I Bought the Pixel 5 Latercase and Kind of Like It
  • Posted byby Kellen

I Bought the Pixel 5 Latercase and Kind of Like It

When the Pixel 5 first arrived, there was a brief moment where I thought I should try and find a decent case for it knowing that it would be a phone I used heavily for some time. Taking a quick glance through the stores of the typical casemakers left me unsatisfied and it sure looked like they had all given up on Google’s Pixel line. So I decided to try something new – I bought a freakin’ Latercase for the Pixel 5.

  • UPDATE: While the Latercase is a pretty nice case, I really wanted a carbon fiber case with a camera cutout, not this design, where the camera was encased. I found one over at Amazon and it’s pretty great. Still expensive, but I’ve been using it for several weeks now and would recommend it over Latercase. You can buy it here.

For those not familiar with Latercase, it’s my understanding that Lew from Unbox Therapy owns this company and they have only made cases for a short time. By no means is Latercase one of those mega-casemakers like Spigen that churns out dozens of cheap plastic cases with various levels of protection for every phone imaginable and instead has a much narrower focus.

These cases are without a doubt expensive at between $39 and $45, they feature an incredibly thin carbon fiber design, and are available for a good chunk of the most popular phones from Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, Apple, and, Google. Of course, I decided to dive in to the world of Latercase because they were one of the few to offer a Pixel 5 case in the early days, even if it was a pre-order situation where I had to wait well over a month to get it.

To be clear, I really did buy this. This isn’t a review sample or a sponsored post or anything like that. I put in an order on October 30, probably late at night after several IPAs, and received it on December 7. I paid $39 for it.

Pixel 5 Latercase

Here’s what I can tell you about the Pixel 5 Latercase:

  • It’s incredibly thin at 0.6mm. It’s so thin that after slapping it on my Pixel 5 over a month ago, I haven’t really noticed it’s on there. You know how cases often remind you at all times that they are there when you swipe from an edge and are greeted by an ill-fitting piece of plastic wrapped around your phone? Or maybe you notice the added bulk or it changing the way your phone looks, but you acknowledge the reason you are dealing with this hell is because you are protecting an investment? Yeah, this case has a different vibe.
  • It feels incredible in the hand. The carbon fiber or Kevlar gives off a soft touch with a semi-bumpy texture and subtle stickiness. Like, this is a texture I think most of you would really enjoy.
  • It’s also never slippery, whether your hands are warm or cold. You know how depending on the time of day or temperature in your house, your hands might find your phone’s exterior slippery at one moment, then sticky the next? This case always settles into your hand without any of that unexpectedness.
  • The amount of protection this case provides is probably minimal. First of all, it wraps around the backside of the phone, which is typically a big deal because most modern phones are made of glass and need a case covering them at all times. The Pixel 5 isn’t glass, so by putting this on, it’s really just a stylistic choice vs. a protective one.
  • And that idea is really enforced when you look at the absolute lack of front display protection (below) it offers. For example, most cases, even the really thin ones, try to at least wrap up far enough around corners so that setting your phone face-down would at least lift the display off a surface. This case doesn’t, as it is unapologetically minimal and thin. If you flip your phone over with this Latercase on, the display is going to be touching whatever surface you put it on.
  • I’m also not sure that if you dropped this phone on a corner, that it would provide much protection. Again, it’s insanely thin with a precision fit and not trying to be a maximalist ultra-protector, but I just want you to understand what you are getting here.
  • If I have one other complaint, it’s that the fingerprint cutout isn’t exactly centered perfectly. This could be a manufacturing issue that has since been resolved or maybe I have a one-off misaligned case, but it’s a thing I noticed. Ok, I really wish the camera housing wasn’t covered up by the case too.

With all of that said, this case is exactly what I was looking for on that lonely October case shopping night. The Pixel 5 Latercase is on there to give me a sense of protection without constantly reminding me that I just covered my phone in awful plastic. It does so by adding grip and a style I’m not sure I love or hate, but I do know that I could touch this texture and never get sick of it.

Should you fork out $40 for a case this thin that offers such a minimal amount of protection? Hey, you do you. Like I just said, I really like this case, so if you have $40 to spend on a thin slab of Kevlar, I think you’ll like this. If you need a case to truly protect your Pixel 5, then maybe find another brand.

Pixel 5 Latercase

Pixel 5 Latercase

Pixel 5 Latercase

Written by

Kellen

It’s not often that you get to merge personal passions into a professional life, but that’s what Kellen did when he launched Droid Life in 2009. After working years of unsatisfying jobs in the medical and property management fields, he took a risk to try and create an online community while playing with the coolest gadgets on the planet each day, a risk that has turned out to be incredibly rewarding. Outside of Droid Life, Kellen is your typical Portlander who drinks way too much good beer, complains often about the Trail Blazers, and can be found out on the streets for a run, rain or shine.

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57 Comments

  • I have a latercase for my 4XL, and it’s the only one i can actually stand to have on my phone

  • Reminds me of my old Motorola Droid Maxx from back in the day. That phone felt great with the Kevlar that wrapped around the back and up the sides. Nice and grippy.
    It’s a shame the cool sage color is hidden now though. I never use cases with my phones over the years. I want to see my phone in all its original glory.

  • “is on there to give me a sense of protection”

    If that is all you were looking for why not just pretend that there is a case and save $39? From what you write the actual case doesn’t really do anything terribly useful so it might as well not be there. Me, I always have a real case on my phones even though I’m hyper-careful with them and I won’t be without a holster-style case since stuffing phones in pockets is inconvenient and iffy at best.

  • I thought he just bought them in bulk from Alibaba and gave them a decent price hike. Is that no longer the… “case”? (waka waka ????)

  • Agree with Gecko. Would had liked to see the case without a phone. Also is it real CF? Because that term is used very loosely when it’s plastic with a pattern on it. Also, anybody with experience on real CF cases? Do they crack, yellow?

    I like the look, but brings back bad CF memories from car hoods and fenders….

  • I hadn’t cracked a screen in 7 years until I had the later case on my note 10+ for less than 24 hrs. ZERO protection.

    • Yeah that’s my worry. It won’t protect the glass at all on the front. I really just like the way it feels to the touch heh.

      • If it makes it less likely you’ll drop it, that’s a degree of protection, of a sort, I suppose.

  • I just wish someone would make a bumper case for the Pixel 5. I liked the one I had from Rhino Shield for my Pixel 2 XL but Rhino Shield isn’t making it for the Pixel 5 and no other company seems to be making one.

    • It’s not quite a full-blown thick bumper case like you’re thinking of, but I’m using the Ringke Fusion-X on my Pixel 5, which does have some additional side protection compared to other cases I’ve seen. I don’t like the turquoise color I bought (I prefer clear, but they also have black and camo black versions–the turquoise was all that was available at the time), but maybe there are more clear options now.

      • I’m not looking for a case with a clear back. I already have one. I’m looking for a true bumper case. Ideally as minimal as possible.

  • Not really a case user myself but if I had have one Prolly be a thin one like this.

    On a diff topic does anyone else have lag in chrome while scrolling some websites on pixel 5? My wife asked me why it’s so laggy in chrome and I hope it’s not just the processor being underpowered…

    • I use an adblocker so no lag for me. I have found that ads really slow down page loading times.

  • This is my go to case as well as I always liked minimal shell cases with open tops and bottoms and these actually don’t wear poorly unlike some of the cheaper stuff. The plastic shell cases have also started including tops and bottoms which I don’t want. I fell in love with this kind of case with my OnePlus 6t OEM case and these replicate that perfection. I also love that they have no branding on the outside.

    What I don’t love is the packaging. Complete and total overkill and it just feels so wasteful. Heavy gauge cardboard with magnets. Plastic retail loop on top. The box is huge compared to the case (likely so that all the boxes are the same size. Slide out tray with ribbon pull and then high density foam that the case is pressed into. Holy crap, I’ve had phones ship with less protection. I feel like there’s 5x the amount of materials and energy producing the box for these things things that people will see for 5 seconds and then toss. The combination of materials (magnets, plastic loop, glued in foam) makes me feel like these won’t recycle well either.

    They’re basically full retail boxes for something that doesn’t sit on the shelves anywhere. I’d be fine with a plastic sleeve and a cardboard insert shipped in a padded envelope

    • Hah I said the same thing about the box! I was wondering if there was something else inside, instead it was just a massive waste of material that probably increased the cost.

      • No joke, I have an iPhone 12 Pro Max on hand and the box for that PHONE is 75% the size of the box for my Pixel 5 case.

  • “I put in an order on October 30, probably late at night after several IPAs…”

    That sounds like one of the most Portland sentences ever.

  • Been using either Latercase or Pitaka for the last few years. Galaxy s10, s20, oneplus 8 and the Pixel 4xl and now 5. I will never use another case again. My cutouts are good and the unmatched grip, texture, thinness and durability will keep me coming back even if they are 40 bucks. Can’t recommend them enough.

    • I just need Latercase or Pitaka to make one for this Pixel 5 that doesn’t wrap the entire camera. Not sure I love the carbon fiber covering the entire housing.

      • Oh for sure…that’s new this year. My last 4XL case didn’t have that. It’s their new “cyber” line or some non-descript word. I think w/ the fingerprint so close to the camera housing might have had something to do with that. That strip between them would be so thin, there might be structural issues w/ that. That was my take on it anyway.

        That said, mine is all lined up perfectly and I ordered mine when they were still in the pre-order phase.

      • I think the larger camera bumps were proving troublesome in getting some sort of lip to protect the bump but not be fragile. I was stalking their twitter account for awhile seeing when some new device cases were going to ship and I noticed a lot of previous gen iPhone cases having the lip around the camera bump break off as it was a separate piece. Molding it this way prevents that issue.

    • The Carbon fiber look is very minimal. I hate it too and this one is not that cross hatched different texture or color stuff you’re used to.

      • I bought it and love it. Thin and not that slippery. the Matte finish is awesome in the hand. using the SPigen Tempered protector and the phone is whole new world now.

  • I bought the case a few weeks ago. It’s very nice and it really doesn’t add any bulk. I’m going to continue buying these cases.

  • I used this on my Pixel 4 XL and now have it for the 5.

    I really can’t stand any other case now and trying to use the phone without the case leads to discomfort from extended use due to the charging port and speaker/mic cutouts that rest on your finger.

    I totally agree with not liking the camera covered up especially with the alignment issues. I had my initial case replaced (I think I was in the first batch) and the alignment is a bit better for the camera but the fingerprint scanner is still off. I probably notice it more because the cutout is larger.

    Overall this is the only case I would recommend despite the price. I tried a bunch of other cases for both the Pixel 4 XL and the Pixel 5, but none of them felt as great in hand as the Latercase.

    Oh also I dropped my Pixel 4 XL a bunch of times onto concrete from waist height and pocket height from lawn chair (stupid shallow pockets on shorts) and the phone and case held up. I did get a few small chips in the finish on the bottom of the Pixel 4 XL but you had to really look for them.

  • Why does everyone focus on the build, feel, and color of a new phone but then slap a case on it and never see the true phone for a year or two when it’s traded in?

    Seems like OEMs should just include a case in the box instead of headphones.

    • I accidentally ordered an international version of the S10+ and was shocked to find that it came with a case. I returned it for the US S10… which, of course, did not.

    • I buy a case for grip and protection. At some point, there will be a trade-off with aesthetics. Also there is the fact that not everyone will unanimously like the feel of any given phone. It is cheap and easy to get a phone case that matches your wants and if you buy popular phones and popular cases, then you can at least know you can get a consistent feel between devices.

    • That’s why I like bumper cases but unfortunately no companies are making one for the Pixel 5.

    • I use clear cases, so, my phone is protected, and I can still see its design. ????????

    • This is the purpose of the these thin cases. They’re so thin you hardly know its there, but still something to make sure it doesn’t get all scracthed up.

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