Cases and Covers – Page 18

While you wait to pre-order the iPhone X, shop for a case to protect it

Whenever top-tier companies like LG, Samsung, and Apple roll out a new smartphone, my inbox starts bursting at the seams with emails from vendors who are excited to announce cases and accessories for the new devices. As you would guess, since this past Tuesday, I’ve been drowning in emails about new iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X cases. I spent the afternoon going through all those emails and picked some of my notable iPhone X cases to share with you.

EasyAcc

EasyAcc sent me a few of their iPhone X cases before the iPhone X was officially announced this week. The cases were so new, that they were called iPhone 8 cases on the packaging!

We’ve reviewed EasyAcc products in the past and have been happy with the quality with budget prices which will be important once you spend a grand or more on the new iPhone X.

At the time of this writing, EasyAcc is offering eight cases that range in price from $7.99 for the Thin Fit Slim Soft TPU Protective Cover with Matte Finish (shown above), to the $12.99 Armor Design Protective Hard Back Shell Cover Dual Layer Protection Shockproof Bumper Case.

You can see all the EasyAcc iPhone X cases on Amazon and you can save 30% if you use the code 794IJYCN (expires 11/30/17).

CalypsoCase

On the other end of the budget spectrum, we have luxury iPhone X cases from CalypsoCase which are made in Europe. The cases are available in several styles and colors that include the Cabrio which is shown above, as well as a book and slipcover style case. You’ll need to sit down before I tell you the price. Ready? The price for the cases is $249. Whew! The cases start shipping on 10/24/17.

You can check out the Cabrio, Silhouette, and book cases at www.calypsocrystal.com.

Rokform

Let’s go back to a case that doesn’t require that you put a kidney on eBay. Rokform offers cases like the new iPhone 8 Crystal Cases that have their patented twist-lock mounting system built in that will let you mount your phone on bicycles, motorcycles, cars, and more. A magnetic car vent mount is included with the case which is priced at $49.99. You can pre-order it now at rokform.com

Nomad

I really like the look of the Nomad cases for the iPhone X. The Clear Case X has a unique design with a section of Horween leather that has been fused to a polycarbonate case with a rubber TPE bumper. The Rugged Case X has an all leather back. Both are only $39.95 and you can save 10% if you give them your email address when you order. Visit www.hellonomad.com for all the details.

Grovemade

If you prefer a phone case that uses wood to one that uses leather, the new Minimalist Tough case from Grovemade might be more to your liking. It features an aluminum frame that is wrapped in an elastomer band and a back made from Walnut. I’m not quite sure if the term “minimalist” is a good one though as the cases at least in the images on their site look pretty thick and bulky.

I don’t agree with calling it a “minimalist” a case though as the images on their site make it look thick and bulky.

You can pre-order the case for $99, but be aware that it doesn’t ship until December. Visit Grovemade for more info.

So there are a few ideas for iPhone X cases. Which one looks the most interesting to you? I’m leaning towards the super thin and super inexpensive EasyAcc or the Rugged X case from Nomad.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Cases and Covers, iPhone X

While you wait to pre-order the iPhone X, shop for a case to protect it originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 16, 2017 at 4:34 pm.

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RhinoShield iPhone 7 Plus cases review

I recently switched to an iPhone 7 Plus which means I’ve been on the hunt for cases that will protect my expensive phone from scratches and falls, but aren’t overly bulky. I asked the folks at RhinoShield if they could send me one of their Crashguard Bumper cases because I am a minimal kinda girl. They sent the Crashguard along with the PlayProof and SolidSuit iPhone cases, so let’s take a look.

RhinoShield SolidSuit Brushed Steel Finish Case for iPhone 7 Plus

This case comes in white or black. I was sent the black version of this polymer blend case. The back of the case has a modern geometric design with two panels that look like brushed steel, but the panels are not real steel because that would play havoc with the iPhone’s antenna/signal. From what I can tell they are plastic.

The interior of the case has a layer of soft suede to protect the back of the iPhone.

The sides of the case have a honeycomb pattern that is designed to add impact absorbing properties to the case which can protect the iPhone from up to an 11ft drop.

The SolidSuit case has an oval cutout on the back of the case for the iPhone’s dual camera and flash.

On the right side is a built-in button over the iPhone’s power button.

And on the opposite side, you’ll find buttons over the phone’s volume buttons and a cutout for the mute switch. The buttons all work fine, but it is a little hard to flip the mute switch because it’s recessed due to the sides of the case.

On the bottom of the SolidSuit case, there are holes for the speakers and a cutout for the lightning connector.

You’ll also notice from the picture above that the sides of the case are raised higher than the display, which helps protect the display from scratches when it is face down.

I have no doubt that my iPhone 7 Plus is well protected in the SolidSuit. The case feels substantial and does add some extra bulk, but not too much.

I like that the case feels sturdy and that I know my phone is protected, but the biggest problem that I have with the SolidSuit is that it’s really hard to remove your phone from the case once it’s snapped in place. I got a little panicked when I tried to extract my iPhone because it felt like I was going to break the phone or my thumbs trying to remove it. After a lot of swearing and some perspiration, I was finally successful, but it made me reconsider of putting my phone back in the case.

Price: $34.99
From RhinoShield
From Amazon

Pros: Rugged, 11ft drop protection
Cons: Tough to remove phone from the case

Clear PlayProof iPhone 7 Plus case

This case is similar to the SolidSuit except that the back of the case is see through so everyone can still see the Apple logo.

The back of the case has a matte finish that gives it a nice grip.

The PlayProof case is available with a black, clear, or pink bumper. As you can see, I was sent the black version.

The case has a cutout for the dual camera, mute switch, speaker grills, and lightning connector. It has covered buttons for power and volume.

The PlayProof case has the same honeycomb pattern design inside the bumpers to absorb impact and like the SolidSuit, your iPhone will be protected from falls up to 11ft. and the lip around the screen protects the display too.

I liked this case best of the three cases that RhinoShield sent me to review mainly because it wasn’t nearly as hard to remove my phone. Don’t get me wrong, it still takes some effort to remove the iPhone from the PlayProof case, but it won’t make you sweat and fearful that you’re going to snap the phone in half.

Price: $24.99
From RhinoShield
From Amazon

Pros: Rugged, 11ft drop protection
Cons: None

CrashGuard Bumper Case for the iPhone 7 Plus

As I mentioned in the first paragraph of this review, the CrashGuard Bumper case was the RhinoShield case that I really wanted to try.

The “case” is available in a large selection of colors, but I chose the red one because I thought it would look pretty cool with my black iPhone.

The bumper case has a large cutout for the mute switch and covered power and volume buttons.

The case is basically an open frame that only covers the iPhone’s edges. But like the other RhinoShield cases that I’ve talked about in this review, the CrashGuard Bumper case also has reinforced corners and a special shock absorbing honeycomb structure that will protect your phone from up to an 11ft drop.

There are also large openings for the speakers and lightning connector.

Installing the iPhone 7 Plus in the CrashGuard Bumper case takes some thumb strength to snap it in place, but once it’s seated, it looks really nice.

The sides of the bumper wrap around the iPhone’s edges to protect the top and bottom surfaces.

I was really happy with this case until I needed to remove my iPhone to test one of the other RhinoShield cases. At that point, I was even more panicked than when I tried to remove the Solidsuit case because the CrashGuard Bumper didn’t want to budge at all.

I tried and tried so many times that I thought my thumbs were bruised. I had Jeanne try it too and she didn’t have any luck either.

I finally gave up and took drastic measures to remove the bumper case by cutting it off with some snips. Luckily the area around the mute switch opening was perfect for this task and one tiny snip was all that was needed for the bumper to spring open.

Afterwards, I wondered if I was the only one with this problem, so I checked some reviews on Amazon for the CrashGuard Bumper case and found that others had resorted to the same solution that I had.

Price: $24.99
From RhinoShield
From Amazon

Pros: Rugged, 11ft drop protection
Cons: Almost impossible to remove the iPhone from the case

Final thoughts

RhinoShield makes some nice looking cases for the iPhone that provide above a military level grade of drop protection while not adding tons of bulk. The only problem is that some of their cases (Solidsuit and CrashGuard) are really tough to remove once the phone is in the case. I guess this isn’t a problem if you never need to remove your phone. But for someone like me who enjoys testing new cases, the non-ability to easily switch cases make the Solidsuit and the CrashGuard Bumper cases a bad choice for me. The PlayProof case, on the other hand, worked out fine and I’m happy to recommend that one.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Rhinoshield. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

Product Information

Price:	$24.99 – $34.99
Manufacturer:	Rhinoshield
Retailer:	Amazon
Pros:	See each review above
Cons:	See each review above

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers, iPhone Case

RhinoShield iPhone 7 Plus cases review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 6, 2017 at 3:50 pm.

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Now you can make cool stuff for the Otterbox uniVERSE case

You know how the Moto smartphones have Moto Mods that snap on the back of the phones? Now you can get some of that same functionality for your iPhone with the uniVERSE Case System from Otterbox and you can even make your own mods.

The Otterbox uniVERSE case has a slot in the back that allows a variety of accessories to mount to the back of the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 7, and 7 Plus. Some accessories include backup batteries, speakers, wallets, extra memory, and more.

Otterbox has just released CAD files for the uniVERSE case system accessory mount so that makers can design and 3D print their own accessories.

“One of the core values at OtterBox is innovation, which is why we created the uniVERSE Case System,” said OtterBox CEO Jim Parke. “We’re inviting the community of innovators around the world to customize their mobile experience by designing their own accessories.”

To learn more about OtterBox uniVERSE and download the accessory mount CAD files, visit www.otterbox.com/universe-cad and you can shop for uniVERSE cases on Amazon.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Cases and Covers, Do-It-Yourself

Now you can make cool stuff for the Otterbox uniVERSE case originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 27, 2017 at 2:17 pm.

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Alto iPhone 7 Plus Metro leather case review

When I think high-end luxury leather phone cases, a couple brands come to mind like Vaja and Orbino. So how is that I’ve never heard of or seen the leather cases from Alto? If you’ve never seen them either, let me introduce you to what might be your next favorite iPhone 7 Plus case.

What is it?

The Alto iPhone 7 Plus Metro leather case is a thin but protective snap-on cover for the back of your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus.

The Metro case that was sent to me is made of Italian full grain black and caramel stained leather that covers the outside of a hard case that has a black micro fiber lining on the interior. Other color combos of this case are also available.

The back of the case might look like it’s two toned with the brown and black, but the look hides a card slot that can hold 1-2 plastic credit cards or a couple folded bills.

An iPhone 7 Plus snaps into the case with little effort and can be removed with slightly more effort.

The sides of the Metro case are raised slightly higher than the top of the iPhone to protect the display if you lay it upside down.

The left side of the case has an open cutout for unrestricted access to the mute switch and volume buttons.

The opposite side of the case has an open cut out for the power button.

The top edge of the case (not pictured) is completely covered, while the bottom edge is open to reveal the speakers and lightning port.

If you flip the case over, you’ll see a large opening for the camera and LED flash.

The card slot on the back of the case is ideal if you want to leave your wallet at home and just carry your driver’s license and a credit card. The card slot is a snug fit so you don’t have to worry about your cards accidentally slipping out if you hold the phone upside down.

Everything about the Metro case is perfect, from the design and materials to the craftsmanship. I have zero complaints.

If you prefer a phone holder case instead of a case that snaps on the back of the phone, Alto has that covered to.

Their zippered wallet case is equally nice and can hold the phone, credit cards, cash, and more.

Final thoughts

If you’ve been searching for a quality iPhone 7 Plus case that looks great, doesn’t add too much bulk, but allows you to ditch your wallet, then you need to check out the Metro leather iPhone case from Alto. It’s my new favorite case.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Alto. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

Product Information

Price:	$72.00
Manufacturer:	Alto
Retailer:	Amazon
Pros:	Great craftsmanship Doesn't add much bulk Built in card slot
Cons:	None

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers, iPhone Case, Leather case

Alto iPhone 7 Plus Metro leather case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 16, 2017 at 1:54 pm.

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Urban Armor Gear Metropolis iPad Pro 12.9 case review

In April of 2015, I reviewed my first case from Urban Armor Gear – the Rogue case for the iPad Air. I really liked the cover and found it quite protective. I now have an iPad Pro 12.9″, and am happy to be the one chosen to review their Metropolis case.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

Like the smaller version, this one is also a full-on piece of body armor for your iPad. It meets MIL STD 810G-516.6. This means:

UAG cases specifically have been certified Military Grade through NEBS Certified Testing Laboratory. To achieve this certification, a device must be dropped from a height of 48 inches, on each face, corner, and back. The device is dropped a total of 26 times and must function properly after the test, while not sustaining any damage to the screen.

Als, like the original Rogue I tested, the Metropolis has a pliable, grippy frogskin texture on the outside, and a nappy microsuede on the inside.

The cover folds back to allow you to view your iPad in several different viewing angles, without having the inner surface of the case lay flat on the table.

One secret superpower that the Metropolis has above it’s smaller sibling, however, is that the outer cover is detachable, and you can use any Apple Smart Cover-esque magnetic folding screen cover with the armored back.

Along the inner hinge, almost the entire side where the Smart Connector touches is free and accessible, so many chargers, keyboards, and stands that are designed for an iPad Pro should work with this case. I’d definitely try it out with the keyboard or stand you have in mind, but the Apple models are what they were designing it to fit.

Since the iPad Pro 12.9 is now being replaced by a newer model with a slightly different form factor, you can pick up one for your original iPad Pro for only $29.95! A $90 case for 66% off – not a bad deal.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Urban Armor Gear. Please visit Urban Armor Gear for more info, and their Amazon store to purchase.

Product Information

Price:	Originally $89.99, now only $29.95
Manufacturer:	Urban Armor Gear
Retailer:	Amazon
Requirements:	Original iPad Pro
Pros:	Very Protective, yet easy to put on and off Military-grade protection Allows use of other screen covers, if desired
Cons:	None, really

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers, IPad Pro Case

Urban Armor Gear Metropolis iPad Pro 12.9 case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 5, 2017 at 8:33 am.

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