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Now your iPhone can match your luggage

If you’re a fan of iconic aluminum ribbed luggage, you can get a matching look for your iPhone XR, XS, or XS Max. As long as you don’t mind paying $101 bucks for a phone case, this case will wrap your iPhone in a protective hug of aluminum and shockproof TPU. The cases are available in silver or pink. Head over to Rimowa for more info.

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Now your iPhone can match your luggage originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 21, 2019 at 10:01 am.

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Gresso titanium iPhone cases – When liking nice things goes too far

NEWS – The cost of a new iPhone is crazy right? Then let me blow your mind by showing you a Gresso Magnum case for the iPhone X and XS series of smartphones. These cases have a grade-5 titanium outer shell with a TPU interior shell. They look nice enough, but would you believe that they are priced at $595 each? The first word that comes to my mind is “why”.

Gresso says that these cases can save the iPhone from a 30-foot drop and loads of 550 lbs. I say you have to be nuts to spend that much money on an iPhone case unless you’re Oprah or Elon Musk and have money sprouting from your … ears. Still interested? You better hurry over to Gresso or Amazon because they’ve only made 999 of these limited edition luxury cases. I think I’ll keep my cash in the bank and will stick with my Pitaka case.

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Gresso titanium iPhone cases – When liking nice things goes too far originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 14, 2019 at 12:00 pm.

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LifeProof FRĒ Series iPhone Case review

REVIEW – It’s fun to play outside, but nature can do a number on your precious smartphone! Today we’re checking out the FRĒ series from LifeProof for the iPhone Xs, Xs MAX, and Xr. It’s designed to keep the elements from ruining your day if you lead an active lifestyle. To the review!

What is it?

It’s an iPhone case that features an integrated screen cover for complete protection against dirt, water, snow, and shocks.

Hardware specs

  • 6.68″ x 3.58″ x 0.55″
  • 1.6 ounces
  • Rated to protect against drops of 2 meters
  • Submersible up to 2 meters for 2 hours
  • Sealed to protect against water, dirt, and snow (IP68 protection rating)

What’s in the box?

The package includes the case and setup instructions.

Design and features

The LifeProof phone case lineup is organized based on levels of protection. The FRĒ series is the max-protect option, with an integrated screen cover that seals the phone completely to protect against drops, dirt, snow, and water. It’s a two-part shell construction, with a rubber gasket that seals the housing against the elements.

While the unit is water tested prior to shipping, LifeProof recommends that you do a second water test before installing the case. You’ll snap the two sides together without your phone, close up the lightning port seal, and submerge the case in water for 30 minutes. If you see any liquid in the case after this, you will be advised to contact LifeProof for a replacement. I had no issues with water during my test.

Passing that checkpoint, I moved on to install the case on my phone. Here I noticed some installation challenges that made things a bit tricky. The instructions say that you can remove the case by popping open the charger port and using a coin to separate the halves… but there’s nowhere to stick a coin in there. I ended up using a butter knife in that slot you see to the left of the charger port, and did some damage. Kind of a bummer.

With the shells separated, you’ll insert the phone in the front shell first. It slides right into a pre-defined slot. The rear shell pops on top, and you’ll press firmly to get a super-tight seal. I did find that the rubber gasket could be a bit persnickety and took some tweaking to lock in on the rear case, but it wasn’t a huge issue.

If protection is your goal, you’ll appreciate the tank-like feel to the case once the install is completed. Your phone is locked in place with no waggle or shimmy to be found in the housing. The whole build feels solid, with tight seals throughout. It will add noticeable bulk to your phone, but not as much as I expected. You’ll feel confident in the case’s ability to take punishment.

Here’s a shot of the front face. Note that I have full edge-to-edge exposure for the entire front screen on iPhone Xs Max. I did find that there’s a *slight* gap between the case cover and the phone screen. It works fine for the most part, but there are times when I have to give it a double-tap or I have to press down harder to get it to respond to my inputs. I think that’s part of the trade-off for the extra layer of protection. The cover doesn’t impede the light-sensing feature of the phone that adjusts to the brightness of the environment.

The rear face provides clear ports for the apple logo, camera, and sensor elements. Checking out some reviews on Amazon I saw comments about picture quality being affected by these covers, but I did not notice any issue with picture quality.

The charger port is protected by a hinged cap that seals completely when not in use. It does a nice job sealing the port against the elements. If you’re using wired headphones, note that you’ll have to keep that port open for operation. Wireless headphones are the way to go here if you want to maintain that maximum protection against the elements.

Your buttons and switches are all rubberized and fully integrated into the phone case. The volume rockers and mute switch also incorporate a pair of tabs to protect against accidental brushes or knocks while carrying the phone. The mute switch uses a “reverse toggle” setup (“down” is up, and “up” is down) that takes some getting used to. Otherwise, normal operation is just fine for the volume rockers and the side button.

I did notice that the case does impact the use of the speakers and the built-in microphone. You’ll get some interference with the clarity of the speakers when playing music or using the speaker for calls, and others have reported that my voice sounds slightly muffled on phone conversations. Considering the level of protection, it’s actually pretty good… but that’s the tradeoff you get for a complete weatherproof seal on the phone. I’d recommend using wireless accessories for playing music and making calls.

What I like

  • Excellent protection from shocks and all the elements
  • Precise, solid construction
  • Surprisingly lean for the level of protection it offers

What needs to be improved

  • Installation and removal can be tricky
  • Slight gap between the cover and phone screen can require extra taps in normal operation
  • Muted audio is a tradeoff for the level of protection

Final thoughts

Overall, I think the LifeProof FRĒ is a great choice for those who expose their phone to a lot of hazardous situations for professional or recreational use. Not only is the protection excellent, but it offers a stylish alternative to some of the industrial or military-inspired case designs that you see in this segment. There will be some performance tradeoffs, but I think the FRĒ handles them quite well considering the level of protection you’re getting…. not every phone in this class offers true waterproof protection. LifeProof offers the FRĒ in a variety of interesting color combinations so you can find one to match your personal style. Mine’s called “Tiki” (heh), and the lineup includes a variety of primary colors, pastel tones, a camouflage theme, and basic black. They also offer models for Galaxy and Pixel phones.

Price: $49.99 to $119.99
Where to buy: You can buy direct from LifeProof or check out their Amazon page.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by LifeProof.

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LifeProof FRĒ Series iPhone Case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 12, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Vaja Grip GT iPhone Xs Max case review

REVIEW – I have reviewed and used many Vaja cases over the years to protect everything from my MacBook Pro to my iPhones. Admittedly I prefer to use my smartphones naked but kept the black Leather Suit on my 15″ MacBook Pro till the day I sold it. That also goes for several iPads as well. In this case, Vaja sent me their Grip GT for my fancy new iPhone Xs Max for this review.

What is it?

The Grip GT is a handcrafted iPhone Xs Max case made from premium Argentine leather and designed to protect your smartphone from bumps, scratches, and falls.

Design and features

The Grip GT has a rigid polycarbonate “backbone” that Vaja craftsmen wrap in soft, supple leather from Argentina. The case is perfectly fitted for the iPhone Xs Max as you would expect from such a premium smartphone case. The interior is lined with a soft, smooth leather that’s been embossed with the Vaja name. What makes the GT different from its less exciting sibling (the original Grip), is the racing stripe running down the center of its back. This quote from the Grip GT webpage says it all:

At Vaja Cases we love speed and sports cars, meet the new Grip GT iPhone Xs Max leather case. Designed for those Adventurous souls who like style, leather, and fast cars.

Specifications:

  • Designed for the iPhone Xs Max Leather Case
  • Apple certified – Qi wireless charging compatible
  • Hard polycarbonate backbone
  • Black-framed camera eyelet
  • Weight: 0.07 lb / 30 gr
  • Premium Leather Lining

The case completely wraps around and protects the corners and nearly all of the top of the iPhone Xs Max. I’m not sure why Vaja chose to have the top not cover the entire top edge of the smartphone. The Grip works nicely with the screen protector I have applied to my iPhone.

The base of the case has a large cutout allowing access to the Xs Max’s lighting port and speakers. As you can see, the Grip fits the iPhone like a glove, wrapping around the edges and corners perfectly. The case extends a few millimeters above the screen, providing extra protection for those crazy individuals who place their very expensive smartphones face down.

The left side of the case has a single cutout for the iPhone’s volume buttons and mute switch.

The right side has a smaller cutout for the power button. Overall, the case provides solid protection from bumps, scrapes, and drops.

As I mentioned above, the Grip GT is handcrafted with premium Argentine leather. The black leather has a pebbled texture to it with the brown center stripe being smoother, combining for an excellent feel. I typically use my devices without a case but I find Vaja’s leather difficult to give up. Truth be told, I have been using the Grip for a month now and have yet to remove it. Its craftsmanship and construction quality are excellent.

From a thickness standpoint, the Vaja Grip GT does add 3 or 4 millimeters to the height of the thin device. The plastic around the camera assembly is the only evidence of the rigid polycarbonate backbone/case. The case recesses the camera and provides excellent protection for the assembly.

The bottom of the back has a black powder-coated metal plate. The inside of the plate and case are completely lined with leather to make sure your iPhone’s polished stainless steel edges aren’t scratched. I think the engraved plate with the cutout of the Vaja logo showing the tan leather underneath looks awesome…a very nice detail.

The Grip GT is available in Floater Black and Saddle Bridge tan, Floater Black and C Rosso, and Floater Black and C Black coloring.

One more thing…Wallet LP Leather Case:

Vaja also sent me their Wallet LP case to check out as well. The LP is very similar to the Grip but with a front wallet that folds over to cover the screen. It has 4 slots meant to hold your I.D. plus 3 credit or other cards. There is also a slipper pocket for stashing money bills.

Also, like the GT, the LP has a sportier look than Vaja’s regular wallet iPhone case. The main body of the case uses a pebbled leather over the polycarbonate backbone with smoother leather used on the wallet flap.

Specifications:

  • iPhone Xs Max Wallet Leather Case
  • Apple certified – Qi wireless charging compatible
  • Hard Polycarbonate backbone
  • Black-framed camera eyelet
  • 4 credit card slots (RFID Protected)
  • Optional 925 silver accents
  • 1 extra slot for folded bills
  • Available in Bridge with Floater Leather
  • Premium Leather Lining
  • Product Weight: 0.17 lb / 75 gr

The wallet cover does add thickness to the iPhone but considering it combines two articles into one seems like a fair trade. The cover does add additional protection for the iPhone’s screen.

The Wallet LP is available in Floater Stone Gray and Saddle tan, Floater Black and Saddle Bridge tan, and Floater Crown Blue and Bridge London coloring.

Positives

  • Perfectly fitted for the iPhone Xs Max
  • Excellent craftsmanship and leather quality
  • Provides solid protection
  • Feels very nice in the hand

Negatives

  • Expensive

Final thoughts

I really like both the Grip GT and Wallet LP cases for the iPhone Xs Max. Their craftsmanship, fine leather, and quality are extremely nice and a true pleasure to hold. They provide solid protection with stylish, sporty looks. The premium Argentine leather gives the slippery iPhone much better grip-ability and old world feel. I’m sticking with the Grip GT cause the Wallet LP simply can’t hold all the cr@p I have to have with me on any given day. And like I said, I’m typically not one for using a case but so far the Grip GT continues to keep my attention and that says something 😉 .

Price: $109 (Grip GT) / $169 (Wallet LP)
Where to buy: The Grip GT and Wallet LP are available directly from Vaja.com.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Vaja.com.

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Vaja Grip GT iPhone Xs Max case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 6, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Nomad’s Carbon Case is their thinnest, lightest iPhone case yet

NEWS – Nomad is quickly becoming one of my favorite companies. They make great looking and durable products, from phone cases to wallets. One of their newest products is the Carbon Case for the iPhone Xs Max.

The Carbon Case is a thin, light, yet durable minimalist case with strong protection. The two material case is built with Nomad’s proprietary Carbon MD-6TM composite and lined with a TPU rubber bumper. This makes the case durable yet extremely lightweight. In fact its Nomad’s thinnest, lightest case yet.

The case has a unique look, with a combination semi-gloss satin and matte finish.

Unlike traditional carbon fiber cases, Nomad’s unique composite allows for wireless charging of your iPhone and won’t interfere with cellular and WiFi signals.

As far as protection goes, the Carbon Case is designed to protect your iPhone from drops of up to 6-feet.

The Nomad Carbon Case is also available for the iPhone X and Xr, all models sell for $34.95 and can be purchased from Nomad’s website.

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Nomad’s Carbon Case is their thinnest, lightest iPhone case yet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 28, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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