Review: Body Glove Faux Nylon Case for Palm Pre 37
Wed, 18 Nov 2009 8:21 pm EST
While most clip-on cases add some protection and color to the Palm Pre, the Body Glove Faux Nylon Case for Palm Pre takes it a step further by adding some textural visual flair. Sporting two contrasting textures, the Faux Nylon Case encases your Pre in a layer of protective plastic while still providing access to all the phone’s features. But is the extra protection and style worth the extra bulk that this case adds?
Functionality
First and foremost, the Body Glove Faux Case does add a protective element to the Pre, but the one part we’re all most concerned about - the screen - is still exposed to the elements (if you’re really worried about the screen, you should invest in a screen protector). The parts that are covered are indeed quite removed from the elements.
The Faux Nylon Case was actually quite difficult to put on and take off. The bottom half is especially stiff around the keyboard area and required significant pressure to snap up over the slider’s lip. Once on, the case was equally frustrating to remove, to the point that I was concerned by the forces to which I was subjecting my Pre. In the end, the case did leave some tiny scratches on the phone, but nothing that was too noticeable (or easily photographed).
The textured nylon weave pattern on the back does add some additional traction to the Pre, especially over the slick original back, but it was the cracked leather texture on the sides that provided better grip. Despite being the same material throughout, the nylon texture actually felt somewhat soft during daily use. The inner face of the back shell has a felt sheet to cut down on the scratching that invariably happens when bits of sand or other daily grind materials become trapped between the case and the phone.
Unfortunately, the thickness of the Faux Nylon Case makes it impossible to use with a Touchstone charger. While the magnets will align and hold the Pre if you position it just right, there’s no way the induction coils will transmit through the separation the case creates.
Style
Style is the main reason to choose this case above the dozens of smooth shelled color cases out there. Available in black and only black, the Faux Nylon Case’s hallmark feature is that faux nylon, which really looks exactly like real nylon, to the point that the mold picked up the cuts and folds needed to get the nylon wrapped around the Pre’s rounded corners. The sides of the case, both top and bottom, sport a faux leather texture, with enough shallow cracking to make it look like the real thing.
While the textures do add a punch of interesting to the case, I’m still waffling on whether or not its actually attractive. The case does add considerable bulk to the Pre, in the form of nearly 3 mm on the back and all sides, as well as a less than desirable lip around the screen and gesture area. To work smoothly with the Pre’s slider design, the case also has a considerable gap between the shells when closed.
Conclusion
The Body Glove Faux Nylon Case is an interesting entry into the snap-on case market. While it does certainly pump up the visual interest of the Pre, whether it looks good or not is debatable. In the end, if you like the way it looks, and don’t own a Touchstone, the Faux Nylon Case is certainly a way to make your Pre stand out from the others out there without being too ostentatious.
The Body Glove Faux Nylon Case is available in the PreCentral Store for $29.95.
Pros
Textures add grip and interest to PreCons
Adds considerable thickness
37 Comments
Pass. My Pr? is just way too sexy to wear clothes.
LOL! Agreed. I just have the Wrapsol screen protector and Palm's leather side pouch with pull ribbon. Works for me. I don't need no stinkin' cases.
+1 exactly and its not like it even protects the sliding mechanism, just scratches really and i could get a simple screen protector for that
+2 Yep, I just don't like cases on the Pre...completely ruins the device for me. And none of them seem to offer enough protection to justify it (though maybe teh body glove is better?). I had the Seidio Case which looks pretty nice, but just made it way too bulky for me
I put a bunch of pictures of this in the accessory forum about 3 weeks ago. You can also leave the back off and get most of what the case offers. Grip, looks and Touchstone. Definitely very easy to use one handed with just the front on. With the back on you can pretty well drop the phone on the floor and it will probably survive fine. Best phone case I ever bought for any phone. Just don't think you can take it off and on continually, it's plastic and the grips will eventually sheer off.
this is very informative review. I was about to purchase it and test it with my touchstones. But if its not compatible, then forget it. Any suggestions on which case to use with the touchstones.
shit this looks better than seido's case!
I have had this case for a couple of months now. The fit is PERFECT unlike other cases I tried. It does hide the good looks of the Pre, but the protection it provides outweighs the looks for me. I have dropped the phone while getting out of my truck and did not have a scratch on the phone or the case.
no touchstone compatibility= fail!
Nice review though.
I owned this case for 2 months. Was a fan, until it broke. One fine day, one of the tiny tab just broke and the case was useless.
I had the same problem. I had one tab break off after a week. I kept the case on and eventually two more tabs broke off one by one all within a month after purchasing it. I really liked the case except the tabs just didn't work.
my tabs broke too. i just decided to get some double sided tape. and tape the front cover on. works great for me. you should try it so that its not a useless case.
I had a tab break as well and decided to get a the Seidio 2600 mAh battery, which doesn't fit with the case. I just got a invisible shield for the front and have been happy so far
So I bought the body glove and it arrived without a tab..you're right, useless. So I sent it back and they sent me a new one. Worked like a charm. Then the article came out and now I feel like I've wasted $30. :(
this is very informative review. I was about to purchase it and test it with my touchstones. But if its not compatible, then forget it. Any suggestions on which case to use with the touchstones.
Great review, very helpful. I do like the way it looks, but would not be able to tolerate the extra girth it adds.
"Faux Nylon"?
What is it, leather pretending to be plastic?
I'd probably try and MacGuyver it, try cutting a hole in the back of the case. All you'd really have to do is drop your phone on the touchstone, take a pencil and trace the shape of the touchstone on the back plate of the phone, match it up with where you'd need to cut on the back of the case, and make the cut. Would probably keep your Pre from sliding around on the touchstone, which is actually kind of a problem for a lot of people. I'd probably experiment with some cardboard or something first, though.
ive got a rocketfish snap on from bestbuy. totally worth it as ive already dropped it several times.
i think i will switch to this since it adds grip which is something i want for my phones
Personally, I liked this case when I put it on, but now that I took it off, I realize how awesomely sleek and sexy the phone is. Not to mention, when I had to take the case off to replace the phone, I couldn't get it off without breaking a clip, which made the top half not stay on the phone, and I wasn't going to leave just the back half on the phone... bottom line is if you aren't a touchstone user and want something to hold on to, get this.
I was kind of put out when I picked up my friend's envy 3 with a body glove... it was rubbery and extra grippy and nice... this feels cheap.
Its very pretty and its functions are also very nice and i think that its safe my Palm.
Pro Acai Max
The only time it's worth it to have a case on your phone is if you also have one of those leather bra-thingies on the front of your car. In that case, well, okay, go ahead and put one on your phone, too. It's probably also a good investment to get some soft of guard to go around your phone cover so that your cover won't get scratched up.
message to all:
because of the design of the pre any case you get will require to be snapped on, with only so much room between the slider the tabs that snap these cases in place can only be so thick. This is a problem with the innocase right now and I also had this problem with my rockfish case.
note: innocase, body glove, and rockfish case all attach to the pre in an identical fashion and the tabs can and will break, this is not their fault this is the only way other than glue to get a case to stay on a slider phone.
i think a stretchy-rubbery type case that has grips due to its elasticity would be an alternative type of design that could work.
I agree I would love for a silicon case to come out for the pre
A more flexible/elastic type of case would definitely add user friendliness but after having had the case on my phone I cannot see how it would be able to match the protectiveness of the case as it is now.
ohh and if you shop around I got this case for $13.99
That's cool but you're hurting the PreCentral store by saying that. Just a thought...
I personally think it looks quite nice, but no touchstone compatiblity so its a no go.
Also, i realised one thing, not sure if its just me, but the center button on your Pre is a sort of pearl colour. Whereas GSM Pre's center buttons are metallic/silver o_O
I'm pretty sure the center button is silver on all newer Pres, even the CDMA ones.
Apparently I'm the only one bothered, but all cases like this have one major flaw for me: they interfere with horizontal swipes in the gesture area. Instead of my finger swiping smoothly across and off the Pre, it runs into the wall at the lip of the case.
Swiping is not affected at all w/ this case. If I am remembering correctly that was one of the selling points in the ad(s) for this case.
I don;t like the body glove cases like that. While it does look cool, it sucks for peole that stick their phone in their pockets. The squishiness of it makes it very stubborn to shove in your pocket and to take back out.
Had one of these for my HTC Touch Pro and hated it. Threw it away after only a couple of days.
I see this review as being very helpful. I've had this on my phone for a few months now & would like to say that it is well worth the money invested in it. I am also using the Palm Pre Skin made by Phantom Skinz. I highly recommend this combination of skin/case to everyone.
I too had a problem w/ the tabs on the case being fragile. I broke the first one I had (front part only) trying to put it on over the phantom skin (replaced easily...thank you lifetime warranty). In order to use the case w/ a protective skin you will have to cut off the part of the skin that protects the rounded corners (does that make sense?) of the phone. As the case will be protecting these areas it will not affect the protective nature of the skin.
$15 on Ebay. I'm going to try it. Although a nice looking phone, it's too slippery.
Steve- Please do not waste your money. It's terrible.
This case is terrible....It was a real pain to get on in the first place. It is very susceptible to collecting dirt underneath the case. I took the case off to clean unnder neath and clean camera lens, and I have been unable to put the case back on. I have spent around four hours altogether trying to put this stupid case back on. In the meantime Ihave probably been relly hurting the phone as far as the oreo effect goes. I don't think that Palmcentral should even be carrying this case as many bad reviews it has received. It takes only a little bit to get the case on the first time but just wait until you clean. Extremely disappointed. TERRIBLE CASE PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS CASE UNLESS YOU HAVE MONEY TO THROW AWAY.