yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Deleted member 7436581:
RhinoShield so far is the only option I've found for a BUMPER-ONLY case solution for our Note 9. I've bought this case twice after giving it a second chance and sent it back for the second time. The bumper frame itself is fine. It's got a fair amount of front lip to allow me to lay the phone face down to show off my Dbrand skin. Strangely enough, the lip on the back of the bumper frame is taller than the front.

Anyway, the biggest issue with this bumper-only case is the buttons. Oh my god, they have the worst buttons I've ever tried. I've mentioned in other threads that Spigen is the king when it comes to the buttons they build into their cases. They are raised a healthy amount so they're easily found and they have the best feedback ever. Very "clicky".

This RhinoShield bumper case buttons are so hard to register a click. They're too firm. The plastic is not soft at all. The second time I bought this case I tried pressing the buttons without the phone to try and soften them (like hundreds of pressings) and that did nothing to make them more malleable. I bought this case for the OnePlus 6T and the buttons on that case were just as ****ty as the one for the Note 9.

The other issue was the area around the S-Pen is too small, making retrieving of the pen more difficult compared to the dozens of cases I've tried before. I'm an average sized dude. My hands aren't huge but they're not small either. If I had longer nails maybe getting the S-Pen out would be easier but I don't.

Clear cases are not an option for me. They'll always reflect glare and distort the look of my drband skin. I just need a bumper-only solution. Just something to protect the edges of this phone. I cannot believe this type of case is not more popular. Like, why Spigen and others do not offer this as an option. Hell, if they could just make some kind of rubber band-like thing that I can wrap around the edges, that would be fair.

If anyone finds any BUMPER-ONLY cases, please share them with me. Thank you.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Nastrahl:
I've got one and I agree that the volume buttons are too stiff. I had to play / force them in and out with my plastic card holder edge to soften them a bit.

The lateral part are not that "firm" around the phone so unfortunately it feels a bit flabby.

It still makes the phone bulky, but according to one YouTube video where the guy toss the phone very high a few times without the phone being damaged at all, the protection is REALLY good.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] eurominican:
I meant to do a review of the rhinoshield to warn everyone how awful they are. I had the exact same esperience as you and to add insult to injury, when I contacted the company to voice my concern they wanted me to ship it back with me paying for the shipping and would only accept it if it was BRAND NEW WITH NO SIGN OF WEAR. Really? Very bad customer service and crappy product..
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Deleted member 7436581:
That why I bought that case from Amazon. Can't beat Prime.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] dakore:
I had Rhino bumper on SGS7, totally agree with you. Hard buttons and slipery material. My buttons chopped off after almost a year of wear and tear.

My gf is using Ringke Fusion (clear back case) + dbrand skin. It looks beautiful so I ordered same case for Note9 + dbrand skin. It looks much better with lighter skins. Darker skins looks great when there is enough light around you. In low light it acts almost like a mirror.

https://imgur.com/QTYcakg

No way I go back to Rhyno again. It's not bumper case but I don't mind to flip it over and show camo skin :D
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] N1NJATH3ORY:
The only way you can fix the button issue, is get an Stanley blade and cut the sides of the button.. So the top and the bottom of the button is the only place where the plastic is connected.. Then they will be so easy to press!
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] dakore:
I did that on my case on day 2, it helps but I wouldn't say it is enough. At the end, when my Rhyno bumper buttons wear I even tried to cut them out and flatten the area around button. I've got choped case with holes where buttons are placed and it was bad experience. Hard plastic, rough edges, not easy to dig and not pleasant to fingers. Too bad, unfortunately, I've used cases on same phone (sgs7 like I said) with much more tactile buttons so I gave up on Rhyno.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Deleted member 7436581:
I'm tempted to buy this case for the 3rd time and try this method but I don't know. The buttons are not raised enough to begin with. If they were as tall as buttons you'd find on Spigen cases, then for sure I'd try this razor method to try and fix the faulty design but I don't know.

I just cannot understand why RhinoShield is the only one making cases like this. Why is this type of case not more popular? Why would more users not want a bumper-only design. Why doesn't Dbrand and other skin makers not make a bumper-only case that helps show of their awesome skins better?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] N1NJATH3ORY:
I think what’s happened as Rhinoshield get there case made in China, plus they purchase in bulk, there has been a manufacturing defect...

So at the moment Rhinoshield are stuck with the defect stock, I asked the exact same thing they would not answer me.. LOL

Razor blade is your only option! Some user say it works fine others say it dont so it's your call!

Or you can wait until they get rid of this stock and order more stock without defect! But that could be in the note 10 days!

Plus they aren’t telling me when they will get new stock, so I am guessing!
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] KOLIOSIS:
I honestly don't think I've ever been pleased w/Rhinoshield's bumpers.

I gave 'em a shot only after this design/model from Nillkin disappeared,in the Note 3/4/5 days (guessing you had one) :

Supcase had something similar,but,it's nowhere to be found on devices from the past 2-3 yrs as well.

Anyhoo,I think the problem w/Rhinoshield is their marketing pitch is strength/brute protection & if they pared down the overall width/thickness & eased-up on the button stiffness,they'd fail on that account.

IIRC,I 1st gave Rhinoshield a shot w/the S8+ & found the fit to be way too loose. IDK how the button situation was,as I returned it as soon as I got an RMA.

The exact opposite w/the S9+,a very snug fit,but,the construction lended itself to adding too much width to the grip & the buttons were stiff.

It got little use & I tossed it in the garbage soon after taking delivery.

IDK why no one steps up to the plate & makes a backless bumper that has a decent fit/low profile & usable buttons,or,for that matter,just have cutouts for the buttons.

I get it on the less popular phones,but,I'd think it'd be profitable for at least one mfg (if not Samsung themselves) to make such a bumper for the Galaxy S & Note lineup.

I suppose we shouldn't be surprised,as we've seen feature loss since the good 'ol Note 4 days,the same applies to case variety....................................
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Deleted member 7436581:
I'm tempted to try and modify one of Supcase's clear backs but the razor knife that I have doesn't seem strong enough to slice through that kind of plastic because I've tried to modify some other cases I have to create a backless case. It's so, so, so stupid that case makers don't see the benefits of a bumper-only design. It's frustrating for users like me who don't drop their damn phones all the time. I haven't used a screen protector since my iPhone days and my displays have always been great during the time I've had them until I sold/donated them off to another user.

If only I could find some kind of rubber band material that I can wrap the edges of my phone. That's something that these case makers could do. Make rigid edges (with soft, clicky buttons) but top and bottom elastic material so there's a tight fit. Does that make sense? Because getting the phone in and out of a RhinoShield bumper case is difficult. Yet another design issue with their cases.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] KOLIOSIS:
I've tried modding a few cases where it had a clear distinction from the bumper part of the case & the back cover portion.

Same here,no success,as the remaining bumper didn't have enough rigidity to hold shape.

I totally get your design idea.

It's a different take on the 2pc metal bumper design,but,w/o the necessary assembly (screws). Remove the screws from the design,build-in some elasticity on two of the sides for easy removal-installation,yet,still holding shape & retaining edge protection.

That's actually a very nice idea,perhaps you have a friend or two who have some experience w/CAD software & sell the idea/patent/etc.... to one of the case mfgs...................
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Deleted member 7436581:
If only I had the time and resources. I'm happy to see someone else take this kind of thing and run with it so I can just get myself one case. I just need one for my 6T and one for my Note 9. lol
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] nuclearrage:
I got the rhino shield bumper, no trouble with the buttons, just not as clicky as I would like. It is also quite slippery and doesn't stay put on the vehicle dash.

With that said, my dbrand grip should be here in a week or so, it is the best case I have had, and loved it on my note 8. They are taking preorders still for shipment in Feburary, so check them out for a bumper style case.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Namolas:
Is it wrong to assume the dbrand grip would be almost impossible to pocket?

I was just about to order the Rhino Shield.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] nuclearrage:
Dbrand is slightly bigger, but very VERY grippy. I wear Duluth Trading Co. Cargo pants and always have 2 phones in the front left cargo pocket.. also fits in my work shirt front pocket. Not sure about jeans or skinny fitting clothes.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Deleted member 7436581:
One thing that I really do not like the look of with this case is that there are no raised buttons. The sides of the case appear to be flat, which would make it hard to find the right buttons you're looking for in a pinch or when the phone is inside your pocket or bag.

It's the one thing that's holding me from ordering this case. It looks pretty thick. That's fine but in my opinion if the case is going to be a bit thick you may as well have easily accessible raised buttons on the sides.

I just wish, considering the advancement with 3D print tech, that we could just design our own unique case for our phones. A case the way we want/need it. Like, if I could just have one of Spigen's cases but just the bumper, just the edges and no backing.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Nastrahl:
It may have different texture for the buttons for us to feel them.

If you scroll a bit the page, you may see it.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Deleted member 7436581:
It's CrashGuard #3 for me today. Trying this case out for third time since it's the only viable option today for a bumper-only case.

I followed the advice of some users who suggested using a razor to slice into parts of the volume button grooves in order to make them more tactile. I'm happy to report that it worked pretty well. The buttons are actually registering clicks much easier than out of the box. Just to make it easier, I did the same thing for the power and Bixby button.

The other problem I had with this case is the area around the S-Pen makes it very difficult to remove the S-Pen. It's too small. I have average-sized hands and I have to use my pinky in order to get the S-Pen to eject. So I also modified that area and make some incisions with my razor. Then there's how tight the case can be as you try to put it on so skins can be pushed from the edges as you can see from the photos.

I just can't stand RhinoShield's tone-def response to criticisms to their CrashGuard cases. You have users reporting defective design features and they do nothing but push back with their half-baked suggestions to make their product work instead of correcting their design flaws.

They need to listen and stop deflecting. Spigen needs to also listen to us and give us a bumper-only solution.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Deleted member 7436581:
Already had the Dbrand on for weeks and I've never used a screen protector on any Android phone. Last time I used a screen protector was on my iPhone 4s.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Namolas:
So after it's all said and done, do you think it's worth the $25?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] :
Not for full price. Not for the modification you have to do in order to make it work like it's meant to. I'd keep an eye on Amazon for a sale because it was recently on sale there. But that's just my view on it.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] :
Not since my iPhone days. iPhone 4s was my last iPhone before making the switch to Android with the Galaxy S2 (Epic Tough 4G on Sprint). I'm just careful with my devices. I've even deployed with my older Note phones and never had issues.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] :
After modifying the case and using it for a few days I just can't anymore. The buttons are still not enough. Back to Spigen for now until my unicorn bumper case appears.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Namolas:
Not to beat a dead horse but I just want to be sure. The only reason you find it unusable is because of the stiffness of the volume buttons? Because I rarely use the volume buttons, in fact most of the time if I hit the volume buttons its on accident. :eek:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] :
The volume buttons but also the Bixby and Power are too recessed and the S-Pen is difficult to eject because of how tight that area of the case are which forced me to cut away parts in order to make it usable. Overall, a badly-designed case. It's flawed and not worth the full price on their website. And also strange is the fact that the way the lips of the case are designed, it offers more raised protection for the back of the phone than the front. I don't know why they did this.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Namolas:
I've cancelled my order. Thanks again for all your advice. :good:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Namolas:
So as far as I can tell the Dbrand Grip for the Galaxy Note 9 is a full back case. They do not appear to have a bumper style option this time?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Jammol:
Wait what case is this? That looks really good for my needs.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] :
I think you're referring to the yet unreleased Grip case from Dbrand.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Namolas:
https://dbrand.com/shop/grip/samsung-galaxy-note-9-cases
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Jammol:
Whoa, $30 WTF?! Yo these companies are getting way too crazy with these prices. That thing better provide $30 worth of protection and quality over some of the cheaper cases on Amazon.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Namolas:
Thats my biggest problem with the Rhinoshield or Dbrand Grip. You can literally buy TWO kickass Spigen cases for the same price. :eek:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Nastrahl:
At least, despite all its flaws, RhinoShield's one provide protection :

[youtube]p9XH748e3qU[/youtube]
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Jammol:
Price is still too up there for what it does compared to others that do the same thing though. Don't get me wrong, I understand the whole quality this and that, but cheap cases have come far enough that the quality is on the same level as these other companies requesting a lot more. Doesn't make sense that the market is so flooded now with alternatives, yet these companies are still charging their original prices from 3+ years ago when they were the only ones making these types of cases.

As far as their bumper only, that is understandable as no one else is making one. But it's not as if it costs them that much to make it. Not to mention, it's less material than a case with a full back. Should be cheaper.?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Nastrahl:
I understand completely.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] CZroe:
Has the situation changed much since January?

In addition to this thread, I did come across this when googling:

https://www.luphiecase.com/luphie-aluminum-metal-bumper-frame-for-galaxy-note-9.html

I don't know if I trust the renders. I really want to see it in person. Anyone have any experience with these?

Edit: Is it just be or does that lip at the bottom of the screen look almost non-existent? Also, they mention some kind of "sponge" but they sure don't show any cushioning material in there.

I used a full Spigen case on my old Note 3 which didn't have very good button feedback (TPU buttons poking through the plastic cover). I kinda modified the TPU portion into a bumper case but the plastic cover was still there to hide my rough cuts. Yes, I used a razor on the buttons too. I wasn't aiming for a bumper back then but, rather, I was just making room for the official Samsung Wireless charge cover that replaces the original battery door but is slightly thicker. I don't think I could do it cleanly enough for any of their current offerings.

This!

I liked the faux leather back of my Note 3 so much that I wanted to replicate it on my next phone, an iPhone 6S Plus. I got a Spigen Neo Hybrid EX+ Metal and paired it with a fake leather skin. It looked incredible but the metal did cause issues with signal strength and GPS, so I got their plastic Neo Hybrid EX and used that. It was literally the first thing I looked for when I got the Note9 so I'm kinda surprised to see that they have abandoned that design.

I ended up breaking it when I tried to fit it on a slightly thicker iPhone 6S Plus but the issue looks extremely easy to fix/design around so I hesitate to believe that this is why they stopped making true bumpers. It failed around the ringer/silent switch because it got so thin there but the design solution was pretty obvious to me: Move the TPU nameplate tab on the back up to the ringer switch and have the plastic wrap around behind the phone there. This would give it a better reason to exist than just to have "Spigen" molded on... and it could still have "Spigen" molded on. ;)

The thing is, Spigen wasn't the only major case maker offering metal bumpers back then. I recall that Zagg had a particularly expensive one for iPhone that somehow looked a lot more plain than the Spigen Neo Metal Hybrid EX+. IIRC, it was $50+ and my Spigen metal bumper was around half that. Really hoping to find something similar for the Note9. I'm actually willing to deal with the same kind of signal loss I had with my old Spigen metal bumper.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] KOLIOSIS:
Don't waste your money.

I've had similar bumpers on a couple of phones.

It gets the job done, but, the feel-in-hand is horrible.

Also, the padding is paper thin & typically does not cover the entire inner surface area, I seriously doubt if it would stay intact for the long haul......
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Nastrahl:
I agree but if you are searching for prettiness no case will do, so it won't matter a lot of you scratch it a bit, since it will took the bump instead of your phone. ^^
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] KOLIOSIS:
I'm not talking about the case aeesthetics, I'm talking about the possibility of the phone getting scratched up by the case itself.

Also, the signal strength may take a hit by using a metal case/bumper.

I see very little upside in getting this case, but, if curiousity is getting the best of you, it's a relatively inexpensive case to test it out for yourself......
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Nastrahl:
Oh I see, sorry for the misunderstanding.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] KOLIOSIS:
No problem. :good:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] CZroe:
Yeah. I may end up getting one just because of the impulse-purchase price but I'm well aware that it will probably impact my signal and may scratch the phone.

I'm about ready to just 3D print one except I know 3D printing TPU is going to be a learning process.

Regardless of which bumper I settle on, I'm really hoping to find a soft-touch leather skin to cover the back and make it more like my old Note 3. Spigen used to make one for iPhone 4/4S but I used a different one with an Apple logo cut-out. Both were marketed as compatible with Apple's bumper and you could find similar skins for other phones. We went from having multiple soft-touch leather/pleather skins back then to, well, none that I can find today. Weird.

If I can't get a grippy soft-touch leather/leather-like skin for the back I'll probably go with something grippy and clear like the old orange-peel protectors (original Invisible Shield style). I'm pretty sure they'll interfere with a metal frame bumper unless trimmed back. I should probably just learn how to use my Cricut or SummaCut D60 to cut my own from vinyl pleather. ;)
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] KOLIOSIS:
I've got a Sandstone skin from GadgetShieldz, perfect fit & just the right amount of grippiness:

https://www.gadgetshieldz.com/samsung-galaxy-note-9-skins-decals-wraps.html

If you order anything from them, expect about 16-21 days to deliver if shipping outside of India.....
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] CZroe:
Well, despite having my heart set on a minimalist bumper with a blue leather skin on the back, I ultimately went with a Ocean Blue Spigen Thin Fit 360, which isn't a true bumper. Still, it really does look like a blue phone rather than a phone inside a case.

While it doesn't look like a naked Note9, you really have to scrutinize it to tell that it isn't some naked blue phone made out of premium materials. It's got all the angles and beveling of a metal/glass housing and has a bit of metallic shine even though it's got a soft-touch finish. It protects the ports, has clicky/responsive buttons, and the lip blends seamlessly with the screen like it was part of the original frame. The Amazon pics really don't do it justice.

It may not be the true bumper I wanted but it's close enough to what I wanted that I'm officially ending my search for a bumper that I'd like. That's why I feel it's worth bringing up where it could otherwise be seen as off-topic.

This is the kind of case that fits so slim it has to be "installed" and Spigen has to include a custom glass screen protector to fit (doesn't work with their other glass screen protectors). It comes with a lint-free cloth, a cleaning wipe, dust removal stickers, etc for proper installation.

Only potentially negative things I've noted so far:

-Despite calling it "Ocean Blue," it's a far cry from the Ocean Blue of the phone itself. I still like it though.

-Just like when I used it without a case before, I can barely type with the Google keyboard. Not really the case's fault since I have the same problem without a case, but it's still something other cases seem to solve for me and this one does not. The issue: it's constantly sensing errant touches and switching to the sub+keyboard which turns half of everything I type into symbols and gibberish. I'm going to have to adjust the way I hold my phone.

-No ring or stand or anything to grip... which is something that really helps when you need to use an awkward grip to prevent errant/unintended touch inputs.

-I'd prefer if the included glass screen protector did not have a black-masked outline since they had to put generous holes in it for the cameras and sensors which only makes them stand out when, before, they just kinda disappeared into the same black that often continues across the OLED display. Makes an almost unnoticeable bezel pretty noticable.

-Screen protector adds a bit of glare but it's the "adheres on the top and bottom" type and doesn't show bubbles or contaminants on the screen. I'm guessing the black masking I complained about is actually to hide that adhesive.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Accessories] Gunde:
Pics? :)

Also, can it be used without the included screen protector?