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 ...
Related
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
Click to expand...
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.
Love this thing. Have had it since the Otterbox Defender case fell apart after less than a half a year; there's more than 10 months of bad use on the Ballistic case, or, enough to destroy 2 Otterbox Defender cases.
In the first week i used this case i dropped the fone six times onto tile and other hard hospital floors from hospital counter height. Observation: It bounces quite well.
It was an ill coordinated week. Fone was completely unscratched from all that abuse, and has remained unscratched ever since it's been in this case. It's suffered a whole lot more abuse since then. i drop stuff. You don't want me around your best china.
It's a two piece black case. Silicone case with huge corner bumpers around the fone, then a two-layer hard shell over the silicone. Buttons are protected tho connectors are not. Doesn't come with a screen protector. i have on a nice, squidgy one, can't remember the name.
In the hand the encased fone is big and bulky with a very nice, non slippy grip that's augmented by the big corner bumper protrusions: the bumpers help a lot in fone handling. When one is holding and using it there's no thot at all that it'll ever slip out of one's hand.
So those are the upsides. Fantastic protection (except for the exposed ports), survivability and safe, ergonomic handling.
Downsides are, it's super geeky. It's not a fashion item hand crafted out of the finest rare polished hardwoods trimmed with inlaid silver accents. It's black, non-slip, lumpy in the corners like speech balloons in a comic strip, and it's styled to fit into your kit next to the remote launch control for Thunderbird 3.
The materials this case's made from are very good quality, much better than what the Otterbox Defender was made of. After a year of constant use the silicone inner case is beginning to get stretchy and gummy like they all do, but i've used it so much all the corners and all the buttons have worn shiny, and the sides of the hard outer shell as well. Since i mess with the fone a lot i crash it all the time and keep having to take the case off to remove and put back the battery, and it's survived all that ill use fine.
It's fine in sub zero winter use, past the point where the touch screen goes flakey.
The big, non-slip silicone corners does mean it'll drag a bit going in and out of the pocket. Could be maddening, but i'm fine with it since my habit is to drop it on the ground after it leaves my pocket, and that's the part where this case shows its mettle.
So I needed a case for my S6 edge as I am rather active during the day and while I have never dropped a phone, I didnt want to have an oops moment adn drop this one and break it. Bought a case from Speigen which normally has good reviews... but the case seemed like it was made about 1mm to long and it constantly bugged me that my phone moved around in it a little. But me being cheap and realizing that the case while annoying protected my phone just fine, never replaced it.
Then I got my hands on the RooCase... First impression was seemed decent, about on par with my other case, but seriously how different could it be? Boy was I about to get an eye opener...
Installation: the fit was TIGHT! I actually used a micro screwdriver to help the edges over the phones power and volume buttons. I didn't really need to I found out but as I said this case fits good and tight and I hate putting a lot of side load on small switches and buttons. once on the phone the case is nice and firm. No wiggle at all. Much better than my old case. The only issue I had with installation was that the edge of the case pushed my film style screen protector up and caused it to bubble a bit in a couple spots. this was alleviated with my micro screwdriver gently lifting the edge of the case and using a guitar pick to smooth the bubble out before releasing the case edge back down. If you installed a screen protector and it is off center you may need to watch out for this. I don't blame the case for this, but just giving heads up.
Feel: I'm not going to get into the technical manes and such, and for that I apologize, but here are my impressions of the case in hand. the back of the case is a lightly textured hard plastic. the top and bottom edge of the back is a rubbery type material. the sides are the same plastic as the back of the case, but with rubber inserts down the middle. I found that the back is a little slick and slides a touch in my hand, but with the rubbery top and bottom it really isn't an issue. I would love to see some sort of rubbery addition or something to the back to aid in anti-slip if I could have everything I wanted... the rubber inserts on the sides, while rather thin, do a wonderful job of adding just enough grip to the device. In the hand the case feels great. No sharp edges, just enough tactile feel, nad good and solid.
Design: The case has small protrusions on the back so that when you lay it down the Camera and such is well protected. these protrusions are formed i the rubbery top and bottom parts and I found that they also do a wonderful job of keeping the device from sliding around on smooth surfaces. the top and bottom edges of the front are also protruding past the device protecting the screen and again keeping the device from sliding, albeit it will slide just a bit easier than the back.
the openings are all well shaped and cut out to perfectly line up with the phones charging, speaker,headphone jack and what ever the two openings on the top of the phone are... Cant remember what they are right now, Oh well...
on the outer edges of the corners there is a larger protrusion of rubber that will protect the phone if dropped on the corners. I don't feel like dropping my phone to test this, but they seem well designed and placed. large enough to add extra protection, but still small enough to flow with the case and phones lines perfectly.
My favorite part of the case design is the buttons. I really love the buttons on this case. Most cases have marks, or molded bumps for the buttons. This case has real, actual freaking metallic buttons! They actually feel better than the phones stock buttons. the power button has two vertical lines cut into the face of it and in the dark it is so easy to slide my finger down the side of the case until I feel that and I know instantly my finger is o the button to either turn on or off the screen or what ever Im trying to do. the volume button is a nicely prominent as well with a nice line cut in the middle to differentiate between up and down. again, very simple and easy to feel with your finger to adjust volume. the buttons are nice and prominent, but still low profile enough to not be a bother. the corner bumpers I mentioned earlier are just a touch wider than the buttons are, so again, everything flows very well.
Protection: well... the case is great. I work in Law Enforcement. we do all sorts of active training adn what not and because of my unit I am always on call so I have to keep my phone with me at all times. I had it in my pocket the other day and my phone took two hits from simunition... the screen was destroyed. instantly and catastrophically. so I figured why not, the phone was already destroyed and going to be replaced... So I set the phone up with the case facing out and hit it a few times with the simunition rounds. the marks on the case wiped right off, and when I puled the case off the phone was undamaged. the case protected the back glass perfectly.
Conclusion: I love this case. The color, fit, finish, details such as the buttons and the level of protection it affords without becoming obtrusive such as Otterbox or lifeproof are exactly what I want and expect in a case. It looks great on my phone, feels great in my hand, slides in and out of my pocket easily with out snagging. I would highly recommend looking into this case if your in the market for one.
Ill add pictures of it later, Im at work right now and cant post them from here.
schollianmj said:
So I needed a case for my S6 edge as I am rather active during the day and while I have never dropped a phone, I didnt want to have an oops moment adn drop this one and break it. Bought a case from Speigen which normally has good reviews... but the case seemed like it was made about 1mm to long and it constantly bugged me that my phone moved around in it a little. But me being cheap and realizing that the case while annoying protected my phone just fine, never replaced it.
Then I got my hands on the RooCase... First impression was seemed decent, about on par with my other case, but seriously how different could it be? Boy was I about to get an eye opener... .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey there schollianmj!
Thank you for your amazing and thorough review, we're happy to hear that you enjoyed our case! We definitely try to go for designs that are stylish all while withstanding getting hit with simunition. That's why we call it our Exec Tough case, because if it can't withstand getting shot at then what is a case good for, am I right? We're eager to see pictures, let us know when you have them up and once again, thank you for the review!
Bev
Roocase Representative
Full disclosure: I was given this case for free, the vendor is seeking reviews. But, as I've said before, I will give an honest review of a free product regardless. People's feelings be darned.
Product arrived in a timely manner. Packaging was plain, I'm assuming it was non-retail. There were no markings or branding of any kind. No instructions, either. Not that they were really needed I guess, but I would assume that a retail purchase would be packaged, and not arrive in a plain padded envelope.
The case by itself looks, well, clear. Mine is clear with opaque rubber (TPU, Poetic calls it). I guess a model with black TPU is available. I don't want to sound like I'm bashing the case, because I'm not, but it is kind of unremarkable to look at. And I don't think that's a bad thing. After all, this case is designed to show off the phone, not just to show off. And that is apparent when it's actually on the phone. It hugs the shape of the device and doesn't compete for your attention.
The case is made of rigid plastic. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of hard cases, as I feel they can be rough on phones. But, the note 5 has an aluminum frame instead of the Standard issue Samsung chromed plastic. And there is clearish rubber around the frame as well as the lip that goes over the screen. It is along the sides as well. That made me feel better about it being a rigid plastic.
The case is one piece that pops in firmly but easily enough. Let me tell you, this baby is snug! And I mean that in a good way. Takes a little doing to get it out once it's in (again, I hope the retail packaging has instructions, in case there's some "trick" to it). But this thing really hugs the phone tightly. Solid fit. There is a very thin lip over and around the merest edge of the screen which holds the case on. It's a pretty impressive design, because the case basically clips onto the aluminum frame, leaving the entirety of the screen exposed. But there is no fear of the phone popping out of this case.
There is a slight lip that keeps the screen from coming in contact with the table when placed face down. A slight lip, but it is there, even with a glass screen protector on my phone.
It's made of clear polycarbonate with a clearish TPU on the corners, around the screen and in two raised rails running the long way down the back. It is comfortable in the hand, allowing the holder to feel the contours of the phone without adding bulk.
Along the sides, there are upraised ridges for grip. Which is good, because the smooth polycarbonate could feel a bit slippy if not for the TPU rails on the back, rubber around the lip of the case and ridges on the sides. This case has a good, reasonably grippy feel. Those who do not like the feel of smooth plastic against their palm may not dig it, but it feels pretty good to me.
The buttons are perfectly lined up, and very very clicky. One cool thing about the volume buttons: instead of being one big rocker style button for VOL up/down (many cases "join" the two buttons), the Poetic Affinity case keeps them separated just as the phone was designed. It looks sharp and deliberate, and provides some useful tactile feedback.
The TPU around the frame and the rails along the back ensure that your phone will stay put wherever you set it, which is nice.
The ports are almost all lined up perfectly (more on that in a sec). The SPen port seems wide open, which is pretty common for cases of this type. The bottom speaker, instead of being a cutout, is 8 holes drilled or molded or whatever into the case. They don't really line up with the actual speaker holes (at least in mine). But I have tried with and without the case, and I cannot tell any difference in the sound, so it doesn't seem to be a big deal. It isn't to me, anyway. But it will be to someone, which is really the only reason I mention it.
The clear polycarbonate gets smudged up with fingerprints in no time, I wipe mine frequently.
The combination of polycarbonate and strategically placed TPU seems pretty sturdy. I feel like my phone is adequately protected against day to day hazards. The case feels solid, complete and protective. The placement of the TPU seems designed to protect well against average corner drops or flat drops onto the front or back.
In conclusion, if you want a phone case that protects you from everyday hazards, and showcases as it encases, this is a good one to comsider. It is not at all expensive, and seems to offer protection that is definitely a cut above most "budget" cases I have seen. I have mentioned a couple of things that may give some people misgivings about this product (smooth plastic back, misaligned speaker holes), but for me neither of these things is a deal breaker, or even a significant concern. Your mileage may vary, etc. I like this case quite a bit.
Did we really yet another separate thread for this? You could have added it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3220298
Mods please merge these threads.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
Yeah I didnt see that thread sorry all
I have noticed that the TPU gets a little dingy looking and is not easy to clean. I can't imagine that would be a problem with the black TPU, but I have the opaque TPU on mine. Still love the case, still using it, but if I were buying one, I would go with the black TPU.
Just got my poetic affinity case. It's very nice! Love it
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.
More pictures
Couple more
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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