I bought my Asus EEE Pad Transformer last week and was looking for a case for it. I am very picky, so I searched a lot and found a seller on Amazon that has a wide variety of cases in different colors for the Asus. Because I couldn’t decide on one, I just ordered all three kinds. LoL.
Now I got the cases in the mail today and thought I would make a review, since I was positively surprised.
I ordered a copper colored regular case cover, a black rotating case, and a white carbon fiber case, all sold by a company called Aurum. Since I have all three cases and can compare them now side by side, I will make a review for each one of them.
I had no trouble to fit my Asus in any of the cases. They are all custom made and designed for the Asus Eee Pad and therefore, it is a pretty tight fit when you first try to insert the tablet in the case, but just make sure you push all the way in there and close the “snap” to make sure it doesn’t fall out.
Copper Asus Case by Aurum
Price - $19.95
Pros
• The case has two viewing angles. One is great for watching movies, the other one is very convenient for browsing and typing
• Love the price
• Protects the tablet from bumps, falls, scratches, dirt and dust
• Converts into a stand
• Microfiber Interior in the part where the case sits in for maximum protection from any damage to the tablet
Cons
• Not real leather, but I am not sure if this is really a negative aspect, since real leather does get damaged easily and this material does not (the description does state that it is “fake” leather)
• Not as many viewing angles as the other two cases
Overall Rating (1 – 10) 7 out of 10
Link to buy the case
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Case-Eee-Pad-Aurum/dp/B0058OPVSO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1312676595&sr=8-9
Black Rotating Case for Asus by Aurum
Price – $24.95
Pros
• Has a rotating “separate” case that you can rotate all the way around (360 degrees)
• You can detach that “separate” case and conveniently hold your tablet on your knees for example
• Many different viewing angles that can be easily adjusted
• Protects the tablet from bumps, falls, scratches, dirt and dust
• Rare copper color, very interesting
• Converts into a stand with unlimited viewing angles
Cons
• Not real leather
• They only have this case in copper and black, I wish they offered this case in white
Overall Rating (1 – 10) 8 out of 10
Link to buy the Case
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Case-Bla...YCZK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312676595&sr=8-1
White Asus Carbon Fiber Case by Aurum
Price – $29.95 (I bought mine for $39.95, but they just lowered the price)
Pros
• Durable Material
• Great design – it has an infinitely adjustable stand with little Velcro feet
• The material looks even better in reality than on the picture and has a cool feel to it
• Love the white color
• Super light weight
• Camera and sensor are easily accessible
• Converts into a stand with unlimited viewing angles
• Microfiber Interior for maximum protection from any damages to the case
• Aurum offers this case in black and red as well
• Professional and unique look
Cons
• There was a black little dot on the white material, which initially made me very upset, but I took a rag and was able to remove it
• I didn’t receive my bonus stylus with this case But I contacted the seller and he immediately replied that he was sorry and would send it on Monday
• More expensive than the other cases
Overall Rating (1 – 10) 9.5 out of 10
Link to buy the Case
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-White-Ad...U4/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1312676595&sr=8-12
Additional Comments
Love that you get free shipping for orders over $40
Shipment got delivered in an acceptable time frame. I ordered the case last week Sunday and received it today, 6 day delivery from time of payment.
The cases’ basic features are very similar, but I have decided to keep the white carbon fiber case and will keep the other two cases to give out as Christmas presents, since the Asus Eee Pad is popular in my family and I am overall happy with each of the cases.
I think I will purchase a screen protector from them now (review will follow once I receive it and try it out). After each time I use my Asus, it gets on my nerves to have my fingerprints all over it =/
If you also purchased this case, feel free to share your thoughts on it, I am curious how it works for everyone else.
Ditto! Great cases
I also bought the rotating case by Aurum, but I bought it in Black.
Here is my experience with it so far:
I had only seen the regular non-rotating cases before, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I decided to go ahead and order it.
To my surprise, this turned out to be such a great product!!
On the picture it may look like the case adds quite a bit of weight to the Asus Pad, but it is lightweight and great to carry your tablet around in.
I can access all of my buttons and my camera and it really is two cases in one!!
You can protect your tablet from spills, dirt and dust by leaving it in the case and even when you want to watch videos, you can conveniently rotate the inner part of the case. The back part of it transforms into a stand that holds your tablet securely in place, which allows for hands free movie watching.
Another great thing is that it is specifically designed for the Asus Tab, so that it fits in there perfectly.
What is really great is that the 360 degree rotation allows your tablet to either stand in a horizontal or in a vertical position.
When I searched for some alternative rotating cases, I only found ONE other one, however that one is causing users to have issues, because it doesn't have a hole for the charger, making it impossible to charge your tablet, while it's in the case. This case by Aurum is by far the best I was able to find!!!
I read this review on Amazon, did you just copied it?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
Yes, I copied my own review I left them on their Amazon Page in here.
Have you ever purchased any of their products?
How do the cases fit with the dock?
They fit perfectly
FYI had a very disappointing experence with AURUM customer service. I return my case after it took two emails to get them to ok the return. They will not give you a full refund unless evrything is return in new condition. So if you open something they will discount that from your refund amount. I only open the case so I was able to return the screen savor and styles. But now they claim the styles is missing and was charged $4.99. After I forward them a picture of all items return their response was niece picture. The money was not a big deal id was dishonesty was the part I hated. Just beware CS sticks.
Hi bologdl,
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with them =/
Obviously I can only speak for myself, but I was very satisfied with them.
Hope you have more luck with your next case
So I might have missed this but, did you keep all of them? If so what one do you use most?
I bought a rotating case identical to the one posted here, and trying to pop the case onto the sleeve almost broke the screen on the TF
How useless is a removable case if you have to take the F'in tablet out before you detatch or attach it to the sleeve
I bought an aurum case (different model) & screen protector combo off Amazon a while back. Quality was severely lacking and returned both. They were easy to deal with for the return, though.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
nice looking
Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using xda premium
Any other people purchase this Aurum rotating case? I am considering it, as I want to be able to prop the tablet up portrait-style in bed when I am reading at night.
Also, one person said the screen protector was poor quality as well? They have a case/protector combo for 35 shipped right now that seems acceptable, but I'd like to hear more feedback from my trusted XDA folks before I spend the cash.
If only that awesome Tuff Luv tri-axis case wasn't 140 freakin bucks, I'd buy it.
Related
Just received the rooCASE Slim Fit from PC Micro via Amazon.com. Sorry, I can't yet post links, so the product title is: rooCASE Slim-Fit (Black) Folio Case Cover with Multi Adjustable Viewing Angles for Asus Eee Pad Transformer 10.1-Inch TF101 Android Tablet Wi-Fi.
I had been looking for a while for a case with clips that would leave the bottom edge open so that one could dock the tablet without taking it off, so I was excited to try it out. My initial feelings are very positive.
It's PU leather, so while not top grain, it's still pretty supple and smooth. The leather is also slightly padded, so the case is comfortable to hold. The reinforced edges are crisp and straight, so there's not a lot of give or bend. The interior is a soft, padded microfiber. The foam is pretty firm, so it seems like it might retain its shape fairly well.
Structurally, the tablet is held in by two clips on each side, one each holding the top corners (when in landscape) and the main clip about 2/5 of the way down each side. On the bottom corners, there are clips, but they're more like corner protectors as they're there to guide the tablet when the case is closed.
Setting the tablet in the first two grooves felt good. The furthest groove which puts the screen in the flattest position though doesn't hold very well. This is because the rounded back of the tablet near the edge doesn't let it sit all the way into the groove. This doesn't bother me though since I don't see myself wanting to use it that flat. It actually sits nicely on my lap in the middle groove, so it's nice to be able to prop up the tablet without having to rely upon the dock.
Speaking of which, swinging the bottom edge of the tablet away from the case allows it to easily connect to the dock. Before receiving the case, I wondered whether the clip that holds it closed would get in the way. In actuality, it props up the keyboard rather well -- the keyboard rests flat between being propped up on the clip and because of the way the dock hinge props up the rear of the keyboard. Alternatively, the case cover folds back out of the way easily as well, and kind of works to support the screen a little bit. This configuration is probably better suited for a desk vs. one's lap, but I'll have to experiment a little bit.
I'm interested to see how I like using it over time, but for right now, this case has potential. I was worried about the clips: whether they'd be too weak (they're not) and whether they'd prevent the case from folding flat (they don't). I like that they hold the tablet securely in place, without the need to have the bezel surrounded/covered by leather.
The overall look resembles a small notebook/portfolio and the branding is understated -- just an embossed rooCASE logo in the lower right.
It seems like the case will protect the tablet from accidental bumps and bruises, give it a sleek appearance and quench my thirst for a higher end case until Noreve or Piel Frama attempt to separate me from my money. We'll have to see how durable it winds up being -- right now, the surface seems to repel light scratches pretty well.
Overall, for $30 I'm pretty pleased. And it comes with a small capacitive stylus, that connects to the tablet via a small plastic plug that fits into the 3.5mm jack. Shipping was via USPS and took just two days from CA to the east coast.
Lots of pics to follow.
More pics.
Last two.
(I promise, Mods)
And to complete it all, here's the link: http://amzn.com/B0058DLAA8
Can't wait for mine to arrive!
Mine came in yesterday as well. I am extremely happy with it, I did not anticipate being able to dock it with the case on, so all the best. The bundled stylus from roocase is just the cherry on top!
damn thats nice
It's great news that there's finally a decent case that you don't have to remove in order to be able to dock with the keyboard. Hopefully more manufacturers start making cases in this design.
EDIT: Hmm I have a theory... if you buy one of those cases with velcro at the bottom, could you theoretically dock it without taking off the case by just unattaching the velcro? Can anyone confirm or deny?
Can you fold it up in the dock with the case on?
maxpower47 said:
Can you fold it up in the dock with the case on?
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no
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This is the first case I have seen that uses clips to hold the Transformer, instead of a leather or fabric frame of some sort. I was beginning to think there weren't any out there. Thanks for the review.
Thank you for the review, I was waiting to see if you could plug the dock with the case on..
BTW, there are 2 other brands of what looks like the same case: Acase and Poetic...
http://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Stand-...B3PU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1311946471&sr=8-5
http://www.amazon.com/Transformer-L...Q6J0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1311946529&sr=8-5
SoundSurfer said:
Thank you for the review, I was waiting to see if you could plug the dock with the case on..
BTW, there are 2 other brands of what looks like the same case: Acase and Poetic...
http://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Stand-...B3PU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1311946471&sr=8-5
http://www.amazon.com/Transformer-L...Q6J0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1311946529&sr=8-5
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Their are the same one from same factory. Just selling via different sellers.
xjarl said:
Their are the same one from same factory. Just selling via different sellers.
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Click to collapse
The Acase one is eligible for Amazon Prime. It can be in my grubby paws tomorrow.
Just received one.
I originally bought the regular multi-angle roocase version. As soon as this slim-fat was announced, I unloaded that one and pre-order this one.
They delayed the shipment for 1 week but refunded my $5 shipping charge (nice). I like this slim-fat version a lot. It's the best case I've seen (I need some protection, but I really hate to cover-up the beauty of the Tab).
Received mine today. I echo everything that the OP noted. Very nice and exactly what I was looking for.
I just ordered the $18.95 Poetic one with free shipping. I can wait a few days and save $16
I have a cheapy $12 case now from ebay. Gets the job done, but with my ghetto cutting of the area around the light sensor and front camera, it looks just a wee bit unprofessional.
Thank you for the informative review. You may have just convinced me to buy a second case.
I already have this on order it shipped out yesterday so I'm hoping it arrives soon, and after your review and all the great pics. I hope it comes even faster now. Thanks for your time in making this, good info.
thaibruin said:
I just ordered the $18.95 Poetic one with free shipping. I can wait a few days and save $16
I have a cheapy $12 case now from ebay. Gets the job done, but with my ghetto cutting of the area around the light sensor and front camera, it looks just a wee bit unprofessional.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I unfortunately do not have that kind of patience. Case ordered and overnighted. My TF will finally have a case that doesn't hide it.
Mine arrived today too. OP is spot on - this is a great case; clean lines, excellent fit and looks sharp.
There is no slot at the bottom to connect to the charger, so to charge it, I have to lay it face up w/ the cover open.
[not sure if for sale items can go here... If not, please tell me where it belongs.]
I'm selling my Sullivan leather easel case for $30.
It's a lightly used black leather cover/stand for Nook Color or Nook Tablet (fits both).
It has a hard cover and backing to protect your tablet and is covered in leather. This cover is great to protect your Nook Color or Nook Tablet when throwing it in a bag while on the go (I personally used it every day on the metro).
It also functions as a landscape easel at 2 angles. The higher angle is great for reading or watching videos. The lower angle is just perfect for typing emails and web browsing.
The cover also has a pocket on the inside which is great for holding a cleaning cloth, SD cards/SD card adapters, or any other small items.
This is a great cover and I am only selling it because I sold my Nook Color.
Has just a few scuffs on the outside from a few months use. Scuffs will probably come out with some leather care products. Will provide pictures if requested.
When purchased, cover will be provided in the original box.
Here is link to the product page on b&n website: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/sullivan-easel-cover/20831319 . It retails for $50. I'm asking $30.
Please pm me if you are interested.
The case is sold and is no longer for sale.
While I am still waiting for the shipping mail from 1saleaday.com...
I kept looking for the case here and found these 2 the most people r buying.
Which one do u choose and...why ~
http://www.amazon.com/BLUREX-Leathe...9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1322877887&sr=1-9
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005F7KQB6?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1
I have the first of the two and love it. Got it for $9 on Ebay with free shipping
I am also waiting on my View from 1saleaday. And as far as the case I'm also going to buy the one from the first link (HHI). Its not real leather but that's no biggie for me. The BLUREX looks very good and a little more compact but it doesn't have portrait mode and I want to have that option.
I just bought the second one the other day... Should be arriving Thursday... I will post a review after I experiment with it...
I've had the Blurex since I received my View from 1SaleADay back in December. I'm usually not one for folio cases, but this one is fantastic. The fit is perfect, the quality is great, it looks nice, and it doesn't add a lot of bulk. It's just an all-around great case. The deciding factors for me were the size and the overwhelming amount of positive reviews in the forums here and on other sites.
The 1st, 360 style case, is poor quality in my opinion. Both are thin leather knockoff.
I would get a rubberized back like this:
http://www.amazon.com/EMPIRE-Black-Rubberized-Cover-Flyer/dp/B0058W77ZG/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1327453740&sr=8-12
And then an 8-9 inch sleeve like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JHRRFK/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
bsweetness said:
I've had the second one (the Blurex) since I received my View from 1SaleADay back in December. I'm usually not one for folio cases, but this one is fantastic. The fit is perfect, the quality is great, it looks nice, and it doesn't add a lot of bulk. It's just an all-around great case. The deciding factors for me were the size and the overwhelming amount of positive reviews in the forums here and on other sites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I concur.
Blurex case is very good.
DigitalMD said:
I have the first of the two and love it. Got it for $9 on Ebay with free shipping
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
care to share the link?
Cases
I got my View from 1saleaday in December. (I just ordered 2 more from the recent sale for the kids)
I ordered 3 cases in december:
1) The 360 degree rotating case listed here
2) A case very similar to the Blurex except rather than fake leather it's a carbon fiber texture. http://www.amazon.com/BoxWave-Steal...7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327526675&sr=1-7
3) A rubberized plastic shell (like you'd get for a cell phone nearly identical to the one recommended a few posts back by jamus28)
For me.. I want something that adds as little bulk as possible, while protecting the unit including the screen. The perfect case for me would be identical to the one they make for the Kindle Fire here: http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Lightw...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327527632&sr=1-1 But thats not an option for the View / Flyer.
So The 360 degree case (1): Well made, Solid Feel, But a bit unstable trying to stand the device up in portrait mode. It's top heavy and falls backward easy. The case is overall very good. It's less bulky than I thought it would be. I'm not at all disappointed.
The Carbon Fiber case (2): (similar to the blurex style) This is the case I settled on and use. It's the least bulky, well made, and offers superb protection. It does not rotate but that helps it be less bulky. I love this case and I'm very happy with it.
The Rubberized Shell (3): the lightest of the 3 but Not for me. It adds bulk as any case does, but it has no real screen protection. It is the most comfortable when using the device since there is no cover to fold back. It does not have a stand if you like to watch video on it though. I knew I'd dislike it when I got it, but it was cheap... so I gave it a shot. For some.. it might be the perfect case.
Thanks for all recommendation
I ordered Blurex and have prime shipping!
The sad thing is the estimated shipping for the view is next monday...
I know you already made your choice - but thought I would throw in my two cents anyway as I own both.
Both cases are very nice. Here are some of the differences:
Blurex - a little less bulky than 360. I like the pen holder on the bottom rather than side but since it is leather it does not hold the pen as well
360 - the "hole" in the back makes it a little easier to hang on to if you are walking around with it. As x51 mentioned, it's not that stable in portrait mode (but the blurex doesn't go into portrait at all as a stand). Pen holder on side is elastic and holds the pen much better.
I use the Blurex around the house and the 360 when on the job. Both are nice cases and fit well.
Hope this helps someone.
Emama said:
Thanks for all recommendation
I ordered Blurex and have prime shipping!
The sad thing is the estimated shipping for the view is next monday...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got my "Shipped" email yesterday.. I'm expecting them to arrive Tuesday-ish
Though you've already ordered, I'll just add that I've owned both cases. Currently I use the blurex (earlier model without the pen carrier). The swivel case is a neat idea, but adds too much bulk, IMHO. I was especially annoyed by the ring on the back (part of the swivel mechanism) that sticks out about a quarter of an inch and makes the tablet look like it's hovering just off the table when you set it down.
I like my Case-Mate Versant ($16 from Case-Mate site). Had the 360 and returned it, the design was too flimsy and didn't feel solid/sturdy enough. Though the Versant doesn't offer portrait mode, I realize I don't really use docked portrait much so it doesn't matter much to me. Just throwing it out there as an option for you if you need to get an alternative case to the Blurex. By the way, the Boxwave (carbon fiber-esque) case looks cool too.
[background]
I have a two year old daughter. And i work in the Automotive industry. So i needed something that would look professional and take a little bit of a beating.
So my search began. I saw some Otterbox style cases, but a little more that i wanted to spend. I visited my local, very over priced, Best Buys and saw some cases that i like but were a little expensive.
So off to the internet i went. I wanted to stay away from Ebay because i know they are full of Chinese knockoffs. So i went to Amazon, which i know isn't much better but i feel their customer care more about feedback then Ebay shoppers. So i stumbled across this case http://amzn.to/x9xHtX. It's a black leather CaseCrown Portfolio case. 66 Reviews and 4 out of 5 starts. Sure there are a few more that are higher in the ratings but don't have as many. So I went with it.
[first thoughts]
It came in last night. i opened the pack and it had thin plastic cover and very generic label on it. and i thought oh great, this will be a piece of crap case. So i wrapped it around my Transformer and i must say i am very impressed with it. The fit is tight, it's not loose, doesn't slide around, and fits like a glove. No way this is a generic case. It wouldn't fit my parents Acer A500, it's too thick, and no way it would fit my friend's iPad. It's way to thin. The leather feels good, if it is faux leather. I cannot tell. on the inside of the case, where the binding on a book would be there is a little vlecro piece that keeps the TF in place while the cover is open. I'm sure it's standard on this style case, but just a nice little security feature that i like. The holes for the camera are nice and open, they don't give a tunneling effect to the pictures. The other nice little deal i noticed is the cover has magnets (don't ask me how they work, i'm not Mormon) that will keep the cover down when you are not using the device.
first impressions are "i'm very pleased, and would recommend".
In a few days, maybe on Monday, I'll post a follow up after a few days use, and let the newness wear off. Pictures will follow tonight as well.
1.0 Introduction
This thread is a combined review of some Spigen products designed for the Samsung Galaxy Note. I chose these three items because of their special features. I will be reviewing each product individually.
1.1 Initial Impressions
When I first opened the delivery, I was very impressed, the company have designed their packaging to be minimalistic, clean and… “stylish” – as SGP put it.
Now, I know a lot of people on XDA are not a fan of Apple, but in my honest opinion, Apple have some of the best looking packaging – and SGP’s products really look as good as Apple’s – so credit to them!
One of the first things that I thought about was the name of the company: is it SGP? Is it Spigen? Spigen SGP? – and to add to the confusion they have the slogan: “Stylish people’s Good Partner” – which I guess is what SGP stands for – but it could be SPGP, SPG, SGP, etc etc. And anyway, where does Spigen come into it? What I am trying to get at is: I feel the brand needs a tidier image. Personally I feel that “Spigen” sounds a lot better than SGP. And “Stylish people’s Good Partner” just sounds… cheesy. I would have the company rebranded with simply: “Spigen”. It may seem that I am picking on a relatively insignificant detail in a product review, but I know how important brand image is.
Anyway, enough of all that.
The thread now splits into the three sections:
1) Stehen Leather Case
2) Valentinus Leather Wallet Case
3) GLAS.t Premium Tempered Glass Screen Protector
4) Final Thoughts
2.0 Stehen Leather Case
N7000: http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/sa...g-galaxy-note-leather-case-stehen-series.html
I717: http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/sa...axy-note-at-t-leather-case-stehen-series.html
Available in: Black, Camel and Dark Green
2.1 Exterior
The Stehen case is a product that I am particularly excited about because it has a sturdy polycarbonate housing AND a flip cover that folds into a stand for movies – which is a really useful feature!
When you first take the case out of the packaging, you immediately notice the quality of the product. All the stitching is straight, the same colour as the leather and finished properly so it won’t unravel after 10 minutes.
Similarly the leather feels like it should on a premium product – very smooth/supple, with realistic ridges, and a faint aroma. I know the leather is not real, and the product even says “Faux Leather” on the back – so it doesn’t try to deny it – but the faux leather that they have used is very high quality.
Another thing I really like is the fact that on the back, they have not tried to cover every inch with leather – they have let you see the polycarbonate shell which, in my opinion, was a good decision.
The black and brown really complement each other and with the black Note - it really looks like a professional outfit. Another reason I like the fact they have not covered the shell in leather is that when you try to wrap contoured edges in leather, the leather creases and it looks bad – and the device doesn’t sit in it as snugly.
The tab to close the case is something I am unsure whether I like. At first I wondered why they haven’t just put a popper like on their Valentinus case, but that is not possible due to the fact that this case has a stand feature (something you will see later). On one hand I like the tab because you can push it in tight to control the slack. On the other hand it is a bit fiddly to get out and I can see the leather fraying over time. At any rate, it is a little fiddly to open the case and so I imagine that would annoy a lot of power users.
I hope that SGP revise this in a later edition.
Take note that the shell gives the camera lens, flash, and speaker about 2-3mm of protection which is very good – don’t want to scratch your camera lens!
The construction of the case is simple, but effective; it is a leather and microfiber exterior glued on one side to the polycarbonate shell. The construction is very strong and I doubt it would unstick without some serious effort on your part. This really is a premium product in every sense of the word.
2.2 Interior
When you open up the case you are greeted with a greyscale colour scheme – very professional looking. There is a sticker on the inside of the shell that lists the details, serial number for warranty purposes, and a reassuring authenticity logo.
The polycarbonate shell has all the cut outs that you would expect and the device sits very nicely inside. You can press the buttons easily and the cutouts are large so access for micro usb and headphones is good. When you put the device into the shell, I recommend you put in the side with the power button first and then snap it down. It goes in with a satisfying snap and sits in it very solidly.
The other side of the case is the microfiber backing of the leather. The microfiber is soft and provides a little extra protection to the screen. Do not, however, think that you can polish/clean your screen with this as there is very little play (because of the cases solid construction).
Creeping in on one side of the microfiber cloth is the company logo. This is a very nice addition and these small details are what make me think the company really designs their products for a premium market and not just pump out as many cases (for as many devices) as possible - like so many other manufacturers.
2.3 In Use
Here you see my Note sitting atop my Official Samsung Pouch and the Stehen case. What is apparent is that the Stehen hugs the Note much closer than the pouch. The pouch is much wider than the Note and so feels a lot larger in your pocket – the Stehen, however, feels much tighter to the device and so not as large.
The two sections in the front leather are so that you can fold the front back and then push the tab back through the loop – in doing so, the front leather folds so that the device can stand. The stand is ingenious as it allows the device to sit at two angles: both a shallow angle for reading and a steep angle for watching TV shows. Personally what I do is have the device in the stand position with my BF3 stats/unlocks as I game
Interestingly, the positioning of the embossed “Stehen” is just so that it comes up above the top of the device when in stand mode – just enough to frame the device – a very nice touch.
One thing to mention is that, at first, I found the flip cover kept getting in the way and my natural response would be to try to bend the flip right the way back and try to hold the device normally (without a case). Now I hold it differently and it is much more comfortable; I open the flip and hold it like a book – it promotes the use of the s-pen too!
2.4 Conclusion
I have been pondering how I would award the Stehen case for quite some time. It IS a premium product, but it demands a premium price tag – and I’m not sure everyone would be comfortable putting down $44.99 for one.
Pros:
- Great quality leather
- Very sturdy shell
- High grade microfibre
- Useful Stand feature
- Fantastic Customer service
Cons:
- Leather tab a bit cumbersome
- Expensive
I have been thinking whether it is unreasonable to ask $45 for a case, and my answer to that is NO, it is not unreasonable. The whole point about SGP is that they offer a premium product that they stand by with their great customer service – so I think it is, in fact, very reasonable.
3.0 Valentinus Leather Case
N7000: http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/sa...te-leather-wallet-case-valentinus-series.html
I717: http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/sa...te-leather-wallet-case-valentinus-series.html
Available in: Black, Camel and Dark Green
3.1 Exterior
The Valentinus is advertised as a “wallet” case – I’ve never had one of these before so was excited to try out its special feature!
When you first take the case out of the packaging, you immediately notice the quality of the product. All the stitching is straight, in the same colour as the leather, and finished properly so it doesn’t unravel after 10 minutes. Similarly the leather feels like it should on a premium product –supple, with realistic contours, and a faint aroma. (Interestingly, the back of the Stehen said “Faux Leather”, the Valentinus did not have this imprinted.)
The backing of the Valentinus is much more “book-like” than the Stehen. With the Stehen, the leather is wrapped around the shell; with the Valentinus, the shell is glued onto the leather – you’ll see what I mean in the images.
The style of the Valentinus is more mature than the Stehen, the leather has been punched through for the camera/speaker – a much more premium look.
The leather front has an embossed look, personally I would have preferred if it said “Galaxy Note” or something but I fully understand why they didn’t: 1) they’d have had to pay royalties to use the name I imagine 2) they want it to be about the case, not the device.
The popper that closes the case is excellent: it feels secure and solid, but not so tight that it feels like you’ll damage the case prying it open.
I much prefer the fastening on the Valentinus compared to the Stehen (but I understand why SGP had to go with it).
Another small addition is the “Designed by…” on the side – another quality touch!
On a side note, I have been told by SGP that the Valentinus is their newest case, and I really hope that they update their older cases (like the Stehen) so that all their products are uniform. There are a few styling differences between the cases:
1) The polycarbonate shell on the Valentinus feels slightly smoother and better finished than the shell in the Stehen
2) The polycarbonate shell on the Valentinus has a hollow corner on one side
3) The backs of the cases: one reads “SGP CASE, Faux Leather” and the other reads “spigen”, which I much prefer. On the website, however, the images on both read “SGP CASE, Faux Leather”.
4) The “Designed by…” print on the side of the shell is not there on the Stehen
5) Different positioning of “Valentinus” and “Stehen” on the cases, and different fonts
6) Different patterns on the microfiber
7) There are different colour names for the cases on the website: “camel” and “brown”, even though they are the same.
I hope that SGP revise their product line with their new design tweaks so that the range of products looks a little neater/tidier.
Please note that I am being very picky and this is not detracting from the quality of the cases – it is just an observation.
3.2 Interior
When you pop the clasp on the Valentinus and open the case, you are greeted with a brown and black interior that looks fantastic.
Microfibre backs the right side of the case, all of it embossed with the SGP logo – another exquisite touch.
And the main event… the wallet part of the case
Here we see space for 4 cards and a slot to store “larger valuables”, as the diction reads.
The Note sits very snuggly inside the case, it is a well rounded package and really suits the device.
The polycarbonate shell has all the cut outs that you would expect and the device sits very nicely inside. You can press the buttons easily and the cutouts are large so access for micro usb and headphones is good.
When you put the device into the shell, I recommend you put in the side with the power button first and then snap it down. It goes in with a satisfying snap and sits in it very solidly.
One design feature that I would have like to see from the Stehen, is the small SGP embossed logos coming in from the bottom left – it really is a lovely touch – and I would have rather that than the embossing on the microfiber backing (but this is a personal choice).
Overall I feel that the Valentinus has been made for a more mature audience than the Stehen. The Valentinus feels like it was designed for use by a businessman and as such, has very professional look to it. The Stehen has a much more urban-chic-youth look to it in my eyes.
3.3 In Use
This portion of the review was difficult for me to write. The original PR states that the case: “…combines the essentials of your phone and wallet, rendering an all-in-one solution…
Also on the website it states: “Additional Storage Space - The Valentinus Wallet also includes additional storage space for cash or miscellaneous items.”
Now, I have never had a wallet case before, and I was very excited at the prospect of being able to combine two things that I always carry into one
As you can see, the case will accept £5 notes, but £20 notes are too large to fit flat (they would need to be folded)
I know that US money is smaller than UK money, so I felt that if it fit US money, that would be acceptable
But even a $20 note wouldn’t fit flat
Now, I am from the UK and when I think about my wallet, there is both a mixture of cash and cards. However, I know people in the US that carry a wallet and will only have cards (perhaps an emergency $20 note)
So it is excusable that not all notes fit in it properly – manufacturers design largely for their target audience, which I imagine is the US in this case, so to carry 4 cards and some emergency cash is acceptable imho.
Also remember that SGP design the case to fit the device, not the money, and money is different all around the world – so I’ve cut them some slack– if you need money in it that badly, just fold it up and put it in
On a final note, I would be a bit careful not to apply too much pressure - the edges of the cards rest directly on the device’s screen so it may leave a few marks over time.
3.4 Conclusion
The Valentinus is SGP’s newest case, and I feel it is a step in the right direction for the company.
Pros:
- Great quality leather
- Very sturdy shell
- Cards (and cash) wallet feature
- Fantastic Customer service
- “spigen” not “SPG CASE” on the back
Cons:
- Consider what you carry in your wallet
One final thing I would like to say is that this is both a premium case AND a premium wallet, so would I pay $44.99? You betcha!
4.0 GLAS.t Premium Tempered Glass Screen Protector
N7000: http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/sa...tor-glas-t-premium-tempered-glass-series.html
I717: http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/sa...tor-glas-t-premium-tempered-glass-series.html
Make sure that you order the correct one because there is a physical difference between the two (home buttons are different)
Also, there is a $5 difference between them which I imagine is because the N7000 needs more machining for the home button cut-out
4.1 Overview
The tempered glass screen protector is something of a novel idea and I really wanted to try it. The plastic screen protectors that you can get are only really useful against scratches – if you drop the device, the screen will still shatter.
Now, I am not ruthless enough to fit the protector and then go and drop my device, screen-down, to see if the screen protector stops my device’s screen from cracking – youll have to jump onto youtube for that
In the package, you get the protector itself, an alcohol swap for cleaning (NOT Dutch Courage ), a squeegee, a microfiber cloth and an authentication card
One comment that I read on XDA was someone who questioned whether having the Glas.t meant they had to also use a normal screen protector ontop of it. My answer is: NO – this should provide incredible protection by itself – and I feel it does.
4.2 Installation
Installation of the Glas.t was very nerve wracking – you are holding a $40 piece of tempered glass and just one single piece of dust can ruin the whole event – and you don’t have a spare.
My advice is to run a hot shower/bath, let the room fill with steam, stop the water running, let the steam settle down, hold the screen protector like you hold your device when watching a movie and slowly lower it down
You can slightly adjust the protector if it is a millimetre out – and then push it down and watch as the protector works out all the air and bonds to your devices screen – AH SWEET RELIEF! :fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed:
Notice that the protector has such good clarity that dont even need to cut out a hole for the front facing camera
4.3 In Use
This screen protector is unlike any I have ever used. I have used the El Cheapo $1 ones, I have used more expensive SGP ones, but this beats the lot hands down!
The protector is SSSSOOOOO SMOOTH – it is exactly like your touching the devices screen!
Not only that but there are no fingerprints at all – I have been using SGP’s STEINHEIL ULTRA CRYSTAL for the past 4 months and it smudges… badly – but the Glas.t has a oleophobic coating which stops all that.
One thing that you do need to get used to is the home button is a lot deeper than it once was – the protector may only be 0.4mm but the home button feels much more recessed.
It isn’t a problem, but it would have been nice for SGP to include that bit of glass they cut out (N7000 only) so that we could choose whether to stick it onto our home buttons, after all, the N7000 version is $5 more.
(bare in mind the Iphone version gets lots of cool colored home buttons to choose from as well)
In terms of actual hardness, the Glas.t has the same hardness as Gorilla Glass (a 9 on the Mohrs hardness scale) but i know id much rather give $40 for Glas.t than $150+ for a device screen replacement!
When using the device, the responsiveness, colours and general usage is exactly as if you had no protector on at all – it is really fantastic!
The edges of the glass are not sharp, but I would recommend that you use the device with a case as you don’t want to chip it
4.4 Conclusion
The Glas.t is a very impressive product, it has really changed my opinions on screen protectors
Pros:
- Anti fingerprint coating
- Rivals Gorilla Glass’s hardness
- Colours/clarity are excellent
- Very smooth
- Protects front camera too
Cons:
- One shot installation
- Cant be reused
- Home button feels a bit deep
- Expensive considering there is no spare in case of a bad installation
The Glas.t is a product that I really love, it provides more protection than a normal screen protector, but doesn’t succumb to any of the limitations.
What I would like to see, however, is SGP include the bit of glass they cut out for the home button because for the extra $5, N7000 users aren’t getting anything more.
5.0 Final Thoughts
I have guided you through some of SGP’s greatest accessories for the Galaxy Note, giving my thoughts and opinions in what I hope is a fair and thorough analysis.
I would like to just comment on the company as a whole. In all my dealings with SGP, their website, their representatives, their products, etc – I feel that they really want to design and make quality products.
The people that work there really think about the end user, and yes, they have overlooked some small details, but compared to 99% of other case manufacturers, they are leagues ahead.
I have already mentioned that, I feel, SGP need to consolidate their branding a little, but considering their products, and their excellent customer service – I honestly feel that they could be market leaders.
So... Which of these products will _I_ choose? Well I certainly am going to use the Glas.t, but I think my heart lies with the Stehen - the Valentinus is too grown up for me
Thanks for great detailed reviews and photos. It was really helpful for my purchase decision. I have installed Glas.t a month ago and love it, and now I might try leather case on it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
^which of the cases do you prefer?
feel free to ask me about any of the products guys