Frost vs Graphite - Feel and durability

[Zendroid1]

I'm currently torn between Frost and Graphite. I've decided against aluminum because I have an iPhone and it's too similar to that.

What do the phone backs feel like? Do the Frost and Graphite have a different feel to them?

Does one or the other show marks? It seems the graphite could get chipped or something (like the black iPhone 5) and it seems like the white might pick up stains easier.

Most interested in how the backs feel.

 

[PaulQ]

Graphite. Slippery. Frankly, I think it would be very unwise to carry this phone completely naked unless you remain constantly aware that it is slippery and handle it with that in mind.

As for comparison.... I only bought one.

 

[Trigati]

I like black phones so I went with graphite. I also put it in a case as soon as I got it. I can't tell you exactly how slippery it feels without one. But, the parts that show through the case (like the fingerprint scanner) just look really good. I've never really liked white phones.

 

[SeanJamesWright]

Frost.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[bembol]

White phones definitely, shows less wear & tear. I wouldn't be able to tell you as carriers & stores up here only carry Graphite.

I doubt they feel any different. The only phone that felt different was the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, between the black & white back covers.

None of these matters if you're going to use a case.

 

[karmamule]

Despite being a total klutz I like using my phones "naked" and my frost has already had a few tumbles. No damage other than minor scuffs to the metal band around the screen.

I also love its hand feel, just the right level of grip. (The tumbles were from me or cats knocking it off tables)

 

[bjrosen]

Doesn't matter if you put a TPU skin on it. I don't understand why anyone would carry their phone naked. A TPU skin makes it more comfortable to hold, provides some protection (for example there is a lip around the screen which will project it if it falls on a flat surface like a floor), it's non-slip, costs next to nothing, and it doesn't add any appreciable bulk.

 

[kuykendallc]

Graphite. Completely naked. Not slippery at all to me.

 

[booboolala2000]

Get a case. They are all equally slippery. Very! I got the aluminum with the Adopted case in frost. Looks nothing like an iPhone on the back. The front, thats another story. Only thing missing there is a home button, but that is almost every phone looking the same screen wise.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[maverick7526]

Doesn't matter if you put a TPU skin on it. I don't understand why anyone would carry their phone naked. A TPU skin makes it more comfortable to hold, provides some protection (for example there is a lip around the screen which will project it if it falls on a flat surface like a floor), it's non-slip, costs next to nothing, and it doesn't add any appreciable bulk.

Because I like the phone as designed. I don't want to put a skin on it, I don't need a bulky case, I don't need a screen protector taking away from the brilliance of the display. I don't understand people who as soon as they get a new phone put it in a bulky case and put protectors all over it. I mean if your reselling it then I guess. Maybe I'm just not as clumsy as everyone else is. I use the phone as designed, naked.

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[Zendroid1]

I'm going completely naked, which is why I'm asking about these things. Thanks for the info so far.

 

[syspry]

If someone wants to go naked and they're ok with the added risks and increased wear over time, that's their decision, and it's their phone to use however they wish. Speaking just for myself, I always use a case because I'm not ok with those risks. But to answer your question, I don't believe the actual feel is any different according to color, but black will show more wear over time. So basically if you don't use cases and appear to be concerned about that, go with the frost. If you do use cases go with whatever color you like most. There's plenty of decent clear cases that will show off the color if you want to use a case.

 

[Evilnut]

Because I like the phone as designed. I don't want to put a skin on it, I don't need a bulky case, I don't need a screen protector taking away from the brilliance of the display. I don't understand people who as soon as they get a new phone put it in a bulky case and put protectors all over it. I mean if your reselling it then I guess. Maybe I'm just not as clumsy as everyone else is. I use the phone as designed, naked.

Posted via the Android Central App

As I've said many times before on these types of threads, not everybody's use-case is the same. I don't work in an office, I work outside for a living in very harsh environments. I also do a lot of motorcycle riding and spend most of my free time doing outdoors things that would cause lots of damage to my phone if it didn't have a case and screen protector. If I don't have a case and a screen protector on my phone it would be destroyed in a matter of a month or so. I always have a case and a screen protector on my phones. I've been using unicorn beetle cases by supcase on my last 3 phones and they are excellent cases. I use IQ shield brand screen protectors and they work excellent also. I always tell new people at work to get a case and screen protector. The ones that don't believe me, always end up getting one after about a week or two. Just remember, some of us take our phones into situations and environments on a regular basis that they really aren't designed to be in, therefore protection for our phones is essential to its continued life!

Via the Android Central App

 

[bjrosen]

A clear TPU case isn't bulky and it doesn't come with a screen protector, the protection is from a tiny lip around the screen. I'm not talking about an Otterbox which is very bulky and completely changes the look of the phone, I'm talking about skin. I got the clear skin so everything is completely visible,

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU4925938

If you don't like the color choice then you can always get a colored skin, they only cost $8.

 

[psteve2005]

I've had my graphite 6P for just over a fortnight and it has no signs of wear. It has been roughly 50/50 between being used naked and in a (brilliant) Spigen Rugged Armor case.

Like you I thought the graphite was a risk re: wear and chipping. So far so good as it's perfect.

 

[vzwuser76]

Because I like the phone as designed. I don't want to put a skin on it, I don't need a bulky case, I don't need a screen protector taking away from the brilliance of the display. I don't understand people who as soon as they get a new phone put it in a bulky case and put protectors all over it. I mean if your reselling it then I guess. Maybe I'm just not as clumsy as everyone else is. I use the phone as designed, naked.

Posted via the Android Central App

I have a graphite 6p and it's about as slippery as an HTC One M7. I however also use the Protective case by Adopted from the Google Store. It doesn't add hardly any bulk, and the case finish is matte on the back and has a slight texture on the edges. It definitely adds a better grip to it and is very close in color to the graphite finish.

While I understand wanting to use the phone without a case, smartphone OEMS generally focus on looks over functionality. A smooth finish looks better than a textured one, but that comes at the expense of grip. The only smartphone casing material that I've found that aided in grip was the soft touch material, like what you see on phones like the original Droid Maxx and the Nexus 7 2013, or a textured soft touch like the Droid Incredible 4GLTE had. Soft touch has a somewhat rubbery feel to it and so it adds to the grip. Materials like aluminum, glass, or smooth plastic may be fine if your hands are dry, but if you sweat at all, it actually makes the grip worse. And even textured plastic, while somewhat better than smooth, is still not as good as a case. The reason being the design ideology differences between the two. A phone is made to look good first and foremost, where a case is made to aid in grip and protect the phone from a drop.

Without having experienced anything other than my graphite 6p, I can't speak expertly on the gripability of one over another. But considering the only possible difference between graphite and frost would probably be that the graphite has an anodized finish where I believe the frost is painted. The painted finish may add a slight amount of grip (depending on how smooth the finish came out) but I doubt it could stand up to scratches as well as an anodized finish would. Of course it's bare aluminum underneath which is closer in color to frost than to graphite. Of course your best bet would probably be the aluminium model, since it's most likely the same color all the way through the material.

 

[bembol]

I think OCD plays into it, as well as maximizing the RESALE VALUE.

I used my LG G4, Samsung Galaxy S5, a few others naked, while I rarely drop my phones, twice in my life I had dents and scratches especially on the bezels from bumping it. I work in factory so this doesn't help.

I figured I'd take a break and go back to using cases, this is what I love about Spigen their cases looks and feels amazing. I thought about not using it but the glass on the back is what I'm afraid of.

 

[Zendroid1]

I think I've decided to go for frost.

 

[Wildo6882]

I think I've decided to go for frost.

Let us know what you think about it. I like both of those colors better than the plain aluminum version. I'm using a 6s Plus right now, but still eyeballing the 6P, just haven't quite been able to pull the trigger. But those two colors are definitely what I'm looking at.

 

[booboolala2000]

I have a graphite 6p and it's about as slippery as an HTC One M7. I however also use the Protective case by Adopted from the Google Store. It doesn't add hardly any bulk, and the case finish is matte on the back and has a slight texture on the edges. It definitely adds a better grip to it and is very close in color to the graphite finish.

While I understand wanting to use the phone without a case, smartphone OEMS generally focus on looks over functionality. A smooth finish looks better than a textured one, but that comes at the expense of grip. The only smartphone casing material that I've found that aided in grip was the soft touch material, like what you see on phones like the original Droid Maxx and the Nexus 7 2013, or a textured soft touch like the Droid Incredible 4GLTE had. Soft touch has a somewhat rubbery feel to it and so it adds to the grip. Materials like aluminum, glass, or smooth plastic may be fine if your hands are dry, but if you sweat at all, it actually makes the grip worse. And even textured plastic, while somewhat better than smooth, is still not as good as a case. The reason being the design ideology differences between the two. A phone is made to look good first and foremost, where a case is made to aid in grip and protect the phone from a drop.

Without having experienced anything other than my graphite 6p, I can't speak expertly on the gripability of one over another. But considering the only possible difference between graphite and frost would probably be that the graphite has an anodized finish where I believe the frost is painted. The painted finish may add a slight amount of grip (depending on how smooth the finish came out) but I doubt it could stand up to scratches as well as an anodized finish would. Of course it's bare aluminum underneath which is closer in color to frost than to graphite. Of course your best bet would probably be the aluminium model, since it's most likely the same color all the way through the material.

Totally agree. I have the aluminum 6p and it is slippery even with dry hands. Combination of materials and thinness make this phone the slipperiest I have owned. I am waiting on a nice minimal leather case. But for now the Adopted case works for me.

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