How do you case the world's best selling smartphone? Not easily, as Steve finds out in his latest in-depth, real world case trial, looking at accessories for the Nokia N95. Comments welcome if you've found something better!
Read on in the full article.
First off, thank you Steve for this wonderful review!I believe this is the first full review regarding N95 cases in the market.
My question is, I had a crystal case for my N95. It was not proporta. It was a generic product. The rear side didn't fit well. But the front side perfectly fit. In fact that is the important one for me because I just want to protect my screen. (To me the rear side adds only bulk) Anyway but the problem was that, although I used it very well, it cracked several times, especially from the edges, so that within 2 weeks it became unusable. I don't know how long have you been using Proporta Crystal Case for N95 but could you please give a piece of information as to your usage? How long have you been using? If you dropped it accidentally, has anything happened? Comments from other Proporta Crystal Case users are also appreciated.
Proporta have actually removed their Crystal case from their website, or rather, the ability to buy it. Aparently they are redesigning it and when the new design is finished then it will become available again.
You missed a big one, Steve. Although I've never seen one in person, the new Vaja case looks pretty good. It's not cheap, however, for such a small piece of leather!
I think there are two designs floating around. The first Proporta one I had was too small in its rear section, as you describe, but the second was perfect. And no cracks so far.....
YMMV, of course. Wonder why the product's been pulled.....
I liked the CP-191 and the Book type cases.
BTW I just posted about a need for an N95 case this morning 😊
Its here.
http://symbian.avinashrathod.com/2007/07/annoying-things-n95-in-my-jeans-pocket.html
-Avinash Rathod
There is a silicone case in blue, pink or ice colors from shop.brando.com.hk I ordered one today. I will report on quality. Thanks for a great review!
I bought my wife a SE K800 and now the N95. I find most cases are designed for men to be used attached to a belt. The crystal case is good for the handbag while the Nokia case may look good initially it makes it to difficult to use when answer a call - again I find ladies are not as keen on BT headsets as men. Designers of casese and phones should really think about the other half of the population...rant over 😊
Hi all,
Well until very recently i had been a big fan of the Krusell cases but since i bought my E61 i have found and been using PDAir cases and i must say IMO they are made of an extremely good quality leather with all the correct cut outs and now also have one for my N95. They come in two styles either book style or flip over i have a book style for the E61 and a Flip over for N95 and must say i am very happy with them especially as i have added a suction car mount also from PDAir that the case just slips onto and means we can be attached at the best point in the car.
Marc
Ive gone through two crystal cases on the n95 now cause of the poor material plastic they use. On the front case the area next to the buttons gets strained and eventually gives way, while the back case gives on the bottom right corner, where it's thin around the camera click button.
Hopefully their new case will use thicker plastic!
Hi, I've been looking for a case and armband to use with the N95 when going for a run. I'm also using Sports Tracker. I'm assuming that a leather case wouldn't be suitable as it would be covering the GPS aerial. Any suggestions please.
I tried the crystal case - utterly rubbish - kept falling off and then cracked after minimal use.
I also tried the bodyglove which just looks riddiculous so finally I resorted to ebay and found a case so impressive I bought a second one for my sons (my old) N80.
Just search for "N80 N95 leather case" on ebay and you should find some vertical cases that fit the N95 and N80 perfectly. Nice heavy duty black leather and a fold over top that clasps with a magnetic thingy. Priced around �6.99 it has a sort of coat of arms motif lightly embossed on the front which you can barely see. It has a stiched in belt clip arrangement that is far better then the plastic clip options and can be clipped over the belt with press studs or threaded through if clipped.
I highly recommend this as the best case I have seen. Normally I try to get Piel Frama cases for everything (I have two Ipod cases and have other mobile cases in the past from them) because they have a quality that is second to none but unfortuntaly their current offering for the N95 is very drap and uninspiring.
Nick - Tonbridge
I got my CP-191 yesterday...but I hate it...there is no hole for your headset! ARRGGHHH...
So..."Allows all functionalities of the device while in the case" isn't true!
But I can live with this problem, will get a bluetooth headset soon!
Thanks guys, I've ordered one of the eBay cases as well. And I'll put my Crystal case to harder use, though I still like mine and there's no sign of cracking. I'll report back in an updated article!
Steve
The crystal cases WILL scratch your N95. The top cover case edge will scratch the bottom of the unit at the top and bottom edge. The bottom case will scratch the back of the screen and worst of all, the latch of the top cover pieve will scratch the top corners of the unit when you slide the slider to the multimedia side.
I might be missing something, but the N95 comes with its own case.
I mean the outer casing, the facia, the housing whatever you call it, on Nokias it is something you can replace easily.
You use a case to protect the phone from wear damage, to keep it shiny and clean. You can't get shinier than a new external casing. A leather case might also offer some protection from drop damage, a crystal one won't.
What I'm trying to say is, there is almost no point buying a protective case for a Nokia phone, it comes in one already.
I was pruning in a garden and I somehow broke the protective glass of the camera, just behind the plastic shutters. The shutters were closed, but they are not strong enough to protect from mechanical intrusion, please bear that in mind.
I surely needed a case, instead of just my pants pocket.
Now I will try SX104 case by Covertec.