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Very dissapointed in Otterbox Defender case

I got my new Otterbox Defender case from AT&T today. Only paid $42 with shipping and tax so that wasn't too bad.
I weighed it against my Seidio Active case and holster and the Otterbox with holster weighs 12.5 ounces and the Active case with holster is 10.5 ounces if anybody was interested. Removing the clear plastic protective cover from the Otterbox lightens it by 0.15 ounces or about 4 grams.
I will say this thing feels like it will take a lot of abuse before the phone will break. That is of course, unless the screen is hit by a direct impact that the case can't deflect. Remember, there is a lot of screen area so anything protruding like a rock that makes initial contact with the screen will probably break the screen. No case will stop that.
Things I don't like about the Defender whether I knew about it when ordering or not......
yeah it adds a lot of bulk but not too bad. The volume up and down buttons are not very responsive but I suspect some electrical tape on the inside of the case over the phone buttons should help with that. The power button is actually a little too responsive for my taste. It is very easy to click the power button which sucks because the volume buttons have to be pressed hard and the thumb is usually over near the power button when operating the volume buttons. This leads to easy power button pressing.
The plastic case creaks like a wooden floor in a turn of the century house. What the hell is all of this about. Whether you squeeze the case side to side or twist the phone slightly. I suspect it is the outside case rubbing against the inner hard plastic case. I will try some baby powder on that. Still, the case does not have the rigidity that I was hoping for. If you manually twist the phone case at opposite corners the thing flexes way easily.
I called myself from my home phone, walked away and left the note 2 on the counter. I did not hear any echo from either phone as others have reported. This may show up later thought. If the phones are close together then echo can be present.
The plastic protective cover that comes with the case is garbage. Plain and simple. Yes there is a gap between the plastic and the phone screen. Very annoying. I took the plastic off within a few minutes. I have my own screen protector on it anyway.
I like the charging port and headphone port being covered with the rubber plugs.
When the case is put in the holster there is little leeway where the holster snaps into the detent in the phone edge. Several times I have found that the phone had to be adjusted a bit in order for the case to snap into the holster firmly. This may be a problem down the line or I might just modify it so that this makes a positive connection more easily.
This isn't really a comparison between the Active case and the Defender but I thought I would point out a few things.
I don't like having to use the Defender holster as a kickstand for the phone. The Active case has a built in stand in the case.
I do like the protective lip around the screen of the Defender which is made up of the softer outer shell and the hard plastic inner shell. The outside is not soft and gummy like silicone (like the Active) but a little harder. Kind of like a hard rubber but not as hard as a standard hard plastic if that makes any sense. It has a good feel to it. If the Defender is laid face down the hard lip does nothing to keep it from sliding. If laid on its back it resists sliding a little better depending on the surface. It is the opposite with the Active case. The Active has the silicone lip on the face and keeps the phone from sliding around if place face down. If the Active is placed on its back it will slide because the outside part is hard plastic.
The camera has a nice cutout with a lot of plastic protruding around it. The only way this camera lens is getting damages is if something goes right into the cutout and hits the lens directly. Getting to the stylus is very easy.
Ok, I did take the outer cover off and rubbed some baby powder to the inside. The creaking noise is diminished but still there.
I will try out the otterbox for a while and see how I like it. I work in a factory so it is highly plausible that this could fall off of a 12 foot ladder onto concrete. If I worked in an office I would not be using this case most likely.
I really like the look of the Active case in red much better than the otterbox. Fortunately, I place practicality over fashion generally.
Either way, I will hang on to the case and see what happens. Considering that both of these cases have similar MSRP (prices) the value is definitely in the Otterbox as far as material and engineering. The Active case needs to have a little more engineering and firmer material around the screen. in order to ask as much money as they do.

My biggest issue with the Defender is two fold:
1) Face it, this is an UGLY utilitarian looking case hiding our sexy thin phone. They did NOTHING to add any sex appeal to this case. It's like putting a bikini model in a full length raincoat and buttoning every snap.
2) The plastic screen protector feels cheap, scratchy and provides too much drag on the s-pen.

I got my commuter a few hours ago. It's pretty nice looking, the buttons aren't too hard to press, the cutouts are perfect, and it comes with a screen protector which I choose not to use. I couldn't ask for more from it. I also feel like it's very protective and would survive a 6 ft drop (even though im 5 ft).
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

Note_2 said:
I got my commuter a few hours ago. It's pretty nice looking, the buttons aren't too hard to press, the cutouts are perfect, and it comes with a screen protector which I choose not to use. I couldn't ask for more from it. I also feel like it's very protective and would survive a 6 ft drop (even though im 5 ft).
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
I haven't had the opportunity to hold the commuter series for this phone. Most of the cases for this phone need to be ordered since nobody seems to have anything in stock for this phone, around where I live, and I live in a decent sized city.

I got the commuter for $35 shipped on amazon. 3-5 day shipping, ordered Wednesday and got it earlier today even though it was expected tomorrow to friday! I tried to buy one closest to me for a decent price and the seller accessory net did great.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

I too have the creaking issue with the Defender. Mine(two of them) also creak and crackle. The plastic part that snaps together does not snap tightly thus causing some play which in turn causes the feeling that there is movement underneath and the creaking sounds. I got a replacement on the first one for this and the second one they sent also does this.
Otter customer service is great but the product right now imo is subpar

It is probably going to creak because it is suppose to flex... that is the whole point of the case absorbing impacts.

My biggest gripe about the Defender case is that dust makes it way in between the case's plastic screen protector and the phone's glass screen. It enters at the Home button mostly and at the top opening for the sensors. I have to open the case at least once a week and wipe out the dust. It's mainly fabric debris from my jeans pocket so I don't think it's anything scratchy.

honestly i hate my commuter case,its to damned fat,but when i drop my 700$ phone ,im happy, strange how that works

oddly enough, the only time I have dropped my Note 2 is when I used the otterbox Defender holster. If the phone case is pushed back and down in the holster when inserting , then the holster tab doesn't fully lock into the notch in the case. I thought I had it snapped in and it fell about 42 inches, I have a 36 inch inseam, and hit the concrete floor. Of course, this is a walk in the park for the Defender case so naturally there was no damage or marks on the case at all, and I wasn't worried about it when I picked the phone up.
My Active case has a much better spring loaded latch design so it is impossible for this to happen.
I actually got my knife out and made a little adjustment on the case notch so this won't happen again.

Trident Aegis Case [usage report]

i got the lime green one because i read somewhere it glowed in the dark.
It doesn't.
Other than that i've been happy with it. It's a 2-layer case, green silicone layer around the fone with a black polycarbonate shell over most of that. The buttons are all covered and the USB port as well has a cover on it, tho the speaker jack is uncovered. Package comes with a reuseable screen protector.
The green colour is better in real life than in the pictures. Quite nice as a matter of fact. It's not a garish tint and makes the fone easy to see and locate.
i've used it for five months or so, peeling it off once a day to change batteries. It's shown no signs of wear from that. Bounce the fone off the floor once in a while. No ill effects from that either so far.
In the hand it's a bit wider and shorter, and isn't as thick, compared to the Ballistic SG case, with a less prominent lip around the screen, and doesn't have the corner protuberances of the Ballistic case.
It slips into and out of pocket easier than the Ballistic. Ergonomically the Ballistic case, with it's corner lumps and non-slip back, handles more securely than the Trident. The Trident's lower lip around the screen makes it easier to type on (i use a keypad with buttons that go to the edge of the screen).
It's not as easy to put on and remove compared to the Ballistic; still it doesn't take much to do it. The Vivid/Raider's speaker grill in the back is covered. Just seven holes in the middle, but since they're where the speaker in the fone's actually located, that's okay.
The Trident fits better than the Ballistic case did. The Ballistic case was a bit taller than the fone is so it was a bit loose vertically. The Trident prolly doesn't give quite the drop protection that the Ballistic case did. Not a problem in normal use as i've dropped the Trident encased fone quite a lot more often than i should and everything's fine.
The included screen protector's nothing to write home abt. Perfectly serviceable tho. Comes with an applicator card for squeegee-ing it on. The case silicone's good, no stretching and it washes up well. The polycarbonate shell material is good. It's not the cheapo and brittle stuff that gets old fast and cracks easy.
Overall, lovely case. At $10USD plus shipping that i paid for it on eBay, a humungous good deal.
The only downside that i've experienced with it is that it slides around on the dashboard in the car when i throw it there.

-- o yeah: i've recently taken to leaving off the Vivid/Raider's back aluminum plate when using the case. i think it only makes a relatively tiny difference to the fone integrity with the case on, and i seem to get better signal in the basement than before, one bar instead of no bars. Could be just wishful thinking, dunno.
My work computer's down there, so am there a lot ...

Skins that cover the sides of the phone?

I love and want to use something like Zagg or Best Skins Ever, but I haven't been able to find anything that also covers the sides of the phone. I'd like scratch protection on the sides too! Anyone have any suggestions or know of anything?

Just got an Xgear skin. The black leather is very slick, almost no grip. Thankfully, it's matte and doesn't pick up grease or fingerprints (my only goals). I guess it protects the sides. It covers the sides completely.
Don't get a Slickwrap. The renders show side coverage, but I got one and the sides are completely uncovered.
I have a quicksand case and don't have to use it anymore. I don't need any protection. I just hate the hyperglaze plastic.

Hung0702 said:
Just got an Xgear skin. The black leather is very slick, almost no grip. Thankfully, it's matte and doesn't pick up grease or fingerprints (my only goals). I guess it protects the sides. It covers the sides completely.
Don't get a Slickwrap. The renders show side coverage, but I got one and the sides are completely uncovered.
I have a quicksand case and don't have to use it anymore. I don't need any protection. I just hate the hyperglaze plastic.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion! One question, how has it held up so far with the corners staying down? Also, does it have any screen protection to it?

Corners don't go down unless you use a blowdryer. After that, everything is "skin-tight." Had it on for a few days more and I'm not at all concerned about the edges coming loose and catching something. Just make sure you use a blowdryer (hair dryer) focused on the corners, then work your way around the edges, pressing the rein down and holding it down after you get it hot.
At $15 it didn't come with a screen protector. You could just get a screen protector for a buck or two. I don't use screen protectors, never have. Since the original Gorilla Glass came out, screen protectors seem unnecessary. If you're really afraid of scratching your screen, go ahead. You're more likely to drop and break it, and a screen protector isn't going to help you there.
The Xgear skin comes with panels for the front, covering the top and bottom bezel. The sensors and camera are not obscured.
Check YouTube for a better idea of the fit.

I also use gear. I have the carbon fiber one. Like hung0702 said, use a bellwether. I've never had the edges peel up but I use an aluminum bumper now. It offers protection and keeps the phone slim.
Sent from my LG-VS980 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Spigen Thin Fit for Note 5

Hi All,
Received my Note 5 today along with the Spigen Thin Fit case. It's $14.99 on their website but $10.99 on their eBay store and you get a free 3-pack of Crystal screen protectors.
I used this case with the iPhone 6+ and wanted to point out a few similarities and few differences. Obviously this kind of case is designed to provide minimal protection. If anything, it's more to just protect the back from scratches. It's a soft-feel matte finish that's cool to the touch and comfortable to hold. Unlike the iPhone version of this case (that protected the sides and left the top / bottom completely exposed) this has the top and bottom covered with cutouts for ports, pen, etc.
The case is thick enough that it protects the camera bulge from touching a surface and if you lay it face down, there's just barely enough clearance so the screen doesn't touch. If you were to get a glass screen protector, me thinks it would touch the screen. But I'm not a fan of laying my phone face down. There are some curiously placed cutouts at the four corners of the phone. I'm assuming it's so the case can flex a little and let the phone slip inside. I will point out that it makes the S-Pen pretty difficult to get out. There's enough room to click so it pops out, but still difficult unless you have long fingernails. Worth mentioning.
If anyone wants pictures, let me know. Don't work for Spigen just like their products and thought I'd share.

thanks. good info about the sPen. that would bother me.

Got mine too, this case is a fingerprint/smudge/oil magnet. However the soft touch feels nice and grippy.

Review-Poetic Note 5 revolution case

I have been searching for a protective case for the note 5 and having tried a few I can say that the Poetic revolution is the best one I have tried so far.
It's not ungodly heavy like some of the other ones, it does add some heft but more in line with what I would expect.
It offers full body pritection, including a plastic screen protector. I have a love hate relation with them honestly, they ultimately end up scratched up and I remove them in time. I put the phone in the case with my tempered glass protector still in place so that is probably the reason but this one I have yet to decide if I like it, it's crystal clear but slightly impedes touch sensitivity and does not sit flush against the glass, requiring you to tap just a bit harder. That's actually a plus tho because on some other cases, the screen protector sits right on the glass and you end up with watermarking. Like I said tho, I kept my glass one on so that's my own doing. The cut outs for the home button, speaker and camera are dead on.
The corners are squared off which should distribute the force of an impact over a larger area, hoping to protect better. The sides are pliable while the back is hard.
I like the volume buttons, having 2 buttons instead of like a slider deal allows easy adjusting with no guessing. The ports are all covered with flaps, it looks to be a tight fit for larger headphones although the stock ones fit fine. The s-pen, I don't know...I am 6'4 and have larger hands but I can not access it. It sits too deep, a key or something you could pop it out I am sure, depending how often you use it, it might be an issue. I think if you need a protective case that's a minor annoyance, just worth noting.
The kickstand works well, mainly in landscape. It's easy to pop out and close, doesn't rattle and stays put rather well.
The only real downside to this case is wireless charging does not work for me. I have a Spigen 3 coil charger and placing the phone on it I get nada. Most likely due to the metal kickstand I would guess.
Depending what's important to you in a case will ultimately determine if this one's for you. I work in construction and welding, I need reliable protection and will use this case when working. Weekends, etc I'll put on a less protective case. Personally, glad to have this one as an option and if you are looking for a good quality, protective case, keep this on your short list.

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My review of the Poetic Revolution case
Disclaimer: I got this case free in exchange for this review. I have previously recieved and reviewed Poetic's Affinity case, a slim case which I like so much it has become my daily driver. How will I like a big case such as this one after using the featherweight, unobtrusive Affinity? Well, let's see....
The case arrived quickly. It was plainly packed in what appeared to be a non-retail plastic envelope. I don't know if the retail package ships with instructions, but mine didn't.
The case looks very sharp. It is big and blocky, with a somewhat military look. It consists of two pieces. There is a black plastic front, which features a built-in clear plastic screen protector with cut outs for the front camera, speaker and home button.. And then there is the back piece. Like the other Poetic case I have reviewed, this one is a seamless combination of hard plastic and rigid rubber. The plastic parts are black, and the rubber is a military drab greenish brown that suits the look of the case. The plastic and rubber meet in a combination of ridges and bumpers that are aesthetically sound. An aluminum kickstand sits squarely in the back. The top right corner of the case has a squared off rubber "loop" which is maybe for hanging the phone on something? I can kind of see the appeal of such a feature, but it adds bulk to an already big case without feeling substantial enough that you want your device hanging from it. There are also some "screws" and "rivets" which seem to be purely cosmetic and just molded into the plastic. Inside the back there is some kimd of texture that looks like it is designed to distribute force and further protect the device in case of a drop or other impact.
The ports line up perfectly. There are covers for the charging port, headphone jack, and even the S-pen. I like the complete protection (and this is the best S-Pen protection I've seen), but I will say that the S-Pen port is kind of hard to squeeze your finger into.
The front part of the case is supposed to snap on. Normally, I do not care for cases that are rigid inside, as I feel they jack up the phone's finish. While this may have been true of Samsung's previous chromed plastic bodies, I have no such concern about the aluminum edges of the Note 5.
Like the poster above, I tried to leave my glass screen protector on when first installing this case. It is obviously not designed for this. No fault of the manufacturer. My results were the same: a bowed out, unresponsive, mushy feeling screen cover. In addition, the convex fit made an easy access point around the camera, speaker and home button for dust and lint, which soon began to accumulate. So, I took off my glass. After doing this, the front of the case snapped on snugly with a satisfying "click". The screen protector, which is visibly thicker than that of the Otterbox Defender, sat flush and tight on the surface of my phone. Two days after taking off the glass(which I left on for two days), I see nothing accumulating under the screen at all. I am seeing some very fine scratches, but nothing visible.during normal use. And, for the record, I only clean my phone's screen/screen protector with lens cleaning wipes. Never dry. And my phone is usually in my pocket when not in use. I work indoors in clean dry conditions.
The front of the case goes on easily (once you remove your glass lol). The back, like most rubber over plastic cases, stretches slightly over the back and hugs a lip on the front of the case. It fits snugly and well, ....except for one part. The lower left. Not a huge deal, but it just doesn't seem to sit flush like the rest of the case, no matter what I do. There is a pic of this corner attatched. But, aside from that small quibble (well, small to me, YMMV), the fit is good and solid. Even the part that isn't 100% flush doesn't feel loose or mushy.
The case is bulky, no doubt. Either you like the way that feels in the hand or you don't. The back of the case is hard plastic with some rubber ridges. The sides are rubber with a barely visible micro texturing that seems to add a nice grip. The phone is not slippery in the hand. Nor is it slippery on a table, whether laid on its front or back. Though big, the phone feels good in the hand, not slippery or slimy. If you use your phone in landscape mode a lot, you need to be mindful of the "loop" on the top left corner. It may get in your way, prompting you to flip your device over to play your game or watch your video.
The lip around the screen has a nice angle to it, so you don't feel like you have to worry about hitting the screen anywhere. It doesn't interfere with the function at all. Can't really say the same for the port around the camera. It's deep and plenty protective, but it doesn't have any kind of bezel or anything like I've seen on some Note 5 cases. This can make it feel like you're "digging" for the heart rate monitor, which is kind of a pain.
The buttons are perfectly covered. But they do feel a little spongy. In addition, the sides of the case are angled inward, kind of under the top, almost like a saucer, get me? This angle has the effect of making the button pushes feel slightly awkward.
The hole around the speaker is deep (the rubber here is very thick) and more tube like than funnel shaped. This has the effect of changing the sound from the bottom speaker somewhat. Making it kind of "canned" sounding.
The kickstand is good and solid. It sets the phone at a good angle for viewing/gaming in landscape mode (but again, you have to be mindful of where the loop is). It works in portrait mode as well, but I dont know if it is intended to be used that way
The case is kind of a bear to take on and off. I put my phone into an armband when I run, so I take mine out of the case a lot. I found a workaround (jamming the thing case and all into my old Note 3 armband lol).
Lastly, as the previous reviewer noted, wireless charging does not work with this case. I must say, as common as wireless charging is becoming, this seems like a grave oversight.
At the end of the day, the phone offers good, solid protection, looking very good while doing it. But it does seem to sacrifice form in favor of function. For those who require, or just like, like solid protection, don't mind bulk, and don't need the case to slip on and off like butter, this may be the case for you. It certainly is substantial and protective. But it isn't terribly user friendly in some respects, maybe even less so than other cases of its type. In any event, even though I generally prefer a slimmer case, I am.in no hurry to switchn and will probably continue to use this one until the next time I absolutely have to charge wirelessly or wear skinny jeans. I don't see it as a daily driver for me. Partially because I just prefer smaller cases (which is no reflection on the product or manufacturer)n and partly because this case does seem to have a few drawbacks. I can definitely see myself using this for occasions when I am traveling or feel the need for extra protection. Ultimately, I have mixed feelings about the case. It has its strengths and weaknesses.
Pros: solid, offers complete coverage and protection, dual-layer (plastic/rubber), thick, and snug screen protector, covered ports, kickstand, nice grip, good looking, great value for the price (around $20)
Cons: S-Pen difficult to reach, difficult heart rate monitor access, bulky, loop adds bulk and reduces ease of use, buttons mushy and slightly awkward, no wireless charging, case affects speaker sound

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