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Review: CaseLogic 7" Tablet Case

This is a review for the CaseLogic ETC-107 7" Inch Tablet Case for the Nexus 7.
I was looking for a case to take with me overseas to a combat zone, so I had some requirements for a case to hold my Nexus 7:
Durability (able to withstand being thrown around and having heavy baggage piled on it, between a Pelican Case and Otterbox)
Screen coverage (Closes over screen, no need for screen protector, screen not vulnerable to hard things)
Price
Availability (Leaving very short term, no time for shipping)
I drove to WalMart and played with a few of their different case options, putting my tablet inside and testing how solid and safe they felt, and walked out with the CL ETC-107 for $18.99 (it is referenced on the CaseLogic website as being on sale for $24.99).
The case is made of 2 main components; an outer EVA (read: hard plastic with a cloth-y feel) shell with zipper and an inner flap with a velcro tab that holds the tablet. The case is quite sturdy and doesn't have a lot of give when pushed on, making for a solid casing that resists when something impacts it but seems to be able to take a fall pretty well. The edges of the casing are also solid EVA with zippers outside of them, not attached to the edges themselves (see pictures for a better idea of what I'm saying) so when the case is zipped up, the case provides shell protection from all angles. The case is just slightly wider and taller than the Nexus 7 and about 1" thick. Unfortunately, this case only comes in black, which is a pain if you're trying to mark this case with permanent marker.
The inside contains a flap for holding the tablet, with one end sewn into the outer case and a velcro tab on the other, more on the tab in a minute. The flap uses 4 elastic bands on the corners to secure the tablet. The bands come around the corners of the tablet (only over the bezel portion, though) to secure it in place, and while the bands feel taut, they are don't seem overly stretched. On this flap the tablet sits high enough to be able to access the microUSB port and both buttons, though the band near the buttons may make some users uncomfortable. As seen in a photo below, the band goes right by where the buttons are. In the picture the band is slightly more taught due to the pose for the picture, but, from my experience, the band does not interfere with access to the buttons and doesn't seem to be at the right angle to press the buttons. The Nexus 7 fits perfectly into this case, stays in place on the flap, and seems very secure inside.
Now onto the odd velcro tab. The velcro tab enables a feature that is not very prevalent (yet) with these kinds of cases, the ability to convert the case into a stand, albeit rather oddly. The entire inside of the case can attach to the velcro, so by removing the tab, folding over the lid and placing the tab on the outer edge of the inner lid, the cases becomes a stand that looks much like a clam showing off a tablet. Button access isn't as easy in this mode and the viewing angles are limited (which the CaseLogic website markets as "privacy") but it is an interesting feature I've used, and I can say it's functional.
In summary, here is my rating for the case followed by final thoughts:
Ratings (1-5, 5 being best):
Durability 4/5 (Seems like it can take being handled roughly and dropped while keeping the tablet secure)
Screen coverage 4/5 (Screen is completely closed in when zipped up, though I can foresee scratching problems if sand gets inside the case)
Price 5/5 (Good quality for a very reasonable price, especially for a brick-and-mortar store)
Availability 5/5 (Found in a WalMart in a small Georgia town, have to imagine this case is not too hard to find nationwide)
This case feels like a decent low-price compromise between an Otterbox where the tablet is always available and the Pelican case where the tablet might as well be in a vault of safety. While I can live with the stand function, many users will probably find it lacking due to the clam like look and limited viewing angles. I would recommend this tablet to Nexus 7 users who need a cheap case till something better comes out and are worried about breaking their tablet without one or to users who don't mind the size of the case who want some durable protection not offered by the OEM case.
Thank you for reading, please leave any comments and questions, as this is my first review I would like some feedback.
(Be advised, I wrote some personal info on the inside of the case, that's why you see symbols in the pictures)
EDIT: After using the device for a few weeks now, I can say that if you have the case in an upside down stand mode (great for watching something with the tablet on your stomach laying down) with the button side down, sometimes the volume buttons will get depressed. Still haven't had the power button depress.

Great review, but I do not see the pics
Here's one I found online

kpjimmy said:
Great review, but I do not see the pics
Here's one I found online
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Pics added, thanks for the heads up

NP, you must have your last name and your 4digits of a number as good ol boot camp has instilled in us?

kpjimmy said:
NP, you must have your last name and your 4digits of a number as good ol boot camp has instilled in us?
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that's affirmative, haha

Those side strings look a bit flimsy? Like over time they'd become less elastic? Do you get that feel or no

Good complete review.
Via my HTC Rezound

krelvinaz said:
Good complete review.
Via my HTC Rezound
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks...might drive to Wallmart today and try it out

The strings feel and look solid. After a year or two of pulling the tablet out and putting it back in I can see it wearing out, but its going to take time for them to wear out.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

Slim Magnetic PU Smart Cover Stand (ebay) + Speck FitFolio Review, Comparisons, etc.

Hello! This is a quick review highlighting these two products. Of all of the cases I've tried (believe me, I have about 7 or 8 at home...) these two reign king. I'm unsure of which one I'll ultimately go with, but I do have some opinions about each that I'd like to highlight. For what it's worth, you can't go wrong with either case - but they do have slightly different features which may or may not sway you in those corresponding directions.
This entire post isn't really a defined "this is my Speck FitFolio case review" and then following "this is my eBay case review," but instead it's kind of a mish/mash of the two products all at once. I'll compare them, highlight differences/similarities between the two, etc.
To start, here is the direct link of the one I purchased from pandamimi2011 on eBay. I went with this user because it ships out of California so I knew I wouldn't have to wait two months for it to come from China, plus his/her feedback looked solid. I paid for the middle tier of shipping and it came on Wednesday when I ordered it on Sunday. I'm in Pennsylvania (on the other side of the country), and we just had hurricane Sandy rip us a new one. To say I'm satisfied at the shipping speed is an understatement.
The feel of this case is pretty nice. It has tiny grooves over it, so it almost seems like a very faint "metal file" feeling of some sort. It's got a slight rubbery texture, which when coupled with the grooves feels a bit more grippy than the Speck case, which is something I like. It does however present it with a slight -1 in the pocketability department. The Speck can be slid into my back pocket of my dress pants somewhat easily. The thickness of the Speck vs the width of my pocket makes pocketability decently possible, however if the thickness of the N7/Speck were any thicker, it'd be a different story. With the eBay case, I can make it happen, but I have to wrestle with it for a few extra seconds first. Not a big deal, but it's enough of a deterrent that when I'm walking up and down the hall at work, for short walking bursts from one tech issue to the next I may just hold it.
When both cases are opened and folded back the magnet does not interfere. Each one wakes up/sleeps the device easily and predictably. I will say this, though... when I was trying different variations of the eBay case to ensure the magnets worked properly, I noticed something. It appears as if the wake up/sleep magnet on the Nexus 7 is located on the left side - not on the right. I say this because due to the eBay's case design, it has a "tri fold" thing going on with the front flap that covers the screen. If I fold it so only the left side is flat on the screen, yet the middle and right is up in the air away from the tablet, it indeed sleeps/wakes up the N7. Whenever I saw other video reviews, people would point to the right side to indicate it had a smart feature. Either way, doesn't matter, but just an observation worth pointing out.
The back shell (the skeleton) cradling the Nexus 7 in both scenarios is solid. With each case, the N7 pops in easily and securely. With the Speck case I found it's easier to "eject" the N7 when starting from the left side, where there are some spaces in the mold. It's much more difficult to start on the right side where it's full length. See picture to see what I mean. Meanwhile with the eBay case, both the left and right side spans the entire length. Because of this, it makes the "eject from left side" idea (which works great on the Speck) fail with this case. Instead, it's easiest to eject the N7 around the charging port cutout at the bottom. See picture.
Another difference between the two worth noting is the latching mechanism. The Speck case has a clip, and a very well designed clip. The clip itself is attached to some sort of heavy elastic, which has a very slight amount of "give" when securing the flap. It's very solid and gives me 100% confidence that if I drop my case, it will not open unless, somehow, it's an epic fall that manages to break the clip itself. The eBay case however latches based on magnets. There's a magnet strip in the flap that folds behind the tablet when closed. It's not a strong magnet, however because it's an entire magnet strip, it holds on decently. I held my tablet with both hands and shook it until the flap opened up. You sure have to give it a good solid swift movement in order to have enough momentum for the flap to fly open. If my tablet were to take a tumble down a flight of stairs, the Speck case would almost definitely have the +1 because I believe the magnet would give way and open up. For just general protection, excluding extreme falls etc, the magnetic flap provides adequate security. This didn't really sway my opinion in either scenario, since I was just happy to have a case like this where there is a magnetic flap to keep it closed... whereas some cases like this don't have this magnetic flap whatsoever.
Speaking of the latching mechanism, one concern I have about the Speck case is while it latches securely, I do wonder how it'll hold up in the long haul. I use my Nexus 7 for a lot at work as I work in IT. I'm frequently opening, closing, opening, closing, over and over and over possibly hundreds of times a day. In the 10 days I've had the Speck case, I've noticed that the latch has become much easier to clip and unclip. Some may attribute this to being broken in, but considering it's hard plastic vs hard plastic, some degree of wear may be a side effect. So while the Speck latch holds closed more securely, the eBay case would almost definitely have more longevity. I also like with the eBay case that I can kind of throw the front flap shut in my hand, and thanks to the momentum, the magnetic flap flips around the back of the case and stays put thanks to the magnets grabbing it, which is kind of nice because it doesn't require a physical need to latch the clip. This may be splitting some rather extreme hairs, but I wanted to document exactly what my thoughts were on all accounts, as major or minor that they might be.
The other difference I want to notate is the button cutouts. The Speck has volume up/down in one cutout, a separation, and then the power button cutout. This is nice because when I'm feeling for the buttons it's more obvious that I'm hitting volume up instead of power, which often happens. The eBay case has one open cutout for all three buttons. However, while all three buttons are lumped together, the actual thickness of the plastic mold is indeed thinner, making the feeling of the buttons easier to detect even though there's not a separation. It's one of those half empty/half full things that likely doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but there's pros and cons to notate on both sides.
The stand up positions with both cases are decent. The Speck offers a little more versatility for some of my uses, as I'm often laying down in bed on the N7. Due to the wider platform the case gives when it's propped up in horizontal mode, it's a bit easier to prop it on my stomach/chest without issue. This probably goes without saying since most people would detect this immediately when they see a picture, but with the eBay case, due to its tri-fold design, it makes the "propped up on stomach/chest when laying down position" near impossible. It does however provide a decent range of prop positions when on a table/desk of some sort, much like the Speck. Certainly not a deal breaker, but worth mentioning.
Overall, you won't lose no matter which case you get. Both of these cases are easily contenders for the #1 spot of all of the cases I've used. The number 1 thing I love about both cases is the plastic mold they fit into. There's nothing covering the bezel anywhere and there's none of this 6 prong thing going on around the edges like the BluRex Ultra Slim case among other various cases. (not to say it's a bad design, but I personally prefer the mold design). I do believe I'll be sticking with the eBay case for a while, as I find the magnetic flap to be a little more well suited for my uses. I also think the eBay case has a slightly better price-vs-product ratio, as even with mid-tier shipping I paid 18 or 19 bucks for it, while the Speck ran me 30 bucks. Considering both of these cases are directly on par with one another, it stands to reason that the eBay case in this scenario could easily be the winner for being the "better bang for the buck." Either way, both cases are very worth their money and both are highly recommended.

Great in depth review! Need a pic gallery comparing findings would be nice. Not saying to post every single pic, but maybe host it somewhere where you already uploaded them?
Nevertheless, the review is well done! :good:

kpjimmy said:
Great in depth review! Need a pic gallery comparing findings would be nice. Not saying to post every single pic, but maybe host it somewhere where you already uploaded them?
Nevertheless, the review is well done! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was my intention when I wrote the review a few days ago. The above info I had written up before and just saved in an office doc, so to post I just pasted over. I'll be able to add pictures later this evening.

Which one is thinner?

Ehh we may have a show stopper finding here. I was using my tablet earlier with the eBay case and when folded back it shut off at one point. I spent what felt like five full minutes trying to replicate it but couldn't. Later on when I got home I was able to... it's only at a very exact point that it happens, but once I got the hang of it I could replicate it a bit easier... I just find it crazy that for hours after unboxing it I wasn't able to notice it. The eBay case indeed has a design flaw in that regard. I'm going to email the seller and see what he has to say about it.
Something else worth noting is when the Speck case is folded back you can clip it in place which is a nice touch. Without clipping it when folded back cases like this tend to have a sloppy feeling when holding it with one hand. That being said, I'd say the Speck takes the cake here.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

JaSauders said:
Ehh we may have a show stopper finding here. I was using my tablet earlier with the eBay case and when folded back it shut off at one point. I spent what felt like five full minutes trying to replicate it but couldn't. Later on when I got home I was able to... it's only at a very exact point that it happens, but once I got the hang of it I could replicate it a bit easier... I just find it crazy that for hours after unboxing it I wasn't able to notice it. The eBay case indeed has a design flaw in that regard. I'm going to email the seller and see what he has to say about it.
Something else worth noting is when the Speck case is folded back you can clip it in place which is a nice touch. Without clipping it when folded back cases like this tend to have a sloppy feeling when holding it with one hand. That being said, I'd say the Speck takes the cake here.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
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Any word from the seller?

I prefer the Blurex/Moko style than your ebay case. It is classy and suitable for business style. ebay case looks cheap with the plastic cover, and it may hurt the Nexus 7's plastic sides.

the "wanted" case project

Ok so i dont think many of us are impressed with the current available cases for out n7's
we seem to have to pick between protection-price-visual appeal.
we dont seem to have a case with all 3 .
so im implying my project idea,
im goin to check in at my old high school. where i remember in "Design&tech" we used "vacuum forming" machines to heat hard plastic sheets and re-mould them into covers and shapes over a pre-made wooden mould.
im goin to put forth an idea to create a case from shock-absorbent hard plastic front and back that either clip or screw closed. the next part of the project would be to imply some kind of clear glass screen area. one that conducts touch-responsiveness, good for display, and scratch/shatter resistance,.
im thinking after a few attempts we may be able to pre-cut the required "pattern" to perfectly fit to each edge while heat-moulding if so would could then attempt cutting the button/rocker area's then re-attaching them with a stretchy silicone between the actual button cover to make a professional finish to the buttons
so we would end up with a Hard shock resistant Full back/corner surface cover with clear scratch resistant full screen glass face and silicone set button rockers and attached plugs to insert into usb/headphone ports to keep out dust.
this is a 1 hour idea so far do you guys think its worth pursuing?
im think the school maybe interested as if this project works and can be made at a cheap price they could look into marketing it.
i would make sure xda'ers get a discount thou lol :good:

i too hate all the cases. ended up settling for a fitfolio which provides the protection i want without covering the edges of the screen.
however, the ideal case i think would be one that provide protection for corners, silver bezel (just the silver bezel, not wider), and raised edge for front protection. an added bonus would be a sturdy kickstand like the ones on the trident kraken case.
does it have to be hard plastic?
i think TPU material would be better for shock absorption.

TPU
I have an idea, we buy one of these or similar, then 2 small magnets in the nexus 7 back plate, then make a magnetically attached flap, like in the ipad
http://www.cruzerlite.com/cases/asus/nexus7/cruzerlite-androidified-clone-army-for-asus-nexus-7

Sagar96 said:
I have an idea, we buy one of these or similar, then 2 small magnets in the nexus 7 back plate, then make a magnetically attached flap, like in the ipad
http://www.cruzerlite.com/cases/asus/nexus7/cruzerlite-androidified-clone-army-for-asus-nexus-7
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I like the idea, and maybe add groves in the front flap so we can stand the device up to watch movies too?

chismay said:
Ok so i dont think many of us are impressed with the current available cases for out n7's
we seem to have to pick between protection-price-visual appeal.
we dont seem to have a case with all 3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to design one yourself go for it and let us see the results but don't try to get consensus on what is ideal because you will be waiting forever, you can't make a case that's all things to everybody.

NewbCentral said:
I like the idea, and maybe add groves in the front flap so we can stand the device up to watch movies too?
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Im just wondering if i mount magnets in the inside of the back cover on the left hand side, will it affect any of the electronics (they will be mounted near the corners so it doesn't trigger the magnet switch. Then i can get my mom to sew me a flap with magnets, and have a legit apple style "smart cover"

[REVIEW] MoKo/Blurex/Others slim case

I know there are probably already plenty of these, but I thought I would share my views, and hopefully help someone! I have had this case several months, so this is not a first impression For the lazy ones, skip to the bottom for a summary. :silly:
Many of you have probably seen this case on amazon or this forum. It is a PU leather with a landscape stand, sold under many different brand names on amazon.
Instead of the case coming around the bezel of the device, or using a breakage-prone plastic clip on case as some others do, this case has 6 or 7 clips (depending on the version) to hold the Nexus in. There is one on each corner, and another on the top and bottom. 2 of the corners unclip and the device flips out in landscape mode to make a stand (no portrait stand, but this is common to most cases unfortunately). Some variations also have a hand strap.
Now, the big question on everyone's minds. Quality. I have found this case to be very good, as have others who have tried them. Unlike some other cases such as the Nillkin smart cover, there are no plastic parts to crack, or joins/edges covered in that waxy plastic coating, that seems to be prone to cracking and peeling. All the edges are sewn, so no issues there.
Another worry I have seen come up on the forum is the metal or plastic clasp that clips over the edge of the device for closure. Some worry this could scratch or damage their Nexus. Don't. I have been using this case for around 3 months now, and my 7 still looks as good as the day I got it (well, apart from the filthy screen ) In fact, I prefer this to a magnetic strap, as it is far more secure!
Although this is a great case, it still has its issues. At first, the clasp is quite tight, and hard to close, but over time this loosens as the case stretches slightly. This happening is great, apart from the fact that on mine, it no longer held the smart cover magnet close enough to the screen, so the smart cover only works intermittently. I understand mine may be from an old batch, and this has been fixed with a stronger magnet.
For all of you in the USA, this case is easily available on Amazon, but for me in Australia, it is not so easy to find. There is a variant by Caseen called the Soft snap, but this is 3x the price of the Chinese amazon version. For anyone outside of the US, I could not find it on eBay, but eventually found one on a Hong Kong wholesale site, Aliexpress. I will post a link once I am allowed to.
So, for all the lazy ones who skipped to the bottom, to sum up:
Pros:
Slim, adds very little bulk
Clever stand design, does not add thickness
Cheap
Secure clasp
Cons:
Hard to get outside of Amazon USA
Clasp too tight at first
Some have issues with smart cover

Yeah, there are quite a few threads for this that you could have posted into, but this case IMO deserves attention. A few people at work have asked me about mine and have gotten one (although one apparently wasn't paying attention and got a similar case and he doesn't like it.. he's getting the moko now )
Besides fit, form, and function which are all great on this case, I expected the strap to stretch out and the pleather to scuff up, fray on the edges, rip, etc and look shabby like almost all PU does. Nope. This is good stuff, whatever crazy chemicals it's made out of. The case looks the same today as it did when I bought it a few weeks after the N7 was available, straps are still tight even though I use the hand strap quite a bit, snap is still good (and as you said; no damage anywhere) etc.

Thanks for the feedback! I will try to find others next time to keep clutter down.

LUVVITT Clear Grip (Case Review)

I don't know if this case has been reviewed yet or not but I just got it today. I had to find a case quick and it needed to be cheap since I don't know if I'll be getting the HTC 10 or LG G5. It also needed to be available for same day Amazon shipping since I couldn't go another day without a case. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to use this phone without a case but it's design makes it a little difficult for me. My palm is always touching the screen which causes some minor issues but my biggest complaint is while playing a game such as Trials Frontier. When playing a game like this, it starts to become uncomfortable after just 5 minutes of play. It's most likely due to the phones thin edges which are rounded but still sharp when holding it horizontally.
Anyway, this case fixed all of my issues. It still keeps the phone very thing but it provides just enough thickness to the edges to make the phone feel more comfortable when using. The case itself feels well made but I suppose there isn't much to screw up with a TPU case. All of the cutouts match up and the buttons stay very crisp. The case provides a nice grip without providing to much grip to where it becomes an issue sliding your phone in and out of your pockets. The actual fit of the case is very snug but it's still easy to remove. I suppose if you keep on removing it and installing it, there is a possibility it could become loose.
In regards to protection it's not going to work any miracles but I'm sure it would provide some kind of protection during drops. It's a super thin case that has the corners slightly raised. They are raised just enough to keep the display off of a hard surface if the phone falls face down or if you like keeping your phone face down on the table. These raised corners however only slightly sit above the front glass so dropping it on an uneven surface such as asphalt could have dire consequences. The back is no problem at all as the raised corners give the back glass more clearance.
If you're looking for a crystal clear super thin case that offers nice grip, decent protection and allows you to showcase this nice looking phone then you might be interested in it. If you care more about protection than the way your phone looks and feels then this probably isn't the case for you.
You can pick it up on Amazon for $12.99 (PRIME Eligible.)
Side Note: The Edge display keeps full functionality if that's important to you.

Where are all the "Real" pictures?

felloffthetruck said:
Where are all the "Real" pictures?
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I did this late last night. I'll take some pictures today and add them.

i bought 4 luvvitt cases when they were like $4-5 on slickdeals including this one. haven't opened this one yet, but will. thanks for the review.

Does the back have texture? Does part of the phones glass back stick to it at all?
Also btw the sale on these cases (including the normal clear one) are still going on with the code SLICK007

johnnyz86 said:
Does the back have texture? Does part of the phones glass back stick to it at all?
Also btw the sale on these cases (including the normal clear one) are still going on with the code SLICK007
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Yes. The back sides are textured. I also just removed it to see if it stuck and no it doesn't.
I don't know what kind of deal that coupon code gets you but it its $10 or less then I'd definitely get one. I needed the case same day shipped through Amazon Prime so I just paid full price.
Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

Actual pics?
Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

I also got one as well during the SD promo as well, Posted some pictures of it bellow and sorry if the quality is not up to par.
Just wanted to help out on the real pictures. It's fine I've been using the Spigen Tough Armor for now. Just wanted a clear one for home or if show of how nice the phone looks while still on case.

Thanks from the real pictures. I knew I was forgetting something today. My wife had me running around like a chicken with my head cut off today since we are having family over our house for Easter tomorrow.
Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

cmart4 said:
i bought 4 luvvitt cases when they were like $4-5 on slickdeals including this one. haven't opened this one yet, but will. thanks for the review.
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can you detail your opinions about the build and pros cons of the Luvvitt cases.
Bought sleek armor and aside from the lack of lip it seems like a nice low profile case with some protection. Just dont like the fact that the phone when face down with the case does not have enough lip to protect the screen.
The home button rest directly on the surface.Testing this out I caused micro scratches on the home button which is naturally a bit raised.
Would love pics and opinions on what yours are like...