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Lunatik TakTik Extreme "REAL" iPhone 5 case has arrived today.

So how is everyone fairing with their Lunatik cases, Extreme or Strike. I am still considering getting one, but on the fence between it and a Mophie Battery case. Just not sure what to get.

I read a bit today and just noticed as well that the holes for the camera and flash are backwards. How exactly does a company make such a huge design flaw and expect people to pay that kind of money for defective cases. Has anyone heard if they have fixed the design problem or are they just expecting buyers to live with it or just not to buy their cases?
 
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NM08SRT8 said:
Don't forget Griffin's version...
Click to expand...

I'm not even looking forward to Griffin's waterproof/dustproof case lol.

So far I like the Otterbox Armor. I like LifeProof's design but its full of flaws. The Seidio OBEX is good but the mute switch cover is a fail.

I'll be trying the Atlas and will be automatically passing on Griffin's case.
 
I posted my thoughts in the "replica" thread but thought I'd share them here for people who are trying to decide...

I bought a black plastic Taktik Extreme 5 directly from Lunatik. It was a nice case, looks awesome, but I didn't really like the way it felt in my hand. Especially for $143 (the cost after taxes and shipping). Decided the same day to return it.

When I installed the case I cleaned everything really well. Within hours I had a really bad rainbow effect on the Gorilla Glass, took up half the screen and was so bad I could see it with the phone on. I have an Otterbox Defender so I'm familiar with the issue and ways to fix it but I did not expect it with the Gorilla Glass. And this was way worse than anything I've seen on my OB. I don't mind popping the case off of my Otterbox once a week or so to clean it but I'm not going to undo and redo 6 screws to clean my case every time I have a rainbow on the screen. Plus, when I did go to clean it the second time I noticed some of the screws had already loosened quite a bit.

Also, that company is a mess. One bumble after another. Their customer service is unresponsive. When I decided to return my case I had to send 3 mails over the course of a week before I got a response. Wouldn't have been a huge deal if they had a 30 day return policy but it's only 10. I didn't want to get stuck with a $143 case I didn't want. Lots of people are having customer service issues with them. I don't mind paying a premium price (which this DEFINITELY is), but I expect PREMIUM SERVICE in return. They make some beautiful products but I will not buy from them until I start seeing happy customers on Facebook and Kickstarter. Hopefully they'll learn before it's too late.

A couple of other things that rubbed me the wrong way. The instructions on how to open the case are INSIDE the sealed case. That's easy enough to figure out but who in their right mind thinks that's a good idea? Plus, backers (which I'm not) are paying $25 more for the case than people who didn't back the product. Kind of sucks for them.
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There are also issues a lot of other people are having that I didn't notice because I didn't have the case long enough - bezel scratches easily and flipped camera/flash cutouts.

Ended up buying an aluminum knockoff on eBay for $70 shipped. Same buyer terry8000 bought from and has reviewed. An aluminum case (vs. plastic), made right, w/ good customer service for half the price. I'm not usually big on knock-offs but even if I absolutely loved theoriginal case I probably would have returned it on principle alone, their customer service sucks.

Also... This probably made me most mad of all... There was a Facebook post where people were expressing their concerns, one person posted something about giving the company the benefit of the doubt and chilling for a bit, a Lunatik rep came in to the thread and rather than address any of the concerns they publicly offered the person who had been sticking up for the company a 50% off coupon. It's fine that they did that but it shouldn't been in front of people who were already pissed off. I saw that as a big FU to those who dared complain.
 
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macMD said:
I read a bit today and just noticed as well that the holes for the camera and flash are backwards. How exactly does a company make such a huge design flaw and expect people to pay that kind of money for defective cases. Has anyone heard if they have fixed the design problem or are they just expecting buyers to live with it or just not to buy their cases?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if they're still shipping defective cases. I have seen on Facebook that they're compiling some sort of list to mail out replacement back plates, I think the wait was 1-2 weeks.

Personally, I wouldn't trust them to do it any time soon and not without several phone calls and/or emails. As I've said, I'm not a fan of their customer service.
 
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kilcher said:
I'm not sure if they're still shipping defective cases. I have seen on Facebook that they're compiling some sort of list to mail our replacement back plates, I think the wait was 1-2 weeks.

Personally, I wouldn't trust them to do it any time soon and not without several phone calls and/or emails. As I've said, I'm not a fan of their customer service.
Click to expand...

Ditto. eBay seller iphonecase2011 could teach Lunatik customer service lessons. He replied to emails in hours, not days.
 
questions that I can't find an answer to anywhere:

does either the Strike or the Extreme have anything covering the back camera?? loved the survivor on the 4S because the rubber insert blocked sand and dust from blasting the camera. will be in very windy places and may have to opt for the new survivor based on this (though i'd rather something a little more aesthetically pleasing / slimmer)

is the glass plate on the Extreme removable? is it any better than the Strike besides the glass plate? that seems to be the primary concern afaict
 
cajunking said:
questions that I can't find an answer to anywhere:

does either the Strike or the Extreme have anything covering the back camera?? loved the survivor on the 4S because the rubber insert blocked sand and dust from blasting the camera. will be in very windy places and may have to opt for the new survivor based on this (though i'd rather something a little more aesthetically pleasing / slimmer)

is the glass plate on the Extreme removable? is it any better than the Strike besides the glass plate? that seems to be the primary concern afaict
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The rear camera/flash is open on the Extreme and the Gorilla glass on the front is glued in.
 
Hooterville said:
The rear camera/flash is open on the Extreme and the Gorilla glass on the front is glued in.
Click to expand...

Thanks! that seems a bit strange considering it protects everything else so well (leaving the camera totally open)!

has anyone used it in dusty /desert conditions? did the sapphire lens totally hold up?
 
Happy with my Taktik Strike. I originally had an authentic Extreme but had rainbow issues with the glass in addition to the reversed rear camera/flash holes. I still liked the tactical look and protection so I went with the Strike. I had to place a separate order in with Lunatik for the red headset port covers as the stock black Strike comes with a silver headset port cover.

Other than the mute switch issue, my small complaint is that the rear hole for the camera could have been slightly smaller as you can see the middle blue'ish color of the middle plate.

Another slight issue is that the lanyard hole isn't pleasing to the eye when actually using a lanyard. An attached lanyard would cover over the middle impact truss and be pretty obvious vs. regular lanyard attachments that only expose the end knot of a lanyard.

picture.php
 
austimus said:
I have an absolutely terrible rainbow effect on my taktik 5 extreme. cleaned both the phone and the gorilla glass on the case many a time now with alcohol swabs and it just will not go away. Also the glue on the gorilla glass has some terrible residue all on the back side of it that can be seen around the ear speaker mesh. TBH i was rather dissapointed, but if anyone knows what to do about this rainbow effect then let me know because this is rlly getting on my nerves.
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Any chance you dont have the original one? knock off ?
 
Just ordered my extreme direct from lunatik. Estimated ship time was 1 to 2 weeks? Anyone have experience ordering lately? What was your wait time before you got the case?

Thanks.
 
If anyone is curious about this, I ordered my case on April 22 and got it in today. Pretty fast shipping considering I live on the east coast of the us
 
Hi!

i'm wonderring, is it possible to add an anti fingerprint film to the Gorilla Glass?
will the screen still work properly?
i'm already using one on my iphone, and really prefer the clean and non glare look of the screen...
 
Robster3 said:
Just clean the inside of the protector and the phone with a eye glass cleaner, and that fixes it. Did with my OB defender anyway..
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You can also put a matte screen protector on the phone under the case, will prevent the oil slick effect. That's what I always had to do when I used otterboxes as well.
 
Aluminum Knockoff - Worth the $50

Based on terry8000's posts and video review, I purchased a white aluminum Taktik Extreme 5 knockoff for $50 from the seller 'iphonecase2000'. He only had white and black available as of a few days ago. I also have the genuine Taktik Extreme, so I'm in a position to compare the two.

  • glass: Exactly the same as far as I can tell.
  • truss: Knockoff's is a little softer, making the buttons easier to press, both are excellent quality
  • bezels: Plastic on the genuine (but good quality) vs. aluminum on the knockoff (definitely metal, cool to the touch and a bit heavier)...knockoff has a poor paintjob on the inside, which you'll never see
  • earphone port cover: Knockoff came with a red one, whereas genuine white case came with a gold one, both have firm and smooth movement
  • screws / assembly: Both sturdy and well fitting, only the knockoff's aren't brass inserts (like terry8000 mentioned)
  • vibe button: Works surprisingly well in both, despite what I'd heard from other reviewers...just have to use thumb and forefinger and squeeze bezel. I installed the case carefully according to Lunatik's instructions which may have made the difference...or I may have just gotten lucky and gotten good cases. But considering I got it to work on both cases suggests a careful installation will do the trick.
  • reception: So far so good...genuine vs. knockoff vs. no case: identical signal in my house and outside (wifi / 3G / LTE)
  • camera/flash: Covering is black on the genuine, white on the knockoff...I'm happy with either. Unlike terry8000's, my knockoff does have circular cutouts for the camera and flash, much like the original (only they're part of the original white bezel, rather than a contrasted black). Also, the holes were NOT reversed on either of the cases, so it looks like that problem's been addressed.
  • logo: "LUNATIK" embossed on genuine and knockoff (not a sticker, etc.). On the knockoff, it looks like not quite enough paint made it into the recessed letters, giving the "LUNATIK" a slightly less white hue than the rest of the bezel. It looks fine, though, even giving it a bit of contrast. On the genuine case, the "LUNATIK" is just as white as the rest of the bezel.
  • service: I got excellent service from iphonecase2000. He anticipated most of my questions, and emailed me pics...even of the package with my mailing address on it the same day I ordered. I'm ordering a black plastic Taktik for my wife's iPhone 4. Incidentally, service from Lunatik was just fine, too. In both cases, I received the case three days after my order was placed (but I live in Korea).

I had the oilslick/rainbow problem with both. But I've also had that problem with EVERY SINGLE case with a built-in screen cover that I've ever owned (most recently, the Griffin Survivor). Like with those cases, slapping an anti-glare film on the iPhone prior to installing the case prevents this problem completely.

Both of these products are built EXCEPTIONALLY well. Once you've installed the Taktik and felt it in your hand, you'll probably be a fan for life. There's a quality to this case and its materials that far surpasses any other case I've tried. I may post pics if I get motivated.

I'm completely happy with my genuine Taktik. For me this wasn't a price issue (I think this case is worth the price). I simply wanted it in metal. Still keeping the genuine as my 'backup'. A million thanks to terry8000 for his YouTube review and posts here, Lunatik for an incredible case, and to iphone2000 for an aluminum version worthy of the brand.
 
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Plastic Taktik for iPhone 4 from iphonecase2011

After receiving an awesome white aluminum knockoff Taktik Extreme 5 from iphonecase2011, I decided to order a black plastic Taktik knockoff ($35) for my wife's iPhone 4 from the same seller.

The case is constructed very well -- as good as the aluminum Extreme 5. Vibe switch works just fine, too. Service was also great the whole way.

However, I have encountered a major issue. The phone's proximity sensor doesn't work while it's in the case. In other words, the screen remains on when you put the phone to your face during calls. My cheek pushed "Mute" and "Speaker" while I made calls today. Obviously, this is a dealbreaker.

After some searching online, I've discovered this is a known issue with the genuine Taktik iPhone 4 case. I also found two suggested DIY solutions to the problem, outlined on these pages:


Neither worked for me. I also tried coloring the tape with a black sharpie as some users suggested, but the problem persists.

Lunatik even has a page posted about this issue, but no solutions from them.

It seems this isn't an issue with every iPhone 4, only some. I'm really hoping for a solution, but at the moment I can't recommend ordering a Taktik for your iPhone 4 unless you're will to take some risk...
 
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Im really thinking of getting this case, but i have to ask, how well does the headphone jack work with a variety of headphones? I listen to music everyday and i dont like using the stock apple ones. Do "L" shaped connections work on this?
 
NM08SRT8 said:
Don't forget Griffin's version...
Click to expand...

Take a look at Pelican CE1180 Vault. I'm a wildland firefighter searching for the ultimate protection in a case. I have the defender...disappointing. But a guy I work with got the Pelican Vault and loves it. It's smaller than Taktik (not by much) it has a weird nob for the mute but he said it works fine. Also the front camera cut isn't centered cosmetic. All and all he love's it and after reading this thread it looks like he found the best tough case out there. I have spent way too much time reading reviews I feel like I should just design my own at this point.
 
Lunatik taktik extreme is definitely the way to go for the most protection out there I have them and ballistic cases for sell on my page www.facebook.com/10hottrendz just scroll for the eBay links or you can call or text me anytime with questions 208-380-3680

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Hendoproof said:
Just ordered my extreme direct from lunatik. Estimated ship time was 1 to 2 weeks? Anyone have experience ordering lately? What was your wait time before you got the case?

Thanks.
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I ship mine out same day and takes 1-5 business days ups
 
Lunatik Taktik Extreme White for iPhone 5 - Geniune

Positives:I just got my whote Lunatik Taktik Extreme for my iPhone 5. The quality of the material and packing are very high quality. You can easily distinguish the geniune and the fake (or as Ebay sellers call them - replica). After reading reviews of the geniune and replica, you can easily spot the fakes.

Installation is vey easy. It only took me only a few minutes (spent so much time cleraning the screean and the gorilla glass). It is very important that the gorilla glass and the iphone screen are clean and dust-free. The sensitivity of the gorilla glass is great - no appreciable difference to when I had a screen protector or when the iphone screen is naked. The Home button response is also very similar.

The extra length, width and thickness makes it much easier to hold. The polymer bezel and back plane provides a comnsiderably firmer hold. It is approciable heavier than a naked iPhone or with the More-Think Armor case I was using before I bought the Lunatik Taktik.

Issues:
On/Off button requires a little bit more pressure (very little more). I used my finger nail to press it before. The integrated vibe button switcher (silencer) requires a small implement like a pen to press, unless you have fingers as thin as pencils, you need something to push it.

I noticed that there are rainbows on the gorilla screen when the iPhone is off. It is almost invisible but you will see it if you find it. However, when you turn on your iPhone, the rainbow (very slight) can only be seen if the backgound is black or very dark. I am wondering what I can do to prevent the rainbow appearing.The now too-common drop tests seen in YouTube is true. It will not harm your iphone if you throw it hard on a concrete or loose gravel ground. However, it can scratch the case. So do not do it just to impress your friend. If you really have to perform a throwing demonstration, put a thin rag on the ground.

Overall Score: 8/10
 
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