Ha ha… I think I’ve over engineered this thing enough!
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After cutting off the side standoffs (I think they are still there in the latest draft?) I was able to put the L5 finally into my polycarbonate case. Here are two pictures:
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@fiacco, does the case have a specific license, or can anyone sell/reproduce it?
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I also posted it on the latest L14 broken hinge thread but I suggested a case builder here could also do a sideline for L## hinges.
Backreference:
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So it was the side ones that were too tight… I wonder, do you have a different phone edition? I have an Evergreen model if I remember correctly.
I guess when I do another update I’ll loosen things up a bit and see how that works out. If it is loose, it’d always be easier to add some small part to close gaps than it is to remove material.
But I have a feeling that the tightness was more due to either the material used or the printer/nozzle used.
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Update: I am using a “bumper” case since a few weeks as daily driver. The filename was “silicone_bump_case.stl“ but I can’t find the reference anymore atm to give proper credit. Here are some pictures (shot on Oneplus 6 via pipewire/gnome-snapshot in bad lighting conditions):
I find it much better than the previous one (where some noses broke). What I also learned now from the docs is that the newer Librem5s are longer (153 vs. 150mm) which explains why I had problems with fitting it in both cases. The opening for the USB port was a bit too narrow but it was no problem to make a cutout with a knife. Also the 3.5mm jack probably needs a cut, too.
Printed using FDM and black TPU with 30% fill.
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I’m curious about how do you see the corners working, specifically due to their size. They extend beyond the rest of the frame and should be the first ones to catch any hits. What is your experience, do they catch most of the bumps or is it important to have the sides too - have you noticed side hits (that do not get cought by the corners)? I added similarly extending (but not TPU) corners to a more protective backcover alternative (see: Replacement back covers - #37 by JR-Fi) and was thinking if I should add to that design also more side protection (maybe not all the way, just something in the middle).
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I think the extended rounded corners help a lot though I did not do any drop tests. They don’t get in the way at all. What is rather annoying is the not so sleek texture of the sides on the front that feels a bit “scratchy”. Another issue is that the case is just a bit too bulky.
I also thought about what I see you already realized with the replacement back covers (didn’t know that, thanks!). I wonder how the grip is here, since the metal sides are not ideal in this regard. And have you tried printing this with TPU filament?
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I wouldn’t do that wit TPU as it needs to be rigid to cover the back (structure needs it to be rigid), but the corners have grooves and holes, so that external silicone or other rubbery material (even with a glue gun if you want real cheap DIY) could be added on top of them. I think that would anyway give better protection.
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At least the TPU from which my case was printed seems sufficiently rigid to me. But sure, you could make it out of multiple pieces with different material as well.
Speaking of different material: My ultimate goal would be to get an Otterbox Defender Pro case that is available in large volumes and to make a custom inner frame for the librem5 that fits the original out rubber. I am talking about the upper and lower inner case as shown here:
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To me the best case for L5 it will like Nokia n9 case. purism need it to perform.
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Kuleszdl, please could you share bumper file here if you found it? I’d like to print it, thank you!! 
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I am temporarily back on Android, will be back on L5 in a bit.
I bought a cheap stretchy “rubber bikini” case for the L5 and that worked too well. The rubber not only protected the case so I can lean it up against things, it was just tacky enough that it would pose problems putting it into a pocket or a carrying case.
So I used the L5 without a case for about 1.5 years. I dropped it only a couple of times and it didn’t ding and only a tiny scratch. The metal case is absolutely amazing and the chonky size of the pone is absolutely perfect as an anti-klutz mechanism. Easy to pickup, easy to hold and not so huge that you cannot really fit it into a hand.
Anyway, useless point of it all is that for the L5 I no longer need a case and won’t be getting one once back on the device.
I never expected that ui/ux outcome.
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A few days ago I fell from a bike because of the road being icy right onto the Librem 5 in my pocket. I’ve got a big bruise on my leg where the phone was, but the phone itself was unaffected. For comparison, many years ago I somehow managed to break the screen of a Samsung Galaxy S3 in my pocket without even noticing anything 
(I’ve recently broken a screen of a Nokia N900 without noticing too, but it was more than 15 years old when it happened so I can give it a pass 
and I already had spares stocked up so no big deal 
)
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It really is one of the most sturdy devices I have ever used.
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That could be read as “I would have been ok, but for this dangerous phone” 
Or perhaps you didn’t get injured worse because you had it to break your fall - more size equals less force on impact
I hope it warmed you up afterwards…
[timely: F Minus by Tony Carrillo for January 17, 2026 | GoComics]