Take a look at your phone. I mean, really look at it. Chances are if you’ve purchased or acquired a new phone in the last few years, it’s shiny and sleek and svelte. Or at least it was until you put that bulky case on it. Do we really need to wrap our sexy communication devices in a layer of aluminum and hard rubber just to keep it safe? Case maker Pitaka is out to challenge that notion with their line of thin, aramid cases.

Ara-what?

Aramid, short for aromatic polyamide, is a synthetic fiber that can be formed into rigid polymer chains, similar to carbon fiber. However, aramid is non-conductive, making it perfect for phone cases, as it does not interfere with reception. Its high strength and resistance to abrasion, solvents, and heat allow for the creation of an extremely thin case that is 5 times stronger than steel of the same weight.

Thin. Light. And strong.

Pitaka basically created a phone case for people who hate phone cases.

The case itself is only 0.65mm thick, yet it’s extremely rigid. It has very minimal flex and installs easily. The fit is dead-on and isn’t a hassle to remove like some other thin cases I’ve tried. Others tended to be too thin, and warped after a short time, bowing out at certain points and feeling like they just weren’t a good fit. But this case, even after several weeks in my pocket, is still a perfect fit. It’s like a second skin.

What’s in the box?

Hey, a free screen cover! Nice little bonus if you’re into that sort of thing.

The Pitaka case comes with the case itself and also a bonus tempered glass screen protector, which is a nice bonus until you realize that it’s almost certainly necessary for full front-to-back protection. This is because the case itself does not extend past the front of the screen. It’s not even flush with it. Personally, I like that about the case, as having that extra “lip” around the sides of the screen makes it difficult to properly input a swipe from the edge of the screen.

I went ahead and installed the glass screen protector, anyway, just to get the whole experience as the manufacturer intended. It was a fairly easy process and was easily removable for when I had to reposition it to work out all the bubbles. But after a couple of days, I couldn’t get used to it. Even though it was very thin and recognized all of my inputs just fine, it felt like a speed bump for my fingers every time they brushed over the edge. And there was a noticeable outline on the front of my black phone. I couldn’t take it anymore and removed it after several days.

That did leave my screen completely unprotected, something certainly worth noting.

Baby Soft

I really like the feel of this case. It’s soft to the touch and grippy, but not overly so. Now that I think of it, it sort of feels like a firm banana peel. Think of that level of waxiness. It slides easily into my pockets and doesn’t pick up dirt, lint or hand oils.

Like a second skin that feels like actual skin.

The precision port, speaker and button cutouts on the sides of the case are spot-on. The case really is like a very thin second coating on the phone. And because of the aramid weave, it’s very scratch-resistant and the color won’t fade.

Oddly enough, the main reason anyone puts a case on their phone — protecting it from a drop — is the one thing I thankfully didn’t get to test. I imagine that it would absorb some impact, but not much, and definitely wouldn’t protect the screen. If you’re prone to dropping your devices, I’d have to suggest a much thicker case.

Hello, handsome.

But there are plenty of us who want to let their thin phones run naked and free. I honestly don’t like phone cases. But since Apple insists on making their phones difficult to hold on to, they sort of forced my hand.

Fortunately, Pitaka has you covered. If you want protection, added grip, and don’t want to make your phone feel like a rubber brick, put the power of aramid to work for you!

The Aramid iPhone 7+ Case is available now from Pitaka in a variety of colors for $49.99. It is also available in additional sizes for the iPhone 6, 6+ and 7 as well as the Galaxy S7 Edge, S8 and S8 plus phones.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Pitaka. Visit their site for more information and Amazon to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: iPhone Case

Pitaka Aramid iPhone 7+ Case review originally appeared on on May 17, 2017 at 10:32 am.

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Most of us need to stay connected to their iPhones when we exercise. You shouldn’t take calls and texts on the gym floor (except in emergencies), but music and workout apps are essential to many of our fitness regimens. The Wonderful Things Factory (WTFactory for short) has designed an iPhone case that’s a unique alternative to the arm bands and waist packs that you see around the gym, track, or trail. They claim that it is the world’s thinnest clip case for active lifestyles, and I have been testing SlimClip V4 Steady iPhone case for a month to see how it works in real-world situations.

Let’s go get sweaty!

Design and Build

The SlimClip Case V4 boasts a simple and rugged design, made specifically for the iPhone 6/6S/7 and Plus models. It’s a snap-on style sleeve made from a shock-proof, rubber coated plastic to provide impact protection during physical activities. The case is a bumper-style cover that wraps the back, corners, and sides of the phone. The rim of the bumper is raised to provide additional protection from drops & bumps. The base of the phone is open to allow full access to your audio and lightning ports, with enlarged openings for your camera lens and access to the iPhone silencer switch. Overall the build is tight and precise, with no stray bits of plastic or loose components. The cover snaps firmly into place when installed, and I haven’t noticed any loosening after several weeks of taking the phone in and out of the case.

The SlimClip is a fitness accessory, and here is where its unique design features come into play. It is super thin, adding only 3mm to the overall depth of the phone. Even though it’s thin, the shockproof material adds enough protection to survive bumps and drops (as I have found out in the gym, as you’ll see below). The back panel is cut in such a way that it slides onto your waistband or pocket… kind of like a paper clip. When in place, the phone hangs upside down with the media plug is at the top, which makes it easier to manage your headphones. It makes for a very streamlined packaged that adds very little bulk or weight to your phone.

To the Gym!

I usually hit the gym 5-6 times a week for weight training, cardio, and isometric workouts. While I am not a runner, I am a daily dog-walker. After a month of putting the SlimClip through its paces, I think it does a good job of delivering on its intended purpose. It’s minimalist, super-slim, and does a good job protecting your phone from accidental drops and bumps.

Where you attach the phone is important. There’s no additional grip to the SlimClip to help it stay in place once attached, so it can come loose if you whack it during your workout. After bouncing my phone off the gym floor several times, I learned that it’s a good idea to position it away from my elbows. I think this is really an adjustment issue because I am not used to this style of phone. Fortunately, the case does a good job of protecting the phone if it hits the ground.

There are a few usability issues that I discovered during extended use. Attaching the phone to your waistband is a two-handed exercise, which isn’t as convenient as gator-style or raised clips you’ll find on other cases. It’s not too bad if you are attaching it at the hip, but takes some contortions if you want to clip it at the small of your back. Depending on how you wish to clip your phone (and how flexible you are) this may be a consideration.

As with most fixed-position clips, there’s no easy way to access the phone controls without stopping, removing the phone, doing your thing, and re-clipping. It’s a minor annoyance in practice that became more apparent over time, especially if I accidentally activated the voice controls in the middle of an exercise (I really wish Apple would give us a way to disable that!). This is a common issue with clip-style phones, however. If you are comfortable using voice controls to manage your phone or don’t access your phone at all during workouts, I suspect that you’ll never notice this.

>For outdoor use, you should know that the SlimClip does not provide any protection from the elements, nor is your screen protected. It’s something to consider if you do a lot of rough outdoor activity or like to run when the weather turns nasty.

Conclusions and Pricing

After making some adjustments to the design, I’m very happy with the performance of the SlimClip Case. It’s ridiculously thin, offers good protection, and stays out of the way during most fitness activities. If you are looking for a streamlined alternative to bulky armbands or waist packs, this may be a good choice for you if you don’t need the additional protection for weather or really rough outdoor activities. I’ve also found it to be a great day-to-day phone case that slips easily into your pocket, yet offers the additional convenience to attach to your front pocket if needed.

The WTFactory SlimClip V4 Steady iPhone case retails for between $20 and $40 depending on the model. For more information, visit SlimClipCase.com.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by WTFactory. Visit their site for more info.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: iPhone Case

WTFactory SlimClip VR Steady iPhone case review originally appeared on on May 8, 2017 at 10:56 am.

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