Official Nexus accessories are always
exciting. Not just because we get to have cool new official toys for our
phones, but because Google has such a bad reputation for releasing
official accessories (remember that Nexus 10 dock from the holiday video last year?) that when one does become available, it's like a treat.
It is with this in mind that I approached the bright red version of
the official Nexus 5 bumper case, and decided to give it a review.
Coming into the experience, I didn't expect there to be much to discuss
about the case, but it's - somewhat surprisingly - not a "this is
exactly you expect" kind of situation.
Look and Feel
The first thing I noticed about the case was that it is not
squishy. It's surprisingly rigid plastic, and takes not-insignificant
effort to both put on and take off. That said, it feels sturdy, and the
general presumption with phone cases is that they have the ability to
protect your phone in some capacity.
All of that said, the texture of the case is great. I have a hard
time describing how the case feels when your fingers touch it, but I'd
probably liken it to the Nexus 7 2013, with a slightly finer grain. It's
super smooth, but just a teeny bit grippy. It's actually softer than
the Nexus 5, if you can believe it.
The only downside to its texture is the fact that it doesn't "stick"
to the Nexus charging orb. Given that Google is peddling a new wireless
charger for Nexus devices, though, I guess that isn't a huge problem.
And the case does still allow the N5 to work with the orb, but only
because the bottom of the case can rest against whatever surface the orb
is sitting on.
There's also a very subtle "nexus" logo printed on the back,
mimicking the logo hiding on the phone underneath. It's very subtle, and
the texture of the printing can barely be differentiated from the
material under it.
One thing to note is that the case has some nearly invisible, yet
still noticeable ridges on the top and bottom edges. Whether this is
because the case is thicker in some places than others (to accommodate
port openings and the shape of the phone) I can't say, but they're
there.
Another minor quibble with the case's material is that it picks up
moisture and oil quite easily. Eating a single potato chip and touching
the case left a shiny smear.
Speaking of the case's contours, there's a band around the inside
that cradle's the Nexus 5's curved back. The approach Google took with
the case is an interesting one, because it's clear that blocking off the
curves that make the Nexus 5 such a pleasure to hold was a very
deliberate move.
The lack of curves definitely makes a notable difference when using
and holding the Nexus 5. The device feels more rigid and industrial, and
all the finesse of the two-part curved chassis design is lost in
angles. The bright side of this is that those whose hearts ache for the
air hockey capabilities of the Nexus 4 will be at least partially
satisfied with this case.
Buttons and Ports
Angles aside, the real - and almost only - problem I have with this
case is the buttons. They aren't clicky. On some level I knew before
approaching the case that non-clicky buttons are a necessary evil of
most plastic or TPU cases, but still - it's just no fun to press a
button too hard without any kind of feedback except that the screen
flicks on or the volume changes. If I press the buttons directly with my
thumbnail I can feel the buttons clicking inside, but pressing them as I
normally would feels wrong. It feels like I have to use more pressure
than usual, with no feedback, and that the device just happens to react.
The cover has thirty-seven holes. Thirty-two of those are earmarked by the bottom-firing speaker (singular) and its big fat phony counterpart, with one each going to the micro USB port, headphone jack, camera, flash, and top microphone.
In theory, the speaker holes should line up perfectly with those on
the actual device. In practice, there's pretty much no sound
interference with the case, which is good. Past that, the two openings
that really matter are the micro USB and headphone jack holes. The micro
USB hole is amply sized. You shouldn't have any problem plugging in
your charger.
The headphone jack can accommodate my earbuds with a fairly small
connector, but the larger plug I typically use in the car just doesn't
quite fit, which is disappointing. Then again, maybe I just need a cable
with a smaller connector. Part of the reason my car-cable doesn't fit
is likely that the opening is - like the rest of the case - angled, and
doesn't stick closely to the curve of the case. With a headphone port
that's already slightly less than a full circle on the N5, putting any
more distance between it and the plug is bound to create problems.
Final Thoughts
Is the case worth $35 plus shipping? As someone who very rarely uses a
phone case, I wouldn't normally buy this case either. That said, it's
nice for what it is. It has a great texture, looks fantastic, fits
snugly, and at least gives the impression that it's offering your Nexus 5
some serious protection. Its major downfalls are the non-clicky buttons
and a headphone port that's not compatible with every cable I own, but
those used to cases like this will probably feel right at home.
If, after reading this quick review, the case looks like something you want, you know what to do.
Tags:bumper case Google n5 nexus 5 official review