Otterbox review - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket SGH-I727

I finally got my Otterbox Defender through work for my i727r (Rogers version)
It's kind of a funny thing. As we know Otterbox adds a lot of protection at the cost of sleek looks and a thing phone.
The Otterbox Defender is a monster in this case. They seem to have fixed the tabs that hold the case to the belt clip. They are no longer flimsy little tabs that can break off but looks to be more of a solid moulded piece of plastic.
They have also seemed to use a much more ridged rubber and seems a bit higher quality then the Iphone 4s, HTC series Otter Boxes.
As usual we find a screen guard on the front and the usb port and headphone jack are both covered.The belt clip is massive and solid as always, also the belt clip is also a stand which is always a fun feature.
My personal opinion is it does bulk up the phone a lot and you loose the really nice design aspects of the phone. That said you know you are protected! The place this really helped me most is actually texting it keeps my palm away from the number and symbol sign when I am texting. I use to get numbers and symbols randomly showing up in my texts but not any more.
Over all it's a great case if you don't mind loosing the sleek lines of the Sky Rocket i727

would you mind snapping a pic of your skyrocket in the case? i'm debating between the defender and the commuter

I've got the same dillemma too. I'd like the Commuter case more for less bulkiness, but I also would like the holster that the Defender case has.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App

I also got a defender for my skyrocket. I also had one for the iPhone 3GS. I am impressed with the quality of the rubber, as the op said. The various cameras (front and back) do not have the plastic shielding, which I was disappointed about as dust as already accumulated over those areas and I could generally clean my 3GS with a bit of alcohol. I am also concerned about the phone overheating - I noticed that it got quite hot when I first placed it in the case.
As the op said, it's a bulky, but your phone won't get damaged.

I actually really like the Otterbox Commuter. I don't need all the protection that the Defender offers, sooooo i turned to the Commuter. It doesn't really add that much bulk, and i think it looks great on the phone. Only con I have is that you have to push a little harder on the volume rocker and lock button at first. It has softened up over time though.

I have the commuter. I got it for free as part of a bundle deal after I complained to the AT&T store that I wanted a discount on the phone (which they didn't give me, but I figured getting the overpriced protective case, screen guard and car charger was as good as it was going to get.)
Overall I have to say it's good. It does make you forget how svelte and light the Skyrocket is, but overall I have a lot more faith that this will survive a fall down the stairs than my old N1 did which basically just had a standard glove case on it. Still it isn't without it's flaws. I often find myself pushing harder than I'd like on the side buttons in order to get them to register. Also, as I mentioned before it feels like it doubles the weight and bulk of the phone. Still, for me it's basically a necessity after what happened to my N1.
It gets my recommendation.

Wish there were a way to purchase the Commuter case locally (though AT&T does have the Defender in store)...seems like the only places selling are online. I know it'd make me much more likely to buy if I can put it on the phone and actually feel what its like...guess pictures will have to do for now...

I got my commuter from Amazon and I've had it for a few days.
Pushing the buttons is a bit of a pain but I found that if you push with your nail, rather than the pad of your finger, its a little easier.
Every once in a while I get a bit of a bulge by the charging port.
I miss the slim ness of the phone but I know it'll handle drops a lot better, so its worth it.
Plus it doesn't look too bad.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

It seems when you use a case like this, the button pushes will become easier as time goes by.

The defender case is an awesome case for protection. It covers the micro usb and headphone jack just in case you might get caught in the rain or splashed unexpectedly. The only issues I have with the case are:
1- Trying to drop down the notification area. You need to get your finger right up at the top of the screen. Not a big deal, but just an observation.
2- Basically like my first complaint but when trying to move icons/widgets from one page to another it is a little bit of a pain to get the icon/widget to the edge of the screen but if you use motion control it makes it much easier.
3- (My last one) I've had otterbox defender cases since the OG iPhone so I know this from experience....dust and small debris DO make it under the built in screen protector so you must take the case apart and clean underneath it. Even though the phone has gorilla glass, it will get scuffed up, like little nicks in the glass. My dad had his iphone 4 in his otterbox the day he bought it and when we took it out to get a pic of it for ebay, his glass was chipped up. Solution --> Put a screen protector on the screen and then put the otterbox case on. I personally take out the otterbox screen protector just for that reason.

Quick question about the Defender case: is the screen protector built into the case itself, or is it separately applied? I have a screen protector on mine currently, and wouldn't see the purpose of adding another on top of that. Thanks!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App

Yes, the defender case has a built in screen protector. I just bought one last week and have been using it.

Sorry don't have a camera at home to snap a pic. I will do it tomorrow at work though. The reason there is no screen protector over the camera is it would cause a softer image from the camera.
With the built in screen guard I clean inside once a month usually with most otterboxes. The bonus on this one is they changed the design of the inner plastic making it nice and easy to take it off

Kind of surprised that no one has mentioned the Impact case from Otterbox.
I picked it up along with the Defender case for my dad when it was buy one get a second case 50% off. If anyone is looking at the Defender I personally recommend straying away. At $20 I am suuuure you could find a $10 case just as good.

I have both the Commuter and Defender for my Skyrocket and they both are high quality and protect the phone well, although do add a fair amount of bulk.

Has anyone noticed a considerable decrease in battery performance with their defender case? I'm wondering if my phone can't "breathe" properly and is utilizing more battery than if it was not in a case at all. It's a suspicion I've got at this point, but I'm not able to last more than 6 hours of moderate use before having to charge, which is unacceptable in my opinion.
I have not done any testing with the phone outside of the case yet, I'm just curious if other people have seen similar issues.
And for the interest of full disclosure, yes I have been putting custom ROMs on my phone, and that could very well be attributing to the battery problems -- but I'm running a ROM right now that other people agree gives them excellent battery whereas mine is completely sucky.

Nope no more battery drain then normal, I am still getting 2 days easily with the LTE radio turned off. I also run a heavier launcher and animated lock screens and I am still good

I love mine, but i have to be honest, i did remove the screen and wash the glue off due to some lag on the touchscreen

Great Case
I use my SGH I727 in an industrial setting, the Defender series works great. I've dropped the phone several times and it dampens the fall perfectly. It is bulky, but I have massive hands and these days I can't physically hold a smartphone without a bulky case on it. Also I found the screens are really sensitive, and the Defender screen cover balanced out the sensitivity perfectly (it's sensitive enough to function properly, but not to touch things by accident.)
It does not interfere with the radios at all that I can notice. My big worry was that it would prevent cooling, but I've never noticed the phone get hot with it on.
Highly recommended if you need size and protection. I also like the commuter case if you don't need all the bulk.

Took the screen protector off. Way better now

Related

Solution for battery cover?

I am absolutely loving my Fascinate (rooted, lag fixed, and de-Binged of course). Awesome upgrade from my Droid Eris! However, I have one major gripe with it so far, and that's the battery cover, or back plate, whatever you wanna call it. I am definitely not a fan of the glossy finish on it. If my fingers are the least bit wet or greasy, it makes it very hard to hold onto. The battery cover on my Eris had some kind of slightly rubberized matte finish, and I never, ever had trouble holding onto that phone.
So, I'm looking for a solution. Ideally, it would be in the form of a direct replacement for the OEM battery cover that is made of the grippy material like the Eris had, but I might settle for some kind of stick-on skin, if there's a good one that will eliminate the slipperiness. I've searched a bit, but haven't found any good solutions yet. Anyone suggestions would be appreciated. Oh, but please don't suggest cases of any kind. I have a good leather belt holster already that the phone fits in perfectly, and adding a wraparound case of any kind would be redundant, and also would prevent the phone from fitting in my current case.
Actually, I think I found a solution, thanks to a thread on the Android Central forums. Stealth Guards is apparently giving away all their screen protectors away for free for a limited time. You pay only the cost of shipping, which for me was $2.85, and the protector was originally $14.99. It's actually a full body protection skin, not just a basic screen protector. I'll probably just use the part for the back, and not mess with the front screen protector part at all. Here's the link:
http://www.stealthguards.com/index.php/cellphones/samsung-fascinate-full-body-protection.html
Note that they have free protector kits for most all the popular phones available right now, and if you like their Facebook page, you could win prizes (such as iTunes or Best Buy gift cards) on the way to 1000 likes, and after they top 1000, they'll hold a drawing to give away a new 6th-gen iPod Nano.
ivorycruncher said:
Actually, I think I found a solution, thanks to a thread on the Android Central forums. Stealth Guards is apparently giving away all their screen protectors away for free for a limited time. You pay only the cost of shipping, which for me was $2.85, and the protector was originally $14.99. It's actually a full body protection skin, not just a basic screen protector. I'll probably just use the part for the back, and not mess with the front screen protector part at all. Here's the link:
http://www.stealthguards.com/index.php/cellphones/samsung-fascinate-full-body-protection.html
Note that they have free protector kits for most all the popular phones available right now, and if you like their Facebook page, you could win prizes (such as iTunes or Best Buy gift cards) on the way to 1000 likes, and after they top 1000, they'll hold a drawing to give away a new 6th-gen iPod Nano.
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THANKS!!! Just ordered one for me and one for my girlfriend... I didn't want to add a case, but this will keep our phones looking fancy!
hey this looks really cool. can you let us know how this works out after you get it? i was just at the bar the other day (you know how when ur holdin a cold beer and ur hands get wet) i was like god this phone is slippery
I got full body invisible shield.
I removed the SP and got realook because i didn't like the rubber feel on the screen.
But i left the back piece on it makes the back feel allot better and gives it a kind of rubbery feel and reduces finger prints and also helps protect from scratches
It and makes the over all phone feel solid.
Thanks for the link. Picked up 2 of these for my phone.
Thanks for the link too, got one for me and two coworkers. Hell of a deal even if it's mostly crap. I just want it forthe back cover too. Way too slippery.
I'd like it if Seidio's innocase for this phone just protected the back/sides and left the front alone. I like the soft touch on those...
Even my HTC TP2 had a soft tough battery door stock.
Oh dang, I forgot to reply back to this. I got my Stealth Guard as expected (just an envelope in the mail, almost thought it was junk mail at first). Sadly, there NO instructions (except for a YouTube video on their website, which was a joke), but after digging up some info online, I washed and dried the battery cover, sprayed it with some slightly soapy water, and applied the skin. I rubbed out most of the bubbles fairly easily, and as others have said, after 2-3 days, all remaining bubbles and odd-looking film went away, and if not for the ridge at the edge of the skin, you wouldn't know it was on there. Oh, I did have a bit of trouble getting the corners to stick down to the curved corners of the battery cover, but I kept working on them, and they did eventually stick as the water started to dry up a little. So far there's no evidence of peeling or anything.
I do have to admit that it's not as grippy as I expected, but it is some better than the bare surface, and should prevent the back from getting scratched up, which I was starting to see evidence of, even with careful treatment of the device. I'm undecided if I'll ever apply the front piece or not at this point, but seeing how clearly the back piece applied, I wouldn't expect it to affect visibility at all.
I ordered another one of these for my brother-in-law's Droid Incredible, and would recommend them to anyone else as well, unless you want to try a different brand, in the hopes of getting an even grippier surface for the back side. But I think that for a mere $2.85, you really can't find a better deal anywhere.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Well, I ordered the Verizon / OEM, "kickstand" hard case in hopes of a good solution for the slippery back. Looks like this case only covers the back and sides of the phone and leaves the front untouched which is what I wanted as far as a case, and it looks quite thin too. Plus, it has a kickstand built in which I really wanted since my TP2 had a sliding/tilting screen. The back of this case is grooved with like a patchwork pattern so I'm sure it's a lot grippier.
Verizon wants $20 for them, but I got it for $10 including shipping on eBay! I'll post back how it is when I get it, but I think it's the best solution i've seen.
Have the kickstand case & it's pretty good. It also has 4 raised "feet" at the corners on the back which give it some speaker clearence when flat & act as friction points for your hand or loose pocket. The kickstand is a good alternative for a desk cradle & makes utilizing the alarm clock easier.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Bulky cases like that don't work for me. I use a belt holster case that I picked up from Best Buy, and any other protector case would make it bulky to put into the holster. That's why this stick-on protector was attractive to me, as it adds no unnecessary bulk. But that's just my preference. If you prefer a hard case, you'll get no argument from me.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
I just ordered 3 brand new covers directly from VZ...They are only $3 bux each...Ill just replace them when needed.
suzook said:
I just ordered 3 brand new covers directly from VZ...They are only $3 bux each...Ill just replace them when needed.
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I'd do that if they made some with a matte finish.. Where did you order them from? Just curious..
tcub said:
I'd do that if they made some with a matte finish.. Where did you order them from? Just curious..
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Directly from the VZ site....I am gonna experiment with one...Im looking for a sort of rubber spray paint...If i can find one im gonna spray it.
Maybe with the white fascinate coming out at best buy I can buy the white back. Looks nice.
Ok, got the OEM/Verizon Kickstand case in and the $2 Stealth Guards films. The kickstand case is THE solution for the battery door IMHO, but I got both mainly for this reason. Mini review of each:
The Kickstand case, I got from eBay, for $11 shipped w/ tax (just search for "fascinate kickstand"), which is half off the in store price you'll find. It is THE solution to the slippery battery door IMHO, and the best case out there right now. The case has a slight rubberized / soft touch finish, and has a grip pattern in it, which makes it much easier to hold onto. It's quite thin, except for a bump caused by the kickstand, which is leveled so the phone lays flat, by some "feet" on the back. That slight bump I actually like, because I can easily tell which way the phone is oriented in my hand without looking at it. It provides nice protection to the sides and corners and back, so I think it will provide added drop protection. It fits very tight, I wouldn't expect it to come off ever. What I really like, is that it barely protrudes above the front of the phone at all, it adds a very slight lip at the sides, and that's it. This keeps the phone quite flat/thin still and doesn't change how you'd interact with the screen at all. The slight lip should help protect the screen though. All the cutouts are excellent in positioning, and provide nice "cover" for the side buttons against accidental actuation.
Probably the nicest thing of all which I didn't expect, is that the Kickstand works in both Portrait with the phone vertical, and horizontal in landscape, due to the way they positioned the kickstand on the back. It works great - this takes care of one of the things I missed from my Touch Pro2 (the tilting screen). It also has a tensioner, which allows you to tweak the angle in horizontal/landscape a bit because it's "stiff". For the $11 I paid for it, it's worth every penny and seems quite solid/well engineered for the price.
Only downside I see is that it's a bit tougher to take the battery out of course..
The Stealth Guards films are better than nothing, but not much grippier than stock. They come with just two films, front and back. Application and clarity is similar to other "invisible shield" type products. Not a very good screen protector (orange peel, tiny bubbles, not crystal clear), Steinheil is WAY better, but they don't have them yet for our phones so I'll use this in the mean time. Also, they cover the light/prox sensor at the top of the phone, which I found made the automatic backlight adjustment sorta freak out and switch more often than it should (probably because the protector is relatively thick and not crystal clear) - I cut a tiny window out around them with a razor blade and that fixed the issue. They shipped in an envelope, inside another envelope, I ordered 3 sets for myself and friends, and every one came with wrinkling/damage. Fortunately the films are very durable so the films themselves were unharmed - it was the paper backing that was wrinkled. Still, they could of reinforced the envelope with a little cardboard.... Also they come with no instructions or packing at all, just bulk/oem packed. Still, for $2 they were worth it, but not worth much more than that.
suzook said:
I just ordered 3 brand new covers directly from VZ...They are only $3 bux each...Ill just replace them when needed.
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How did you get them for $3? It says they are $5.

Epic 4g case.!!!

what is the best epic 4g case? post yours...
I bought the Black Samsung one from the Sprint store for $19.99. It works great and does what I want.
Yeah, I know. I'm boring
TheCraigJ said:
I bought the Black Samsung one from the Sprint store for $19.99. It works great and does what I want.
Yeah, I know. I'm boring
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haha the sprint cases are fin & your not boring..
I'm using the Seidio Innocase Surface case/holster combo. Nice tactile feel on the case, and the secure spring-clip holster does really well, especially with my clumsy arse...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Definition of the "best" case would be different for every person because it depends on personal preferences, how you use your phone, and how you carry it. Personally, I like the feeling of a naked phone and with my Touch Pro 2 I mostly used Forte leather case (although I tried Seidio Surface for a short period). The advantage of a leather pouch is that you don't have any permanent thickness added to your phone, but disadvantages are that you need to take the phone out of the case to see the screen and you can still drop the phone while out of the case - which is exactly what happened to me a few times. Now when I got Epic, it is thinner then TP2 so I wanted to get a snap-on case for it. Here is my mini-review of a few cases I tried:
1) Seidio Active - it is the case that (among other snap on cases) would definitely provide the best protection if the phone is dropped, it looks good, and made well. The soft gel provides a nice cushion and the plastic skeleton strategically positions hard coverage over areas that could be most impacted during the fall. It seems that the recently found Fishbone case on Amazon is very similar in the design so I would expect it to provide the same protection. Unfortunately, Seidio Active was a bit too thick to my liking and since I usualy take good care of my phones, I didn't feel that the extra protection would justify the added thickness for my needs.
2) Seidio Surface - this is probably the thinnest snap on case you can get. I really like the fact that it adds very little to the overall size of the phone and I thought that it would be the perfect case for me when I bought it and put it on. However, maybe the fact that it is so thin contributed to the fact that it feels a bit flimsy when on the phone. There is a tiny bit of play on both the top and bottom parts (when you squeeze them with your fingers on the sides) and sometimes when you push power button the phone tends to slide open a bit based on how I hold it in my hand. The case seems to fit like a glove but it is not as tight as I would like it to be and it is VERY easy to remove the top part with almost no effort whatsoever. Some may consider it a plus, but I consider it a minus because I am pretty sure that if the phone is dropped, the top part will most likely fall off after the first bump leaving the top unprotected (this actually did happen when I used Seidio Surface case on my Touch Pro 2 and dropped from about 3 feet onto hardwood floor).
3) Sprint Case with rubber back - to me this turned out to be the "best" case, at least for now. In terms of added thickness it is somewhere in between Seidio Active and Surface cases. It fits very snug and tight. I like the rubber backing a lot, it is not slippery, feels very nice in hand, and looks good (at least in black). Some people mentioned that the rubber has a tendency to peel off - I've had this case for a month now and it looks like new and I have no peeling issues; but even if I do, I am sure that a carefully placed drop of crazy glue will take care of this issue permanently. I have removed the case several times and I don't see any scratches left on the phone as was posted in one thread. The only drawback may be that the case is a bit harder to remove then Seidio, but to me it is not an issue and means that it will stay on during the fall. I rarely remove the top part, but I am a heavy phone user so I swap extra battery often and don't have any issues removing the bottom part after getting used to it. There were some reports of snaps breaking off - I have not experience that at all and I hope I won't since this is a perfect case for me at this point.
In terms of price - all three cases are around $20 bucks so price is not a factor. All three cases do not interfere with the sliding mechanism and make the phone feel a bit tighter with less screen play and no more squeaking from the battery door. I also tried one of those invisible shield things which is basically a screen protector over the entire phone. Two issues I found with those: a) no matter what brand you get, they will eventually start peeling and will attract dirt on the edges looking like crap after a while; b) although they provide scratch protection, they won't do much if the phone is dropped.
Hope you'll find your best case.
Cheers.
My sprint case has all the tab breaking off after about a month and a half of use. YMMV.
Geekybiker said:
My sprint case has all the tab breaking off after about a month and a half of use. YMMV.
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I wonder if this has to do with how different people remove/put it on. I usualy pick the two corner clips on the charger side with my nail and it removes pretty easily after that (just slide it off). When I put it back I do it in reverse order - I slide the bottom two clips on first and then snap the top ones on. So far it's been working well for me.
I'm using a black Seidio Innocase (regular not active) with the spring clip holster and I love it. I originally had the body glove case and it was just too big.. felt like I was carrying a brick in my pocket. The Innocase doesn't add much bulk and gives a bit of protection from random bumps and scratches. Has a pleasant lip around the screen too so laying the epic flat on its face keeps the screen from contacting a surface.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
My experience with case durability is completely different from gorby911's, so it's all YMMV. My Sprint case completely fell apart in 1.5 months of use, what with the clips breaking off, and 2 corners of the rubber backing peeling away. Even after Gorilla-gluing one of the corners, it peeled off again within a week! Just got a Seidio Surface and it fits very snugly and no play.
The downside of the Surface is that its rubberized texture is actually quite slippery, vs. the grippy texture on the Sprint case (especially with its rubber backing). It slightly twists and slips around in my hand that supports it while I'm swiping around with my other hand. But it's got a much thinner profile with what I feel appears to be the same amount of protection.
I hope it lasts more than 1.5 months long.
So the sedio active is the slimmest case? May have to check that out, thanks for the info.
ranchosteve said:
So the sedio active is the slimmest case? May have to check that out, thanks for the info.
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Seidio innocase should be the thinnest.
I've been using the BodyGlove that has a the smoked chrome. Stylish and strong. Dropped it a few times and everything's still fine. Sprint Direct/Indirect stores have them available.
gorby911 said:
I wonder if this has to do with how different people remove/put it on. I usualy pick the two corner clips on the charger side with my nail and it removes pretty easily after that (just slide it off). When I put it back I do it in reverse order - I slide the bottom two clips on first and then snap the top ones on. So far it's been working well for me.
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I have both the Innocase Surface and the black Sprint case and I too have had no problems with my Sprint case - I take off the back of the case exactly as you have described. Not a single scratch on my phone yet (knock on wood). I prefer the Sprint case over the Innocase as it seems to offer better protection.
For those who are curious, the black Sprint case fits in the Seidio Innocase Holster (the one designed for the Innocase Surface at least). I bought the $40 Innocase/holster combo at Best Buy, but am using the holster with my Sprint case.
I'm using this one. Got it off fleabay for $8.99. Really nice OEM leather case that fits great. I can't stand a phone in my pocket so I have mine on my belt.

Do You Use a Case?

I was wondering... I had my phone without a case for the first month and it still looked perfectly new by the time my case came in. Does anyone else have a case on their phone?
If so, what case do you use? I know there's already a cases thread, but this is different. Thanks!
i use a dhd otterbox defender.its awesome cause i work construction and its saved my phone a few times
I do use a case, but I dont like big bulky cases nor do i like wearing a clip on my belt.
I got one of those cheapy TPU cases on ebay. Gives enough protection from minor bumps and scratches, but I doubt it provides any shock protection like the otterboxs or casemate models.
i use the bodyglove mirage tpu case. i like it, not too bulky. only problem is i noticed that it effects my GPS signal. dosnt stop it completely. but in my house, with the case ON, i cant get a lock better than about 35 feet. with the case OFF, it will drop down to 16 feet. while it dosnt make GPS unusable, it def makes it less accurate. driving, i noticed with the case on, maps will say accurate to 10 meters, if i take the case off, it immediatley drops to 3 meters. meh, i dont honestly use GPS that much, so i figure if i need to i will just take the case off.
I use a case for the peace of mind of not worrying about scratches. Phone is already big enough, so the thinnest possible case is sufficient for me. I use the Case-Mate Barely There in black matte.
Case Mate Tough for me. The one for the Inspire, of course. It's a solid case with a good look to it. Might take a look at it. But no screen protector yet. They are always sold out.
Sent via my Inspire 4G using XDA App
barely there case from case-mate I hate big bulky cases
I use the Platinum Hard Case/Holder. They look and work like the Seidio. Worked well when I had the Captivate.
Just wanted to chime in to say that the metal that the Inspire is made out of seems to be very scratch resistant. I leaned up against a metal cooler's edge at work (The very corner) and my phone was in a belt clip holster. I leaned with about half my body weight before i realized it was right on my phone, and when i backed away i saw a long white mark on the back of my phone and i thought the worst. I rubbed it a little bit with my thumb and it went away immediately, im not quite sure how or why but there was no mark at all!
This is the nicest phone I've owned... Having it wrapped in a DHD Otterbox Defender is great for peace of mind.
Great slim case...
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/protective-tpu-case-for-htc-desire-hd-grey-51886
This is the case I use. They were so cheap I bought a bunch. It protects everything really well.
I use the speck case not big not bulky no clip its a hard case and fits like glove.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
using a case similar to the barely-there model, purchased from ebay. so far it's holding up well.
I had a case and returned it. Too bulky. Now I have a full body skin on it. Will it protect the phone from a drop? Probably not. Best not to drop it
Odds are I'll sell this phone in a year or two when the next latest and greatest is available.
Thanks everyone for the replies! I just wanna say... I took my phone out of its case for a day (CaseMate Barely There), and my friend drops it while playing a game. There's now a scratch on it (it fell on the floor of a workshop).
Also, regarding a comment I saw about what the phone is made out of; you mentioned that there was a white line on it that made you think it was scratched. Boy, that's happened to me so many times! I always get scared, but I'm surprised at how tough the phone is. But this time the mark is permanent, so don't always depend on the toughness of the phone... I'm putting the case back on right now. Never taking it off again
Again, thanks for the replies. I'm with most of you in saying that the phone is already big enough as it is; that's why I got the Barely There, because I didn't want anything making the phone too much bigger.
Pt Series Case
I work at BB and picked up my Inspire 4G yesterday, so far I've used it in the Pt Series Case from BB. I got it really cheap and it isn't half bad. I will be keeping a case on my Inspire because I ran my Nexus One out of a case for upwards of 6 months, and I dropped while it was in the slip skin and it nicked the top of it. My dad has my N1 now, and is using a Case-Mate tough case. I plan on picking up the DHD version to try out for my Inspire next paycheck!
Oh and the little belt clip is a nice feature!
I've long gotten over the worries of scratching my cases. I can see the use of an otterbox for those who worry about drops, but it's like sweating the first scratch you get on a new car. It's gonna happen. I don't really care about resale of my phone, I usually just pass it down for cheap to a friend in need (who hasn't upgraded in like 2 years) and they are more than happy to accept it as is. I can't imagine the folks with OCD bad enough to pamper their phone so much it never gets any wear. There's no enjoyment in technology that way!
I personally go for a screen protector film and a thin/light back side case that allows for the best access to top/side buttons.
Same here barely there from CM
Protects and not bulky
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
No case here. Invisishield on the screen and that's it.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Joelpatrick said:
No case here. Invisishield on the screen and that's it.
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Click to collapse
I used to have an InvisibleShield for my Samsung Captivate, but I didn't like it for many reasons.
One of the reasons was that I'm big into photography. Whatever Zagg used to make the screen protector stick greatly deteriorates the quality of the screen, and it bothered me.
Also, it makes the screen a lot more rubberized than most screen protectors. A lot of people say that the texture bothers them, but I think that's bullcrap... I can see the textured difference, but can't feel it and don't really care. On the other hand, the fact that my screen feels like sticky rubber bothers me.
Anyway, I try to steer clear of Zagg stuff now. I will recommend it though, if that makes sense. It's 100% quality stuff, and does stand up to its claims in protection. But I have my own personal reasons for not wanting to use it myself.

Getting a new case: Slim, fit in pocket.

I've been using the CM Tough for a while now. While it's a great case for protection (very reassuring), its very bulky, and the silicone inner traps all sorts of dust and hair from the inside of my pockets.
For the past month or so, I've been walking around with my phone in my hand, fearing the attack of the lint, and wiping the lint and dust off the silicone whenever I could.
I've decided that if my friends can have sexy, slim cases for the iPhone, allowing it to come easily in and out of the pocket, there's no reason I shouldn't do the same.
Protection, for me, isn't that much of a problem. The easiest way to protect your phone is to basically not drop it, and in the half year I've had my phone, I've never dropped it once.
SO, I've been looking at...
The Momax iCase Pro: TPU sides and plastic back, slim.
SGP Slider: Hard case with cutouts for the volume/power. Looks rather slim.
Not a big fan of cases that don't cover the bezel. I honestly don't get the point, no scratch protection for bezel, and I can't put my phone face-down.
Are there any more cases I should be aware of? Are there people who can give a mini-review for the cases I mentioned above?
Thanks!
Have a look at this, just picked one up yesterday
http://www.case-mate.com/Samsung-Ga...axy-S-T-Mobile-Vibrant-Barely-There-Cases.asp
Fits perfectly on my European GT I9000, feels much nicer than bare phone or hard silicon case I previously used, and it's as easy to get out of your pocket as the bare phone. The only issue you might have is with the bezel, as it doesn't really cover it, rather it leaves the psuedo chrome visible, and only adds at most 0.5mm clearance if you place the phone face down.
Personally, I'm very happy with it. The phone is grippier, the volume and power buttons are much easier to use, and it looks good.
Headphone jack access is better too.
Read the reviews on the link.
Here's another I had a look at recently, seems to give great protection, but it's fiddly to get on and off if you need to do a battery pull, and I didn't like the squidgy button covers, but it might be more in the line of what you're after.
http://www.otterbox.com/Samsung-Galaxy-S-Commuter-Series-Case/SAM4-GALXS-20-E4OTR_A,default,pd.html
I also use the Case Mate Barely There and it is the best I have tried so far.
It doesn't collect dust and the phone slides into the pockets.
I prefer the Momax. My workmate has the barely there, which is slightly slimmer but at the expense of losing some protection. The momax is the best option if you want slim but can still feel comfortable that your phone is safe imo.
I also had the toughcase and became frustrated with it for the same reasons as you. I'm very happy with the momax. Only issue is the power button is a bit harder to push now but a small price to pay.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Using the SGP Ultra slider, totally in love with it as i prefer to have direct access to hardware buttons
I have the Momax case and I have to say, it's pretty good.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=790318 - PhoenixFX has provided a review here.
Things i like:
It has a hybrid design, the back is not fully rigid but feels solid, soft sides.
Sides are flexible enough so that it goes on easy but stays in, also like how TPU doesn't become stretchy like silicone .
Lip that protects the screen, didn't notice too much dust getting in.
It's easy to keep a good grip on it.
Dislikes:
As the one posters above me said, the power button is harder to press. the same kind of applies for the volume keys but nor as much. It might be annoying in the long run.
Other than that the case is perfectly fine although I don't really know if it can be classified as slim by my standards , the back plate part is around 1.5mm thick. The back is a matte finish that doesn't offer too much grip but the sides are very grippy.
Hope this helps (I haven't tried any of the other cases so I can't really compare).
i think, case mate barely there is really good for slim profile somehow. and also capdase soft jacket xpose 2 also looks okay.
Check out carrymobiles, melko cases as well
I use the same Case-Mate Barely There case as DMD9, and I don't see myself changing it anytime soon. Very sleek, provides a little bit of a rubbery feel but not enough to make it difficult to slide out of pockets
After protecting my SGS like a baby for the last 11 or so months, it has suffered some damage here and there (home button doesn't work very well, scratches etc).
Thus I decided to ditch the case and go totally slimline with a replacement battery cover (the stock one is a fingerprint magnet, and I have kinda sweaty hands!). Ordered a silver one from focal price (the ones with the samsung logo, but clearly fake) and its a pretty good fit.
I totally recommend going caseless, it fits so well in the pocket when you go out!
I also support caseless usage,
I had a invisibleshield protector on the phone for a few months and that one worked well but it came off.
Now i still use the phone as if there was a protector on it and....not a scratch added.
the screen can really handle some abuse

Anyone keep their phone naked, and notnuse a case?

Was just randomly wondering if anyone doesn't use a case for this phone. Seems like everyone uses a case, and I figured since I'm not selling or trading this phone, why not use it in all its glory. The only problems is, after a few minutes, it gets oily and really slippery, and it's a really thin phone, so it gets a bit uncomfortable using it without a case.
Also, when one hand scrolling, it does this weird thing where it doesn't scroll smoothly, and your palm gets in the way, and gives the scrolling a hitch. When using a phone case, the part of the case that sticks out on the screen naturally blocks your palm, and you never have that problem.
But anyways, who's using the phone naked, and find it to be the most comfortable and best option to go with?
Gimme some pros and cons of you will.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Free mobile app
Your scrolling problem is related to the size of your hands.
I don't use cases, most of them are fugly.
What's the point of having slim phones if we are going to put a case on it and thus it will become bulky anyway?
Might as well make the phones sturdier (which also means bulkier) to begin with.
The only thing I would agree with would be a side bumper. If you're not using a flip cover, even if you have a normal case, your screen will be endangered either way. A simple case only protects the edges and the back (though I don't know why the back cover would need protection). So might as well just stick to a bumper, which doesn't turn the phone into a brick.
I used to have a metallic bumper, though I stopped using it because it messed with the Wi-Fi and mobile signals, due to the metal's reflective properties.
I use the device as is. I also don't experience any grip issues, but that may be due to the fact that my model came with a leather-like back cover and is textured as such, which makes gripping easier.
GDReaper said:
Your scrolling problem is related to the size of your hands.
I don't use cases, most of them are fugly.
What's the point of having slim phones if we are going to put a case on it and thus it will become bulky anyway?
Might as well make the phones sturdier (which also means bulkier) to begin with.
The only thing I would agree with would be a side bumper. If you're not using a flip cover, even if you have a normal case, your screen will be endangered either way. A simple case only protects the edges and the back (though I don't know why the back cover would need protection). So might as well just stick to a bumper, which doesn't turn the phone into a brick.
I used to have a metallic bumper, though I stopped using it because it messed with the Wi-Fi and mobile signals, due to the metal's reflective properties.
I use the device as is. I also don't experience any grip issues, but that may be due to the fact that my model came with a leather-like back cover and is textured as such, which makes gripping easier.
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Yeah, you're not experiencing the slip issue because y9u have a leather back. Thst makes all the difference in the world, and matter of fact, I'm gonna order a leather back cover for this phone from Amazon. You actually reminded me to do that lol.
But yeah, been using it without a case for the last day, and just can't without it getting way too slippery. Always revert back to a case.
Gotta go the leather back route.
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I use a clear rubbery case that doesn't take up any space and is virtually invisible. Cost a buck shipped on ebay. Keeps the phone from slipping
Eh, screw it. I just can't use this phone naked, and don't feel like ordering the leather back. I'm just gonna use my candyshell grip case. This phone was made to put a case on it. Way too slim, even with a non slip back.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Free mobile app
I use it with no case and screen protector. I've been using it like this for quite a while. I don't really find any cons. I've dropped it a lot too but it's staying strong I got it 2nd hand like 2-3 years ago.
I go naked with it. My hands and fingers are always bumping into the screen sometimes and I'll get rapid taps/multi openings etc. And yeah it does get kinds oily and all fingerprinty 'up'd. Thats why I mostly use one of them pen things with a rubber end. A pencil works good too.
I hate bulky cases. I went to a Boost mobile store and bought a $15 rubber case that just covered the back and sides. No cover protector. Hate them too. That worked fine until I took it off to wipe down the screen and didnt want it back on again, lost it. So Im nude again. I like these phones better without cases. Plus I' take the cover off a lot too swap sd cards. But just a cheap chunk of rubber works.
I've dropped it a few times, luckily on carpets, never scratched the screen yet, and the back part wont scratch much anyway. I should get a screen protector though. I love Lanyard Holes, but for whatever reason they stopped manufacturing them with these newer phones over the past few years. I use to keep my phone around my neck or attached to my belt loop with that little tiny hole and a lanyard string. But, no more. I hate that.
Or just do what I did. Go to Home Depot and buy liquid spray rubber in a can and spray paint the phone in a rubber coating, let dry, razor blade/exacto knife, peel where needed. lol. It works.
x432hz said:
I go naked with it. My hands and fingers are always bumping into the screen sometimes and I'll get rapid taps/multi openings etc. And yeah it does get kinds oily and all fingerprinty 'up'd. Thats why I mostly use one of them pen things with a rubber end. A pencil works good too.
I hate bulky cases. I went to a Boost mobile store and bought a $15 rubber case that just covered the back and sides. No cover protector. Hate them too. That worked fine until I took it off to wipe down the screen and didnt want it back on again, lost it. So Im nude again. I like these phones better without cases. Plus I' take the cover off a lot too swap sd cards. But just a cheap chunk of rubber works.
I've dropped it a few times, luckily on carpets, never scratched the screen yet, and the back part wont scratch much anyway. I should get a screen protector though. I love Lanyard Holes, but for whatever reason they stopped manufacturing them with these newer phones over the past few years. I use to keep my phone around my neck or attached to my belt loop with that little tiny hole and a lanyard string. But, no more. I hate that.
Or just do what I did. Go to Home Depot and buy liquid spray rubber in a can and spray paint the phone in a rubber coating, let dry, razor blade/exacto knife, peel where needed. lol. It works.
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Click to collapse
That's a damn good idea.
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Man, at the end of the day, I just can't use this phone without a case. Its way too thin and slippery. Speck candyshell grip for the win. Absolutely perfect case for this phone, light as a feather, thin, adds almost no bulk to the width of the phone, and incredibly grippy. Can't go wrong.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Free mobile app
I can't remember the last phone I owned where I didn't use a case. In fact, when I purchased my Nexus 4, I actually forgot to order a case, and when it arrived, I flat out refused to take it out the house before the case arrived.
I wouldn't consider myself clumsy, but accidents do happen and they usually involve my mobile phone. I always buy the same case, a plastic/silicone TPU case from eBay, and they range from 99p to about £3. I never spend more than that. This is the case I bought for mine:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultra-Sli...hash=item36017ba2e3:m:mYsl2Xxl2euYRiFrqhugqKQ
I won't buy the hard shell cases because the aim is to absorb the impact. A hard shell case will simply distribute it elsewhere and therefore either the case will crack (causing damage to the phone) or the impact will simply transfer through into the phone itself causing pretty much the same amount of damage that you might get if you didn't have a case at all. A TPU case will genuinely absorb impact and protect your phone. I am lucky enough to say that from experience. I dropped my Galaxy S1 down a terrace at a football match (soccer) and while the case itself was scratched, the phone remained totally unscratched. I've dropped my S4 numerous times out the door of my car (usually falls out my pocket) and so far, there has been no damage to the phone itself, although that said I think the front camera has perhaps started to play up, so perhaps that's been caused by repeated drops, but it's nothing that can't be repaired for cheap and ultimately, the screen is still alive and looking gorgeous and that's the expensive part to replace.
My girlfriend dropped her uncased Nokia Lumia 900 once on a hard wood floor. The screen was smashed and the phone was never quite the same afterwards (I think there was some damage to the accelerometer). My friend has smashed many many iPhones by not keeping them in cases (it only takes one drop). I am yet to smash a phone despite repeated efforts.
One last thing, if you do buy a TPU case, make sure there is a lip. That will add a huge amount of protection to the screen. No lip, no real protection offered to the glass.
Definitely a case for me ... Otter Box
Started off without one till i dropped it and broke the front glass. After months of seeing it damaged i replaced the glass myself then ordered an Otter Box case. Sure it adds bulk but at least i don't worry too much about it falling again. It took a tumble from the top of the stairs the other day and no damage, I thought for sure it was a done deal when i watched it tumble faster as it went down.
The glass replacement wasn't as hard i had thought it would be especially using the 3rd party adhesive and i must say the screen feels stronger than the original. I do agree however it is a sleek phone without a case but too slippery to leave unprotected IMO
Otter box cases are unnecessarily bulky imo, but there we go.
skezza said:
I can't remember the last phone I owned where I didn't use a case. In fact, when I purchased my Nexus 4, I actually forgot to order a case, and when it arrived, I flat out refused to take it out the house before the case arrived.
I wouldn't consider myself clumsy, but accidents do happen and they usually involve my mobile phone. I always buy the same case, a plastic/silicone TPU case from eBay, and they range from 99p to about £3. I never spend more than that. This is the case I bought for mine:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultra-Sli...hash=item36017ba2e3:m:mYsl2Xxl2euYRiFrqhugqKQ
I won't buy the hard shell cases because the aim is to absorb the impact. A hard shell case will simply distribute it elsewhere and therefore either the case will crack (causing damage to the phone) or the impact will simply transfer through into the phone itself causing pretty much the same amount of damage that you might get if you didn't have a case at all. A TPU case will genuinely absorb impact and protect your phone. I am lucky enough to say that from experience. I dropped my Galaxy S1 down a terrace at a football match (soccer) and while the case itself was scratched, the phone remained totally unscratched. I've dropped my S4 numerous times out the door of my car (usually falls out my pocket) and so far, there has been no damage to the phone itself, although that said I think the front camera has perhaps started to play up, so perhaps that's been caused by repeated drops, but it's nothing that can't be repaired for cheap and ultimately, the screen is still alive and looking gorgeous and that's the expensive part to replace.
My girlfriend dropped her uncased Nokia Lumia 900 once on a hard wood floor. The screen was smashed and the phone was never quite the same afterwards (I think there was some damage to the accelerometer). My friend has smashed many many iPhones by not keeping them in cases (it only takes one drop). I am yet to smash a phone despite repeated efforts.
One last thing, if you do buy a TPU case, make sure there is a lip. That will add a huge amount of protection to the screen. No lip, no real protection offered to the glass.
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Click to collapse
Dual layer is the best way to go. Light, slim, and offer the most protection for the least amount of size.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Free mobile app
d3athd3al3r said:
Started off without one till i dropped it and broke the front glass. After months of seeing it damaged i replaced the glass myself then ordered an Otter Box case. Sure it adds bulk but at least i don't worry too much about it falling again. It took a tumble from the top of the stairs the other day and no damage, I thought for sure it was a done deal when i watched it tumble faster as it went down.
The glass replacement wasn't as hard i had thought it would be especially using the 3rd party adhesive and i must say the screen feels stronger than the original. I do agree however it is a sleek phone without a case but too slippery to leave unprotected IMO
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Not only slippery, but just awkward to hold after a few minutes. Its way too thin and rectangular, instead of a square shape. They made the phone way too long, and not wide enough for adult hands to hold comfortably for more than a few minutes.
The design was FOR SURE made for a phone case to be put on it. I'm certain of this.
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A battery cover with wireless charging made it better IMO
tikay00 said:
Not only slippery, but just awkward to hold after a few minutes. Its way too thin and rectangular, instead of a square shape. They made the phone way too long, and not wide enough for adult hands to hold comfortably for more than a few minutes.
The design was FOR SURE made for a phone case to be put on it. I'm certain of this.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Update: After purchasing a new battery cover that allows for wireless charging I ditched the OtterBox Deffender case since it wouldn't fit. Though still made of shiny plastic I feel its a better option than the stock cover because it's slightly thicker, adds weight, makes the phone feel more solid and offers better protection for the rear camera lens. I can see this as an option for anyone who is looking for an alternative to not wanting to cover it up with a case.
d3athd3al3r said:
Update: After purchasing a new battery cover that allows for wireless charging I ditched the OtterBox Deffender case since it wouldn't fit. Though still made of shiny plastic I feel its a better option than the stock cover because it's slightly thicker, adds weight, makes the phone feel more solid and offers better protection for the rear camera lens. I can see this as an option for anyone who is looking for an alternative to not wanting to cover it up with a case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, if I had a leather back cover, I'd probably use it without a case. I just need to order one. Even then, I don't know if it would be comfortable, because of the shape of the phone, and the physical dimensions.
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I never use a case or screen protectors because I want to feel the actual phone in my hand.
OK, been using this phone without a case for the past few days, and its butter. Can't go back to cades now lol. You guys were right.
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butt ass naked here since it came out.
mother gifted me a case but it felt like I was holding a brick.
Ive dropped this thing 3,216,546,163 times and it still works fine.
last month though its not reading my sd card properly for some reason, so time to replace soon maybe.
cant submit an image to show you how banged up the sides are(not much surprisingly), no broken screen though.
No case, only a velcro pasty.
This is a very relevant thread. I finally broke the glass on my i9295 a month or so ago. The phone struck the corner of a solid object on the way down. I suspect that an Otter Box protective housing could have saved the screen. However, if I was going to be carrying around my phone in an Otterbox, I would not have a ruggedized IP67 rated phone like the i9295. I carry my phone almost naked with only a 2" x 3" swatch of fuzzy Velcro material stuck on the back. This allows me to stick the phone on the dash of my car or boat where I have a swatch of hookey Velcro material. I also do like the feeling of the fuzzy material on the back of the phone. Makes the phone feel less like a slick bar of soap. I do really like the idea of spraying the phone w/rubberized tool coating. BTW, I did finally just get around to replacing the glass a couple of days ago .

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