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Itsedstech

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jul 24, 2011
1,700
2,098
Kansas
Hey there guys! Figured id give a review a try! Never gave one before, just read them so here we go!

Design-
First things first is the design! I myself am more into thin style cases with what i would consider "Full" protection which to me is all around protection with no top and bottom cut outs and with a lip, and boy does this case impress! It really is one of the most thin full protection cases i have ever used, and I've used quite a few! Apple leather case, belkin sheer candy grip, sector 5 (doesn't really count), etc. The case is pretty simple, its a black piece of tpu like material with a matte feel, surrounded by an interchangeable plastic band around the whole thing like a bumper. The plastic bumper comes in many colors including but not limited to White, Silver, Gold, Gun Metal, Black, Red, etc. In my opinion the color of the bumper you choose determines wether your phone looks sleek or if it Pops! Especially when sporting the Red! I have had many people ask me what case i was using including Apple store employees lol.

Durability-
This case holds up pretty well against abuse, although the back does get a bit dirty over time. Nothing that a simple wipe down with a damp cloth and dry can fix though! Due to the material type this case does not scratch like clear plastic cases which i absolutely loved about it! There is no discoloration from what i have seen on the black tpu, although on the plastic bumper i have seen some wear after extensive use. The best part about this case is if you drop it, the bumper takes the impact 99% of the time so you could actually just order the bumper piece separately and replace if it really bothered you that much!

Price-
This case retails at $29.99 on Spigen.com, or if you're like me and prefer Amazon, you can get it for on average a $10 discount! with prime shipping included! plastic bumper replacements are $10.99 on both sites i believe.
I think the $29.99 is a fair price to pay for the design and durability of this case, and even if it weren't $10 cheaper on amazon i would still recommend it for the full price. But you can't argue with the discount! lol

Conclusion-
I think this is one of the most perfect cases ever made! Its the case I've stuck with the longest, and I've had ALOT of cases! I always come back to this gorgeous super thing case! And its a nice head turner! I do however wish the tpu wouldn't get dirty as easy, and wish the tpu came in other colors, a white or grey tpu replacement would look soooo nice! although id be worried about keeping them clean. The Gold/Silver/GunMetal Grey do really well matching there respective iPhone color, i was actually surprised! All in all i give this case 4.5 out of 5 stars! Very customizable and very sleek and thin!
DO RECOMMEND!

Here are some pics! (will have more up with iPhone in them itself later) Feel free to ask questions etc! Thanks for reading :)
 

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+1

I've been through many cases, and this is the only one I have used for more than 1 month.

I have basically had it on since they released the case, which has to be at least 3 months now. I don't recall when precisely.

It's almost perfect in every way. No flimsy lip. Complete 360 degree protection. No vulnerable edges, sides, etc. TPU + hard plastic shell for the ultimate protection. Still keeps the original look/sleekness/thinness. Minimal bulk. Lay-on-face edge protection.

Best of all are the volume and power button: While plastic, they look metallic and give excellent tactile feedback.

It will be on my phone until the iphone 6 replaces it.
 
I came very close to ordering one of these, and may still get one as an colorful alternative, but what kinda scared me off were the complaints about the buttons in the bumper ring working themselves loose and being lost, even with a brand new unit. There may just be too many parts for what is a simple item.

Anybody have any issues like that?

Is it a design problem with an insufficient or poor retention design, a QC problem, or a user problem? How are they actually retained in the bumper?

I would also prefer something other than a chrome finish, which I think is only suited to certain color combos, but that's a minor thing.

Spigen also sells them on their eBay store, and they put up units in certain colors (red, mostly) that are discounted, but the bids usually eat into that.
 
I came very close to ordering one of these, and may still get one as an colorful alternative, but what kinda scared me off were the complaints about the buttons in the bumper ring working themselves loose and being lost, even with a brand new unit. There may just be too many parts for what is a simple item.

Anybody have any issues like that?

Is it a design problem with an insufficient or poor retention design, a QC problem, or a user problem? How are they actually retained in the bumper?

I would also prefer something other than a chrome finish, which I think is only suited to certain color combos, but that's a minor thing.

Spigen also sells them on their eBay store, and they put up units in certain colors (red, mostly) that are discounted, but the bids usually eat into that.

I've had it since release, and can't imagine how the buttons would fall out. IIRC, the button tapers to a larger plastic piece on the interior (hidden) of the plastic outer shell. So it definitely cannot fall out through the hole (outwards) because of that larger piece. And it is unlikely that it will break unless due to user error.

IIRC, it also doesn't fall inwards through the hole towards the interior. I remember holding the shell without the TPU piece in, and the buttons stayed there fine. They did jiggle, but never fell out. With the TPU and phone inwards, it is nearly impossible for the buttons to fall out. No where to go inwards, and unlikely to go outwards because of the plastic pieces on the inside.

I've never heard of this problem or complaint, and I'd seriously question anyone that has had this problem. Most likely user error as the only way it could happen is if the inside piece was broken. Maybe even just nonsense from people.

The buttons are Chrome finished, and look high quality and chrome-finished for all intents and purposes. I didn't even know they were plastic until someone pointed it out.
 
+1

I've been through many cases, and this is the only one I have used for more than 1 month.

I have basically had it on since they released the case, which has to be at least 3 months now. I don't recall when precisely.

It's almost perfect in every way. No flimsy lip. Complete 360 degree protection. No vulnerable edges, sides, etc. TPU + hard plastic shell for the ultimate protection. Still keeps the original look/sleekness/thinness. Minimal bulk. Lay-on-face edge protection.

Best of all are the volume and power button: While plastic, they look metallic and give excellent tactile feedback.

It will be on my phone until the iphone 6 replaces it.

I agree. Best case in its class. It was released early August or late July if I remember correctly.
 
I've never heard of this problem or complaint, and I'd seriously question anyone that has had this problem. Most likely user error as the only way it could happen is if the inside piece was broken. Maybe even just nonsense from people.

FWIW, loose or missing buttons is cited in many of the negative Amazon reviews, particularly the lock/power button.

I can't say from experience how valid they are, but I am still curious about what the inside of the bumper/button area looks like.

No doubt it is a sharp-looking case.
 
FWIW, loose or missing buttons is cited in many of the negative Amazon reviews, particularly the lock/power button.

I can't say from experience how valid they are, but I am still curious about what the inside of the bumper/button area looks like.

No doubt it is a sharp-looking case.

It happened to mine. I was able to find it after it snapped off and fell out. I just have to be very careful when taking off/putting on the band.
 
Guys, can you take off the back plate and use it without it?

I am after a bumper that matches the colour of the rim/antenna of the iPhone (as this case does) but without any backplate - basically a bumper. Not had much luck finding any. :(

Thanks!
 
Guys, can you take off the back plate and use it without it?

I am after a bumper that matches the colour of the rim/antenna of the iPhone (as this case does) but without any backplate - basically a bumper. Not had much luck finding any. :(

Thanks!

No. What you see as the backplate is actually a one-piece TPU case that wraps around the whole phone.
 
I find the gunmetal grey to be more of a bronze. Doesn't really match the space grey color but it looks good.
 
Wish they would of stuck with the rubber buttons they use on the EX instead of the trophy metal ones that rattle :\

Other than that it's a great case
 
Wish they would of stuck with the rubber buttons they use on the EX instead of the trophy metal ones that rattle :\

Other than that it's a great case

No thanks. The rubber looks cheap and tacky. The metal buttons look great, and they don't rattle in normal use. It's only for people looking for a problem. I would say it's less fo a rattle than the loose power buttons on all the ipad airs and minis in the Apple store right now. At most, comparable.
 
I find the gunmetal grey to be more of a bronze. Doesn't really match the space grey color but it looks good.
It does have a brownish tint (ever so slightly) now that i look at it closer!

I caved. Black and gold arriving this Friday. :(

Yay! :D you'll love it! i rock it on mine whenever i feel like having a "gold" iPhone lol.

:)

FWIW, loose or missing buttons is cited in many of the negative Amazon reviews, particularly the lock/power button.

I can't say from experience how valid they are, but I am still curious about what the inside of the bumper/button area looks like.

No doubt it is a sharp-looking case.
Posted some pics!

I have noticed if you put the case on your phone as one like recommended that the button doesn't fall out, but if your like me and put it on a piece at a time the power button does tend to fall out, it can be easily popped back in and once the case is on that button is there for good!
 

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Mine arrived. Bummer was that two clips were somewhat broken new in box. I don't know if that's all that bad or whether it will get worse. They don't show in the assembled case.

It’s an intricately designed and made case, while its design is restrained at the same time.

I find the outside edges to be too slick to the touch, but it’s mitigated by the satin smooth rubber back. I feel like I have to keep an index finger behind the case as a non-slip stabilizer. In a way, the gold rim acts as an exoskeleton for the rubber pan it surrounds.

The gold rim version looks well on a white and gold phone. Camera and flash hole in the back is done correctly for either silver or gold phone due to its size and position. Whereas other cases oversized hole showed a portion of the iPhones gold or silver backing.

Case has sufficient lay on table lip. Button response is top-notch.
 
Mine arrived. Bummer was that two clips were somewhat broken new in box. I don't know if that's all that bad or whether it will get worse. They don't show in the assembled case.

It’s an intricately designed and made case, while its design is restrained at the same time.

I find the outside edges to be too slick to the touch, but it’s mitigated by the satin smooth rubber back. I feel like I have to keep an index finger behind the case as a non-slip stabilizer. In a way, the gold rim acts as an exoskeleton for the rubber pan it surrounds.

The gold rim version looks well on a white and gold phone. Camera and flash hole in the back is done correctly for either silver or gold phone due to its size and position. Whereas other cases oversized hole showed a portion of the iPhones gold or silver backing.

Case has sufficient lay on table lip. Button response is top-notch.

If its the top left left clip and the bottom right clip, then its normal! lol not broken! there cut in half.
 
Question for NH owners -- does this case have any issues with lifting the edge of screen protectors? I think I read somewhere that it's fine with Spigen's own protectors, which are an appropriately-sized match, but mine isn't from Spigen.

And how are they holding up?

Long story short, I'm ready to take give the NH a try, after returning my Evutec SP. While it is a nice case, and I loved the look and feel, there are a couple minor issues that I couldn't overlook -- namely the fit of the inner TPU lining along the top and bottom edges, and the profile of the lip around the front perimeter. Perhaps if it was a $30 case, but not for $50, and I'm picky, and not the kind to have a case collection for swaps.

I've always liked the NH for its looks, slimness, and measure of protection keeping in mind the size. I believe the power button issue can become a non-issue with a little care.

Heck, I can order an extra bumper frame for another splash of color to mix things up a little, and still come out 20 bucks ahead.

The Tylt Bumpr is similar and also looks interesting, but is probably too bulky.
 
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