Hi 2ndcarpenter! Thanks for the kind words about the case. I'm not an expert with strength vs density vs design either but I would say that having thicker walls around the case, allowing for more rounded edges would help quite a bit. I just wanted to be as minimal as possible and so twiddled away at the edges until I was happy with thickness to perceived durability.
One thing with 3D printing also is that the warmer you extrude the PLA plastic the better it bonds together. The colder you extrude the plastic the less it bonds. I'm saying this because when the 3 corners broke off they did so in between layers. Perhaps a hotter print head would have made it more durable. I used 210 Celsius when printing but see some other people saying 225 Celsius might be a better setup for certain plastics and certain designs.
@Munk0 I understand what you mean. Also the higher heat definitely makes a lot of sense. I could see where cooler temps could fuse "layers" together but not be quite hot enough to "melt" it together as one piece. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
Sent from my Razer Phone using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Hey all, just pulled the trigger on a Razer Phone Thin Case and the Hammerhead USB C headphones, and curious to know what others think about the OEM cases.. thanks!
mazubo said:
Hey all, just pulled the trigger on a Razer Phone Thin Case and the Hammerhead USB C headphones, and curious to know what others think about the OEM cases.. thanks!
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I have the thin case and it's really too much money for what it is. It's not going to offer much protection if you drop it. I think it's too slick also. I wish it was grippier.
bjevers said:
I have the thin case and it's really too much money for what it is. It's not going to offer much protection if you drop it. I think it's too slick also. I wish it was grippier.
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How does the case compare to the phone itself,as for the grippiness?
I have one of the thin cases ordered (as well as the screen protector & Hammerhead USB earbuds),due to ship out any day now.........
KOLIOSIS said:
How does the case compare to the phone itself,as for the grippiness?
I have one of the thin cases ordered (as well as the screen protector & Hammerhead USB earbuds),due to ship out any day now.........
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It is better than the bare phone. I feel the phone itself it pretty slick. Wish the case had a little more texture to it.
bjevers said:
It is better than the bare phone. I feel the phone itself it pretty slick. Wish the case had a little more texture to it.
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I would like to see a sandstone textured case,much like the finish on OnePlus' 1+1.
I have a few cases for other phones w/the finish & it feels a lot better than a slick surface.
You don't feel the need to "power grip" your phone w/such a finish,a much better feel-in hand vs smooth cases/surfaces.
bjevers said:
I have the thin case and it's really too much money for what it is. It's not going to offer much protection if you drop it. I think it's too slick also. I wish it was grippier.
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Agree completely it's seriously overpriced for a case. It's nice and all but just go for the "rugged" one people. Do the USB type C earphones have the LED the BT ones have?
Thanks guys! For me, I prefer the "office guy" case; one that's super minimal such as Peel or MNML. The biggest worry for me is scratches on the aluminum of this phone..
Roxas598 said:
Agree completely it's seriously overpriced for a case. It's nice and all but just go for the "rugged" one people. Do the USB type C earphones have the LED the BT ones have?
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I have the USB type C headphones from Razer and they do have the green LEDs. They are constantly on though, unlike the BT breathing ones. :good:
The headphines
I ordered the HammerHead BTs and so far have not had any problems. The supplied ear plugs have been a good size and have been easy to keep clean. For smaller ears the spikes on them can catch the ear lobe of pushed in quite far however they sound as good as any other £100 Bluetooth in ear headphones.
The case
I've always been one to get the case from the supplier of a phone so went with the rugged case. I have always looked after my tech never even cracked or scuffed one so for me the case is for piece of mind that when input it down on a surface I won't scratch the back or camera lenses. Currently the phone is at work on my gaming mouse mat or at home on my other gaming mouse mat. If not on a mouse mat I know is clean then it's in my pocket where nothing else goes in.
Screen Protector.
I've never used on but then I have always been careful and at the back of my mind all previous phones have been apple so have had faith the screen could get replaced if needed.
Considering that I did buy the Razer screen protector but will get a friend to apply it to the phone as it's something I've tried in the past and never been 100% good at and at the £25 price tag I want it to go on without problems.
Still waiting on the case and screen protector but will let you know
The rugged case sure is imo. There's hardly anything rugged about it unless you count paint being matte?
It's not going to survive anything dropped more then 6" on anything other than carpet. ?
It's the word case, plus a top side wall, and 20-30$ more.
Really with some rugged cases would hurry up. Opting for a zippered tactile type pouch until someone produces one.
kungpaoshizi said:
The rugged case sure is imo. There's hardly anything rugged about it unless you count paint being matte?
It's not going to survive anything dropped more then 6" on anything other than carpet.
It's the word case, plus a top side wall, and 20-30$ more.
Really with some rugged cases would hurry up. Opting for a zippered tactile type pouch until someone produces one.
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I've just requested a cancellation of my accessory order (case/screen protector/USB earbuds) :
Bad enough the cases/etc.. are overpriced,but,I get it,new phone/etc... prices drop on all of it in a couple months,if you want savings,wait a bit,but I was willing to pay the admission price of getting it now.
However,Day 5 of my 5-7 day window is here & checking the status,I'm greeted with a longer wait,6-9 business days.
Only way to contact order support is via email,which states a 24 hr. window for response.
Once you get the ticket confirmation,that window is extended to 24-48 hrs.
A real S***** way of conducting business Razer ,future purchases will be via Amazon/Microsoft/e-Bay/etc.... anywhere other than the Razer On-line store.
Ya, as my first was defective with the speaker crackle I opted to change my rma to a return. Then just bought one on Amazon.
I will say though Razer customer service is prolly slammed right now but each time I've done a live chat they've been polite, answered questions, and listened as I've reported a few bugs.
Leaps and bounds better than other places I've dealt with. (Though I'm kinda irked they haven't been pushing messages to the phones about what's up with the sound reduction from patch 1.0, or at least a Twitter update or such)
kungpaoshizi said:
Ya, as my first was defective with the speaker crackle I opted to change my rma to a return. Then just bought one on Amazon.
I will say though Razer customer service is prolly slammed right now but each time I've done a live chat they've been polite, answered questions, and listened as I've reported a few bugs.
Leaps and bounds better than other places I've dealt with. (Though I'm kinda irked they haven't been pushing messages to the phones about what's up with the sound reduction from patch 1.0, or at least a Twitter update or such)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The chats are fine for tech support, but, that option doesn't exist for order inquiries, no phone call support either, just email for order inquiries.
They've essentially built a firewall for order support, to stall/buy time, it's a tactic I will not encourage, hence, my order cancelation request.
Sent from my Razer Phone using XDA Labs
Just RMA my hammered bt kinda want the usb type c ones instead :/. Also if anyone has pictures of the rugged case both on the phone and off I'd greatly appreciate it
Possible coincidence:
After placing an order cancelation request earlier today (after Razer pushed back the processing/ship date).
They've updated the status to SHIPPED,from Hong Kong to the US, will be here tomorrow.
All's well that ends well, but, I'm still not happy regarding their email firewall regarding order support.
Will post my 2¢ review on the thin case / screen protector & Hammerhead USB-C buds tomorrow.....
Sent from my Samsung SM-N935F using XDA Labs
Here's the rugged. Not very rugged.
Please do let us know your thoughts on the USB c buds, was eyeing those myself, really hate wires though.
kungpaoshizi said:
Here's the rugged. Not very rugged.
Please do let us know your thoughts on the USB c buds, was eyeing those myself, really hate wires though.
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I like that,but, I agree with you:
Judging by the picture, calling it a rugged case is laughable. :laugh:
I may get it sometime in the future, but, I've definitely blown my accessory budget on this phone already,will wait for 'em to drop in price on Amazon....
Sent from my Razer Phone using XDA Labs
Ya, the inside has a very thin layer of silicone or something, kinda neoprene like... The only protection I see it giving, is scratch protection and an edge, so the phone can't rest on it's screen.
I've been checking everyday, but so far the only other case is the orzly one that's the crappy silicone ones, or a purse looking foldable wallet thing.
Investigating generic bags etc for phones, or sleeves, but ya, someone needs to make a nice thick protected one that can actually handle drops.
Still awaiting my delivery of my Rugged case and Screen Protector email just saying its shipped like 15mins ago. Will give some feedback once I have them. I bought them mainly to prevent cosmetic damage to the phone from scuffs or dirt or a table when i put it down at a pub or somewhere public where I know it maybe not clean and something to keep the camera lens off the surface. so hope it manages that.
Just received my Razer Accessories moments ago:
Thin Case:
Perfect for minimal protection.
The cutouts,for the power & volume buttons,are a big welcome, especially for the power button.
1) Makes for ease of locating the buttons by feel.
2) Cutouts give an edge/lip, for your finger/thumb to rest while holding the phone with a more relaxed grip.
3) The edges are raised enough to allow for the phone to be placed face-down on a flat surface w/o any worries.
Some may wish for a bit more protection,notably @ the top & bottom, which is fully exposed. I'm pleased with the design as-is, those wanting the mentioned additional protection may want to give the OEM Razer rugged case a look.
Hammerhead USB-C earbuds:
1) Sound quality is good, hard for me to nail down, I'm not an audiophile, but, I feel safe in recommending them (FWIW they also work on my Note FE & Sony Xperia XZP, YMMV on other phones).
2) The volume rocker is nice, it's a true rocker, akin to a wall switch toggle, no searching by feel for tiny dots/arrows.
3) The earbuds are magnetized, to stick to each other while wearing not in-service, a nice touch to prevent losing & and a perfect solution to leave the carrying case at home (more on that later, )
I could do without the nuclear glow-in-the-dark LED-lit snake logo on each ear bud.
I would not have ordered these if I'd known about the glowing logos, but, it's not worth the bother of an RMA refund for me.
May try to black it out w/a permanent marker..
The provided travel pouch is nice, has a small loop for clipping/tethering to whatever.
The overall size of the travel case is not for the yoga pants/skinny-jean crowds, , of which I'm neither, perfectly acceptable for cargo pants/backpacks/etc....
Back to the more meaningful stuff regarding the audio:
As I stated, I'm not an audiophile, but, when using these with the built-in Dolby Atmos, making any adjustments to the settings seems to make no difference in sound quality whatsoever. Compared with another equalizer app & the difference is night & day, along with adjustments in the other equalizer making a difference in sound quality.
Razer/Dolby definitely has their work cut out for them,perhaps the latest update not only muted the external speakers overall volume, but, has broke Dolby Atmos in process.....
Summary:
Would I recommend the thin case:
Absolutely, however, as the name implies, minimal protection is the theme. Those wanting more protection would probably be better served with the Orzly line up ATM, at least until more mfgs step up to the plate.
The USB-C earbuds:
Yes,if for no other reason, you don't wanna chance other mfgs USB-C earbuds not working on this phone. Otherwise, save your money & use your earbuds of choice with the provided dongle.
I actually like the earbuds, especially the volume rocker, but, the neon logo on the earbuds temper my enthusiasm a bit.
Guess I'll grow my hair out a bit more & this point is moot.... :laugh:
Sent from my Razer Phone using XDA Labs