[Review][Case] AGF Ballistic SG Case for ATT model - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777

Paid 22 shipped on ebay. It consists of a silicon case with a plastic shell that clamps over and covers the back.
*Pictures where I get home at 5 PM*
The fit is nice. The plastic shell clamps on tight enough that the silicone is all held very tightly in place. No wiggling around like standard silicone cases. The cutouts are all in the right locations for my ATT model. The buttons work well and seem fairly sturdy. Have to see how they hold up over time. Have not and do not plan to purposefully drop my phone but it seems as if the protection would be decent. It has thick rubber bumpers at all four corners. There is also a lip all the way around the face side that would protect the screen from hitting a flat surface. The only downside is it does increase the weight of the phone, some of its stock impact resistance is from its very light weight. My "opinion" is that the phone would be protected from impact but be subjected to higher Gs. Probably a net positive since in stock form landing on a corner would be bad.
As far as aesthetics and feel: The phone is quite a bit larger. I would say it roughly doubles the phones thickness and probably twice as heavy.
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I had that case, (bought it at AT&T when I got the phone) in the end it was too thick, I kept taking it off because it wouldn't fit in my pockets comfortably. In the end, I went with the Case-Mate Pop. Similar protection, yet doesn't have the bumpers. In my opinion, the bumpers made the case way too big.
oic0 said:
Paid 22 shipped on ebay. It consists of a silicon case with a plastic shell that clamps over and covers the back.
*Pictures where I get home at 5 PM*
The fit is nice. The plastic shell clamps on tight enough that the silicone is all held very tightly in place. No wiggling around like standard silicone cases. The cutouts are all in the right locations for my ATT model. The buttons work well and seem fairly sturdy. Have to see how they hold up over time. Have not and do not plan to purposefully drop my phone but it seems as if the protection would be decent. It has thick rubber bumpers at all four corners. There is also a lip all the way around the face side that would protect the screen from hitting a flat surface. The only downside is it does increase the weight of the phone, some of its stock impact resistance is from its very light weight. My "opinion" is that the phone would be protected from impact but be subjected to higher Gs. Probably a net positive since in stock form landing on a corner would be bad.
As far as aesthetics and feel: The phone is quite a bit larger. I would say it roughly doubles the phones thickness and probably twice as heavy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I just got my Ballistic SG for the SGS2 yesterday (Black/Blue)... good price ($20.20 shipped eBay... and now I see it for $18.99 shipped). You're either going to love this case or hate it, depending on your phone use/ protection objectives. Pros: fit is exceptional, covered buttons actually have a better feel than bare.. very responsive, easy to press. The soft inner shell fits tight once the outer hard shell is put on... so edges are nicely raised over the screen (and camera) with no annoying flappy play (like some TPU cases). If your primary objective is protection, this is the case for you. With the slightly oversized bumper corners, seems like you could bounce this phone off the concert and it would rebound back up without incident. Also, the noise-cancellation mic (top of phone next to jack) is not covered as the case has a perfect cutout for mic and jack. Cons: as OP states, it does add size and weight. Size to me is actually a bonus as I used to have an Infuse and this GS2 seemed small in my hand... now with case, size it perfect. Weight addition is noticeable; but I suspect over a few days use, it will become a non-issue.

Added pics

Love this case but..... Great protection, looks good, no covered holes, buttons easy to push. The thing that is driving me bonkers isn't the additional size this case packs on, it's the type of rubber used for the wrap. It's a 'sticky' rubber and pulls my pocket out with it on all my pants. Wish it were a more smooth, slicker rubber that would slide out of my pants better (Thats what she said, right?)

I have had it since day one, love it, a few good drops, the kids.....phone still looks like it is brand new, and the case has a life time warranty. I'm happy
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App

I have the black/blue one. I just love it. It fits awesome, no flimsy corners or so.

My case of choice for my past 2 devices. Dropped the phone a few times and the bumpers bounced it back up. Still looking good as new. Does add some extra weight but it to me it makes the phone feel much better in my hands.

i like this case..but........rather get a otterbox for 5 bucks more

Picked it up the att store, returned it no less than 20 minutes. They Guy gave some some crazy eyes doing it. Picked up the case mate pop black case. Overall happy so far, gonna use this until I decide what to do. May get the commuter still. If the SG did not have those stupid bumpers I would have kept it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium

fantomsingh said:
i like this case..but........rather get a otterbox for 5 bucks more
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why?
10char

I actually bought the commuter case on Amazon for 23 bucks free shipping. The commuter covers more of the front screen than the pop case mate. I paid 38 Buck for this case at att so cheaper pricing is better. Otterbox will also send replacement silicon wraps if you complain about looseness or case seating problems. Different strokes for different folks I always say. No screen protector though, gorilla glass has never scratched on me.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium

Related

Body Glove Red Case

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up. This case is awesome. I first wanted one when I got my Skullcandy case for my iPod touch and have been waiting for one built for an Android phone since. I like the case because it doesnt fall apart like other hard cases when its dropped. It slides together with the small black bottom piece and stays together. I found it pretty cheap on eBay and would highly recommend it. Matches the phone colors perfect with the deep red.
http://www.bodyglovemobile.com/product/htc-rezound-icon-case-red-flat-back-no-clip,339,19.htm
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Nice! Thanks for the heads up. How difficult is the case to get off incase you need to do a battery pull?
just ordered one in red. i was stuck between the commuter case and this icon case. for 8 bucks shipped. why not?! thanks
Pretty easy. It fits snug because of the felt lining inside the case but it's easier than one of those hard jelly cases
Cool, thanks!
@quikfinger00 is this the auction you bought from? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Body-Glove-HTC-Rezound-Icon-Case-Red-Flat-Back-Free-Shipping-9248201-/120840910311?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item1c22adf5e7#ht_918wt_1141
+1. This case is awesome. I've had it for a month. Last I checked, Amazon also had it for a decent price. (Not as cheap as eBay though)
...Sent from my Tab
Yup! Surely is ill let you guys know how it is when I receive it in the mail
Sent from my HTC Rezound
thanks 06stang and quikfinger00. I just bought one off ebay as well. I also have the commuter so I'll let you guys know what I think about the differences once it comes in!
Hey fellas. My case came in yesterday! this case surpassed my expectations. The red color is more of a dark metallic color and actually looks pretty beastly. All my prior phones (blackberries, voyager, incredible, DROID x, thunderbolt, gnex have had black cases but I really have to say that the color on this case is the shnit. I love the soft rubber feel and like the nice lip around the screen. Thin enough to keep the phone thin but thick enough to keep the phone safe in case of drops to the face. The interior has a quality feel (soft velour) to it and the phones fits snugly in the case. The case is also easy to connect together and remove for easy battery swaps. I have a otterbox commuter case coming in as well but I think I'll be keeping this one on more often except for when I need added protection or a more professional look for business meetings, etc, etc. I'll post pics tomorrow and will post back about my quick thoughts for the commuter case..
Sent from my HTC Rezound
Hey guys, so I've been using the body glove case for a couple days now. I definitely like the slimmer form factor compared to the commuter.
Pros: Definitely slimmer then the commuter.
It fits and covers the phone nicely so you see the whole screen (the commuter covers about half the htc logo).
Quick to get off in case you need to pull the battery.
Appears to be pretty sturdy and has a really snug fit.
Has a little bit of a less slippery back since its very lightly textured.
Has openings for the mics and what not where the commuter covers some of them
Colors and look is sweet.
Cons:
It doesnt have any internal padding on the sides so I dont know how well it would protect the phone from a hard drop if it landed anywhere besides on its back.
The back is still kind of slippery, but a little less then the commuter feels imo.
So far I like it and will probably only use the commuter at times if I know im going to be doing something that its more prone to getting dropped liked going out to the bars.
Hope this helps anybody thats been kindof iffy on whether or not to buy
PaulQ602 said:
+1. This case is awesome. I've had it for a month. Last I checked, Amazon also had it for a decent price. (Not as cheap as eBay though)
...Sent from my Tab
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any paint chipping off? Considering the gray/black one.
Theres a tiny bit of paint chipping where the two pieces meet. It also seems like theres a bit of metal underneath that paint. Maybe its just chrome plastic. This case looks to be of much better quality then previous cases made by body glove
Sent from my HTC Rezound
Had the case since the beginning of January and it's looking fantastic. No drops but lots of sliding around on tables and banging around a car shop.
I bit on this case because of this thread, just got it in.
it is light years beyond the oem htc plastic case from verizon with the red back/htc logo...
this case is the bees knees for me so far... love it.
I have this case also...
Along with a Seidio Active case...
The Body Glove does fit very snug on the ReZound...
Question I have is, has anyone had an issue with the case scratching the gloss edges of the phone?
I had this issue with my Dinc and a Seidio case.
Lego
ya, i've had the body glove case put some small scratches on the 'chrome edge' of the device... nothing i can't forget about, but it's definitely noticeable.
Just dropped it for the first time while walking the dog. Ouch...
Pretty much killed the top edge of the case. Bummer
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201
I've had mine for a few months now, It's still in descent shape, had a few falls. It fits great, and looks good. I use it in combo w/ the zagg shield.
It did scratch the chrome around the edge of the phone, but nothing to terrible.
overall a great case.
I just purchased this. I've been looking for a decent case. I did like the Body Glove when I had it on my Original Droid, although it was a poor design because of the Droid's slide-out keyboard, but I still liked the feel of it. Looking forward to this. I should get it by the end of this week coming up.
I really like this case. Definitely better than the hard rubber one from Verizon.

Case feed back

I'm looking for some ideas on cases for the sgs2, just ordered mine yesterday and should be here sometime next week so I'm wanting to shop around for a decent case that gives great protection and not much bulk. Right now on my captivate I run an otterbox commuter case that I really love, bit not entirely sure on the commuter design for the sgs2. So any feed back on the different cases that everyone likes would be much appreciated.
Swyped from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
I wanted very, very little bulk since I normally don't even use a case. Ended up with this "semi rigid" case from Incipio.
http://www.myincipio.com/Samsung-Ga...-II-ATandT-NGP-Semi-Rigid-Soft-Shell-Case.asp
Looks pretty nice. Technically it's similar to a silicone case I guess, but it's so rigid that it's like a hard shell. 50/50
loving my otter box commuter (for the international). Sucks I may need to find a new one..have to order a new extended battery quick for sxsw...
SGP Neo Hybrid EX
I've tried a LOT of different cases, more than I'd like to admit. This is the one you want - light weight, protects well, has the best screen protector included, if you need one (I don't use it, but I don't put my phone in my pocket with keys). It's also very durable - you won't need another case after this one.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005O50ON4
The one thing that you have to do is to make a hole in it, which isn't too difficult. Instructions are in this thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1303949
The Acclude said:
loving my otter box commuter (for the international). Sucks I may need to find a new one..have to order a new extended battery quick for sxsw...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same on the commuter, not sure why people need a new battery I get 15-20 hours with heavy use and a 3-4 hour screen time. I use Entropy's Daily and setCPU to underclock when screen is locked.. On a low use day I can go 24 hours+
I love the commuter for i777. Great case, adds very little bulk. Does add some weight but it's not bad at all. Already saved from a few drops haha. Everything is easily accessible too. I love it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
Gives me some insight on some cases
my only real concern for the otterbox was how the hard shell doesn't cover the corners of the phone with the hard shell part of it, I love the commuter case i got on my cappy but theres been a few times that i dropped it and it landed on one of those corners. zhow thick is the silicon on the corners on the SGS2 commuter?
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from this picture of the cases doesnt look to protected on the corners of it
Koizuma said:
Gives me some insight on some cases
my only real concern for the otterbox was how the hard shell doesn't cover the corners of the phone with the hard shell part of it, I love the commuter case i got on my cappy but theres been a few times that i dropped it and it landed on one of those corners. zhow thick is the silicon on the corners on the SGS2 commuter?
from this picture of the cases doesnt look to protected on the corners of it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's pretty thick and it feels incredibly solid, I have dropped it many times without issues..
Same here. My commuter has performed very well.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
The corners are pretty thick. They're flush with the plastic part on mine. And the silicon protrudes past the screen so it shouldn't ever land on the screen.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
I have an incipio ngp (power button too hard to press), a ringke slim, and a matte smoke from diztronic. The smoke is my favorite and has cutouts for everything including the power button.
Not loving the Otterbox
So, I've had the Otterbox Commuter for at least a month and there are a few things that are not great about it (to the point that I'm beginning to look for a new case):
It gets very "linty" when in your pocket (such that I remove the case when I travel on business)
The rubber is very soft and pliable; to the point of pulling loose when removing the phone from my pocket
There is no rubber on the back, so it slides when on a desk or dashboard
I'm sure these points are just me being picky
TreborRis said:
So, I've had the Otterbox Commuter for at least a month and there are a few things that are not great about it (to the point that I'm beginning to look for a new case):
It gets very "linty" when in your pocket (such that I remove the case when I travel on business)
The rubber is very soft and pliable; to the point of pulling loose when removing the phone from my pocket
There is no rubber on the back, so it slides when on a desk or dashboard
I'm sure these points are just me being picky
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The lint is pretty annoying I agree, I like the case a lot but it gets to be ridiculous sometimes. I already have a case in mind if I were to get another
Sent from my SGH-I777 using XDA App
I love my Rearth case. Follows the contours of the phone well, low profile, everything's accessible, and slides into my pocket easily.
thanks for the input guys, i did a bit of research and after playing around with the case that came with the phone and its material was like the incipio ngp but had a hard plastic backing with a little stand thing that snaps in and out. Iended up ordering a incipio ngp in black.
Normally i would of went for the otterbox, but on my captivate the rubber shell was stretching out and i didnt have it all that long.
I'm using the ballistic case. Its nice and thin I never liked the otter box when I had my iphone so this is perfect
I Using a TPU case and I love the material its made from. Very thin and sturdy!
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
SGP
After numerous hours of reading the forums and reviews on-line, I just ordered the SGP Neo Hybrid EX Series (Satin Silver) from Amazon. It looks like a good case that provides some protection but keeps the slim feel of the phone, the battery cover remains exposed for ease of access and it comes with a decent screen protector from what I've read. I know I'll have to modify the top of the case in order to create a hole for the noise-canceling mic since the case was made for the international version. Hopefully the hot nail/needle trick works.
I'm using the casemate with the plastic shell and rubber insert. I wish the plastic shell also covered the top and bottom, but it doesn't. This leaves the rubber insert to bend freely and sometimes rub against clothing and such. Just a minor inconvenience.
afk47 said:
I'm using the casemate with the plastic shell and rubber insert. I wish the plastic shell also covered the top and bottom, but it doesn't. This leaves the rubber insert to bend freely and sometimes rub against clothing and such. Just a minor inconvenience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same case which is the case mate pop case. So far its been the best that I have tried. I've had it since I got my phone in October and the only thing I don't like is how it is starting to stretch a bit near the volume rocker and power button areas. It has the right amount of protection and isn't too big.

My Seidio Surface came in today. Pictures/impressions inside.

I received the Seidio Suface case with holster this morning and have put it through enough torture to come up with some initial impressions. The case fits the phone tightly which feels nice and secure, and the cutouts on the sides are all placed perfectly. The case has a soft-touch coating that feels really nice, but can make the phone somewhat slippery. I am cursed with oily skin and that shows up pretty easily on the case.
Here's what I'm liking:
- Overall fit and cutout placement are spot on. The cutout for the headphones leaves enough room for somewhat over sized cables. The cutout for the S Pen does not make the S Pen more difficult to remove.
- Kickstand works well. It is held in place by a magnet, but the magnet is not strong enough to cause interference with the S Pen.
- The case also does not interfere with NFC
- The holser is well made, and it has fabric to protect the screen of the phone when it is holstered. (velvet maybe?)
Here's what I am not liking:
- The case absorbs the oil from my hands and looks greasy after a few minutes use. (This of course can be wiped off)
- The holster is not reversible like I was hoping it was. The phone can only be inserted with the face covered by the holster.
Other than that, there isn't a whole lot to say. It is a decent case that looks like it will do its job fairly well. Here are some pictures:
agent4678 said:
I received the Seidio Suface case with holster this morning and have put it through enough torture to come up with some initial impressions. The case fits the phone tightly which feels nice and secure, and the cutouts on the sides are all placed perfectly. The case has a soft-touch coating that feels really nice, but can make the phone somewhat slippery. I am cursed with oily skin and that shows up pretty easily on the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a Seidio holster, way back, on my G1. Loved that case. I am waiting for the Seidio Active w/ Holster.
Does the holster have the lower lip on the clip to keep it from sliding off the belt, like the old G1 holster?
Breach said:
I had a Seidio holster, way back, on my G1. Loved that case. I am waiting for the Seidio Active w/ Holster.
Does the holster have the lower lip on the clip to keep it from sliding off the belt, like the old G1 holster?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a better picture of the clip. Hope this helps.
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agent4678 said:
Here is a better picture of the clip. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Thank you. That lip at the bottom of the clip helps keep the holster from slipping off your belt or lip of your pocket.
Thanks
agent4678 said:
Here is a better picture of the clip. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this case for the Note 2. I was able to recommend it to a friend. Very good case. Especially if you're an active user. The holster rotates and the spring is very strong. Survived 1 or 2 drops on concrete. Easy to take off to pull/replace battery or SD/SIM card. So where's a purchase link?
Nihonno said:
I had this case for the Note 2. I was able to recommend it to a friend. Very good case. Especially if you're an active user. The holster rotates and the spring is very strong. Survived 1 or 2 drops on concrete. Easy to take off to pull/replace battery or SD/SIM card. So where's a purchase link?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks great. I wish they would hurry up and release the Seidio Active.
agent4678 said:
I received the Seidio Suface case with holster this morning and have put it through enough torture to come up with some initial impressions. The case fits the phone tightly which feels nice and secure, and the cutouts on the sides are all placed perfectly. The case has a soft-touch coating that feels really nice, but can make the phone somewhat slippery. I am cursed with oily skin and that shows up pretty easily on the case.
Here's what I'm liking:
- Overall fit and cutout placement are spot on. The cutout for the headphones leaves enough room for somewhat over sized cables. The cutout for the S Pen does not make the S Pen more difficult to remove.
- Kickstand works well. It is held in place by a magnet, but the magnet is not strong enough to cause interference with the S Pen.
- The case also does not interfere with NFC
- The holser is well made, and it has fabric to protect the screen of the phone when it is holstered. (velvet maybe?)
Here's what I am not liking:
- The case absorbs the oil from my hands and looks greasy after a few minutes use. (This of course can be wiped off)
- The holster is not reversible like I was hoping it was. The phone can only be inserted with the face covered by the holster.
Other than that, there isn't a whole lot to say. It is a decent case that looks like it will do its job fairly well. Here are some pictures:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice!!! Mine is on its way! have one on my og evo4g and its never failed me!
I have the Platinum version of this case which I don't know why it's called platinum because it is made by Seidio in the first place. Just like the Platinum batteries. I think it's a best buy exclusive which is where I purchased mine from.
Sent from my SM-N900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
this case slide in and out of pocket with no problem or is their some gripping? also is this case going to provide "armor" against small drops...... i'm considering rocking this phone with no case considering i have insurance on the phone... but a kickstand would be nice along with good protection... want as slim as possible.. no extra bulk.. obviously i mean as little as possible.. is the seido the only thing that looks like decent quality that has a kick stand? been staring down some spigens too... i know, no kickstand... but curious if it offers better protection..... the bounce looks like the slickest on the spigen side but not sure if its worth its weight.. all though it has great reviews on amazon
loopers said:
this case slide in and out of pocket with no problem or is their some gripping? also is this case going to provide "armor" against small drops...... i'm considering rocking this phone with no case considering i have insurance on the phone... but a kickstand would be nice along with good protection... want as slim as possible.. no extra bulk.. obviously i mean as little as possible.. is the seido the only thing that looks like decent quality that has a kick stand? been staring down some spigens too... i know, no kickstand... but curious if it offers better protection..... the bounce looks like the slickest on the spigen side but not sure if its worth its weight.. all though it has great reviews on amazon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm 6'2, 245lbs so maybe my pockets are a little bigger than some, but the case does not make it harder at all to take out of your pocket. I have not dropped the phone, but I can say that it is a hard case without any extra "cushion" that some of the 2-3 piece cases have. One thing that is nice is that when you lay the phone down on its face, it is not resting on the display. The kickstand definitely comes in handy with this phone because the screen is great for movies and games.

"Ultra Slim" Aluminum Case Review

New owner of a Note 3 but long-time lurker of XDA!
Noticed not too many users using aluminum/metal cases so I figured I'd give them a whirl~
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I decided to review this specific case because it's literally everywhere on ebay and seems to be the most popular aluminum case for the Note 3 currently.​
1) What I received in the mail
Packaging was incredibly simple.
Here is what I received(This may vary depending on where and whom you buy yours from),
-Aluminum case enclosed in bubblewrap
-Keychain/Mini screwdriver(one side is flat head while the other is a philips screwdriver head)
-Mini bag with spare screws(Not pictured)
2) The Weight.
Weighed my Note 3 first to find it weighing at a paltry 6.05 oz.
After applying the aluminum casing, I found the weight to increase roughly 22%(From 6.05 oz to 7.35 oz)
Being that this is my first case for the Note 3, I'm unsure if the increase in weight is typical for most cases or abnormal.
3) Build Quality.
The casing actually feels very sturdy and tough in the hand despite it's thinness. This case is a SCREW-ON case.
There are rubberized strips inside the bumper to absorb any impact and the back panel actually replaces the stock back panel of the Note 3 to truly reduce bulk size.
But for some strange reason, after installing the case, I felt almost afraid of ever dropping my phone. Although the aluminum is thick and sturdy, I just didn't feel entirely safe holding it in my hand.
The buttons feel great! I actually prefer pushing the casing's buttons rather than the stock buttons.
All the cutouts are very accurate and easily accessible EXCEPT for the headphone jack.
You will NOT be able to use any 3.5mm right-angled cables with this case on!
This wasn't a dealbreaker for me because I never use my phone as my mp3 player.
As expected from anything made out of brushed aluminum, there is no grip to this case. If you are a butterfinger, stay far away from this case.
WARNING: the cutout near the S-Pen is just a tad bit sharp so please be careful when handling!
4) Aesthetics.
I must admit, I've gotten quite a bit of compliments after putting on this case!
It looks quite luxurious but the only downside is the obnoxious Engrish on the back of the casing. The logo almost looks like XXX or something and the description underneath is incredibly redundant(Seriously, it literally says "mobile phone metal frame cover mobile phone set Note 3").
The buttons remind me too much of the iPhone(especially the round volume controls). They look obnoxious on my Note 3 but atleast they work :/
For those who dislike reading long blocks of text,
Pros
-Looks luxurious and expensive
-Wifi is NOT affected by the aluminum casing (Download/Upload speeds were the same with and without the case)
-Buttons feel very good
-Cutouts are very accurate
-Phone does not move around in case due to the screws
-Pretty damn slim for a aluminum case. Does not add much bulk at all
-The added weight is not too large. This may not be a Pro for some.
-Compatible with most if not all screen protectors(I am using an iloome Screenmate Flex Tempered Glass Protector)
Cons
-Weird Engrish writing on the back(There are also blank versions of this case available on the internet!)
-3.5mm right-angled cables do NOT work on this case
-God damn slippery
-Feels somewhat unsafe to drop despite the robustness of the casing. This may not feel the same for other users.
-Gets cold when left untouched
-Sharp corners around S-Pen
-Screws are incredibly small and ridiculously easy to lose if not careful
More pictures!
Biggest complaint I've seen on this type of case is drastic decrease in signal.
Do you have anything to report in regards to signal?
Sent from my SM-N900V
I have this case in grey/silver and I did indeed notice some signal degradation in areas with weak signal. For this reason, I had to switch to a diztronic case. Otherwise this is a beautiful case - though makes the phone look a little thicker from the side view.
blaine07 said:
Biggest complaint I've seen on this type of case is drastic decrease in signal.
Do you have anything to report in regards to signal?
Sent from my SM-N900V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's odd.. I have yet to notice any decrease in signal with this case on. Perhaps this may vary depending on the user's location.
Most if not all aluminum cases cause signal drop. Sometimes it can be drastic and sometimes it can be very minimum. Every case I've owned that's metal is like that. Doesn't matter if it's cheap or expensive.
screws
I lost the screws and do not know where to find new ones, or what kind of screws they are? Can you help me?
I bought one of these cases. While it looks and feels great, i have to agree. It is crazy slippery. Like, really.
Also, more issues i had with it, is that I had practically no GPS signal, neither could I use the NFC. That's a pity, as I got numerous compliments about the case, and I would really like to use it full time. But alas, I am back to my slim fit carbon fiber case.
Can't you apply strategically placed strips of see through plastic armor to make it more grippy?
Does it provide any protection?
Sent from my SM-N9005
Good looking case ruined by their logo.
The case looks very nice - it's a shame the logo and decrease in reception mess it up.

Tudia Merge case first impressions

Hey everyone, haven't done a review of anything in forever but I just had to take some photos and get my first impressions out for the Tudia Merge since for the Razor Phone 2 our case options thus far have been limited mostly to the OEM case which have been getting some mixed reviews. This review is NOT sponsored, I bought this myself. At the discounted price they were offering pre-release through a coupon code on reddit it was a no-brainer to try out considering the cost and availability of the OEM options.
The Tudia Merge is a two piece case, made with what seems to be a slightly thinner TPU material with a polycarbonate plate. Anyone familiar with Seidio and Spigen will immediately recognize this kind of construction. Compared to my Seidio Dilex that I had for my U11, i would say the TPU material is a little more rigid and with a more paper-like texture. It is more matte but picks up less of my greasy fingerprints. Being a two piece case means that you can keep your skin on the phone for when you wanna still have some abrasion protection should you want to run without the case at any point. The polycarbonate plate has a matte soft touch finish to it. I generally hate soft touch black matte because it has a tendency to show grease marks. I put this up on my forehead (gross), and it didn't automatically turn in to a freshly detailed black car. As a bonus to having a two piece construction like this, the annoying peeling sound from the stock glass back when you push down on it is gone since you can't push down on the back anymore...not exactly a fix for the problem in the first place but its a good side effect nonetheless. My generic wireless charger still works through the entire case.
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Aside from the two angled bands at the bottom and some debossed branding, the back of the case is without much flair, and maintains the slab profile of the phone. There are cutouts for both the camera and the RGB snakes on the back. Personally I would have loved to somehow have the RGB covered by clear polycarb but as recessed as it is I feel like the light will be adequately protected.
I was hoping the front would move in towards the screen more as we do have some significant screen bezel on the side which could be used for a more secure hold. The sides of the front should have no issues clearing most tempered glass screen protectors unless you have one that goes all the way to the edge of the glass. Because of the relatively shallow grab of the front, it is possible to peel the case off with the polycarb plate attached. I have had other cases where you could do that but they never fell out of the case in a drop.
Volume buttons are your standard raised pieces with tabs keeping them connected to the case. The tab sections are pretty robust and the buttons retain their clickiness, with the added benefit of having a slightly bigger footprint due to the shape. The bigger shape also makes it feel a bit more like a rocker switch to the touch.
Charging port is recessed quite a bit due to the case thickness. Tudia did make the opening bigger too accommodate all sorts of fat cable plug ends. It works with the stock cable of course but will also fit the more generic metal wrapped ends.
Power button is recessed with enough of a taper and a large enough cutout to not interfere with fingerprint sensor operation. It did take a slight bit of an adjustment on my part due to the fact that I have small hands so my normal grip when unlocking from picking the phone up is at a bit of an angle instead of fingertip dead on. If you can comfortably grip the phone and your fingers land perpendicular to the screen surface, it should not be much of an issue.
On my Spigen liquid crystal case for my U11 there are some cutouts on the corners where the phone does not actually make contact with the case. This is supposed to allow for better deflection of drop forces on the corner which should provide better protection by having less points of contact in the critical corners so more of the force makes it way though the case body instead of transferring to the phone. The Merge also looks to have this feature, whether it works I hope I never find out.
Overall I would say that at this price, first impressions are that it would probably do the job while maintaining the industrial aesthetics of the phone. Unfortunately I don't drop my phones very often nor am I going to drop my personal phone on purpose for a drop test so it might be awhile before there's any updates from me regarding the actual protective properties of this case for those of you that would depend on this to protect from daily drops. I will say that in comparison to many cases that I've owned from various brands, this case is probably about 80-90% what a Seidio two-piece non active or rugged case would be which should do the job for most people that aren't Ethan Hunt.
Excellent informative review! I really appreciated your breadth of coverage and greatly appreciated the photos you took. Thank you!
I also have the exact same case, like it so far. Hope I never get to "test it out" by dropping it... Does exactly like the OP says it does. Feels nice in the hands, takes the sharpness off the squared edges of the phone, puts my mind at ease. I'm no longer afraid to set it down anywhere anymore. I would recommend it
Is it bulkier then Spigen air cushion case?
I've had this case for about a month, but mine is grey. I'm not pleased... The back I'd super easy to scratch, and quite ugly.

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