Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Deff Cleave/DRACO IV Aluminum Bumper for iPhone 4 Discussion & Questions Thread
- Thread starter Austin M.
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Thanks for the pics, the case looks great!! So, how is the signal with case? -89db good or bad?
My bars did not drop but then I checked with the field test and got -96 without the Draco and -106 with the Draco on my iPhone 4. Not bad at all.
Thanks for the pictures, that combination looks killer! Time to wait for the reviews to start coming in! There isnt any means for us UK folk to get our hands on one is there..?
i will go into more detail on my review but here is a few little bits of info.
it does take away some reception
it looks cool as hell
buttons rattle inside of case with phone installed
deepest headphone cutout i have seen with on a aluminum case
here are some pics of the silver
it does take away some reception
it looks cool as hell
buttons rattle inside of case with phone installed
deepest headphone cutout i have seen with on a aluminum case
here are some pics of the silver
Attachments
Been using it for a solid two days now, here is the review!
With so many aluminum cases available on the market today, how will you know which one is the best for you when there are literally dozens to choose from? Today we are going to take a look at Draco Design's new Draco IV handcrafted aluminum bumper for the iPhone 4. Taking a different approach at a design aspect, Draco Design figured it would be best for this bumper to be rounded out with very sexy curves and attractive lines. The Draco IV also features insertable metal buttons, a bead blasted matte type texture, and a very comfortable feel in the hand. Can the all new Draco IV for the iPhone 4 hold up to some of the other iPhone 4 aluminum cases available? Read on for the full review to find out.
Let's first begin with the packaging and everything that is included. The Draco IV is presented in a very modern plastic box that teases you by showcasing a part of the case in the top right corner of the box. Upon unpacking the box you will find the case itself, a warning sign for kids under the age of ten, and the parts to install the case, which include an Allen wrench, four screws, two metal insertable volume buttons, one metal insertable silent switch, and one metal insertable sleep & wake button.
The installation process was rather easy, took a few minutes to install, and looked absolutely stunning when completed. Following the directions on the back of the box, I installed the metal buttons into the proper positions until secure. Next, I slid my phone into the side of the case until the metal buttons were nicely seated on top of the actual buttons. Next, I slid the other part of the case onto the right side of the phone until the case locked into place. Last but not least, I slowly and carefully installed the two provided screws into the case, until everything was sealed and tight. After a few minutes, everything was on and it looked perfect.
Before we begin with the negatives and positives of the case, let's take a quick overview of all the buttons and the ports. At the top of the case you have one single covering for the sleep/wake button that I was surprised to find was very tactile, however, it is linear with the top of the case, so you may have to feel around to actually turn your phone on, although you get used to it pretty quick. On the left side of the sleep/wake button you have a pretty generous opening for the audio jack that fits moderately sized cables, although thicker jacks like my Able Planet's were not compatible, so you may have some trouble when it comes to beefier cables.
On the left side of the case you have three coverings for the volume buttons and the vibrate switch. While all these were very responsive and I experienced no problem registering them, I did find a small gripe about them. They are a little bit loose and you will notice they wiggle and make a minor noise if you were to shake your phone slightly. Although this is not a huge deal, people who look at the smaller details may notice it.
On the bottom of the case you you have three openings for the speaker, the mic, and the dock connector. Every function worked fantastic and I had no problem when it came to reproducing sound through the speaker mesh. Also, a lot of thicker chargers will fit fine with the case since it's a very large cutout. Also, as an added bonus, I noticed that the Draco IV fit with most of my docks! A very nice treat if I do say so myself. On the right side of the case you will find a rather deep cutout for the sim tray. While I do not think most cases need this, it's nice to see that Draco Design added this in just in case you need to swap it out.
I think one of my most favorable things about the case (which is usually my least favorite when it comes to other cases) is the two logos showcased on the sides of the case. On one side of the case you have a very cool text that says "Inspired by Deff Japan" and looks great on the case. Also, the Draco IV logo on the other side of the case looks absolutely sexy and shows off the great craftsmanship of the case.
The bead blasted smooth design that this case feature is great and feels absolutely awesome in the hand. The curves make for a very comfortable feel and even though they can become quite slippery, it is much better than rocking a naked iPhone. Also, the design looks plain sexy. Even though some may not favor the curves and extra length along the sides, it is still one of the most unique cases that I have ever used, and I am using the word unique in the good sense, not the bad kind.
One quick thing to note that I noticed after about a day and a half of usage is that you need to make sure that your screws are screwed in moderately tight, otherwise, the frame will start to become loose and wiggle around just like buttons did.
Alright, the big question is, how does this case affect the reception? Well, testing this case out at my house where I usually get about 2-3 bars of reception (3 bars if I am lucky) I found the Draco IV degraded my signal by about 1 bar, which isn't nearly as bad as some of the other cases. In fact, it's one of the best I have tried. Also, to see if my bars were displaying correctly, I put the case through a field test. Here are my results. With the case off I got about a -72 decibel reading. Once the case was installed, the decibel reading went down to about an 82 and 85, which isn't bad at all.
So, as my theory has been proven yet again, we still have not found (or yet on my journey at least) the aluminum case that does not degrade reception. Then again, the Draco IV does a very good job of keeping the reception at a minimum. And for that, it definitely earns my applause.
In the market for a new aluminum case for your iPhone 4? Looking to spice up your phone and outfit it with some ice? I can highly recommend the Draco IV aluminum bumper for the iPhone 4. Even though there are a few minor issues, this case has some amazing craftsmanship, very sexy curves, and makes your phone look one hundred times cooler. You can pick up the Draco IV in slew of different colors on Draco Design's website. It currently sells for $99 and is available for both Verizon and AT&T.
With so many aluminum cases available on the market today, how will you know which one is the best for you when there are literally dozens to choose from? Today we are going to take a look at Draco Design's new Draco IV handcrafted aluminum bumper for the iPhone 4. Taking a different approach at a design aspect, Draco Design figured it would be best for this bumper to be rounded out with very sexy curves and attractive lines. The Draco IV also features insertable metal buttons, a bead blasted matte type texture, and a very comfortable feel in the hand. Can the all new Draco IV for the iPhone 4 hold up to some of the other iPhone 4 aluminum cases available? Read on for the full review to find out.
Let's first begin with the packaging and everything that is included. The Draco IV is presented in a very modern plastic box that teases you by showcasing a part of the case in the top right corner of the box. Upon unpacking the box you will find the case itself, a warning sign for kids under the age of ten, and the parts to install the case, which include an Allen wrench, four screws, two metal insertable volume buttons, one metal insertable silent switch, and one metal insertable sleep & wake button.
The installation process was rather easy, took a few minutes to install, and looked absolutely stunning when completed. Following the directions on the back of the box, I installed the metal buttons into the proper positions until secure. Next, I slid my phone into the side of the case until the metal buttons were nicely seated on top of the actual buttons. Next, I slid the other part of the case onto the right side of the phone until the case locked into place. Last but not least, I slowly and carefully installed the two provided screws into the case, until everything was sealed and tight. After a few minutes, everything was on and it looked perfect.
Before we begin with the negatives and positives of the case, let's take a quick overview of all the buttons and the ports. At the top of the case you have one single covering for the sleep/wake button that I was surprised to find was very tactile, however, it is linear with the top of the case, so you may have to feel around to actually turn your phone on, although you get used to it pretty quick. On the left side of the sleep/wake button you have a pretty generous opening for the audio jack that fits moderately sized cables, although thicker jacks like my Able Planet's were not compatible, so you may have some trouble when it comes to beefier cables.
On the left side of the case you have three coverings for the volume buttons and the vibrate switch. While all these were very responsive and I experienced no problem registering them, I did find a small gripe about them. They are a little bit loose and you will notice they wiggle and make a minor noise if you were to shake your phone slightly. Although this is not a huge deal, people who look at the smaller details may notice it.
On the bottom of the case you you have three openings for the speaker, the mic, and the dock connector. Every function worked fantastic and I had no problem when it came to reproducing sound through the speaker mesh. Also, a lot of thicker chargers will fit fine with the case since it's a very large cutout. Also, as an added bonus, I noticed that the Draco IV fit with most of my docks! A very nice treat if I do say so myself. On the right side of the case you will find a rather deep cutout for the sim tray. While I do not think most cases need this, it's nice to see that Draco Design added this in just in case you need to swap it out.
I think one of my most favorable things about the case (which is usually my least favorite when it comes to other cases) is the two logos showcased on the sides of the case. On one side of the case you have a very cool text that says "Inspired by Deff Japan" and looks great on the case. Also, the Draco IV logo on the other side of the case looks absolutely sexy and shows off the great craftsmanship of the case.
The bead blasted smooth design that this case feature is great and feels absolutely awesome in the hand. The curves make for a very comfortable feel and even though they can become quite slippery, it is much better than rocking a naked iPhone. Also, the design looks plain sexy. Even though some may not favor the curves and extra length along the sides, it is still one of the most unique cases that I have ever used, and I am using the word unique in the good sense, not the bad kind.
One quick thing to note that I noticed after about a day and a half of usage is that you need to make sure that your screws are screwed in moderately tight, otherwise, the frame will start to become loose and wiggle around just like buttons did.
Alright, the big question is, how does this case affect the reception? Well, testing this case out at my house where I usually get about 2-3 bars of reception (3 bars if I am lucky) I found the Draco IV degraded my signal by about 1 bar, which isn't nearly as bad as some of the other cases. In fact, it's one of the best I have tried. Also, to see if my bars were displaying correctly, I put the case through a field test. Here are my results. With the case off I got about a -72 decibel reading. Once the case was installed, the decibel reading went down to about an 82 and 85, which isn't bad at all.
So, as my theory has been proven yet again, we still have not found (or yet on my journey at least) the aluminum case that does not degrade reception. Then again, the Draco IV does a very good job of keeping the reception at a minimum. And for that, it definitely earns my applause.
In the market for a new aluminum case for your iPhone 4? Looking to spice up your phone and outfit it with some ice? I can highly recommend the Draco IV aluminum bumper for the iPhone 4. Even though there are a few minor issues, this case has some amazing craftsmanship, very sexy curves, and makes your phone look one hundred times cooler. You can pick up the Draco IV in slew of different colors on Draco Design's website. It currently sells for $99 and is available for both Verizon and AT&T.
Last edited:
Battle of the reviews!
I am in no way calling what I'm doing a review lol.....I seem to get around a -10db hit in all areas. Of course not a big deal when the signal is strong but when it's not
My wifi seems fine, I see no great loss of signal even out by the street. GPS is dead nuts on at a stand still but put me in a field several hundred feet away while driving at 70 mph. This was only tested the one time and gps was started while moving. Love the look, love the feel. Like others have said the buttons are a bit loose but this could be easily fixed with some tape on the underside of the buttons to bridge that very tiny gap between buttons on case/phone. I'm digging the case right now but I am in a lot of low signal situations so not sure if it'll stay on my phone.
I am in no way calling what I'm doing a review lol.....I seem to get around a -10db hit in all areas. Of course not a big deal when the signal is strong but when it's not
My wifi seems fine, I see no great loss of signal even out by the street. GPS is dead nuts on at a stand still but put me in a field several hundred feet away while driving at 70 mph. This was only tested the one time and gps was started while moving. Love the look, love the feel. Like others have said the buttons are a bit loose but this could be easily fixed with some tape on the underside of the buttons to bridge that very tiny gap between buttons on case/phone. I'm digging the case right now but I am in a lot of low signal situations so not sure if it'll stay on my phone.
If anyone wants to let me borrow one, I can test it side by side with most if the current all aluminum cases, as well as all of the current aluminum/composite hybrids. And against a few that aren't for sale yet. This would give everyone a baseline to make the most accurate comparisons with.
Added: Got a friend loaning me one for a few days. I'll do a more formal head to head (to head...to head?) comparison of this case with several of it's competitors, along with some of the hybrids available. Hopefully this will help some of you out in deciding if this case is right for you.
Added: Got a friend loaning me one for a few days. I'll do a more formal head to head (to head...to head?) comparison of this case with several of it's competitors, along with some of the hybrids available. Hopefully this will help some of you out in deciding if this case is right for you.
Last edited:
I love them! I switch between the colors each day
They really go nicely with aluminum bumper cases.
I love them! I switch between the colors each day
Mine should be here tomorrow. I saw your review, is it really really thick wood (no immaturity intended)?
Mine should be here tomorrow. I saw your review, is it really really thick wood (no immaturity intended)?
i love mine the color options are cool.
i really like the look and feel of the case in the hand and i am a brushed and polished aluminum fan so this case just works for what i like. ill have my review up later today after i do some more testing on reception, i inatially said i had much larger drops then 10 db but i am on a microcell at my house that jumps up and down a little so i am going to go find a area i can test without the micro cell
Draco IV Astro Silver Aluminum bumper review
Without a doubt aluminum cases have become very popular in the iPhone 4 accessory market. Draco Design has created a aluminum bumper case like no other. The case is called the Draco IV and it has smooth curves and lines which is a first for aluminum cases I have seen. As everyone probably knows by know most full aluminum designed cases are plagued with reception, GPS, and data problems. I will get into all the details in the review. The packaging is well designed and very professional, it comes with the case the Allen wrench and two extra screws.
DESIGN AND QUALITY
The design of this case is one of a kind, it has smooth curves down the side that make the case mold to your hand and give you a good grip and comfortable hold on your device. The buttons on the phone are all sealed in with aluminum and metal buttons, the on/off button is changed to a smaller circular button and the volume buttons along with the mute switch are covered with very similar buttons. The buttons work very good clicking with every touch. I find that hitting the on/off button can be harder at times because it is so much smaller but still works good when pressed. All of the buttons move a small bit inside the case, if you shake the case the buttons will rattle and make some noise, I personally cant stand the noise, it isn't loud but loud enough to know it is there. The cutouts could have been larger but I will get into that next. The fit to the phone is very tight and doesn't move around in the case.
This case attaches to the phone in a completely different way then other aluminum cases, it only uses two screws that screw in the back of the case, there is almost a male/female fitting that go together and the screw tightens them together for a secure fit. The aluminum around the screw holes is very thin so I would be careful installing the screws and a drop to that corner could very well cause the aluminum to crack in that spot. On each side of the case there is a logo, on one side is a cool small logo that says draco IV and on the other side it says inspired by Deff Japan which I dont really like but its ok. Overall I love the design and look of the case, the finish is great along with the covered buttons give the case a great look.
FUNCTIONALITY
If you couldn't tell by now I was very impressed with the first impressions of the design and feel of the case. The functionality of the case is where the flaws flood in so here we go.
The case has covered buttons which I like but they do rattle around in the case which is a little annoying for me. For the price of the case no modifying should be required to keep things from rattling. Some people wont mind the noise but it is noticeable.
I am not 100% positive but I have to ihome universal docks and when I take the adapters out I still couldn't squeeze this case into the dock so it will not work with most docking stations, the width of the case at the bottom keeps it from being able to slide into the docking area. I even tried on my sinjimoru stand that is designed to work with cases and the bottom cutout is just to deep to connect. The cutout is a little bit bigger then the apple plug so you would be able to fit other slim connectors in but with the depth of the cutout and the size you wont be able to use many third party adapters without a extender.
The head phone jack cutout is on the smaller side and will not work with many 90 degree plugs, you will need a slim extension plug to use larger headphone jacks. the cutout is pretty deep and small, I tested my Bose headphones in there and they have a 90 degree angle plug, they barley could fit to hear noise but if you tugged the cord even a little bit it would go in and out.
The protection the case gives you is minimal like most bumper style cases. There is little to no lay on table design on the back of the phone and the amount that is on the front is very minimal also. I would recommend using front and back screen shields or skins. Although there isn't really any lay on table protection it gives the bumper a nice slim design which I like.
The Case has a small hole cut out on the bottom to hook a lanyard string to which I like, I would hardly ever use it but sometimes I like to tether my phone to my backpack when hiking or mt biking. I also like the sim cutout on the side, not many people use this but if you do it is way better then unscrewing the whole case to get to the simcard.
RECEPTION AND GPS
The most important part of a aluminum case review!!!! does it effect the reception? Well unfortunately I hate to report that yes it does. Here are the test results.
I am in a very low reception area and I have a micro cell, the reading were slightly different then being on a normal cell tower.
MICRO CELL RESULTS
without the case on I would get 67 to 70 decibels which is high 4 to 5 bars
with the case installed I would get 82 to 86 decibels which would put it into 3 to 4 bars
NORMAL CELL TOWER RESULTS
without case it would get 82 to 83 decibel reading
with the case installed it would get 94 to 96 decibels
Overall you would take anywhere from a minimum of a 12db to 16db loss. for someone like me where i only get a 1 to 2 bars or edge the case puts my phone into searching. With the micro cell it was only moving the reception 1 bar down from 5 to 4 and occasionally 3 bars.
The GPS on my phone was useless with the case installed, it took a while to pinpoint me and when it did it would be way off. While driving it did not move with me, the closest i could get it to me was within two blocks.
When I first saw the design of the case I was hoping that the system used to separate the antenna and the case would work but its just four pads in the corner or the case. The case has a great design and looks awesome in my opinion. I you live in a high reception area and don't use your GPS ever than this case could be a option for you. You can pick these up on amazon for $99 bucks
Without a doubt aluminum cases have become very popular in the iPhone 4 accessory market. Draco Design has created a aluminum bumper case like no other. The case is called the Draco IV and it has smooth curves and lines which is a first for aluminum cases I have seen. As everyone probably knows by know most full aluminum designed cases are plagued with reception, GPS, and data problems. I will get into all the details in the review. The packaging is well designed and very professional, it comes with the case the Allen wrench and two extra screws.
DESIGN AND QUALITY
The design of this case is one of a kind, it has smooth curves down the side that make the case mold to your hand and give you a good grip and comfortable hold on your device. The buttons on the phone are all sealed in with aluminum and metal buttons, the on/off button is changed to a smaller circular button and the volume buttons along with the mute switch are covered with very similar buttons. The buttons work very good clicking with every touch. I find that hitting the on/off button can be harder at times because it is so much smaller but still works good when pressed. All of the buttons move a small bit inside the case, if you shake the case the buttons will rattle and make some noise, I personally cant stand the noise, it isn't loud but loud enough to know it is there. The cutouts could have been larger but I will get into that next. The fit to the phone is very tight and doesn't move around in the case.
This case attaches to the phone in a completely different way then other aluminum cases, it only uses two screws that screw in the back of the case, there is almost a male/female fitting that go together and the screw tightens them together for a secure fit. The aluminum around the screw holes is very thin so I would be careful installing the screws and a drop to that corner could very well cause the aluminum to crack in that spot. On each side of the case there is a logo, on one side is a cool small logo that says draco IV and on the other side it says inspired by Deff Japan which I dont really like but its ok. Overall I love the design and look of the case, the finish is great along with the covered buttons give the case a great look.
FUNCTIONALITY
If you couldn't tell by now I was very impressed with the first impressions of the design and feel of the case. The functionality of the case is where the flaws flood in so here we go.
The case has covered buttons which I like but they do rattle around in the case which is a little annoying for me. For the price of the case no modifying should be required to keep things from rattling. Some people wont mind the noise but it is noticeable.
I am not 100% positive but I have to ihome universal docks and when I take the adapters out I still couldn't squeeze this case into the dock so it will not work with most docking stations, the width of the case at the bottom keeps it from being able to slide into the docking area. I even tried on my sinjimoru stand that is designed to work with cases and the bottom cutout is just to deep to connect. The cutout is a little bit bigger then the apple plug so you would be able to fit other slim connectors in but with the depth of the cutout and the size you wont be able to use many third party adapters without a extender.
The head phone jack cutout is on the smaller side and will not work with many 90 degree plugs, you will need a slim extension plug to use larger headphone jacks. the cutout is pretty deep and small, I tested my Bose headphones in there and they have a 90 degree angle plug, they barley could fit to hear noise but if you tugged the cord even a little bit it would go in and out.
The protection the case gives you is minimal like most bumper style cases. There is little to no lay on table design on the back of the phone and the amount that is on the front is very minimal also. I would recommend using front and back screen shields or skins. Although there isn't really any lay on table protection it gives the bumper a nice slim design which I like.
The Case has a small hole cut out on the bottom to hook a lanyard string to which I like, I would hardly ever use it but sometimes I like to tether my phone to my backpack when hiking or mt biking. I also like the sim cutout on the side, not many people use this but if you do it is way better then unscrewing the whole case to get to the simcard.
RECEPTION AND GPS
The most important part of a aluminum case review!!!! does it effect the reception? Well unfortunately I hate to report that yes it does. Here are the test results.
I am in a very low reception area and I have a micro cell, the reading were slightly different then being on a normal cell tower.
MICRO CELL RESULTS
without the case on I would get 67 to 70 decibels which is high 4 to 5 bars
with the case installed I would get 82 to 86 decibels which would put it into 3 to 4 bars
NORMAL CELL TOWER RESULTS
without case it would get 82 to 83 decibel reading
with the case installed it would get 94 to 96 decibels
Overall you would take anywhere from a minimum of a 12db to 16db loss. for someone like me where i only get a 1 to 2 bars or edge the case puts my phone into searching. With the micro cell it was only moving the reception 1 bar down from 5 to 4 and occasionally 3 bars.
The GPS on my phone was useless with the case installed, it took a while to pinpoint me and when it did it would be way off. While driving it did not move with me, the closest i could get it to me was within two blocks.
When I first saw the design of the case I was hoping that the system used to separate the antenna and the case would work but its just four pads in the corner or the case. The case has a great design and looks awesome in my opinion. I you live in a high reception area and don't use your GPS ever than this case could be a option for you. You can pick these up on amazon for $99 bucks
Attachments
I have had my Draco on since last week and absolutely love it. It is a stunning case and it is very hard to put down. I get good reception all over town except out where I live, usually goes down to 2-3 bars. In my house, it is about the same. The case makes it drop a bar from there, so I hover between 1 and 2. When I am on the phone, it starts dropping calls from time to time. But I have had that problem with the Apple bumper on too. My wife drops calls like crazy on her i4 and she has a Speck case.
I will be getting a Micro Cell this weekend, hoping that helps. The case is so nice, I do not mind losing a bar, but do need the phone to work.
What is a good app for testing the signal. I do not have mine Jailbroken either. I live in San Antonio BTW.
Thanks
I will be getting a Micro Cell this weekend, hoping that helps. The case is so nice, I do not mind losing a bar, but do need the phone to work.
What is a good app for testing the signal. I do not have mine Jailbroken either. I live in San Antonio BTW.
Thanks
agreed! the more pics they post the more i am tempted!
Love the grey and wood skin back combo featured ^