Dbrand had it rough last year with its attempt to create a clear case that would never yellow. After a long wait, it turned out to be a flop. The Ghost Case, as it was called, was stricken with problems: glue overflow from the MagSafe magnets, fingerprints straight out of the box, weak sidewalls (especially at the bottom), and the mother of all issues — it scratched like nobody’s business. It was a disaster rivaling Takara Tomy’s first “Masterpiece” combiner, Raiden.
I was gutted because I actually liked the design. The “skeleton” sides made the phone less bulky, and it just felt good in the hand. When the debacle unfolded, dbrand promised to fix it and even offered Ghost Case 1.0 owners a free replacement. Fast forward almost a year, and Ghost Case 2.0 finally started shipping. I got mine late last year, and here’s my review.
The Package
As before, the packaging is a treat for packaging enthusiasts. The same high-quality, drawer-style box with debossed branding makes a return. Inside, the case sits on an “island” protected by two films featuring Ghost Case logos.
No instructions are included, but honestly, none are needed. There’s also a cheeky note from dbrand admitting the Ghost Case was their “most successful failure” and listing improvements for the 2.0 version:
- More durable construction
- Reinforced sidewalls
- Improved button tactility
- Stronger magnets
- Enhanced camera protection
- Better impact resistance
Sounds good, right? Well, not quite 100% to me. Oh, and the packaging arrived damage-free this time. Thank goodness!
Side Note
Last year, I shared a short review of Ghost Case 1.0 on dbrand’s subreddit, and it was well-received. But this being the internet, there’s always that one person.
I mentioned the presence of fingerprints on the case right after peeling off the protective films. My review included photos — one showing me holding the case with the protective films still on. And then came this genius comment:
“Claims case has bad QC with fingerprints on it while saying they never touched the clear part of the case…. Proceeds to post several pictures showing themself touching the clear part of the case.”
Ah, yes, Sherlock — because clearly, touching the protective films is the same as touching the clear part of the case itself.
The Case
Out of the box, the 2.0 still has protective films, but this time they’re applied perfectly — no sketchy manual reapplication (or at least looks like manual application anyways) like my 1.0.
The sidewalls now feature solid black rubber instead of the skeletal design. It’s more rigid, grippy, and practical but loses some aesthetic points. Plus, it feels very much chunkier now. I guess we cannot have it all, right?
The screen and rear camera lips are subtle but enough for protection, even with a screen protector. Speaking of which, my Spigen protector fits just fine. I know it does not look like it but it does have it (if ever so slightly).
As for scratch resistance? So far, so good. My phone shares bag space with sweets, a reusable bag, and cough drops. Not a scratch in sight. And no, I’m not brave enough to test it with keys.
The Omission
None this time!
The Thoughts
dbrand may have a “rude” persona, but they take their products seriously. This free replacement proves it. I wouldn’t call it the best case ever, but it ticks my boxes for protection and aesthetics (well, almost!). Oh, and it looks fantastic with my dbrand x JerryRigEverything teardown skin!
The Verdict
For:
- Relatively thin with real side protection
- Satisfyingly clicky buttons (and I thought 1.0 was good!)
- Even grippier — if it slips, your hands are probably oily
- Excellent build quality
- Much stronger MagSafe than 1.0
Against:
- Smudge/fingerprint magnet
- Feels thicker with the full-on rubber sides
- Aesthetically, not so unique as 1.0
The Ghost Case 2.0 is available for pre-order for select devices for US$49.95.
Images: Mike for Mikeshouts.com.
