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Link
Alright, The case the box came is in is kind of girly, anyways the quality of the case is amazing! It doesn't feel like it was cheaply made at all. It doesn't add too much bulk and I can still fit it in my skinnys(Levi's 511 Skinny 29 x 30) front pocket. The buttons are easily accessible even the the volume button being covered by the front flap it is still easy to press / locate since the case has a steep cut out for the volume buttons. Aswell as the S-Pen being so easily accessible. An added perk i liked about this case is that the speaker hole is actually covered by its own mesh. It also has an accessory hole so you could attach an accessory / lanyard to it. The Magnetized kick stand does not interfere with signal(atleast none i can tell).
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Zenus cases are the best I've seen so far for the Galaxy Note. I was thinking of getting this one as well but the color combinations just don't do it for me. Also, there's not cutout for the front speaker so it would be a little awkward to have to hold the front leather part back every time. I like that the case clips onto the metal part on the side and doesn't rest on the top of the phone so that a screen guard will thankfully be left untouched. I also love that it has a stand (The only reason I'm not getting the Zenus Masstige Stripe Case). I was wondering though, when the stand is set up, does the little latch (idk what it's called lol, the little thing used to clip on to the front cover to close the case) hide a little part of the screen since presumably, it'll be hanging down a little bit?
EDIT: Ordered it lol. It may have its flaws but it's the best I could find at its price range.
I have one of these (different colors, but this color looks great).
They are extremely high quality. As good or better than Vaja, for instance.
I've posted this before, that make sure you pay more and get the leather ones, as they have a few lines and some of the lines aren't as good quality.
This particular case is just great. The flap is a tad annoying but well worth it overall.
Note: one thing worth mentioning is that they are very light also.
would it be okay to use this case with a FULL skin applied? Ie. sides and back??
i'm sure the front would be okay, but just wanted to see if the sides of the phone with skin be okay.....
i've been looking at cases that have the flip cover, but they all look like it would peel off the side skins..... this one looks like it like it might be okay.
predation said:
would it be okay to use this case with a FULL skin applied? Ie. sides and back??
i'm sure the front would be okay, but just wanted to see if the sides of the phone with skin be okay.....
i've been looking at cases that have the flip cover, but they all look like it would peel off the side skins..... this one looks like it like it might be okay.
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Hmmm...that's a tricky one. Obviously, it clips in tightly and securely so it might damage the skin during insertion and removal but once it's sitting in there, as long as you don't constantly remove it, it should be fine. I would recommend going to a store and testing out either this case or similar leather cases, but then again, if you harm the skin in the process, then this whole discussion is useless lol. On another note, why use a skin? The note is such a beautiful sleek beast. I wouldn't want to hide away any of the sides or take away from the beautiful protruding glass. That's why I hate my current Capdase Jacket XPose and am going for this case. Just increases the beauty XD. Anyways, yes, back on topic, I wouldn't recommend using a skin with this cover but hopefully someone who's actually tried it will reply.
Side-note: I ordered the Wine-Red / Dark Brown version
predation said:
would it be okay to use this case with a FULL skin applied? Ie. sides and back??
i'm sure the front would be okay, but just wanted to see if the sides of the phone with skin be okay.....
i've been looking at cases that have the flip cover, but they all look like it would peel off the side skins..... this one looks like it like it might be okay.
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Here's a Flip case that would most likely not interrupt your skin.
Link
xCeejayy said:
The aluminum bumper wasn't doing it for me so I was looking around and I found this case. The colors are pretty subtle and calm. I'll update this with a review / pics of the case on when I receive it. I just wanted to share this case with you because it just looks so nice.
Link
Alright, The case came in the box it comes in is kind of girly, anyways the quality of the case is amazing! It doesn't feel like it was cheaply made at all. It doesn't add too much bulk and I can still fit it in my skinnys(Levi's 511 Skinny 29 x 30) front pocket. The buttons are easily accessible even the the volume button being covered by the front flap it is still easy to press / locate since the case has a steep cut out for the volume buttons. Aswell as the S-Pen being so easily accessible. An added perk i liked about this case is that the speaker hole is actually covered by its own mesh. It also has an accessory hole so you could attach an accessory / lanyard to it. The Magnetized kick stand does not interfere with signal(atleast none i can tell).
Album
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These Zenus cases look great and seem very usable. But the downside is that they have a magnet at the back that interferes with S-pen functions (not with the signal). Check in the screen area in front of the magnet by trying to draw several long thin lines with the SPen that cross this area. That case was a money waste for me...
drkalo said:
These Zenus cases look great and seem very usable. But the downside is that they have a magnet at the back that interferes with S-pen functions (not with the signal). Check in the screen area in front of the magnet by trying to draw several long thin lines with the SPen that cross this area. That case was a money waste for me...
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I tried this and it works fine for me Maybe contact Zenus for another one?
xCeejayy said:
I tried this and it works fine for me Maybe contact Zenus for another one?
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I got these symptoms after a couple of days usage. I contacted the dealer and got a substitute with Capsule Stand Slide Series - White / Lime
When I got my Note off CL came with the Eel leather case. It's slick but I wish it was the capsule.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
This is the Surface Case from Seidio, I just opened their website today and saw this!
http://www.seidioonline.com/htc-droid-dna-surface-case-black-p/csr3htdda-bk.htm
I'm really happy to see Seidio finally releasing some of their products for us, I'm deciding between picking up this black version of it or just waiting for the red one, or just waiting entirely on the Active case with built in kick-stand. Feel free to give your experience with seidio cases or anything seidio related
This is a lovely case I might order one as well I might wait to see if it drops in price 30 bucks isn't bad but I'm a cheap dude. Ill go on eBay see if its cheaper lol...good find tho :thumbup:
sent from my beastly powered DNA using Tapatalk 2
I'm going to definitely wait for their kickstand case. It's a no brainer for $5 more IMO. Thanks for the info though. Definitely glad as well that seidio decided to build cases for our device.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda premium
well if someone does get this case let me know well it does with screen protectors cause the case i have now does not like my screen protector at all
The Active case is thicker. I've been waiting for the Surface case and holster combo. Thanks for the head's up.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app
It would be great of they made an obexcase for our device. Then the water proofnesswould no longer be a question
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2
i just noticed this today too.. too bad i'm waiting for the active case with metal kickstand combo... and the money to buy it...
Just purchased the surface combo. Been waiting for this! I need a holster at work and nothing else has been very good imo for the DNA so far, at least that I have tried. Hoping it is as nice as my prior surface/innocase case combos were and that case is not too bulky.
tuxly said:
Just purchased the surface combo. Been waiting for this! I need a holster at work and nothing else has been very good imo for the DNA so far, at least that I have tried. Hoping it is as nice as my prior surface/innocase case combos were and that case is not too bulky.
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Let me know how the surface case works for you when you get it! Would like to see how it plays with edge to edge screen protectors! If possible could you also do a mini review of the case?
Looks nice but the surface scratched the he'll out my my evo 4G and the soft touch texture started coming off... I'll wait for the reviews
Sent from my HTC Droid DNA.
Here my review on Seido Surface Combo. I really think Seido has done a great job at find the right balance with this case. It adds some protection for screen and camera by keeping them from connecting directly to flat surface. All of the edges are also covered. The thickness of case I think is just right. I was worried about added bulk as I have not liked any other case I have tried so far except the verizon shell which really adds nothing. Seido kept the back with same curve as phone. I am starting to actually like feel of device in case better than naked phone as phone does not feel quite as fragile or potentially as easy to drop. It is a bit easier to type in landscape mode as you have more to hold onto. Volume rocker and power button are easy to locate by feel now, and I have yet to accidently hit the volume rocker with the clever way this was designed. Closing usb port is not quite as easy with phone in case, but not overly hard either. The notification light on back has its own cutout also. Seido also did a great job at solvong the issue where speaker volume gets muted on some surfaces. I put the phone with this case on all the places where I cannot hear naked phone ring and the ringtone came out loud and clear. Have not yet tried case with a screen protector, but will try to get one so I can let people know how it works with them. Holster is great. Yes, it is a bit big to carry at waistband, but that is just because phone is the size it is. This holster manages to allow easy access while keeping phone secure (wore all day yesterday and no issues). The release hinge is a bit bigger than on prior Seido holsters, but it seems like it needs to be that way to add necessary stability. Has same swivel mechanism as other holsters also. Easy to put on and take off once you know how Seido cases are. Noticed no damage on phone from case, though could tell where soft lining touched phone (made a line that like fingerprints can be wiped away). Easy reach all eadges of screen; case does not hinder anything (with otterbox defender had trouble touching outer edges of screen). All in all, love this case and holster combo and it is definitely what will stay on my DNA from now on! If you have specific questions, let me know. Will try to get some pictures if I can find my actual camera.
tuxly said:
Here my review on Seido Surface Combo. I really think Seido has done a great job at find the right balance with this case. It adds some protection for screen and camera by keeping them from connecting directly to flat surface. All of the edges are also covered. The thickness of case I think is just right. I was worried about added bulk as I have not liked any other case I have tried so far except the verizon shell which really adds nothing. Seido kept the back with same curve as phone. I am starting to actually like feel of device in case better than naked phone as phone does not feel quite as fragile or potentially as easy to drop. It is a bit easier to type in landscape mode as you have more to hold onto. Volume rocker and power button are easy to locate by feel now, and I have yet to accidently hit the volume rocker with the clever way this was designed. Closing usb port is not quite as easy with phone in case, but not overly hard either. The notification light on back has its own cutout also. Seido also did a great job at solvong the issue where speaker volume gets muted on some surfaces. I put the phone with this case on all the places where I cannot hear naked phone ring and the ringtone came out loud and clear. Have not yet tried case with a screen protector, but will try to get one so I can let people know how it works with them. Holster is great. Yes, it is a bit big to carry at waistband, but that is just because phone is the size it is. This holster manages to allow easy access while keeping phone secure (wore all day yesterday and no issues). The release hinge is a bit bigger than on prior Seido holsters, but it seems like it needs to be that way to add necessary stability. Has same swivel mechanism as other holsters also. Easy to put on and take off once you know how Seido cases are. Noticed no damage on phone from case, though could tell where soft lining touched phone (made a line that like fingerprints can be wiped away). Easy reach all eadges of screen; case does not hinder anything (with otterbox defender had trouble touching outer edges of screen). All in all, love this case and holster combo and it is definitely what will stay on my DNA from now on! If you have specific questions, let me know. Will try to get some pictures if I can find my actual camera.
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Wow thank you so much for this review, i can now safely go ahead and order this case from them now, unless i can find it on Amazon now. Either way you've closed any doubts about this case other then the who screen protector deal, let us know when you get your hands on one and how it plays with the case, thanks for this review once again i know many others will enjoy this as well!
Forgot to mention phone charges wirelessly through case with no problem.
Pictures of Seido Surface case and Holster are attached. They include front view, back view, side view, top view, bottom view, 3 views in holster and 2 views with only half of case on to give better idea of size of case.
I tried one of the verizon screen protectors. They do not go edge to edge so work fine with the case. Put one of the protectors such that it went to very bottom edge of phone (on phone in pictures). The case does lift it a bit if phone is held just right, but I could use the plastic thing to push bubbles away to lift edge of case just enough to push screen protector under the edge. I imagine it will be a bit of a challenge for true edge to edge protectors with this case, but might work after some tweaking. Seido is working on their own screen protectors for this phone so maybe they will look into the issue.
tuxly said:
Pictures of Seido Surface case and Holster are attached. They include front view, back view, side view, top view, bottom view, 3 views in holster and 2 views with only half of case on to give better idea of size of case.
I tried one of the verizon screen protectors. They do not go edge to edge so work fine with the case. Put one of the protectors such that it went to very bottom edge of phone (on phone in pictures). The case does lift it a bit if phone is held just right, but I could use the plastic thing to push bubbles away to lift edge of case just enough to push screen protector under the edge. I imagine it will be a bit of a challenge for true edge to edge protectors with this case, but might work after some tweaking. Seido is working on their own screen protectors for this phone so maybe they will look into the issue.
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What ports does the holster cover? specifically looking at headphone and micro USB ports
ML417 said:
What ports does the holster cover? specifically looking at headphone and micro USB ports
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Both the usb port and headphone jack are accessible when phone is in holster. Will get pics for you later if you would like them.
tuxly said:
Both the usb port and headphone jack are accessible when phone is in holster. Will get pics for you later if you would like them.
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Someone had a camera I could borrow. Here are the shots.
tuxly said:
Someone had a camera I could borrow. Here are the shots.
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that's great news, i have an external battery as well as a smartwatch i can control music with, so being able to keep the phone on the holster while doing either, and both, is great news
Glad it will work for you. I am extremely pleased with purchase of this combo!
i will still be waiting for the active case to release
** I will post some pictures later today - I'm at work currently **
The Nillkin Fresh case came about 2-3 days ago and I was quite excited. But that was short lived. The case is a faux-leather flip cover case with a thin plastic shell on that clips to the phone. It looks decent enough, but I have some problems with mine (possibly QC problems):
The case though didn't completely fit!! Along the right side (near the SD/SIM) it is a bit warped - not bad or noticeable unless your looking right at it and for it.
The case is held closed by a magnet, but the magnet on the flip cover is quite small which then requires it to be precisely over the other pole or it does nothing. Not a big deal, but I wish this was thought out better.
Additionally, one of the main features of the case is (link below) how the case being used as a stand. The flip cover is a tri-fold design which should act as a stand but I haven't had much luck with it. The inside of the seemingly leather flip cover is a soft touch, almost suede, material that is quite slippery. This plus the fact that the case seems to be needing to be broken in makes for the "stand" feature unusable... it falls right over currently. (I have tried multiple configurations).
Over all, I bought the case on eBay for $9.99 with no shipping cost (ships from china - companies home country) and it took about 15 days to get here (in the US). Not bad, but I am already looking for a replacement that will make my device feel premium again rather then cheap.
Would I recommend this case? Yes, but only as a temporary case until more come out - like the official Sony cases or a case from Incipio (link below).
** Complete side note: I had a Nillkin case for my old Nexus 4 which only lasted a few short months because the leather started to peel away from the flip cover! I knew this would be a temporary case when I bought it, so keep that in mind!
http://www.nillkin.com/english/proshow.asp?mid=2&sid=0&tid=0&cid=1&scid=13&id=3526&page=1
http://www.incipio.com/cases/smartphone-cases/sony-smartphones/sony-xperia-z-ultra-cases.html
I was fortunate to get to try that case out and many others (being in hk and china) - and I posted about this case. It's unfortunate you didn't read my post and what case eventually went with in the big Z ultra case thread.
This case is definitely not recommended if you want one to work well with desk stand, and want to use the trifold ipad style cover as a stand.
The snap-in style plastic mounts doesn't make it easy to pop in and out of to use the desk stand, and the plastic mounts are shiny thus looks and feels cheap.
Finally, the cover doesn't even come close to the quality and feel of the ipad cover, even the vinyl kind. The material is stiff and plasticky and most importantly doesn't fold together to function as a working stand at all. It will unfold/collapse and fall over.
In addition, there's an issue with the the magnet. With the magnet closed, there is a gap between the last third of the tri-fold cover and the phone's screen. This gap exists because the case (mold or design) is not the right fit - the wider flap makes it essentially unable to align with the opposing magnet. If you try to push the flap down to get rid of the gap, you inadvertently push/slide the magnet off and the cover comes loose. In practice, the magnet will never be engaged because you'll always push the cover down somehow (pocket, bag, stacking something on top).
The only Nillkin I recommend is the http://www.nillkin.com/english/proshow.asp?mid=2&sid=0&tid=0&cid=1&scid=13&id=3516&page=1 shield case. I ended up buying the black one for scenarios where I don't want a flip cover. The fit is good, texture is good (good grippy backside), and it doesn't look too cheap (no shiny plastic). It's decent protection for rougher than usual situations. There are sections where there's a thin piece of plastic on the edge of the phone (like over the usb flap) where it feels weak, cheap and easily breakable. Besides that only issue, I like this case as a back-up.
For a flip cover case that works well with a desk stand, actually stands up, and feels decent quality - I recommend Kaso and Krussell. I went with Kaso as a cheaper alternative for now.
So I guess it's not just me... which is kind of a bummer, but I have already found a replacement. Now if only October 22 was here (my Birthday) I could get a new case!
Thanks for the replay, some good thoughts there!
toonhead85
Funny how the 2 Nillkin cases the OP talks about are the exact 2 I bought online.
I bought the white Fresh, and Yellow leather.
Anyway, after having used both, now I know that flip covers, despite the protection it gives, tend to get in the way of general use. Answering calls involve one extra hassle step.
Taking pictures, you have to roll the flip cover up into the triangle as if you are going to use it as a stand and hold it in your left hand, because simply flipping it and folding it over will obstruct the camera.
Nothing wrong with the build quality...I am sure it is better than most cheapos out there. All the useful ports are left uncovered (one of the reasons why I chose Nillkin...there is actual thought process that has gone into the design). If you want to use the magnetic charging port, not many other manufacturers apart from Nillkin make them uncovered.
The yellow I chose is less vibrant in colour (than what it seemed on screen), and does not go so well with the white ZU I have, so that got retired until the day I get SBH-52 and leave my phone in the bag.
For the Nillkin Fresh, I got in white, and am very happy with it, and currently in use.
It has a nice tight fit, seems to be made of good tough plastic, and the texture on the back helps with general grip.
I did make one modification to it, because even though the magnetic charging port is left open by design, it was impossible to get a good connection while the pone was still in the case. So I cut off the thin strip that runs along the screen side of the mag port. Filed it down with nail clipper file, and now it is perfect. It has not lost structural rigidity.
The number of times that i thought that I had closed the USB port properly, but was still slightly open (thus not making it fully waterproof) has prompted me to get the magnetic charging cable. I knew it was something I wanted while I was out choosing the case, so for those who are still looking for cases, I won't say go Nillkin, but make sure you go for one that has the magnetic charging port uncovered.
Whether you buy DK-30 is a different debate. Some like it, but some find it expensive for what it is. There are not many covers out there tat allow you to dock with it on.
But the USB magnetic charging cable is something I believe every ZU owner should have. For that reason get a cover with the port uncovered.
jewelkobayashi said:
I did make one modification to it, because even though the magnetic charging port is left open by design, it was impossible to get a good connection while the pone was still in the case. So I cut off the thin strip that runs along the screen side of the mag port. Filed it down with nail clipper file, and now it is perfect. It has not lost structural rigidity.
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Can we please get pictures of this modification? Keen to replicate. Otherwise attractive looking case, be a shame to waste.
liqn7 said:
Can we please get pictures of this modification? Keen to replicate. Otherwise attractive looking case, be a shame to waste.
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Here u go
jewelkobayashi said:
Nothing wrong with the build quality...
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I came back to post a quick update about the case I got and this caught my eye... actually the build quality is the reason as well!!
The case is broken ><. On the top left hand side (near the charging port) the case has snapped. A piece is broken clean off and only after about 2 weeks. I know the case was $10, but I also had build quality issues with a Nexus 4 case, so I am going to say the quality is rather low.
With this new information, I am going to say stay away from this case. The long import time (from HK to US), and poor quality aren't worth it. Spend the few extra bucks and get a quality case you will have for more than a few weeks.
Just my 2 cents though...
toonhead85
This is only my second time posting a review like this (first was last year for the Note 2), and would just like to take some time putting together a review that I hope will help some people make a decision if they are undecided between some of the available cases.
After scouring the internet back in December I narrowed my choices down to four potential cases. I wanted to give each a fair shake, so purchased all four and have been trying each one out since then - used each case for a full 7 to 10 days at a time over a 5+ week period.
Disclosure:
I will say that I am an individual who values a case that offers more than just minimal protection. Spending $800+ CDN for a phone each year, I want to maximize the likelihood that it will last without needing replacement - even though I am extremely careful.
With that said, I also really like portability and value the aesthetically pleasing appearance of a device with case.
My previous device from last year (Note 2) was fitted with an Otterbox Commuter first, but then I decided to opt for the OEM Samsung snap on case (lightweight, minimal protection) that sold for about $20 CDN.
Before I get into the cases, a bit about the screen protector...
I am a proponent of screen protectors (as long as it does not feel too tacky to the touch) and from day one settled on the Spigen GLAS.tR Slim Tempered Glass protector for the Note 3. Spent a good few hours comparing different options and after purchasing a handful of different protectors prior, was just not wowed by any of them so gave the GLAS.tR from Spigen a go, and wow was it amazing. It may be possible that other companies offer similar (if not identical) glass protectors, but I was happy with this one. It was $39.99 CDN, but I believe there are some of the more cost effective brands that have similar tempered glass protectors as well.
On to the cases...
1. Spigen Neo Hybrid -- $35 CDN
Black back and option of six different colours for the frame - gold, red, white, slate, yellow and silver. Images below show the silver frame.
The case itself comes as two pieces - a thin TPU layer that encases the sides and back of the phone, along with a plastic piece that snaps around the four sides to hold it firm against the phone. The assembly process is quite straightforward and simple to execute. The packaging instructs to slip the TPU around the phone first prior to snapping the plastic outer part, but I have found that you can just as easily leave the two pieces of the case assembled together and simply snap the phone in. Once in, the phone is fit quite snug.
The phone fit with this case is rather slim. It will fit in just about any pocket and slide in/out with ease due to the smooth plastic material.
Port cutouts are all fine. Pen is removed without any problems, and access to both charging and headphone ports may be reached without having to uncover.
Pressing the power and volume rocker buttons are done so on the plastic frame. No issues with how they felt.
In regards to handling, while it feels nice in the hand, it is rather slippery and does not offer any grip whatsoever.
In terms of protection, it does a really good job of encasing the device to ensure there are no exposed edges/surfaces and will protect it well from scratches and light bumps. As for any sort of impact, I would not put much trust in it. The plastic is very thin and the ring around the edges is just that - plastic. A drop from waist-height onto a hard surface would surely scuff up and leave noticeable marks/dents on that polycarbonate piece. If you are not worried about the potential of dropping your phone, this is a very sleek case that offers a visually appealing look. For those wanting a case they can be confident in getting them through normal everyday use and not worrying about at least minor falls, I would recommend looking elsewhere.
2. Urban Armor Gear (UAG) -- $35 CDN
Four colour options to choose from - Aero (blue), Navigator (white), Outland (orange) and Scout (black). Images show Navigator white.
This case is one-piece, although it is apparently designed as a 'fused hard outer with soft impact resistant core' design as per the UAG website product description. The inner layer is not really all that soft though. I would say it is more like a single-layer construction style case. Installation of the case is very simple. The phone snaps right in, and is very snug - even more so than the Spigen Neo Hybrid. So one should not ever worry about the phone inadvertently coming out of the case - I would go so far as to say even upon impact. Something I liked about the design of the back was that the grooves provide for some grip with holding with one hand. Without this, the plastic back would not offer much grip to hold on to.
In terms of size, the case does not add very much bulk to the phone. Yes, it is a bit larger in both width and height compared to the Neo Hybrid, but still not a bulky case whatsoever.
Access to all ports done so with ease. There was an issue with the initial batch of these cases being released without the temperature and humidity sensor hole cutout. UAG offered to replace these for customers who did not have it on theirs, and apparently is no longer a problem with the current cases sold. The pen is removed easily and the camera cutout is adequate.
The buttons press fine, however they do have a somewhat hard 'plastic' feel to them when depressed. It does not pose a problem when pressing, but just a minor comment about the overall feel that felt different from the smoothness of pressing on the two Otterbox cases.
As for protection, this case sure looks pretty rugged from the back. It covers the phone well to prevent scratches and scuffs. I would say that the phone would be fine if dropped from waist-height, but a 'hard' drop may still leave the phone susceptible to some direct impact since the case itself is rather rigid.
Compared to the Spigen Neo Hybrid, the UAG no doubt offers much more protection. This just comes at the cost of it being very slightly thicker, wider and higher in dimension.
3. Otterbox Commuter -- $45 CDN
Comes in Black, Glacier (grey inner rubber, white outer plastic), Surf (dark blue inner, light blue outer), Merlot (purple inner, white-ish outer), Lily (purple inner, teal outer) and Berry (purple inner, red-ish outer). Gracier is shown in images.
This is a two-piece case that has a rubber inner layer around the phone and encased by a hard plastic outer shell that holds the rubber firm. Assembly is simple - once rubber layer is wrapped around the phone, slide either top or bottom edge against the plastic and press the opposite edge down so snaps snug in place. Once done, you may also need to lift open and close the headphone and charging port covers to ensure they are seated properly within the plastic shell.
Compared to the Note 2 Otterbox Commuter this one has a nicer feel to it. The rubber is held together very snug against the phone by the outer plastic, so there is no feeling of flimsy rubber as was the case with previous models. Because the back is plastic, it will slide in/out of a pocket rather well. As a result, it is however somewhat slippery in hand - but nowhere near as slippery as the Neo Hybrid. The rubber inner layer is exposed on the two upper and two bottom outer edges. This helps in adding the grip of the phone. The front facing lip of the rubber layer comes up past the plastic edges and also offers additional grip - this is something that stood out compared to the Neo Hybrid and UAG that I have to say made a big difference.
As mentioned, the headphone and charging ports are covered by a flap from the rubber layer. These are opened/closed easily. Removal of the pen is similar in ease as the UAG - the Neo hybrid was the narrowest of the three in terms of width of opening.
The volume rocker and power button feel very smooth, compared to the harder plastic feel of the UAG.
In terms of protection, this would offer much more impact protection than the UAG, and even more over the Neo Hybrid. I would feel confident in dropping the phone 6-feet in height onto hard surface anticipating only minor scuff damage to the plastic case. The front edge rubber lip comes up much higher above the screen than either of the Neo Hybrid or UAG edges - extra 1.5 to 2mm from the screen vs. those two.
All around, this has the most protection and the 'best feel' of the three so far. Very solid feel in hand.
4. Otterbox Defender -- $60 CDN
Just like the Commuter, this comes in Black, Glacier, Surf, Merlot, Lily and Berry colour combinations, as well as Blaze (black inner with orange and realtree graphic on back). Images show Glacier.
This is also a two-piece case, but compared to the Commuter (rubber inner & plastic outer) the Defender has a hard plastic inner with soft rubber outer layer. Assembly of this one is straightforward, however disassembly may be a bit difficult as the plastic clasps must be pressed in (to the phone) to release them. It is a snug fit, so it can be tricky until you get the hang of it. In addition, it also comes with a plastic screen protector built in to the plastic case layer. Compared to the Commuter, the rubber at the bottom edge also comes up to cover/protect the home button. Also, this case comes with a hard plastic belt clip/holster. I would probably not use it everyday, but I can see it being useful for people who are in environments that may benefit from the extra protection. With the screen facing down in the holster, it really feels safe and secure.
This case is the biggest of the four, however it was surprisingly quite compact when I first saw it. They redesigned it compared to how it was for the Note 2. Yes, it is thicker than the Commuter still, but just a little bit. It is a bit wider than the Commuter - maybe 2mm or so. Despite it's thicker dimensions, it still fits fine in most pockets - even slim jeans. Because the outer layer is rubber, it will not slide in/out as well as the other three though. On the plus side, the outer rubber layer is probably one of the most outstanding features of all the cases that surprised me. The enhanced grip it offers is absolutely amazing.
The built in screen protector is something that I did not like though. It feels OK and does sit rather well on the device's screen, but it's still not the same as an actual screen protector applied onto the device itself. After using the Defender and built in screen protector with the GLAS.tR for 3 days, I opted to remove/pop it out. So now I just have the tempered glass screen protector which feels way smoother and less affected by smudges.
The headphone and charging ports are protected by thicker feeling tabs compared to the Commuter. The opening for the pen actually feels just a hair-bit tighter than that of the Commuter's. From the looks of it, I am thinking this is because of how thick the rubber is around that corner.
The volume rocker and power buttons depress smooth and fine - pretty much identical to that of the Commuter's.
I am sure it is no surprise to anyone that the Defender offers way more protection than any of the three other cases. Even if the tactile rubber grip somehow fails your grasps, the impact protection this offers is second to none. I would probably feel confident in this phone dropping from two levels up onto hard surface.
Using this case everyday may not be for everyone though. Yes, it can fit in the pockets of slim jeans, but it may not be the silhouette one may want in their outfit. Sure, you could use the belt holster, but again, not everyone may want that look either.
I was very surprised how comfortable I felt by the end of the week of using the Defender. On the first couple days, it seemed like I was making an extra effort to carry it around. After the week, I could see myself really getting used to it.
Comparison Images
For all those who want to see the cases next to each other for dimension comparison purposes here they are...
OVERALL OPINION
There really is no 'best case for everyone'. It comes down to what you want and individual lifestyles and preferences. With that said, you need to determine how much protection you would like from a case.
I will say that of the four cases, the Otterbox Commuter comes out as the winner for me. It offers the most protection hands down with minimal bulk (although the defender is a close second). The UAG is a nice looking case from the back, but aside from that and the grooves for grip on the plastic back, there is not much special about it. Take into account the extra grip you get from the Commuter, and even more from the Defender, and they trump the UAG in that regard easily. The Neo Hybrid was disappointing for me as it not only did not offer much protection, it was also difficult to handle with its smooth-texture surface.
I do not regret having bought all four cases though - it's the price I'd gladly pay to ensure I find one that meets my expectations. The Commuter is now my everyday case, with the Defender being the one I change to here and there just to have a different look when I want to change things up. Even with slim pockets, the Commuter is still my choice over the slightly slimmer Neo Hybrid and UAG cases.
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I want to thank everyone who has reviewed a case for the Note 3. It had likely played a part in my decision making and am appreciative of the effort and time put in.
cheers,
Matt
Great reviews and thank you for taking the time & money to do this. I agree with you completely on the spigen neo hybrid review, tho it does look nice it has no grip and is more of a "for looks" type of case. Im rockin the ZL otterbox defender-lookalike case and it does a good enough job for me. I especially like the case since it provides for future modifications like extra room for microsd 2 sd card integration so you have your long lasting battery life, great protection and goliath like storage expansion
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda premium
I think the neo would protect from a small drop from waist height or something like that. The case would definitely not survive fully intact though the phone may well do. Not game to try it.
The UAG does stand up to drops quite well. It saved my Note 2 a couple of times, not only saving the phone but also with minimal scuffing to the case itself.
Even though I'm happy with the UAG, I'm tempted to try a commuter on the basis of this review. A bit more grip and port covers is certainly a tempting proposition.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
I switch between UAG and Trident Cyclops. Both of them offer excellent protection ?
Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 ?
Thanks for the excellent review! I currently have a black Otterbox commuter and find the case to be nearly perfect in every aspect. I recently ordered a Spigen neo Hybrid in dante red just to change things up a bit and for a sleeker look.
Great stuff here, thanks for the great review. I have the UAG and love it, but am looking for a protective case with a better feel. After reading this, I'm eyeballing the Commuter as well.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Def a great review. Been checking out the commuter and UAG cases and definitely leaning towards the commuter now.
Sent from the big ol' Note 3
Haha I wish a review like this was posted before I went out and bought these cases myself. I have the Neo-Hyrbid, two UAGs (one is a replacement for the missing hole) and a Defender, in the exact same colors as reviewed.
I have to say that this is an great review and all of mattt33's review points are spot on. Of the three that I have, the Defender is my favorite for its protection, excellent grip and long-term holding comfort because of the soft outer shell. Comfort is very important to me because I do a good amount of gaming and media watching on my device. My only gripe about the Defender really has to do with the color choice. Anything other than black is going to show dirtiness after a while.
The Commuter does look great though, but I think I would miss the grip and soft-yet-solid feel of the Defender. I'd give it a try, but I'd never hear the end of it from my wife if she stumbled upon yet another case in the mail.
Completely different cases to compare. I have the neo hybrid, and also the uag, and the slim armor. I'd have to say I Love all of them for different reasons. But I usually use the slim armor. It just feels nice looks nice.
Guess where I landed right after ordering a Dante Red Spigen Neo Hybrid. !
Lol., It was merely a decision based on the looks. Didn't drop my Phone since the first day. So hope it will work out for me as i don't have an option to cancel or change the order.
Thanks for the review mate!
Great review. I actually own all of the Neo Hybrid colors. I am usually good with not droppinhg my phones. I like the look of them and am not bothered by the grip.
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JazonX said:
Guess where I landed right after ordering a Dante Red Spigen Neo Hybrid. !
Lol., It was merely a decision based on the looks. Didn't drop my Phone since the first day. So hope it will work out for me as i don't have an option to cancel or change the order.
Thanks for the review mate!
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How has the case worked out for you?
I love Spigen Neo Hybrid but for me all cases in general makes the Note too big... Good review!
conamundas said:
Great review. I actually own all of the Neo Hybrid colors. I am usually good with not droppinhg my phones. I like the look of them and am not bothered by the grip.
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How has the case worked out for you?
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Extremely Happy!
Only the original samsung Micro USB 2.0 Cable will fit when the case is on. Opening for the USB port on SPIGEN is small, so 3.0 cables will be unusable.
I love the look and feel of my Spigen Slim Armor case. It also protects fairly well from drops.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Details about Commuter
Wonderful review. After endless hours of research on cases, I thought I had narrowed my choices down to Trident AMS Kraken (since it had a kickstand as well) and the Ballistic Tough Jacket Maxx but this review completely changed my perspective. As such I am now highly considering the Otterbox Commuter. Although I prefer a kickstand, protection supersedes it. I just have a few questions for those who have used or have this case.
1) Are there any overall issues or concerns any of you that have or had the case?
2) Ease of access to the ports (i.e. being able to charge the phone?; being able to plug the 3.5mm earphone jacks in?)
3) Any concerns as far as rubber expanding (when phone heats up), not sitting tightly in place?
4) Any issues in conjunction with the use of a glass screen protector? I know the OP has one but the review was only for a week after, I'm concerned about longterm effect such as if its too tight bubbles may start to form.
5) The lip on the front side is much higher than the other cases. Does that affect the usability of the phone or cause any other problems?
Sorry for the numerous questions but finding the right case is imperative as I'll have this for 2 years.
snapper11 said:
1) Are there any overall issues or concerns any of you that have or had the case?
2) Ease of access to the ports (i.e. being able to charge the phone?; being able to plug the 3.5mm earphone jacks in?)
3) Any concerns as far as rubber expanding (when phone heats up), not sitting tightly in place?
4) Any issues in conjunction with the use of a glass screen protector? I know the OP has one but the review was only for a week after, I'm concerned about longterm effect such as if its too tight bubbles may start to form.
5) The lip on the front side is much higher than the other cases. Does that affect the usability of the phone or cause any other problems?
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I have the Otterbox Defender, rather than the Commuter, but I believe they're similar enough for my answers to be helpful....
1) No overall issues or concerns from me.
2) I've had cases for other phones where the rubber flaps covering the ports were more of a nuisance than anything, and I ended up cutting them off. On this case though, they really don't get in the way, and they do wonders for keeping dirt and debris out. The cover over the charging port closes nice and tight, but is opened easily enough with one finger and some slight pressure (or a fingernail. It also opens far enough that the rubber isn't putting unnecessary pressure on the USB cable or the port when plugged in. The cover on the headphone jack also closes up good and tight, but is slightly more difficult to open, at least for me. Normal 3.5mm plugs fit in just fine, and as with the charging port cover, the rubber doesn't put any unnecessary or damaging stress on cables, when plugged in. I've only had an issue with one 3.5mm to RCA cable, that had a slightly wider rubber base than most, which required taking off the entire case to plug in, but I think that's due to it just being an old, cheap cable.
3) No problems with the rubber, even when left in the car in 100 degree plus Southwestern heat. It fits as snugly as it did when I bought it.
4) I use an iLoome 9h tempered glass screen protector. I cut the plastic one that is built into the Defender out with a razor, and a little over 6 months later, it still looks immaculate. No bubbles, peeling, or sliding. You honestly can't even tell there's a screen protector there, it's that nice. The added depth of the glass protector makes it a little harder to snap the 2 plastic halves of the case together, and I have accidentally broken 2 of the plastic tabs, but it still closes just fine without those 2, and to be frank, they were only broken due to carelessness on my part.
5) Don't quote me, but I think the lip on the Defender is slightly deeper than on the Commuter, and it hasn't caused me any problems. In fact, it does wonders for protecting the screen when placed face down. If you regularly use the Touchwiz feature that lets you take a screenshot by sliding the side of your hand across the screen, it makes doing so a little difficult in portrait orientation, but that's really just nitpicking.
Hope you find some of this helpful!
:beer:
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
lol.... Read threads for a few days... Ordered a Spigen NEO (on spiffy looks), but after reading more threads, Friday, I ordered another Commuter. Which I've had on all my phones (since like the Blackberry days), as well as some Defenders.. I just wanted to spice it up, and the Note 3 is so nice looking I was trying not to wrap it in Otterskin...
Eh well, I'll use the Spigen for dressing up, lol..
Thanks!
snapper11 said:
1) Are there any overall issues or concerns any of you that have or had the case?
2) Ease of access to the ports (i.e. being able to charge the phone?; being able to plug the 3.5mm earphone jacks in?)
3) Any concerns as far as rubber expanding (when phone heats up), not sitting tightly in place?
4) Any issues in conjunction with the use of a glass screen protector? I know the OP has one but the review was only for a week after, I'm concerned about longterm effect such as if its too tight bubbles may start to form.
5) The lip on the front side is much higher than the other cases. Does that affect the usability of the phone or cause any other problems?
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I've got the Black version of the Commuter.
1) None
2) The flaps can be bend back fully without much issue, and they're solid enough not to tear whilst doing so. The plastic around the cutouts is about 2mm thick.
The official USB3 charger plug fits into the slot easily. There's about 2mm free space on the sides of the USB slot before the case starts. With the charging plug inserted, there's about 0.8mm free space between the plastic of the plug, and the plastic of the case on the sides, and 1mm at the top and bottom of the plug.
The headphone jack has 2.5mm around it, more than enough space for even a thick plug.
3) I've not noticed any reaction to heat in terms of expansion or contraction of the rubber. It's not that kind of rubber.
The only place it's a bit loose (you can bend it away-loose) is the front side with the volume rocker. But that may be my own doing as I can't stop playing with it. (I'm a bit OCD).
4) Don't have a glass one, I'm using the one that came with it as I currently can't afford a glass one.
5) It does on occassion get in the way a bit whilst swiping, particularly on the sides. As an upside, putting it face-down on the table is perfectly safe even on a rough, natural table. And it seals in all the light (which is great if you keep it on your nightstand!)
All in all, I'm happy with it
Oh, and removing/attaching it is easy, you can leave the thing in one piece and just pop it off at the top corners, and click it back in when you're done.
The thing I don't like about the Commuter is that the back is very slippery and slides around easily when placed on it's back. I have a compartment under the radio in my car and cannot put the phone in there with the screen up. When I accelerate like I usually do the phone slides right out, I had to place a piece of rubber type material in there to keep it from coming out.
very nice i will buy one
What are peoples experiences with the official Silicone case?
I just picked one up yesterday and I am very impressed. Here is a link to a very quick video I made of it.
PROS
It adds little bulk to the phone (19mm thick so it adds 10.5 mm to the phone)
Matches the style of the phone well
Does NOT feel cheap and nasty at all
Silicone is smooth and a little slippery so it can slip in and out of your pocket easily
But is grippy enough that it doesn't feel like it will slip out of my hand
Button presses feel just the same as without the case on (very easy to press)
Cut outs are precise and perfectly cut
Soft inside and will not mark or damage the phone
Seems like it would give good basic fumble drop protection
The case protrudes past the front of the screen giving front drop protection (but does not encroach on the touch area of the screen)
Super subtle little 'G' logo on the back to match the 'G' on the back of the phone
CONS
It is a bit of a lint and dust magnet. If you have tissues in your pocket etc it picks it up all the time
Silicone near volume can 'bulge' a little bit as it doesn't have as much support as parts of the frame where there is the internal poly-carbonate to make it 'hug' the phone
Is thicker than the having no case at all
Full side cutout at the bottom around the speaker and charging port ( could have been slotted for the single speaker and charging port)
More colours would be a nice to have (gradient or two tone colour would have been awesome)
EDIT - noticed a tiny issue identified in another review (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGkpOP9TWBc). I don't think it is a deal breaker. Other review had very different thoughts on it. Maybe his was not as well produced as mine.
Thanks for the review! I was debating getting one of these, but I was worried it would be too sticky and make the phone hard to take out of my pocket. It sounds like it's not too bad except for the lint and dust. Maybe it's worth a try. Now to decide if I should wait for blue. Google must hate colors or something.
My top case choices are:
Silicone Pixel Case by Google
Otterbox Commuter
Incipio Carnaby
I want one, but I feel like $35 is kind of steep. If a third party made a copy of the three layer design and was cheaper I'd probably get it.