best TYPE of case?

[Giuly]

I'd never go for anything bulky and don't see the point of bumpers as I use cases to protect (mainly the back) from scratches.

That's why most people use in in combination with transparent back protector, most (like the Spigen bumper) come with the protectors in the box already.
The bumper protects it from impacts on all sides, and has front protection as well, while keeping most of the phone's original design visible - that's the point of it.

 

[skippymac]

That's why most people use in in combination with transparent back protector, most (like the Spigen bumper) come with the protectors in the box already.
The bumper protects it from impacts on all sides, and has front protection as well, while keeping most of the phone's original design visible - that's the point of it.

Fair enough, I don't like the idea of back protectors, or skins of any type really. I can't fairly comment as I've never tried them but I think it would be weird to have the same texture across the whole back while different materials were visible (nitpicky I know)

I've never liked screen protectors and I feel like I'd view skins etc the same way.

 

[James twinli]

I've an iPhone 5 and iPad 2 and I'm using skin case on both of the Apple Product.

 

[Giuly]

Well, but either you hide it, or you scuff it over time. Expect if you're using a clear TPU case which obtrudes the feel of the phone or those transparent stickers which just add next to nothing to the phone.
Pick your poison.

 

[Nhwhazup]

For me, I like a minimalistic type case that doesn't leave the top or bottom totally open and that doesn't interfere with my screen protector. Additionally I would like to find all of the above in white that is the same warm white of the iPhone. I haven't found that case but in my search I did find what I believe is the best overall case in the Switcheasy Tones.

The Tones come in a variety of colors and the white is a good match as well. The case design is really well designed with a good grip plastic type texture in the middle and then a hard matte rubber type material that is molded right to the other piece. It appears to be two separate parts but is one molded case. The case is the perfect middle of the road case with a fairly slim form with protection around the full phone. Additionally the grip is on the bevel sides and doesn't come anywhere near the screen protector so no problems in that area.

The quality is really good as well. My white and turquoise cases are perfect. The pink one did have a couple of black dots molded in the pink rubber. I'm waiting to hear back from Switcheasy on a replacement.

 

[dbo43867]

I feel like with 9/10 cases the phone is actually more likely to get scratched than without it. It just improves impact strength. Even with cases that are supposed to scuff the phone. I'm torn.

 

[Nhwhazup]

I feel like with 9/10 cases the phone is actually more likely to get scratched than without it. It just improves impact strength. Even with cases that are supposed to scuff the phone. I'm torn.

I've always had a case for my iPhones and none of the 3 had any scratches on the body. Two of the 3 had minor scratches on the screens that happened before I was able to get screen protectors on. I've dropped my 4S a couple of times to the pavement and nicked up the case pretty bad but no damage to the phone. And my husband drops his all the time. He has one of those clear (now yellowed) silicone type cases and it has protected his phone as well. This time when I got the iPhone 5, I got Apple Care and really wanted to go caseless. I just couldn't do it. Not sure if its just my anal personality or I feel the phone needs something with a little more grip. So I've done my "perfect case" search for two weeks and I'm finished looking. My top favorites are my Switcheasy Tones and after those, I like my plain slim Noot.

 

[konicky]

Most cases hide what is a beautiful phone in hideous lumps of plastic. Might as well get a Samsung if you like plastic so much!

Otherwise I would use it naked with a pouch type case for protection or one of the flip cases which leave some of the phone exposed. The Piel Frama iMagnum 2 for example.

 

[Rajani Isa]

In addition, I have seen Defender cases at AT&T with the Neon Green hard plastic from the "punked" cased (dark blue/green) and the silcone of the medium blue from the blue/blue case. And also red silicone with black plastic.

 

[ixodes]

there are many diff types of cases,
bumpers, skins, pouches, notepads

which type do u recommend:?
pics would be cool too.

There's thousands. Get what you like, it's a personal decision.

 

[Giuly]

Most cases hide what is a beautiful phone in hideous lumps of plastic. Might as well get a Samsung if you like plastic so much!

Otherwise I would use it naked with a pouch type case for protection or one of the flip cases which leave some of the phone exposed. The Piel Frama iMagnum 2 for example.

That's why you get a bumper or a full body kit like the SGP IncredibleShield.

 

[meistervu]

1. No case - I love the naked iPhone 5 design. Perhaps it will be more comfortable with a leather case like what I had for my iPhone 4: http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/ap...phone-5-case-genuine-leather-grip-series.html. However I am just a drop on the concrete away from that perfect look. But then again I could always put a case on afterward.

2. A case like Lifeproof - My phone is well protected, but I wonder if it's like wrapping your couch in plastic. Yes, if I have a leaky roof, no otherwise. If I were a whitewater raft guide then definitely.

3. Then there are things in between like screen protector and back protector, bumper, thin shell that cover the back with or without lips for face down protection. All of these things offer some level of protection. Most detract from the look of the naked iPhone. Some may add a level of comfort (soft grip, thickness if you find the phone to thin to hold comfortably).

4. Then there are cases like Twig cases which in my opinion looks really good, add comfort to the phone, provide pretty good protection, all at the cost of additional bulk which may not be a bad thing considering the iPhone 5 is quite thin.

The more I think about it, #4 may give me the best bang for the buck(not just the cost, but the pro and cons of having a case). If I were to use a case, I may incline to get something that adds some character to the phone as well as giving it some protection and making more comfortable. So a leather shell or a Twig case is more likely my thing.

Just an update. I am going with #3 and like it so far. The case is a Ringke Slim which cost me $10. It's as thin a case as I can imagine: basically flush with the protruding buttons of the iPhone. The fit is perfect as there is no wobble. I love the way the phone feel better with the case on: not cold metal, a bit "softer" and more grip, yet not at all sticky. The black is matte and is just a clean solid look. If you don't like the white painted logo on the back, scrape it off with your finger nail in about 60 seconds. The bonus for me is the slight lips which is barely noticeable yet will keep the screen off a flat surface if you lay the phone face down. Overall the precision of this case is amazing. If I have one complaint it would be the camera cut-out: it is large enough to show the transition between the glass and metal on the back of the iPhone. In my opinion a smaller cut-out would not interfere with the camera operation and would look better (I tested this by covering the exposed metal part showing through the hole with a creditcard and saw now degradation in the test photo). But that's a very small nit pick.

 

[Giuly]

The splash VAPOR is one of the nicer TPU cases:

 

[Giuly]

The Poetic Atmosphere (clear with black/white/orange/purple/red bezels) is quite popular, especially if you want top and bottom protection:


Also, there's the new SGP Slim Armor, which is a rather rugged case made of two layers of TPU and a polycarbonate insert, which also fixes the main complaint of some other cases, which is that they leave the bottom and top unprotected.

 

[AFDoc]

I'm sure they've found a case by now as the thread is 2 months old.

 

[MistahMumford]

Image

This is what I use on my white 5

 

[metalfab]

iFace

I did a little searching for a decent case when I picked up my 5 last week. One of the better ones was iFace. Hard rubber on the inside and edges of the case and a plastic back. Below are some photos. There is also an anti smudge/glare screen protector installed. I didn't photograph every side but the Power and Volume buttons are covered. The Camera, Mute switch, Speakers, headphone Jack and Lightning connector are all recessed at least 1/8".

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8vcps0ltyasdcy/iP5-iFace-case-front.JPG

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3knw7mjshccnmx2/iP5-iFace-case-back.JPG

https://www.dropbox.com/s/peq3zv7ddto0cna/ip5-iFace-case-bottom.JPG

 

[Giuly]

I'm sure they've found a case by now as the thread is 2 months old.

meistervu certainly did, but whether the others found one is still a mystery.

 

[Davejprince]

2 words: Personal preference.

 

[MR Bulk]

The days (years?) have long passed when having an iPhone would get you laid. That being said, there is no longer any desire on my part to show people how slim, small, elegant, beautiful or sleek my iPhone is. In fact depending where I am it sometimes is not desirable for people to know even what Kind of phone I have, just that I'm raising one to my ear to talk. Could be a $20 Go-phone.

So that is why for me personally, a skinny-thin fashion-star type case is no longer important, or even needed. I have tended to go after utility, like that offered by those little folding keychain multitools...without the bulk of them of course. And fairly flat pocketability is still important.

Yet like some have already said here, there are times when different cases for different situations are needed.

So my own first choice is some kind of wallet-style case. One that is not Too thick, still sorta sleek so definitely not clunky looking, and being a guy it must NOT look like a pocketbook or little cute purse or anything even remotely like that. So the ones that have a flap or strap for closing it, or have to be opened and folded over just to use the phone, are out.

And although I still do have a number of cases (a pretty big number if you consider the cases I still have lying around here somewhere, from my older iPhones), the on-and-off of stretching and pulling cases over my iPhone, the friction and pressure of sliding the covers over the buttons, just the wear and tear of case swapping, does concern me a bit as far as stress and strain on the durability of the cellphone itself.

So I figure my final answer to the OP's question would be - a case that does several things and replaces at least one other item (in my case a regular wallet) so I am using the CM4 Q5 the most often. Along with maybe two other cases, like in the event I need to protect it more (Otter/Lifeproof/what-have-you) or slim it down to use at home (a $2 semi-soft snap-on from ebay). Because a drop at home is always possible, and our floors have stone tiles in some places. Yikes.

And all of them absolutely must be easy (meaning no strain on the phone body or buttons themselves) to swap/stretch/push/pull on and off.

 

[tsturbo]

I am really liking the sgp spigen ultra thin air in soft clear, I would not reccomend the crystal clear, it is a finger print magnet.

 

[R.Stoychev]

My fav. are the snap on cases like Elago S5 slim fit

 

[RichardC300]

Also take a look at the Belkin Grip Candy Sheer. It does a pretty good job protecting the phone in everyday situations and looks just awesome.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Best case ever!

 

[Sparky9292]

The days (years?) have long passed when having an iPhone would get you laid. That being said, there is no longer any desire on my part to show people how slim, small, elegant, beautiful or sleek my iPhone is. In fact depending where I am it sometimes is not desirable for people to know even what Kind of phone I have, just that I'm raising one to my ear to talk. Could be a $20 Go-phone.

Agreed. I don't need the backside of the phone with the large apple logo to be visible. My family owns 3 iphones and all of us use the Speck CandyShell Grip

 

[theautopilot]

Translation of thread.... I'm too lazy to google "iphone 5 case" so please do it for me!

I prefer cheap ebay bumpers over full cases. Good luck.

That's incredibly ignorant and rude of you. This is an open discussion forum and if people did not have discussions like this there would be nothing to google for in the first place. Plus different forums have different users and ethos, so I guess the OP wanted to ask the MR community specifically because he sees value in that and that's what this place is for. Anyway, you could say just google for about ANY topic.

Personally, I like TPU. I find metal cases harsh to hold for long periods. Silicon is to soft, stretchy and sticky. I also like a lip to protect the screen sheild from being caught at the edges and pealing up.