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Part I
Hey guys, recently I was contacted by Seidio and given a chance to review their Convert combo for the EVO 3D. They sent out the case last week, and I received it on Monday, June 27th. I've been playing around with it, and here are my findings.
Packaging:
It came in a little box delivered by Fedex. There was the case/holster in its packaging, a little card advertising some of their products, with a 10% off code for your next purchase on the back.
The plastic container contains a plastic sleeve with one ultraclear screen protector, a Seidio Surface case for the EVO 3D, a rubber case to wrap outside of the Surface case, a plastic skeleton to go outside of the rubber case, and finally the plastic belt clip/holster.
You can see the pictures below:
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Preliminary Feel:
Before putting any of the products on, the individual parts feel ok. I checked the packaging and each part to make sure there wasn’t anything looking out of the ordinary, to make sure I didn’t receive a defective unit and that nothing was damaged during shipping. So far so good!
You can see all the pieces of the case here.
The Phone:
First things first, here’s my brand new EVO 3D, without any case or screen protectors. You can see the size, the thickness compared to my USB and keycap, as well as what the screen looks like without any screen protector on. The USB is a Patriot XPorter, and the keycap is a standard key from my Deck Legend keyboard.
Note the 3vo does not lie perfectly flat by itself.
Screen Protector:
As stated previously, it’s the ultra-clear variant (don’t know if Seidio sells any other kind), and it covers the entire screen and the capacitive buttons. You can read the details in the picture below. The packet contained the screen protector, a microfiber cloth, and a little application card, which is just a small piece of cardboard with straight edges.
It took me about 5 minutes to apply the screen protector. I found it easiest to line up the upper edge with the top of the screen, and then slowly press down the screen protector by bending it. At somewhere past the midpoint of the screen, it’ll become hard to hold on to the screen protector without shifting it. At this point I simply let go and let it fall on the screen. If you’ve lined up the top right, it’ll fall on the screen perfectly, and there shouldn’t be any air bubbles. Then use the application card to scrape out any air bubbles if necessary.
The screen protector itself works very well. I cannot tell the difference between before and after putting it on with the screen on or off. This is indoors though, I haven’t gotten a chance to look at it outdoors and see if it does remove some of the glare. I took 3 pictures of the phone w/o the screen protector, and 3 pictures of the phone with it on and you can see them below. The screen protector also feels very good and slick. It doesn’t feel quite as good as the bare screen that’s clean, but definitely better than that bare screen that’s full of fingerprints. The screen protector is also much better at resisting smudges and fingerprints, so you don’t have to wipe it every 5 minutes.
No screen protector:
With screen protector:
Note: the phone was on max brightness for all of these pictures
Seido Surface Case:
The Surface case is made of plastic and comes in 2 pieces. The top and bottom pieces both slide on to the phone and connect by a little piece of latch on the bottom half of the case. The case feels sturdy, and the outside texture is that of smooth rubber but not slick like hard plastic. So it’s not too grippy, but not so slippery that it slides out of your hand. The inside of the case is lined with a felt like material, so it will not scratch the phone.
Before I put the case on the phone, I tried putting both pieces together by themselves and was surprised to find that the resulting case was very loose; It barely stayed together. But once I put the case on the phone, the result was very sturdy and both pieces stayed on tight. That’s just how it was designed, so don’t worry if you piece the case together w/o the phone and it feels like it’s going to fall apart
Once on the phone, the case is very form fitting, and does not add much bulk. The case raises the phone just enough on the front so that the screen is barely off the surface and just enough on the back so that the camera will not make contact with a level surface.
Seidio also left just enough space around the camera ring so that you could still see the red paint and that the speaker is not blocked. Very good attention to detail The case did not block any ports/buttons, and I still found all of the buttons easy to press. If I had to nitpick, it blocks part of the 2D/3D label on the phone, but you can still kinda read it. This would make a nice slim case to carry in the pocket. Although one concern I do have that I did not get to test is whether this makes the phone significantly hotter due to the felt like material on the inside of the case.
I don't know what this little hole is for, but Seidio has made a cutout on it on their case, so the attention to detail is awesome.
Part 2
Rubber case/Plastic exoskeleton:
Going on the outside of the Surface case is a rubber wrap-around case to protect the phone from scratches and absorb shock from falls. I didn’t test shock absorbency because I didn’t want to chuck my new phone at the wall , but the rubber feels thick and bouncy, and I feel the plastic skeleton gives a good amount of rigidity to the case. With the rubber case and plastic exoskeleton and the screen protector, the only parts of the phone exposed is the 2D/3D switch and the earpiece and front facing camera on top. Overall, I feel it protects the phone well and it feels solid in the hand, though it does add a good amount of bulk to the phone.
The rubber case covers every switch and port except for the 2D/3D toggle. There are bumps over the power, camera, and volume buttons so they are easy to find by feel. One of the common complaints for the EVO 3D is that the power button is too easy to press, and the volume buttons are too difficult to press. Surprisingly, the rubber case makes the power button harder to press than normal, and the volume rockers easier to depress. I think this is because the power button is located on the left top corner, near the column from the plastic exoskeleton, so that there’s extra stiffness at that part. The rubber over the volume rockers on the other hand, makes the volume buttons more protruded and easier to press. The camera button feels the same, and neither it nor the 2D/3D toggle jiggles anymore. And finally the camera cover pulls back and the little knob on it fits into hole on the back of the plastic exoskeleton, so it holds that piece in place when you're taking a picture.
Belt Clip/Holster:
The holster is kind of like the bottom half of the Surface case, but bigger and the back extends to the whole length of the phone. There is a spring tensioned clip at the top of the holster that holds the phone, which goes in the holster with the screen facing inside. The inside of the holster is again lined with a felt like material, so your screen won’t be damaged (it doesn’t touch the screen anyways). The clip on top has a recessed face so you don’t have to manually push it back with your finger when putting the phone into the holster. Just dock the bottom of the phone into the bottom of the holster, and push the top of the phone into the clip. The slanted shape of the clip and the slanted shape of the rubber case will allow the phone to simply clip into the holster. To take the phone out, you’ll need to push back the clip and pull the phone out from the top.
There’s another larger clip on the back of the holster to clip unto your belt. In the vertical position (parallel with the length of the case), there’s a bit of wiggle, but it goes away in the horizontal position (perpendicular to the length of the case). There’s also a little hook at the end of the belt clip, which prevents the holster from falling off if you’re running or jumping. It’s a nice detail to see, but it means you’ll probably have to use both hands to remove the holster. And another nitpick here, the sticker on the top clip was misaligned I know it means absolutely nothing about the case, but it drove me nuts and I promptly removed it haha.
I think the holster is meant to be put on w/ the belt clip in the vertical position, and then worn during the day w/ the phone turned in the horizontal position. That way the phone doesn’t brush against your body and it’s super easy to remove and put back into the holster. The only thing I would say is it’s easy to press the volume buttons and turn on the screen, but you would have to take the phone out of the holster to press the power button and turn the screen off again. Nothing hugely annoying, and it only happens if you’re playing with the phone while it’s in the holster.
^You have no idea how hard it was to take this picture haha
Conclusion:
Overall I would say the Seidio Convert combo is a great product, the included Surface case and screen protector makes for a great slim case to carry around in the pocket, and the outside rubber case and plastic exoskeleton combo provides good protection if you don’t mind the bulk. Finally the holster is easy to use and great for someone who wants to carry their phone on the belt clip instead of in their pocket. I hope this has been helpful, and please feel free to ask me questions about the case.
And yes, you can use the belt clip as a kickstand
Nice review man waiting on ballistic to pump a case out or the kraken 2 I am on using the otter defender . Liked the camera ports more on it. Good review tho man pics too.
I have the same case for my E4G. Writes great and never hear an issue. I eventually went with the Ballistic HC once it was released, love it. I compared this case and the Defender at Best Buy yesterday. Bought the Defender since it covers the cameras (I gotta have the extra protection for work). I know the Seidio has the flap that covers the cameras, but it is huge and would get annoying to me to have to fold it back to take a pic(got old with me Evo4G), and as big as the flap is I bet it will not stay on the case for a long time. Once Ballistic releases their HC case, I'm jumping in it! Today I bought a HTC black silicone case for the evenings and weekends, i liked it better than the Otterbox Impact. The Impact slid off the bottom of the phone way to easy....
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Nice Review
I own an otterbox but I just got to say.. Thanks for a great review! Lots of awesome pics and info. I appreciate people who take the time to do this type of thing!!
great review----its nice to see such detailed images before spending money
Were you coached/compensated for this review or for your time? Just curious. Thorough review though!
sshark said:
Were you coached/compensated for this review or for your time? Just curious. Thorough review though!
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Click to collapse
He stated in the first few sentences that Seidio gave him the case to review...
Nice review thanks
sshark said:
Were you coached/compensated for this review or for your time? Just curious. Thorough review though!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got to keep the case they gave me, that's all. They requested that I give them a quick description of the item when I got it (to prevent dmg in shipping I suppose), and let them see the review before I posted it.
Overall I like the combo case. It works well as a belt clip holder, and the Active case feels like a tank. Flipping back the camera cover can get annoying sometimes, but I don't see it falling off anytime soon.
Otherwise I've just been using the Surface case and carrying it in my pocket. Though the included screen protector is nice, since I've already gotten bits and pieces of dirt on it here and there, and I definitely prefer to wiping it off of my screen protector than my screen.
ebolamonkey3 said:
I got to keep the case they gave me, that's all. They requested that I give them a quick description of the item when I got it (to prevent dmg in shipping I suppose), and let them see the review before I posted it.
Overall I like the combo case. It works well as a belt clip holder, and the Active case feels like a tank. Flipping back the camera cover can get annoying sometimes, but I don't see it falling off anytime soon.
Otherwise I've just been using the Surface case and carrying it in my pocket. Though the included screen protector is nice, since I've already gotten bits and pieces of dirt on it here and there, and I definitely prefer to wiping it off of my screen protector than my screen.
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Thanks for being upfront ...I am sure with this thoroughness, you can make good living. :d
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
Lucky you lol. Been dicking with the Otterbox waiting on ballistic
I’ve had my Seidio Surface case with kickstand for several weeks now and finally gotten around to writing about it. I think it’s a great alternative for cases with kickstand. For the most part, I do like the case. It adds a little bulk to it compared to lets say a TPU case or 2 piece (front & back) case because the back is thicker by maybe 1mm which add more rigidity to the case. Width and height wise it’s the same as my argyl TPU and 2 piece case.
The unit comes in 2 pieces. Top and bottom. You cant tell from image 1 but the entire inside back portion has a thin felt material which is great for preventing any scratches to the back or camera when you are sliding the case over the phone. Also the rest of the inner case has a soft touch paint coating similar to the outside of it. It feels almost the same as the Evo 3d back cover but with more grip to it. There is a slight bulge on the bottom where the kickstand resides (see image 8) so when you have the phone laying down on its back the phone will not be leveled which is barely noticeable. This wasn’t an issue for me and kind of prefer it since it allows the sound to be louder when listening to music because of the speaker not being completely flushed on a flat surface. Also since the back is thicker than a normal TPU or 2 piece case it makes the camera lens recessed quite a bit and will never touch any flat surface you put the phone on. Now the lens are exposed so be careful when putting the phone in your pocket and make sure you don’t mix it with your keys, coins, etc. That’s really just common sense there.
Image 1
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Once you piece the 2 together they just snap via a ¾ inch tab that protrudes on the upper half of the bottom case to match the same inverted groove on the upper half. I didn’t get a change to get a close up picture of it but I will post later once I do. The case slides easily together and it’s a firm fit. On the other hand my 2 piece ebay case once together is not so snug which makes it more susceptible to dust and dirt getting inside the case which you get enough of will eventually act like sand paper and will scratch your phone. So +1 on Seidio for making a great fit. The only thing I did find is that the recessed slit on the bottom part of the top piece does stick out some and may touch the camera lens when putting on or removing the top piece. I took a blade and shaved it down and it didn’t affect the locking of the 2 pieces. See image 2.
Image 2
Now to remove the case, this is the trick to it. Put the phone on a table face down. Press the sides of the bottom of the top piece and at the same time press down on the center top portion of the bottom piece. Now pull the case apart. Once you get the gist of it you can do it easily without putting it on a table. If you don’t do it this way the case is very hard to pull apart. There is also a small instruction sheet (Image 3) with images inside the box on how to do this.
Image 3
This is how the case looks when it is standing on the kickstand.
Image 4
Rear view
Image 5
Upside down
Image 6
When you prop the kickstand it will seem like it won’t go out far enough and the phone will sit too vertical. Just pull on the kickstand a bit more and you will hear it click (it may sound like something braking but don’t worry). I was scared to do this at first thinking I would break it but once it made the loud click a left it at that and it propped at a better angle as shown in image 4. Putting the kickstand back also made a loud click. But after a few times doing this the clicking wasn’t so loud any more.
As far as cutouts they are cut perfectly for the camera lens, camera button/ 3d switch, volume, mic, headset jack, power buttons, and charging port. Again the back is thicker so the camera lens is more recessed so you’d be ok putting the phone on a flat surface. Same goes for the front. The edges around the screen is raised so putting the phone down on a flat surface is also safe.
Image 7
Image 8. You can see how recessed the camera lens is here.
Image 9
Durability wise I think the case is pretty durable due to its slight thickness. I really think the case will absorb most of the impact if it ever gets dropped.
The matte look is awesome and has some grip to it so I don’t feel it will ever slip off my hands.
Now for what I thought they could improve on: The front bezel I wished where a bit thinner since the sides do cover about 1mm of the glass but not really noticeable but I’m just picky about that kind of stuff. My other 2 piece case and the TPU case fits the black metal bezel of the phone perfectly and is not covering any part of the glass. And I did wish it was slightly thinner but that might make it feel flimsy. The other drawback which doesn’t really bother me that much is that the charging port is covered when you are using the kickstand. I don’t really charge my phone since I have spare batteries I swap back and forth with everyday so I was ok with this design. If the kickstand was the other way around the issue with that is some apps don’t rotate 360 degrees so you would have to view things upside down.
So far after using it for over a month now the case is still in great condition. No scratches or peeling or finish rubbing off. It’s still a tight fit and still locks together as well as when it was new (even after my mod). It’s a great investment if you want good overall protection for your phone with the added feature of a kickstand which I use quite frequently when I watch a movie.
I wrote this pretty quickly so please don’t knock me on my grammar and if I made any incorrect spelling. I’m too lazy to proof read but if you have any questions about the case or my review let me know. BTW images taken by my Evo 4G =)
EDIT: Maintenance
For maintenance depending on usage but maybe once a week I would check around under the front lips that there isn't any dust or dirt which could potentially scratch the black metal bezel around the screen. Just use a wet cotton swap to clean the are shown below. Do this for the both pieces.
Good review, seems like a nice case.
Also you can use this case to prop the phone up in portrait mode and landscape mode
Awaiting Assimilation
Thanks for the review. I have the full convert extended kit from seidio but also wanted a case for when I want to use the stock battery. This sounds perfect for me.
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Very awesome review. One thing I'd point out is that with the kickstand, you can use it both ways. The logical way we use makes it so that you can't charge the phone. You can flip it though so you can charge it and still utilize the kickstand (my picture sucks, sorry for low quality).
bagelicious said:
Very awesome review. One thing I'd point out is that with the kickstand, you can use it both ways. The logical way we use makes it so that you can't charge the phone. You can flip it though so you can charge it and still utilize the kickstand (my picture sucks, sorry for low quality).
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Wow thanks for the tip. Just tried that and it works. It's not the best angle for viewing but non the less its an option. so thank you.
kratos313 said:
Also you can use this case to prop the phone up in portrait mode and landscape mode
Awaiting Assimilation
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Thanks I guess it does prop in portrait. The only drag is you cant charge in portrait or it will get too heavy on that side and fall sideways. But good to have options.
bagelicious said:
Very awesome review. One thing I'd point out is that with the kickstand, you can use it both ways. The logical way we use makes it so that you can't charge the phone. You can flip it though so you can charge it and still utilize the kickstand (my picture sucks, sorry for low quality).
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That's pretty cool! Guess that's made possible by the kickstand locking in the outward position, nice. All kickstand cases should be made capable of that. It would be nice if phone manufacturers would also incorporate that feature. Wouldn't be much extra work or materials either, just a couple small nubs on either side of the kickstand right before the most outward position ( I'm assuming that's how Seidio achieves this as well)
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stanglifemike said:
That's pretty cool! Guess that's made possible by the kickstand locking in the outward position, nice. All kickstand cases should be made capable of that. It would be nice if phone manufacturers would also incorporate that feature. Wouldn't be much extra work or materials either, just a couple small nubs on either side of the kickstand at the most outward position ( I'm assuming that's how Seidio made it as well)
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I emailed Seidio and suggested they make the stand go out only about 45 degrees so viewing angle is same both ways. Also suggested they make it lock better when the stand is open. As it is now, it isn't as solid the other way around and if you push the top too much it'll fall back. I think maybe just incorporate a wire in the center of the stand that you can pull out and the top end of the wire rests inside the stand housing. Like this. Green line = wire.
For maintenance depending on usage but maybe once a week I would check around under the front lips that there isn't any dust or dirt which could potentially scratch the black metal bezel around the screen. Just use a wet cotton swab to clean the are shown below. Do this for the both pieces.
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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???
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Yes, I keep opening it upside down.
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caseyatbt said:
Yes, I keep opening it upside down.
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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
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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
Review - Exact Case (Slender) & Sparin Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Shield K1
A few weeks back I purchased both of the above from Amazon. I figured I'd give a review on both items.
http://www.amazon.com/Nvidia-Shield-Tablet-Case-Lightweight/dp/B00MV9TPEU
http://http://www.amazon.com/Protector-Tempered-Bubble-Free-Repeatable-Installation/dp/B0198717W0
I purchased the case in brown. If you search Amazon, the prices for this particular case vary greatly, even from the same vendor. I found a deal where it was only $1.95 for the case and $4.95 for shipping. Other ads by the same vendor have it for as much as $12.00 plus shipping, so look around. Be advised, there is also an Exact case sold without the "Slender" designation, and this is a case where the tablet slips inside and is surrounded by a leather-like material and it's velcroed in place. The case I'm reviewing holds onto the tablet by its four corners, and there is absolutely nothing that gets near the screen or top speakers.
Fit - it fits almost perfectly. I say almost with a small reservation. When you press it into the case, it fits just right, almost a perfect fit. I say almost, as I would have liked it to fit in with a "snap". The four corners do hold the tablet in quite well, and I do not think the tablet will come out of the case in normal use or thrown in a bag. But, I think that if the tablet were dropped from a small distance, the case would go flying one way and the tablet the other. I'm not going to try this, as I don't want to find out for sure, but it seems as though the four corner retention clips are more of a press fit than a snap fit (if that makes sense). As to quality, I give it very high marks! The finish is great! It looks like leather in texture, and it is all attached to the plastic shell quite well with no gaps or irregularities or glue lines or anything. In looks alone it looks like it should cost at least $20 to $40. When the cover is folded fully open, the tablet still fits the hand well with no annoying sharp edges, and it's comfortable to hold. The flexible hinge where the cover meets the shell is also great...no glue lines, and no peeling in about 2 weeks of daily use. The cover is held closed to the tablet with 2 magnets. The magnets hold it quite positively, and it's not going to open on its own. I was worried that I would permanently bend the cover along its edge while opening it due to the good hold the magnets have on it, but It's still straight and showing no signs of bending or wear. The magnets in the cover flap itself put the tablet to sleep 100% of the time when the cover is closed, and it takes an inch of opening the tablet for the built-in magnets to get far away enough for the tablet to wake up. My only gripe, and it's not fully a real gripe is that this case/cover was made for the original Shield Tablet, and not specifically for the Shield Tablet K1, so it has the cutout on the side for the original tablet's stylus (the K1 does not have a stylus silo, nor does it come with a stylus). But, I knew the cutout would be there before I purchased it, so in effect, it's not really a gripe at all. The cutout does not get in the way at all when handling the tablet. As to the rest of the cutouts, they are perfect! No issues with the camera being obscured as it is with some other cases out there, and there are even cut outs for the two bass ports that are situated on the edges of the tablet to the sides of the larger forward facing speakers. The cover at this point does not work great at holding the tablet up to view videos, for example. There are magnets in the flap that are supposed to hold onto the case to allow viewing in landscape mode, but they don't hold well and the tablet slowly settles down flat to the table. Bear in mind it has gotten better since new, as it would not hold at all when new. This appears to be because the creases in the flap are still new and not as flexible as they need to be. Over 2 weeks time they have become a bit more flexible and are holding better, but not perfect yet. I've only tried it a few times so I've not really been flexing these hinges much. But I think over time, with more use, it will work as it's supposed to. Time will tell! Lastly, drop protection...I don't think this case really has much if any. If the tablet falls on one of it's corners, there is only about 1/16" of plastic sitting there. Would it help? Maybe. There is absolutely no rubber anywhere on this case, so the only shock protection there might be, if any, might be is the soft cover flap. But, I did not buy this case for drop protection. I bought it for its minimalist dimensions, non interference with the screen, properly sized openings, light weight, and scratch protection while traveling. In those regards, it is perfect.
So, if I had to give a numerical grade on this case, I would give it somewhere between a 95% to 99% . My only points of detraction would be for what I believe would be it not retaining the tablet in a fall. If you were to pick one up, it's possible yours might snap in better than mine, but I'm only guessing at this as I only have experience with the particular one I own. Would i go out and buy it again? Definitely YES!!!
As to the Sparin tempered glassscreen protector...I only installed it a few days ago, so my comments on my experience are limited. What can i say? It was postal packaged well for shipping (it was sent direct from the manufacturer with no damage). It was packaged well within its manufacturer's case too. The item comes with everything you might need to successfully apply the glass protector to the tablet. There were both wet and dry wipes (Not sure but the dry wipe might also be an anti-static wipe, which would help with static attracted dust), a microfiber cloth, positioning stickers, dust removal sticker, and a cardboard squeegee (which IMO seems to be totally useless with a tempered glass screen protector). There may have been more items included, but I don't remember. After cleaning the screen many times along with eagle-eye inspection to ensure no dust specs remained (and a steamy room to keep dust down), I applied the protector free hand. It went on with no issues and sucked right down onto the glass. I did have one bubble that formed during adhesion, but I was able to wipe it away to the edge of the glass with some pressure from my finger and it disappeared. There are a couple of line of entrapped air along one edge, near a speaker grill, which I cannot push away, but it's nowhere near the light-up portion of the screen so I'm not too concerned about it. It does not appear to be caused by dust or anything. i'm wondering if it might be a small depression in the tablet's screen. As far as I can tell...no scientific tests available here ...there is no difference in the slickness compared to a stock screen, and no loss of screen sensitivity. As an asides...I placed the glass, with adhesive peel sheet still attached, while still in its foam shipping sleeve upon the tablet, and it still didn't seem to affect touch sensitivity. I also don't think there is any loss of brightness through the new glass (impossible to tell once it's actually affixed), but it looked crystal clear before it was applied. Not sure just yet, but I think there may now be less of a fingerprint issue with this glass' coating. The protector is a slight bit shorter in the long dimension than the tablet's glass...maybe 1/16" shorter, but it's a non-issue as the light-up portion of the screen does not come anywhere near this area. I'd rather they err on it being shorter than longer. The edges of the glass are rounded all the way around, so no sharp edges to the fingers. I really can't find any fault with this item, and when I review, I'm always looking for faults! I guess I'm more of a pessimist than I am an optimist. So, I'd give this item a 100%
Would I buy it again? Definitely YES! Also, compared to reviews on other tempered glass protectors for the Shield Tablet, this item had the fewest complaints of them all, which is why i went for this one in the first place.
can you provide some pics of the final result? case + screen protector. tks
Curl3w said:
can you provide some pics of the final result? case + screen protector. tks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to see some pictures if possible. Quick question for you: Is the cover "floppy"? By that I mean does the cover easily bend and flop around at the indentations made to prop up the tablet? I bought a generic case for my K1 which did and it drove me nuts to carry while holding it like a book.
Here are some pics. They were taken on two different days in two different locations (hence the differences in lighting and background), but they were all taken by me of my personal tablet.
Yes, I realize the "Exact" logo is upside down
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Cut-out for the non-existent stylus silo on the K1 (bottom right of image)
Nicely centered camera
Stands up better every day, but still not a floppy cover
Two magnets along the edge to hold the cover closed
A few long strings of entrapped air. I'm thinking the K1's screen might be curved a bit.
That skewed gray stripe near the top of the screen is just a strange reflection from something in the room. The screen looks fantastic. It's probably set for somewhere around 60% brightness in this image.
The screen protector is just a fraction of an inch on the short side. Maybe 1/32" or 1/16" short, but I don't care as it fully covers the light-up portion of the screen by a very good margin...all the way up to the speakers, but just a bit shy. All the edges that your finger might come into contact with are rounded, and not sharp!
i bought the "same" cover but with black colour and it's pretty good. Now i 'm looking for a tempered glass, but some brands dont send to my country (Portugal) or the shipping costs are too damn high . tks for the pics
Anyone tested tempered glass and stylus?
I use my tablet for drawing and note taking, would suck if the accuracy went down...
Anyone ?
D
This is a Review of Urban Armor Gear (UAG) cases for Samsung Galaxy S9. Manufacturer website: UAG.
Intro.
It has been awhile since my last smartphone upgrade, thus a reason I slowed down with accessories reviews. While being a diehard Sammy fan, I’m not too crazy with the latest trends of non-removable (by user) batteries and wrapped around edge displays, but you can’t stop the progress. Plus, I feel that the only way to be Wowed by a new phone is if you take your time and skip a year or two to really feel a step up in performance and features.
So here I’m, with a brand-new Galaxy S9, and the first thing I do is to get UAG cases, provided for review purpose by manufacturer. I said this many times in the past, while I have reviewed and compared a ton of cases from different manufacturers, I always go back to UAG because for my personal preference they strike a perfect balance between build quality, lightweight construction, cool looking design, and a peace of mind in protection which I have put to the test with many of the phones in our household.
But unlike the original, more “traditional” Pathfinder design I use daily with all our previous Galaxy phones, this time I’m going to look at their slim’n’slick Plyo, semi-transparent pathfinder inspired Plasma, and luxurious bulletproof Monarch designs.
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UAG – S9 Plyo.
S9 Plyo case is by far their slimmest model which still meets military drop-test standards, features impact resistant armor frame, feather-light 34g composite construction, generous port openings, easy to press buttons with a nice tactile response, and full open display without obstructing touch area of the edges. The case is available in Ice, Ash, Crimson, and Glacier semi-translucent colors.
The corners of the case are protected with air-soft material to cushion the impact and to lift the screen off the surface when placed down, or if it falls on a flat surface. The back and the sides are non-flexible for a better impact resistance, only the area around the buttons and at the bottom/top around the port cutouts is rubbery and more flexible to stretch when placing the phone inside. Once inside the case, phone is wrapped securely, without a worry of falling out.
Obviously, it won’t offer the same level of protection as some other bulkier cases, but that’s a trade-off for having a very slim design. Also, it’s not exactly scratch resistant and a little slippery on the back, though the sides have a nice grip. The most important, it offers a scratch resistance and a grip improvement for your phone. Furthermore, the case can probably push on some screen protectors due to lip overlap. Screen protector compatibility, either film or glass, is the biggest challenge with any case for S9, and I’m afraid that some people might have to make a choice to either have a case or screen protector, but not both. I haven’t tested every screen protector combination yet, but based on some of the budget stuff I tried, it’s not exactly a clear cut, no pun intended.
UAG – S9 Plasma.
I have tested Plasma case before, so already knew what to expect. It reminds me a lot of a classic Pathfinder design, except the shell is more semi-transparent. This case steps up in a level of protection with three layers, including armor shell, shock cushion, and impact resistant rubber. It comes in Ice, Ash, Cobalt, and Citron semi-transparent colors, has an impact and shock resistant design that meets military drop-test standards, still has a feather-light composite construction with fused PC armor shell, softer impact resistant core, and a raised rubber bumper with extra corner protection.
The back has a more sculptured “industrial” design with infused rubbery sides and corners, scratch resistant skip pads for the back, and raised bumper corners to keep the screen from touching the surface when placed down. This case has a better grip than Plyo, and should offer a better drop protection, while it weights the same as 34g Plyo case. The design is more masculine, not as slick as Plyo. You still have large easy to push buttons with a tactile response, and the generous port openings at the top and the bottom.
The rubber bumper sides/top grips the phone securely, and has an adequate cutout for an easy access to the touch screen, including curved edges. But like Plyo, the selection of screen protectors here could be trial’n’error since there is a possibility it could push on the sides of screen protector. This is another situation where you might consider using either case without screen protector or screen protector without a case.
UAG – S9 Monarch.
Monarch is UAG’s premium luxury model which offers the ultimate protection with 5 layers, including armor frame, leather and carbon fiber, polycarbonate (PC) shear plate, alloy metal hardware, and impact resistant rubber. As a matter of fact, in comparison to other two cases, Monarch meets Double Military drop-test standard requirements, and it comes with 10-Year Warranty. Of course, I don’t think anybody is planning to use their S9 phone for 10 years, but the fact UAG offers 10 years warranty on this case means it was handcrafted and held to a higher standard with a confidence that it will last 10 years.
Despite all these extra protection layer (all part of a single piece fused shell), the case weight is still only 44g, 10g more than Plyo and Plasma cases. The back features a top grain leather material and alloy metal hardware, with two available colors of Black and Crimson. Here, you will find a soft impact-resistant core and honeycomb traction grip. Still, large easy to press buttons with a tactile response, and generous open ports. Corner bumpers protect the case when dropped, plus raise the screen off the surface with placed down. The skip pads on the back give it a good friction from sliding off the smooth surface.
One advantage of this case is a more generous opening of a rubber bumper which has a bigger cutout at the top and the sides, allowing to use different screen protectors without worrying of pushing on the sides.
Another surprise was being able to use wireless charging stand (Choetech upright multi-coil stand) which worked OK considering metal hardware on the back of the case. This is obviously not an issue with Plyo and Plasma cases since they only have PC material on the back. But it was great to be able to use S9 with Monarch case for wireless charging. The only thing here, due to a more generous cutout/opening, the phone is easier to get in and out of the case. S9 still feels secure inside, but it’s a lot easier to pull the rubber bumpers to remove the phone. Just keep in mind, if it gets loose over time, it’s covered under 10-Year warranty.
Conclusion.
I know everybody is looking for one perfect smartphone case, but often it’s not easy to find because there is always a trade-off. If you want the slimmest one just to enhance the grip and to get scratch protection for the back of the phone, you will have to compromise on some drop protection. On the other hand, if you want to have the best protection, you will have to settle in on a heavier case that going to add more bulk to your phone. Thus, you will have to pick your priorities, and sometimes it will be impossible to settle on one single case, so you might end up with a few, depending on where and how you use it.
For me personally, I’m very happy with Monarch case and can call it a day. Though with a little extra weight, it’s still a slim great looking premium case which offers a decent level of protection, full access to display and controls, and front opening large enough to accommodate most of the screen protectors. For others, such as my wife who also just got S9, Plasma is a more lightweight and slimmer option with a tougher protection while Plyo is great alternative to use with popsocket or any other stick-on stands which require a flat back surface. The bottom line, you can’t go wrong with either one.