My $3 eBay case review w/ pics (recommended)

[hafr]

i'm with you on this. i find it really strange many people seem to have this obsession with being able to lay the phone on the screen. doesn't seem practical to me. i'd rather it have no lip, the thinner the better.

When sitting by the computer, which most of us no doubt do more than we want, I have the phone on the desk to avoid having to pick it up from the pocket every time I need/want to check it. I have loads of notifications dropping in all the time, but only the most important with sound and/or vibration, so when I for one reason or another don't want to be disturbed more than necessary, I simply put it face down on the desk.

Not really an obsession, it just simplifies my life

 

[neoweapon]

Thanks OP! I just got this case today and it's awesome! I'm going to buy another one.


Pros:

Simple
Affordable
Doesn't hide the beauty of the iphone 5

 

[N1cckkk]

Does the case scratch/leave marks/damage the iPhone when taken off?

 

[thatappleguytoday]

Thanks OP! I just got this case today and it's awesome! I'm going to buy another one.


Pros:

Simple
Affordable
Doesn't hide the beauty of the iphone 5

Your welcome....glad you like it how I still do. Haven't switched cases since I got this case.

Does the case scratch/leave marks/damage the iPhone when taken off?

Not at all. I've taken it off multiple times and there are no marks or scuffs anywhere on the sides or back.

 

[LaymansDomain]

Well done on the review, the case looks great.

 

[N1cckkk]

Not at all. I've taken it off multiple times and there are no marks or scuffs anywhere on the sides or back.

Exactly what I am looking for then, ordered two (friend of mine wanted one as well)!

Thanks for the review bro, really helped me out.

 

[MacAttacked]

How does this compare to the Spigen Ultra Thin Air? The Spigen is 1mm how much thinner, if any, is this?

I currently use the Spigen and love it but wish it were thinner so the volume buttons would be easier to use and I also wish it didn't have the area down both sides that was slightly raised. Prefer it be the same as the top/bottom corners, so that the beveled edge of the phone is seen all around. Absolutely love the aesthetics of the white iPhone but prefer not to scratch up the back when it is layed down.

Thanks in advance for any insight you may be able to share...

 

[matrix808]

How does this compare to the Spigen Ultra Thin Air? The Spigen is 1mm how much thinner, if any, is this?

I currently use the Spigen and love it but wish it were thinner so the volume buttons would be easier to use and I also wish it didn't have the area down both sides that was slightly raised. Prefer it be the same as the top/bottom corners, so that the beveled edge of the phone is seen all around. Absolutely love the aesthetics of the white iPhone but prefer not to scratch up the back when it is layed down.

Thanks in advance for any insight you may be able to share...

WAY better than the Spigen ultra thin air (had the soft clear case). I want to say its even thinner than the Spigen, but like the Spigen will offer no real protection if dropped. Since the case is thinner it makes pushing the volume buttons and accessing the silent switch much easier. Also, I really feel this case fits better. I had some creaking issues with the Spigen not fitting tightly, but not an issue with this case. For 3 bucks its WAY better than the Spigen for the same type of design.

 

[MacAttacked]

WAY better than the Spigen ultra thin air (had the soft clear case). I want to say its even thinner than the Spigen, but like the Spigen will offer no real protection if dropped. Since the case is thinner it makes pushing the volume buttons and accessing the silent switch much easier. Also, I really feel this case fits better. I had some creaking issues with the Spigen not fitting tightly, but not an issue with this case. For 3 bucks its WAY better than the Spigen for the same type of design.

Great to hear, thanks a lot!

Just ordered 2

 

[xriderx11]

Top looks exactly like the bottom you mean?

i ordered 2 of them! Your pic looks sorta like it should be open on top, which is what i want. And i also don't like a lip that comes above the glass, so this should be perfect.

Hopefully it doesnt yellow, that would suck!

If you put it in upside down the camera will be covered. FYI.

 

[TonsOfFun420]

For those of you ordering this case, anyone using it on the black iPhone? If so please post a pic thanks!

 

[dinesh29888]

For those of you ordering this case, anyone using it on the black iPhone? If so please post a pic thanks!

+ 1 ... Even i am looking for pics with this case on a Black iPhone ...

 

[JNGold]

Not a real big fan of the case but ordered one just for the heck of it.

 

[Nhwhazup]

Great to hear, thanks a lot!

Just ordered 2

I know you just ordered the $3 clear case for your white phone. I tried a bunch of clear cases with my white phone but found that they either tended to scratch easily or yellowed in short time. I know with a $3 case you can buy a whole pile of them and switch them out. For me, I really like the look of white on white slim case. Let me tell you, that is really difficult to find. I tried a ton of them. I'm all set with the Pinlo Slice in white. Just love it - only provides scratch protection but .35 mm and a nice matte white finish that feels good in the hand. The Pinlo goes around 3 sides and has no lay down protection. And the white is a perfect match to the white iPhone - not too cool as others tend to be. I've used it for 3 weeks and no signs of yellowing or discoloration. I'll clean it once a week with some alcohol and looks like new. The TPU cases wouldn't come clean and for me that was a big problem.

 

[MacAttacked]

I know you just ordered the $3 clear case for your white phone. I tried a bunch of clear cases with my white phone but found that they either tended to scratch easily or yellowed in short time. I know with a $3 case you can buy a whole pile of them and switch them out. For me, I really like the look of white on white slim case. Let me tell you, that is really difficult to find. I tried a ton of them. I'm all set with the Pinlo Slice in white. Just love it - only provides scratch protection but .35 mm and a nice matte white finish that feels good in the hand. The Pinlo goes around 3 sides and has no lay down protection. And the white is a perfect match to the white iPhone - not too cool as others tend to be. I've used it for 3 weeks and no signs of yellowing or discoloration. I'll clean it once a week with some alcohol and looks like new. The TPU cases wouldn't come clean and for me that was a big problem.

After having a white bumper on my 4s I don't want another all white phone. I'm glad you like it but I like seeing the silver on the back and edge with the 5. I appreciate your response though, thks!

 

[thatappleguytoday]

Def doesn't look good on the black/slate iPhone IMO

A little over a week of usage and no signs of scratching on the back frost finish and no signs of discoloring.

Just a perfect simple case for my everyday needs

 

[aphexacid]

I received the 2 that i ordered. They're pretty cheap quality. Obviously you get what you pay for, but a lot of people make it seem like they are identical to the more expensive version, like Spigen or Desmay. Not that OP said it though, i'm referring to other threads.

The case just feels really cheap compared to my Spigen, which seems like its ripping off design wise.

i will say that the ebay case has ZERO lip. Which is amazing, since thats what i've been looking for. The rim goes right below the screen, so you don't feel it at all when swiping your finger on the screen.

I took a couple crappy pics comparing the two.

I also have another ebay case thats supposed to be a Pinlo ripoff coming from china. I don't know if that will be any better.

Not terrible if you absolute want a thin, and very cheaply priced minimal case.

 

[thatappleguytoday]

^^I think the Spigen style and for example Incase snap case doesn't feel cheap is because they are thicker plastic. This eBay case is super thin and fits the contour of the phone only.

I have another frost case from eBay, which is slightly thicker than this one, and feels stronger just with the mm difference.

Is that a Spigen knockoff? I thought there case had a black ring around the camera cutout.

Damn, sorry about that nick on your phone

 

[XboxMySocks]

Yikes, this looks pretty bad on the black iPhone.

 

[aphexacid]

Is that a Spigen knockoff? I thought there case had a black ring around the camera cutout.

Damn, sorry about that nick on your phone

Nope, i got it straight from Spigen. The stupid black ring fell off about 5 seconds after i put the case on my phone. All of these cases suck in one way or another. And the spigen scratches like crazy.

I got that nasty dent from tossing my phone onto my bed. It hit the bed, bounced off the bed, hit the metal frame of my bed, and then hit the carpet.

Its actually WAY worse than it looks in the picture. I had my spigen on at the time LOL

 

[BIRDinho]

I worry that debris or dust particles can enter the case at its openings and remain lodged between the phone and case causing it to look dirty or scratch the backing. Has this been the case for anyone??

 

[thatappleguytoday]

I worry that debris or dust particles can enter the case at its openings and remain lodged between the phone and case causing it to look dirty or scratch the backing. Has this been the case for anyone??

I haven't that problem. Maybe very little sneaks in, but I take it off every few days just to wipe the phone and case. Takes 30 secs of my day.

 

[MacAttacked]

Got mine yesterday.

I have the Spigen and the Spigen is closer to clear on the back and shows the silver better. Also I notice the edge along the bottom has just a slight unfinished feel to it, nothing major just a little rough in one area. On the plus, the volume buttons are definitely easier to use as this case is a little thinner.

That said, I paid $22 for my Spigen and for $3 this case is a no brainer. If your just looking for back protection like myself this is a great find.

Thanks op

 

[kvnfo]

Got mine yesterday.

I have the Spigen and the Spigen is closer to clear on the back and shows the silver better. Also I notice the edge along the bottom has just a slight unfinished feel to it, nothing major just a little rough in one area. On the plus, the volume buttons are definitely easier to use as this case is a little thinner.

That said, I paid $22 for my Spigen and for $3 this case is a no brainer. If your just looking for back protection like myself this is a great find.

Thanks op

Agreed, I have this case on my black iphone, it looks amazing. For what you pay this is a no brainer. I'll have some high quality pics when I get to my dslr tomorrow. Stay tuned.

 

[Mozino]

I've never really used a case on my phones but have started as I've got the black iPhone 5 so was worried about the scratching. I'm in the UK so I bought this one from eBay uk:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251209450483

I bought this case and have used it for the past couple of days and it seems ideal. It keeps the phone slim and light while still protecting the susceptible edges of the phone. It is very good fit. It has adequate protection from scratches (apart from the bottom lip but I can live with that). It comes off and on easily enough and so far it has not left a mark on my phone. For £2 it is brilliant.

I bought the Terrapin TPU case off Amazon which is fine but a little bulky for my liking and gathers too much dust on the edges. But it remains a decent enough spare in case this doesn't last the distance.

I received the Belkin Candy Sheer Grip in the post today and it looks too bulky (as I'm used to this). I'm considering whether to keep it or sell it back, or to get the Tones instead (if that is slimmer).