I previously reviewed a keyboard case, and now I might as well review the case that i use the rest of the time when I don't need a keyboard. There's something about the incredible thinness to the Z2 that makes me worry I'll snap it in half, and I can be crazy clumsy . Therefore, I went with a simple silicone sleeve case for some mental assurance.
I choose the Graphgrip case from Poetic. As you can see in the pictures, there is a grid pattern on the backside of the case that gives it a distinctive character. The silicone material adds a slight degree of grip, won't slide around on a table, and attracts a minimal amount of dust. The covered buttons are responsive, no problems there. The edge of the case comes over the screen to give a significant lip for laying the tablet face down. If you need a case for throwing the tablet in a bag, I'd recommend this case. If you need a stand or a cover for the screen, I'd look elsewhere, but for my needs I love this case.
Poetic offers an even thicker case called the Turtle Skin, but I decided to go with the one I got because of the nifty checkerboard pattern.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Poetic-GraphGrip-Silicone-Manufacturer-Warranty/dp/B00J4YWJ1Q
Related
Full disclosure: I was given this case for free, the vendor is seeking reviews. But, as I've said before, I will give an honest review of a free product regardless. People's feelings be darned.
Product arrived in a timely manner. Packaging was plain, I'm assuming it was non-retail. There were no markings or branding of any kind. No instructions, either. Not that they were really needed I guess, but I would assume that a retail purchase would be packaged, and not arrive in a plain padded envelope.
The case by itself looks, well, clear. Mine is clear with opaque rubber (TPU, Poetic calls it). I guess a model with black TPU is available. I don't want to sound like I'm bashing the case, because I'm not, but it is kind of unremarkable to look at. And I don't think that's a bad thing. After all, this case is designed to show off the phone, not just to show off. And that is apparent when it's actually on the phone. It hugs the shape of the device and doesn't compete for your attention.
The case is made of rigid plastic. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of hard cases, as I feel they can be rough on phones. But, the note 5 has an aluminum frame instead of the Standard issue Samsung chromed plastic. And there is clearish rubber around the frame as well as the lip that goes over the screen. It is along the sides as well. That made me feel better about it being a rigid plastic.
The case is one piece that pops in firmly but easily enough. Let me tell you, this baby is snug! And I mean that in a good way. Takes a little doing to get it out once it's in (again, I hope the retail packaging has instructions, in case there's some "trick" to it). But this thing really hugs the phone tightly. Solid fit. There is a very thin lip over and around the merest edge of the screen which holds the case on. It's a pretty impressive design, because the case basically clips onto the aluminum frame, leaving the entirety of the screen exposed. But there is no fear of the phone popping out of this case.
There is a slight lip that keeps the screen from coming in contact with the table when placed face down. A slight lip, but it is there, even with a glass screen protector on my phone.
It's made of clear polycarbonate with a clearish TPU on the corners, around the screen and in two raised rails running the long way down the back. It is comfortable in the hand, allowing the holder to feel the contours of the phone without adding bulk.
Along the sides, there are upraised ridges for grip. Which is good, because the smooth polycarbonate could feel a bit slippy if not for the TPU rails on the back, rubber around the lip of the case and ridges on the sides. This case has a good, reasonably grippy feel. Those who do not like the feel of smooth plastic against their palm may not dig it, but it feels pretty good to me.
The buttons are perfectly lined up, and very very clicky. One cool thing about the volume buttons: instead of being one big rocker style button for VOL up/down (many cases "join" the two buttons), the Poetic Affinity case keeps them separated just as the phone was designed. It looks sharp and deliberate, and provides some useful tactile feedback.
The TPU around the frame and the rails along the back ensure that your phone will stay put wherever you set it, which is nice.
The ports are almost all lined up perfectly (more on that in a sec). The SPen port seems wide open, which is pretty common for cases of this type. The bottom speaker, instead of being a cutout, is 8 holes drilled or molded or whatever into the case. They don't really line up with the actual speaker holes (at least in mine). But I have tried with and without the case, and I cannot tell any difference in the sound, so it doesn't seem to be a big deal. It isn't to me, anyway. But it will be to someone, which is really the only reason I mention it.
The clear polycarbonate gets smudged up with fingerprints in no time, I wipe mine frequently.
The combination of polycarbonate and strategically placed TPU seems pretty sturdy. I feel like my phone is adequately protected against day to day hazards. The case feels solid, complete and protective. The placement of the TPU seems designed to protect well against average corner drops or flat drops onto the front or back.
In conclusion, if you want a phone case that protects you from everyday hazards, and showcases as it encases, this is a good one to comsider. It is not at all expensive, and seems to offer protection that is definitely a cut above most "budget" cases I have seen. I have mentioned a couple of things that may give some people misgivings about this product (smooth plastic back, misaligned speaker holes), but for me neither of these things is a deal breaker, or even a significant concern. Your mileage may vary, etc. I like this case quite a bit.
Did we really yet another separate thread for this? You could have added it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3220298
Mods please merge these threads.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
Yeah I didnt see that thread sorry all
I have noticed that the TPU gets a little dingy looking and is not easy to clean. I can't imagine that would be a problem with the black TPU, but I have the opaque TPU on mine. Still love the case, still using it, but if I were buying one, I would go with the black TPU.
Just got my poetic affinity case. It's very nice! Love it
It seems everybody is looking for that perfect case for their device. Well, I am one of them and unfortunately the tab S6 doesn't have many options right now, but it doesn't matter because I found the best.
Spigen Rugged Armor is much better than the flip case I had from before, which was just like the samsung flip cover. The way the Spigen holds the pen is in my opinion better. It basically grips the pen just enough it wont easily fall off, so it isnt reliant 100% on the magnet to stay attached to the tablet. The way to remove the pen is to slide it in and out which honestly feels way more natural than opening and closing, while trying to alight the pen into the cutout for it, in the Samsung flip case.
Another thing that is better is that when using it in hand the tablet no longer has that flap for the stand of the flip cover cases, which gets annoying when holding and less comfortable. With this case you have a much more comfortable and solid grip on the device. It has a smooth matte feel, which is nice to hold.
Another plus for this case is the fitment is spot on. There is literally zero play in the case it feels like a hard rubber skin on the phone because it fits so well.
Here it is on amazon. I am not affiliated with the company in anyway, just thought I would give a shoutout to a well made product.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z8J8444/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Looks great; no magnets, very grippy.
Thanks!
This one looks good but I gotta have a kickstand. I went with this one from poetic and it's almost flawless. I removed the built in screen protector and went with a glass one instead. Looks very good too. Guy at work the other day asked me about it and said "I didn't know they have LifeProof cases fort the tab 6 yet?!"
https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Full-Body-Shockproof-Protective-Revolution/dp/B07XB3NL36
Shoot guys, actually after using this case for a few days now I noticed a critical flaw. Since the pen holder on this case protrudes so much, when I am writing/drawing on the tablet in portrait mode, while resting my right forearm on the bottom of the tablet, it literally lifts the tablet in the air since it is not perfectly flat. My flip cover case does not have this issue probably because the cover behind it offsets the difference enough to not wobble.
Since I've bought a few different cases, I thought I'd do a roundup of them.
Nillkin Super Frosted Shield Matte:
Minimal case, but with a slight lip around the glass and camera bump protection. Full 360 degree coverage with tight cutouts and good buttons. A very tight, accurate fit; it won't bounce off if you drop it.
Covered with a bump pattern to make it grippy. Hard plastic that will likely crack on dropping.
For: people wanting to reduce the slipperiness of the phone, make the bump look less dumb, and protect from scratches and light drops.
Spigen Liquid Air:
Light by Spigen's chonky boi standards, this gives protection not far off their Rugged Armour series without the goofy carbon fibre accents. Looks good and fits great. Large protection lip around the screen and sufficient camera cover. Tasteful design. Not as grippy as you'd think, but better than just the phone.
For: serial phone-droppers who don't want to make their giant phone any more gigantic. A good compromise case.
Official "sandstone" bumper case:
More rugged than the Super Frosted Shield, but with openings for the rockers, buttons, and top and bottom.
Extremely grippy texture and a tight fit. Good screen lip protection and camera cover. Aesthetically a bit weird; a bit "HTC Desire era" with the big gaps all around. Tasteful OnePlus logo.
Colour and texture of an asteroid space station wall; really needs to have "REMEMBER THE CANT" spray painted on it.
For: official case fans who don't mind paying twice what it's worth (unless you find it on eBay). Daredevils. People who like to click the proper buttons.
All three are good, but if you spend the RRP on the official case, you should go get your face paint on and get to the circus, because you're a clown.
Good write-up ?. Though I tried a couple of cases - both military types and transparent types - I couldn't find any of them good. I still use the official transparent case that came with the phone. I couldn't find any better than this case.
For military types I hate them because of the thick bumper sides that eliminates the bezel-less nature of the phone. Yes the military types meant for that kinda protection but I don't like those cases. For the transparent ones none of them gives that extra bumper for the screen and back camera glass like the official Twitter m transparent case. All of them were sh*ts.
For my old Lenovo Z2 Plus, there were a vast variety of colored back covers with extra screen and back camera bumper protection. I had more than 20 cases in different types and colors. My MiA1 also has more than 10 different cases. Note that these weren't just cheap quality cases with some printed graphics, these were all in plain solid colors. I don't know why case manufacturers of 7T never make such kind of cases.
Two months ago I was planning to make a custom made plastic-printed case with the help of my friend, he has a 3d printer with him. I even made a 3d model of the phone and case in my PC. But due to the pandemic I had to stop the process. Not sure if I can do the further developments.
Sent from my OnePlus7T using XDA Labs
I’ve never understood why “military grade” is considered a selling point. Have these people never met someone who was in the military? Everything’s made by the lowest bidder!
I agree with the lack of case options. I don’t think the OnePlus 7T sold all that well or something, it’s disappointing.
I got my 7T used and it came with three official cases. I'll add to your list, if you don't mind.
Karbon Protective Case:
This case is just like the Sandstone in that the buttons, slider and top/bottom are exposed. The feel is interestingly rubbery, but a bit slippery. It is very thin and almost looks like a skin until you look closer. Not that it is that thin, but fits so well. It's so thin it adds nearly no weight. The OnePlus logo is far more pronounced than the Sandstone, and really pops being so silvery-white. It makes me wish the Sandstone had a silver/white logo, it's that good.
Sandstone Protective Case:
Basically everything you said. The grip is incredible and you will be hard-pressed to drop your phone unless you're being careless. An improvement over the 5T Sandstone as the texture is slightly better. My go-to case, really.
Red Silicone Bumper Case:
This thing is pure red. Wow, that red! It is noticeably more bulky than the Karbon and Sandstone. There is no lip for the camera bump because it's bulky enough to clear it. So the back is smooth all the way, no table wobble. The inside of the case is a nice suade. It actually is an awesome premium touch, and you feel good to know your phone is safe from even case scratches, lol. Covers all buttons, makes the slider a bit more difficult to reach (but not too much), and covers all the way around the top and bottom, leaving ample holes for the microphone, charging port and bottom speaker. There is an ample lip all the way around. The feel is similar to the Karbon but more grippy. Softer feeling. The logo is understated and just recessed in the silicone.
All of these cases feel very premium (to me) and the fit is so perfect I think they're worth the investment. Especially if they last as long as my Sandstone from the 5T I used since launch.
Update: I've been using the official Sandstone case as my daily driver for nearly four months now. I've had a bunch of drops from pocket height onto concrete without any damage to the phone, and the case texture hides the dings very well.
Would recommend again.
I find most cases get slippery on the sides.
I had speck in the past but it was OK any others that you recommend thanks
From what I've seen so far:
1. Spigen Liquid Air - Seems to have some good grip potential, especially with ridges on the sides. However, the gap around the camera bump is an interesting design choice...
2. Samsung OEM Matte Black Silicone Case - Seems to have a decent grip on the matte finish and very minimal.
3. Pitaka Air or MagEZ Case - While I haven't used them myself, I've heard good things about the grip/feel of the Ipitaka cases.
I'm personally going to try the PItaka MagEZ case when it becomes available (Aug 21st) since I like the idea of having embedded metal so I don't have to stick a scosche metal piece on the back of the case.
Also, just a heads up. According to some initial reviews on the new speck 'grip' cases, they're using a more plastic-feeling material for grips instead of rubberized and people are not happy about it. (I previously used them as well)
I switch phones often, but one thing that remains constant is my Pitaka MagEZ cases. Have purchased well over 10 of them at this point. Wouldn't choose any other thin case
PseudoChris said:
From what I've seen so far:
1. Spigen Liquid Air - Seems to have some good grip potential, especially with ridges on the sides. However, the gap around the camera bump is an interesting design choice...
2. Samsung OEM Matte Black Silicone Case - Seems to have a decent grip on the matte finish and very minimal.
3. Pitaka Air or MagEZ Case - While I haven't used them myself, I've heard good things about the grip/feel of the Ipitaka cases.
I'm personally going to try the PItaka MagEZ case when it becomes available (Aug 21st) since I like the idea of having embedded metal so I don't have to stick a scosche metal piece on the back of the case.
Also, just a heads up. According to some initial reviews on the new speck 'grip' cases, they're using a more plastic-feeling material for grips instead of rubberized and people are not happy about it. (I previously used them as well)
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Does the pitika have a lip to protect the screen? Thanks
magichoward said:
Does the pitika have a lip to protect the screen? Thanks
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The "Air" series cases generally don't rise above the screen.
They do have a thicker "Pro" series option with a raised lip to protect the screen, bumpers on the corners, etc.
Samsung OEM silicon. Can confirm it has excellent grip
seoulbrova said:
Samsung OEM silicon. Can confirm it has excellent grip
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The cloth one does as well since there's a slim silicone band along the edge.
zedwards said:
The cloth one does as well since there's a slim silicone band along the edge.
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Yes I've seen the one the only concern I've read it's a little difficult to remove the spen.. Your thoughts.
I will never choose Pitaka again.
Edges are rough and the upper part could have covered more
But I especially won't because it damaged my Note 10+ because of a defect in the inside of the case that made a grain of sand sized hole in the back of my phone.
Been using the Zizo Bolt on my Note 10+ for over 6 months. Excellent grip, usability and protection.
Kick stand doubles as a grip; either fully retract/extend it to keep from losing it's pins, if not secured in either position they can work their way out in your pocket! No issues with this case otherwise.
The one for the 20 seems to come with a temper glass screen protector; that may not work so well.
That's not present on the one for the 10.
Presumably you can use it without and substitute one one your choice?
Damn the 20's cam has a big bullseye on it... no likey. Buying a good case for the 10+ was very hard early on, no doubt the 20 U will be harder to protect
https://www.zizowireless.com/produc...axy-note-20-ultra-case?variant=32315584282672
magichoward said:
I find most cases get slippery on the sides.
I had speck in the past but it was OK any others that you recommend thanks
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Click to collapse
https://www.amazon.com/JJNUSA-Handmade-Leather-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B08DXWJSQ1?ref_=ast_sto_dp
you know i never thought trying to find a case was going to leave me so hard pressed. note i do not mind the camera bump one bit. but they could have rounded out the camera hump a bit more. not the corners, but where the surface meets the edges and also they could have slanted the sides a bit more angled. who knows they did pull it off pretty good.
still on the camera bump.
note: with JJNUSA leather case you will be covering the mic on the camera bump. if that is a problem for you look elsewhere for a case.
i have received 200 in incentives to order goodies when i got my phone pre ordered and used it to order a few cases.
cases i ordered:
samsung rugged: bulky, heavy, don't like the texture on the back and flimsy kickstands that shoot off when used
samsung leather case: upgrade from last years, 2g lighter. seamless, but warps at the bottom. good cam protection.
samsun silicon: unsure if food grade safe. and slippery as glass
-other cases-
spigen Rugged Armor: oddly best all tpu case with carbon fiber accents. the back is slippery if trying to reach across the screen. side bumpers have one way slip grip and flimsy. camera is well protected. pen cut out too deep corner exposed but covered. top /bottom bumper good but top may block ear piece. 2g heavier then jjnusa leather
...now my official review of the JJNUSA Handmade Leather Case...
NOTE i used amazon prime
don't let the first pic they have on amazon throw you off, but what bothers me is the video they added to the product and it is of the s20 ultra; the camera lens is so scratched. i am still baffled how they did that. then again we will see in due time, because i can not stand the samsung leather case(which got me hooked on leather cases oddly) it is too slippery. the jjnusa case has tpu sides and saddle leather on back with plastic on the inside that the phone rests on. but i will say the leather on the back is so soft i think it sorta makes up for the lack of suede like the official samsung case has. then again the leather is so thick its' edges pop out the mold a teensy-weensy bit, but i doubt with proper use and not picking at it it will survive for a long time. with the 5% off coupon i also got another 1 usd off(who knows if it was the amazon prime). so for 19.95 it is a steal. most other leather cases are $30+. a steal; why may you say? hold on let me get to the rest of it. if we all remember the lg g4 leather back it was a looker. that was it, because it scratched easily and punctured easily. then we go onto the samsung leather case that scratches easily with minimal show. further more i can not say what that will mean over long term usage with this case from jjnusa. treat it lightly and it should be fine. now back to the leather on the jjnusa case. the leather reminds me of the type you get on a saddle and does not separate from itself. that is a plus. but a minus if the antiquing they use comes off very very easily?, and it does(con or not?) i had a cane that had antiquing and it turned my hands black, but after it leveled out it was fine. you know they always slap so much on to fill in the design that almost certainly more then half they put on will rub off. i have rubbed off some already. hence it would not rub off like wow, i had to use my nail. no way does it show like scratches on the samsung leather case. either way the extra antiquing will no matter what fade away over time and settle down to where it should be. i still think it will look good. at the same time the leather is much more scratch resistant then the latter. and the design and the look really grew on me. now on to the sides. the power button and volume are labeled with symbols and i like it even though i will never look at it. what else i like is that they are tpu like the rest of the sides. the tactile of the buttons are sturdy then again not too stiff not too mushy. then there is a bonus or an achilles heal; you move down the same side as the buttons and find a wrist strap punch out so you can add a wrist strap. have not tested it, seems like it should be worthy of use and not fearing. the bonus is removing the phone from the case, it does not shoot out like it does with the samsung leather case does. still it holds it in better. this is where i tell you that the jjnusa case has way better screen protection that leaves a better feel in the hand. the samsung leather case has a squidgy spongy top and bottom. the bottom is already warped and i never used it; i just put it on a few times and took it off. also a fail for the bottom bumper is the difficulty to remove the spen without nails. the jjnusa case is cut out just right and since it is thinner and more stiffer in a good way you can press your thumb or finger and hear that satisfying click to eject it. with that said the top and bottom bumper are raised higher then the samsung to protect the screen. the samsung case is more flush and flimsy.
i am a happy camper and if it fairs well i will update to 5 stars from 4, but i am really thinking at the price to slap down for another. as we all know leather cases do not last as long as other types
the reason i gave it 4 stars is i never really heard of JJNUSA till i saw them on etsy.com and since they where based in china i thought meh. then i thought to ebay's third party cases and said but leather? does not smell much like leather, oddly that is how saddles with the same type of leather smells. or it could be the antiquing they used and the shipping package. it was not shipped in a box or cheap plastic, it was in a cloth sleeve in a sealed padded envelope. JJNUSA do claim Oregon origins... yeah right etsy.com says ships from china.
i have played around with plenty of cases and phones in cases so it's not like i only have really had the note 20 ultra... just do not get one of them ultra thin all tpu cases. i have one for my lg g4 and only really protects the sides and back. busted the screen.
https://www.amazon.com/JJNUSA-Handma...ef_=ast_sto_dp
you know i never thought trying to find a case was going to leave me so hard pressed. note i do not mind the camera bump one bit. but they could have rounded out the camera hump a bit more. not the corners, but where the surface meets the edges and also they could have slanted the sides a bit more angled. who knows they did pull it off pretty good.
still on the camera bump.
note: with JJNUSA leather case you will be covering the mic on the camera bump. if that is a problem for you look elsewhere for a case.
i have received 200 in incentives to order goodies when i got my phone pre ordered and used it to order a few cases.
cases i ordered:
samsung rugged: bulky, heavy, don't like the texture on the back and flimsy kickstands that shoot off when used
samsung leather case: upgrade from last years, 2g lighter. seamless, but warps at the bottom. good cam protection.
samsun silicon: unsure if food grade safe. and slippery as glass
-other cases-
spigen Rugged Armor: oddly best all tpu case with carbon fiber accents. the back is slippery if trying to reach across the screen. side bumpers have one way slip grip and flimsy. camera is well protected. pen cut out too deep corner exposed but covered. top /bottom bumper good but top may block ear piece. 2g heavier then jjnusa leather
...now my official review of the JJNUSA Handmade Leather Case...
NOTE i used amazon prime
don't let the first pic they have on amazon throw you off, but what bothers me is the video they added to the product and it is of the s20 ultra; the camera lens is so scratched. i am still baffled how they did that. then again we will see in due time, because i can not stand the samsung leather case(which got me hooked on leather cases oddly) it is too slippery. the jjnusa case has tpu sides and saddle leather on back with plastic on the inside that the phone rests on. but i will say the leather on the back is so soft i think it sorta makes up for the lack of suede like the official samsung case has. then again the leather is so thick its' edges pop out the mold a teensy-weensy bit, but i doubt with proper use and not picking at it it will survive for a long time. with the 5% off coupon i also got another 1 usd off(who knows if it was the amazon prime). so for 19.95 it is a steal. most other leather cases are $30+. a steal; why may you say? hold on let me get to the rest of it. if we all remember the lg g4 leather back it was a looker. that was it, because it scratched easily and punctured easily. then we go onto the samsung leather case that scratches easily with minimal show. further more i can not say what that will mean over long term usage with this case from jjnusa. treat it lightly and it should be fine. now back to the leather on the jjnusa case. the leather reminds me of the type you get on a saddle and does not separate from itself. that is a plus. but a minus if the antiquing they use comes off very very easily?, and it does(con or not?) i had a cane that had antiquing and it turned my hands black, but after it leveled out it was fine. you know they always slap so much on to fill in the design that almost certainly more then half they put on will rub off. i have rubbed off some already. hence it would not rub off like wow, i had to use my nail. no way does it show like scratches on the samsung leather case. either way the extra antiquing will no matter what fade away over time and settle down to where it should be. i still think it will look good. at the same time the leather is much more scratch resistant then the latter. and the design and the look really grew on me. now on to the sides. the power button and volume are labeled with symbols and i like it even though i will never look at it. what else i like is that they are tpu like the rest of the sides. the tactile of the buttons are sturdy then again not too stiff not too mushy. then there is a bonus or an achilles heal; you move down the same side as the buttons and find a wrist strap punch out so you can add a wrist strap. have not tested it, seems like it should be worthy of use and not fearing. the bonus is removing the phone from the case, it does not shoot out like it does with the samsung leather case does. still it holds it in better. this is where i tell you that the jjnusa case has way better screen protection that leaves a better feel in the hand. the samsung leather case has a squidgy spongy top and bottom. the bottom is already warped and i never used it; i just put it on a few times and took it off. also a fail for the bottom bumper is the difficulty to remove the spen without nails. the jjnusa case is cut out just right and since it is thinner and more stiffer in a good way you can press your thumb or finger and hear that satisfying click to eject it. with that said the top and bottom bumper are raised higher then the samsung to protect the screen. the samsung case is more flush and flimsy.
i am a happy camper and if it fairs well i will update to 5 stars from 4, but i am really thinking at the price to slap down for another. as we all know leather cases do not last as long as other types
the reason i gave it 4 stars is i never really heard of JJNUSA till i saw them on etsy.com and since they where based in china i thought meh. then i thought to ebay's third party cases and said but leather? does not smell much like leather, oddly that is how saddles with the same type of leather smells. or it could be the antiquing they used and the shipping package. it was not shipped in a box or cheap plastic, it was in a cloth sleeve in a sealed padded envelope. JJNUSA do claim Oregon origins... yeah right etsy.com says ships from china.
i have played around with plenty of cases and phones in cases so it's not like i only have really had the note 20 ultra... just do not get one of them ultra thin all tpu cases. i have one for my lg g4 and only really protects the sides and back. busted the screen.
I have already dropped it having it about 3.6 feet drop going swap when it landed on its' back side. my heart sunk, but the case did its' work and saved it. a plus for the case. it was not dropped it was knocked down from a propped up position onto a hard wood flooring