iPhone 5 rugged case face off: bike2power Bravo vs Outdoor Tech Safe 5

It is time for a rugged case face off and the competitors at hand come from Outdoor Tech and bike2power. Both cases come boasting waterproof protection for Apple’s iPhone 5 but on top of protection from the elements and accidents, both offer full touch screen control. The difference between the cases would be the materials used and the access to all ports, as the Bravo case is constructed of alloy and makes sure all features and ports are accessible whereas the Safe 5 is made up of a plastic case that locks your phone inside and while it does have easy access to the charge port, it does not provide access to plug in headphones. So how do these two cases stack up to each other and which one will stand out as the most rugged?

I will begin with the Bravo case offered by bike2power and this case is a beast with it’s alloy structure. It uses seven screws to install this case to my phone along with a screen protector to keep to keep the water out when submerged in up to 2 meters of water. The case is notched on the sides to make easier to hold onto and adds a weighted feel to the phone. The install was easy and quickly learned I had to torque the screws in place as after a day of use when not extra tight, two screws had come loose. Unlike some of the other metal cases I have reviewed, I did not experience noticeable signal loss on calls, wifi, or streaming via Bluetooth. The only two issues I noticed during use was the nuisance of needing a headphone adapter and the other would be the fit, as it took a couple times to install where the volume down wasn’t being held down and I could switch the ringer on or off.

Up next is the Safe 5 from Outdoor Tech, same functionality but different materials and install. Another slight difference is that this case is rated to IPX7 standards whereas the Bravo case is rated at a more rugged IPX8. While the Bravo was used a lot more outside, working around the house and riding, I found it only fitting to take this case to the Glamis sand dunes for Halloween weekend. While I could not keep the sand out of my ports, the Safe 5 definitely could. Being outside for three days, it was three locking screws and and a washer keeping my phone safe from the elements. The case I received was clear, but Outdoor Tech also makes the Safe 5 in orange and aqua to provide a tint to your pictures. I liked how easy it was to lock the phone in but one downside was that there no way to use headphones while inside the case and I rely on my headphones quite often, luckily it is a fast and easy install should the occasion call for protection.

The two cases at hand were definitely up to the task of protecting my iPhone 5 from fluids, sand, and impact, it is just a matter of your preference of material. That and if you need access to use headphones while in the case. I did prefer the sturdy feeling weight of the Bravo’s aluminum case, but install and removal is difficult and requires a special Torx 6 screwdriver which is included. The Safe 5 was great to use out floating in the pool to take pictures, control streaming tunes, and incredibly easy to install, but I missed being able to plug in my headphones and the screen protector got scratched rather easily. If you are one that works outdoors and want a case to keep your phone in for longer periods of time, I suggest the bike2power's Bravo but if you just want to protect your phone from pool parties, the beach, or dunes, and going commando once back to safety, I would suggest Outdoor Tech’s Safe 5.

Prong sends us their latest successful Kickstarter, the PocketPlug

This next review is a bit different and it is easy to tell that the designers behind this product did not like cords. Prong has provided us with their recent successful Kickstarter project, the PocketPlug. The PocketPlug is a case that wraps around the iPhone 5/5s and contains flat plug prongs that fold out to recharge without having to worry about making sure you have the lightning cable on hand. In case you need to keep playing Candy Crush while charging and you don’t want to be face to face with the wall while charging, there is a micro USB port on the bottom to give more slack to operate while charging.  Lastly, Prong included their advanced charging technology that allows charging in just a matter of minutes.

I admit that I was rather curious about Prong’s cable-less charging case, as someone that hates having cables lying around, I hoped that it was going to blaze a bold new trail. Functionally, the case works as advertised but there were a couple things in which I realized during use that weren’t so convenient. On the plus side, the lack of cable is great when traveling light and the case has a soft rubber texture with hard lines on the side that makes a great attempt to prevent from dropping. The plug folds out smoothly without requiring much pressure, but the speed of charging is where the PocketPlug really shines as it charges faster than when connected to the lightning cable. I did think that this case was a bit bulky, especially when it does not include an internal battery pack. Also, I quickly learned that there aren’t many locations in which the PocketPlug was convenient to use outside the the kitchen, bathroom, or airport.

At the end of my week of usage, the PocketPro proved to be useful on the go due to it’s ability to charge quickly without the need of a cable. The inclusion of the micro USB port did allow me to still link to and charge my phone from my vehicle’s head unit and make it easy to use connected to the cord if I didn’t want to stare at it from the floor while plugged into an outlet. Some improvements to the case would be a change in design to make it easier to remove from the case, slimmer in build design, or include an internal battery for extended use between charges. Prong’s PocketPlug is available now for the iPhone 5/5s in black or white and can be purchased for $69.95.

iPhone 5 case showdown: Findables vs. Slickwraps

It’s another product showdown here and this time it is iPhone 5 cases, one fashionable from SlickWraps and the other is a functional case from Findables. Findable’s FlexStand case is a polycarbonate case with a shock absorbing interior that has a QR code for social media sharing app, and the case folds in half to hold in an upright viewing angle. The other is “the Case” from SlickWraps which is a rubber case with a number of unique design options created in house and includes vinyl inserts to provide complete protection from scratches, bumps, and scrapes. With that said, both are in the same price range but serve different purposes, so it is time to determine which provides the better experience.

I will start off with Findables FlexStand case, while it is not as slim as some of the other protective case I have reviewed, but the Tron-esque black/blue color combination topped with the vertical line to allow the phone to viewed in an upright position at a landscape orientation. This case is not a one trick pony as the free mobile app is fast and easy to register and allowed for me to share my social media information from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Google+ by having new contacts or friends scan the QR code on the back of the case. One downside would be the opening for the charger on the bottom, if you are using a 3rd party charger, like id America’s CrossLink, then the phone has to come out of the case each time it is charged. The FlexStand case is available now in an assortment of four colors and priced at $29.95.

Next on the chopping block is the Case from SlickWraps and their unique designer series, the case that I got was the Cosmostache. The best way in which I can describe the SlickWraps case is as a more protective SkinIt as they provide a slim 1mm rubber case which has the hip looking mustache and sunglass design. The parts not wrapped by the case are wrapped by vinyl inserts to continue the look from back to front. If “hipster” designs are not your thing, worry not, as there are 10 available designs in the designer series. It was easy to install the vinyl inserts without bubbles but there was an issue with the rubber case as it had bubbles underneath the designer print. On top of being a minimalistic and unique case, it stands out at the affordable price of $34.95.

After spending time with both of the cases, I preferred the Findables case over SlickWraps, although SlickWraps does have the upper hand with a huge number of designs to choose from for a number of devices. While Findables has only a couple of designs in a handful of colors, I was more of a fan of ability to easily share social media information by simply registering my profile information to the QR image on the back of the case, which makes it easy to swap information without mutilating a new contact’s name while entering their information into your mobile device. SlickWraps does stand out with the in terms or materials on some of their other cases as they come using more exotic materials such as cork, leather, metal, grip tape, and more.  

TYLT releases new, slimmer charging case, Energi

We are having a juice box week here at MashButtons as this next review is another charging accessory, this time in the form of a charging case for the iPhone 5. TYLT has provided us with Energi, the versatile sliding power case, to keep your phone charged on the go without excessive bulk. The package includes 2 slim line cases, one blue and one black, 2500 mAh battery pack that the slim line case slides onto, charger, and headphone adapter. Should you not need the back up charge, just use the slim line case to keep your smartphone protected against impact, once low on juice, slide the slim line case into the battery pack and press the button on the back and your phone has juice again. Its time to see how this case holds up for daily use.

For starters, I liked how the Energi came with two slim line cases, the subtle black to match my phone and the vibrant blue for those more expressive days. The slim line cases have ridges on the sides to slide smoothly into the battery pack and fits great with no rattles and does not come apart easily. The cases have a soft rubber texture that does not empty my pocket when removed, but one thing about the texture that I did not like, was that it picked up smudges easily and is difficult to keep smudge free. The slim case does not take much space and I preferred to keep the Energi battery case in my laptop bag to put on and charge when needed. Also, a headphone adapter is required for headphones which have an angle where the cable plugs into the phone. The included charge of the 2500 mAh battery provides a full charge to the phone when dead, the issue I had with charging was that sometimes I had to push the button multiple times in order start charging.

TYLT’s Energi is a great charger case for the iPhone 5 as it is versatile, whether wrapped in the slim line case or attached to the charger pack. The black slim line case is subtle and adds minimal bulk and the optional blue case is vibrant and stands out when in use. What's even better about juicing my phone with the Energi is that it charges quickly when running low on the go. At just shy of a hundred bucks, the Energi is available now in three color options for the price of $99.99, just be sure to keep the headphone adapter on hand, especially if your headphones headphone input is angled as you will not be able to listen privately without it.

Mashbuttons Reviews a few new retro iPhone cases | Review

 We here have received iPhone cases by the truckload it would seem over the years.  Yes, cases, come in many sizes, shapes, designs, textures, and features.  However, this would be the first time we've come across an iPhone case that their feature is interactive.

Well, kind of interactive.  These are the new "Retro Game" cases from PureGear with the little mini game on the back.  Perfect for when your games on the iPhone aren't quite entertaining enough.  As far as cases go, they're pretty standard fare.  They don't add much bulk, are made from a hard shell plastic, and fit and iPhone 5 snuggly, offering up minor protection, but not full-blown military grade shock or shatter proofing.  These are, as they say, pretty run-of-the mill cases.  What sets them apart, is when you flip over the case.  Rather than a cool design, or a tactile fabric, these include a maze, or even one with a small pinball game in it.
It's reminiscent of games you may find in a cracker jack box, or perhaps take home from a childs birthday party goodie bag.  It's really more gimmicky, and one could even say ironic that one may want a case like this.  Perhaps some would cling to the nostalgia, or irony they would provide.

Again, cases come in all colors and patterns, and fabrics, etc, so we shouldn't really look at anything beyond the maze game as anything more than just a unique design, and with a myriad of cases out there - I kinda like these for their simpleness.

The collection comes in three varieties, with apt names:  There's the "Amazing" which is of course, the aforementioned Maze game.  The "Groovy" which requires you to navigate three silver marbles into the center of the maze to win.  And the "Undecided" which is a simple version of a magic 8-ball.  Pull back the plunger to send the marble up and let it decide your day-to-day decisions.  Each available for an MSRP of $29.99.

id America outfits us with a lineup fit for any executive

This next review comes from an innovative case and accessory company that is know for their unique look, with cases designed to look like an engine gaskets and headphones that resemble spark plugs. I am talking about id America and rather than a fun style, we got more of a mobile executive suite and the theme is black leather. If you are a proud owner of an iPhone 5, iPad Mini, MP3 player, or multiple electronic devices that requires charging via micro USB, 30 pin, or lightning, id has got you covered. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss my time spent with the Wall St, SmartFold, new Spark, and CrossLink so let’s get to it.

First up is the Wall St, the genuine leather case for the iPhone 5 that offers a place to store cards to try to eliminate that bulky Costanza wallet. This is a sleek little case offers a sleeve design where the phone slides into the case from the top, and it contains a slot for ID, business card, or VIP passes. While this additional slot for storage was nice for an evening out when I only needed my ID and bank card, but it only held 2 cards before I would really have to cram anything else in, the suede lining also make it easy to slide cards out for access. I would have liked for the Wall St to have come in a model without the card slot as well for those of us that have separation anxiety from our wallets. Wall St is available now and comes in a variety of six colors priced at $34.95.

Next up is the SmartFold, a leatherette case for the iPad Mini, and while it is not genuine leather like the Wall St, it is a nice and slim case for the mini tablet. The front flap folds to hold the device at multiple viewing angles and is designed to be a smart cover to auto sleep and wake. I did have an issue with this as my tablet did not sleep with closed and sometimes woke when opened, but was able to feel magnets hold flap closed. With the SmartFold, I still had access to take pictures and face time without obstruction to my view and is easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth, and the iPad Mini slides into the case rather than wrapping in a plastic or rubber shell that is sown onto the synthetic leather material. The SmartFold is available now for $39.95 in black or white.

To go with the black on black on black theme, are the new Spark earbuds that offer high definition sound with an aluminum build. These little plugs come packing a 9mm driver, one button in line remote/microphone, carrying case, and black and white cable that is reminiscent to how the Bose earbuds cable looks. That is where the similarity in looks stops as the actual earbuds are designed to resemble spark plugs. In terms of sound the mids and highs were crisp and offered a nice range, the bass was nice and subtle without drowning out the clarity. That being said, they do fit comfortably with three silicone tip sizes and the cable always tended to get tangled up but while moving around, they always stayed in their place and did not have to fumble with finding and putting them back in place. The new Spark is available now also in black or white for the price of $59.95.

Lastly, and this is more of a must have multi purpose cable that is great for consolidating numerous charging cables. The CrossLink is a flat cable with soft rubber coating that does not tangle or bind and is three feet long. It has the capability of charging apple devices by lightning or 30 pin for the older devices, along with a micro USB capabilities for most other tech toys. This cable is great, especially for anyone on the go that takes multiple devices with them, like a digital camera, tablet, phone, or Bluetooth speaker, the ClossLink Sync & Charge cable is up to the task, priced at $17.95.

Ballistic Hydra Series is built for land, sea, and everything in between

My favorite people behind rugged iPhone cases have provided me with their latest waterproof case, the fine folks being Ballistic and the case at hand is the Hydra Series. Ballistic is one of the few cases in which I am comfortable tossing at someone unknowingly to them and watching said person spaz trying to keep my phone from hitting the ground. Being this is a waterproof case, I would not suggest this display of rugged, unless you want to water test after each impact. A bit about the Hydra, it is Ballistic’s “Designed To Survive Life” case designed to withstand water, dust, and impact (to an extent), so it is time to see what all it is capable of.

To start, being a waterproof case, the Hydra is pretty low profile and I would say it is comparable in size to the Lifeproof case. The ports are easier to access and do not have plugs that are easy to misplace. Installation and tear down are easy as long as you have some finger nails to get up underneath Active Latches that are used to keep the case waterproof for 30 minutes in up to 7 feet of water. On top of handling the elements, the case is also built with butterfingers in mind as it can withstand drops of up to 8 feet, by way of the Air Gap Suspension Springs that surround the phone in 1mm of air. The downside and there was only one that I encountered during use was touch sensitivity,  as I had to press on the screen significantly harder for my phone to detect my input, which also slowed down my texting speed and made for even more interesting autocorrect issues.

The Hydra Series is a great all weather/abuse ready case for anyone that sees more places than an office, car, and apartment or house. With this case, I took my phone anywhere, floating in the pool and riding my bike/ATV/skateboard with no worries of it taking a fall with me or if accidentally splashed or knocked in the pool, I was safe. It is highly suggested that if your phone take a dive onto a hard surface, you need to perform a water test, but it only takes five minutes and is well worth the peace of mind. Ballistic’s Hydra Series case is available now in a variety of five different color combinations at the price of $79.99.

Booq stylish encase the iPad Mini and iPhone 5

Our friends over at Booq sent out a couple new items from their lineup to outfit my two must have items on the go, the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini. Both the Booqpad agenda for the iPad Mini and the Fiber snapcase came to me in matching grey color and material so it is a match made in heaven.  These cases come with a fibre material much like that debuted in the Mamba Courier, previously reviewed. The snapcase is compact with thick sides to protect from impact, while the agenda is built to be you compact on the go networking device, so let’s how they fare.

First up we have the Fibre snapcase, similar to many other cases out there, this one goes with a grey soft touch polycarbonate, built with the intent to protect your phone but with fashion taking priority over function. The stand out visual appeal of this case is the fiber inlay, and the textured look is what makes the snapcase stand out. It does grip well and does not slide when held but also does not empty my pocket every time I reached for my phone. The fiber material is what I really liked, it is stylish and matches cases for other products.

Speaking of matching other products, it is time for the Booqpad Mini agenda for iPad and this case is less like your typical case and more of a padfolio as the agenda buttons closed, includes a pen/stylus holder, and notepad. Being a lefty, I was worried that this case was made for the majority, but there is a slot at the top and bottom to hold a notepad no matter what hand you use without resting directly on the iPad Mini. This case does not double as a stand, so do not expect to hold the tablet upright along with lacking a hole for the camera, so when the camera is needed, the mini needs to be removed from the case.

Booq made my week as more cases in their fiber material means time to rewrap my electronics. Whether alone or together the Mini agenda and Fibre snapcase are a sleek and stylish way to make your apple iPhone or ipad stand out from the numerous tablets out there. The notepad was nice but I did not finding myself using it to ofter as it is just as easy to take notes from the iPad, but it did make a nice sketch pad when brainstorming. Both cases are available now in an assortment of colors and priced at less than eighty dollars if you pick both or $39.95 for the Mini agenda and $29.95 for the Fibre snapcase.

AVIVO's Rail|Light: Stylish and Rugged

The next iPhone 5 case comes from AVIVO Style and their durable and customizable case, the Rail|Light . This is a lightweight two-piece case that is designed for both style and protection with the ability to withstand corner impact of heights up to 14 feet. The contents of the package included a white polycarbonate rail, white carbon fiber looking jacket, and frame to use rail without having to use the jacket. The badge is copper finished along with the CNC machined buttons to contrast with the stark white case. It is time to figure out how to snap this case together and see it does with preventing more scratches on the edges and back.

When I first opened the packaging, it took a minute to realize what I had in front of me as my two piece case came with three pieces, and there is a number of options in term of options of use. As an auto enthusiast, I was a big fan of the carbon fiber look and the copper finished accents/buttons really stand out providing a nice look. The case fits snugly with no wiggles when wrapped around the iPhone 5, the install was easy regardless to the option you go with, and it does not easily come apart. In fact, at times when I was trying to swap out the jacket for the frame, it sometimes took enough force to make me worry something was going to snap. Lastly, the rail is wrapped in soft rubber coating which is nice one paper for gripping, but when the rail is white, it does not take long to get dingy.

The Rail|Light case is a great to secure your iPhone 5 and help to prevent from slipping out of pockets or falling out of hands. It does not just add a sense of security, but also uses minimal space with a slim build and the jackets have modern options in suede, hatch, carbon, motif, and visor ranging in price from $39.99 to $49.99. Avivo also has a step up in materials with the Rail|Aluminum in which replaces the dingy white rail with a material that is significantly easier to clean. What I would like to see made offered by Avivo would be that jackets were made available in the shop to the purchased a la carte for additional variety or if you accidentally break it.