Related
First off I would like to thank Raul from Cruzerlite.com who found my style of reviewing interesting enough to inquire about me reviewing their cases. It is a great opportunity and I would just like to send a personal thank you to him and the company. I would also like to point out that my review is still going to be 100% honest, in fact I waited 4 days after I received the cases to do a complete review, including a day in each case I received.
The three cases I received were as follows
Clear Android Army
Blue Android Circuit
Green Androidified A2
I'll review them all at the same time, and anytime there is something special about a certain one, I'll mention it. First are Pro's,then Con's, and a summary at the end. Fairly simple.
Pro's:
-Like any premium case the cutouts are perfect at every port, button, and IR blaster on the phone.
-The TPU is pretty good quality, I've felt better in one other case, Diztronic, but Cruzerlite is a very close second.
-Double cutout of the camera and flash giving better protection overall on the back
-designs actually show up (on white S4 at least, cannot verify on black because I don't one) and looks very nice. I have recieved compliments on how cool they looked, the color enhances the device instead of detracting from it, and I see a lot of cases that detracts from the quality of the phone! (cheap and expensive cases alike)
-The raised lip around the front of the screen kind of folds over the bevel. I'm not sure how to explain it, but the lip extends over the full front of the bevel instead of resting on top of it like every other case I own does.
-Logo is not distracting from the overall design!
Con's
-On the Androidified case it just feels a lot thinner, I'm not sure if it was the unit I was sent, but the TPU feels thin all around, especially on the lip and sides.
On good reviews I usually put here that the cases were not free, but in this case they were...and I'm not sure how to make it sound like I wasn't completely satisfied, but had I spent money on them, I wouldn't put anything here, so this is a placeholder for my own sanity...
one thing to note about clear cases though, they discolor over time, I am not sure if these will, but it is something to think about. i honestly love clear cases over all other cases. but UV damage is not something plastic is known to combat well over time. lol
Overall:
If I could, I would return 3/4 of the cases I've purchased over the past month for the S4 because these are honestly the ones I'll be using for a good length of time. I cannot foresee me looking for another TPU case after trying these, and I would recommend them for anyone who is on the fence. If you want to purchase one TPU case, you'll want to go with one from either from Cruzerlite or Diztronic. Both are great companies and offer different types of cases depending on what you really are looking for.
As always, let me know if you would like a specific picture or more in-depth look at something in particular. The photos will be up tomorrow when the lighting is better.
Rhamza161 said:
First off I would like to thank Raul from Cruzerlite.com who found my style of reviewing interesting enough to inquire about me reviewing their cases. It is a great opportunity and I would just like to send a personal thank you to him and the company. I would also like to point out that my review is still going to be 100% honest, in fact I waited 4 days after I received the cases to do a complete review, including a day in each case I received.
The three cases I received were as follows
Clear Android Army
Blue Android Circuit
Green Androidified A2
I'll review them all at the same time, and anytime there is something special about a certain one, I'll mention it. First are Pro's,then Con's, and a summary at the end. Fairly simple.
Pro's:
-Like any premium case the cutouts are perfect at every port, button, and IR blaster on the phone.
-The TPU is pretty good quality, I've felt better in one other case, Diztronic, but Cruzerlite is a very close second.
-Double cutout of the camera and flash giving better protection overall on the back
-designs actually show up (on white S4 at least, cannot verify on black because I don't one) and looks very nice. I have recieved compliments on how cool they looked, the color enhances the device instead of detracting from it, and I see a lot of cases that detracts from the quality of the phone! (cheap and expensive cases alike)
-The raised lip around the front of the screen kind of folds over the bevel. I'm not sure how to explain it, but the lip extends over the full front of the bevel instead of resting on top of it like every other case I own does.
-Logo is not distracting from the overall design!
Con's
-On the Androidified case it just feels a lot thinner, I'm not sure if it was the unit I was sent, but the TPU feels thin all around, especially on the lip and sides.
On good reviews I usually put here that the cases were not free, but in this case they were...and I'm not sure how to make it sound like I wasn't completely satisfied, but had I spent money on them, I wouldn't put anything here, so this is a placeholder for my own sanity...
one thing to note about clear cases though, they discolor over time, I am not sure if these will, but it is something to think about. i honestly love clear cases over all other cases. but UV damage is not something plastic is known to combat well over time. lol
Overall:
If I could, I would return 3/4 of the cases I've purchased over the past month for the S4 because these are honestly the ones I'll be using for a good length of time. I cannot foresee me looking for another TPU case after trying these, and I would recommend them for anyone who is on the fence. If you want to purchase one TPU case, you'll want to go with one from either from Cruzerlite or Diztronic. Both are great companies and offer different types of cases depending on what you really are looking for.
As always, let me know if you would like a specific picture or more in-depth look at something in particular. The photos will be up tomorrow when the lighting is better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you have pictures ?
No pics?!
Sent from my Galaxy S4.
4 paragraph review with no pics lol
You can always refer to my review pictures http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2274876
Sorry, tomorrow is my first real day off in over a month. I have been working over 45 hours a week at my day job and then volunteering on my days off, I literally have not had any free time! But tomorrow I'll update all my posts with nice quality pictures, I promise!
He are some pictures outside of the phone, my full camera is having problems right now so they were laden from my phone.
Sent from my galaxy S4 using xda premium HD!
So this is an absolute copy of UAG:
http://www.amazon.com/Maxboost-Sams...cp_4_YCFJ?ie=UTF8&refRID=17JMH36YYW3TVP5SYCFJ
Since i've really had dilemmas before buying my UAG since it's expensive I thought people would want to know.
This one is cheaper, obviously not as good but for the price it's pretty good.
In an attempt to find a case which would offer me satisfactory protection yet remain at an affordable price, I happened to come across this case from Maxboost. I have a general distaste for protective cases that cost more than they’re worth so the Maxboost was a welcome alternative.
I received the Maxboost case quickly upon ordering it. The looks of the case are nothing to write home about. It’s black, plastic, and has a geometric design on the back with PROTAK written in bold letters across the back face.
The plastic offers a slight bend to it which distinguishes itself from its cheap counter parts, which usually are a hard, brittle plastic. The case almost had a type of rubberized feel to it. This case also seemed to add a little bit more substance to the phone which was nice. It made the phone easier to hold in my hands.
The cutting was well done. All of the ports are easily accessible. Also there is a slight raised lip which protects the phone from drops face down to protect the screen.
I did find that the molding of the plastic especially around the tops and bottoms of the case were not done very well. It seemed like the case was put together in haste.
Overall, I think that Maxboost has a great concept here. I just wish they would take more time to make the molding of the plastic a bit better. I think this would help with the overall look.
If you’re looking for a case that will be able to protect your SIV for a great cost than this is the case for you, otherwise look to spend a little more.
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frrlod said:
So this is an absolute copy of UAG:
http://www.amazon.com/Maxboost-Sams...cp_4_YCFJ?ie=UTF8&refRID=17JMH36YYW3TVP5SYCFJ
Since i've really had dilemmas before buying my UAG since it's expensive I thought people would want to know.
This one is cheaper, obviously not as good but for the price it's pretty good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is another one like the UAG case for about half the price. I have no complaints, pretty good for the price.
Correction: Not half the price, looks like UAG has reduced their price. UAG: $22.60 Obliq: $14.99
http://www.amazon.com/ObliqGS4-XTMP...&ie=UTF8&qid=1372101680&sr=1-1&keywords=obliq
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
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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
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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
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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.
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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 .
Note: As you can see this is my first review on this account so please if you have any constructive criticism please leave it down in the comments below, and thanks to UAG for giving me this awesome case for me to review and their awesome costumer service is unparalleled compared to other case manufacturers. For this review I picked up the Aero case for my GS5, but you can go on UAG's website where you can find lots of other variations depending on your liking.
Lets start off this review with when you first get your case. The box is very nice and minimalist and comes with your case and a scratch resistant screen protector (that I personally don't use.) that is a nice extra for that 100% protection feeling. Putting the surprisingly light composite case onto my gold GS5 actually complimented the phone very nicely instead of giving it a huge bulkiness such as my otter box defender might give me, or my dreaded Lifeproof case which Is just horrible.
The case itself feels very sturdy. There are no creaks or give whatsoever once you put this case on, it kinda feels like a tank in that aspect,and is also (MIL STD 810G 516.6) certified which if you guys didn't know is military drop testing standards. The side has these rubber grips which keeps the case from slipping off your hands which is appreciated, and a nice touch. On the top and bottom you have these impact resistant corners which make your phone not only drop protected but also a very nice addition to the cosmetics of the case as well. On the front you have this frame that rises above the screen so that you can lay your phone face down with confidence that you won't scratch the screen. On the back you have 5 screws that give your case a very nice industrial feel and is very eye catching. The back also houses the impact resistant core.
Putting this up against the Otterbox defender not only does the UAG case wins in the looks and feel department, but also in the pricing. The Otterbox starts at about 60$ while the UAG case is only 35$ plus free international ground shipping with fed ex ( far superior than UPS) which is an awesome deal. It also comes to show the quality service they provide choosing Fedex over UPS, since Fedex is a bit more expensive and if you refuse to pay the brokerage fees then the sender has to pay them, which is why most sellers choose UPS so that its cheap and cost effective, but a hassle for international consumers like me with their ridiculous pricing for brokerage and unreliable service that is often never on time. (Koodos to you UAG)
A major problem that I find with protection case manufacturers is that their cases tend to have glare and blur when you use flash with the camera or they forgot to put space at the top for the IR blaster. UAG meticulously makes this not a problem for consumers by making these ports still function at the same time give you the same protection without compromise. Another problem is looks. Lifeproof and Otterbox are in direct competition with UAG for protection but will never come anywhere near UAG with their choices of bold colours and their style.
That's all I have to say about the case and don't forget the company themselves. UAG makes high quality cases putting style, comfort, usability, and protection at its top of the list without compromise. The case earns a 10/10 for me and is easily one of the best cases I have ever used for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and any other phone out there that they make. 2 thumbs up from me.
Go and pick up a case for yoursleves at http://www.urbanarmorgear.com/collections/all#samsung-galaxy-s5 Outland is a very nice colour choice in my opinion.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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??
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N930A using XDA-Developers mobile app
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.