Review w/ Pics: Phantom Skins, Best Skins Ever, Clear-Coat, Zagg, Vaja & Fortte - Page 2

stomsf · 07-16-2009, 10:57 AM

Thanks PaSt! Glad to see the results for the Fortte and Vaja cases. The Vaja you picked looks very smart. :D

One thing I was a little concerned about before ordering the Vaja is the apparent thickness increase -- does the leather and the build add a whole lot of bulk and chunkiness to the phone? Otherwise, looks fantastic!

PaSt · 07-16-2009, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by stomsf

Thanks PaSt! Glad to see the results for the Fortte and Vaja cases. The Vaja you picked looks very smart. :D

One thing I was a little concerned about before ordering the Vaja is the apparent thickness increase -- does the leather and the build add a whole lot of bulk and chunkiness to the phone? Otherwise, looks fantastic!

To be honest, its not that bad, the vaja case alone is still discreet and about the same or if not, smaller than my previous phone (Samsung i830)

AmericanTemplar · 07-28-2009, 11:25 AM

So I just got my second Pre yesterday after having trouble with Airplane Mode turning on on its own on my first Pre. I've had a Clear Coat set but I never got around to installing it on my first Pre, causing it to develop small scratches on the screen & a pretty deep scratch on one of the corners, even though I kept it in or on the stock pouch when it wasn't in my hand. So I installed the Clear Coat on my new Pre yesterday & while I like that it makes the phone easier to grip, I don't like the lack of corner coverage. I don't really have a problem with the "orange peel" effect, as it's not visible when the screen is actually on. So it sounds it sounds like the PS doesn't give the Pre the added benefit of being easier to grip, while the BSE inhibits the ease of using gestures? What skin would you recommend given my concerns?

PaSt · 07-28-2009, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by AmericanTemplar

So I just got my second Pre yesterday after having trouble with Airplane Mode turning on on its own on my first Pre. I've had a Clear Coat set but I never got around to installing it on my first Pre, causing it to develop small scratches on the screen & a pretty deep scratch on one of the corners, even though I kept it in or on the stock pouch when it wasn't in my hand. So I installed the Clear Coat on my new Pre yesterday & while I like that it makes the phone easier to grip, I don't like the lack of corner coverage. I don't really have a problem with the "orange peel" effect, as it's not visible when the screen is actually on. So it sounds it sounds like the PS doesn't give the Pre the added benefit of being easier to grip, while the BSE inhibits the ease of using gestures? What skin would you recommend given my concerns?

I have the BSE's on now and been using it, and its not as bad as people say, it is very tacky, almost just as tacky as the zagg's I.S. All I can suggest is that if you want superior edge coverage, out of the four, Def. BSE. But to be honest, if you havnt laid your fingers on P.S. you should give them a try. They have the edge coverage, even though the grippy tacky feel is not as present as the others, it still provides some form of grip feel to it. I only went BSE's only for the design of the skin, but after toying around with the wife's pre, I can def say that I am kinda jealous. Even though there is a second set floatin around the house, I'm still using the BSE.

Bottom line, it's up to you, but to be honest, I mentioned it before and I'll say it again, I LOVE the tackyness of BSE, I.S. and Clear Coat, but seriously, if "I" had to choose just one, P.S.

AmericanTemplar · 07-28-2009, 09:28 PM

Thanks for the help! Ordered a PS & I'll give some feedback once I receive it.

AmericanTemplar · 08-07-2009, 10:47 AM

Well, I installed the Phantom Skinz. They are a good bit harder to install than the Clear Coat due to the corners & the fact that they get closer to the edges. I ended up using both sets. The second set came out perfect & you could hardly tell that it was on there after about 12 hours. All of the bubbles disappeard much more quickly than the bubbles on the Clear Coat, some of which didn't even go away after a week. Unfortunately I was having issues with the volume level on my phone, so I had to take it back for Pre number 3. So I wasted my time & money on the Phantom Skinz. No big deal, I reordered & I'm sure that I'll get it right the first time this time around & I'll have an extra set if I have to take my phone back again (*gasp).

I actually preferred the tackiness of the Clear Coat for gripping the phone, but I didn't like the way that the "orange peel effect" made gestures a bit more difficult. I still prefer the Phantom Skinz overall though.

Liv · 08-08-2009, 02:11 AM

Thank you for this write up!

I'm a case junkie and didn't want to even get my pre until I had a case lined up. I have always been a huge fan of Vaja cases, but it's definitely an investment.

Appreciate you helping us out!

jay25pre · 10-15-2009, 09:46 AM

thanks for the review, I just ordered Phantom Skinz.