Review: Caze ThinEdge Matte iPhone 5 Case (Updated)

The search for the perfect iPhone 5 case continues. Next stop on the case express is the ThinEdge Matte from Caze. Caze has redesigned the bumper style case previously available for the iPhone 4/4s to be even more svelte and low-profile to match the design of the thinner and lighter iPhone 5.

The ThinEdge is a bumper style case that wraps around the metallic antenna band and is held together by a single snap on color piece of plastic that Caze provides in two colors for the black case, red and a slate gray. One the the two sides are attached via the snap on piece, the bumper forms a tight seal around the phone. The bumper is a very nice smooth feeling matte plastic. It's not too slippery and provides the extremely thin iPhone with enough grip to feel comfortable in the hand. In terms of protection, this type of case is primarily for anti-scratch with some very minor drop resistance. Let's put it this way, I wouldn't want to test this bumper against the rigors of an over 3 or 4 foot drop on to concrete. The fit and finish of this case is really nice and I am impressed with the quality for a case that was less than 30 dollars. While I am not a big fan of the button cutout on the side of many thin cases, the overall look and feel of the ThinEdge Matte make up for the button inconvenience. Volume button presses need to be a concerted effort pressing hard to activate the click necessary to perform the action. I suppose with a case that fits something as thin as the iPhone 5 there's not many choices available to make a structurally sound encasement of the phone. Same situation holds true for the power button.

One of the things I found odd with this case is that there is a small amount of "lip" on the back for a lay on the table protection but the front of the case is pretty much flush with the screen. I haven't tested the case with any rear or front screen protectors but I plan to re-apply my Ghost Armor matte rear skin to see if the case causes any bubbling or peeling. The Caze comes with both a front and rear shields but I found the quality of those just run-of-the-mill quality. The bottom of the ThinEdge completely covers both speaker areas and provides a port adapter big enough only to fit the standard Apple lightning cable. Unfortunately, neither the 30 pin adapter nor the 30 pin cable adapter fit the opening. If you are totally in with the Lightning cable, this case is a really nice choice for minimal protection that compliments the iPhone 5. Initially I was disappointed regarding the cable connection options. As much as possible I'll use the Apple cable to charge the phone and use Bluetooth to connect in the car. As more Lightning enabled docks and cables become available, they will make using this case less of a compromise.

Overall, I would rate this case very high in terms of quality and looks. If the Caze accommodates the rear Ghost Armor skin, I'll keep it on for the long-term. The Caze is available to order from their website and is available in black, clear, orange, pink, silver, and white for $22.90 USD.

* Update contains new pics of the Silver case I received from Caze.

Caze ThinEdge Matte

Pros

• Very thin and svelte
• Plastic feels very good to the touch
• Good fit
• Complements the native look of the iPhone 5 

Cons

• Button cutouts mean concerted presses for buttons
• Lay on table lip only for back. Front is flush with screen
• Limited wired connectivity options - only the Apple stock Lightning cable