Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Element Vapor Case

Ok, so I forgot that I had all my old iPhones laying around the house.

Added a few more pictures with a comparison to the Commuter and Candyshell. It is about the same thickness as the Commuter.

Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/60232885@N08/sets/72157626060250951/

Updated impressions are that the case works fine for phone calls with again no loss in signal. I have noticed that it really has stabilized my reception. I areas I used to fluctuate between 3 and 5 bars I now have a solid 4 bars. It still allows me to get reception at work at keeps it at a solid 2 bars. Usually I run between 1 and 3.

GPS outside is fine and driving isn't bad. Takes a minute to lock on but it works fine. Inside is another story. It has me off by several blocks. Not just in my house. I tried it at my local Target, Best Buy, and a few friends house. All were off by several blocks to the South and West.

Overall it is a great case but not worth the $150 to me since the GPS doesn't work fully. For that reason I'm sending it back as soon as I get an RMA from Element.
 
red kiosk said:
I asked this same question in an email to Element this week. Their reply was… "yes it will fit, BUT, they experienced some reception issues with the CDMA phone in the At&T Vapor Pro case, which they attributed to the different antenna configuration. They are redesigning the case and tuning it specifically for the Verizon iPhones. Due out later this month or early April. Don't flame the messenger! Take care.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much - that was exactly the question I was wondering about. I'll wait for the "optimized" version.

Actually, I guess I am really in a waiting game now between this one arriving, the e13ctron s4v, and the reviews on the Apex Armor (to see how the reception is). I may end up just ordering whichever one is available first...
 
I'm in love with this case :D

img0719k.jpg
img0637qt.jpg
98999624.jpg
 
lgreenberg said:
My Vapor Pro just came a little while ago.

Initial thoughts....

OMFG it's nice.

No signal loss at all right now - it may even be improving mine.

It fits and feels amazing.

I'll have a initial thoughts video up tomorrow most likely.
Click to expand...


Larry:
In your preliminary look at this case you said it may actually IMPROVE signal strength. I purchased this case yesterday. After using it for some time, has it indeed been shown to be true that it increases signal strength over a caseless Iphone? Do you have a wrap over the metal antenna?

Can anyone else verify that the strength increases over a caseless Iphone
 
archrider said:
Larry:
In your preliminary look at this case you said it may actually IMPROVE signal strength. I purchased this case yesterday. After using it for some time, has it indeed been shown to be true that it increases signal strength over a caseless Iphone? Do you have a wrap over the metal antenna?

Can anyone else verify that the strength increases over a caseless Iphone
Click to expand...

I do have an Invisible Shield on the sides.

I'm still testing but I read at least one other report so far where the person also reported better signal.

I wouldn't take too much stock in this as a selling feature though but I would however just be happy in the fact that the Pro doesn't degrade the signal at all and live with that.
 
lgreenberg said:
I do have an Invisible Shield on the sides.

I'm still testing but I read at least one other report so far where the person also reported better signal.

I wouldn't take too much stock in this as a selling feature though but I would however just be happy in the fact that the Pro doesn't degrade the signal at all and live with that.
Click to expand...

Thanks Larry
I'm not totally counting on an improvement. I will be satisfied with no degradation of the signal.
 
archrider said:
Thanks Larry
I'm not totally counting on an improvement. I will be satisfied with no degradation of the signal.
Click to expand...

When using mine for the 3 days I had the case on, it didn't degrade my signal at all.

As for improving, I don't think it does that specifically but for me it stabilized the reception. Instead of fluctuating on fringe areas or places that I jump bars it stayed the same. This initially led me to believe that it was improving my signal.

What I found when I switch to dB% readings is that it makes it so the phone is able to hold on to a signal better without degragation as my percentages fluctuated between +/-03 with the case on and +/-22 with the case off. Reception itself wasn't better meaning that I never got a higher signal in an area but it did drop less when moving around said area.

An example to clarify: in my living room, I fluctuate between 87 and 103 normally without a case or slightly less of a fluctuation with a standard case on. (Standard case meaning an Otterbox, Candyshell, Apple Bumper, etc...).

With the Vapor Pro on that fluctuation is significally less. It never got any better than .87 but it never got any worse than .90 that I could see and I tried to kill the reception too by covering the antenna/phone. The Vapor Pro functioned very well in this regard.

My main issue was the GPS. If I was outdoors and stationary it wasn't too bad. I was usually off by a few feet or up to a block. When I was moving it wouldn't lock on at times and when I was indoors it was always off by several blocks to the South and West making it useless.

Had the GPS been functional then I would definitely be keeping this case. What I find odd is the original Vapor 4 had better GPS reception. My cell reception on the original Vapor 4 was fine. It never really dropped for me but then again it never helped it either.

To me, for $150 bucks, everything needs to work. I already have to Vapor 4s but for me to justify to myself to keep this case it must work 100% and it unfortunately doesn't.

With that said, if you don't need the GPS, then this is a great looking and functional bumper style case. Just don't use the Carbon Fiber. It did drop my reception when I finally attached it on Sunday. Dropped it really bad to the point of no reception at places in my house and that never happens.
 
are the ones on ebay the old versions or something? For $30-$45 i would purchase one now and there seem to be a lot of them there..
 
Shockwave78 said:
are the ones on ebay the old versions or something? For $30-$45 i would purchase one now and there seem to be a lot of them there..
Click to expand...

There are knockoffs on ebay ranging in price from 20-100$. There are genuine ones too but they usually sell for 60$ and up + shipping.

Post an auction link so that we can verify if its genuine or fake.

If you want a knockoff, go to dealextreme, they have them for 14.14$ shipped.
www.dealextreme.com/p/designer-s-pr...-cover-stickers-for-iphone-4-black-pink-50913
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/design...-cover-stickers-for-iphone-4-black-blue-50914
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/design...n-cover-stickers-for-iphone-4-black-red-50912

The zinc/alum knockoffs are heavier than the Vapor4
 
Is this a real deal?

Can't find any information on this model (M4-V Limited). Except some chinese online stores.

elementbox.jpg


P3130534.jpg


P3130532.jpg
 
Element Case $ 79.95 vs $ 99.99

What is the difference between this 2 Element Cases the one for $ 79.95 vs. $ 99.99...? Just color and finish...?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back