Hi guys,
This is my first post here! I just joined because I wanted to submit my review of the Capsule Neo case that I received two days ago.
Previous to this case, I have owned the Zagg Invisible Shield, Agent 18 ClearShield3G, the Speck See Thru Clear, Griffin Wave, and the Capsule Rebel Arctic.
Although I loved the Rebel, I think I like the Neo much more. The Rebel was great for certain occasions, due to its wild look. For those people who want to show a bit more attitude, the Rebel is definetely a good choice. But for those occasions where you want to exude more elegance, the Neo really fits the bill. You can tell right when you look at it that it looks like an extension of the phone's lines and simply looks very high quality.
When I showed this to a co-worker (who doesn't own an iPhone) he asked me where the case was, as he held the phone. I told him it's on the phone already. He thought it was part of the phone. It just feels solid.
The case fits very tight. Because of this, people with a Zagg or similar film on the back of the 3G may have some fitting issues with this case. I don't know for sure. You may want to check out Ayobonus's or Itsmemorpheous's youtube reveiws on this case since I think at least one of them has the Body Guardz on their phone when they installed it in their videos.
I didn't experience any wiggling of the phone once the case is on, and judging the way the case is put together, I don't forsee it coming apart when dropped at all.
My Agent18 ClearShield came apart when I dropped it accidentally getting out of my car in a parking lot. Due to its front-back clamshell design, a simple drop from a couple feet when I opened the car door onto the asphalt sent my beloved 3G flying out of its case, and sliding away from me, face down on the asphalt. This caused scratches all over the plastic back of the 3G and a cracked glass that I had to replace by getting a new phone.
I am very happy to say that neither the Rebel or the Neo will come apart easily when dropped accidentally, unless you really try to throw it at a wall or something, I suppose.
As for installation, it is a bit more difficult to get a perfect installation of this case than other cases, so it's not really suitable for those who want to switch cases as often as they switch purses or outfits. The membrane is very thin and will most likely rip or something after a lot of installations and removals. I do wish they offer more colors of the membrane or I-brace so we could make our own combinations. The I-brace can be removed and reinstalled very easily, so offering different colors of just this one piece could be the ticket.
After installation, when you hold it in your hand, the plastic parts are smooth and feel quality made, unlike the other plastic cases you see everywhere else. The clear H-brace is completely smooth, with no texture on the plastic at all. I was surprised at the "thinkness feeling" of the clear H bracket when installed on the phone. It just feels high quality. It's hard to describe. The best way I can describe it is what came to my mind when I held it after I installed it... "man, they really paid attention to the details of this case". I'm sorry but that's the best way I can describe it.
The size of the case is almost exactly the same as the Agent 18 ClearShield 3G. They do add bulk to the phone, but nothing like the Speck ToughSkin or the Otterbox Defender. It's about the same as the Griffin Wave in size. It does feel heavier than all the other cases I've owned, but only by a small margin.
I don't use the protective films that came with it, since I prefer the PowerSupport Crystal film I got from the Apple store. It is very nice of them to include them, however. I gave one of the Switcheasy films to a friend and installed it on his just as a test. When you first look at the included films, they are rigid enough to hold horizontally on edge and not droop down completely like a piece of paper. This made me think it was like the cheap, thick films that came with the Griffin Wave. But when peeled off the layers to install it, is much thinner and flexible than I had originally thought. It's a lot thinner than the Zagg.
It installs as a static-cling screen, just like the Power Support. It is crystal-clear and has no texture to it like matte or anti-glare. It even comes with a squegee to help with the air bubbles. It is a completely dry installation, no liquid or anything needed. Just make sure the phone is dust-free to get a good install.
The feel of the film is pretty good. It's definetely above average and better feeling than the Zagg IMHO. There is no "orange peel texture" or anything of the sort like you would see on the Zagg. I didn't get much time to test it on his phone after I installed it, but it did seem to feel a bit more resistant when gliding your finger across it than the Power Support Crystal film, which is absolutely smooth. Sort of like gliding your finger across a sheet of Saran Wrap vs. a glass tabletop with furniture wax on it.
It comes with two plugs - one for the bottom dock connector and one for the top headphone jack. When you have all these goodies installed, the phone is completely covered except the mic, speaker, and the ring/silent switch. The volume rocker switch is covered by the silicon membrane itself, as is the sleep/wake button. I don't use these add-ons very often, since I dock my phone and use my earbuds constantly, but it is very nice to have around and great that they included it with the case.
The movie stand included works very well, also works with most other 3G cases of simlar size. It's easy to carry around in your bag.
The dock adaptor works in any of the Apple Universal Docks. It snaps in and the case just goes into it. You can use the universal dock without the adaptor, as it will fit, but you risk flexing the plastic around the dock connector on your phone and it may result in cracking. The dock adaptor prevents the phone from tilting back, preventing the connector from putting stress on the plastic around it. I push buttons while its docked, so this is important to me. The adaptor does not fit on the iPhone 3G dock but it does fit in the Apple Universal Dock, and even in some of the clock radios I see at the stores made for the iPhone.
I read on this thread there was a question about the heat which the 3G generates wile the case is on the phone. This is a valid concern. I honestly have not experienced any heat issues with mine so far. I have felt the back get a little warm every once in a while, after a movie or after charging, just like the bare phone itself, but I have not seen any bubbles or anything unusual in the membrane yet.
The case is $30 directly from SwitchEasy, which is the same price as the Speck See Through clear and Agent 18 cases when bought from the Apple Store. For what you get from SwitchEasy, I feel this is a very good deal. The other cases are obviously marked up a lot by the retailers, and since you order directly from Switcheasy or one of its distributors, I believe the retail cost of the Neo would be somewhere in the range of $40-$50 USD if sold at a retail store like Best Buy or the Apple Store.
I look forward to getting the black version, as I feel I have finally found the perfect case for me. I hope they release more color combinations!
I hope my frist review helps in your decision making, and thanks for reading!
