Incipio Silicrylic Case for Bionic - Review

[VBGlacier]

I wanted to give myself a couple of days with a naked Bionic before deciding on a case. I love the protection of the Otterbox (Defender), but didn't want to carry a backpack just to put my phone in. After an exhaustive search of approximately 15 minutes, I finally decided on the Incipio Silicrylic case shown above. This is a two part case - an inner silicone lining (the white part ) and a hard rubberized plastic shell (the gray) that includes a screen protector (which I'm not using). After one full day of use I'm torn - and so is the inner lining of the case.

Things I like about the case:
- Looks really sharp
- Fits well (or did until the silicone liner tore)
- All of the critical ports are exposed
- Adds some bulk, but not a lot of heft to the phone
- The case has a nice feel to it
- Offers pretty good protection
- Still fits in the Standard Dock (with the dock insert removed)

Drawbacks:
- Doesn't fit the phone with the extended battery
- I also use a Tune Belt armband because I my phone is also a fitness accessory, and I can wedge my Bionic in there with the case on it, but it doesn't really fit
- Covers the LED Notification Light (which is okay for me, but may bother others)
- In my testing of the fit w/ the extended battery, Tune Belt and the dock, I put the case on the phone and took it off 3-4 times - and the silicone lining has torn at 2 of the four corners. I wouldn't mind, except that it now affects the overall fit.

I don't use the extended battery all that often, as I dock my phone at the office and dock it on my bedside table at night - so I'll probably only use the extended battery on the weekends - but that means no case on the weekends. I'll keep using it during the week - for the time being anyway, and am going to try to get a replacement silicone lining from Incipio. I like how the case feels and looks, and other than the Tune Belt and the Extended Battery fit, I'd be completely satisfied with it.

 

[lseddelm]

Couldn't agree more...it tore on me within the first hour of having it. Tried to take the hard cover off and it is stuck on. After forcing it off the silicone lining had slight tears in both corners. I took it back 4 days later in the packaging and got a just a soft silicone cover...waiting for a better hard shell. I love the concept of this case and it looked great when it was on, but not worth the hassle of taking it off every night for the docking station.

 

[malignanttheories]

This case works fine for me with the dock, Just pop out the matte black insert (there's a slight lip along the back edge) and it fits just fine.

 

[walkman666]

Iseddelm, the bionic + silicrylic case does indeed fit in the (standard) dock with the case on (I have this case and dock it regularly). As malignanttheories said, maybe you have not yet removed the plastic insert within the dock. Once you do this, the incipio sili fits in easily. I am not, however, able to get the bionic into the dock with the otterbox commuter case on. That case, although a bit more attractive and sturdier (without adding much more heft than the sili) does not fit into the dock. The reason you mention, not worth the hassle of de-casing every day to dock, is why I am using the silicrylic over the commuter...I like to dock.

 

[VBGlacier]

Just a followup - I reported the issue to Incipio. They asked for pictures, and then offered to send me a new case. I don't know that it will make a difference with the silicone lining ripping with having to remove it occasionally (not to dock - it fits in the standard dock fine, with the insert removed from the dock) to fit into an armband or use the extended battery. But I'm happy with the case otherwise, and also with Incipio's customer service.

 

[lembowski]

Just a followup - I reported the issue to Incipio. They asked for pictures, and then offered to send me a new case. I don't know that it will make a difference with the silicone lining ripping with having to remove it occasionally (not to dock - it fits in the standard dock fine, with the insert removed from the dock) to fit into an armband or use the extended battery. But I'm happy with the case otherwise, and also with Incipio's customer service.

I read somewhere that they are producing a new silicon sleeve that doesn't hide the notification LED, you may want to ask them if theat is the one they are sending you.

 

[Jasper]

I read somewhere that they are producing a new silicon sleeve that doesn't hide the notification LED, you may want to ask them if theat is the one they are sending you.

Just spoke to Incipio and they are still 1-2 weeks out on the redesign. If you already bought the case they will replace yours if you send them your proof of purchase.

 

[fogflyer]

Does this case fit in the car dock as well?

 

[lembowski]

Just spoke to Incipio and they are still 1-2 weeks out on the redesign. If you already bought the case they will replace yours if you send them your proof of purchase.

Based on this and other reviews and the oversight on the notification LED I'm glad I didn't purchase this case. My plan is to go without a case maybe just a skin and have my Otterbox Commuter when I need protection while camping/running/etc.

 

[VBGlacier]

I don't have the car dock - but from what I've read, it has the same insert that the Standard and HD docks have. If so, yes, it should fit with the insert removed. However, you may have the issue that I've read in some of the other threads about the Car dock application not launching occasionally with the case on - I've seen this intermittently on the Standard dock. It doesn't bother me too much - I generally just have to re-seat the phone, and the 'picker' will come up - but just so you know.

 

[LdotAdot13]

I purchased the exact same case and i love it!! The color scheme is great! Mine doesnt cover the LED notification light at all! I did have a question though, does anybody know if incipio makes or will make a belt clip to support the case? Or is there another belt clip that will fit the case? Any info would be great! Thank you!

 

[Jasper]

I purchased the exact same case and i love it!! The color scheme is great! Mine doesnt cover the LED notification light at all! I did have a question though, does anybody know if incipio makes or will make a belt clip to support the case? Or is there another belt clip that will fit the case? Any info would be great! Thank you!

Just curious what color scheme you went with. Also when and where did you buy / order your case from? When I contacted Incipio yesterday they said the new case design that doesn't cover up the LED notification was still 1-2 weeks out, maybe that person was misinformed and the new case design is done. You have any issues fitting the case into the standard dock and car dock? If its not too much trouble I would love to see an actual picture of the case on your bionic.

Thanks!

 

[LdotAdot13]

Just curious what color scheme you went with. Also when and where did you buy / order your case from? When I contacted Incipio yesterday they said the new case design that doesn't cover up the LED notification was still 1-2 weeks out, maybe that person was misinformed and the new case design is done. You have any issues fitting the case into the standard dock and car dock? If its not too much trouble I would love to see an actual picture of the case on your bionic.

Thanks!

I have the white and grey! My mistake on the LED not being covered. I just noticed that it is. Dont know what i saw blinking but its not the LED. As far as the dock i havent tried to see if it fits.

 

[Rhuarc]

I just got this case today as well. While I really like the look and feel of it, I don't like that I have to take off the hard exterior shell to get it to work with the docks. And yes, I tied removing the insert in both the car dock and the bedside dock. It doesn't work in either one with the soft and hard shells on it.

I may end up taking this back and getting something else for now.

 

[Rhuarc]

A small update to my last experience with this case. I discovered that if you are someone who wants to be able to swap out batteries quickly and easily this is not the case for you. The case looks and feels amazing, but is not the easiest to take on and off.

I am going to take it back and go with the new slip case from Sedio...

seidioonline.com

This one looks like it will give good protection, and still easily come on and off to allow for switching of the batteries and dock usage. It may not offer quite as much shock protection since it doesn't have the silicon lining like my current case does, but I'm willing to forgo that bit for the ease of use.

 

[VBGlacier]

My g/f finally upgraded to a Bionic and bought a car dock... I tried my phone with the Incipio case in it - and it does not fit.

 

[joelmic24]

Great review, could you take some pics of the cases on the phone?

 

[VBGlacier]

Sure - here are some pics of my Bionic in the Incipio Silicrylic Case... this is the original case, with the ripped silicone, not the replacement they sent me - you can see the white silicone liner bunched up in the upper corner in the picture of the docked phone. As an aside, Incipio's response and customer service to my issue with the ripped silicone liner was great. I had a replacement case in 2-3 days.