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Screen Protection Against Keys?

Hi guys,
I tend to keep my phone in the same pocket as my keys so clearly it'll need some kind of protection to avoid the screen getting scratched. For my old phone, I bought a leather case which worked really well for this, but it didn't have a touchscreen so it was easy to find a case that protected it well and allowed full functionality while the case was on.
So my questions are:
1. Is a screen protector (and perhaps thin gel case) sufficient for the HTC Desire, or do I need a proper leather case again?
2. Is there really that much difference between the different screen protectors? I've ordered 2 unbranded ones for under £2 on eBay but there are branded ones costing up to £10 each. Would one of those really be that much better?
3. If I were to buy a proper case, which leather case would you recommend that allows me to fully use the phone (and camera) while keeping it in the case? This includes being able to charge the phone while in the case. Obviously I know I'll have to take it out of the case to use in any kind of docking device, but the case should at least allow any cables (USB, headphones) to be plugged in.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Hi Alex.
You have several options open to you.
When I first got my Desire, I bought a neoprene pouch which had a nice mirco-fibre lining. This protected my phone completely, and the lining served to give my screen a wipe putting it in, and taking it out of its case.
However, obviously you have to take the phone out of the case to use it, and if you drop it now, it's unprotected. It'll be keyproof in yer pocket though.
I never keep keys in my phone pocket, and was worried about dropping it when it was out the case. But because I bought my phone pretty much straight after it's release, there were not many options available. (Different for you of course!)
After a couple of weeks, alternatives started popping up on eBay. I have gone with a rubber gel case (gloss black) and a screen protector. Now the only exposed parts are around the Home, Menu, Back and Search keys. Acceptable for me. Looks good too.
Screen protectors are a tricky issue. I waited for the offical HTC ones to come out. Somehow this took HTC 2 months after the release of the phone! They are an expensive waste of time. Avoid them. Instead, go for the cheap ADHESIVE FREE ones. The HTC ones have a sticky backing, which attracts air-bourne dust the second you peel the backing off to apply it to the phone. This means that no matter how careful you are, the dust particles prevent the protector from lying flush against your screen, creating lots of bubbles you can't smooth out. It also means the dust is now securely glued to the thing, and trying to remove it adds yet more dust and your finger prints!
Go for the £2 washable & reusable ones, and when they start to lift off and get dust under the corners (and they will) just peel it off, throw it away an put another one on. They say washable and reusable, but I've found they never go back quite the same after a wash. But when it's £2 for 5, and each one lasts a month, why bother? It just means that they do not use glue to stick to your screen and wont leave a residue.
From experience, avoid the ZAGG "Invisible Shield" full body protectors you may stumble across. The small bits that protect the sides peel away, and the screen protector part has an orange peel texture, and its kind of 'grippy' meaning your finger wont swipe across the screen very well. Plus it is a real bee-hatch to apply, and takes 24 hours to 'cure'. (you have to use a solution to float the pieces into place.)
I would recommend doing what I have done, and using a gel case/screen protector combo for general protection. If you are still worried about your keys marking the remaining exposed areas, buy a neoprene pouch too. Just buy one for a slightly wider phone than the Desire (HTC HD2?) as the gel case will make it too tight a fit, and the gel case will 'grip' the pouch lining to some extent. But hey, your phone will remain pristene.
Search for "Case Mate Torque HTC Desire". It is a well made rubber case, which comes with a screen protector. Can be found on eBay for £20. Can't say how good the screen protector is, but the case looks nice. Getting one myself soon. Plenty of low cost alteratives available of course. Mine cost £2.50 and is absolutely fine.
Hope I've helped some.
Will.
Edit: Forgot to cover your leather case queries. Sorry. I have not used a leather flip case for this phone, but I did have one for my last phone, a Nokia 5800, and I found the Proporta brand had the best build quality. It is even lined with aluminium plate to fend off even the most severe of knocks. The low cost ones from Honk Kong were not leather, and the plastic clips that held the phone in place snapped off after a couple of weeks of removing/replacing the phone. Be prepared to spend at least £20 again if you want a decent leather one.

wnp_79 said:
Hi Alex.
Search for "Case Mate Torque HTC Desire". It is a well made rubber case, which comes with a screen protector. Can be found on eBay for £20. Can't say how good the screen protector is, but the case looks nice. Getting one myself soon. Plenty of low cost alteratives available of course. Mine cost £2.50 and is absolutely fine.
.
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just ordered one of these off ebay, got a best offer of £16.01 accepted if you are trying. Should arrive tomorrow so I'll let you know how it is.
I've got loads of cases I tried, currently just using a cheap gel case although I've actually got 3 leather ones as well offering full protection. I used to be paranoid about the screen with all my devices but now I've just got a Martin Fields screen protector on and its been fine for months. The only trouble with the cases is removing them constantly to fit into a Brodit car mount, its quicker to get it out of a leather pouch than a gel case

wnp_79 said:
Hi Alex.
You have several options open to you.
When I first got my Desire, I bought a neoprene pouch which had a nice mirco-fibre lining. This protected my phone completely, and the lining served to give my screen a wipe putting it in, and taking it out of its case.
However, obviously you have to take the phone out of the case to use it, and if you drop it now, it's unprotected. It'll be keyproof in yer pocket though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly, thank you very much for the detailed reply. And yeah, at the moment I have an official leather pull-case/pouch which protects the phone well in my pocket but obviously not when it's in use.
wnp_79 said:
Screen protectors are a tricky issue. I waited for the offical HTC ones to come out. Somehow this took HTC 2 months after the release of the phone! They are an expensive waste of time. Avoid them. Instead, go for the cheap ADHESIVE FREE ones. The HTC ones have a sticky backing, which attracts air-bourne dust the second you peel the backing off to apply it to the phone. This means that no matter how careful you are, the dust particles prevent the protector from lying flush against your screen, creating lots of bubbles you can't smooth out. It also means the dust is now securely glued to the thing, and trying to remove it adds yet more dust and your finger prints!
Go for the £2 washable & reusable ones, and when they start to lift off and get dust under the corners (and they will) just peel it off, throw it away an put another one on. They say washable and reusable, but I've found they never go back quite the same after a wash. But when it's £2 for 5, and each one lasts a month, why bother? It just means that they do not use glue to stick to your screen and wont leave a residue.
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Click to collapse
The screen protectors I ordered off eBay (£1.98 for 2) claim to be adhesive-free, washable and reusable but we'll see. I'll post back here when I get them for anyone else looking.
wnp_79 said:
I would recommend doing what I have done, and using a gel case/screen protector combo for general protection. If you are still worried about your keys marking the remaining exposed areas, buy a neoprene pouch too. Just buy one for a slightly wider phone than the Desire (HTC HD2?) as the gel case will make it too tight a fit, and the gel case will 'grip' the pouch lining to some extent. But hey, your phone will remain pristene.
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I'm more concerned about the keys scratching the screen, even with a screen protector. I can live with the other parts of the phone being scratched.
wnp_79 said:
Hope I've helped some.
Will.
Click to expand...
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You've been very helpful, thanks again.
wnp_79 said:
Edit: Forgot to cover your leather case queries. Sorry. I have not used a leather flip case for this phone, but I did have one for my last phone, a Nokia 5800, and I found the Proporta brand had the best build quality. It is even lined with aluminium plate to fend off even the most severe of knocks. The low cost ones from Honk Kong were not leather, and the plastic clips that held the phone in place snapped off after a couple of weeks of removing/replacing the phone. Be prepared to spend at least £20 again if you want a decent leather one.
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Yeah, I'm prepared to spend that much for one provided that it will last. I'm looking at the Alu and the Noreve at the moment (£20 and £30 respectively on MobileFun.co.uk).
Dave G said:
just ordered one of these off ebay, got a best offer of £16.01 accepted if you are trying. Should arrive tomorrow so I'll let you know how it is.
I've got loads of cases I tried, currently just using a cheap gel case although I've actually got 3 leather ones as well offering full protection. I used to be paranoid about the screen with all my devices but now I've just got a Martin Fields screen protector on and its been fine for months. The only trouble with the cases is removing them constantly to fit into a Brodit car mount, its quicker to get it out of a leather pouch than a gel case
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply - let me know about the case when you get it. Have you found the Martin Fields screen protector to be worth the price? And have you been keeping the phone in the same pocket as keys/similar?
I'm wondering if it would just be easier if I found a way of not having my keys and phone in the same pocket, but I've had it that way for years and it would take a bit of adjustment not to.

Dave G said:
just ordered one of these off ebay, got a best offer of £16.01 accepted if you are trying. Should arrive tomorrow so I'll let you know how it is.
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arrived today, nice looking, softer than the cheap gel cases so easier to get on and off. Seems to attract dust because its soft - don't know if its worth £16 compared to the £2 ones !

alex_hk90 said:
The screen protectors I ordered off eBay (£1.98 for 2) claim to be adhesive-free, washable and reusable but we'll see. I'll post back here when I get them for anyone else looking.
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I received these (they were branded 'MobileGUARD') yesterday and they seem to be OK - quite easy to apply since they had tabs to prevent you having to touch the actual protector, and looks fine once on. The only issue was that the tab did not remove properly so I had to clean the residue, but it was on the exposed side (not in contact with the screen) so not too much of a problem. There is a slight difference in feel (it's a bit 'harder') but the touch screen is just as easy to use as before. Only thing so far I've noticed against it is that it seems to smudge easier, but that may be because of the warm weather (i.e. I don't know if this would've happened without it), we'll see. I'm still unsure as to whether it would be sufficient protection against keys though...

I tried a 'Noreve Tradition' leather case (£30 off MobileFun) and though it fits well, is slim, looks alright, seems to have good construction quality and protects the phone, it's not that convenient to use it in the case (it's hard to hold the phone in the case, and the USB port isn't accessible). So I'm still looking for a solution (at the moment I'm using a leather pouch with screen protector).

Mobile fun are very good with returns. I had the same problem with my nokia leather case with the leather flap getting in the way. Bad case design not to allow usb access tho.
I have taken dave g's advice and gone for the case-mate torque case and screen protector combo. As advised they accepted a £16 offer. Its in the post so will advise on suitability after a bit of hands-on time.
Try out the cheap amazon or ebay rubber/gel cases. There are ones that cover over the front hardware buttons exposing only the optical pad.
Go to amazon and search for "Black XYLO SuperTuff Soft Silicone Shell / Skin / Case for the HTC Desire Mobile Phone".
Combine that kiddy with a screen protector and you could play hockey with your phone and not mark it! Ok maybe not but you'd be doing well to scratch it.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

My torque case just showed up. Very nice. Gives the phone a slightly chunkier look, but personally I like it.
Nice soft rubber, and offers much better protection for the camera lens than my other case. Pleased.
Have not tried fitting the screen protector yet, as the one already fitted is doing ok for now. Looks like it is a decent one tho, with a cleaning cloth and application card.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

wnp_79 said:
Mobile fun are very good with returns. I had the same problem with my nokia leather case with the leather flap getting in the way. Bad case design not to allow usb access tho.
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Yeah, I used their online form and they sent me a reference number for the return. I've just sent it back so hopefully I'll get a refund soon. Did they refund you for delivery costs? I heard something on the news that online retailers were legally obliged to do so.
wnp_79 said:
Try out the cheap amazon or ebay rubber/gel cases. There are ones that cover over the front hardware buttons exposing only the optical pad.
Go to amazon and search for "Black XYLO SuperTuff Soft Silicone Shell / Skin / Case for the HTC Desire Mobile Phone".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip. That one looks pretty good, and at £2.95 is worth a try.
wnp_79 said:
Combine that kiddy with a screen protector and you could play hockey with your phone and not mark it! Ok maybe not but you'd be doing well to scratch it.
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I'm not too bothered about marks or scratches, as long as they don't affect functionality (i.e. on the screen or the camera, which is why I'm concerned that my keys could scratch through a screen protector if they just happen to become lodged at an unfortunate angle in my pocket...).

wnp_79 said:
Go to amazon and search for "Black XYLO SuperTuff Soft Silicone Shell / Skin / Case for the HTC Desire Mobile Phone".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I received one of these today. It looks OK and has indents/marks for the buttons and cutouts for the connectors so you can fully use the phone while it's in the case, but I feel the case is too loose - if you push the sides to make it tight there's a 5mm gap from the phone to the case above the optical trackpad. It does however make it easy to put the phone in and take it out of the case. Also, I'm not really sure how much protection it adds to the phone - it seems quite soft. So while it isn't bad for the price, I'm going to return it and keep looking for something better.

there's loads on ebay, you should try there.

I just use neoprene pouch (£3.50 on ebay) and it is quite good. I've recently discovered that it is waterproof as well - phone was on the desk and I spilled glass of water - pouch got wet slightly on the outside but desire was bone dry ;-)

For screen protection I use a Clear Armor screen protector. It has a lifetime warranty and self heals almost all marks and scratches.
Got mine here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390220617200
Whil at work I use a cheap leather belt case, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120563838769&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT and if I don't want it on my belt I use a slim brown leather slip case. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280512213140&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I use the screen protectors linked to below with my old G1 pouch, works fine, no scratches yet!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003JCUKGK/ref=oss_product

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I just tried a (Proporta) Alu Leather Case and again while it was well-made, looked and felt good, I didn't find it satisfactory functionally (hard to use while in case, USB port not accessible for charging/sync). So I'm sticking with the cheap screen protector I got (which seems fine) and the official leather pull case. That and putting my keys in another pocket to be safe.

Seidio Case/Holster for Nexus One @ local Best Buy for $10

I was at my local Best Buy today looking at phone accessories when I came across this case and holster for the Nexus One. As I looked closer at it, it looked very similar to the Seidio case and holster, only it was branded Platinum. Upon further inspection, I noticed on the bottom of the packaging in small letters that it was indeed a Seidio product. What really surprised me though was that it was only $10, instead of $35 like the other cases and holsters around it, so I snatched it up right then and there.
Since all the other Platinum brand case/holster were still full price, I can only assume that they are discontinuing this in the stores. I looked on their website and it's still listed for $35. So if you've been looking to get this case and holster, I'd suggest you hit your local Best Buy and hope they still have them in stock before their gone.

I got the same one from the local best buy by me. Solid case and holster for $10. Well made and has all the needed openings for microphones, ports, ect. Phone fits face in or face out in the holster.
Appears to be a rebranded Siedo Innocase™ II Surface Combo - Black which retails for $50 on the Siedo website.
Only problem is (like other cases) you have to remove it to fit it into the desk/car dock. Still a good value.

I picked one up yesterday and tried to put it on. First off, as I was sliding the top part in slowly, it took the screen protector off with it on the upper left side. Then the rubbery material on the inside of the case peeled off as well. I had to replace the screen protector. I took it back today to exchange it. I got it on this time, but again, the upper left side of my screen protector began bubbling really badly so I took it off immediately. Now, my screen protector has these scratch lines where the case overlaps the screen and glides on when sliding on the phone. I'm glad I had a screen protector on or else the case might've scratched my actual screen. I've always had a problem with the seidio case and I was hoping this one would be different, but its not.

bskim23 said:
I picked one up yesterday and tried to put it on. First off, as I was sliding the top part in slowly, it took the screen protector off with it on the upper left side. Then the rubbery material on the inside of the case peeled off as well. I had to replace the screen protector. I took it back today to exchange it. I got it on this time, but again, the upper left side of my screen protector began bubbling really badly so I took it off immediately. Now, my screen protector has these scratch lines where the case overlaps the screen and glides on when sliding on the phone. I'm glad I had a screen protector on or else the case might've scratched my actual screen. I've always had a problem with the seidio case and I was hoping this one would be different, but its not.
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I don't use a screen protector myself, I've had the case on and off a handful of times since I got it and it doesn't appear to be scratching the screen. I do agree though that the little rubber pieces on the inside do tend to move around a bit, but I've found that if you squeeze the case in as you slide it onto and off the phone, it minimizes the chances of the rubber moving.
Overall, I've always been very happy with Seidio's holster clips, but have to have a case on my phone cause I've very tough on phones, so I'd say the Innocase is perfect.
Now I just need to rig up a way to use the phone in the official car and home dock without having to remove the phone from the case. Gonna have to whip out the Dremel tool, soldering iron and some wood. If I get really ambitious, I may even cast some plastic molds of the phone.

Thanks for the heads up on the case. I went to my local best buy and they did not have it on display. I had to ask one of the cellphone associates to get it for me out of the back. Their SKU is: 9943421 for $9.99 regular price $34.99.
I've been using the Case-Mate tough case exclusively since I purchased the phone in March. All I can say is I'm amazed at how thin this case is. It feels as if there really is no cover on the phone. The addition of a secure belt clip is a HUGE plus in my book. My only gripe so far is I don't think this case will do much good in protecting the phone from a drop out of your pocket or coat.

Funny you should say that, I too just switched from the Tough Case as well. I did love the CM case for the combination of shock absorbing rubber and hard plastic shell, but it made the phone too bulky. As for the Seidio, it may be thin and not offer as much protection as the CM case, but take into account that the shell of the phone itself is metal and hard plastic and comes into direct contact with the screen. Any drop is going to transfer from the shell and into the screen most likely causing it to break. A case on the phone, even a thin one, is still more flexible than the phones shell and absorb most impacts. Even if the case itself breaks in a fall, better a $10/$35 case then a $579 phone.

garfnodie said:
Funny you should say that, I too just switched from the Tough Case as well. I did love the CM case for the combination of shock absorbing rubber and hard plastic shell, but it made the phone too bulky. As for the Seidio, it may be thin and not offer as much protection as the CM case, but take into account that the shell of the phone itself is metal and hard plastic and comes into direct contact with the screen. Any drop is going to transfer from the shell and into the screen most likely causing it to break. A case on the phone, even a thin one, is still more flexible than the phones shell and absorb most impacts. Even if the case itself breaks in a fall, better a $10/$35 case then a $579 phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After a few hours of using it, I switched back to my tough case. I just can't get over how "under protected" the phone feels. I did however use the Seido case when I had to wear a suit earlier this week. I like having my phone on my belt in those cases. For 10$ its a nice option to have.
Now if there was only a way to get the Seido holder to hold the n1 with the tough case on it.....

No joy at my local best buy - but I found an open-package one on Ebay for $7.99 with free shipping - same item.
Open package is no big deal to me though...
Thanks for opening my eyes to this product!

just got this as my seido case was getting really messed up.
the only difference i see is that the inside is rubber rather than seido's felt interior

krazichinaman said:
After a few hours of using it, I switched back to my tough case. I just can't get over how "under protected" the phone feels. I did however use the Seido case when I had to wear a suit earlier this week. I like having my phone on my belt in those cases. For 10$ its a nice option to have.
Now if there was only a way to get the Seido holder to hold the n1 with the tough case on it.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sound's to me like what you need is the Seidio rugged case. It's similar to the Tough case in that you get a thick rubber wrap with a plastic shell around it, and then that fit's into a special spring holster.
http://www.seidioonline.com/product-p/bd4-hkr4hnx1.htm
I'm sticking with the regular case/holster as that will more than protect the phone from even a tall drop.

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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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.

Case Review: Incipio Feather Case

Hey guys,
Just bought the Incipio Feather case and wanted to share my thoughts in case some people were thinking about buying.
The case is definitely very light weight and pretty thin (Incipio states that it is less than 1 mm thin). It's an "ultra light, ultra strong polymer" hard case that is smooth to the touch while having a slightly rubbery feel to it. The case itself has very clean edges with no trace of any manufacturing defects. There are cutouts for the power and volume buttons, hdmi port (it's covered in the pictures on their site, but there is indeed a cutout for this), usb port, camera, microphone, headphone jack, and speakerphone. With the exception of the battery, everything is easily accessible through these cutouts.
As for protection, this is where I've been disappointed. First off, the side of the case does not rise above the side of the phone, so when you put the phone face down, the screen will be touching the surface (they provide a screen protector, but I don't think that's enough). Secondly, the case does not completely wrap around the phone, so both the top and, more importantly, the bottom of the phone are exposed. The bottom is important because on a straight drop, the pointed part of the phone will take all of the impact because it protrudes beyond the corner parts of the case. The top isn't as bad because it's flatter, so the corner portions of the case will ideally take the impact. Granted, you aren't purchasing a "feather" or "barely there" case for its protective qualities, but I think that had Incipio manufactured the case to fully wrap around the phone, both the protection and aesthetics of the case would have been enhanced.
In regards to the aesthetics, I purchased the case to avoid the bulkiness of other cases so that I could enjoy the look of the phone. However, the cutouts and the fact that the case doesn't fully wrap around the phone cause the Feather case to "break" the smooth lines of the phone. I would definitely prefer the look of a case that fully wraps around the phone.
Overall, I would not purchase this case again. At $25, even with the screen protector and microfiber cloth, I think that a case like the Androidified case that I previously reviewed provides better value with more protection. With the TPU case, my phone experienced no damage after I accidentally dropped the phone while getting out of a car. I can't say that the Feather case would provide the same sort of protection.

Thanks for the review, this was my favorite case when I had my Atrix. I noticed it on the site the day it went up but did not buy it because an employee confirmed over live chat that there was no hdmi cutout. Now that I know it is there I am placing an order now. I just bought the otterbox and I like it but its just too much for me.

This is almost the same exact case as this:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/accessory?action=accessoryDetails&accessoryId=47557
But yours is probably a tiny bit thinner. And this one has a pull out stand which is awesome. They tried to sell this hardcore when i bought the phone, and I got it then.

Syn Ack said:
This is almost the same exact case as this:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/accessory?action=accessoryDetails&accessoryId=47557
But yours is probably a tiny bit thinner. And this one has a pull out stand which is awesome. They tried to sell this hardcore when i bought the phone, and I got it then.
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The Incipio also doesn't have those rubber ridges. I had one of these cases on my Thunderbolt and I hated it because I keep my phone in my pocket. Went with a Case-Mate Barely There case which seems to be similar to the Incipio.

It reminds me of an ultra light 1 piece Seidio innocase. It has a similar feel but its lighter and thinner.

After using this case for a few days I have to agree. This case is not worth it at all. The feather used to be my choice but incipio did not do well with this one.

I'm really hoping case-mate jumps on it and makes a barely there case for the Charge.
http://feedback.case-mate.com/forum...867323-samsung-droid-charge-barely-there-case

immaage said:
I'm really hoping case-mate jumps on it and makes a barely there case for the Charge.
http://feedback.case-mate.com/forum...867323-samsung-droid-charge-barely-there-case
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Yeah same here. I went back to my Otterbox case but I just ordered the Trident Aegis today. I would rather have a thin light case but this feather is just plain terrible.

Why you going with Trident Aegis..instead of just using the Otterbox?
Just curious on your thoughts on the Otterbox..did you get the Trident? How is it?

The Otterbox is a good case but I am not too sold on having the buttons on the bottom covered. The Trident case shipped today and I will post pics and a review of the Aegis when it comes.

Tech21 Classic Mesh Case for Note 4

So I picked up this case at a Verizon store this afternoon. I paid 39.99 minus 25% as I get that discount through my work. I have to say, this case is VERY nice. Adds very minimal bulk and if it works like advertised, should add decent protection. Here are some of my observations:
-The camera is recessed enough that if you lay the phone down on its back, it will not scratch the lens
-The buttons functions very well. Meaning they have good response and feedback through the case
-All of the ports and holes line up perfectly. The mic hole on the left is slightly bigger (oval shape, sort of) so this fits the Verizon version as well. That is the version I have.
-The hole around the camera/flash/pulse meter is plenty large so it will not interfere with the pulse meter function thing
-Not at all a lint magnet. The opposite as a matter of fact
-Does show fingerprints but not a huge fingerprint magnet
-IMHO, has the perfect amount of grip. Slides in and out my pocket nicely
-Edges are raised (I would say 1mm) so if you lay it down screen side down, the screen will not scratch (not sure how it will work with a screen protector though. I don't have one installed so I don't care.)
This one will definitely be a keeper. I also have the OEM S-View case and like it a lot, too.
Hope this helps if you are thinking of getting one.

.... pics?

h3ck said:
.... pics?
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I'd be happy to add them. How do you add them? I don't see "attach pic" button or anything. Maybe a dumb question. Is it the attach file button?

Depends on app, not dumb at all. Here's how you do via tapatalk.
POSTCEPTION

OK, I think I managed to get pics attached. See my OP. I am definitely not a photographer.

It's a very nice case. They had them in store when I went looking for a case for my phone, but opted to go with the original Samsung case instead.

I have one, very slim, nice feel, not sure about the orange inserts protecting against drops though.
Mine was $34 in store, I couldnt take my spigen tough armor any longer.
The heart rate monitor works (my tough armor didn't work, other had better luck). It fits with tempered glass screen protectors.
Its a tad hard to get off though, to change the battery out

Did they have the clear version?

No love for the Tech 21 case.

I have had a tech21 case for just about every phone both myself and my wife have had. Both of us are kind of clumbsy and we have never had a ding, or crack, or broken phone. Those little orange strips really work! Twice I even accidentally threw my phone and it went skipping on pavement about 15 feet (I was running while holding the phone and it hit my knee and went flying). Not a single scratch to the phone, although there were some good ones on the case. I'm waiting for the case to go to amazon at a much cheaper price since I don't get 25% off

Tech21 Classic Tactical
I have the same case, but in all black, so the orange strips don't show. Really snug fit. Waiting for my tempered glass screen to come. Will report if case interferes with screen protector. Does anyone else have a Tech21 case with wireless charging hooked up? Does it work thru this case?