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Part I
Hey guys, recently I was contacted by Seidio and given a chance to review their Convert combo for the EVO 3D. They sent out the case last week, and I received it on Monday, June 27th. I've been playing around with it, and here are my findings.
Packaging:
It came in a little box delivered by Fedex. There was the case/holster in its packaging, a little card advertising some of their products, with a 10% off code for your next purchase on the back.
The plastic container contains a plastic sleeve with one ultraclear screen protector, a Seidio Surface case for the EVO 3D, a rubber case to wrap outside of the Surface case, a plastic skeleton to go outside of the rubber case, and finally the plastic belt clip/holster.
You can see the pictures below:
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Preliminary Feel:
Before putting any of the products on, the individual parts feel ok. I checked the packaging and each part to make sure there wasn’t anything looking out of the ordinary, to make sure I didn’t receive a defective unit and that nothing was damaged during shipping. So far so good!
You can see all the pieces of the case here.
The Phone:
First things first, here’s my brand new EVO 3D, without any case or screen protectors. You can see the size, the thickness compared to my USB and keycap, as well as what the screen looks like without any screen protector on. The USB is a Patriot XPorter, and the keycap is a standard key from my Deck Legend keyboard.
Note the 3vo does not lie perfectly flat by itself.
Screen Protector:
As stated previously, it’s the ultra-clear variant (don’t know if Seidio sells any other kind), and it covers the entire screen and the capacitive buttons. You can read the details in the picture below. The packet contained the screen protector, a microfiber cloth, and a little application card, which is just a small piece of cardboard with straight edges.
It took me about 5 minutes to apply the screen protector. I found it easiest to line up the upper edge with the top of the screen, and then slowly press down the screen protector by bending it. At somewhere past the midpoint of the screen, it’ll become hard to hold on to the screen protector without shifting it. At this point I simply let go and let it fall on the screen. If you’ve lined up the top right, it’ll fall on the screen perfectly, and there shouldn’t be any air bubbles. Then use the application card to scrape out any air bubbles if necessary.
The screen protector itself works very well. I cannot tell the difference between before and after putting it on with the screen on or off. This is indoors though, I haven’t gotten a chance to look at it outdoors and see if it does remove some of the glare. I took 3 pictures of the phone w/o the screen protector, and 3 pictures of the phone with it on and you can see them below. The screen protector also feels very good and slick. It doesn’t feel quite as good as the bare screen that’s clean, but definitely better than that bare screen that’s full of fingerprints. The screen protector is also much better at resisting smudges and fingerprints, so you don’t have to wipe it every 5 minutes.
No screen protector:
With screen protector:
Note: the phone was on max brightness for all of these pictures
Seido Surface Case:
The Surface case is made of plastic and comes in 2 pieces. The top and bottom pieces both slide on to the phone and connect by a little piece of latch on the bottom half of the case. The case feels sturdy, and the outside texture is that of smooth rubber but not slick like hard plastic. So it’s not too grippy, but not so slippery that it slides out of your hand. The inside of the case is lined with a felt like material, so it will not scratch the phone.
Before I put the case on the phone, I tried putting both pieces together by themselves and was surprised to find that the resulting case was very loose; It barely stayed together. But once I put the case on the phone, the result was very sturdy and both pieces stayed on tight. That’s just how it was designed, so don’t worry if you piece the case together w/o the phone and it feels like it’s going to fall apart
Once on the phone, the case is very form fitting, and does not add much bulk. The case raises the phone just enough on the front so that the screen is barely off the surface and just enough on the back so that the camera will not make contact with a level surface.
Seidio also left just enough space around the camera ring so that you could still see the red paint and that the speaker is not blocked. Very good attention to detail The case did not block any ports/buttons, and I still found all of the buttons easy to press. If I had to nitpick, it blocks part of the 2D/3D label on the phone, but you can still kinda read it. This would make a nice slim case to carry in the pocket. Although one concern I do have that I did not get to test is whether this makes the phone significantly hotter due to the felt like material on the inside of the case.
I don't know what this little hole is for, but Seidio has made a cutout on it on their case, so the attention to detail is awesome.
Part 2
Rubber case/Plastic exoskeleton:
Going on the outside of the Surface case is a rubber wrap-around case to protect the phone from scratches and absorb shock from falls. I didn’t test shock absorbency because I didn’t want to chuck my new phone at the wall , but the rubber feels thick and bouncy, and I feel the plastic skeleton gives a good amount of rigidity to the case. With the rubber case and plastic exoskeleton and the screen protector, the only parts of the phone exposed is the 2D/3D switch and the earpiece and front facing camera on top. Overall, I feel it protects the phone well and it feels solid in the hand, though it does add a good amount of bulk to the phone.
The rubber case covers every switch and port except for the 2D/3D toggle. There are bumps over the power, camera, and volume buttons so they are easy to find by feel. One of the common complaints for the EVO 3D is that the power button is too easy to press, and the volume buttons are too difficult to press. Surprisingly, the rubber case makes the power button harder to press than normal, and the volume rockers easier to depress. I think this is because the power button is located on the left top corner, near the column from the plastic exoskeleton, so that there’s extra stiffness at that part. The rubber over the volume rockers on the other hand, makes the volume buttons more protruded and easier to press. The camera button feels the same, and neither it nor the 2D/3D toggle jiggles anymore. And finally the camera cover pulls back and the little knob on it fits into hole on the back of the plastic exoskeleton, so it holds that piece in place when you're taking a picture.
Belt Clip/Holster:
The holster is kind of like the bottom half of the Surface case, but bigger and the back extends to the whole length of the phone. There is a spring tensioned clip at the top of the holster that holds the phone, which goes in the holster with the screen facing inside. The inside of the holster is again lined with a felt like material, so your screen won’t be damaged (it doesn’t touch the screen anyways). The clip on top has a recessed face so you don’t have to manually push it back with your finger when putting the phone into the holster. Just dock the bottom of the phone into the bottom of the holster, and push the top of the phone into the clip. The slanted shape of the clip and the slanted shape of the rubber case will allow the phone to simply clip into the holster. To take the phone out, you’ll need to push back the clip and pull the phone out from the top.
There’s another larger clip on the back of the holster to clip unto your belt. In the vertical position (parallel with the length of the case), there’s a bit of wiggle, but it goes away in the horizontal position (perpendicular to the length of the case). There’s also a little hook at the end of the belt clip, which prevents the holster from falling off if you’re running or jumping. It’s a nice detail to see, but it means you’ll probably have to use both hands to remove the holster. And another nitpick here, the sticker on the top clip was misaligned I know it means absolutely nothing about the case, but it drove me nuts and I promptly removed it haha.
I think the holster is meant to be put on w/ the belt clip in the vertical position, and then worn during the day w/ the phone turned in the horizontal position. That way the phone doesn’t brush against your body and it’s super easy to remove and put back into the holster. The only thing I would say is it’s easy to press the volume buttons and turn on the screen, but you would have to take the phone out of the holster to press the power button and turn the screen off again. Nothing hugely annoying, and it only happens if you’re playing with the phone while it’s in the holster.
^You have no idea how hard it was to take this picture haha
Conclusion:
Overall I would say the Seidio Convert combo is a great product, the included Surface case and screen protector makes for a great slim case to carry around in the pocket, and the outside rubber case and plastic exoskeleton combo provides good protection if you don’t mind the bulk. Finally the holster is easy to use and great for someone who wants to carry their phone on the belt clip instead of in their pocket. I hope this has been helpful, and please feel free to ask me questions about the case.
And yes, you can use the belt clip as a kickstand
Nice review man waiting on ballistic to pump a case out or the kraken 2 I am on using the otter defender . Liked the camera ports more on it. Good review tho man pics too.
I have the same case for my E4G. Writes great and never hear an issue. I eventually went with the Ballistic HC once it was released, love it. I compared this case and the Defender at Best Buy yesterday. Bought the Defender since it covers the cameras (I gotta have the extra protection for work). I know the Seidio has the flap that covers the cameras, but it is huge and would get annoying to me to have to fold it back to take a pic(got old with me Evo4G), and as big as the flap is I bet it will not stay on the case for a long time. Once Ballistic releases their HC case, I'm jumping in it! Today I bought a HTC black silicone case for the evenings and weekends, i liked it better than the Otterbox Impact. The Impact slid off the bottom of the phone way to easy....
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
Nice Review
I own an otterbox but I just got to say.. Thanks for a great review! Lots of awesome pics and info. I appreciate people who take the time to do this type of thing!!
great review----its nice to see such detailed images before spending money
Were you coached/compensated for this review or for your time? Just curious. Thorough review though!
sshark said:
Were you coached/compensated for this review or for your time? Just curious. Thorough review though!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He stated in the first few sentences that Seidio gave him the case to review...
Nice review thanks
sshark said:
Were you coached/compensated for this review or for your time? Just curious. Thorough review though!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got to keep the case they gave me, that's all. They requested that I give them a quick description of the item when I got it (to prevent dmg in shipping I suppose), and let them see the review before I posted it.
Overall I like the combo case. It works well as a belt clip holder, and the Active case feels like a tank. Flipping back the camera cover can get annoying sometimes, but I don't see it falling off anytime soon.
Otherwise I've just been using the Surface case and carrying it in my pocket. Though the included screen protector is nice, since I've already gotten bits and pieces of dirt on it here and there, and I definitely prefer to wiping it off of my screen protector than my screen.
ebolamonkey3 said:
I got to keep the case they gave me, that's all. They requested that I give them a quick description of the item when I got it (to prevent dmg in shipping I suppose), and let them see the review before I posted it.
Overall I like the combo case. It works well as a belt clip holder, and the Active case feels like a tank. Flipping back the camera cover can get annoying sometimes, but I don't see it falling off anytime soon.
Otherwise I've just been using the Surface case and carrying it in my pocket. Though the included screen protector is nice, since I've already gotten bits and pieces of dirt on it here and there, and I definitely prefer to wiping it off of my screen protector than my screen.
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Thanks for being upfront ...I am sure with this thoroughness, you can make good living. :d
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
Lucky you lol. Been dicking with the Otterbox waiting on ballistic
I’ve had my Seidio Surface case with kickstand for several weeks now and finally gotten around to writing about it. I think it’s a great alternative for cases with kickstand. For the most part, I do like the case. It adds a little bulk to it compared to lets say a TPU case or 2 piece (front & back) case because the back is thicker by maybe 1mm which add more rigidity to the case. Width and height wise it’s the same as my argyl TPU and 2 piece case.
The unit comes in 2 pieces. Top and bottom. You cant tell from image 1 but the entire inside back portion has a thin felt material which is great for preventing any scratches to the back or camera when you are sliding the case over the phone. Also the rest of the inner case has a soft touch paint coating similar to the outside of it. It feels almost the same as the Evo 3d back cover but with more grip to it. There is a slight bulge on the bottom where the kickstand resides (see image 8) so when you have the phone laying down on its back the phone will not be leveled which is barely noticeable. This wasn’t an issue for me and kind of prefer it since it allows the sound to be louder when listening to music because of the speaker not being completely flushed on a flat surface. Also since the back is thicker than a normal TPU or 2 piece case it makes the camera lens recessed quite a bit and will never touch any flat surface you put the phone on. Now the lens are exposed so be careful when putting the phone in your pocket and make sure you don’t mix it with your keys, coins, etc. That’s really just common sense there.
Image 1
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Once you piece the 2 together they just snap via a ¾ inch tab that protrudes on the upper half of the bottom case to match the same inverted groove on the upper half. I didn’t get a change to get a close up picture of it but I will post later once I do. The case slides easily together and it’s a firm fit. On the other hand my 2 piece ebay case once together is not so snug which makes it more susceptible to dust and dirt getting inside the case which you get enough of will eventually act like sand paper and will scratch your phone. So +1 on Seidio for making a great fit. The only thing I did find is that the recessed slit on the bottom part of the top piece does stick out some and may touch the camera lens when putting on or removing the top piece. I took a blade and shaved it down and it didn’t affect the locking of the 2 pieces. See image 2.
Image 2
Now to remove the case, this is the trick to it. Put the phone on a table face down. Press the sides of the bottom of the top piece and at the same time press down on the center top portion of the bottom piece. Now pull the case apart. Once you get the gist of it you can do it easily without putting it on a table. If you don’t do it this way the case is very hard to pull apart. There is also a small instruction sheet (Image 3) with images inside the box on how to do this.
Image 3
This is how the case looks when it is standing on the kickstand.
Image 4
Rear view
Image 5
Upside down
Image 6
When you prop the kickstand it will seem like it won’t go out far enough and the phone will sit too vertical. Just pull on the kickstand a bit more and you will hear it click (it may sound like something braking but don’t worry). I was scared to do this at first thinking I would break it but once it made the loud click a left it at that and it propped at a better angle as shown in image 4. Putting the kickstand back also made a loud click. But after a few times doing this the clicking wasn’t so loud any more.
As far as cutouts they are cut perfectly for the camera lens, camera button/ 3d switch, volume, mic, headset jack, power buttons, and charging port. Again the back is thicker so the camera lens is more recessed so you’d be ok putting the phone on a flat surface. Same goes for the front. The edges around the screen is raised so putting the phone down on a flat surface is also safe.
Image 7
Image 8. You can see how recessed the camera lens is here.
Image 9
Durability wise I think the case is pretty durable due to its slight thickness. I really think the case will absorb most of the impact if it ever gets dropped.
The matte look is awesome and has some grip to it so I don’t feel it will ever slip off my hands.
Now for what I thought they could improve on: The front bezel I wished where a bit thinner since the sides do cover about 1mm of the glass but not really noticeable but I’m just picky about that kind of stuff. My other 2 piece case and the TPU case fits the black metal bezel of the phone perfectly and is not covering any part of the glass. And I did wish it was slightly thinner but that might make it feel flimsy. The other drawback which doesn’t really bother me that much is that the charging port is covered when you are using the kickstand. I don’t really charge my phone since I have spare batteries I swap back and forth with everyday so I was ok with this design. If the kickstand was the other way around the issue with that is some apps don’t rotate 360 degrees so you would have to view things upside down.
So far after using it for over a month now the case is still in great condition. No scratches or peeling or finish rubbing off. It’s still a tight fit and still locks together as well as when it was new (even after my mod). It’s a great investment if you want good overall protection for your phone with the added feature of a kickstand which I use quite frequently when I watch a movie.
I wrote this pretty quickly so please don’t knock me on my grammar and if I made any incorrect spelling. I’m too lazy to proof read but if you have any questions about the case or my review let me know. BTW images taken by my Evo 4G =)
EDIT: Maintenance
For maintenance depending on usage but maybe once a week I would check around under the front lips that there isn't any dust or dirt which could potentially scratch the black metal bezel around the screen. Just use a wet cotton swap to clean the are shown below. Do this for the both pieces.
Good review, seems like a nice case.
Also you can use this case to prop the phone up in portrait mode and landscape mode
Awaiting Assimilation
Thanks for the review. I have the full convert extended kit from seidio but also wanted a case for when I want to use the stock battery. This sounds perfect for me.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
Very awesome review. One thing I'd point out is that with the kickstand, you can use it both ways. The logical way we use makes it so that you can't charge the phone. You can flip it though so you can charge it and still utilize the kickstand (my picture sucks, sorry for low quality).
bagelicious said:
Very awesome review. One thing I'd point out is that with the kickstand, you can use it both ways. The logical way we use makes it so that you can't charge the phone. You can flip it though so you can charge it and still utilize the kickstand (my picture sucks, sorry for low quality).
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Wow thanks for the tip. Just tried that and it works. It's not the best angle for viewing but non the less its an option. so thank you.
kratos313 said:
Also you can use this case to prop the phone up in portrait mode and landscape mode
Awaiting Assimilation
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Thanks I guess it does prop in portrait. The only drag is you cant charge in portrait or it will get too heavy on that side and fall sideways. But good to have options.
bagelicious said:
Very awesome review. One thing I'd point out is that with the kickstand, you can use it both ways. The logical way we use makes it so that you can't charge the phone. You can flip it though so you can charge it and still utilize the kickstand (my picture sucks, sorry for low quality).
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That's pretty cool! Guess that's made possible by the kickstand locking in the outward position, nice. All kickstand cases should be made capable of that. It would be nice if phone manufacturers would also incorporate that feature. Wouldn't be much extra work or materials either, just a couple small nubs on either side of the kickstand right before the most outward position ( I'm assuming that's how Seidio achieves this as well)
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
stanglifemike said:
That's pretty cool! Guess that's made possible by the kickstand locking in the outward position, nice. All kickstand cases should be made capable of that. It would be nice if phone manufacturers would also incorporate that feature. Wouldn't be much extra work or materials either, just a couple small nubs on either side of the kickstand at the most outward position ( I'm assuming that's how Seidio made it as well)
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
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I emailed Seidio and suggested they make the stand go out only about 45 degrees so viewing angle is same both ways. Also suggested they make it lock better when the stand is open. As it is now, it isn't as solid the other way around and if you push the top too much it'll fall back. I think maybe just incorporate a wire in the center of the stand that you can pull out and the top end of the wire rests inside the stand housing. Like this. Green line = wire.
For maintenance depending on usage but maybe once a week I would check around under the front lips that there isn't any dust or dirt which could potentially scratch the black metal bezel around the screen. Just use a wet cotton swab to clean the are shown below. Do this for the both pieces.
Have any of you ordered this for your note? They make this one and the one without the flip cover. As of now, I am using the official flip cover and it is already starting to fall apart. I really like the look of this. If no one has ordered this, has anyone else tried any of their other products? Just curious about quality.
http://www.amazon.com/elago-Handmad...VJBO/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1331222074&sr=8-8
Also, I want to order this screen protector. There is a post here in the forums about it, but am also curious if the above case will fit with this .4mm thick tempered glass.
http://www.amazon.com/SPIGEN-SGP-Pr...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331226637&sr=1-1
If it doesn't fit, this might be a good option to go with the screen protector...
http://www.amazon.com/SPIGEN-GT-N70...YD3E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1331221815&sr=8-3
Any comments would be welcome
Very nice case. Love the slim design. Will look into it.
Ended up ordering the case without the flip front and a Steinhill Ultra Crystal screen protector.
When it comes it, I will post some pictures on the consolidated white note thread.
Just ordered....
I just ordered the flip cover version - should be here by the end of the week. Will post review and pics when it arrives.
Please come back and give us some reviews of this case. I really like the look of it. However, I wonder why there's no cutouts for the power or volume buttons. I also wish they had done a little more to cover the corners.
Budge said:
Please come back and give us some reviews of this case. I really like the look of it. However, I wonder why there's no cutouts for the power or volume buttons. I also wish they had done a little more to cover the corners.
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I think the images are marketing mock-ups. See this description:
Product Features
Designed to fit your at&t, International Galaxy Note perfectly
Durable leather construction with secure closure
Custom cutouts for direct access to all device features
Made by handmade with genuine leather
ColSaulTigh said:
I think the images are marketing mock-ups. See this description:
Product Features
Designed to fit your at&t, International Galaxy Note perfectly
Durable leather construction with secure closure
Custom cutouts for direct access to all device features
Made by handmade with genuine leather
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I read that, too. I can see where the cutouts are for the camera, flash, usb, and mic. I just assumed that's what they were talking about. I guess it's possible that it's just a mockup, or you just have to push the buttons through the leather.
Does anyone know if this case is available in black?
Also, SPG makes a Stehen case similar to this one with full corner coverage.
i'm interested in this case too.
My case arrived!!!
So my case arrived today from Amazon, and I promised you all a review, so here goes:
1) Delivery & packaging
The case came via USPS - not UPS or FedEx. Ordered: Sunday, March 25th, 2012; delivered: Wednesday, March 28th, 2012. Came from San Diego, CA to Orlando, FL in 3 days. Not bad. The case was packed in a bubble-padded shipping envelope. A bit cheap considering I paid $4.99 in shipping & handling, but whatever.
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Inside the bubble wrap was the case in it's manufacturer's packaging. Nice pack - obviously meant for hanging on a peg in a retail location. It's attractive and well-protected inside, and the package was not difficult at all to open. There is a fingernail tab in the top-right corner of the front face that lets you just lift off the front cover. No chance of scratching your case with scissors or a knife - a nice touch, I thought.
The reason I mentioned the nice packaging is that inside the outer packaging, the case is resting inside ANOTHER plastic tray (this one without a face), providing an extra layer of cushioning and protection from crushing. It's obvious that whoever thought up the packaging design took care to remember the leather case inside...
2) Aesthetics and General Fit/Finish
This is a NICE case! The edges have all been finished and are not ragged like some other cases I've seen. Everything is glued instead of stitched, so we'll see how well that holds up over the long-term, but so far, so good - nothing is loose or peeling. There is a small company logo on the front in the bottom-left corner and another one (with a tagline) on the back in the bottom-center. Both are small and non-obtrusive.
3) SPECIFIC Fit and Finish
My 1st surprise was to find out that the cover MAGNETICALLY sticks to the case to close - a pleasant surprise! The 2nd surprise was to find a wallet-like card pouch on the inside with 2 slots for credit cards. Um, this was NOT in the pictures on the website and MAY be a problem when I install my SPIGEN SGP GLAS t. Premium Tempered Glass Series Screen Protector which arrives tomorrow. I will report back on this when it's installed.
The 3rd surprise was that there were no cutouts on the sides for power and volume up/down. I think I actually like this, as the leather is marked with the button positions and is soft enough that you can get the buttons to do what you want without *mashing* the leather. The top is wide open so you can slip the phone in the case, and the bottom has cutouts for the S-Pen, Mic, and USB port.
Top opening:
Bottom:
Right Side (Power):
Left Side (Volume):
Inside Flap:
As you can see from the last picture, there's a full-size hole for the earpiece and front-facing camera. The rear of the case also has cut-outs for the camera/flash and speaker. both are proportional and not overly large.
4) Summary
So, do I think it was worth $50 (by the time shipping was involved)? Yes. I think this is very much so a world of 'you get what you pay for', and I think this case is a well crafted, quality leather product. I'd expect to pay this much or more for a leather wallet, so I have no qualms about the price of this cover. The only trepidation I have is the credit card holder inside the front flap. I will never put any cards in it, and I would prefer the case not to have it (as was depicted in the images on their website), but it's not a deal breaker. The leather itself is smooth (non-grain) and evenly dyed, with no visible imperfections (barbed wire scars, dimples, etc.). It is genuine leather, not faux leather or any other synthetic fabric. Overall it does add appx. half-again the thickness of the phone, but it's not unmanageable.
Overall rating: 8/10 - ********_ _ - 2 Stars off for the credit card thing inside the front flap and not being shipped in a cardboard box for a bit more protection.
ColSaulTigh
Thanks for the review. It's a really good one and very useful. My only concern is that the phone seems could slip out from the top easily. Am I right?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
i really like the look of this case and the design, but....where do you put cash????
aorifan said:
ColSaulTigh
Thanks for the review. It's a really good one and very useful. My only concern is that the phone seems could slip out from the top easily. Am I right?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
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It doesn't slip out the top, but when you plug the charger in from the bottom, it does 'push' out the top a bit. A quick push back into the case, and all is good.
mejori said:
i really like the look of this case and the design, but....where do you put cash????
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This case isn't the wallet one. This is just a phone case. They make a wallet version. As I posted in my review, I was surprised it had the credit card slots, as the original pictures on the website didn't show this.
As a follow-up, here are a few quick observations:
1) With the cover open and flipped around the back, the speaker is VERY DIFFICULT to hear. I've missed calls because I didn't hear the ringer.
2) Same problem with it sitting flat on a surface (like a desktop). The leather is so smooth it effectively blocks sound from the speaker. I find myself leaning it up on a pen or something just so there's an air pocket underneath.
3) It slips very easily into my pocket. I thought this was going to be an issue, but it's very smooth and slides nicely into my front pocket.
That's it for now - will report back as more questions pop up and/or I have more observations to post.
how is the thickness with having credit cards? ..is it awkward when talking on the phone, do you leave the cover closed or flip it back? as far as speaker ..my phone is always on silent ..while at work ..i only ask because i ordered a cheap $10. wallet "leather case off ebay..i love the concept but damn its bulky!!! its only temporary until you finish your review of the elago
mejori said:
how is the thickness with having credit cards? ..is it awkward when talking on the phone, do you leave the cover closed or flip it back? as far as speaker ..my phone is always on silent ..while at work ..i only ask because i ordered a cheap $10. wallet "leather case off ebay..i love the concept but damn its bulky!!! its only temporary until you finish your review of the elago
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I didn't see this post update - so here are the answers to your questions:
1) Thickness with credit cards - I don't know, as I don't put any in there. Like I said in my original post, this case wasn't suppose to have a CC pouch. The original pictures didn't show it, and I would have preferred it without the pouch. Based on thickness, I would say that the cards would press against the glass (especially if you are using the Glas+ protector like I am). I've always found that putting cards in a flat cover like this causes the flat cover to distort, so I'm guessing that that's what would happen here, especially if you then put the phone in a pocket.
2) Is it awkward talking on the phone.... - Yes and no. Holding the phone with the case open is a bit cumbersome as the 'hinge' adds width when the cover is open. I rarely hold the phone up to my head, I'm either using the speaker or a bluetooth headset. One note - the back cover, when open and flipped around, COVERS the speaker port, causing the speaker sound to become VERY muted. I usually either stick a finger in between, or if I'm setting the case down, leave the flap open and stick a pen or something under the phone (again, laying the case flat on the desk also causes the muted speaker effect).
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks!
Just got mine. So far it looks good.not bulky. I still need to get used to this to comment.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
3 Weeks Later....
So far, so good!
I get a lot of compliments on the case - it really does look very nice!
No issues regarding durability, wearability, etc. It's not getting dirty from handling, it's not scratched up (so far), and there are no places where the leather is separating, peeling, or otherwise failing.
Bottom line, I like it! Money well spent!
i will be ordering mine soon.. just want to make sure it has cc slots!!! thanks!!
ColSaulTigh said:
So far, so good!
I get a lot of compliments on the case - it really does look very nice!
No issues regarding durability, wearability, etc. It's not getting dirty from handling, it's not scratched up (so far), and there are no places where the leather is separating, peeling, or otherwise failing.
Bottom line, I like it! Money well spent!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mejori said:
i will be ordering mine soon.. just want to make sure it has cc slots!!! thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bear in mind:
1) It only has 2 CC slots, and...
2) It wasn't suppose to have any at all!
WHy would the corners be exposed? Makes no sense. Drop it and there goes the screen..
Which question for ppl who using the flip case... How do you feel when holding it?
I have a Samsung flip case and i hate it. Hard to hold unless take some extra steps to fold the front to the back. When the phone rings, take more time to "flip the cover"..... so inconvenienced.
With my TPU case i use the phone instantly whenever I need.
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I've got me that official case but I'm not happy with it... For that money I expect more...
Others?
Recommendations?
And what did you expect? You new what is this case about before buying, so why are you unhappy? I'm using this case from the very beginning and yes, is mote expensive, but very premium quality made. Using as a stand, cover and you can make telephone calls (if you do that) with closed tablet. For me perfect!
Works great for me too. Not sure what you expected it to do.
ps. has anyone used it with the official Samsung Dock?
I suggest you try Capdase leather case, http://dx-box.com/capdase-protective-case-flipjacket-for-samsung-galaxy-tab-7-7-gt-p6800-p6810-1.html
you get what you pay for. it's expensive, but it's quality, slim, and light with a minimalistic look.
it's chump change for protection considering underneath is a +550€ tablet.
it will easily break along the hinge part. i had mine for about 2 weeks and I noticed that the hinge part is starting to give in along the edges
I do not recommend this case
i have one of these.. Im pretty happy with it EXCEPT theres no band to keep the cover in place.
After 6 months I am still perfectly happy with mine.
Mine also has held up very well. No other case is as cool.
Wait i was thinking about picking one of these up... Does it open backwards compared to a normal book???
this is the case i'm using now...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smart-Flip-...ccessories&hash=item3f148d2c8e#ht_7289wt_1037
GaresTaylan said:
Wait i was thinking about picking one of these up... Does it open backwards compared to a normal book???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I keep opening it upside down.
Sent from the Delta Quadrant using XDA Premium
caseyatbt said:
Yes, I keep opening it upside down.
Sent from the Delta Quadrant using XDA Premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dang. Guess ill keep searching for another case.
minisuit case is what I chose. 360 rotation and two grooves for angle adjustment. I really like the minimial intrusion to the screen, it only grips the edges it does lay on the face of the screen. Only downside is I have the i815 and had to mark with a sharpie (marker) and then drill a hole in the side of the case to allow for the IR "blaster" took about 5 mins. faux leather is sturdy so far since June. has the strap and small logo on back engraved. price was low direct from minisuit.com although they do carry it on amazon.
I've got one of these. They open like a normal book. I've been pleased with this case. It's also very grippy which is great
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda app-developers app
I use this and thoroughly recommend it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poetic-Leat...BX7O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347831406&sr=8-3
I have the book-case now, and it doesn't work for me.
What's the best option if I want to be able to tilt the tablet in different angels (ie one angle for movies, and another when typing) ?
I don't know but for me, book-case isn't the case for Tab 7.7. I am using a hard plastic, super slim case to cover just the sides and the back, the screen protector does the job, well, for the screen. I don't know if it's just me but book-covers are for those heavy tablets (iPad3). They made this tablet so light and easily navigable. It's supposed to be held with 1-hand. I think if I am gonna put my Tab 7.7 in a book-case and put it on a table, I would always end up pushing my tablet back when trying to touch and press the screen. lol. And it would end up thicker and heavier too. I am using a book-case for my iPad3 btw, and I don't use the iPad3 ever since I got this beautiful tablet. This is what tablets are supposed to be. Handy, light and sexy. If they are gonna be as heavy as the iPad3 and be used on a table with that book-cover, I might as well use my laptop.
I've gone through a bunch of cases. None of them is exactly what I want. Apparently, they don't make one that is everything I want.
Here's what I want out of a case:
All ports, buttons and jacks accessible without having to remove any of the case. (Those silicon cases are bad for this.)
A stiff flap to cover the screen. (Screen protectors are nice, but they don't keep fingerprints and other goop off my tab.)
A cover when folded back behind the tab, gives a better grip on the tablet. (Some plastic ones are slippery!)
THIN!!! (I didn't spend all this money on an expensive THIN tablet so I could bury it in an inch of padding, plastic and pleather.)
Portrait and landscape stand (I don't care if it is a kick stand or some ingenious folding of the cover.)
Infinitely variable stand angles (One often needs to vary the angle slightly to avoid glare and reflections)
A relatively stable stand. (Some stand mechanisms offer no "grip" for the stand to stay in place, so as soon as you tap the screen, it moves/falls.)
No border around my screen! (They all seem to be just a little bit too close to the edges of the screen and they make it hard to use items/functions on the screen edges.)
Real or faux leather (what I call pleather) not a cheap plastic look.
Magnetic closure for front cover. (Straps wear. Elastic stretches out. Snaps are a pain in the rear. And they ALL make the case thicker than necessary. I'd rather have no closure mechanism than have one that makes it thicker.)
My first case was the grey "pleather" case. But I _hate_ the cases that intrude on the screen with their wide borders in order to hold the tab. I much prefer the hard plastic alternatives that grab the case by the corners or edges.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130656629801
My next one was a pleather one that allowed the user to rotate the screen, portrait or landscape, while standing. This was nice (even though the portrait standing angle was almost useless). But the case was almost three times as thick as the bare tablet. It also had an elastic closure, which I don't like, but not using it never caused a problem.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160909121508
Next I went with a hard plastic backing with no stand or front cover. That didn't last long at all. I use the stand far too often to go without. It was quite thin though!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360446184274
Next I got a "book" style case. It is the one I am currently using. It has a pleather look to it with an elastic closure. I don't use the closure, but I wish it wasn't there, because the tab would be thinner without it. It doesn't offer a portrait stand, only landscape. But that's good enough. The stand is such that your angle is infinitely variable, which is a major bonus when trying to eliminate glare and reflections. The case is about twice as thick as the tablet. I wish it were thinner, but it is better than the rest I've found.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130664197992
I also tried a "hard shell case" for my tab. This one is OK, but it ultimately lost for two reasons: the stand wasn't stable - it slipped easily on most surfaces - and the magnetic closure flap just about doubled the thickness of the case.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251159580235
Of course, I didn't spend much on those cases - most less than $10, with $19 being the most expensive. So I guess I shouldn't expect too much. However, I've seen a lot of expensive ones that are worse than these cheap ones.
I use this one and have been happy
Tom2112 said:
I've gone through a bunch of cases. None of them is exactly what I want. Apparently, they don't make one that is everything I want.
Here's what I want out of a case:
All ports, buttons and jacks accessible without having to remove any of the case. (Those silicon cases are bad for this.)
A stiff flap to cover the screen. (Screen protectors are nice, but they don't keep fingerprints and other goop off my tab.)
A cover when folded back behind the tab, gives a better grip on the tablet. (Some plastic ones are slippery!)
THIN!!! (I didn't spend all this money on an expensive THIN tablet so I could bury it in an inch of padding, plastic and pleather.)
Portrait and landscape stand (I don't care if it is a kick stand or some ingenious folding of the cover.)
Infinitely variable stand angles (One often needs to vary the angle slightly to avoid glare and reflections)
A relatively stable stand. (Some stand mechanisms offer no "grip" for the stand to stay in place, so as soon as you tap the screen, it moves/falls.)
No border around my screen! (They all seem to be just a little bit too close to the edges of the screen and they make it hard to use items/functions on the screen edges.)
Real or faux leather (what I call pleather) not a cheap plastic look.
Magnetic closure for front cover. (Straps wear. Elastic stretches out. Snaps are a pain in the rear. And they ALL make the case thicker than necessary. I'd rather have no closure mechanism than have one that makes it thicker.)
My first case was the grey "pleather" case. But I _hate_ the cases that intrude on the screen with their wide borders in order to hold the tab. I much prefer the hard plastic alternatives that grab the case by the corners or edges.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130656629801
My next one was a pleather one that allowed the user to rotate the screen, portrait or landscape, while standing. This was nice (even though the portrait standing angle was almost useless). But the case was almost three times as thick as the bare tablet. It also had an elastic closure, which I don't like, but not using it never caused a problem.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160909121508
Next I went with a hard plastic backing with no stand or front cover. That didn't last long at all. I use the stand far too often to go without. It was quite thin though!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360446184274
Next I got a "book" style case. It is the one I am currently using. It has a pleather look to it with an elastic closure. I don't use the closure, but I wish it wasn't there, because the tab would be thinner without it. It doesn't offer a portrait stand, only landscape. But that's good enough. The stand is such that your angle is infinitely variable, which is a major bonus when trying to eliminate glare and reflections. The case is about twice as thick as the tablet. I wish it were thinner, but it is better than the rest I've found.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130664197992
I also tried a "hard shell case" for my tab. This one is OK, but it ultimately lost for two reasons: the stand wasn't stable - it slipped easily on most surfaces - and the magnetic closure flap just about doubled the thickness of the case.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251159580235
Of course, I didn't spend much on those cases - most less than $10, with $19 being the most expensive. So I guess I shouldn't expect too much. However, I've seen a lot of expensive ones that are worse than these cheap ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a link for the one I use. http://www.pielframa.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-7-7-cases-pf.htm
Hey guys, the Kraken AMS was finally available in red and i just jumped right in as i was waiting FOREVER for either Ballistic or Trident to make their most heavy duty cases available for our phones. Sadly Ballistic currently has no intention of releasing an HC model for the Evo LTE, so I went with this instead.
Before anybody says: "oh but the SG MAXX is heavy duty!" I looked at the layering for the SG Maxx and from the looks of it its a wraparound silicone with a slip-in screen protector and then a polycarb piece that fits over the back. The Kraken also has a silicone wrap but where it differs is the front polycarb and back polycarb interlock with each other as well as having grooves in the silicone for both the front and the back to sit in, which seems to me would make for a more solid case overall.
The packaging was super easy to open, its the kind of bubble pack that snaps together at the corners.
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The case comes with a holster, and removable kickstand, more on the kickstand a little later.
On Trident's site it says that the Kraken's base layer is the perseus silicone case. I was initially using the blue HTC case that sprint gave us for the shipping delays, and that particular case was made of a denser silicone that held its shape well and felt solid. The perseus layer here however, is a bit thinner and as such i would not recommend using it alone since it does move out of position a lot. The only thing covered with the silicone on is the power button.
The front polycarb piece has long tabs along the sides that fit in to the grooves of the silicone piece. Trident says you can use the case like this without the back, and by the tight fitment which required that i actually kneed the silicone slightly to get it to slide under the tabs and engage, i would say you can just leave it as is. The front camera is not covered, there are openings for the sensors, and the speaker has a fine mesh over it. The screen protector is glossy on the outside, and slightly matte textured on the inside to avoid the bubbling you get when two glossy surfaces come in to contact, a la the early versions of the Ballistic HC for the OG Evo.
The third piece is the back, which contains the port covers for the headphone and usb ports, the covered buttons for camera and volume rocker, as well as the mount points for all the AMS accessories. The back piece wraps over the side of the front piece and fits in to plastic lugs molded into the front piece. The back camera is uncovered, and there is a belt loop under the rear speaker, which has a mesh covering it just like the front speaker.
It was a VERY tight fit, perhaps because i have the CF vinyl mod on my phone, which added a piece of paper worth of thickness. I had to hook the tabs in from the bottom, then clip the sides in place until i got to the top, where i had to do some olympic-class pinching of the tabs up top to get the whole thing together.
The completed case feels pretty sturdy in hand, though one thing i noticed immediately is that since the silicone doesn't cover the volume rocker and the rocker cover itself is plastic in the side, the buttons are not tightly engaged to the phone, so if you shake it you can hear some rattling at both the rocker as well as the camera button. They operate with little effort and are easy to hit, though if they were in your pocket you might accidently change the volume due to the lack of resistence.
The port covers do not extend in to the actual ports themselves, and are simply there for closing up the holes in the case. You can see in the pictures here that the ports do become quite recessed so some of those cables with right-angle heads may not be able to totally clear the case. I use a right angle micro usb with what i saw was a smaller connector than the other ones i was looking at on amazon, and it fit, albeit just barely.
Next up is the holster. Unlike the holsters from Seidio and some other companies, the one on the Kraken is a minimalistic clamp that goes around the midsection of the case, with a 360 rotation and release tab at the top. Its pretty minimalistic but it seems like it would look better on your belt when the phone is not in it as opposed to the holsters that have a backplate the size of the phone. It engages tightly and seems pretty secure, so it gets a pass from me though i don't use holsters often.
Lastly we have the kickstand. The kickstand is sold on their store as an AMS accessory but i think for Krakens they just include it in the kit. Looking at the pictures i didn't think it was going to be able to hold the phone up in the awkward reverse position we got on the stock kickstand to use while charging, but the kickstand kicks in the fully open position and is able to hold up the phone. It also locks in the closed position, and it took a bit of effort to get the thing to open in the first place so no worries about floppy kickstand syndrome.
If you don't mind the trident lettering being backwards in the closed position, you can also pull the kickstand out and flip it in the opposite orientation and it will hold the phone up like it did in the OG evo days while charging.
Lastly, a crude size comparison between the HTC silicone case, a Seidio rebranded Best Buy platinum case, and the Kraken.
EDIT: I said the back contained all the mount points for AMS accessories, but looking at it again i noticed that the mount points for the holster is actually on side of the FRONT piece, so if you want to use the holster with just the silicone and the front, you can. I don't currently see any accessories that makes use of the holster mount points so if you want to use AMS stuff you do indeed need to use the back piece, which does not attatch to the silicone without the front piece.
EDIT2: I totally didn't even think about testing this but NFC still works even through the thick case.
Pros
Case fits super tight
Kickstand is completely metal and can be flipped around, clips in to place in the closed positon as well as open position
Built-in screen protector, port covers and rocker/camera covers
Minimalistic holster has less of a nerd factor if you're going to use it
Modular (though i would just use the whole thing all the time)
Has some accessories that may come in handy in the form of AMS stuff on kraken's site
Has a strap loop on the back piece below the kickstand...for if you want to lanyard a brick to your neck or you're a japanese schoolgirl who wants a bouquet of hello kitty cell phone straps on your phone.
Cons
Expensive, 50 bucks is a lot of dough to drop on a $200 on contract phone, may be more worth it for retail customers
Both cameras are not covered. Has no chance of glare but it does open it up to damage.
Bulky. I don't have an otterbox defender or an SG Maxx to compare it to but it does add quite a bit of heft.
Rocker and camera buttons may rattle when shaken or moved.
Thickness of case renders some micro usb and headphone plugs unusable
Screen protector is glossy on the outside but slightly matte texture on the inside, may reduce clarity
Port covers may be susceptible for wear like on the Otterbox defender.
Red one came out after the pink one, seriously Trident, wtf??
Overall
Its big, its solid, you can probably knock someone out with it by throwing it. If you don't care about bulk and don't want to worry about the phone, this is a pretty good case to go with. On the other hand if you don't care for bulk at all, don't even bother checking this thing out, as it does turn your sexy thin phone in to a bit of a monster.
For people worried about the phone bending issue, i'm pretty sure this case will make it pretty much impossible to bend the phone while in your front pants pocket, then again i have a feeling front-pocket phone benders are wearing pants that are just right or tight fitting in the first place so you wouldn't really be able to fit this thing in those same pockets...so...yea, get some new pants you hipsters.
And finally, please please please save your breath if you're just going to come in here saying: "i prefer thin case i don't understand why you bought this". You don't need to as i didn't buy it with your money, and congrats on having an opinion :good:
Great review. Do you do this for a living? lol I believe you persuaded me to buy one. :thumbup:
SENT FROM MY EVO 4G LTE!!! (w/no LTE)
Nah i don't do this for a living, i just think it would be easier for me to cover as many concerns as possible so the thread doesn't turn in to a Q&A session.
I wonder how it will stand up to a car, my father is an automotive mechanic and today he had an impromptu fight, car vs phone. Car won and now he's waiting for a replacement
I have no desire to purchase one. I don't like the look and it's way too heavy and provides way more protection than I need. I knew this before I read your review, so you didn't really influence my decision.
But I'll be damned if that wasn't one of the most detailed and thorough accessory reviews I've ever read. Truly exceptional, and the pics especially were on point. Kudos to you sir. You should review every accessory you own and post it up, and put the links in your sig. Tons of people would benefit - you have a real talent for it.
I had high hopes for the delayed Trident Cyclops and Kraken cases and was planning to replace my Otterbox Defender with one of them. I used to love the workmanship and nice textured plastic feel of my Trident Cyclops for Evo 3D and hated the cheap rubbery silicone feel of the Otterbox Defender for 3D.
I was greatly disappointed to say the least. For the EVO LTE design cycle, the Defender has a very nice textured rubber outer layer, perfect fit and no rattling parts. The plastic texture on both the Cyclops and the Kraken seems to be a step down from Evo 3D days; Cyclops is now a 2-piece case with no inner silicone layer; the Kraken kickstand is a lot harder to operate than the built-in one; there's a lot of rattling in the buttons and creaking due to poor fitment. The four cylindrical side tabs that lock the front and back polycarbonate pieces are an improvement, but the really thin hooking tabs at the top and bottom do not work at all. To me, the only advantage Trident cases have are the dust filters.
I guess I'm keeping my Defender and hoping that the two extra outer layers that Otterbox sent me under warranty will be enough to last me to the next upgrade.
I have the kraken case trident green. Ordered the case on launch day.The only issues I have with it are as follows.the volume buttons stick out too far so my phone always ends up on silent. The camera button is entirely to Damn hard to press (except for half way) the charge port dust cover ripped off pulling the phone out of my pocket. The belt clip got hung on the seat belt of my ambulance and snapped like a twig. The fabled kick stand: don't use it too much the snapping feature fails and the kick stand gets super floppy remedy open kick stand place index finger perpendicular under the open kick stand and attempt to crush your index finger this makes the kick stand bend slightly just enough for the clamping action to hold tight. As for the kick stand holding the phone up while charging, don't open and close the kickstand too much because it will gouge the plastic on the back of the phone thus rendering the kick stand just about useless. No case has come close to the ballistic HC I had on my OG EVO
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app