@raniz: there is only wireless charging receiver built into the quick circle covers. Neither plastic nor leather cover supports it. However I have seen a Youtube video with one guy removing the NFC antenna inside the cover and replacing it with an aftermarket wireless antenna. It is basically just a sticker.
The G4 doesn't come with wireless charging out of the box (you have to buy a replacement "sticker" with NFC + wireless charging, regardless of the back type.) However, once you get that new sticker, it works fine in my experience.
I just bought one of these for my G2, but am confused how one can simply replace a sticker. On my Nexus 5 there are 4 contact pads-- 2 for the NFC, 2 for the Qi. It makes sense that you could do both through the same coil--perhaps-- given proper tuning-- but is this what's going on?
Or are there 4 contact pads and the stock covers only make use of 2...
Oh man, that bright orange is a little bit much. The red looks like a nice, deep burgundy color but that orange leather with the coarse texture legitimately looks like an orange peel. Not sure if they intended for it to have that look but it doesn't make it look premium at all, especially compared to the standard polycarbonate backs. It looks like it belongs in a lunch box.
Heh, never had a leather bound lunchbox myself, but I do agree it looks cheap. I don't think the coarse texture in general is a good sign of quality... I like the dark red one too, and I really liked the idea of these when they first came out...
However, since then I've seen a few too many user reports about how they only last a few months before wearing out... I understand leather products are made to wear in and show some character, but the leather peeling off entirely on the corners isn't exactly wearing in, more like wearing out.
Leather back covers are ridiculously wasteful. Phones are such ephemeral items and some poor animal gave part of its body to be the pack of your phone, which is just going to be thrown away in two years! :( It's a sad nascent trend that I hope disappears very quickly.
Leather is made out of the skins of cows that were killed for their meat, they're not going out and killing extra cows and throwing away the rest of the cow. Quite often the bones are used as well, there are quite a few culinary and industrial uses for cow bones.
Anyway, it's not that wasteful, certainly no more wasteful than the designer handbag industry.
The leather hand bag industry isn't just starting up, and this isn't an article about that, hence why I am not complaining about it.
Also, your argument doesn't make much sense, leather isn't a by product, its a major economic force in the cow industry, they get a lot of money and financial incentive form it. It's not like they have a bunch of free leather they're off loading on to the world. That viewpoint neglects to consider the real economics of the industry.
I fix phones for a living... the leather-backed G4s are going to be fun. Going to have to really put that thing far off to the side where it can't get scuffed up on all the broken glass that's lying around...
Yeah don't clean that glass up or nothin'. Did I mention this is an easily removable cover?? Maybe, you know, put a bucket or large bowl next to the broken glass pile to stick the removable cover in. That way it doesn't get rubbed up and down the foot-high pile of glass a dozen times during the repair process. Which, frankly I can only imagine involves lots of thrashing around and rubbing the leather cover up and down a three-foot high pile of acid-drenched razor sharp glass shards.
I have the T-Mobile version and got it with the free extra leather back promo. The standard brown leather back is very nice soft fine grain (like shoe leather) and the color is conservative and classy. I got the light blue version for the free one, definitely a different feel. It is soft but more bumpy so feels rougher in the hand. The fine grain is more comfortable, the larger grain feels more durable. Both are a huge difference from a plastic back and work fine with the wireless charging aftermarket sticker. My only wish would have been a metal bezel instead of the plastic one. It really would have knocked the premium feel up a notch.
Agree with sailorman23 in the brown leather cover. I have it myself and it is just a very premium and neat feel in the hand. So far 3 months and only the corners look slightly worn.
Few have Also focused on the fact that the stiching is more than just going. It works excellently as a guide towards the rear buttons - big improvement from the plastic cover.
Also agree about the plastic bezel. Dropped my phone on the ground recently and that left nasty dents in two of the corners.
I received a burgundy "leather" back for the LG G4 as part of the Verizon bonus that also included a spare battery and charger case. To my eye, the closest its material ever came to a cow was when the delivery van went past a Wendys. It does not feel or smell remotely like leather. However, it does make for a spare back.
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Raniz - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
What's the status on wireless charging on the G4, with or without the leather backs?deadmeat2k - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
@raniz: there is only wireless charging receiver built into the quick circle covers. Neither plastic nor leather cover supports it. However I have seen a Youtube video with one guy removing the NFC antenna inside the cover and replacing it with an aftermarket wireless antenna. It is basically just a sticker.Raniz - Friday, August 21, 2015 - link
Good to hear. Thanks!biofishfreak - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
The G4 doesn't come with wireless charging out of the box (you have to buy a replacement "sticker" with NFC + wireless charging, regardless of the back type.) However, once you get that new sticker, it works fine in my experience.soccerballtux - Friday, August 28, 2015 - link
I just bought one of these for my G2, but am confused how one can simply replace a sticker. On my Nexus 5 there are 4 contact pads-- 2 for the NFC, 2 for the Qi. It makes sense that you could do both through the same coil--perhaps-- given proper tuning-- but is this what's going on?Or are there 4 contact pads and the stock covers only make use of 2...
nedge2k - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
aliexpress is your friend. the nfc sticker on the leather covers comes right off and you can replace with a qi/nfc special from ali.soccerballtux - Friday, August 28, 2015 - link
hey, see my comment to your siblingWithoutWeakness - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
Oh man, that bright orange is a little bit much. The red looks like a nice, deep burgundy color but that orange leather with the coarse texture legitimately looks like an orange peel. Not sure if they intended for it to have that look but it doesn't make it look premium at all, especially compared to the standard polycarbonate backs. It looks like it belongs in a lunch box.Impulses - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
Heh, never had a leather bound lunchbox myself, but I do agree it looks cheap. I don't think the coarse texture in general is a good sign of quality... I like the dark red one too, and I really liked the idea of these when they first came out...However, since then I've seen a few too many user reports about how they only last a few months before wearing out... I understand leather products are made to wear in and show some character, but the leather peeling off entirely on the corners isn't exactly wearing in, more like wearing out.
smorebuds - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
I associated it with a basketball texture. Still obnoxious, but I could see some people being into that.Aritra Ghatak - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
What do you people do with the left over review units??Marricks - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
Leather back covers are ridiculously wasteful. Phones are such ephemeral items and some poor animal gave part of its body to be the pack of your phone, which is just going to be thrown away in two years! :(It's a sad nascent trend that I hope disappears very quickly.
Flunk - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
Leather is made out of the skins of cows that were killed for their meat, they're not going out and killing extra cows and throwing away the rest of the cow. Quite often the bones are used as well, there are quite a few culinary and industrial uses for cow bones.Anyway, it's not that wasteful, certainly no more wasteful than the designer handbag industry.
Marricks - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
The leather hand bag industry isn't just starting up, and this isn't an article about that, hence why I am not complaining about it.Also, your argument doesn't make much sense, leather isn't a by product, its a major economic force in the cow industry, they get a lot of money and financial incentive form it. It's not like they have a bunch of free leather they're off loading on to the world. That viewpoint neglects to consider the real economics of the industry.
sailorman23 - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
The cows leather is a byproduct of beef for food. Cows aren't killed for their hides these days. It would be wasteful NOT to use the leather.Alexvrb - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
Stop with your facts and logic, you'll just confuse them.III-V - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
I fix phones for a living... the leather-backed G4s are going to be fun. Going to have to really put that thing far off to the side where it can't get scuffed up on all the broken glass that's lying around...Alexvrb - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
Yeah don't clean that glass up or nothin'. Did I mention this is an easily removable cover?? Maybe, you know, put a bucket or large bowl next to the broken glass pile to stick the removable cover in. That way it doesn't get rubbed up and down the foot-high pile of glass a dozen times during the repair process. Which, frankly I can only imagine involves lots of thrashing around and rubbing the leather cover up and down a three-foot high pile of acid-drenched razor sharp glass shards.III-V - Monday, August 24, 2015 - link
Well, someone seems a bit ignorant of the ins and outs of phone repair shops...sailorman23 - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
I have the T-Mobile version and got it with the free extra leather back promo. The standard brown leather back is very nice soft fine grain (like shoe leather) and the color is conservative and classy. I got the light blue version for the free one, definitely a different feel. It is soft but more bumpy so feels rougher in the hand. The fine grain is more comfortable, the larger grain feels more durable. Both are a huge difference from a plastic back and work fine with the wireless charging aftermarket sticker. My only wish would have been a metal bezel instead of the plastic one. It really would have knocked the premium feel up a notch.deadmeat2k - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
Agree with sailorman23 in the brown leather cover. I have it myself and it is just a very premium and neat feel in the hand. So far 3 months and only the corners look slightly worn.Few have Also focused on the fact that the stiching is more than just going. It works excellently as a guide towards the rear buttons - big improvement from the plastic cover.
Also agree about the plastic bezel. Dropped my phone on the ground recently and that left nasty dents in two of the corners.
phoneopedia - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
very beautiful covers.check out latest news abou Blackberry,
http://phoneopedia.com/blackberry-android-smartpho...
DrBob957 - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
I received a burgundy "leather" back for the LG G4 as part of the Verizon bonus that also included a spare battery and charger case. To my eye, the closest its material ever came to a cow was when the delivery van went past a Wendys. It does not feel or smell remotely like leather. However, it does make for a spare back.boozed - Monday, August 17, 2015 - link
The stitching is _controversial_?