Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Does this case have a really tight fit? I want one like this that will keep the dust and dirt out.
 
I have a space gray 5s paired with a blue Tech21 Mesh case. Generally, I like the case. It doesn't take up a lot of space, allows me to grip the phone easier, looks nice, and has protected the phone from three drops on the street (twice the final impact occurred face up, and the third impact occurred face down on a flat sidewalk).

HB478


However, after a few months, I noticed pin sized abrasions on the side of my phone. Apparently, the abrasions line up with the injection holes for the D30 material. The inner lining was not perfectly smooth, so the excess material around the injection holes rubbed up against the phone. Not a huge deal, but it is noticeable if take the phone out of the case and hold it up to a light.

I wrote to Tech21's customer service, and they requested a picture of the damaged area, a picture of my original box (which I fortunately saved), and a copy of the receipt. They offered to send me a new case, but reiterated that they will not pay for any damage to the phone itself. Fair enough. The case protected my phone from three serious drops with no damage, so I wasn't expecting them to buy me a new phone over some pin hole sized abrasions.

In the meantime, the black trim around the back camera opening has started peeling off, and the case is starting to show more nicks and scratches after using it for almost a year. So, the replacement case arrived at a good time. The replacement case though has the same uneven areas around the injection holes. So, I will either try to sand it down before using the replacement case or look at other options.

All in all, I like the Tech21 case. It seems to protect the phone well without a lot of bulk, which is exactly what I wanted. The pin hole abrasions though seem like they could be a common issue. And after a year, the case looks a bit beat up and even the cool orange color of the D30 material has started to fade. Not sure how other cases compare, but the Tech21 Mesh seems like it won't last the full time that someone keeps their phone.

----------

Does this case have a really tight fit? I want one like this that will keep the dust and dirt out.

Yeah, the fit's pretty tight on mine. Only the areas around the openings will attract a lot of dust, as expected.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.