To Caudabe or not to Caudabe!

[jack_1992]

So after this years mess with Caudabe, what do we think to iPhone 16 cases?

Seems they will be introducing metal buttons on the cases this year.
I really like their cases and want to try for the 16 too but after the QA issues this year and that awful MagSafe ring…I’m cautious to spend how much they are!

 

[thecautioners]

I had a case for my 14PM and it was the strongest MagSafe magnet I’ve ever seen, I hope quality hasn’t gone down. I’m going to decide between Caudabe and an Apple clear case for my 16PM.

 

[thelookingglass]

To Caudabe. My go to every year is a Sheath. It’s been great. No QC issues here after almost a year of use. If anything they just keep getting better. I got a Synthesis too but still like the Sheath the best.

 

[azhava]

I've had a Sheath on my 13 Pro for almost the whole three years I've owned it. For the 16 Pro it will either be the Sheath or a Speck Presidio 2 Grip (still undecided). The Sheath has been a great case, has held up well, and works really well with MagSafe chargers/accessories, but I had the Presidio Grip on my XS and liked how grippy it was.

 

[Surfsalot]

No to caudabe sheath, overpriced and too heavy for what it is imo.

 

[Zensō]

I’m taking a wait-and-see approach with Caudabe this year. I’ve been a big fan going back to when they first started producing cases, but in my experience last year’s offerings (IP15 PM) were a disappointment.

 

[Amplelink]

I'm not sure if I'm upgrading yet, but if I do I'm getting another Synthesis. I have one on may 15 Pro Max and have loved it. Still looks almost new after a year of use. Grippy dots on the side are excellent.

I also have a Sheath and a Finewoven. Needless to say the Finewoven was a disappointment. I still use the Sheath when I want to change things up, but the Synthesis gets most of my use.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yes to Caudabe. I’ve used the Caudabe Sheath on my last 2 iPhones and it’s hard to beat. Great drop protection, offers good grip, MagSafe magnet is strong and it looks like a really sleek case. A bit cheaper than anything Apple makes and much better quality.

 

[mous94410]

The sheath is my go to case since the 6s plus (iPhone 7Plus, X, 12, 13Pro, 14Pro Max and 15 Pro Max). I’m French so I have to import it, with fees.

The only year with some issues is with the 15 Pro max case with the ring on the back of the case even if you don’t use MagSafe…

I don’t know if I’ll upgrade this year but in this case, I’ll go with this case.

 

[Momof2.1107]

If I were to upgrade, 99.99% I’m certain I will not this year, I’m not buying a Caudabe case this year. I didn’t like the blue Synthesis case after a few months, and the novelty wore off, plus the ring from my MagSafe popsocket shows on the outside of the case now.

 

[walds11]

If I were to upgrade, 99.99% I’m certain I will not this year, I’m not buying a Caudabe case this year. I didn’t like the blue Synthesis case after a few months, and the novelty wore off, plus the ring from my MagSafe popsocket shows on the outside of the case now.

I was team Sheath, now team Synthesis (eucalyptus). I don’t see the novelty wearing off. There’s something about the Synthesis. I like the utilitarian look of it with the button slits, dot matrix side grips, little bit smoother back than rest of case and usual camera bump design.

 

[Momof2.1107]

I was team Sheath, now team Synthesis (eucalyptus). I don’t see the novelty wearing off. There’s something about the Synthesis. I like the utilitarian look of it with the button slits, dot matrix side grips, little bit smoother back than rest of case and usual camera bump design.

I guess I’m getting tired of Caudabe now. I’ve been buying their cases since the 12 series. I don’t like their colors anymore neither. I will say that they have great customer service.

 

[FranApple]

Yes to Caudabe. I’ve used the Caudabe Sheath on my last 2 iPhones and it’s hard to beat. Great drop protection, offers good grip, MagSafe magnet is strong and it looks like a really sleek case. A bit cheaper than anything Apple makes and much better quality.

Yes. This is me too. I love the Sheath and am too used to it by now to switch to anything else. I tried a Pitaka last year because of what people were saying on other posts, but I went back to my Sheath that same day.

 

[NJRonbo]

Caudabe will be rolling out their iPhone 16 case announcements on Friday.

However, I remain highly, highly skeptical that they will be the choice for many based on changes Apple made this year to their phones.

I think, based on what I have seen so far from other third-party releases, manufacturers were blind sighted by the camera control button and the attention that a case needs to be given to it.

For instance, all the cases advertised on Apple have this notation:

This case works seamlessly with Camera Control. It features a sapphire crystal, coupled to a conductive layer to communicate finger movements to the Camera Control.


I have only seen one or two third-party case companies (Spigen being one of them) mentioning their case is compatible with the new camera control button.

I wrote an email to Caudabe earlier today asking if their iPhone 16 lineup would support the needed conductive layer. They evaded the question in their response.

So, unless Caudabe mentions their cases offer support, I am going to be forced to buy an Apple silicone case.

 

[ISignedUpToAskThis]

I've tried so many cases over the years and always come back to Caudabe. The Sheath is my all time favourite case, by a large margin.

Saying that, I do think last year damaged their reputation a little bit for me:

- First, the cutout/no cutout for the action button. Other case makers were prepared, why weren't they? It took months for me to get one with a button.

- The MagSafe ring indentation on the Sheath, which I don't think they ever really solved.

- The customer service. It used to be the best in the world/second to none, but with the product and quality issues last year and so many returns, they've become less...friendly and stricter with their requirements for warranty replacements.



But overall, they're very good.

 

[NJRonbo]

This is what Caudabe needs to address on Friday

Don't Buy an iPhone 16 Case Yet. Here's What to Look for First

Apple added a new button to the iPhone 16 series. That makes buying a case a bit more complicated.

www.cnet.com

 

[wolfboy]

This is what Caudabe needs to address on Friday

Don't Buy an iPhone 16 Case Yet. Here's What to Look for First

Apple added a new button to the iPhone 16 series. That makes buying a case a bit more complicated.

www.cnet.com

This sound like instead of a cutout, they essentially used a special "passthrough" button on the case.

I would just wait til its announced. Considering all the preview pics of the 16 case lineup has buttons, I'm inclined to believe they're not going to repeat the same mistake as last year.

 

[Phone Junky]

This sound like instead of a cutout, they essentially used a special "passthrough" button on the case.

I would just wait til its announced. Considering all the preview pics of the 16 case lineup has buttons, I'm inclined to believe they're not going to repeat the same mistake as last year.

View attachment 2415335

They conveniently only show the volume/action buttons side of their cases and not the power/camera button side. Suspicious. 🤔

 

[Sal09]

 

[iFone88]

I have tried many-a Sheath in the past.

I know it’s been asked on here before but never really taken much notice; is the synthesis slimmer that the sheath?

 

[walds11]

I have tried many-a Sheath in the past.

I know it’s been asked on here before but never really taken much notice; is the synthesis slimmer that the sheath?

The Synthesis is slightly thinner depth wise but slightly wider than the Sheath. They both weigh about the same. I am team Synthesis!

 

[iFone88]

The Synthesis is slightly thinner depth wise but slightly wider than the Sheath. They both weigh about the same. I am team Synthesis!

Thanks! Based on that prob just give the Sheath another shot

 

[NJRonbo]

Can't do Caudabe. It doesn't have a compatible camera control button. Will go with the Apple silicon that has the touch sensing capability.

 

[FranApple]

Can't do Caudabe. It doesn't have a compatible camera control button. Will go with the Apple silicon that has the touch sensing capability.

Where are you getting that? Someone on the other thread just showed that Caudabe is using cutouts like most other companies. Seems like that will work fine if that’s the case. From what I can tell, it’s not a massive cutout which is good.

I’m getting a Sheath and Synthesis on day one and will decide which one I like better.

 

[NJRonbo]

Where are you getting that? Someone on the other thread just showed that Caudabe is using cutouts like most other companies. Seems like that will work fine if that’s the case. From what I can tell, it’s not a massive cutout which is good.

I’m getting a Sheath and Synthesis on day one and will decide which one I like better.

Up until yesterday, the images coming from Caudabe did not show the camera control button.

There was much speculation as to whether Caudabe was aware that there needed to be a conductive button or a cutout that allows for the proper functionality of the phone's camera control button.

I had reached out to Caudabe earlier in the week and they were quite evasive in their response about answering the question.

So, I put out a simple warning that these cases may not be compatible with Apple's action button.

Fast forward to late yesterday...

Seems like the amount of noise I made on this site as well as their Facebook page prompted a response from Caudabe:




Caudabe Support

Sep 11, 2024, 14:45 GMT-5



Just to clarify, we’re not mentioned in that Cnet article, nor are there any images of our cases. However, the article makes a valid point. A couple of third party cases have launched recently with a button instead of a cutout, but it's still unclear how well they perform with the iPhone’s capacitive touch Camera Control button.

Like most other third party manufacturers this year, we’ve opted for a cutout. Rest assured that the Camera Control button will be 100% compatible with all of our cases, since your finger will be able to operate the button directly.

Our team knew early on that Apple was including a capacitive touch button this year, which detects both swiping motions and presses of varying degrees of pressure. Our goal was to design a cutout that would enable users to easily access and use the Camera Control button, but wouldn’t be grotesquely large, especially given the slightly awkward placement of the button on the phone itself. Not to ruin the surprise, but once our iPhone 16 lineup launches on Friday, we think you’ll find that we were able to strike a nice balance.




POST THOUGHTS FROM ME:

I don't know if this cutout works as well as the specific camera control feature via sapphire crystal that Apple and Beat cases offer. That's something we won't find out for a few weeks.