If you managed to get a Nexus 4 from the mailman last/this week, chances are — like me — you worry every day about your shiny new smartphone meeting an early demise from a chance drop or spill. And who could blame you. The Nexus 4 is the first Nexus to feature glass on both the front and back of the device. That means it really wouldn’t take much to shatter that thing to a million pieces.

But today, I can rest a little easier now the UPS guy has paid my house a little visit, finally dropping off the official Nexus 4 Bumper Case. For those interested, here’s a quick video showcasing the bumper and after, I’ll go into a little more detail with my thoughts on the case. Enjoy.

Build Quality

Upon pulling the case out of the box, I was completely taken by surprise at the quality of this little bumper case. A combination of flexible rubber and plastic, the case features a black TPU-like material that’s smooth and chiseled on the front, with a neat texture on the back. The sides of the case are accented with a plastic band that has a metallic finish (similar to the color on the Galaxy Nexus), and the volume rocker and power buttons are finished in chrome. Once slipped on, the case holds onto the Nexus 4 firmly, like a man to his lady.

Coverage

Keep in mind this is a bumper case which means it will protect the device from bumps and bruises (makes sense) but it wont protect the phone from falling down a flight of stairs, or off your 2nd story balcony. The back of the device is left completely exposed, but the rim of the case is slightly more raised than the front, keeping the device from coming in contact with scratchy materials sudden contact with the pavement. Given that your device is less likely to fall completely flat on its face or back, this bumper will protect you device from about 90% of life’s unexpected “accidents.”

Value

At $20, the Nexus 4 bumper isn’t cheap, but that’s not to say it’s all that expensive either. You’ll see cheap silicone and TPU cases offered for around the same price in carrier retail stores, and while theoretically you can find cheaper cases online, I can guarantee you wont find one of this quality, let alone one that completely blends into the device. This case was literally designed for the Nexus 4, not just made for it. It’s because of all this, the official Nexus 4 bumper case is an instant buy (whenever it comes back in stock on Google Play).

[Google Play Store]