Before I start this, I would like to state that Rearth had contacted me about reviewing their Ringke case and after about a week of usage, I felt it was appropriate to give it a proper review. However, with so many reviews out there already and since I previously reviewed the Otterbox Commuter case, I thought it would be more fun and helpful to pit the two cases against each other.
Rearth’s Ringke case:
This case by a company I did not hear about until they contacted me (http://www.rearthusa.com/) sells this case for $16.99. At first glance, it looks just like any other silicone typed case. However, their site informs me that it is actually made out of some combination of materials that are too technical for any of us to really ponder about.
In brief, the material feels like a combination of hard plastic like those on hard case shells and silicone cases. Intriguingly, by doing this, there is a good grippy feel to the case itself and I think this also plays into how it does not collect as much dust as every other silicone case out there. In fact, the dust collection is so minimal that even when you take the phone out of the case, the inside does not have that much dust either. Truly an amazing feat.
On the other hand, just like the all silicone typed cases for phones, the sides are quite flimsy when on the phone and do tend to separate and end up just sitting on the sides of the phone, which does not bode well for protection. Also like silicone cases, the amount of protection is minimal. The hole on the side for the Atrix’s mini-HDMI and mini-USB ports are very well crafted, but unfortunately because the placing for the ports are there, the top cover ends up being a thin piece of casing that is very loose and quite annoying when holding the phone, especially during phone calls, as your fingers tend to keep playing with it. On that note, the stock cables that came with the phone-when plugged into the phone for charging, etc..- end up giving that slice of casing a small bump which I believe in repeated usage would end up stretching the case.
The great thing about this case though is the fact that the details etched into the case itself is amazing. Rearth etched almost everything from the actual phone’s body design unto the case, giving it the illusion of the case being a part of the phone’s design. The power/unlock button, volume outlines, and even wording for the mini-HDMI and mini-USB ports are all very well done. All the openings for the various ports and camera and fingerprint scanner are very well done and appropriately placed without obstruction.
My review unit did not come with the cool Audio Caps that are shown on their website, sadly. I was looking forward to testing those out as I believe those are a genius idea and a great addition to their case.
The Rearth Ringke case does come in a huge selection of colors, so you will not be short of choices or preferences.
Comparison to Otterbox Commuter and Final Note:
Because I have never used a silicone type case with my phone before, I really did not have any experience to judge it. I loved how minimal the case was and it felt great in my hand, but I think it would be better served if I compared it to the case I used before I got the Ringke case: the Otterbox Commuter.
The Ringke Case would be perfect for those that do not want/need extra protection to their phone and just need it for a day to day minimal contact case to protect their phone from minor bumps and scratches. It would also appeal to those that prefer more grip and want a case but not a screen protector like ZAGG. And lastly, it would appeal mostly to those that do not wish to spend more than $20 on a case and do not like dust collecting on their cases, but do not like hard shell cases.
The Otterbox Commuter, compared to Ringke, is in fact larger (taller and wider)…..but surprisingly, NOT BY MUCH! I was very shocked at this. As the comparison photos below show, there is some extra bulkiness comparing the two cases but it is not significantly great as to impact a decision alone. However, I must say that the Ringke case felt a lot better in the hand than the Otterbox Commuter, and it also made the screen look larger (mainly due to Otterbox Commuter having larger side protection).
For now, I am sticking with my Commuter as my daily case as I am somewhat of a butterfinger and I enjoy the added protection without the bulkiness it offers. But, should Rearth ever make a Ringke phone case that fixed its flimsy sides and have port covers, then I’ll be all over that in an instant!……..or if Otterbox ever decides to replicate the Ringke silicone case material for their silicone part of the Commuter series.
A big thanks to Rearth for sending me their great product to review and if this product is any indication, they will have a long lasting business in this market. I would recommend their Ringke case for anyone looking to get a silicone type case offering the best bang for their buck.
