I received my GGMM iPhone 4 metal case early Monday morning for testing, and have been
using it exclusively since then to get an accurate assessment of how it
performs. My findings are as follows:
Initial
impressions:
Packaging was bare. In fact, it was just each half
of the case in a separate ziploc bag, with the hex screws and wrench in
another. I know through emails that the company is working on finalizing the
retail packaging, so this may change in the immediate future. Packaging is not
a big deal to me anyway, and since I was receiving this case strictly for
testing purposes, it's a non-issue for me. As far as the initial look of the
case, it's very well made. Machining and finish is superb, with the finish
consistent and "grain" of the aluminum uniform and all in the same
direction. To those of you familiar with the high quality of finish on the
Element Vapor, this iPhone
4 metal case is on par with that. The logo (which I'm usually not fond of
on cases) is very minimal, and very tastefully done. I'm actually pleased with
the logo placement and look on this case.
The way this case fits on the phone is unique to all the aluminum
"bumper-style" cases out so far in that it use plastic
"gasket-looking" inserts to completely suspend the case between the
two halves, so that no part of the phone's antenna is coming into contact with
the aluminum
iPhone 4 case. The inserts are a hard plastic, precision cut to the exact
shape of the inside of the case. So the case "grabs onto" the phone
via these plastic inserts, which are in turn clamping down on the antenna, not
the glass (in case anyone is concerned as to whether the case rests on the
glass). Hopefully you can see below how this insert system works, and how the
phone is suspended on these inserts and never comes into contact with the
aluminum of the case.
So a side cut away of this case would show:
top aluminum half
plastic insert
phone
plastic insert
bottom aluminum half
Once the iPhone
4 Slim case is installed on the phone, it's very slim and sleek, and
doesn't add much bulk at all to the phone, and maybe even a little less width
to the phone than the Element Vapor. The case does create a small lip front and
back to give it some "lay on the table" design, so that the screen
and back glass don't come into contact with any flat surface that the phone is
laid on.
Performance:
This is always the big concern when it comes to
these aluminum
iPhone 4S case. I've tested this case pretty hard for the past two days in
this regard, making calls/using data/using GPS over about a 40 mile stretch in
rural Georgia, and I can say that I'm pleasantly surprised by the minimal
effect this case has on reception. Throughout all my testing, this case will
reduce reception at most 5-7dB anywhere I've been. Again, that's a maximum
reduction, quite often it was less than that. At work I typically hover around
-81dB, with this case on it's -87dB. Yes, this is a reduction, but unless
you're already in a very, very low reception area, it shouldn't knock you down
by more than "one bar" of signal. I could make calls and use data
with the phone all the way down to -120dB (this same area will test out at
around -115dB with no case installed). I've gotten to where I keep my phone
showing dB reading instead of "bars", as the dB reading is more
useful to me anyway.
As far as data rate is concerned, I see absolutely
no change in my data speeds with the case on as opposed to no case. I average
around 2500kbps download/1.4kbps upload speeds (no case) at work and home, and
even with the reduced dB readings I get these same results through SpeedTest.
So I see no change here, so comes to conclusion that the iPhone
4 Metal frame is works good in the signal performance.
GPS: I've tested the GPS every time I've been in
my car for the past two days (around 80 miles of traveling), and I'm seeing
that the GPS can locate me and follow me perfectly fine, with an accuracy of
about 3-6m (same as I see without a case). This has been tested using the
default Google Maps app, and both Navigon and Tom Tom navigation apps. I will
say that at times (not every instance), it can take the GPS up to 50 seconds
(longest was 52 seconds, to be precise) to lock onto me, but once it's locked
on, it has never failed to track me. On average, it takes about 15 seconds to
lock onto my location with the case installed, versus the average of about 5-7
seconds with a non-cased phone. So the case does have some effect on the GPS as
far as time to initial location lock, but once locked, iPhone
4 Metal case holds onto position fine.
Bluetooth/wifi: I use a Bluetooth for almost all
of my calls, and I've not seen any decrease in sound quality or connection
range using my Bluetooth headsets (Motorola HX1, Jawbone Icon, and Plantronics
Voyager Pro). As far as wifi is concerned, I've seen no drop in data speed
(tested with SpeedTest) nor connection range, but as far as that goes, I'm only
about 30 ft from my wifi router at work, so I'm not sure how effective of a
test that is.
Final
Comments:
All in all, I like GGMM iPhone 4 case
for an all aluminum case. It has a great finish, the color (gold) matches what
I was wanting exactly, and the attachment system is the best I've seen at
isolating the phone from the antenna. It's also more or less a symmetrical
design which I prefer, as opposed to the non-symmetrical
"Vapor-design". You don't have to worry about any padding (like in
the Vapor) compressing over time, or coming loose, or not being uniform around
the interior of the case. These precision cut inserts will put the phone in the
center of the case every time, and would be very easy to replace if you ever
damaged or lost one. Yes, it does cut signal slightly, but at least in my area,
it's not enough to hinder the phone's operation. I'll definitely say this is
one of the top two all aluminum cases I've tried (I've tried the Vapor,
Exovault, Fusionwerkz Raw 0 and C, and Alumacase). From what I've seen, if
you're wanting an all aluminum case, this is definitely a good choice. If you
are in a very, very low reception area (averaging 1 bar), I'd tend to direct
you toward the Atomic Hybrid, if you're wanting a similar look for your iPhone
4 Bumper. I prefer aluminum, so I'm glad to see that the all aluminum case
makers are getting better and better at making cases that minimize their impact
on reception. And, as I've always said, please remember that everything
I've said here is based on testing IN MY AREA, and may not be what everyone
sees in their respective areas. I only
state this because as a lot of you are aware of, these aluminum cases seem very
influenced by area they are used in, with some users seeing far more
performance hits in some parts of the country than people in other areas.
The only negatives I'd give this case is in the
area of packaging, but once the retail packaging gets finalized, it should be
an even better purchase. That, and it's price is slightly higher than some of
the competitors. Then again, you are getting a great attachment system (the
plastic inserts), and the quality of milling/finish on this case is
outstanding. Once it has better retail packaging, I'd say the iPhone
4 Frame case is more justified in it's cost. For those of you considering
an Element Vapor, I'd definitely steer you toward this GGMM iPhone 4 case
instead, as it matches it in quality of workmanship, and easily beats it in
performance (again, for an all aluminum case).
Slickfans
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
iPad 3 Cases & New iPad 3 Back Covers Shopping – Slickfans.com
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