Speck Candyshell Satin for iPhone 5 Review

Today we're going to look at a very popular product from Speck; the Candyshell, for iPhone 5.  I had a chance to see one of their newer release satin finish cases, which have a soft touch matte finish versus their typical glossy finish.

The Speck candyshell is sort of a flagship product for them and I am a big fan of it.  The case is comprised of a hard outer shell and lined with a softer rubbery coating to cradle your iPhone and protect it from scuffing/scratching and shock.  

The volume buttons and sleep/awake button are covered with the same soft rubbery material and provide nice feedback.  

There is a nice subtle lip that provides good lay-on-the-table and good screen protection in the event you drop your phone and it falls screen side down.  All 4 corners of the case have a strip of this rubbery coating to help aide in shock protection.  Here lies one of my complaints - the lip and the 4 strips on the corners tend to "flake" and peel.  In the same respect as this, the back of the case (along the edges) almost looks like the soft touch material has peeled away also during normal usage (about 4 weeks). 

The form factor of the iPhone 5 Candyshell is slimmer than its iPhone 4 counterpart, not adding a ton of bulk while still providing nice drop protection and great style.  The cutouts for the speaker, lightning connector, headphone jack and vibrate switch are cutout nicely, no complaints there. 

The satin version of the Candyshell definitely hides a lot of scuffing and fingerprints which plague the glossy versions.  I would recommend going with a satin Candyshell versus a glossy Candyshell.  This version comes in 3 colors (glossy comes in 18 colors) for $34.95. 

Spigen SGP Neo Hybrid EX Slim Metal for iPhone 5

Today i'll be taking a closer look at another case from Spigen SGP; the Neo Hybrid EX Slim Metal case.  Just how slim is this case compared to their standard Neo Hybrid EX that I previously reviewed? Make sure you read on to find out!

Spigen SGP has recently released a line of "slim" cases and I think it is a great idea that they've come up with.  This particular case is just as protective as the standard edition but with a nice slim form factor - I love it!  The 2 part concept is exactly the same, but the pieces don't add quite so much thickness to the iPhone when installed; as a user of both, I can feel a difference in the thickness in hand.  Due to the slimmer form factor, the silicone fits a little bit tighter and the polycarbonate frame also fits tighter - fitment is almost as close to perfect as you could get.  For those of you who are using tempered glass screen shields, this case works just fine and will sit about flush with the top of the screen shield (not yielding any lay-on-the-table lip on the front).

Like mentioned above, the design is the same as the standard Neo Hybrid EX - same silicone covered volume buttons and sleep/awake button that give excellent user "click" feedback when used.  I certainly do not have any complaints with this case; Spigen SGP has nailed another amazing product.  Pricing of the slim case is $31.99 which includes a Spigen SGP crystal screen shield, crystal back protective film and a set of jelly home button stickers.  If I had to choose between the standard and slim Neo Hybrid EX, it's a no brainer - go for the slim series.  

Ballistic Case Shell Gel (SG) for iPhone 5 Review

Hey guys, tonight i'm going to be reviewing a product by Ballistic Case called the Shell Gel (SG).  I've reviewed some of their products in the past and they've never disappointed.  Will this case pass the test?  Read on for the full review below.  

The Shell Gel (SG) is a newer product for Ballistic and I was very excited to take a closer look at it.  From my initial glance at it, it looked like a competitor for the Otterbox Commuter case and it indeed is the same style of case.  This particular case is built with a 3 layer design.  Layer 1 is ballistic shock absorbent polymer, layer 2 is a tough impact resistant polycarbonate shell and layer 3 is the innermost soft silicone with shock absorbing corners.  Installation is a breeze; the silicone is very pliable and slips right on the iPhone.  The polycarbonate portion fits perfectly into the grooves on the silicone and pops on with ease.  The installed product looks a lot better than an Otterbox in my honest opinion.  

The ports and controls are all easily accessible with the Shell Gel case installed.  Starting at the top, the sleep/awake button is covered by the silicone but provides a nice click when pressed (not so stiff like the Otterbox Commuter).  The bottom of the phone has one large cutout across the width so everything is easily accessed.  The left side of the case covers the volume buttons, providing the same nice click just like the sleep/awake button.  Lastly, there is an ample cutout for the silent switch, no issues accessing that whatsoever.  The rear of the case has a nice dimpled pattern providing a little extra grip on your iPhone.  The cutout for the camera and flash is ample and has a black ring to eliminate camera flashback.  Moving around to the front of the case, it provides a hefty amount of lay-on-the-table lip to ensure lots of protection for your screen.  I only have one complaint and that is the amount of lint and pocket dust that sticks to the soft silicone. 

All in all, Ballistic has built another winner product and is available for only $34.99 (in 7 colors) but is available even cheaper on Amazon here. 

Spigen SGP Neo Hybrid EX Metal For iPhone 5 Review

Hello guys, today i'm going to be taking a look at the Neo Hybrid EX case for the iPhone 5 from the great people over at Spigen SGP.  

It's no secret that Spigen SGP creates amazing products.  The Neo Hybrid EX case is a 2 part hybrid bumper case just like the name suggests.  For users, like myself, who love to show off their iPhone, a bumper case like this is exactly what you need to provide drop protection and still retain aesthetic appeal.  The inner layer is a soft silicone rubber that provides shock absorption in the event you drop your iPhone.  The top layer is a hard polycarbonate frame that installs on top of the silicone to keep the silicone wrapped snug against the frame.  Spigen SGP has designed their case like this so you can interchange different color silicone and frames for a total customized look.  

Moving on to the ports and controls of the device, the case has a rubberized covering over both the sleep/awake button and also the volume buttons which provide nice user feedback when pressed.  There is a nice sized cutout for the vibrate switch so users can easily flip it without having to dig in there with their fingernail.  The opposite side of the case contains the Spigen logo, subtly embossed into the polycarbonate frame.  Along the bottom, there are "metal grate" looking slots so the speaker and microphone performance is not hampered.  The cutouts for the lightning port and headphone jack are rather slim and i'm not confident aftermarket lightning connectors would fit nor would headphone jacks larger than the stock headphones.  A lot of headphones have plugs which are similar in size to the iPhone earpods, so no worries, unless you have fullsize cans which commonly use a huge plug.   

Along with the 2 piece Neo Hybrid EX case, Spigen SGP provides a Steinheil Ultra Crystal screen shield, Steinheil back protection film, a microfiber cloth and 3 home button stickers (black/white/orange).  You can all of this Spigen SGP good-ness for only $31.99 available here.  As of now, this case is offered in Gunmetal, Metal Blue, Metal Slate, Metal Pink and Satin Silver.   

Lifeproof Nüüd Cover/Stand review

Hey guys, today i'm going to be taking a brief look at the Lifeproof Nüüd Cover/Stand that is made to be used with the Lifeproof Nüüd case that I just reviewed.  The Cover/Stand is exactly like the name sounds and is a simple snap-on cover that doubles as a stand to prop up your iPad in a couple orientations for daily use.

The primary use of this product is to prop up your iPad.  The Cover/Stand provides 2 different angles; the first being ~60 degrees up which is perfect for viewing movies and videos.  The other orientation is ~30 degrees which is made for typing like a keyboard.  

When you aren't using this product as a stand,  it doubles as a cover for the screen of your iPad, as it is not covered by the Nüüd case.  It is a simple design and it pops right on top of the case and leaves the headphone jack and 30 pin charging port totally exposed.  

Lifeproof has done a nice job to integrate these 2 products together and has priced the cover affordably at $19.99.  Pick one up by itself here.

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Lifeproof Nüüd for iPad review

Hey guys, today i'm going to be taking a look at the all new Lifeproof Nüüd case for the iPad 2/3/4th generation.  The case is based on the very popular Lifeproof for iPhone case, but is now available for your iPad!  How well does the Nüüd case perform?  Read on for my comprehensive review!

If you haven't had the opportunity to read about or use a Lifeproof case before, Lifeproof cases are, well, lifeproof.  This means that the case is water proof, snow proof, dirt proof and shock proof.  The water proof characteristic is proven to a depth of 6.6 feet and the shock proof characteristic is proven to withstand a drop of 4 feet.  These characteristics are especially handy for hard users of the iPad and I saw online the other day that formula one race crews are using them in the pits with these cases!  That environment is greasy, dirty and rough on an iPad.

Getting into the specifics of the Lifeproof Nüüd case, it does vary from the Lifeproof case for the iPhone.  This case is built of a rigid rubberized material that feels great and will provide great drop protection.  The back of the case is transparent to ensure you can show off your coveted apple logo.  The major difference between the iPad case and the iPhone case is that the screen is totally exposed.  The front half of the case has a gasket to seal off the screen from the rest of the iPad, making water exposure safe.  I was a little skeptical about this, but it's completely safe (up to the advertised depth).

Moving on to the ports and controls on this case, starting at the top, there is a rubberized button covering the sleep/awake button that has great feedback.  You will also find a water proof cutout for the microphone and a cap which covers the headphone jack.  This cap is threaded and is easily removed to expose the headphone jack.  The cutout is deep, therefore Lifeproof provides a headphone extender cord that plugs into the headphone jack and has a female plug at the other end so you can plug in your own headphones.  Moving on to the right side of the case, there is a rubberized button covering the volume rocker which also provides nice feedback.  Also on the right side, you will find a neat slider switch that controls the mute/rotation lock switch.  Along the bottom of the Nüüd case, there is a water proof door that covers the 30 pin charging port.  What about the home button?  It is covered with a plastic type button which is completely sealed from water intrusion due to the gasket that flanks the iPad screen.  Like I mentioned above, the back of the case is transparent and the only other feature on the back is the speaker area.  This speaker area is water proof yet provides amazing sound output.  It is almost like nothing is covering the speaker at all, let alone a water proof covering!  Nice job Lifeproof!

Lifeproof has done a great job with this case, and I really like how they left the screen totally exposed as to not degrade usability of the touch screen.  The case is not overly intrusive and not overly heavy or bulky either.  You can pick up the Nüüd case here for $119.98.

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Spigen SGP GLAS.tR for iPhone 5

Today, i'd like to take a look at an amazing product by Spigen SGP called the GLAS.tR.  For those of you who are new to glass screen shields, this product launched the market and still owns it.  Spigen has always created awesome products; how does this one stand?  Read on to find out!

The GLAS.tR is a glass screen shield made of premium tempered glass.  It also has a premium oleophobic coating (the same anti-fingerprint coating that's on the iPhone glass). In my opinion, the oleophobic coating that is on the GLAS.tR is superior to the iPhone glass (it is THAT great)!  

The GLAS.tR is a revised version of the popular GLAS.t.  The "R" version takes it a step further with rounded edges to reduce the chance of chipping.  These rounded edges lend themselves to the home button cutout too which feels great when pressing the home button.  

I simply cannot express my enthusiasm for this product.  It is truly amazing and worth every single penny.  I completely understand that most users think the price of $34.99 is overly expensive, but I can assure you that it is a product that you will install on your iPhone and leave it on for the life of your device.  

The only "downside" I can potentially see is that the home button is recessed due to the thickness (0.4mm) of the GLAS.tR but the home button stickers can help if this is something that bothers you.  In my opinion, the recessed area helps guide your finger to the home button and I actually like it.  

The surface harness is 8H which is a lot harder/tougher than Spigen's Ultra Crystal.  I don't think you could scratch this under normal daily use.  

To sum up this review, this is definitely a must have product!  Like I mentioned above, Spigen is selling the GLAS.tR for $34.99 available here 

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