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To Caudabe or not to Caudabe!
- Thread starter jack_1992
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I agree with this 100%!
I had a Sheath on my 12 Pro and it was my favorite case ever. I dropped that phone multiple times, and neither the phone nor the case ever showed a mark. And its grippiness was just right.
Because I'm on a four year cycle, I was worried that the case would wear out and Caudabe would no longer stock the case for the 12 Pro. So I bought a second one. Two years later, the original Sheath is still in perfect shape, and I have a second case for the 12 Pro still sealed.
Based on my love for the Sheath, the first thing I did after pre-ordering my 16PM was to pre-order a Sheath for it. Fortunately, they both showed up on release day.
But, then I learned about the camera button cutout, vs camera button covers. I ordered an Apple silicone case so I could see what all the fuss was about. The Apple case showed me that I had to have the cover - a cutout just didn't work for me.
So, reluctantly, I returned the Sheath, emphasizing that my only complaint was the lack of a camera button cover. I got the boiler plate response that they had no intention of doing a camera button cover this year. I'm still hoping they'll change their minds.
So, I've got two Spigen "T" cases on order, and I'm waiting to see what the Rebel with camera button cover looks like when it releases next month.
Sigh...
What scuff lol? Circle it on the pic.
To add my $0.02 from using the Sheath as my main case for most of the past few wks: I haven't found myself thinking about the cutout at all. I've used Camera Control a bunch and am growing to really like it. The cutout has worked great. My partner has the 16 Pro with a Sheath as well and she's been snapping away on her phone too. Nary a complaint from her.
I think It's really easy to read what people say on here and get confused about whether a button or a cutout is better. In real life usage, I haven't found cutouts to be a problem and it wouldn't be a reason I would abandon the Sheath. 🤷♂️
Tried the Spigen UHT Frost black case for iPhone 16 pro max and I missed the grippines of the sheath case… this year, the case don’t show the MagSafe ring (I don’t use MagSafe) compare to the iPhone 15 pro max version but it’s bulkier than last year and I don’t really like the cutout…
I already have a Synthesis, but the Sheath came available at a Dutch shop. So I may or may not have ordered a black Sheath, along my grey Synthesis. Let’s see if I will like it. 😅
My exact sentiments - the cutout hasn't bothered me too much and Caudabe have made a better cutout then others.
At least the thin side of the camera control is less flimsy that some other brands.
I'd much rather use a good ol' favourite case then force myself on a Spigen UHT clear case etc. with camera control cover. Really can't stand sticky, murky and yellowish clear cases.. hahaha
I agree. I use my camera control button all the time now and the cutout on the Sheath is so easy to use. I don't get why there's a debate. I would rather keep my favorite case than switch to something else. I broke down and got an Apple Silicone case after seeing comments on Macrumors, but returned it. Missed everything about the Sheath. It's just the better case for me.
Hahaha, I’d have done the same - I can’t stand the sticky texture of the silicone and all the lint that comes with it. I’d have returned it the next day! 🤣
So, my #1 case this year is the black Sheath. Never owned a Sheath or Synthesis before. The Synthesis would be at #2 and the Mous Clarity at #3. I am worried about the huge cut out of those cases.
Just noticed I have the exact same scuff in the same place. It’s subtle but noticeable.
Me too. I’ve had my Paragon for a couple of weeks now and I never noticed it until now. I had to tilt my phone to catch the light in a certain way to see it. Not anything I care about TBH.
Loving the case. Paragon has replaced my beloved Sheath now. I never thought I’d say that.
These two consecutive comments on Reddit are perfectly indicative of the current camera control button situation. 😂
I have no major issues with the camera control button but I can't help but think, despite what Caudabe says, they were blindsided by Apple putting a conductive covering over their cutout. I am sure Apple kept that quiet as they wanted to have the exclusive so people would buy their cases.
That makes sense, but there were in fact a handful of third-party case manufacturers that offered cases with a CC button on opening day (or shortly thereafter) including Otterbox, Spigen, and Supcase. Perhaps Caudabe, being a smaller boutique company, didn’t have the resources or connections within Apple to develop the button in advance. The perplexing thing to me is that they’ve doubled down on refusing to offer a button even after the Apple technical documentation has been made widely available.
Looks like maybe it is just a mark of the plastic mold or whatever during manufacturing. I still haven’t received the replacement but when I do I’ll let you know it the same thing happens with it.
All those brands (with the possible exception of Supcase) are sold in Apple's store. It is possible Apple gave their partners exclusive "heads up" on the conductive layer.
Just a theory as most all the case manufacturers don't offer it.
AFAIK, the only third party case sold by Apple for the iPhone 16 series is Otterbox.
Of all the cases that have a camera control button/conductive layer, Spigen is the one that has the best, other than Apple official cases, IMO.
I've used the Apple silicone case, the ebats case, an Otterbox Lumen, the Supcase (the worst, worst than a cutout IMO) and Spigen Ultra hybrid T + Tough Armor AI T.
Apple Silicone and Spigen's have been the best. As far as I know, nobody told Spigen? They aren't officially partnered with apple, right?
I agree, the Spigen button is very good. In my experience the CC button on the Tough Armor seems to be the most responsive and requires the least amount of effort, which is surprising considering it’s a heavy duty case. With the extreme protection and excellent CC button, it’s perhaps the best case available for those who use the phone as a more serious camera in a variety of different scenarios.
Not sure about Spigen’s relationship with Apple. Of course they’re not in the Apple Store, but it’s hard to imagine they came up with that button without some advance technical guidance.
I'm actually using the tough armor AI T case right now and I'm liking it way more than I expected. I may stick to it until other brands release a similar button for the camera control.
It’s my goto case for hiking, cycling, etc. It’s remarkably good for $21. It’s hard to imagine how they manage that price, though they must be doing large quantities compared to just about every brand other than Otterbox.
Spigen may indeed have had some Apple guidance, but my thought was this:
On release day Spigen had no cases with a CC button. But they knew something about the upcoming button. To quote Caudabe: "we anticipated the new capacitive touch button early on". So it was not a secret that it was coming - even Caudabe knew "early on".
So I think that Spigen made a conscious decision, as soon as they knew about the button, that they would be poised to figure it out and go to production ASAP. Given the scale of their sales, Spigen probably was able to get their Chinese manufacturer to "hold the presses," so to speak. Caudabe, being relatively small scale, probably didn't have that option.
Just my speculation...