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[Review] Noreve Perpétuelle Leather Case (Black)

Hi guys,
Got my hands on a Noreve case for the S4 a few days ago, and wanted to share my thoughts on it.
Noreve is a company from France, and they make very high quality leather cases for just about every device out there in the mobile arena. The cases are of the highest quality leather, and very well constructed. As with all Noreve cases I've seen and reviewed up until this time, the workmanship throughout is outstanding. I personally really love this company because they have a keen eye for detail.
After trying this case out for a few days, I can safely say that it's pretty much everything I could have expected from Noreve - great packaging, and a very high quality case. Here are a few shots of the box, which also comes in a red pouch. The case itself will be in this red pouch, meant to protect the case. I've always seen this as a very nice, thoughtful touch.
Once you're inside the box, you'll be greeted by the wonderful smell of excellent, high quality leather. While soft, it's also very durable, and the stitching is spot on all across the case. The case slides in without any hassles, but it's also not very easy to get out, which is a good thing. You don't really want the case to unintentionally come off.
The ports such as the power button and volume rocker can be easily accessed. And because they are recessed in due to the case, they will be protected from drops as well. Here's a few shots of the case from the sides.
Speaking of drops, the phone and case held up just fine to the 3-4 drops I put it through, on direct pavement. Three of them were from waist height, and one from neck height. Didn't seem to be a problem anywhere, and the case held on to the phone firmly all four times.
Another thing I like about Noreve is their metal grills for the speakers on the front and back of the case. It's the first time I'm seeing a front facing speaker grill from them, but it does look quite attractive. The front grill hasn't been implemented on any other models as far as I can tell - they for sure weren't there for the Galaxy Nexus, etc.
I really like how the phone feels very sturdy with the case on. I also have the Samsung smart cover and it drives me crazy, simply because the flap on it won't fully close. It just flaps about. With this, the phone is locked in tight and protected.
Overall, I'd have to say that this is another fantastic case from Noreve. While not one of the cheaper cases out there, you get what you pay for. And considering that it's a handmade, genuine leather case from France, I'd say it's well worth it, considering they provide free shipping with DHL as a bonus. I've tested quite a few of their products now, so I can easily vouch for the sheer quality they provide.
Anyone interested can check out the page for the S4 here. It's well worth checking out because Noreve offer a ton of customization for their cases. You can basically get them in any color/finish you can think of.
Also, anyone interested in purchasing the case, they can use this discount code - Yener2013. It will take off 15% of your order.
Cheers.

Thanks for the review. I have the noreve flip case for my old desire and it is lovely. One off the things I like was that the metal of the case was bent around to hold the phone.. all other cases I have seen use a plastic tray fixed too the cover.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

sorry but..... u know wt i mean

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Cygnett WorkMate Evolution S4 Case Worth Checking Out

I am awaiting my order for the SGP Hybrid-Neo and I'll see how it performs when I receive it.
While waiting for the Spigen case to arrive, I've been looking around for other protective cases with a minimum of material, meaning I'd like the lowest profile protection possible, which Protects the S4. Not a minimalistic case which offers the minimalist of protection, because that defeats the reason I'm getting the case in the first place.
I came across this site which has, in their opinion, the top 15 cases:
http://www.techradar.com/us/news/ph...sung-galaxy-s4-case-15-to-choose-from-1149624
The WorkMate Evolution case peaked my interest, so I took a look at their site over here:
http://www.cygnett.com/smartphone/smartphone-samsung/samsung-galaxy-s4.html?___store=world
I watched their video, and it looked fine, but I'm not impressed by demonstration videos in general, especially ones demonstrated by the designer r/manufacturer of the item I'm purchasing, as there is a possibility of bias
It is 'Real World Usage' that counts, whether the video is accurate or not. I gotta check out the item for myself.
With the above being said, the description of the product and the concept appears that the end result would be a well made case of minimalistic construction with adequate protection.
I did some research and have found complaints about:
- the usb port fitment, the hole not being large enough. I watched the video and in the comment section it has been said that this issue has been resolved by the manufacturer with the updated cases, so I'm not too concerned about this issue as it appears to have been resolved.
- stiffness of power/volume buttons
I have sent an email to Cygnett, and I look forward to receiving their response.
I'll be ordering this case from Newegg, as they have very good shipping times and Return/Refund Policies with No return fees, including 45 days to return the item.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16875983832
The case is available from Amazon, but they only Fulfill the orders, and one of the Sellers is in China/Hong Kong with delivery times up to 26 days or so. The other Seller has a 15% fee for Returns.
The case is also available form Cygnett, but the standard shipping times are up to 10 days.
Amazon Update:
The Cygnett WorkMate Evolution case now Ships from and is Sold by Amazon::good:
http://www.amazon.com/Cygnett-CY1194CXWOR-WorkMate-Case-Galaxy/dp/B00BXL7VKM
I'l let you know what I think of the Cygnett when I receive and use the case, including the response from Cygnett.

I just picked up my Cygnett WorkMate in Bright Blue color.
These are my first impressions, as I've only been using it for 2 hours:
1) nicely packaged in a clamshell as other cases are coming in these days.
2) after removing the WorkMate from its packaging, I was impressed with the build quality, and I really liked the color scheme.
3) the 2 part case came assembled, and the S4 'snapped in' quickly and snugly.
4) once the S4 was wearing it's new protection, I was like, 'this is some nice protection' and that I was confident, if dropped, my S4 had a good chance of surviving unscathed.
5) I felt that the WorkMate offers some real nice protection in a very minimalist format.
6) the protective lip surrounding the screen rises nicely above it and appears that it will offer nice protection with lip height to spare for a glass protector.
6) the power and volume buttons do have a stiff feeling to them, but once you get used to it in a short bit, it's not a problem at all. I would say that with use, the buttons will most likely give a little.
7) the usb port was a hair too small lengthwise for the head of the stock usb cable to fit into. After 40s of the minimalist of quick scraping of the 2 sides, the usb head fit perfectly. Can't tell any mod was even done.
I'll see how it goes using this case, as I just received it. I must say that I am impressed with its style, construction and perceived protection and durability in a minimalist form factor.
I say perceived because I just received the case

I have the same case in black. I like it a lot apart from the problem you mentioned with the usb cutout ... just got around to scraping the sides with a blade for a minute or so and now it's a perfect fit.
In terms of protection, I think the YouTube video pretty much speaks volumes about the effectiveness of these cases ... the phone survives a ten foot drop. I've dropped mine once from about four foot and there was no issue whatsoever.
Sent from my GT-I9505

This case is definitely a keeper. I've never used a case prior to this and the SPG Neo Hybrid. The reason being I didn't like weighing down and bulking up what is an otherwise light, thin, flat phone such as the S4, the S3, the S2 or whichever other device that slides into my pocket.
But when I dropped my S3 from about a foot onto concrete a couple of months ago, and the screen fractured, I was like, this is bs. But then the time wasted on trying to get a replacement from Asurion, who sent me a defective outta the box refurbished S3, I started looking for cases for the S4. The SGP is going back due to sagging of the neoprene after 3 days, in addition to it offering very little protection, but my S4 will be sporting the WorkMate.
I haven't applied my SGP Glas.tR Slim as of yet, and I'm thinking about whether I'm going to or not. It would add additional weight, and unless I drop my S4 and it hits the corner of something, I feel the WorkMate will protect the screen from most drops without having to add the glass screen protector. Plus I do have insurance. I gotta give it a little more thought.

Biker1 said:
This case is definitely a keeper. I've never used a case prior to this and the SPG Neo Hybrid. The reason being I didn't like weighing down and bulking up what is an otherwise light, thin, flat phone such as the S4, the S3, the S2 or whichever other device that slides into my pocket.
But when I dropped my S3 from about a foot onto concrete a couple of months ago, and the screen fractured, I was like, this is bs. But then the time wasted on trying to get a replacement from Asurion, who sent me a defective outta the box refurbished S3, I started looking for cases for the S4. The SGP is going back due to sagging of the neoprene after 3 days, in addition to it offering very little protection, but my S4 will be sporting the WorkMate.
I haven't applied my SGP Glas.tR Slim as of yet, and I'm thinking about whether I'm going to or not. It would add additional weight, and unless I drop my S4 and it hits the corner of something, I feel the WorkMate will protect the screen from most drops without having to add the glass screen protector. Plus I do have insurance. I gotta give it a little more thought.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wearing a screen protector to guard against scratches. The workmate will protect against most face down drops onto a flat surface. It's rocks and stones which are the only thing you need to fear with this case and I doubt any screen protector and few if any cases can protect you if you drop your phone onto a sharp, pointy rock.
Sent from my GT-I9505

dr.m0x said:
I'm wearing a screen protector to guard against scratches. The workmate will protect against most face down drops onto a flat surface. It's rocks and stones which are the only thing you need to fear with this case and I doubt any screen protector and few if any cases can protect you if you drop your phone onto a sharp, pointy rock.
Sent from my GT-I9505
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully I won't drop my S4 into a rock or edge of something that will bypass the protection of the WorkMate and damage the screen, if I choose not to install the glass protector. But Murphys Law will probably apply
I figure the WorkMate will protect the S4 under most circumstances, and in those instances where it may not, I have the insurance.

Sorry to keep posting repeatedly but I'm so stoked about this case. Overjoyed in fact. Most cases add to much bulk or provide too little protection. This bad boy provides excellent protection without adding significant bulk and as a bonus the textured back makes the phone much easier to hold on to.
I'm usually a bit of a case whore and change often but this time I'm staying put. The only other case that's really caught my eye is the Griffon Survivor. I'll probably end up getting that once is available just for those occasions where I really need the maximum protection. The rest of the time I'll be rocking my Cygnet Workmate. :thumbup:
Sent from my GT-I9505

Post away, like I seem to be doing
It seems that the Cygnett doesn't get a lot of publicity, at least in the USA.
I'm sure that is not the case in New Zealand, as the company a in Australia.
In addition to the possible lacking of advertisement, getting the case can be an issue for some.
Amazon has a couple of sellers, but it is not Sold and/or Shipped directly from Amazon. One seller appear to be overseas and can take over 20 days to receive, and the other Seller has a 15% penalty for Returns. Amazon only shows a few reviews for the case which means sales are low. The aforementioned may be some of the reasons for the lack of sales via Amazon. I purchased the WorkMate from Newegg, which is where I suggest others, at least in the USA to purchase from. Even Newegg has no reviews.
As mentioned, I wasn't a case guy, but this case changed my mind about cases.
It just screams out Protection in a very minimalist format. Hey, they have it in Blue which I couldn't resist
Update:
Is this the other case you mentioned?
http://store.griffintechnology.com/survivor-skin-for-samsung-galaxy-s4
The case has a nice look to it, and although it seems to offer more coverage to the top and bottom of the S4 screen, I don't know if it offers better protection than the WorkMate overall. The price of $18 is cheap enough, but I don't know the quality of the case. Once in hand, a better determination can be made.

Biker1 said:
Post away, like I seem to be doing
It seems that the Cygnett doesn't get a lot of publicity, at least in the USA.
I'm sure that is not the case in New Zealand, as the company a in Australia.
In addition to the possible lacking of advertisement, getting the case can be an issue for some.
Amazon has a couple of sellers, but it is not Sold and/or Shipped directly from Amazon. One seller appear to be overseas and can take over 20 days to receive, and the other Seller has a 15% penalty for Returns. Amazon only shows a few reviews for the case which means sales are low. The aforementioned may be some of the reasons for the lack of sales via Amazon. I purchased the WorkMate from Newegg, which is where I suggest others, at least in the USA to purchase from. Even Newegg has no reviews.
As mentioned, I wasn't a case guy, but this case changed my mind about cases.
It just screams out Protection in a very minimalist format. Hey, they have it in Blue which I couldn't resist
Update:
Is this the other case you mentioned?
http://store.griffintechnology.com/survivor-skin-for-samsung-galaxy-s4
The case has a nice look to it, and although it seems to offer more coverage to the top and bottom of the S4 screen, I don't know if it offers better protection than the WorkMate overall. The price of $18 is cheap enough, but I don't know the quality of the case. Once in hand, a better determination can be made.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can just walk into your local chain store and pick up the cygnet cases here. Surprised me ... they don't normally have the best cases. The salesman preached the virtues of the case, I believed him and luckily he was calling it straight.
You've linked the survivor skin, I'm waiting for the survivor.
http://store.griffintechnology.com/survivor-with-belt-clip-for-samsung-galaxy-s4
The skin is to the survivor what the Otterbox commuter is to the Defender. Basically the survivor is the Defender done right. I've heard that the Defender has clips on the phone case which mate to the belt holster and that these clips can smash off in a fall. No such design flaw on the survivor and it has padded flaps to cover all the ports and the camera. Had one on my s3, it added a lot of size to the phone but man that thing felt indestructible.
I don't need that kind of protection every day but there are still occasions where I really want that assurance that my phone has the utmost protection.
Sent from my GT-I9505

Thanks. I'll take a good look at it later, as I gotta get some shut eye
I read the description and it definitely looks like an anti-destrutive case with those listed specs.
Much easier for sure to get the Cygnett where you are. They definitely have a larger customer base there.

LOL, I was stupid to purchase a case at tmobile store cost me 30 buck. Question, I have a white S4 they don't have survivor in white?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

epsix said:
LOL, I was stupid to purchase a case at tmobile store cost me 30 buck. Question, I have a white S4 they don't have survivor in white?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just found this for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcv9mCVIB-c&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Btw, I'm extremely satisfied with my WorkMate, even though I haven't dropped my S4 as of yet
But as I mentioned previously, this case is very well built, and I feel confident it'll protect my S4 in case of any unfortunate drops
Btw, you mentioned the Survivor.
If you're referring to the Cygnett, it's the Evolution.
If your referencing the T-Mobile case, I'm not familiar with it.

4 week follow up
Well, it's been about 4 weeks since I took possession of the Cygnett WorkMate Evolution case in Bright Blue and:
- the case looks as good as it did the first day I received it* (see below)
- the case fits as well as the first day. There is nothing that will stretchout, etc.
- *the light Grey back, when you hold it at an angle to the light, you can see certain areas where there is a slight lightness to the Grey, but only at certain angles. The cause is most likely from natural oils in the skin, as the slight blemish ocurrs where you hold the phone the most.
- I have not dropped the phone as of today, and don't expect to, but if I do, I'm confident that the phone will be very much protected
- although the case adds slight bulk to the S4, as the S4 is so very slim and light without the case, it fits comfortably in my front pocket, and my pants are not of the baggy variety
And there you have it.
My overall rating of this case is 9.8/10 (due to the very hard to notice blemish)
I highly recommend it to those who are looking for excellent protection for their S4, in a minimalist form factor.
This is a case that when you see it, hold it and put your S4 in it, you will be confident that your S4 will be very well protected.

I've updated the op to reflect the fact that the Cygnett case is now Sold by and Ships from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Cygnett-CY1194CXWOR-WorkMate-Case-Galaxy/dp/B00BXL7VKM
Here is an update regarding the discoloration of the Grey back of the case:
I've just taken a couple of pics tonight of the discoloration that the medium grey material has sustained. While it doesn't affect the protectiveness of the case, it does affect the aesthetics.
The discoloration of the case has occurred where my hand/fingers grip the back of the case the most.
When the Cygnett was my edc, the discoloration gradually occurred over the course of approx. 6 weeks. It looked great when it was new, but not that great after only a month and a half.
I just sent an email to Cygnett 's US office regarding this issue. I'm hoping this issue is just an exception, but if it's a material flaw, hopefully it has been resolved.
http://us.cygnett.com/contacts
Update:
I didn't receive a response to my email so I called the phone number for Cygnett's US office.
Spoke with a very nice rep, and explained my issue.
She is sending out a replacement shell, and gave me her personal email address.
I sent her my shipping info, and she responded that she just shipped out the replacement.
Excellent customer service:good:

Biker1 said:
I've updated the op to reflect the fact that the Cygnett case is now Sold by and Ships from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Cygnett-CY1194CXWOR-WorkMate-Case-Galaxy/dp/B00BXL7VKM
Here is an update regarding the discoloration of the Grey back of the case:
I've just taken a couple of pics tonight of the discoloration that the medium grey material has sustained. While it doesn't affect the protectiveness of the case, it does affect the aesthetics.
The discoloration of the case has occurred where my hand/fingers grip the back of the case the most.
When the Cygnett was my edc, the discoloration gradually occurred over the course of approx. 6 weeks. It looked great when it was new, but not that great after only a month and a half.
I just sent an email to Cygnett 's US office regarding this issue. I'm hoping this issue is just an exception, but if it's a material flaw, hopefully it has been resolved.
http://us.cygnett.com/contacts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had mine for about 2 month and the colors are still fine.

keltsi95 said:
I've had mine for about 2 month and the colors are still fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The gray backing has a wear patten on mine.
I took a closer look and in between the tiny raised bumps, the material is worn, which creates the 'discolored' look pattern which is more perceptible at certain angles.
Still a case which appears to offer excellent protection, although I haven't dropped mine yet .

[Case Review] Vivid Arkansas & the Lazer by Artech21

What's up everyone! Here for another case review, and this time it's the Vivid Arkansas & the Lazer by Artech21. I typically do not review two cases in the same thread, but these are from the same manufacturer and aren't too terribly different. I'm gonna throw up 2 links at the bottom for the photos because there are quite a few of them. So let's get right into it, shall we?
-Packaging & First Impressions-
The packaging for both cases is the same. Quite minimal with a couple thin cardboard inserts that you'd typically get with a phone case. Nothing too fancy here. The cases themselves are nearly identical except for the pattern imprint on the rubber inner layer. The case trim for both is identical and are interchangeable with these two cases specifically. Over all pretty good looking cases. However there wasn't much care with the cutouts. They are extremely precise and line up perfectly with the phone, but unfortunately still have some edge shavings attached. You can see what I mean in the photos by looking at the cutouts around the power button. To me this was a little careless and really could have been fixed in the factory pretty easily.
-Fit-
These cases go on and off pretty easily. Personally, I like that. It makes swapping them out fairly quick and you don't feel like you'll do harm to the phone while doing so. This for me is pretty huge. I reviewed a case by Poetic and absolutely love everything about the case, except when it's time to take it off or put it back on. With both of the cases from Artech21, they fit quite nice, except for the screen side of the phone. On the Vivid Arkansas, the right edge had gold from the phone showing through, and on the Lazer it was on both sides. So the 1st layer/rubber shell just doesn't have that uniform snug fit that you'd want with this device. I have to point out though that this is not true for all of their cases. A friend of mine has these same cases for his S7 Edge, and they fit quite perfectly on his phone.
-Feel-
Both of these cases feel great in the hand. There is enough grip on the device to prevent it from slipping. The cutout that was used for the power button is pretty nice too. It has a sloped cut on the edge so your finger almost feels like it belongs there when pushing the power button or using the fingerprint scanner. I can't stress enough how much I like that cutout and how it was done. Great job on that one Artech21! The buttons on the case look like they would stick out, but they really don't all that much. You can still find them blindly pretty easy, so it's not terrible. Over all, not bad.
-Final Thoughts-
Personally, I'd give both cases a 7/10. They still need some fine tuning on some basic cosmetics, but all around are still a good case option to keep your phone safe. They come in many different accent colors, and I think Artech21 did pretty well despite a few minor cosmetics. The case does not interfere with the wide angle lens at all and I think these cases should be given your consideration when looking for an inexpensive case. - Until next time...
-Links-
Vivid Arkansas by Artech21 Photos ~~ Buy it on Amazon
Lazer by Artech21 Photos ~~ Buy it on Amazon

I am from EU and amazon doesnt ship their cases to my location, been trying to contact them on fb but no answer whatsoever..

best case,spigen crystal clear ^_^

I'm using spigen tough armor case with tempered glass 3D full cover. :victory:

another arkie

Poetic Affinity Case review

Okay so I am sure a lot of you have received Galaxy Note 7 by now as I am. (T-Mobile user) I would like to update on the case I have with this beast with pictures and hopefully help some of you out there looking for a good case.
I think the blue coral color on this case is beautiful!
Poetic brought their famous Affinity series case for Note 7 in a perfect time for the phone's release and they came back with near-perfect case. Well, the word perfect is very subjective, but if you are like me who is always looking for light, thin, see-through material (to show off the Blue Coral color of my Note 7), sturdy and protecting four corners of the phone, you will absolutely love this. And plus, this time, they fixed two imperfections that I have talked about for a while on this case and I will mention them in the end.
Look - Superb
Honestly, I do not like thick cases where you can't appreciate the thinness of your phone for the sake of phone's protection. To me, phone's design is very important as I have with me all the time and I hate to see the beautiful designs (ex. Galaxy Note series, Iphone series...) to be later covered by ugly bulky cases once you have it. Affinity case makes their case cover very unique and they do it with high quality material. As you can see from the pictures, most of cases are see-through polycarbonate material where you can still enjoy your phone's natural color. From the four corners, they connect each corners with soft shock-proof TPU material that will cover the back of the phone very minimally and with unique pattern that they call X-FORM. I also like their logo with silver color in the middle of back.
Protection - Excellent
Like mentioned above, they covered the four corners with X-FORM soft shock-proof TPU material that feels VERY sturdy. If you think of cheap chinese import TPU material, you will have to see/touch to feel difference. Once you feel/touch it, you won't worry about four corners anymore. Also, TPU material (including strips around back and corners) are scratch proof so you wont see ugly scratches. Most of back is polycarbonate, which is plastic. First, I worried about the back portion being easily scratched due to the nature of its material, but I found out that is not the case. The strips that run through back of the case are actually RAISED so it doesn't get scratched much just like most cases front sides are raised to prevent any normal wear-tear scratches from everyday living.
However, if you happen to carry your phone in an enviornment where lots of sharp materials flying around your phone, you may be better off going with more less-plastic, rigid material of other Poetic product line.
Added feature - Superb
As you can see with my pictures, this case has anti-slip side grip on each sides and this gives me such a relief. I tend to drop phone quite often and not only I need a case with good protection, but also this kind of added feature that will help me not to drop as much. Also rugged TPU strips on the back and corners help a lot as well.
Holes/Cuts - Superb
Their holes/Cuts/Buttons' positions are perfect and I cannot say any better than that. One of the imperfection this case had in the past was a little hard buttons. To me, it seemed like it requires a bit more pressure to press buttons and it was discomfort in the beginning. (You get used to it soon so it doesn't bother much later) However, they fixed it this time and it is breeze and actually fun to press them. They listened to their customers and that is a rare thing in the market. I love it!!!
Taking off the case - Awesome
Last imperfection I probably thought it would have been very hard for any owners with battery changeable phones was taking off the case. I departed from the phones with battery changeable ability a while ago so I did not have to take it off that often so it wasn't a big issue, but nevertheless, when I do need to take it off, it wasn't a pleasant experience. It was too tight to prevent any fall off from dropping your phone.
However, they fixed it, and they did it perfectly. Now, you don't have to put much pressure to take it off one corner to the other. A little bit of force and it comes off easily. It is very good that it holds the phone steadily with you worrying about it falling off on its own, but when it needs to be taken off, it does VERY easily. I seriously recommend to anyone who is looking for a case with thin, see-through, protective, good design and good features, look no further, this is the case for you.

jkforce said:
Taking off the case - Awesome
Last imperfection I probably thought it would have been very hard for any owners with battery changeable phones was taking off the case. I departed from the phones with battery changeable ability a while ago so I did not have to take it off that often so it wasn't a big issue, but nevertheless, when I do need to take it off, it wasn't a pleasant experience. It was too tight to prevent any fall off from dropping your phone.
However, they fixed it, and they did it perfectly. Now, you don't have to put much pressure to take it off one corner to the other. A little bit of force and it comes off easily. It is very good that it holds the phone steadily with you worrying about it falling off on its own, but when it needs to be taken off, it does VERY easily. I seriously recommend to anyone who is looking for a case with thin, see-through, protective, good design and good features, look no further, this is the case for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THX for the very thorough review! :good:
I'd held off on pre-ordering this case for the latter,as on the HTC 10,this case was extremely difficult to remove,to the point where you could damage the phone if you're not paying attention,either by bending the phone,cracking the display,or,damaging the camera lens while gripping for case removal.
It was so bad that I actually made relief cuts on each corner,on the diagonal,to facilitate ease of removal.
This in no way compromised the snugness of the case,so,I suspected a design/engineering change was in-store for future versions of the Affinity case.
Glad to hear the changes were made,I just ordered a Clear/Black version for my Black Onyx Note 7.

KOLIOSIS said:
THX for the very thorough review! :good:
I'd held off on pre-ordering this case for the latter,as on the HTC 10,this case was extremely difficult to remove,to the point where you could damage the phone if you're not paying attention,either by bending the phone,cracking the display,or,damaging the camera lens while gripping for case removal.
It was so bad that I actually made relief cuts on each corner,on the diagonal,to facilitate ease of removal.
This in no way compromised the snugness of the case,so,I suspected a design/engineering change was in-store for future versions of the Affinity case.
Glad to hear the changes were made,I just ordered a Clear/Black version for my Black Onyx Note 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel you 100% as I had HTC 10 with this case as well as LG G5 and it was pain to take it off, especially on HTC 10 as you mentioned. But, it is a night and day difference now.

Is this available for purchase yet? Only place I'm seeing it available is ebay and I'm not sure if those are third party knockoffs or not.

turbomalum said:
Is this available for purchase yet? Only place I'm seeing it available is ebay and I'm not sure if those are third party knockoffs or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can assure you, the ones on eBay aren't going to be knockoffs. The design is too intricate to bother with imitating & risking the backlash from buyers. The volume of sales isn't gonna be high enough to warrant anyone to make a knockoff.
Besides, you're protected against fraud/etc. by eBay &/or PayPal.
If you're still not convinced, you can purchase direct from Poetic or go to Amazon.

I've got the same case although my phone hasn't arrived. It's ok imo, the black plastic design on the back protrudes and trends to not feel great in my palm imo but if you don't mind that I guess it's a nice thin case. Well probably rock this until I get a replacement
Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

I also have this case, but I am bit scared to out it on since I fear the hard plastic might scratch my phone on back. I was thinking that there is going to be some sort of cushion or enough place between them. Any comments??
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amith007 said:
I also have this case, but I am bit scared to out it on since I fear the hard plastic might scratch my phone on back. I was thinking that there is going to be some sort of cushion or enough place between them. Any comments??
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Yeah,use a liquid sealer & a clear/matte body skin (in addition to the Affinity Case) for extra protection,without sacrificing the looks of the phone:
https://www.amazon.com/SGLSTABLET-K...7_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WNZDASE9MGT6VPCS3R3W
http://www.skinomi.com/samsung-galaxy-note-7.html

@jkforce
The Poetic Affinity Case for the Note 7 is everything you described/stated in the OP of this thread,so much that I almost regret buying the OEM Samsung Leather Case.
Both have a great feel/look/functionality,but the Poetic shows off the phones good looks & the clear w/black trim on Onyx Black looks as if it shipped from the factory w/the design,akin to a Note7 Active,if you will.
A strong recommend here & @ $7.95 shipped on e-Bay,it's an inexpensive case to add to your rotation.

[Review/Guide] SlickWraps Note 7 (Metal/Leather/Color/Wood Series)

Disclaimer: SlickWraps sent me these skins to review for the Note 7
SlickWraps (SW): slickwraps.com
Over the years I’ve come to enjoy using various wraps/skins on all of my devices. SlickWraps has been a company that I’ve always purchased from despite having issues with some orders they promptly addressed the concerns.
SlickWraps has a goof policy which means that if you mess up the install SlickWraps (SW) will replace your skin so you can try again. I haven’t seen anything similar offered from any other company which is one of the things that makes SW stand out from the crowded market.
There is a very large variety of wraps offered from SW ranging from their popular carbon fiber to galactic series. Each style of skin has a different texture and is made from 3M vinyl excluding their natural series. There are also more premium variants offered in the form of the natural series. This series usually includes Horween Leather, cork, and bamboo. I’ve owned several leather ones, and a bamboo for my Nexus 6 all of which were great.
While the offerings listed on their website are always full sets (front, back, and sides), you can order just one part of the set by contacting them based on my previous experiences. SlickWraps will also take requests depending on what you would like to have done which is something I’ve done before.
Note: The words skin and wrap will be used interchangeably. Some wording may be carried over from my S7 Edge SlickWraps OP since there are only so many ways to phrase/describe these wraps in this context.
Overall Fit:
Back:
This part is crucial to whether you have a good looking wrap/skin or bad one when it’s installed on the phone. I’ve seen some terribly cut skins before that weren’t even worth using, thankfully this was not the case here. The back panel goes edge-to-edge (no pun intended) all while having all of the proper cutouts with tight tolerances for the camera/flash module. I did notice that one of my wraps was a little short length-wise although that’s generally not the case with these. Sometimes it could be user error (i.e. installing it too high/low/off centered) although I don’t believe that is what happened here.
Sides:
The sides still remain the hardest pieces to install because of the very thin area Samsung gave companies to work with. When installing the side wraps patience is key to a nice, good looking finished product. I sometimes rush, or make mistakes as you will see in some of the pictures below. Perfection is certainly achievable if you spend the time to do it right.
As with all of SW’s ‘side skins’ they come in 4 distinct pieces (top, Bottom, left, and right). I usually install the side pieces first, then the top and bottom out of preference. The sides do not interfere with the buttons function (granted you install them properly), and were relatively easy to install compared to what I was expecting. his process might take some time if you haven’t done it before, but patience will help out a lot here. All of the ports (top/bottom) are cut perfectly, and there is also a piece that covers the hybrid sim tray
Front:
The use of front skins allows you to effectively change the color of your phone once you have installed the other pieces of the wrap. Each of the two pieces completely covers the phones top/bottom bezel perfectly giving you a nice look. There is a home button piece included, but if used it will prohibit the fingerprint scanner from working. I personally use the iris scanner over the finger print scanner the majority of the time, so having the added protection on the home button is nice. If some of you weren’t already aware, Samsung uses a plastic material for the home button which means it will scratch before the glass will. This is why I would prefer to have it covered especially with the addition of the iris scanner on the Note 7.
Metal Series: Gold
I know some people prefer to have a flashy phone, so with that in mind the Metal Series offer ‘fancier’ looking wraps in a variety of colors. Texture on these wraps is similar to brushed aluminum, but in a way it feels better since it’s on your phone. This style is one of my favorites, and is the same series as the skin I’m currently using on my Nexus 6P. The color is vivid with a nice shimmer to it corresponding with the particular metal it is styled after. The gold wrap is bright in certain lighting, yet it also has a nice subdued look to it at other times. It is hard to truly capture the color of it because of the reflectance, so the pictures can’t do the wrap proper justice.
Wood Series: Gold Flake, Mahogany
If you enjoy a more traditional look the wood series might suit your needs. The texture is more granular similar to how some quality TPU cases feel. All of the pieces of this set are cut in sections to keep the grain consistent throughout the wrap which adds an extra level of detail. I was send the Gold Flake (Zebra) wood version; this one features nice long dark ‘zebra’ strips layered between a lighter colored ‘wood’. On the other hand if you prefer more of a classical wood styling then you can't go wrong with the Mahogany which is dark enough to blend well with anything. In the light it looks even better becasue it brings out some of the more subtle light tones in the wrap.r.
Color Series: Black, White
This is one of my favorite skins due to its texture. The skin feels like the OP sandstone back (not as ‘grippy’ because it’s a skin) giving it a nice texture. No matter what phone I have this is usually on the list of skins I end up buying (Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nvidia Shield Tablet LTE, S7 Edge, and the Note 7). Unlike the dbrand matte black skin (this isn’t technically a matte skin) this skin doesn’t show fingerprints, or oil. Here the black is a nice contrast to my silver S7 Edge, but it would also look really nice on the black version. Overall the skin isn’t reflective, it has the best texture, and it just looks unique. I don’t recall of the other color series skins have this texture as well, so I’ll have to check into that.
Leather Series (not the natural series): Brown
Leather wraps are a unique way of making the glass back on the Note 7 not only look better (depending on your taste), but it also gives you a better feel when holding your phone. The leather series wraps have a subtle faux leather feel to them that is comfortable. I haven’t used one of these since the days of my Nexus 6 (many phones ago), so it was nice to use one again. I would describe the wrap as slightly reflective so you won’t be blinded when using it outside like the normal back of the phone.
Hero Series Spigen Case:
The Hero series cases are something new for SlickWraps, and for me. This is the first one I’ve had the chance to use/mess around with so far, and it’s been great. SlickWraps partnered with Spigen to create a unique way to have a wrap for your phone on the case. I’ve personally applied wraps to cases before, but the result was never as good as it could’ve been. One thing I really liked was how the wrap was pre-applied to the Spigen Ultra Hybrid case leaving a nice, clean looking application that would be hard for most people to do given how precisely it’s cut.
Spigen cases have always been very popular, and the Ultra Hybrid is certainly one of their better offerings. I have 3 of them now for my Note 7 (clear, Hero Series Clear, and mint), so needless to say I’m a fan of this case. I won’t go into too much detail about the case itself since anyone that’s owned a recent Spigen case will know what to expect. All of the buttons are tactile, it fits snugly, and attracts less fingerprints thanks to the wrap.
 
SlickWraps will customize one for you if you send them a message. I haven’t requested a customer wrap in about a year now; however, when I did it was really nice. (I had a Horween Leather back for my Nexus 6 Ultra Hybrid case made). Let me know what you think down in the comments!

Thanks for posting!

Just a heads up: if you're using a case with a skin, some of them will make the buttons hard to push. This happens becuase the tolerances are so exactly for most cases that any tiny bit of extra thickness (screen protector/skin) cab cause issues. I've used these skins with the Speck Candyshell Grip, Speck Candyshell, Sponge Ultra Hybrid, Spigen Neo Hybrid crystal and a few other without any issues. The skins won't work well with some thinner cases like the Spigen Thin Fit/Ringke slim d despite the phone fitting just fine (buttons will be off centered).
Also for those of you on the fence between SW and Dbrand SW is the only company I've seen that offers a nice well cutout HRM/flash module skin. This is particularly important because Samsung covered that unit with plastic so it will scratch hence why using a skin is great.

I've ordered from Slickwraps (for note7) and they have the worst customer service I've seen in awhile. My order was not sent until a week after I purchased and after I had to email asking about it. Then took another week to get to me, but that's not really their fault. Before the package came I sent an email asking about a refund since it took so long I no longer needed it. It took them 2 weeks to respond to email. They said returns had to be received within 30 days of purchase, not within 30days receipt of product. I'm still waiting to to see what they say next.
Also the name and picture of the person from the company is a girl from a TV show (the 100), not that it matters too much but you coulda at least made up something original.
Sent from my SM-N930T using XDA-Developers mobile app

trini1201 said:
I've ordered from Slickwraps (for note7) and they have the worst customer service I've seen in awhile. My order was not sent until a week after I purchased and after I had to email asking about it. Then took another week to get to me, but that's not really their fault. Before the package came I sent an email asking about a refund since it took so long I no longer needed it. It took them 2 weeks to respond to email. They said returns had to be received within 30 days of purchase, not within 30days receipt of product. I'm still waiting to to see what they say next.
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I would send them a message on here as well to see if that helps out. I've had previous issues with both SW and Dbrand in the past although both were resolved in a relatively timely manner. As of recently (this year) I haven't had any issues with them, so I can't speak for then regarding that.
trini1201 said:
Also the name and picture of the person from the company is a girl from a TV show (the 100), not that it matters too much but you coulda at least made up something original.
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What do you mean by the above statement? I wrote the entirety of my review above which was taken in part from the one I wrote for the S7 Edge earlier this year. I don't think people understand how much time goes into writing these things up, taking pictures, and making a detailed OP. I stand behind what I write until I'm given a reason not to. No matter what I get sent i always write an honest impression of the product and company. I don't care if some people get offended and blacklist me because its happened before (Meenova), but that's part of reviewing things.

Pilz said:
What do you mean by the above statement? I wrote the entirety of my review above which was taken in part from the one I wrote for the S7 Edge earlier this year. I don't think people understand how much time goes into writing these things up, taking pictures, and making a detailed OP. I stand behind what I write until I'm given a reason not to. No matter what I get sent i always write an honest impression of the product and company. I don't care if some people get offended and blacklist me because its happened before (Meenova), but that's part of reviewing things.
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Sry, meant the person from slick wraps I was corresponding with, not anyone on here.
Sent from my SM-N930T using XDA-Developers mobile app

i would gladly use just the backing vinyl for half off like dbrand has it. those side decals look atrocious (especially white) and it will definitely slide off with dust and sweat and the action of taking in and out of a tight pocket especially in the summers.