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LJY Sword Aluminum Bumper Need Review

27bslash6 said:
Hello. I have had the Sword 5 bumper on my black iPhone 5 for a few weeks since a trip overseas. It replaced a Draco V (metro black) which replaced an Element 5.

The Element 5 looked great in the photos, ugly on the phone. Reception dramatically decreased.

The Draco V looks fantastic on the phone, but is uncomfortable to hold. Some reception loss was noticed but not as bad as the Element case.

The Sword 5 bumper (silver) looks nice but I have also noticed reception issues. Again, not as bad as the Element V. Without the bumper -86 and with the bumper, -92 (not dramatic but noticeable.) It is comfortable to hold but the rim looks fat (imo).

I have ordered the Power Support Flat bumper which I expect to be delivered tomorrow. It is not aluminum but it looks nice.

Edit: Also, the logo on the side of the Sword 5 is far too large.
Click to expand...

The Element 5 you are talking about, is it an authentic, costly one? Also, is it the "Sector 5" with the 4 polymer links at the corners? I find it hard to believe you had reception issues with that. That one is the only one I had no reception issues with. I know knock off companies are selling their version of an Element Vapor 5 that has no polymer parts and fake Vapor Pros. neither of which Element manufactures and are not designed by them to specifically work with the iPhone 5.
 
dirkzhang said:
so many people are using this kind of metal cases in China, gota tell you gps signal become weaker with these cases
Click to expand...

That is true. however if you opt for any aluminum bumpers, you already opt to sacrifice some signals for looks. No metal cases can escape the faraday cage.

I think its a fair trade. after all, so long as it does not end up making your iphone useless its fine. :cool:
 
Enforce said:
Ok so i've got an answer. the manufacturer only supply the SWORD 5 to their appointed distributors/dealers and not any other companies or whosoever sells them.

Thus if you guys see any SWORD 5's price, package or offer which is too good to be true it is 100% counterfeit. ;)

Contrary to popular beliefs, SWORD being a designed in Japan & made in China product, is more highly prone to counterfeits compared to US aluminum bumper brands. It has been like this since the original Sword for iPhone 4 was released. Moulds were stolen by factory workers & sold for a profit to another factory, no matter the amount of security, its a norm in china.

Personally, i feel Sword is an underrated product mainly because people despise made in china products regardless of how good their quality. Also, their advertisement is not strong in Asia & almost non-existent in the US & EU.

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in fact, its at most $20 more for the real, proper thing. Unlike Elementcases where the difference can be $150 or more.
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Sorry but everything on your website is way overprice. The Sword 5 does not cost $55. Like I stated previously it's being sold by their main authorized distributor on taobao for $17. Plus I doubted they are designed in Japan like you stated!
 
archrider said:
The Element 5 you are talking about, is it an authentic, costly one? Also, is it the "Sector 5" with the 4 polymer links at the corners? I find it hard to believe you had reception issues with that. That one is the only one I had no reception issues with. I know knock off companies are selling their version of an Element Vapor 5 that has no polymer parts and fake Vapor Pros. neither of which Element manufactures and are not designed by them to specifically work with the iPhone 5.
Click to expand...

Yes, the Element 5 I have is authentic. It cost me around $150 and has the polymer corners. The distributor was nice enough to offer me a refund (although they haven't sent me the return envelope they promised yet) when I contacted them in regards to the loss of reception.

Regardless, the Element 5 (imo) takes the clean modern lines of the iPhone 5 and turns them into what looks like scaffolding. The one time I took it out, someone asked me if I was a Transformers fan. That being said, it is amazingly machined and the precision alone is why I can see some people like it. But, when you compare it side-by-side to the Draco 5, it is ugly and outdated. The Draco 5 is half the price but machined and designed a *lot* better. I fail to see the justification for Element's pricing.

I'm not Annie leibovitz so forgive the image and composition quality:

mr001.jpg


mr002.jpg


mr003.jpg


mr004.jpg
 
Re above. Also, I stuck these cases on without securing them (for the photos) and forgot to put the silence switch in on the Draco case. I can take a shot of the Sword and the Power Support flat bumper when it arrives today if anyone is interested.
 
27bslash6 said:
Re above. Also, I stuck these cases on without securing them (for the photos) and forgot to put the silence switch in on the Draco case. I can take a shot of the Sword and the Power Support flat bumper when it arrives today if anyone is interested.
Click to expand...

Man, I wish I had as much money to spend on cases as you.
 
kaikai830 said:
Sorry but everything on your website is way overprice. The Sword 5 does not cost $55. Like I stated previously it's being sold by their main authorized distributor on taobao for $17. Plus I doubted they are designed in Japan like you stated!
Click to expand...

If you would like to argue to the facts then you probably should study more and understand our industry.

And no, the Sword 5 does not cost $55 from us. you must have misread or been misinformed. It is only $49.90, shipped. check out the link below. I am also very sure ALL of our products are NOTover priced at any moment as we follow strictly to international MSRP. perhaps just minor difference due to currency conversion. shipping costs should not be mixed with MSRP.

Anyway i am not here to pick a fight & put anyone down for that matter. So lets just stick to discussing about Sword 5's pros & cons. :cool:
 
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27bslash6 said:
Re above. Also, I stuck these cases on without securing them (for the photos) and forgot to put the silence switch in on the Draco case. I can take a shot of the Sword and the Power Support flat bumper when it arrives today if anyone is interested.
Click to expand...

OMG your that guy!!!! David?
 
27bslash6 said:
Yes, the Element 5 I have is authentic. It cost me around $150 and has the polymer corners. The distributor was nice enough to offer me a refund (although they haven't sent me the return envelope they promised yet) when I contacted them in regards to the loss of reception.

Regardless, the Element 5 (imo) takes the clean modern lines of the iPhone 5 and turns them into what looks like scaffolding. The one time I took it out, someone asked me if I was a Transformers fan. That being said, it is amazingly machined and the precision alone is why I can see some people like it. But, when you compare it side-by-side to the Draco 5, it is ugly and outdated. The Draco 5 is half the price but machined and designed a *lot* better. I fail to see the justification for Element's pricing.

I'm not Annie leibovitz so forgive the image and composition quality:

Image

Image

Image

Image
Click to expand...

I'm astounded that you paid $150.00 for a case (Element) that you hate the appearance of so much. There were many, many pictures that tell you how it looked. What made you switch your opinion. Did your friends opinion sway you. It sounds like you are just making a case to return it.
 
archrider said:
I'm astounded that you paid $150.00 for a case (Element) that you hate the appearance of so much. There were many, many pictures that tell you how it looked. What made you switch your opinion. Did your friends opinion sway you. It sounds like you are just making a case to return it.
Click to expand...

Not at all. I am generally unswayable (except by perfectly lit and composed photos constructed to sway) and if Element hadn't offered a return I would have simply thrown it in the drawer with my other cases. I'm not saying the Element 5 case is ugly, I'm saying it is ugly in my opinion. An opinion I reached once the bumper was on my phone, not before.

Reception on the Element 5 was slightly worse than the Draco 5. I'm not attempting to return the Draco unit but I did email the supplier and, as with the Element, give them my reception number differences. If they offer to send me a return envelope I will send it back to them. Regardless of the fact of how much I like the look. If it was more comfortable and a bit slimmer, I would probably keep it on my phone regardless of the slight signal loss.

Also, the PS bumper just arrived by UPS if you would like to see a photo of that. I cant get my fingers into the silence switch hole (and no, I do not have sausage fingers, I have to run around in the shower to get wet) and while it looks ok, it feels very cheap, unsecured and plasticy. It also protrudes way to far over the front and back. It will probably stay on my phone all of three minutes before I go bare again.

mr005.jpg
 
27bslash6 said:
Not at all. I am generally unswayable (except by perfectly lit and composed photos constructed to sway) and if Element hadn't offered a return I would have simply thrown it in the drawer with my other cases. I'm not saying the Element 5 case is ugly, I'm saying it is ugly in my opinion. An opinion I reached once the bumper was on my phone, not before.

Reception on the Element 5 was slightly worse than the Draco 5. I'm not attempting to return the Draco unit but I did email the supplier and, as with the Element, give them my reception number differences. If they offer to send me a return envelope I will send it back to them. Regardless of the fact of how much I like the look. If it was more comfortable and a bit slimmer, I would probably keep it on my phone regardless of the slight signal loss.

Also, the PS bumper just arrived by UPS if you would like to see a photo of that. I cant get my fingers into the silence switch hole (and no, I do not have sausage fingers, I have to run around in the shower to get wet) and while it looks ok, it feels very cheap, unsecured and plasticy. It also protrudes way to far over the front and back. It will probably stay on my phone all of three minutes before I go bare again.
Click to expand...

[Correction]: Did you like the Sword 5? Did you faced any difficulty when you wish to use the volume buttons.

----------
Enforce said:
If you would like to argue to the facts then you probably should study more and understand our industry.

And no, the Sword 5 does not cost $55 from us. you must have misread or been misinformed. It is only $49.90, shipped. check out the link below. I am also very sure ALL of our products are NOTover priced at any moment as we follow strictly to international MSRP. perhaps just minor difference due to currency conversion. shipping costs should not be mixed with MSRP.

Anyway i am not here to pick a fight & put anyone down for that matter. So lets just stick to discussing about Sword 5's pros & cons. :cool:
Click to expand...

I think he might have mistakenly meant the Sword 5 in SGD.
 
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27bslash6 said:
Not at all. I am generally unswayable (except by perfectly lit and composed photos constructed to sway) and if Element hadn't offered a return I would have simply thrown it in the drawer with my other cases. I'm not saying the Element 5 case is ugly, I'm saying it is ugly in my opinion. An opinion I reached once the bumper was on my phone, not before.

Reception on the Element 5 was slightly worse than the Draco 5. I'm not attempting to return the Draco unit but I did email the supplier and, as with the Element, give them my reception number differences. If they offer to send me a return envelope I will send it back to them. Regardless of the fact of how much I like the look. If it was more comfortable and a bit slimmer, I would probably keep it on my phone regardless of the slight signal loss.

Also, the PS bumper just arrived by UPS if you would like to see a photo of that. I cant get my fingers into the silence switch hole (and no, I do not have sausage fingers, I have to run around in the shower to get wet) and while it looks ok, it feels very cheap, unsecured and plasticy. It also protrudes way to far over the front and back. It will probably stay on my phone all of three minutes before I go bare again.

Image
Click to expand...

Thanks for showing us the pictures and informing us about these cases. It's helping me save money. I do have two Element Sector 5 cases. The only problem I have is the Flux finish. I generally like a more glossy finish. I like the glossy finish on the bevels of the bare phone. I liked the early Element Iphone 4 cases in brushed aluminum. I wish they would do a nickel plated Sector 5 (not the Ronin, not into wood on the phone).
 
deep3lue said:
[Correction]: Did you like the Sword 5? Did you faced any difficulty when you wish to use the volume buttons.
Click to expand...

Again, it is far more comfortable than the Element and Draco but it does add girth and there is slight signal loss. Yes, the buttons are very recessed. Out of all the metal cases I have, the Draco is certainly my favorite but the Sword is nice. I am just looking for something slimmer. My offspring likes the Sword and has it on his phone at the moment (hence no photo) but he is active and clumsy so ideally needs something with more 'coverage'. For the moment, I might stay bare.


archrider said:
Thanks for showing us the pictures and informing us about these cases. It's helping me save money. I do have two Element Sector 5 cases. The only problem I have is the Flux finish. I generally like a more glossy finish. I like the glossy finish on the bevels of the bare phone. I liked the early Element Iphone 4 cases in brushed aluminum. I wish they would do a nickel plated Sector 5 (not the Ronin, not into wood on the phone).
Click to expand...

Yes, I assumed from your response you owned an Element Case and I understand completely your choice. I prefer Zippo's over Bics and the machining and design of the Element cases is extremely high. Hence my initial purchase.
 
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27bslash6 said:
Again, it is far more comfortable than the Element and Draco but it does add girth and there is slight signal loss. Out of all the metal cases I have, the Draco is certainly my favorite but the Sword is nice. I am just looking for something slimmer. My offspring likes the Sword and has it on his phone at the moment (hence no photo) but he is active and clumsy so ideally needs something with more 'coverage'. For the moment, I might stay bare.
Click to expand...

Hahaha!

Well you are right. The bumper does add some width to the phone, slight signal loss and unfortunately no lay-over-table protection when placed face downwards but I do agree with you that it feels very comfortable when being held in the hands.

The only nitpick I had was how uncomfortable it was when I had to access the volume buttons as they were very recessed.
 
archrider said:
I really need an answer to my question about signal degradation caused by this case. I just need your impression, lose a bar, two bars. no big deal technical tests needed.
Click to expand...

honest answer to anyone who wishes to know, minimal degradation (1 bar at most) on all wireless radios. but that very much depends on the cell signal strength in your area, wireless modems & bluetooth devices' signal strength etc.
 
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