Aluminum Metal Bumper Case for the Apple iPhone 4 4S - Silver/Blue

I just received mine a few days before Christmas and so far I'm impressed. Not only did mine have the elements logos and such etched ON the product but the packaging also looked very much like Element's. I've got a friend who purchased one of their other aluminum cases (Not the Vapor but a Genuine Element case) and I asked to take a look at his stuff.Here is what I saw:1) The packaging is spot on pretty darned similar..... a little too similar for most of the cheap Chinese knock off products I've seen. They even included little thoughtful touches like an allen wrench in it's own little pocket and 2 SPARE screws.2) The machining on the copy I have is of a very high quality, but when held next to the real deal you can pick out some shortcomings. The edges where the two case halves meet don't QUITE line up and there are some iffy rough spots around the charging port. Nothing bad, but worth noting.3) I know a lot of people have reported signal loss, but after playing with his case AND mine I saw none with either case on either phone. My guess is this one of those "your mileage may vary" things.All this said, a PART of me wonders if this isn't a copy but rather someone who's gotten hold of a batch of Element's stock that DIDN'T pass QA? I suspect the copy is more likely...... but I do wonder just a bit.It took me maybe 5 minutes to install, and once installed it's very comfortable in the hand. I think the grip may even be improved over the stock iPhone because of the texturing and shape of the bumper. And of course it makes an already sexy piece of personal electronics into an even sexier one. The stock charging cable is a tight fit but isn't a problem at all OTHER than it now won't fit in the lego dock I built for it.I can't find cheap copies of their docks, so I may purchase a genuine. I'll update this when my findings as to whether this case will fit a genuine Element dock.

In regards to the ongoing debate about the reception loss in this case, I wanted to put this to rest with my own (hopefully helpful) experience):I own an AT&T iPhone 4 (not 4s)I used the padding provided with the case (little black padding stickers that come on a sheet)After applying the black pads the the four inside corners of the case, my phone receives reception that is approximately equal to the reception I receive without using any type of case. Without using the padding, my phone experienced severe reception loss.USE THE PADDING PROVIDED = great reception.This case looks really sleek, fits extremely well, and has a really low profile. Combined with the lack of reception problems, I would recommend this case to all people who don't feel sudden urges to throw their phone off of two story buildings or against walls when they are upset.Pros:no reception loss (when used correctlysleektight fitunique (not many people have this case)All the buttons are easily accessible, the power button is responsive, and the charger fits into the caseCons:Hard to remove for cleaningHeadphone jack won't fit anything but the low-profile iPhone headphones (can be remedied by a few dollars into an extender)

Received this item in a box with instructions, it can be tricky putting it together. They provide you with small pieces of rubber and you MUST align the inside of the metal bumper if you dont want your phone to jiggle arround or to get any scratches because the bumper is made of metal. Just wanted to clarify that because I had read some previous reviews and complaints. The phone will fit in pretty tight, maybe 95% tight but the world wont end cause of that. One thing you must take into consideration is that the bumper is pretty tall (It keeps the phone looking thin, but it increases the height) and due to this, you may not be able to place your phone into audio docks or charging docks because the bumper case hides the bottom of the phone. You can consider getting an adapter, I did because this case is worth it! Other than that, it is a very attractive bumper and the colors are shiny. One more thing, there is no signal loss whatsoever. Infact, I thought that it enhanced the signal.

This aluminum case has too many bad reviews; this case is just as described and is a well-designed piece of equipment for my iPhone 4.GOOD QUALITYS1. It is a very sleek case that I cannot take my eyes off.2. I have ZERO signal loss, just follow the instructions and make sure you use the provided bumpers for the inside of the case3. I am very happy with this case and am giving a full 5 stars for such great quality for so little money.4. I purchased this case from MIP Engraving Inc. and it came very fast unlike some others that ship from overseas and lucky if you see it after 3-4 weeks.BAD QUALITYS1. The rubber bumper that holds the power button in while you install the case is just a tish too thick and holds the power button down. I installed the case like this anyway hoping that the rubber bumper would form to the button and it did :), so really it isn't anything bad just a heads up when u install this case.

Opened the package and all was there. Upon installation things just didn't feel right and it just feels unnatural for the iPhone. O.k, I understand that i'm not buying the super expensive case so i placed it on the phone and tightened the screws. To be honest, the phone feels better without it and it looks better with my previous case. I'm looking for a refund. Tell you how it goes. I also notices that my reception bar went down to a single bar after installation. Didn't like my experience installing the case and I didn't like the look and feel of it. If its your thing go ahead. The seller is very communicative the the product itself needs work.

In the description it states that it's made from a metal that would not cut off signal well as I walked around normal places where I had great service I had maybe 1 or 2 bars. It does come in the retail packaging but when I peeled the sticker off that says for iPhone 4/4S it said iPhone 5 on the actual packaging the description is not what it says.