Posting a quick mini review of the new prototype plastic/hybrid back (I'll do a full review when I have more time):
As I stated earlier in the thread, my new prototype plastic back was set to arrive today, which it did. I was expecting a rough "proof of concept" product, as Jacob had told me not to be "too hard on him", since he just quickly ran this one for me this past Monday so that I could just do some signal testing with it. Well...I can say that if this is "rough", the final product will be amazing! The fit and finish of this new plastic back could be sold right now. Everything lines up perfectly, cutouts are great, and it mates up perfectly with the aluminum front half. If I were to be EXTREMELY critical, I'd say that the only way it might could be any better would be with a quick final buff or brush, but again, this piece is straight off the mill, and I'd be more than happy to buy it just like this. The color/finish is milled black plastic, and closely resembles the finish on the plastic part of the Atomic Hybrid (from what I've seen in high res pics, as I don't own an Atomic).
Initial thoughts regarding reception/performance:
As I said when I started this thread, the e13ctron all aluminum case has been one of my top 2 all aluminum cases, so I've always had great performance with the all aluminum one. I've been able to use the all aluminum version everywhere I go, even into very low reception areas (-113dB and less), and never drop a call or lose data or GPS. I've only noticed a 6-8dB loss AT MOST with the all aluminum one. This plastic back hybrid cuts that even more. In my office (interior-most room of work...brick and metal building), I'm seeing -83 to -85dB on average with the plastic back installed, and without a case at all I see -81dB to -84dB in my office. This is just preliminary, but I can almost always gauge how reception is going to be just by performance inside my office.
As far as initial GPS observations go, with my all aluminum e13ctron on, I usually get GPS lock in around 10-15 seconds. With the hybrid on, my first (and only, so far) two attempts have both locked me in 4 and 5 seconds. I obviously plan on doing more testing of this once I leave work and can travel on some test routes I use to compare cases.
I still have to fully test wifi and bluetooth, but so far at work, I'm seeing no noticable wifi degradation, but I don't experience that with the all aluminum version either, so I'm not really expecting it here.
My biggest surprise was the prototype "black chrome" front case that Jacob sent me with this back piece to test. So far, this is the only one in this finish that they've sent out. It's absolutely gorgeous! The quick pics I took below don't do it justice, and I'm going to work on getting more that better show it's quality later on. This is a test piece that Jacob has run, and from what he's told me, they have done it in a mirror chrome as well. If they get a strong demand for them they will offer it for sale. Let me just say that it's far and away the most beautiful finish I've seen. If you can't tell from the rather crude quick pics below, it's a "smoke gray" mirror finish chrome (the last photo with it on the bricks seems to show it's finish better than any). You guys need to start emailing e13ctron now telling them how you want this finish so he will offer it for sale!
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As I stated earlier in the thread, my new prototype plastic back was set to arrive today, which it did. I was expecting a rough "proof of concept" product, as Jacob had told me not to be "too hard on him", since he just quickly ran this one for me this past Monday so that I could just do some signal testing with it. Well...I can say that if this is "rough", the final product will be amazing! The fit and finish of this new plastic back could be sold right now. Everything lines up perfectly, cutouts are great, and it mates up perfectly with the aluminum front half. If I were to be EXTREMELY critical, I'd say that the only way it might could be any better would be with a quick final buff or brush, but again, this piece is straight off the mill, and I'd be more than happy to buy it just like this. The color/finish is milled black plastic, and closely resembles the finish on the plastic part of the Atomic Hybrid (from what I've seen in high res pics, as I don't own an Atomic).
Initial thoughts regarding reception/performance:
As I said when I started this thread, the e13ctron all aluminum case has been one of my top 2 all aluminum cases, so I've always had great performance with the all aluminum one. I've been able to use the all aluminum version everywhere I go, even into very low reception areas (-113dB and less), and never drop a call or lose data or GPS. I've only noticed a 6-8dB loss AT MOST with the all aluminum one. This plastic back hybrid cuts that even more. In my office (interior-most room of work...brick and metal building), I'm seeing -83 to -85dB on average with the plastic back installed, and without a case at all I see -81dB to -84dB in my office. This is just preliminary, but I can almost always gauge how reception is going to be just by performance inside my office.
As far as initial GPS observations go, with my all aluminum e13ctron on, I usually get GPS lock in around 10-15 seconds. With the hybrid on, my first (and only, so far) two attempts have both locked me in 4 and 5 seconds. I obviously plan on doing more testing of this once I leave work and can travel on some test routes I use to compare cases.
I still have to fully test wifi and bluetooth, but so far at work, I'm seeing no noticable wifi degradation, but I don't experience that with the all aluminum version either, so I'm not really expecting it here.
My biggest surprise was the prototype "black chrome" front case that Jacob sent me with this back piece to test. So far, this is the only one in this finish that they've sent out. It's absolutely gorgeous! The quick pics I took below don't do it justice, and I'm going to work on getting more that better show it's quality later on. This is a test piece that Jacob has run, and from what he's told me, they have done it in a mirror chrome as well. If they get a strong demand for them they will offer it for sale. Let me just say that it's far and away the most beautiful finish I've seen. If you can't tell from the rather crude quick pics below, it's a "smoke gray" mirror finish chrome (the last photo with it on the bricks seems to show it's finish better than any). You guys need to start emailing e13ctron now telling them how you want this finish so he will offer it for sale!
I've followed your posts throughout all the aluminum case threads (Vapor, etc), and from what I've read from you, I thought this case might appeal to you! 
