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Sector 5 from Element Case order thread.

I am gonna order the real mcoy from Element but undecided on which colours to go for?!

What do people think of the following:

Custom Sector 5

I was thinking of either the Rogue case (in the same colour combination) or just sticking with the Sector 5?!

The thing with the Rogue case is that I am unsure how iOS7 will work (with its pull down Notification Center) because the Rogue case has the top of the phone covered up where you have to swipe from......?!
 
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Sector 5 Standard Edition vs Sector 5 Design Studio

How's the side grip on the DS one?
I want a full black one so iIs it worth it to get a DS over a SE?
 
I ordered a Custom edition last week and according to the tracking info, its due to be delivered today or tomorrow.

I'll put up some pics and a brief review when I get it - I'll also compare it to a 'fake' (i.e. ones I have bought from eBay), Sector 5SE and also a 'fake' Black OPs case, which I purchased a while back, before deciding to go for the real deal.

Wonder if I will notice much difference as both the fake SE and Black Ops ones which I have, are actually both, really good copies (no paint flaking (apart from the black screws which have lost a little of the black paint), fit is really good with no loose parts, etc).......

I'll put up some pics when I get it..............
 
Well, my Sector 5 Custom edition well and truly arrived today!!! Quite surprised at what you get in the package. Received the case itself, 2 lots of rash guards, 4 spare screws, and 1 spare see through corner piece. Surprisingly, it didn't come with a carry case, which seems a little odd, seeing that the normal Sector 5 Standard Edition DOES come with a carry case and costs less than the custom studio one I have here - go figure?!?!?

Inside the metal frame, at each of the corners, is some serious padding. There is also a strip of padding along the volume buttons side and also along the top where the power button goes. As for the rash guards - to be honest, they really do not work very well at all! You are supposed to stick them along the edges and then they kinda meant to overlap the beveled edge of the iPhone and stick to this bevel as well but in reality, they only stick to the side! As soon as you press them down to stick them against the beveled edge, they just pop back up again! I ended taking mine off altogether !!

I've put up some pics comparing it to a fake Sector 5 Standard Edition I got from eBay a while back (sorry the pics are not of the case on the phone - could only take the pics using my iPhone before actually putting the case on it. My iPad 2 really just does not do the case any justice at all pics wise!)

uru8arat.jpg

ty6ebuzy.jpg

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The fit on my iPhone is pretty good although I have to say, the padding around the inside of the corners is pretty thick - I had to squash them down with my finger nail because the padding kept showing through the frame, after I had installed it because it was sooo thick!!

The case took about 2 weeks to arrive to me here in the UK. It takes 5 days alone for Element to process your Custom Studio case even before they ship it out. After that, Fed Ex literally took only a couple of days to deliver it.

Also,mine other thing - the rubber grip, which goes into the side of the frame, is actually hollow!! By that I mean that it is not a solid piece of rubber they have used to mould the grip. The inside of it is hollow meaning that when the grip is installed as part of the case on the phone, you are able to press the grip parts in a little because they are hollow! Would have like it if these were actually solid rubber but there you go - can't have everything!!!

Will rock this case for a while and see how the padding holds up over time - as it is now, there is no movement of the case at all!

:)
 
Is is the pictures or the the corner inserts have a better finish on the fake case than the original?
 
Do keep us updated on your original case compared to Ebay. I am also contemplating if i should give the original case a go since mine does not fit very well and the edges are pretty sharp and unpleasant to hold
 
gs28 said:
Is is the pictures or the the corner inserts have a better finish on the fake case than the original?
Click to expand...

I would say the actual finish on the corner pieces is pretty much the same when you compare the fake case to a genuine one. The only differences are that the fake corner pieces are a slightly different shape to the genuine ones (if you are thinking you can use fake corner pieces on the genuine case - they wont fit) plus also, on the fake cases, the corner pieces come with foam padding on the inside whereas on the genuine cases, the corner pieces are covered with a felt material.

I will also say this - on the side with the volume buttons (now that the case is on the phone), there is a very slight gap between the actual case and the edge of the phone. I think this is where the padding on the inside of the frame is pushing against the edge of the phone and forcing the frame out a little bit. The padding is there to prevent scratching of the edge of the phone so I don't really want to take it off. I think over time, this padding may get a little flattened out so this gap may eventually disappear.

All in all, I am quite happy with it however as I know it is a one off custom case that nobody I am likely to ever meet, will have the same one!!

I went for the patriot blue side rails with black top and bottom caps, with a red power button, clear corner inserts, black rubber grip and the carbon attack back plate.
 
pdxa4 said:
A few more pics...

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Click to expand...

I think Element must have changed their Design Studio somewhat. If you look at my previous post (Post #1803), you will notice that on my Design Studio Sector 5 case, the bottom piece has 1 big cut out for the speaker, mic and charging port whereas on your one, there are 3 separate cutouts?!

I'm also in 2 minds whether or not to take out the side grip as well as I find on my one, they are hollow and seem to kinda make a squelchy noise when you pres them ( I would have liked them to be a solid rubber grip)!
 
i am taking the plunge and ordered the Sector 5 case in Gold for my spouse. Am personally still using the knock off case and since my spouse is also interested in mine, i thought i should get for her the original version just to see how it holds up.

i finally found out why the lower left side of the case is lose. It is because left rail and bottom rail is not properly manufactured. I initially thought it is the plastic link that is causing it to be lose. So i swapped it around with the other links and it turns out that it remained the same. The problem is just the fitting between the left rail and bottom rail of the case. The plastic link is not affecting the lose fit at all.

Hopefully the original version is of a much better build. Keeping fingers crossed!
 
Dino F said:
I think Element must have changed their Design Studio somewhat. If you look at my previous post (Post #1803), you will notice that on my Design Studio Sector 5 case, the bottom piece has 1 big cut out for the speaker, mic and charging port whereas on your one, there are 3 separate cutouts?!

I'm also in 2 minds whether or not to take out the side grip as well as I find on my one, they are hollow and seem to kinda make a squelchy noise when you pres them ( I would have liked them to be a solid rubber grip)!
Click to expand...

Yep, it looks that way. Must have been a recent change that they made.
 
Following on from my previous post - I have attached some images of my genuine Sector 5 Design Studio case. I have also used a red skin underneath but still undecided if this looks ok or not - what do you think (I also have carbon one so not sure if that would look better!)?!

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Delivery was quick. After approximately five days, the package has arrived.

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The build quality is excellent so far. No movable parts whatsoever. I did not put on the rash guards as it will not be able to show that the phone is in gold :roll eyes:

My only gripe is that the internal padding on the sides and corner inserts are a tad too thick and it shows on both the front and back of the case (Visible in the pictures).

As for the slight gap on the left side of the case, it is definitely because of the padding there. But i would prefer more padding then no padding.
 
revenent said:
Delivery was quick. After approximately five days, the package has arrived.

Image

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The build quality is excellent so far. No movable parts whatsoever. I did not put on the rash guards as it will not be able to show that the phone is in gold :roll eyes:

My only gripe is that the internal padding on the sides and corner inserts are a tad too thick and it shows on both the front and back of the case (Visible in the pictures).

As for the slight gap on the left side of the case, it is definitely because of the padding there. But i would prefer more padding then no padding.
Click to expand...


Your case looks awsome in the gold colour ##.

With regards to the thick padding you mentioned, I actually took mine off because it was pushing the case out a little, at the sides, like you mentioned. When I took my padding out (it's only a sticker so pulls out easily without leaving any residue), the gap along the side was far less than it was with the padding left in.

Also - with the padded corners, I had the same issue as you as well. These are far too thick as well. I used a pair of childs nail clippers and clipped off some excess padding from the corners (the bits which stuck out once the case was on the phone) and then used my finger nail to push down the remaining corner padding (in effect, squashing it down tighter) so that it did not then stick out.

I think Element have designed the case so that the side rails, do not physically touch the side of the phone. Now that my case does not have any side padding on the inside, the side rails still do not actually touch the side of the phone. I looked back at some previous posts in this thread and spotted that another poster had also confirmed that his rails did not physically touch the side of his phone either which also led him to believe that this is how the case is actually designed.

I have a skin on the side of my phone anyway so I think there is no need for the padding on the inside of the case. No part of the sides of my phone are touching the case. And I think this is because it helps with not killing the reception of the phone (like early Element cases used to do!).
 
Preparing to unpackage and put up a new suit
post-12359-1385474995.jpg


IMOS, not as easy to apply as glass screen shield. they should use color paper to protect the front layer, easier to align that way, the cut is so precise very hard to align and can't see clearly because it's all clear, it's also very hard to lift it up again to remove dust after applying. Should apply after put on EC, because the cut is very precise, after putting on EC, it bubbles at some corner. I tried reapply more than 10 times, and yet the back shield still interrupt with the camera flash. Oleophobic hmmm, my finger prints and smudges are on the protector but only can see through certain angles, hard to catch on camera.
post-12359-1385475076.jpg


Custom EC, White frame, clear corners, gold button and screws.
post-12359-1385475139.jpg

post-12359-1385475177.jpg

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The 4 different corner combination
post-12359-1385475468.jpg


My final selection for now, amber corners with gold screws
post-12359-1385475562.jpg
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I need quick access to the sim card slot, as I often travel. I cut the side grip into 3 pieces, the middle pieces actually can out at the volume switch and mute switch, but the mute switch too hard to use. Just for the fun.
post-12359-1385476012.jpg
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With my iP5 black ops, battle damaged version lolx.
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No google exchange sync anymore, damn!
 
nles said:
Preparing to unpackage and put up a new suit
Image

IMOS, not as easy to apply as glass screen shield. they should use color paper to protect the front layer, easier to align that way, the cut is so precise very hard to align and can't see clearly because it's all clear, it's also very hard to lift it up again to remove dust after applying. Should apply after put on EC, because the cut is very precise, after putting on EC, it bubbles at some corner. I tried reapply more than 10 times, and yet the back shield still interrupt with the camera flash. Oleophobic hmmm, my finger prints and smudges are on the protector but only can see through certain angles, hard to catch on camera.
Image

Custom EC, White frame, clear corners, gold button and screws.
Image
Image
Image
Image

The 4 different corner combination
Image

My final selection for now, amber corners with gold screws
ImageImage

I need quick access to the sim card slot, as I often travel. I cut the side grip into 3 pieces, the middle pieces actually can out at the volume switch and mute switch, but the mute switch too hard to use. Just for the fun.
ImageImageImage

With my iP5 black ops, battle damaged version lolx.
Image
Image
Image

No google exchange sync anymore, damn!
Click to expand...

...hmm - that is really strange?!:confused::confused:

Your case looks awsome, however, 1 thing which I spotted straight away is your botttom cutout on your case?!

If you look at my post above (post #1810) and also the other post about the gold one (post #1812), you will notice that both of these Custom Editions have just 1 cutout along the bottom (for the speaker, charging port and mic) whereas on your Custom Edition, you have 3 cutouts?!

Perhaps you've received an old piece for the bottom because I believe Element Case now ship the bottom pieces with just 1 cutout(for the Custom Editions)?

I've now changed the colour on my inner skin on my iPhone to Orange (it was red before) - which now contrasts a lot better against the blue of my Custom Edition.
:)
 
These are really nice cases here. I think i am gonna bite it and order another real Element case for myself instead of using my current Ebay version. The Gold coloured case which i gave to my wife is a real nice fit and feel compared to mine. Think i will go ahead and order another Gold EC for my Silver phone. Think the colour combination should not be too far off. :p

And the Black EC really makes the Space Grey look stealthy!!
 
I bought a lightning to av adapter, the lightning connector is larger than the lightning to USB cable. I remember reading someone mod, sand off the connector so it could for smaller opening. Anyone got clue how should I do it? With a cutter or sand it off?
 
nles said:
I bought a lightning to av adapter, the lightning connector is larger than the lightning to USB cable. I remember reading someone mod, sand off the connector so it could for smaller opening. Anyone got clue how should I do it? With a cutter or sand it off?
Click to expand...

I did mine with a small metal file.
 
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