I am about as AR as it gets when it comes to my tech-gear. I do my very best to keep it in perfect condition but hate bulky cases that take away from the devices’ sleek and slim form factor. I would prefer using my smartphone naked (aka no case) but would mentally kick myself if anything bad happened to it. Minimalistic cases help but still take something away from the feel of the naked device. The Naked Case Kickstarter effort is about as not there as you can get. The Naked Case is engineered to help those with Apple’s latest flagship smartphones protect their finish with the same space-age material that protects expensive supercars from scratches and rock chips.
Naked Cases are made from the same high-end film that goes on Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Jaguars, Teslas etc to protect their very expensive finishes and paint jobs. I have several cars with the invisible bra covering the entire front and hood. The material is wonderful and continues to protect my cars over a decade after it was applied. I am fairly certain that the film will out last the cars themselves…
The Naked Case is CNC cut to perfectly fit the iPhone 7/7+. The film is non-yellowing, less than 2 millimeters thick, self-healing, and once it is applied you barely know it is there. The original concept of the Naked Case film was to protect Apple’s new Jet Black finish that is known for its susceptibility to scratches. But can be used to protect any of the latest iPhones from being marred.
The installation process is pretty old school and involves a dish/pan and warm soapy water. First you clean off the back and sides of your iPhone 7/7+.
Next you let it soak in the warm water and soap solution. Then you remove the film’s protective backing and place the Naked Case on the back of your smartphone.
The installation process is a bit messy to say the least. You, your device and the surrounding area will get wet but thankfully the device is waterproof. Once you place the film on your device you carefully remove the extra material from around the CNC cut shape. After that you get it perfectly situated, you then squeegee out the excess water and bubbles on the flat back of your iPhone. The small amount of excess moisture and tiny water bubbles will dissipate with time.
Then you press the edges around the curves of the iPhone. This part takes time and patience before it finally adheres to the sides of the smartphone.
The Naked Case does not cover the corners or bottom edge…perhaps protecting only 50-60% of the sides of the iPhone. A funny note: the Naked Case transforms my iPhone’s matte black finish into a glossy one. The film does show fingerprints and smudges just like the Jet Black finish. It has a slight tackiness to it and gives some grippability to the slippery iPhone.
As of the writing of this review, the Naked Case Kickstarter campaign has 7 days left to be funded. It is currently about 40% of the way to its goal of $8,436. While on the expensive side of the protective skin-spectrum, the Naked Case is an excellent, well done and thought out product. Its CNC precision cut design is perfectly fitted for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus and is engineered to protect the Jet Black and other finishes of Apple’s latest smartphones.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Naked Cases. Please visit their Kickstarter website for more info and to back their effort.
Product Information
| Price: | Kickstarter pricing: $30 CAD / $23 USD |
| Manufacturer: | Naked Cases |
| Pros: |
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Most of my phones get scuffed and scratched in precisely the locations that this protection does not cover 🙁
Again I have issues with reviews of products that DON’T EXIST. A Kickstarter project is a potential product but it doesn’t exist. The prototype that you receive is not the product a potential investor might get (and it’s likely to be worse – after all they know they’re sending a prototype to a gadget website).
I find it distasteful that you pimp for Kickstarter project. It makes it seem as if you have some financial interest in the project. I think you should seriously consider not reviewing prototype products from Kickstarter projects. I have no issues with a short preview of a project but your review of a product gives legitimacy to something that has none at the time.
I’m sorry that you take issue with product reviews for crowdfunding projects that are still in an active campaign. I’ve felt the same way in the past, but I’ve changed my mind because I think our reviews will help people make a decision if they want to back a campaign. And no, we have absolutely no financial incentive to post these reviews unless you count the fact that Dave got a free sample. If a post has been sponsored (paid for), it will be clearly marked as such at the beginning of the post.
Do you agree that it would be helpful if we start including a disclaimer at the top and bottom of crowdfunded project reviews that let people know that the reviewed product may never see the light of day and also make sure people understand that the sample reviewed is a prototype (if it is… some crowdfunded product samples are actual production products and not prototypes)?
it couldn’t hurt…
My issue is that Dave didn’t get a free “sample”, he got a free “prototype” which likely has nothing to do with the actual product that folks MIGHT get if the Kickstarter delivers.
Not only are you publicizing a product that isn’t an actual product but you’re recommending folks put money into something that has a significant possibility of failure.
If you’re asking me how you should approach Kickstarter project I would strongly recommend that you a) put a big KICKSTARTER note on the blog entry b) you only REVIEW Kickstarter projects that are being delivered c) you merely describe and point to Kickstarter projects that are still active.
I don’t think it’s a disservice to readers if you link to interesting Kickstarter project but if you’re going to produce a review you should wait until the product is actually being delivered.
I have about $1000 dollars in lost Kickstarter projects and I’m certainly not alone in losing money to Kickstarter and I’d hate for other folks to be in the same position. I don’t think you want to be associated with failed projects and since you can’t tell at the start which those will be it seems reasonable to introduce interesting projects with serious warnings. And reserve reviews for real products folks can get.
Alan, I appreciate your opinion, but we’re just going to have to agree to disagree on this topic. I would rather read a review of a prototype of a potential product that I may be interested in backing than not hearing any first-hand knowledge about what it might turn out to be. And like all of our reviews, if we don’t like something we’re going to tell you why.
Going forward, I will make sure that we make it clear when we’re reviewing an early prototype and that there’s no guarantees that the product will be delivered.
This is an incomplete design that should be clearly outlined in this review. The camera area should be completely covered. All edges as well. If they are CNCing as they state then they should be able to get a precise cut. Feels more like a rush to profit.
I agree. I cancelled my funding as soon as I discovered that the corners and camera areas are unprotected. Absolute ridiculous design not to protect the exact areas that will scratch. Other companies have precise fits. This feels rushed to market for a profit. Once hard core skin fans realize the naked case does not cover the corners or camera surroundings, they will avoid this.
Julie, how does this compare to the existing products out there, such as from Zag or Invisibleshield, or Best Skins Ever?
Is it thicker? More durable?
I’ll let Dave answer that one since he’s the one who reviewed it 🙂
Two questions; what about removing it after awhile?
Is the skin transparent or is it colored?
Thanks
Ed
What a poor pattern design for the cut on the nakedcase. The cut leaves 60 percent of the Jet Black iPhone exposed to the elements that would scratch your new device. How can this guy claim full protection when his poorly designed skin does not offer full protection? Spend a little more time in the design software and create a proper fitting pattern. You know, like all the other skin manufacturers do. Not covering the camera was lazy and overlooked in order to rush the skin to market.
To top it all off, the rewards contest this guy was running for nakedcases (nakedcases.com) was such a SCAM. If you signed up for release date news, he would give you a share link. If you had one person sign up using your share link, you got 5 dollars off a naked case. If you had 5 people sign up, you would get a free naked case. Well I had 5 different people sign up and guess what? They refused to honor the reward. Not only that, they removed my rewards page. SCAM alert. Just an FYI.
I guess if you share the charging point and speakers area pics while your soaking the mobile is better to understand about a case.