Seidio Surface Or Active?

[Ricardo Marquez]

Hello Folks, I'm new to this Forum and to the LG Nexus 4! I've had my phone in the box for 4 days now while deciding on a case. I refuse to let the thing break on me! After searching I decided I really liked the Seidio cases. I've never been one to get the most rugged cases. Always hate seeing otterbox cases and the like on phones. The huge bulk and Rubber feel were never really my thing. That said the look of the Seidio cases are really nice. I keep my phone in my Jean pocket most of the time and put it in and out of my pocket often during the day. I'm not totally clumsy with my phone but I probably drop it maybe 4 times in a year or so. Usually drops from either mishandling when placing in or out of pocket or when getting out of car. So not with a lot of force and from no more than 4 ft.

I really like how the Active case looks even though I typically don't like rubber cases. That said I'm concerned that same rubber would make it annoying for frequent pocket use. A ton of lint on it would probably bother me too. Can anyone comment on that?

Although not as nice looking, the surface looks to be a great case and better for pocket use, but will the drop protection be sufficient for the glass body of the Nexus 4?

Thanks for any advice. Much appreciated.

 

[planoman]

I have used seidio cases for years and I am more partial to the surface cases. While not as bulky as the active they offer good protection. Never had an all glass phone so the active will probably give the better protection of the two.

I have the surface on my n4 but recently got an acase superleggera pro which is similar to the active for $15. I use a wireless charger and did did not want to risk a problem with the metal kickstand on the seidio.

If you decide to get the seidio, android central has the best price especially if you put in the code "save15" at checkout.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317

 

[anon(55900)]

I have used seidio cases for years and I am more partial to the surface cases. While not as bulky as the active they offer good protection. Never had a all glass phone so the active will probably give the better protection of the two.

I have the surface on my n4 but recently got an acase superleggera pro which is similar to the active for $15. I use a wireless charger and did did not want to risk a problem with the metal kickstand on the seidio.

If you decide to get the seidio, android central has the best price especially if you put in the code "save15" at checkout.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317

Per Seidio: "ACTIVE? with Metal Kickstand is tested to be compatible with official Google Nexus 4 Wireless Charge."

 

[planoman]

I do not have the orb but the lg wcp 700 charging mat which I also plan to use for my note 2.

Was not going to shell out 70 for the orb..I was referring to not laying the metal kickstand directly on the charging mat because the case and phone do get warm. With my luck I would crack the back glass or something...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317

 

[HTCTundaBow]

I would go with the Active. I had teh Surface on my Thunderbolt, and dust gets inside the Surface case easily. Then, when pulling the case on and off, it will scratch the phone easily.

 

[planoman]

I would go with the Active. I had teh Surface on my Thunderbolt, and dust gets inside the Surface case easily. Then, when pulling the case on and off, it will scratch the phone easily.

I have had at least 10 surface cases and none of them have scratched my phone. They have a felt type liner inside the case.

Sent from my Nexus 4

 

[HTCTundaBow]

Doesn't matter what liner it has, when tiny rocks/ dust get caught between your phone and the case, it has and it will scratch your phone. Maybe if you stay at home or in a clean office all day, it might work. But for those of us who actually go outside, get the active.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[planoman]

Doesn't matter what liner it has, when tiny rocks/ dust get caught between your phone and the case, it has and it will scratch your phone. Maybe if you stay at home or in a clean office all day, it might work. But for those of us who actually go outside, get the active.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

You should have clarified. You scratched your phone the case did not. Tiny rock and dust is not correlated to just the surface case. If you go outside and are that active I recommend a waterproof bag device for your phone, which I have for my surface case!

 

[HTCTundaBow]

The Active case does not slide on and off like the Surface case does. The rocks/dust combined with sliding on and off the case is what scratches the phone. What part of my explanation are you not understanding?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[planoman]

The Active case does not slide on and off like the Surface case does. The rocks/dust combined with sliding on and off the case is what scratches the phone. What part of my explanation are you not understanding

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

I understand you are blaming a case for something any number of cases would be plagued by. Again if you are so active outside you should have protected the phone from "rocks". I had the active case for my OG Note as well as my Nexus 7 currently, so I know exactly what you are speaking of. True, I have never allowed "rocks/dust" to get on my phone when outdoors. I am an avid mountain biker, so I know a little about "rocks and dust"... So if you had clarified the way your phone got scratched as opposed to saying "dust" scratched your phone, I would not have responded. The surface case works very well as designed but cannot overcome limitations imposed by the owner.

The OP mentioned using the phone in his pocket and the Active case is harder to use in and out of the pocket as well as collecting more dust and lint from the pocket, while is not a concern for scratching, it still unsightly.

My disclaimer to the OP- If you get the surface case, do not allow rocks/dust to get inside the case or it will scratch your phone when removing the case...

Have a super day and week! I am going to ride my bike!

 

[HTCTundaBow]

I understand you are blaming a case for something any number of cases would be plagued by. Again if you are so active outside you should have protected the phone from "rocks". I had the active case for my OG Note as well as my Nexus 7 currently, so I know exactly what you are speaking of. True, I have never allowed "rocks/dust" to get on my phone when outdoors. I am an avid mountain biker, so I know a little about "rocks and dust"... So if you had clarified the way your phone got scratched as opposed to saying "dust" scratched your phone, I would not have responded. The surface case works very well as designed but cannot overcome limitations imposed by the owner.

The OP mentioned using the phone in his pocket and the Active case is harder to use in and out of the pocket as well as collecting more dust and lint from the pocket, while is not a concern for scratching, it still unsightly.

Have a super day and week! I am going to ride my bike!

I'm just saying the design of the Surface is horrible, because no other cases were in question from the OP. Of course there are many horribly designed cases, and the Surface is one of them.


Have fun! And don't forget your Ziplock bag or whatever you put your Surface case in!

 

[BoomBoomPAP]

Active case, by far. The Surface Case's interior is going to scratch your phone.

Planoman, the felt liner is only behind the phone, not on the edges or sides.

 

[BoomBoomPAP]

Here's some detailed write-ups on those cases, but another thing that sticks out to me is the Surface DOES NOT work with the wireless chargers...
Seidio Surface Cases with Holster ← Nexus 4 Accessories
Seidio Active Case for Nexus 4 ← Nexus 4 Accessories

All signs point to the Active, IMO.

 

[planoman]

Here's some detailed write-ups on those cases, but another thing that sticks out to me is the Surface DOES NOT work with the wireless chargers...
Seidio Surface Cases with Holster ← Nexus 4 Accessories
Seidio Active Case for Nexus 4 ← Nexus 4 Accessories

All signs point to the Active, IMO.

I must be doing it wrong... I have never scratched my phones using the surface case. I have owned at least 10 of them going back to several years.

I would not use either seidio cases on my lg charging mat due to the metal kickstand. The back can get warm and I worry about the metal getting too warm regardless of what Seidio or anyone else thinks.

I switched to the $15 acase superleggera pro case. Find it on Amazon.




Sent from my Nexus 4