Hybrid Case Showdown! Supcase vs. Spigen vs. Rearth (video, pics, Q&A)

Made up a quick video review to compare 3 of the top hybrid cases for the Nexus 5. I had a real hard time finding just the right case for this phone and purchased a couple real duds before discovering I liked the hybrid style. (I tried another Ringke case and a chinese Cimo knockoff)

Video:

Heres the quick rundown on each case. (each case was $7-10 from Amazon)

Supcase Unicorn Beetle - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FN13QH0/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Pros:
Great construction. Fit and finish are very well done.
Frosted back hides scratches easily.
Feels "tougher" than the other two cases.

Cons:
No bumpers on the back to protect the case from scratches. A minor con since the frosted texture hides scratches very well.
Headphone opening is the smallest of the three.
Buttons are VERY firm. Didn't soften up after a week of use.
Frosted back distorts color of the Nexus back.

Spigen Ultra Hybrid - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FJJ38HY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Pros:
Very premium feel. Soft texture on the TPU sides, most pleasant to hold.
Bumpers on back lift case and protect it from scratches.
Comes with free screen protector.
Cool engraved buttons.
Buttons have good response and are fairly clicky.

Cons:
Easy to accidentally press buttons. Frequently hit the volume buttons while trying to push power.

Rearth Ringke Fusion - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EPLTFIS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Pros:
VERY slightly slimmer than the other cases.
Same soft feel as the Spigen, just a hair inferior.
VERY clicky buttons, excellent response and no accidental presses.
Similar bumpers as the Spigen though not as pronounced. Still effective.
Hole for lanyard.

Cons:
Buttons are not fully sealed, possible entry for dust/dirt.
Overall finish is less than Spigen or Supcase.


I should note, there appears to be another decent hybrid case out there, the iBlason CandyGel Hybrid (http://www.amazon.com/i-Blason-Google-Nexus-CandyGel-Hybrid/dp/B00FOW4KNC/ref=sr_1_6?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1393007496&sr=1-6&keywords=iblason+nexus+5). I have not tested this case but if there is enough interest I will pick one up and do a quick review.

Please leave feedback and feel free to ask any questions you may have!

Pictures!

(higher res pictures attached)


Group shots:








Spigen:





Rearth:






Supcase:

floepie said:

Great pics and comparison! I was about to settle on the supcase, but I don't want to think about that back every time I set the phone down. I had discounted the other two because of their finicky buttons, but it appears that you may have received an updated Ringke case with its slits? Earlier, many complained about its overly stiff buttons with their lack of feedback, probably similar to the Supcase. Some had remedied this by making lengthwise slits with a precision knife with very good results. Looks like they're doing this at the factory now. And, just for your knowledge, in the Supcase thread, there are many who have made invisible slits in the button areas with improved results.

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Thanks! I am VERY happy with the Ringke case. It must be the updated case since I have had ZERO problems with the buttons. It's nice to see the manufacturer incorporate the aftermarket "fix" and improve their product. If Supcase does the same thing then I might have to give them a second try. I wasn't too interested in modding my case since I already do a ton of fiddling with my phone as-is, this time I just wanted to buy something off the shelf that just works.

Sn00ky said:

Thanks for the comparison! Can you confirm if the gap behind the USB port of the spigen case is there? Dust and lint gets inside easily is that fixed in your case? Thanks? View attachment 2582281

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

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I did not notice a gap on my Spigen case though I may have just overlooked it. I left the case at work so I will have to get back to you on that. I'll upload pictures once I get a chance to check it out.


*UPDATE*
There is almost no gap on my Spigen case. My version of the case clearly has an extra bit of TPU moulding, making the gap maybe a little less than the thickness of a credit card. You can kind of see the the extra moulding on the group shot above (picture #4).
I'll also note that the Rearth case has almost NO gap by the power cutout. It's pretty flush with the back of the phone. I forgot my tablet at home today so pictures will have to come a bit later.

Here's an extra picture comparing the power/speaker/mic cutouts on the Spigen (top) vs the Ringke (bottom).

emaz1ng said:

i read a lot of reviews on amazon saying the ringke case scratched the phone in just a few days of use, stuff like corners getting worn out very quickly etc. what can you tell me about this? i was really looking for a customizable back type of case so ringke and spigen are really the only choices i have, since the supcase back isn't really all that clear.

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I can confirm that none of the cases reviewed seem capable of scratching the phone just by themselves. As with most cases, however, it is possible for small pieces of dirt and debris to get into the case and may cause small scratches or slight wear. I had my old GS2 in a SGP (Spigen) TPU case for two years and it ended up with some very light scuffing on the corners where dirt and dust would tend to collect. Even with taking out the phone and cleaning the case every week or so it still ended up that way after two years of constant use.

Are these cases better protection from scratches vs hard/slim cases? Undoubtably. Will they protect your phone 100% and keep it good as new after prolonged daily use? Of course not.
That being said, I don't think ANY case is capable of providing 100% protection in that sense.

screwhead89 said:

By any chance does anyone know whether a QI charger still works correctly with the Spigen case?

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All three cases worked fine with my Nokia DT-900 Qi Charger. I had no issues whatsoever.

ralpheboyo said:

thxs for the review!!!!...just placed an order for the Rearth....thxs to you....:good:

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Glad the review helped you with your decision. The Rearth is a great case, I continue to enjoy it.