EEE Pad Roocase Mulit-angle Case Review
Hi All,
I thought that I would post a review of this case since I haven't seen one yet. I'm going to follow a bit of jms_uk's review of the FolioGuard, just to keep some congruency amongst our forum.
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Introduction:
I upgraded to the Transformer from a Nook Color (great tablet, but the screen was too small for me), and was looking for a multi-angle case. I first saw the official case, but I thought it was hideous with the edges, and was overpriced. So I waited out for a decent case to come along, and when the Roocase came out, I pretty much went for it. It fit all my criteria (I don't have a keyboard so I wasn't worried about its ability to dock while in the case).
Initial Impressions:
The case is very large and quite thick due to all the folds required by its design. The leather has a really nice and solid feel to it. It's not very soft or supple, but it feels just like the leather that's used in the seats of a BMW, sturdy and durable. All the edges are wrapped nicely and securely, and the retention flap is on the bottom, so your Transformer won't fall out when you're carrying it. All in all, it's very high quality and very well designed.
Design:
The quality and craftsmanship is extremely good. It's made from real leather (you can smell and feel it). All the cut edges have been properly sealed, and thus won't fray or wear down easily. There is a nice texture to the leather and it feels smooth and durable. It feels like a nice portfolio in your hands. The black cloth material is very soft and smooth, and won't pick up dust. I got some cracker crumbs on it and it was easier to clean off than microfiber. The magnets on the cover are weak, but does the job. I would have preferred stronger magnets, but I can't complain for $30.
The fit for Transformer is just right, and it slides smoothly in. The velcro in the flap secures the Transformer in with no worries about it falling out and is quite strong. Once secured, the Transformer is happily strapped in, and it doesn't wiggle in place. There are cutouts for all the ports, cameras and light sensor and it doesn't interfere with their operations. I took a few pictures and the camera is free from obstructions. The velcro fastening flap is very secure so you don't have to worry about your Transformer falling out.
There's velcro on the bottom edge of the case where the bottom of the transformer would be. These are for holding the viewing angle, and preventing the cover from unfolding. They work really well and makes the tilting mode very solid as you work, you can pick it up and it will hold your angle with no issues.
In Use:
I like holding my Transformer while I work/play, and this case has some issues in that area. First off, the materials and leather are slippery. I usually hold my Transformer in my left hand, with the power button at the top in portrait mode. When the cover is folded back, you have to hold onto the soft material. The issues I found here, is that the material is not very grippy (less than the Transformer's textured back) even with the bigger grip (due to the fold), it was harder to hold. I had a case for my Nook Color that had microfiber which really helped in the grip department, and I miss that. But that's the disadvantage of having velcro to hold the angle.
The only way I can grip the Transformer well is when I hold it where the camera is. It's really nice to hold this way, but you're going to block the light sensor. I don't use the light sensor, so this isn't a big issue for me. The case adds quite a bit of heft to the tablet, and its noticeable so if you're looking for a light case, this is not one you should look for. My weight scale is off, but it's definitely around the 200g mark, which is almost a third of the Transformers weight. I held it for a bit with one hand for 30 minutes and my wrist was getting sore. So you'll need to hold it with two hands. But if you usually rest the Transformer while you use it (like me), this isn't a big issue either. The quality of the case far outweigh the mass of the case.
The charge port is covered up by the fold when you close the case, so you can't charge while the case is closed, but all other ports are easily accessible when the cover is closed.
The multi-angle capabilities are great and it is solid with the velcro holding it together. There is a "slight" angle when it's folded back, and It helps for typing. I thought it was great till I saw the ACase, which has a re-enforcement in the spine that gives you a greater typing angle.
When at it's steepest angle, you can have the connector with no stress on the cord!
Verdict:
This is a good case, with extremely high craftsmanship, and attention to detail. The Quality is amazing, and it really keeps the Transformer safe but I can't really call it a Great case as it needs some design improvements.
It's a really nice case with just one annoying flaw that is enough to disappoint me. The offender is just the lack of grip when holding the tablet. Both the leather and the fabric are slippery, and so extra care is needed to grip it. The fabric is extra slippery which makes the Transformer hard to hold with the cover folded back when you hold it on the fabric. The grippiest way to hold is with your hand on the camera. When you do, it's acceptable. I personally think they spray some sort of protectant on the leather that gets on the fabric, which makes it slippery almost like a silicone protectant which is slippery. I'll try to apply some leather cleaner to see if that will help with the grip issues that I'm having.
I think I'm just nit picking as it just takes some getting used to, or more handling to rub off the protectant.
[Update]
I've now owned this case longer than 24 hours, and I've used some leather cleaner and it's improved the grip a bit more. I'm still not a fan of holding it along the spine, so I'm just trying to get used to holding it by the edge.
Pros:
- Real leather
- Very nice and sleek
- Well crafted
- Nice covers to protect the Transformer
- Awesome quality materials used.
- All ports align with the cameras and light sensors with no interference
- $30!! (after shipping)
- Magnets for holding the cover down
- Velcro for holding the stand!
- The leather
- Great for two handed gaming if you're using the stand
Cons:
- Slippery coating on the leather
- Slippery fabric when folded back
- Flexible Spine prevents it from being solid when held
- Fairly bulky (This is the tradeoff for great protection and cushioning)
**Some Other Thoughts**
At first I was really put off by its huge size and extra weight, but now that I've had it for longer, It's grown on me a bit. I did see the ACase infinite angle folio case, and for a bit I regretted making the Roocase purchase, because the ACase has the grippy fabric and the shaped spine. However, I found out that it does not have velcro for the flap (I think the grippy material makes up for it because the reviewer was struggling to put it in when I saw the video), and the other is that there's nothing to prevent the front cover from completely folding out. The Roocase has velcro that helps keep it together. So those two things make the purchase go down easier.
Thanks for this! I've been planning on buying this to replace my FolioCase.
By ACase, I assume you mean this? http://www.amazon.com/Acase-Leather...3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1310612255&sr=1-3
This looks nice too. I may purchase this aswell
I'm glad the review helped. The case you linked to is the ACase I referred to. There's a small overview on youtube on it that you can check out if you wanted more information.
also have this case and love it!
Hey i just received this case also ( and also put up a review ...but yours is better)
I agree with almost all the points but do you wish there was also a magnet on the flap so when you have the tablet open you don't need to worry about the flap falling down ?
xun3 and dark lord when did you order the case via Amazon?
I am also in Canada and ordered the Case crown case on Jun 15th that was supposedly shipped Jun 27th but still no delivery. I am going to ask for a credit back and may get the Roo case instead.
How come you guys got your delivery without being affected by the Canada Post strike?
How did they ship your cases, was it thru UPS International Mail?
Sorry for the long questions but my CC case is in limbo.
thanks
Had mine for a cpuple of days and lovin it. Very well made.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
I like the case as well. I just wish there was a way to dock the tablet without the hassle of pulling it from the case. Otherwise, a great purchase.
AstroTrain said:
xun3 and dark lord when did you order the case via Amazon?
I am also in Canada and ordered the Case crown case on Jun 15th that was supposedly shipped Jun 27th but still no delivery. I am going to ask for a credit back and may get the Roo case instead.
How come you guys got your delivery without being affected by the Canada Post strike?
How did they ship your cases, was it thru UPS International Mail?
Sorry for the long questions but my CC case is in limbo.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Orderd it from amazon about a month ago and i believe it came via UPS and yeah if you do plan on getting the roocase they are like 50% off till the end of the week when they become "Available"
Hi AstroTrain,
I have a friend who works in the USA, so I just send it to them, and they bring it back for me (I live in Windsor, so it's convenient). If you do order, use the United States Postal Service (USPS), that's if it is an option. You'll avoid having to pay custom fees. UPS is a nightmare if you ship across the border.
Hi Dark Lord Me,
I totally agree that something like a magnet would be beneficial to the design. I'd love to add a magnet, but I'm not a seamstress. I was thinking of modifying my case by adding some sort of an elastic strap to hold the front cover in place. We'll see if I can find anything like that in fabric land.
I received mine on Monday and am very impressed with it, especially considering the price. Quality build and fit.
Excellent review. Thank you for posting. I gave you a thanks to your OP.
I have this case and mine has magnets in the front cover. I am very happy with this portfolio case. I do wish that you could charge it with the cover closed.
Could you cut a hole, for the charger cable?
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
mike5065 said:
Could you cut a hole, for the charger cable?
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, but it might look kind of goofy. You'd also need to bind the edges of the cut with some material to prevent the inside liner from separating from the leather.
I'd really like some way to dock the tab with a case still attached, but I guess that could be really awkward.
I got this case about 2 weeks ago and it's been awesome. I love the quality of the leather and the case is great. It's adds a good sense of weight and stuff to the tablet. Makes me less nervous about handling it not as carefully.
Got mine yesterday. So far very good, just maybe too heavy. But very sturdy and well built. I added velco strips to the inside leather lip in order to get a lower tilt, for when I'm on the couch. Next mod will be to melt a hole with a soldering iron to access the power when closed.
Amazon price went up a bit I noticed....still under-priced for what you get.
Nice work Roocase.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
I had it for a week and like very much. I don't have the keyboard, so that's not an issue for me. Great workmanship and materials. I wish it was a little lighter, though, but perhaps it would make it flimsier.
When reading a book in portrait mode, I first set it for landscape viewing and then turn it on its side. I find this arrangement quite satisfactory.
Great review, thanks.
In the market for a case for my TF and will probaly get this case.
Had it a month now and am convinced one is needed.
Being using an old netbook case since but still think an actual cover is needed.
Related
Not quite finished with this first post I have a few more to add.
Since the other thread is now 11 pages long and you have to read the whole thing to find every single case made for the flyer, I decided it might be easier if you could see the entire list in one post.
Most of this info is taken from this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1089545
However I encourage people to post reviews here and I will edit this posting to add new reviews images and links.
=======================================================
Leather Pouch w/ pen holder for HTC FLYER Tablet
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From Best Buy for Business
Price $29.99
http://www.bestbuybusiness.com/bbfb...etail&showAddButton=true&productID=BB11281850
=======================================================
Navitech Black Executive Leather Flip Case
Price: £14.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Navitech-Ex...QCPY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1306093913&sr=8-2
Kiwi Cases Same Case at Amazon US
Price: $24.95
http://www.amazon.com/HTC-Flyer-Lea...onics&qid=1308319479&sr=1-2&tag=5336653508-20
Review:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15600189&postcount=173
=======================================================
Melkco Leather Jacka Type Ver.2 Stand up case w/Pen Slot
$89.00
http://www.eeeva.com/index.php/tabl...ouble-stand-and-pen-slot-black-orange-lc.html
Review:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15472292&postcount=159
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15474588&postcount=161
=======================================================
Melkco Leather case for HTC Flyer - Slimme Cover Type with double stand &Pen Slot
$79
http://www.carrymobile.com/index.ph...orange-lc-with-double-stand-and-pen-slot.html
Review(s)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=16051013&postcount=235
=======================================================
Clip style Case
BLUREX Leather Slim folio Case
$22.99
http://www.amazon.com/BLUREX-Leathe...=UTF8&qid=1310094410&sr=1-6&tag=5336653508-20
Review:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15669821&postcount=181
=======================================================
PyroSkins 360 Case
http://www.pyroskins.com/htc-flyer/...thetic-leather-360-degree-rotation-black.html
Pictures:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15839302&postcount=201
Review:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15926299&postcount=2
=======================================================
RocketFish Folio Case
Best Buy http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Rocketf...46760255&skuId=2732088&st=htc flyer&cp=1&lp=4
Price $49.99
Pictures:
Review:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=14162789&postcount=2
I purchased and received the pyroskin 360 degree folio leather case.
It's synthetic leather but looks and feels great. The case allows the tablet to be rotated 360 degrees from portrait to landscape and vice versa with ease and without having to remove the tablet.
It has an elastic pen loop and the fit is snug enough to keep the pen in place without worry. The pen loop and pen are also placed in a great position that does not hinder using or viewing the tablet without the pen.
Examining the case you will find that the case uses a TPU back which holds the plastic ring that allows the swivel feature. The rest of the leather case simply integrates and wraps around the TPU case which is also wrapped in synthetic leather.
This to me seems like a two-fer. You get a leather folio case and a TPU all in one. When the folio is closed the screen is covered and the TPU back keeps the tablet secure.
Unlike other cases I have seen, the pyroskin case (because of the TPU or TPU style back) does not have anything running across the front of the tablet screen. The entire screen area is open and unobstructed which makes for a very sleek and uniform appearance when viewing the tablet with the case open.
The hold on the tablet by the TPU case is surprisingly strong. I have to put in some effort in order to get the tablet out of the TPU case.
Access to everything (power, volume, headphone jack) is easy and unobstructed in any way. The cutouts for the speakers, mics, and charging port have ample space around them to allow connecting the proper connectors and sound to escape. The camera cutout allows the camera to be used without removing the tablet from the case and is unobstructed as well.
The two viewing angles (one less than other cases) seems to be more than enough for the tablet and I find myself only really using one almost all of the time (the forward most angle).
The case is held closed by an elastic band that runs the length of the folio case and holds the front to the rear. In my opinion this is a better alternative than magnets as magnets tend to lose strength after a while especially in leather cases.
Some may not be a fan of the backside design/style/appearance but because of the way this case is designed it seems it is unavoidable. I personally like it and it really makes the case stand out from others.
All in all I give it a 5 out 5 on product quality and price. This is my honest opinion on this case and I am in no way affiliated with pyroskin other than having purchased this product.
Pics http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15839302&postcount=201
Really? Another thread about "Flyer Cases"...
kcchen said:
Really? Another thread about "Flyer Cases"...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but this one has reviews and a complete list of cases that have been verified to fit the flyer.
since the OP of the other thread hasn't really updated his first post with the findings, I decided to do what has been done in other sections of the XDA Forums and create a single post with all of the available known cases that fit the flyer.
Now someone doesn't have to dig through 11 pages of a thread to find all of the (known) cases for the flyer.
same as second one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150632235...35999&_sacat=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1
If you can afford it, I highly recommend the Pielframa iMagnum Flyer case. The hand stitched soft leather case fits my Flyer and feels like a well-worn baseball glove.
All of the holes for the various speakers, port, power, and camera lens line up very well. The speaker holes even have a fine mesh insert.
The case is tight fitting and the Flyer and stylus do not feel like they will ever fall out.
At 110 euros, it is quite expensive but I think it is worth it since I use it at work all day and it has to look good for meetings.
It came in a nice box and a square of chamois for wiping down the screen was included.
Pielframa have some very nice pictures of their case and I have posted some of my own on the other flyer case thread.
http://www.pielframa.com/htc-flyer-imagnum-tan-cases.htm
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1089545&page=23
HTC Flyer / Tapatalk
The Melkco Slimme reviews links are for the wrong case. They are both orange and from Melkco, but they are separate cases.
trees812 said:
The Melkco Slimme reviews links are for the wrong case. They are both orange and from Melkco, but they are separate cases.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see, I don't know how I missed that. Thank you.
pyro530 said:
Yes, but this one has reviews and a complete list of cases that have been verified to fit the flyer.
since the OP of the other thread hasn't really updated his first post with the findings, I decided to do what has been done in other sections of the XDA Forums and create a single post with all of the available known cases that fit the flyer.
Now someone doesn't have to dig through 11 pages of a thread to find all of the (known) cases for the flyer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The real problem I have with this thread is: YOU are affiliated with one of the case manufacturers. It sounds a little like self promotion to me, which is taking advantage of the community. Let your product speak for itself through the communities voice. You've made it known that Pyro has a really good case (which believe it or not I was a fan of, but the product was late to the game).
So if you're going to be custodian of this "comprehensive list", will it be up to date in a year? I can get someone to "sticky" it if it turns out to be as advertised. Or will you lose interest when Pyroskins is moving onto a new tablet case?
I'm a member of a lot of other special interest forums and self promotion isn't usually allowed. With that said I don't know if there is a moderator here or whether there are those types of rules.
kcchen said:
The real problem I have with this thread is: YOU are affiliated with one of the case manufacturers. It sounds a little like self promotion to me, which is taking advantage of the community. Let your product speak for itself through the communities voice. You've made it known that Pyro has a really good case (which believe it or not I was a fan of, but the product was late to the game).
So if you're going to be custodian of this "comprehensive list", will it be up to date in a year? I can get someone to "sticky" it if it turns out to be as advertised. Or will you lose interest when Pyroskins is moving onto a new tablet case?
I'm a member of a lot of other special interest forums and self promotion isn't usually allowed. With that said I don't know if there is a moderator here or whether there are those types of rules.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand what your saying here completely as I have been on a lot of special interest forums myself.
Mostly automotive and electronics specific ones. I actually own the HTC Flyer and use it on almost a daily basis. I came to XDA Fourms because I had an Android device first. I started with the Cruz Reader, moved to the Pandigital Novel, Traded up the WPDN for the Nook Color when they had it on sale for $200 and that is what brought me to XDA. Ended up trading up the Nook for the gTablet.
I don't see any reason why I can't continue to update this thread, if someone posts a review up here I will be happy to add it to the OP.
So being 100% honest here, I really am here to support the Android platform and the devices it runs on.
As an XDA forum member that comes to this forums for info on my android products, I don't believe Pyro is self promoting with this thread. All cases are represented and the pyroskin case is listed 2nd to last. I liked the pyroskin swivel case when I saw the proto type pics. I already had a case but wasn't completely happy with it and I knew when the Pyro case became available I would order it. I have read the entire original flyer case thread and Pyro answered questions about the pyroskin cases when asked and provided updates as the cases got closer to production but even in that thread I didn't feel any self promotion that would seem out of line.
Just my .02.
Sent from my HTC Flyer waiting on root using Tapatalk
Good to hear!
pyro530 said:
I understand what your saying here completely as I have been on a lot of special interest forums myself.
Mostly automotive and electronics specific ones. I actually own the HTC Flyer and use it on almost a daily basis. I came to XDA Fourms because I had an Android device first. I started with the Cruz Reader, moved to the Pandigital Novel, Traded up the WPDN for the Nook Color when they had it on sale for $200 and that is what brought me to XDA. Ended up trading up the Nook for the gTablet.
I don't see any reason why I can't continue to update this thread, if someone posts a review up here I will be happy to add it to the OP.
So being 100% honest here, I really am here to support the Android platform and the devices it runs on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds good. I don't mind a little self promotion, but just want to make sure the the spirit of the forums are kept true.
***Post deleted***
I agree
I think Pyro's thread is just fine, it is a bit more up to date than mine and more concise so I will request that all further things case related be posted into his thread!
EDIT: my OP was updated to link here!
Also I read this post and the new Trident case looks splendid, perhaps after payday I will order one!
Just an FYI for anyone interested in purchasing... Pyro Skin has a 15% off HTC Flyer Acess. Coupon good through September.
Coupon Code: flyoopon
If anything it will atleast cover your shipping...
D\/8
PDair Case review
Here is my PDair Leather case (Book Type) review. Took 21 days to ship, and another 5 days to arrive. $46 from Expansys. Pictures link at bottom.
The case is overall pretty good quality. Has the nice new leather smell and feels good to touch. Black leather with white stitchings makes it look professional. Access to all ports and cutouts for camera, speakers, etc. The speakers are not muffled in any way. It does add some extra bulk though as this is not a slim style case.
My favorite part of it is the stand. The flap has multiple folds, which makes for many stand positions, much more than any other case I've seen. The flap folds into a back piece that has two settings for stand angle. Although those are the only "official" angles, I've found two other ways to fold the closing magnetic flap to have two more angles. This "unofficial" lower angle suits be when I use it on top of a desk at waist level really well, like during meetings at work. It is much like the iPad's smart cover's angles, except it's all done from one side of the tablet.
The case is kept closed by two magnets inside the smaller flap that extends out from the cover piece. This flap both folds to keep the case closed and folds out of the way when it is opened like a book. The magnets used here interfere with the landscape/portrait sensors on the Flyer, so it is like a manual switch, which I personally like.
All in all, I have nothing to dislike about it. The multiple angles allow for great video viewing and general usage on various table heights. If you are willing to wait almost a month for a great case, I recommend it.
http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/28809934/1/PDair%20case?h=663f37
trees812 said:
Here is my PDair Leather case (Book Type) review. Took 21 days to ship, and another 5 days to arrive. $46 from Expansys. Pictures link at bottom.
The case is overall pretty good quality. Has the nice new leather smell and feels good to touch. Black leather with white stitchings makes it look professional. Access to all ports and cutouts for camera, speakers, etc. The speakers are not muffled in any way. It does add some extra bulk though as this is not a slim style case.
My favorite part of it is the stand. The flap has multiple folds, which makes for many stand positions, much more than any other case I've seen. The flap folds into a back piece that has two settings for stand angle. Although those are the only "official" angles, I've found two other ways to fold the closing magnetic flap to have two more angles. This "unofficial" lower angle suits be when I use it on top of a desk at waist level really well, like during meetings at work. It is much like the iPad's smart cover's angles, except it's all done from one side of the tablet.
The case is kept closed by two magnets inside the smaller flap that extends out from the cover piece. This flap both folds to keep the case closed and folds out of the way when it is opened like a book. The magnets used here interfere with the landscape/portrait sensors on the Flyer, so it is like a manual switch, which I personally like.
All in all, I have nothing to dislike about it. The multiple angles allow for great video viewing and general usage on various table heights. If you are willing to wait almost a month for a great case, I recommend it.
http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/28809934/1/PDair%20case?h=663f37
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great post, I will add it to the OP tonight.
I picked up another case, the Pyro Clip
The case is wrapped in synthetic leather but still looks and feels as good as the real thing. The interior is lined with grey suede and if your tablet is naked you won't have any worries about the interior itself scratching the screen.
Installation is very easy and straightforward. The tablet is held in place to the case by the upper most four "clips". Simply slide the tablet up into the clips and lock the bottom half of the tablet into the bottom clips.
The case is held shut by a clip along the tablet side with the volume rocker. Simply close the cover and push down with enough force to get the clip to latch onto the side groove of the tablet.
This case doesn't add much thickness to the tablet itself. If anything it adds just enough to make the tablet easier to hold when it is not in a stand position. The cover is padded generously and makes for a soft feel when holding it while moving, almost like a leather planner.
Despite the lack of a pen holder, this case has about five (yes 5) different viewing angles/positions to accomodate almost any situation.
1. It can be opened like a book and held like one to use the tablet in portrait mode
2. It can be opened and the cover can be flipped all the way to the rear to allow two handed operation in either portrait or landscape mode WITHOUT removing the tablet.
3, 4, 5. These viewing angles are achieved by unclipping the bottom clips from the tablet and bending the backside to allow the tablet/case to fold at an angle. Angles 3 and 4 are straightforward, they simply sit in the grooves. Angle 5 is achieved by allowing the tablet to slide forward until the lock clip stops it. I find that I use angle 5 almost completely for everything when I am on a flat surface such as a desk or table. Angle 4 is what I use for viewing the tablet at a distance such as netflix.
Access to everything and anything is unobstructed in any way. The speaker ports are exposed when the case is closed so you can listen to your music with little volume loss. The speakers in the viewing angles though appear to be hindered just a bit and so volume in these angles are somewhat affected especially in the fifth (5) viewing angle.
The screen is accessible entirely and the clips do not get in the way of the navigation buttons. Because the clips are raised so slightly above the screen this causes the cover to not completely touch the tablet screen when it is closed. This is a two-fer. One, since it doesn't touch the screen the chances of the interior itself scratching the screen are minimal. Two, since it doesn't touch the screen, the chances of dust getting in between the cover and the screen are increased.
Using the rear facing camera is possible without removing the tablet from the case but you will have the cover flap dangling (like most cases of this nature anyways).
If you have a body skin (like the skinomi carbon fiber skin that I have) the bottom clip and lock clip may and most likely will grab the edges of the skin. My bottom skin has been pulled a couple of times as a result of unlocking the clips to fold the case into one of the 3 viewing angles. The great thing about this case and a body skin is that you can actually see most of the skin on the backside without removing the whole tablet. This is for those people who simply must examine your tablet and you don't want to deal with removing/inserting your tablet from its case. I intend on removing the bottom clips to stop my skin from being pulled which brings me to my next point.
The top 4 clips appear to be strong enough to keep the tablet attached to the case. The bottom clips are almost not necessary especially if you intend on folding the tablet frequently. The bottom clips have an interestingly strong hold on the tablet and it makes getting into a viewing angle a bit of an effort.
The styling of this case falls along the lines of a leather wrapped book. When closed and laid camera side down it almost appears as a leather planner. This was a surprising plus when I wanted to ward people from asking to see my tablet. People simply assumed it was a regular planner. A pen holder would be nice but it would definitely detract from the styling.
Overall it is definitely a great starter case. Pen holder or not, this case is well worth the money. Whether the fifth viewing angle was intentional or not is a moot point since it seems to be just the perfect angle for almost anything and everything.
Pics
lovethyEVO said:
I purchased and received the pyroskin 360 degree folio leather case.
Some may not be a fan of the backside design/style/appearance but because of the way this case is designed it seems it is unavoidable. I personally like it and it really makes the case stand out from others.
All in all I give it a 5 out 5 on product quality and price. This is my honest opinion on this case and I am in no way affiliated with pyroskin other than having purchased this product.
Pics http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15839302&postcount=201
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A question about this case. It looks like the back with the swivel ring creates a somewhat uneven back. Does the case lay flat on a desk well? That is, if I were to open the case like a notebook and try to use it for writing, would the tablet/case be a stable writing surface? Or is there "wobble"?
Guys, im the developer of Power Switch, an app that switches off your tablet's screen when you shut the case.
The main thread can be found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1277712
Ive had reports of problems with the tab's light sensor, so would appreciate some debugging feedback.
You can use the lite version to test, it has all the features, but just wont save as much juice.
Thanks in advance. Feel free to reply here or in the main thread, i read both regularly!
Have any of you ordered this for your note? They make this one and the one without the flip cover. As of now, I am using the official flip cover and it is already starting to fall apart. I really like the look of this. If no one has ordered this, has anyone else tried any of their other products? Just curious about quality.
http://www.amazon.com/elago-Handmad...VJBO/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1331222074&sr=8-8
Also, I want to order this screen protector. There is a post here in the forums about it, but am also curious if the above case will fit with this .4mm thick tempered glass.
http://www.amazon.com/SPIGEN-SGP-Pr...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331226637&sr=1-1
If it doesn't fit, this might be a good option to go with the screen protector...
http://www.amazon.com/SPIGEN-GT-N70...YD3E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1331221815&sr=8-3
Any comments would be welcome
Very nice case. Love the slim design. Will look into it.
Ended up ordering the case without the flip front and a Steinhill Ultra Crystal screen protector.
When it comes it, I will post some pictures on the consolidated white note thread.
Just ordered....
I just ordered the flip cover version - should be here by the end of the week. Will post review and pics when it arrives.
Please come back and give us some reviews of this case. I really like the look of it. However, I wonder why there's no cutouts for the power or volume buttons. I also wish they had done a little more to cover the corners.
Budge said:
Please come back and give us some reviews of this case. I really like the look of it. However, I wonder why there's no cutouts for the power or volume buttons. I also wish they had done a little more to cover the corners.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the images are marketing mock-ups. See this description:
Product Features
Designed to fit your at&t, International Galaxy Note perfectly
Durable leather construction with secure closure
Custom cutouts for direct access to all device features
Made by handmade with genuine leather
ColSaulTigh said:
I think the images are marketing mock-ups. See this description:
Product Features
Designed to fit your at&t, International Galaxy Note perfectly
Durable leather construction with secure closure
Custom cutouts for direct access to all device features
Made by handmade with genuine leather
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I read that, too. I can see where the cutouts are for the camera, flash, usb, and mic. I just assumed that's what they were talking about. I guess it's possible that it's just a mockup, or you just have to push the buttons through the leather.
Does anyone know if this case is available in black?
Also, SPG makes a Stehen case similar to this one with full corner coverage.
i'm interested in this case too.
My case arrived!!!
So my case arrived today from Amazon, and I promised you all a review, so here goes:
1) Delivery & packaging
The case came via USPS - not UPS or FedEx. Ordered: Sunday, March 25th, 2012; delivered: Wednesday, March 28th, 2012. Came from San Diego, CA to Orlando, FL in 3 days. Not bad. The case was packed in a bubble-padded shipping envelope. A bit cheap considering I paid $4.99 in shipping & handling, but whatever.
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Inside the bubble wrap was the case in it's manufacturer's packaging. Nice pack - obviously meant for hanging on a peg in a retail location. It's attractive and well-protected inside, and the package was not difficult at all to open. There is a fingernail tab in the top-right corner of the front face that lets you just lift off the front cover. No chance of scratching your case with scissors or a knife - a nice touch, I thought.
The reason I mentioned the nice packaging is that inside the outer packaging, the case is resting inside ANOTHER plastic tray (this one without a face), providing an extra layer of cushioning and protection from crushing. It's obvious that whoever thought up the packaging design took care to remember the leather case inside...
2) Aesthetics and General Fit/Finish
This is a NICE case! The edges have all been finished and are not ragged like some other cases I've seen. Everything is glued instead of stitched, so we'll see how well that holds up over the long-term, but so far, so good - nothing is loose or peeling. There is a small company logo on the front in the bottom-left corner and another one (with a tagline) on the back in the bottom-center. Both are small and non-obtrusive.
3) SPECIFIC Fit and Finish
My 1st surprise was to find out that the cover MAGNETICALLY sticks to the case to close - a pleasant surprise! The 2nd surprise was to find a wallet-like card pouch on the inside with 2 slots for credit cards. Um, this was NOT in the pictures on the website and MAY be a problem when I install my SPIGEN SGP GLAS t. Premium Tempered Glass Series Screen Protector which arrives tomorrow. I will report back on this when it's installed.
The 3rd surprise was that there were no cutouts on the sides for power and volume up/down. I think I actually like this, as the leather is marked with the button positions and is soft enough that you can get the buttons to do what you want without *mashing* the leather. The top is wide open so you can slip the phone in the case, and the bottom has cutouts for the S-Pen, Mic, and USB port.
Top opening:
Bottom:
Right Side (Power):
Left Side (Volume):
Inside Flap:
As you can see from the last picture, there's a full-size hole for the earpiece and front-facing camera. The rear of the case also has cut-outs for the camera/flash and speaker. both are proportional and not overly large.
4) Summary
So, do I think it was worth $50 (by the time shipping was involved)? Yes. I think this is very much so a world of 'you get what you pay for', and I think this case is a well crafted, quality leather product. I'd expect to pay this much or more for a leather wallet, so I have no qualms about the price of this cover. The only trepidation I have is the credit card holder inside the front flap. I will never put any cards in it, and I would prefer the case not to have it (as was depicted in the images on their website), but it's not a deal breaker. The leather itself is smooth (non-grain) and evenly dyed, with no visible imperfections (barbed wire scars, dimples, etc.). It is genuine leather, not faux leather or any other synthetic fabric. Overall it does add appx. half-again the thickness of the phone, but it's not unmanageable.
Overall rating: 8/10 - ********_ _ - 2 Stars off for the credit card thing inside the front flap and not being shipped in a cardboard box for a bit more protection.
ColSaulTigh
Thanks for the review. It's a really good one and very useful. My only concern is that the phone seems could slip out from the top easily. Am I right?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
i really like the look of this case and the design, but....where do you put cash????
aorifan said:
ColSaulTigh
Thanks for the review. It's a really good one and very useful. My only concern is that the phone seems could slip out from the top easily. Am I right?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't slip out the top, but when you plug the charger in from the bottom, it does 'push' out the top a bit. A quick push back into the case, and all is good.
mejori said:
i really like the look of this case and the design, but....where do you put cash????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This case isn't the wallet one. This is just a phone case. They make a wallet version. As I posted in my review, I was surprised it had the credit card slots, as the original pictures on the website didn't show this.
As a follow-up, here are a few quick observations:
1) With the cover open and flipped around the back, the speaker is VERY DIFFICULT to hear. I've missed calls because I didn't hear the ringer.
2) Same problem with it sitting flat on a surface (like a desktop). The leather is so smooth it effectively blocks sound from the speaker. I find myself leaning it up on a pen or something just so there's an air pocket underneath.
3) It slips very easily into my pocket. I thought this was going to be an issue, but it's very smooth and slides nicely into my front pocket.
That's it for now - will report back as more questions pop up and/or I have more observations to post.
how is the thickness with having credit cards? ..is it awkward when talking on the phone, do you leave the cover closed or flip it back? as far as speaker ..my phone is always on silent ..while at work ..i only ask because i ordered a cheap $10. wallet "leather case off ebay..i love the concept but damn its bulky!!! its only temporary until you finish your review of the elago
mejori said:
how is the thickness with having credit cards? ..is it awkward when talking on the phone, do you leave the cover closed or flip it back? as far as speaker ..my phone is always on silent ..while at work ..i only ask because i ordered a cheap $10. wallet "leather case off ebay..i love the concept but damn its bulky!!! its only temporary until you finish your review of the elago
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I didn't see this post update - so here are the answers to your questions:
1) Thickness with credit cards - I don't know, as I don't put any in there. Like I said in my original post, this case wasn't suppose to have a CC pouch. The original pictures didn't show it, and I would have preferred it without the pouch. Based on thickness, I would say that the cards would press against the glass (especially if you are using the Glas+ protector like I am). I've always found that putting cards in a flat cover like this causes the flat cover to distort, so I'm guessing that that's what would happen here, especially if you then put the phone in a pocket.
2) Is it awkward talking on the phone.... - Yes and no. Holding the phone with the case open is a bit cumbersome as the 'hinge' adds width when the cover is open. I rarely hold the phone up to my head, I'm either using the speaker or a bluetooth headset. One note - the back cover, when open and flipped around, COVERS the speaker port, causing the speaker sound to become VERY muted. I usually either stick a finger in between, or if I'm setting the case down, leave the flap open and stick a pen or something under the phone (again, laying the case flat on the desk also causes the muted speaker effect).
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks!
Just got mine. So far it looks good.not bulky. I still need to get used to this to comment.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
3 Weeks Later....
So far, so good!
I get a lot of compliments on the case - it really does look very nice!
No issues regarding durability, wearability, etc. It's not getting dirty from handling, it's not scratched up (so far), and there are no places where the leather is separating, peeling, or otherwise failing.
Bottom line, I like it! Money well spent!
i will be ordering mine soon.. just want to make sure it has cc slots!!! thanks!!
ColSaulTigh said:
So far, so good!
I get a lot of compliments on the case - it really does look very nice!
No issues regarding durability, wearability, etc. It's not getting dirty from handling, it's not scratched up (so far), and there are no places where the leather is separating, peeling, or otherwise failing.
Bottom line, I like it! Money well spent!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mejori said:
i will be ordering mine soon.. just want to make sure it has cc slots!!! thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bear in mind:
1) It only has 2 CC slots, and...
2) It wasn't suppose to have any at all!
WHy would the corners be exposed? Makes no sense. Drop it and there goes the screen..
Which question for ppl who using the flip case... How do you feel when holding it?
I have a Samsung flip case and i hate it. Hard to hold unless take some extra steps to fold the front to the back. When the phone rings, take more time to "flip the cover"..... so inconvenienced.
With my TPU case i use the phone instantly whenever I need.
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I've got me that official case but I'm not happy with it... For that money I expect more...
Others?
Recommendations?
And what did you expect? You new what is this case about before buying, so why are you unhappy? I'm using this case from the very beginning and yes, is mote expensive, but very premium quality made. Using as a stand, cover and you can make telephone calls (if you do that) with closed tablet. For me perfect!
Works great for me too. Not sure what you expected it to do.
ps. has anyone used it with the official Samsung Dock?
I suggest you try Capdase leather case, http://dx-box.com/capdase-protective-case-flipjacket-for-samsung-galaxy-tab-7-7-gt-p6800-p6810-1.html
you get what you pay for. it's expensive, but it's quality, slim, and light with a minimalistic look.
it's chump change for protection considering underneath is a +550€ tablet.
it will easily break along the hinge part. i had mine for about 2 weeks and I noticed that the hinge part is starting to give in along the edges
I do not recommend this case
i have one of these.. Im pretty happy with it EXCEPT theres no band to keep the cover in place.
After 6 months I am still perfectly happy with mine.
Mine also has held up very well. No other case is as cool.
Wait i was thinking about picking one of these up... Does it open backwards compared to a normal book???
this is the case i'm using now...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smart-Flip-...ccessories&hash=item3f148d2c8e#ht_7289wt_1037
GaresTaylan said:
Wait i was thinking about picking one of these up... Does it open backwards compared to a normal book???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I keep opening it upside down.
Sent from the Delta Quadrant using XDA Premium
caseyatbt said:
Yes, I keep opening it upside down.
Sent from the Delta Quadrant using XDA Premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dang. Guess ill keep searching for another case.
minisuit case is what I chose. 360 rotation and two grooves for angle adjustment. I really like the minimial intrusion to the screen, it only grips the edges it does lay on the face of the screen. Only downside is I have the i815 and had to mark with a sharpie (marker) and then drill a hole in the side of the case to allow for the IR "blaster" took about 5 mins. faux leather is sturdy so far since June. has the strap and small logo on back engraved. price was low direct from minisuit.com although they do carry it on amazon.
I've got one of these. They open like a normal book. I've been pleased with this case. It's also very grippy which is great
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda app-developers app
I use this and thoroughly recommend it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poetic-Leat...BX7O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347831406&sr=8-3
I have the book-case now, and it doesn't work for me.
What's the best option if I want to be able to tilt the tablet in different angels (ie one angle for movies, and another when typing) ?
I don't know but for me, book-case isn't the case for Tab 7.7. I am using a hard plastic, super slim case to cover just the sides and the back, the screen protector does the job, well, for the screen. I don't know if it's just me but book-covers are for those heavy tablets (iPad3). They made this tablet so light and easily navigable. It's supposed to be held with 1-hand. I think if I am gonna put my Tab 7.7 in a book-case and put it on a table, I would always end up pushing my tablet back when trying to touch and press the screen. lol. And it would end up thicker and heavier too. I am using a book-case for my iPad3 btw, and I don't use the iPad3 ever since I got this beautiful tablet. This is what tablets are supposed to be. Handy, light and sexy. If they are gonna be as heavy as the iPad3 and be used on a table with that book-cover, I might as well use my laptop.
I've gone through a bunch of cases. None of them is exactly what I want. Apparently, they don't make one that is everything I want.
Here's what I want out of a case:
All ports, buttons and jacks accessible without having to remove any of the case. (Those silicon cases are bad for this.)
A stiff flap to cover the screen. (Screen protectors are nice, but they don't keep fingerprints and other goop off my tab.)
A cover when folded back behind the tab, gives a better grip on the tablet. (Some plastic ones are slippery!)
THIN!!! (I didn't spend all this money on an expensive THIN tablet so I could bury it in an inch of padding, plastic and pleather.)
Portrait and landscape stand (I don't care if it is a kick stand or some ingenious folding of the cover.)
Infinitely variable stand angles (One often needs to vary the angle slightly to avoid glare and reflections)
A relatively stable stand. (Some stand mechanisms offer no "grip" for the stand to stay in place, so as soon as you tap the screen, it moves/falls.)
No border around my screen! (They all seem to be just a little bit too close to the edges of the screen and they make it hard to use items/functions on the screen edges.)
Real or faux leather (what I call pleather) not a cheap plastic look.
Magnetic closure for front cover. (Straps wear. Elastic stretches out. Snaps are a pain in the rear. And they ALL make the case thicker than necessary. I'd rather have no closure mechanism than have one that makes it thicker.)
My first case was the grey "pleather" case. But I _hate_ the cases that intrude on the screen with their wide borders in order to hold the tab. I much prefer the hard plastic alternatives that grab the case by the corners or edges.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130656629801
My next one was a pleather one that allowed the user to rotate the screen, portrait or landscape, while standing. This was nice (even though the portrait standing angle was almost useless). But the case was almost three times as thick as the bare tablet. It also had an elastic closure, which I don't like, but not using it never caused a problem.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160909121508
Next I went with a hard plastic backing with no stand or front cover. That didn't last long at all. I use the stand far too often to go without. It was quite thin though!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360446184274
Next I got a "book" style case. It is the one I am currently using. It has a pleather look to it with an elastic closure. I don't use the closure, but I wish it wasn't there, because the tab would be thinner without it. It doesn't offer a portrait stand, only landscape. But that's good enough. The stand is such that your angle is infinitely variable, which is a major bonus when trying to eliminate glare and reflections. The case is about twice as thick as the tablet. I wish it were thinner, but it is better than the rest I've found.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130664197992
I also tried a "hard shell case" for my tab. This one is OK, but it ultimately lost for two reasons: the stand wasn't stable - it slipped easily on most surfaces - and the magnetic closure flap just about doubled the thickness of the case.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251159580235
Of course, I didn't spend much on those cases - most less than $10, with $19 being the most expensive. So I guess I shouldn't expect too much. However, I've seen a lot of expensive ones that are worse than these cheap ones.
I use this one and have been happy
Tom2112 said:
I've gone through a bunch of cases. None of them is exactly what I want. Apparently, they don't make one that is everything I want.
Here's what I want out of a case:
All ports, buttons and jacks accessible without having to remove any of the case. (Those silicon cases are bad for this.)
A stiff flap to cover the screen. (Screen protectors are nice, but they don't keep fingerprints and other goop off my tab.)
A cover when folded back behind the tab, gives a better grip on the tablet. (Some plastic ones are slippery!)
THIN!!! (I didn't spend all this money on an expensive THIN tablet so I could bury it in an inch of padding, plastic and pleather.)
Portrait and landscape stand (I don't care if it is a kick stand or some ingenious folding of the cover.)
Infinitely variable stand angles (One often needs to vary the angle slightly to avoid glare and reflections)
A relatively stable stand. (Some stand mechanisms offer no "grip" for the stand to stay in place, so as soon as you tap the screen, it moves/falls.)
No border around my screen! (They all seem to be just a little bit too close to the edges of the screen and they make it hard to use items/functions on the screen edges.)
Real or faux leather (what I call pleather) not a cheap plastic look.
Magnetic closure for front cover. (Straps wear. Elastic stretches out. Snaps are a pain in the rear. And they ALL make the case thicker than necessary. I'd rather have no closure mechanism than have one that makes it thicker.)
My first case was the grey "pleather" case. But I _hate_ the cases that intrude on the screen with their wide borders in order to hold the tab. I much prefer the hard plastic alternatives that grab the case by the corners or edges.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130656629801
My next one was a pleather one that allowed the user to rotate the screen, portrait or landscape, while standing. This was nice (even though the portrait standing angle was almost useless). But the case was almost three times as thick as the bare tablet. It also had an elastic closure, which I don't like, but not using it never caused a problem.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160909121508
Next I went with a hard plastic backing with no stand or front cover. That didn't last long at all. I use the stand far too often to go without. It was quite thin though!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360446184274
Next I got a "book" style case. It is the one I am currently using. It has a pleather look to it with an elastic closure. I don't use the closure, but I wish it wasn't there, because the tab would be thinner without it. It doesn't offer a portrait stand, only landscape. But that's good enough. The stand is such that your angle is infinitely variable, which is a major bonus when trying to eliminate glare and reflections. The case is about twice as thick as the tablet. I wish it were thinner, but it is better than the rest I've found.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130664197992
I also tried a "hard shell case" for my tab. This one is OK, but it ultimately lost for two reasons: the stand wasn't stable - it slipped easily on most surfaces - and the magnetic closure flap just about doubled the thickness of the case.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251159580235
Of course, I didn't spend much on those cases - most less than $10, with $19 being the most expensive. So I guess I shouldn't expect too much. However, I've seen a lot of expensive ones that are worse than these cheap ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a link for the one I use. http://www.pielframa.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-7-7-cases-pf.htm
Hey guys, the Kraken AMS was finally available in red and i just jumped right in as i was waiting FOREVER for either Ballistic or Trident to make their most heavy duty cases available for our phones. Sadly Ballistic currently has no intention of releasing an HC model for the Evo LTE, so I went with this instead.
Before anybody says: "oh but the SG MAXX is heavy duty!" I looked at the layering for the SG Maxx and from the looks of it its a wraparound silicone with a slip-in screen protector and then a polycarb piece that fits over the back. The Kraken also has a silicone wrap but where it differs is the front polycarb and back polycarb interlock with each other as well as having grooves in the silicone for both the front and the back to sit in, which seems to me would make for a more solid case overall.
The packaging was super easy to open, its the kind of bubble pack that snaps together at the corners.
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The case comes with a holster, and removable kickstand, more on the kickstand a little later.
On Trident's site it says that the Kraken's base layer is the perseus silicone case. I was initially using the blue HTC case that sprint gave us for the shipping delays, and that particular case was made of a denser silicone that held its shape well and felt solid. The perseus layer here however, is a bit thinner and as such i would not recommend using it alone since it does move out of position a lot. The only thing covered with the silicone on is the power button.
The front polycarb piece has long tabs along the sides that fit in to the grooves of the silicone piece. Trident says you can use the case like this without the back, and by the tight fitment which required that i actually kneed the silicone slightly to get it to slide under the tabs and engage, i would say you can just leave it as is. The front camera is not covered, there are openings for the sensors, and the speaker has a fine mesh over it. The screen protector is glossy on the outside, and slightly matte textured on the inside to avoid the bubbling you get when two glossy surfaces come in to contact, a la the early versions of the Ballistic HC for the OG Evo.
The third piece is the back, which contains the port covers for the headphone and usb ports, the covered buttons for camera and volume rocker, as well as the mount points for all the AMS accessories. The back piece wraps over the side of the front piece and fits in to plastic lugs molded into the front piece. The back camera is uncovered, and there is a belt loop under the rear speaker, which has a mesh covering it just like the front speaker.
It was a VERY tight fit, perhaps because i have the CF vinyl mod on my phone, which added a piece of paper worth of thickness. I had to hook the tabs in from the bottom, then clip the sides in place until i got to the top, where i had to do some olympic-class pinching of the tabs up top to get the whole thing together.
The completed case feels pretty sturdy in hand, though one thing i noticed immediately is that since the silicone doesn't cover the volume rocker and the rocker cover itself is plastic in the side, the buttons are not tightly engaged to the phone, so if you shake it you can hear some rattling at both the rocker as well as the camera button. They operate with little effort and are easy to hit, though if they were in your pocket you might accidently change the volume due to the lack of resistence.
The port covers do not extend in to the actual ports themselves, and are simply there for closing up the holes in the case. You can see in the pictures here that the ports do become quite recessed so some of those cables with right-angle heads may not be able to totally clear the case. I use a right angle micro usb with what i saw was a smaller connector than the other ones i was looking at on amazon, and it fit, albeit just barely.
Next up is the holster. Unlike the holsters from Seidio and some other companies, the one on the Kraken is a minimalistic clamp that goes around the midsection of the case, with a 360 rotation and release tab at the top. Its pretty minimalistic but it seems like it would look better on your belt when the phone is not in it as opposed to the holsters that have a backplate the size of the phone. It engages tightly and seems pretty secure, so it gets a pass from me though i don't use holsters often.
Lastly we have the kickstand. The kickstand is sold on their store as an AMS accessory but i think for Krakens they just include it in the kit. Looking at the pictures i didn't think it was going to be able to hold the phone up in the awkward reverse position we got on the stock kickstand to use while charging, but the kickstand kicks in the fully open position and is able to hold up the phone. It also locks in the closed position, and it took a bit of effort to get the thing to open in the first place so no worries about floppy kickstand syndrome.
If you don't mind the trident lettering being backwards in the closed position, you can also pull the kickstand out and flip it in the opposite orientation and it will hold the phone up like it did in the OG evo days while charging.
Lastly, a crude size comparison between the HTC silicone case, a Seidio rebranded Best Buy platinum case, and the Kraken.
EDIT: I said the back contained all the mount points for AMS accessories, but looking at it again i noticed that the mount points for the holster is actually on side of the FRONT piece, so if you want to use the holster with just the silicone and the front, you can. I don't currently see any accessories that makes use of the holster mount points so if you want to use AMS stuff you do indeed need to use the back piece, which does not attatch to the silicone without the front piece.
EDIT2: I totally didn't even think about testing this but NFC still works even through the thick case.
Pros
Case fits super tight
Kickstand is completely metal and can be flipped around, clips in to place in the closed positon as well as open position
Built-in screen protector, port covers and rocker/camera covers
Minimalistic holster has less of a nerd factor if you're going to use it
Modular (though i would just use the whole thing all the time)
Has some accessories that may come in handy in the form of AMS stuff on kraken's site
Has a strap loop on the back piece below the kickstand...for if you want to lanyard a brick to your neck or you're a japanese schoolgirl who wants a bouquet of hello kitty cell phone straps on your phone.
Cons
Expensive, 50 bucks is a lot of dough to drop on a $200 on contract phone, may be more worth it for retail customers
Both cameras are not covered. Has no chance of glare but it does open it up to damage.
Bulky. I don't have an otterbox defender or an SG Maxx to compare it to but it does add quite a bit of heft.
Rocker and camera buttons may rattle when shaken or moved.
Thickness of case renders some micro usb and headphone plugs unusable
Screen protector is glossy on the outside but slightly matte texture on the inside, may reduce clarity
Port covers may be susceptible for wear like on the Otterbox defender.
Red one came out after the pink one, seriously Trident, wtf??
Overall
Its big, its solid, you can probably knock someone out with it by throwing it. If you don't care about bulk and don't want to worry about the phone, this is a pretty good case to go with. On the other hand if you don't care for bulk at all, don't even bother checking this thing out, as it does turn your sexy thin phone in to a bit of a monster.
For people worried about the phone bending issue, i'm pretty sure this case will make it pretty much impossible to bend the phone while in your front pants pocket, then again i have a feeling front-pocket phone benders are wearing pants that are just right or tight fitting in the first place so you wouldn't really be able to fit this thing in those same pockets...so...yea, get some new pants you hipsters.
And finally, please please please save your breath if you're just going to come in here saying: "i prefer thin case i don't understand why you bought this". You don't need to as i didn't buy it with your money, and congrats on having an opinion :good:
Great review. Do you do this for a living? lol I believe you persuaded me to buy one. :thumbup:
SENT FROM MY EVO 4G LTE!!! (w/no LTE)
Nah i don't do this for a living, i just think it would be easier for me to cover as many concerns as possible so the thread doesn't turn in to a Q&A session.
I wonder how it will stand up to a car, my father is an automotive mechanic and today he had an impromptu fight, car vs phone. Car won and now he's waiting for a replacement
I have no desire to purchase one. I don't like the look and it's way too heavy and provides way more protection than I need. I knew this before I read your review, so you didn't really influence my decision.
But I'll be damned if that wasn't one of the most detailed and thorough accessory reviews I've ever read. Truly exceptional, and the pics especially were on point. Kudos to you sir. You should review every accessory you own and post it up, and put the links in your sig. Tons of people would benefit - you have a real talent for it.
I had high hopes for the delayed Trident Cyclops and Kraken cases and was planning to replace my Otterbox Defender with one of them. I used to love the workmanship and nice textured plastic feel of my Trident Cyclops for Evo 3D and hated the cheap rubbery silicone feel of the Otterbox Defender for 3D.
I was greatly disappointed to say the least. For the EVO LTE design cycle, the Defender has a very nice textured rubber outer layer, perfect fit and no rattling parts. The plastic texture on both the Cyclops and the Kraken seems to be a step down from Evo 3D days; Cyclops is now a 2-piece case with no inner silicone layer; the Kraken kickstand is a lot harder to operate than the built-in one; there's a lot of rattling in the buttons and creaking due to poor fitment. The four cylindrical side tabs that lock the front and back polycarbonate pieces are an improvement, but the really thin hooking tabs at the top and bottom do not work at all. To me, the only advantage Trident cases have are the dust filters.
I guess I'm keeping my Defender and hoping that the two extra outer layers that Otterbox sent me under warranty will be enough to last me to the next upgrade.
I have the kraken case trident green. Ordered the case on launch day.The only issues I have with it are as follows.the volume buttons stick out too far so my phone always ends up on silent. The camera button is entirely to Damn hard to press (except for half way) the charge port dust cover ripped off pulling the phone out of my pocket. The belt clip got hung on the seat belt of my ambulance and snapped like a twig. The fabled kick stand: don't use it too much the snapping feature fails and the kick stand gets super floppy remedy open kick stand place index finger perpendicular under the open kick stand and attempt to crush your index finger this makes the kick stand bend slightly just enough for the clamping action to hold tight. As for the kick stand holding the phone up while charging, don't open and close the kickstand too much because it will gouge the plastic on the back of the phone thus rendering the kick stand just about useless. No case has come close to the ballistic HC I had on my OG EVO
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
Ahhhhh Relief. I FINALLY have a case for my note 3. I was dreading every day knowing I had no case yet for my baby not it has some armor and I feel much better.
Bonus? this armor is amazing. I have to say kudo's to UAG they keep improving the cases. they take the customer issues and feedback and they incorporate it into future designs.
lets have a look at this beauty before we continue.
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On my screen this is a very good representation of the actual color of the case. Some of my other pictures come out a little "more" orange (which I would have liked) but its still orange enough to keep me happy (I prefer Retina Burning colors
They selected a very good orange for this case. not too "outlandish" but still pleasingly bright and orange.
They have improved several key area's of the case. More ribbing inside to more firmly meld with the shape of the phone. The buttons tended to be a little mushy. We the customer learned if we "sliced" it a little along each button it freed them up nicely. they have fully incorporated this concept in the new case and the buttons are now like "butter"
I am not joking when I say the buttons feel "better" with the UAG case on than they do naked" its easier to find them and they for some strange reason seem to "press" better. its very strange. I have never had a case "improve" on the function of the phone this way before. My guess is samsung just make them too small and slipper and the case design of the UAG corrects this.
if button depression is a sticking point for you then you will NOT be displeased with the UAG.
I also love that they went back to the original design. I did NOT like the new design for the Note II case. it was ugly enough to me that I never even bought one for my Note II so very happy to see the return of this design.
Some more interior shots of the cut outs and buttons and patterning.
The UAG is a medium duty design case with some features that push it upwards to inbetween medium duty and heavy duty.
Some of these are the ridges on the backside which also act to protect the case itself from marring when you set it down.
its a two part "melded" construction. the black is TPU which is a "stiff" rubber like compound (thermo plastic) this provides your "shock" protection (dropping it) and then it has a Poly Carbonate component (the orange part) that gives you rigidity and IMPACT/Penetration protection. (something hitting the phone)
the phone has as much impact protection as a "heavy duty" case but not as much "shock" protection (rubber thickness) as a heavy duty case like for example a caseology hybrid rugged or a AMS Kraken from trident or a zero shock from zero lemon. its a trade off of amount of protection and how "LARGE" you want the phone to become.
a full on HD Ruggedized case will DOUBLE the size of your phone. minimum. when your out in the woods you might need that kind of protection. if your more careful around home you don't really need that kind of protection.
there are 2 methods of typical damage to a phone. something hits the screen directly or the corner is impacted.
this is where the UAG moves to inbetween medium duty and heavy duty.
the corners on the UAG case are not form fitting. they are "larger" than the stock corners to provide extra shock protection at this critical point of impact. I have no doubt you could drop this phone from 6ft onto a corner and not worry about any damage to the phone. (No I won't be testing that on my $550 phone
Last Interior shot
Another welcome improvement is more frontal encasement. its quite difficult to install and even more difficult to remove the phone from this case.
Mind you this is a good thing. the harder it is to install and remove is a very good indicator of how well designed the case is to retain the phone.
the front opening is smaller now. so the phone does not FIT through the front. you need to distort the case quite a bit to shoe horn the phone into it. VERY welcome upgrade! this case will NOT release this phone easily on its own.
the phone is also more recessed into the case! big big improvement. this is important for when you set the phone down on its face (to protect the face) if its too close to the surface you set it down onto things can scratch or impact the screen.
they have thickened this up so you now have a bit over 2mm of screen depression distance. In this picture you can see its thicker than a nickle which is 1.95mm
Of course same as before and one of the larger benefits of a case is it depresses the camera lens nicely. preventing it from touch anything when the phone is set down or put inside anything and also reducing the chances if you putting your finger on it when you grab/extract/slide the phone putting finger prints on it marring your videos.
this portion of the case is around 3mm thick and you end up with a bit over 2mm of depth protection (the camera lens led unit of the Note 3 protrudes out of the phone about 1 mm)
Lets do a walk around of the outside of the case.
At the bottom you have very nice clean cutouts for the Speaker and Microphone access holes. excellent precision cuts here.
The Stylus cut out is also precise and nicely spacious giving you easy unrestricted access to remove the stylus.
The USB jack cut out is also very nice and more spacious than before! this is fantastic so if you have a "larger" than typical plug you won't have a problem with the case cut out interfering with insertion of the plug.
My skinny mSD OTG adapter fits fine. I don't have my Meenova adapter handy I will update this review once I have it although I do not anticipate a fitment issue.
at the top we have headphone and microphone cut outs. the headphone jack looks to be large enough to encompass "big head" plugs without a problem and the other cut out is your IR Emitter.
On the sides we have the volume rocker
and opposite the power button
I like the new hex pattern sides. while I did not have a grip problem with the old design IT WAS a wee slippery feeling. Now it feels very nice. no slip concerns.
Close up of the back of the phone with design and UAG logo details
They even thought to increase the spacing for the proximity and light sensors to prevent interference and false readings
And how it fits in the hand (of note I have VERY large hands) I can completely cover the phone with my hand.
This case is more difficult to install and remove than the original. this is a good thing. more secure. its quite easy once you know how
Start by inserting one long side of the phone
than using your thumb push the bottom opposing corner of the phone into the case pulling the case down and pushing the phone "up" at the same time till it snaps into place
work UP the remaining side snapping it into place until its all in. You can do this one handed (see video below)
Removal is a little trickier. Push one corner off then work your way down to the other corner and pull the phone out. (again see video you can do this one handed)
Some video's of the case and a video of installation and removal of the case
Install and Remove the UAG Note III Case
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTOy1pGHiIs
Walk around of the case in 4k!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcCRp0vN1w4
Nice review bro. I just ordered the Scout. Did the miss the hole on the bottom right of phone. Not sure if it's a mic or what but I do know they had a batch go out b4 they realized.
My Note3 is locked but my XDm45 is loaded.
---------- Post added at 08:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 PM ----------
Haha. Never mind you answered that in video.
My Note3 is locked but my XDm45 is loaded.
They have always had the slits under the power and volume keys. Or at least on the s3,s4. If they don't have it it's cuz they're fakes.
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app
nope. no slits on the multiple S3 case I had. I added them myself with an exacto knife and I bought them direct from UAG not third party. Their was a whole thread here on XDA about it and that thread is where I got the idea from to use an xacto blade to slide the slit.
they offered to send a replacement immediately but I said no worries as it was a super easy fix. I did order early so maybe it was a bad batch or early batch or something.
I'm just until opposite of you. I really like their Note 2 case which gave you the ability to change the color combination. Since they did away with that design for their Note 3 case I haven't even given it a second look, until looking at your pics. I still don't like their Note 3 case. Also, it looks bulkier than their Note 2 case, is it? I just think the Note 3 looks too nice to bury in a case like this, my opinion of course. I never drop my phones anyway, so my clear Diztronic TPU covers my needs while still allowing my go see my phone. I'm also still shocked that UAG covered the temp sensor hole, and even called it a "mystery hole"!! Really UAG, a mystery hole?!?! Must suck not having access to the internet!! Lolol
SwiftKey'ed from my White Sprint Note 3 via XDA Premium
not me. hated the note II design also hated I could not get it in orange. only black and white my two most disliked phone colors. now if the OUTSIDE was orange (instead of the nearly invisible tiny insert) I might have gotten it even though I don't like the design.
man was I excited when I heard they were so rapidly coming out with a Note II case (I waited so long for the S3 case) that when it popped up my first instant reaction was ..... YUCK ..... but ahhh I guess I could deal with it in orange and then I found out NO ORANGE !! only white and black.. Double Yuck hehehe
the case is very slim. it adds very little bulk to the phone in either case.
I really love the industrial rugged military like design of the S3 and this Note 3 case. I guess I am just partial to that kind of styling.
I can see people liking the Note II case. a lot of people did like it! so your not alone!
meh. the temp/hygro hole was irrelevant. I actually wish I got one without the hole. it won't effect the readings from the sensor and is just one more hole for dirt to get into. I might even fill that hole in.
YO UAG !! how about some CLEAR loving for the Note 3
freaking teasing me with that clear case then only releasing it for the icrap !! no fair
clear would be pretty slick. using vinyl skins you could "change up" often with the same case!
I see the hole in the second last pic. Thanks!
Excellent write up! Thank you @nerys71 for the extra inspiration to get my own.
Sent from above.
no problem. I really love their cases.
Oh I so dream of a UAG case for the Zero Lemon battery
when you hold our device in landscape mode where is your home button? left or right side of the screen?
i got this case too and absolutely love it. however i did notice a small detail today that UAG probably didnt consider. Most users hold the device in landscape mode with the home button on the right side... in doing so the UAG logo on the rear is upside down. looks like the brand is GEN... It should have probably been designed so that its right side up when in landscape mode.
as I said most users hold it this way, some might use the home button on the left tho...
hmmm poll anyone? lol
I'd say you are on the wrong side of the phone if you are looking at the uag logo
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
nyjumpman said:
I'd say you are on the wrong side of the phone if you are looking at the uag logo
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ha, so that's why my touchscreen wasnt working correctly and looked a little orange....
it was just an observation
I really like orange and how this case looks. However I pretty much require a holster or something of the sort.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
should not be hard to find/mod/make a holster for it. IE maybe a slip grip?