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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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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.
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
More pics
Hi
No matter how hard I look for covers, I just can't find any cover to adequately protect both the phone and it's screen sides.
The cases I found so far seems to either adequately protect the phone (Samsung's Protective Stand Cover is the best I found so far but won't adequately protect the sides, what if the surface is not flat?) or questionably adequately protect the screen (wallet type covers like Spigen Wallet S, Samsung official LED Cover and more).
Is there any case that would adequately protect both the phone and its sides?
If not, what would protect it the best?
Maybe I am wrong but I don't think I can rely on screen protectors, they've failed me in the past.
Thanks!
I am doing a search for cases with raised edges. The only decent one I have found so far is Encased Rebel. Don't listen to excuses like "raised edges would decrease edge function". Ask for proof that case edges are indeed raised. The Rebel has edges raised like half a milimeter above the screen. Not much but it is the most I found so far. With a glass screen protector (Whitestone) it is not raised anymore but almost level with the "screen". All the rest I tried leave edges exposed.
notefreak said:
I am doing a search for cases with raised edges. The only decent one I have found so far is Encased Rebel. Don't listen to excuses like "raised edges would decrease edge function". Ask for proof that case edges are indeed raised. The Rebel has edges raised like half a milimeter above the screen. Not much but it is the most I found so far. With a glass screen protector (Whitestone) it is not raised anymore but almost level with the "screen". All the rest I tried leave edges exposed.
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Thanks!!
This is the first case I saw with raised lips on all edges, It doesn't really look good, is there any other option?
Do you think that wallet cases may do the job?
EDIT: btw, the buttons of the Encased Rebel case aren't good at all.
I haven't found another option yet. Waiting for another case, then I will give up and let the perfect one find me. To me it looks good enough and I don't mind the buttons too much.
mbenji86 said:
Hi
No matter how hard I look for covers, I just can't find any cover to adequately protect both the phone and it's screen sides.
The cases I found so far seems to either adequately protect the phone (Samsung's Protective Stand Cover is the best I found so far but won't adequately protect the sides, what if the surface is not flat?) or questionably adequately protect the screen (wallet type covers like Spigen Wallet S, Samsung official LED Cover and more).
Is there any case that would adequately protect both the phone and its sides?
If not, what would protect it the best?
Maybe I am wrong but I don't think I can rely on screen protectors, they've failed me in the past.
Thanks!
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This: https://www.spigen.com/collections/galaxy-note-8/products/galaxy-note-8-case-rugged-crystal
i just want to stay in this thread. i would happily give up edge functions to have a lip that protects the screen along the sides. i just wish there was an option that was also considered "slim" not a fan of bulky cases, let alone bulky cases on a phone this large.
I did you guys a favor and ordered every note 8 case I could find that: *did* look like it might protect the edges and *did not* make me cover the glass or various ports.
I tried:
Spigen Tough Armor
Encased Rebel
TILL Knight Armor
WallSkiN Turtle
Zizo Static
Zizo Bolt
- The Encased Rebel is the only one that truly comes up above the edges at all.
- I had read that some of these tougher cases can break the phone just putting them on, so I was SUPER careful applying each of them... and I could see that if one were not careful, some of them would put a LOT of pressure on the phone during installation. Because of the way the hard shell part of this case comes in two pieces, it did not scare me putting the thing on - yet the hard part does stay well attached to the rubbery bit once you have it on right the first time.
- I don't have a problem with the buttons on mine, but I am careful to make sure the case's button bits are properly seated over the actual phone buttons. If you just slap that baby on, you may have a problem.
- The case isn't bulky
- Cordless charging works fine with this case
Last week I dropped my newly "encased" phone hard while running and while the corner of the hardcase broke, the phone was fine... I called that a win for now and just ordered another one.
AS for how it looks - I love purple EXCEPT for this particular color of purple. I tried to order the navy one but it is sold out. I can imagine that either the navy or black would look pretty good, but my husband has the same phone in a black case so ... I'm sticking with the somewhat lame purple for now - in order to keep peace in our little cellular community.
I figure in a few months I'll do another search to see if a different manufacturer has served this obvious need.
Thank you to @notefreak for your recommendation.
Got the N8 last week. I'm still looking for a good case that would give decent protection - not a fan of the tank cases. From the reads so far - the Patchworks have done a good job wrt to the N8.
Get Rhino shield. I have dropped a couple of times and it really protects my phone from all sides.
Search for venoro rugged note 8 case on amazon. This case definitely protects the sides of the note 8 but it makes it bigger. It doesn't go above the screen but it is quite a bit wider at the sides. It is a bit slippery on the back also. When you get it, it seems pretty cheap and seems like it would not go together correctly. When you snap it together with the phone in it is when it feels sturdier. Cheap.
Just take care of your phone and don't user it like a hook for climbing. I recommend the one provided when you buy the phone.
Captain Droid said:
Get Rhino shield. I have dropped a couple of times and it really protects my phone from all sides.
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Having to. Dropped it one time, device is fine. What i don't like is how the buttons feel and work. Could be better.
Gesendet von meinem SM-N950F mit Tapatalk
Ghostek ultrafit 2. I have had Ghostek for my Note 7, S7 Edge and now my Note 8. They are the only case I could find that actually has the sides that come up higher than the display. Buttons and everything works great.
https://www.amazon.com/Ghostek-Covert-Samsung-Galaxy-Military/dp/B0753N93M1/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1522688607&sr=8-4&keywords=ghostek+note+8
---------- Post added at 11:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:05 AM ----------
I find most cases get slippery on the sides.
I had speck in the past but it was OK any others that you recommend thanks
From what I've seen so far:
1. Spigen Liquid Air - Seems to have some good grip potential, especially with ridges on the sides. However, the gap around the camera bump is an interesting design choice...
2. Samsung OEM Matte Black Silicone Case - Seems to have a decent grip on the matte finish and very minimal.
3. Pitaka Air or MagEZ Case - While I haven't used them myself, I've heard good things about the grip/feel of the Ipitaka cases.
I'm personally going to try the PItaka MagEZ case when it becomes available (Aug 21st) since I like the idea of having embedded metal so I don't have to stick a scosche metal piece on the back of the case.
Also, just a heads up. According to some initial reviews on the new speck 'grip' cases, they're using a more plastic-feeling material for grips instead of rubberized and people are not happy about it. (I previously used them as well)
I switch phones often, but one thing that remains constant is my Pitaka MagEZ cases. Have purchased well over 10 of them at this point. Wouldn't choose any other thin case
PseudoChris said:
From what I've seen so far:
1. Spigen Liquid Air - Seems to have some good grip potential, especially with ridges on the sides. However, the gap around the camera bump is an interesting design choice...
2. Samsung OEM Matte Black Silicone Case - Seems to have a decent grip on the matte finish and very minimal.
3. Pitaka Air or MagEZ Case - While I haven't used them myself, I've heard good things about the grip/feel of the Ipitaka cases.
I'm personally going to try the PItaka MagEZ case when it becomes available (Aug 21st) since I like the idea of having embedded metal so I don't have to stick a scosche metal piece on the back of the case.
Also, just a heads up. According to some initial reviews on the new speck 'grip' cases, they're using a more plastic-feeling material for grips instead of rubberized and people are not happy about it. (I previously used them as well)
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Does the pitika have a lip to protect the screen? Thanks
magichoward said:
Does the pitika have a lip to protect the screen? Thanks
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The "Air" series cases generally don't rise above the screen.
They do have a thicker "Pro" series option with a raised lip to protect the screen, bumpers on the corners, etc.
Samsung OEM silicon. Can confirm it has excellent grip
seoulbrova said:
Samsung OEM silicon. Can confirm it has excellent grip
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The cloth one does as well since there's a slim silicone band along the edge.
zedwards said:
The cloth one does as well since there's a slim silicone band along the edge.
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Yes I've seen the one the only concern I've read it's a little difficult to remove the spen.. Your thoughts.
I will never choose Pitaka again.
Edges are rough and the upper part could have covered more
But I especially won't because it damaged my Note 10+ because of a defect in the inside of the case that made a grain of sand sized hole in the back of my phone.
Been using the Zizo Bolt on my Note 10+ for over 6 months. Excellent grip, usability and protection.
Kick stand doubles as a grip; either fully retract/extend it to keep from losing it's pins, if not secured in either position they can work their way out in your pocket! No issues with this case otherwise.
The one for the 20 seems to come with a temper glass screen protector; that may not work so well.
That's not present on the one for the 10.
Presumably you can use it without and substitute one one your choice?
Damn the 20's cam has a big bullseye on it... no likey. Buying a good case for the 10+ was very hard early on, no doubt the 20 U will be harder to protect
https://www.zizowireless.com/produc...axy-note-20-ultra-case?variant=32315584282672
magichoward said:
I find most cases get slippery on the sides.
I had speck in the past but it was OK any others that you recommend thanks
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https://www.amazon.com/JJNUSA-Handmade-Leather-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B08DXWJSQ1?ref_=ast_sto_dp
you know i never thought trying to find a case was going to leave me so hard pressed. note i do not mind the camera bump one bit. but they could have rounded out the camera hump a bit more. not the corners, but where the surface meets the edges and also they could have slanted the sides a bit more angled. who knows they did pull it off pretty good.
still on the camera bump.
note: with JJNUSA leather case you will be covering the mic on the camera bump. if that is a problem for you look elsewhere for a case.
i have received 200 in incentives to order goodies when i got my phone pre ordered and used it to order a few cases.
cases i ordered:
samsung rugged: bulky, heavy, don't like the texture on the back and flimsy kickstands that shoot off when used
samsung leather case: upgrade from last years, 2g lighter. seamless, but warps at the bottom. good cam protection.
samsun silicon: unsure if food grade safe. and slippery as glass
-other cases-
spigen Rugged Armor: oddly best all tpu case with carbon fiber accents. the back is slippery if trying to reach across the screen. side bumpers have one way slip grip and flimsy. camera is well protected. pen cut out too deep corner exposed but covered. top /bottom bumper good but top may block ear piece. 2g heavier then jjnusa leather
...now my official review of the JJNUSA Handmade Leather Case...
NOTE i used amazon prime
don't let the first pic they have on amazon throw you off, but what bothers me is the video they added to the product and it is of the s20 ultra; the camera lens is so scratched. i am still baffled how they did that. then again we will see in due time, because i can not stand the samsung leather case(which got me hooked on leather cases oddly) it is too slippery. the jjnusa case has tpu sides and saddle leather on back with plastic on the inside that the phone rests on. but i will say the leather on the back is so soft i think it sorta makes up for the lack of suede like the official samsung case has. then again the leather is so thick its' edges pop out the mold a teensy-weensy bit, but i doubt with proper use and not picking at it it will survive for a long time. with the 5% off coupon i also got another 1 usd off(who knows if it was the amazon prime). so for 19.95 it is a steal. most other leather cases are $30+. a steal; why may you say? hold on let me get to the rest of it. if we all remember the lg g4 leather back it was a looker. that was it, because it scratched easily and punctured easily. then we go onto the samsung leather case that scratches easily with minimal show. further more i can not say what that will mean over long term usage with this case from jjnusa. treat it lightly and it should be fine. now back to the leather on the jjnusa case. the leather reminds me of the type you get on a saddle and does not separate from itself. that is a plus. but a minus if the antiquing they use comes off very very easily?, and it does(con or not?) i had a cane that had antiquing and it turned my hands black, but after it leveled out it was fine. you know they always slap so much on to fill in the design that almost certainly more then half they put on will rub off. i have rubbed off some already. hence it would not rub off like wow, i had to use my nail. no way does it show like scratches on the samsung leather case. either way the extra antiquing will no matter what fade away over time and settle down to where it should be. i still think it will look good. at the same time the leather is much more scratch resistant then the latter. and the design and the look really grew on me. now on to the sides. the power button and volume are labeled with symbols and i like it even though i will never look at it. what else i like is that they are tpu like the rest of the sides. the tactile of the buttons are sturdy then again not too stiff not too mushy. then there is a bonus or an achilles heal; you move down the same side as the buttons and find a wrist strap punch out so you can add a wrist strap. have not tested it, seems like it should be worthy of use and not fearing. the bonus is removing the phone from the case, it does not shoot out like it does with the samsung leather case does. still it holds it in better. this is where i tell you that the jjnusa case has way better screen protection that leaves a better feel in the hand. the samsung leather case has a squidgy spongy top and bottom. the bottom is already warped and i never used it; i just put it on a few times and took it off. also a fail for the bottom bumper is the difficulty to remove the spen without nails. the jjnusa case is cut out just right and since it is thinner and more stiffer in a good way you can press your thumb or finger and hear that satisfying click to eject it. with that said the top and bottom bumper are raised higher then the samsung to protect the screen. the samsung case is more flush and flimsy.
i am a happy camper and if it fairs well i will update to 5 stars from 4, but i am really thinking at the price to slap down for another. as we all know leather cases do not last as long as other types
the reason i gave it 4 stars is i never really heard of JJNUSA till i saw them on etsy.com and since they where based in china i thought meh. then i thought to ebay's third party cases and said but leather? does not smell much like leather, oddly that is how saddles with the same type of leather smells. or it could be the antiquing they used and the shipping package. it was not shipped in a box or cheap plastic, it was in a cloth sleeve in a sealed padded envelope. JJNUSA do claim Oregon origins... yeah right etsy.com says ships from china.
i have played around with plenty of cases and phones in cases so it's not like i only have really had the note 20 ultra... just do not get one of them ultra thin all tpu cases. i have one for my lg g4 and only really protects the sides and back. busted the screen.
https://www.amazon.com/JJNUSA-Handma...ef_=ast_sto_dp
you know i never thought trying to find a case was going to leave me so hard pressed. note i do not mind the camera bump one bit. but they could have rounded out the camera hump a bit more. not the corners, but where the surface meets the edges and also they could have slanted the sides a bit more angled. who knows they did pull it off pretty good.
still on the camera bump.
note: with JJNUSA leather case you will be covering the mic on the camera bump. if that is a problem for you look elsewhere for a case.
i have received 200 in incentives to order goodies when i got my phone pre ordered and used it to order a few cases.
cases i ordered:
samsung rugged: bulky, heavy, don't like the texture on the back and flimsy kickstands that shoot off when used
samsung leather case: upgrade from last years, 2g lighter. seamless, but warps at the bottom. good cam protection.
samsun silicon: unsure if food grade safe. and slippery as glass
-other cases-
spigen Rugged Armor: oddly best all tpu case with carbon fiber accents. the back is slippery if trying to reach across the screen. side bumpers have one way slip grip and flimsy. camera is well protected. pen cut out too deep corner exposed but covered. top /bottom bumper good but top may block ear piece. 2g heavier then jjnusa leather
...now my official review of the JJNUSA Handmade Leather Case...
NOTE i used amazon prime
don't let the first pic they have on amazon throw you off, but what bothers me is the video they added to the product and it is of the s20 ultra; the camera lens is so scratched. i am still baffled how they did that. then again we will see in due time, because i can not stand the samsung leather case(which got me hooked on leather cases oddly) it is too slippery. the jjnusa case has tpu sides and saddle leather on back with plastic on the inside that the phone rests on. but i will say the leather on the back is so soft i think it sorta makes up for the lack of suede like the official samsung case has. then again the leather is so thick its' edges pop out the mold a teensy-weensy bit, but i doubt with proper use and not picking at it it will survive for a long time. with the 5% off coupon i also got another 1 usd off(who knows if it was the amazon prime). so for 19.95 it is a steal. most other leather cases are $30+. a steal; why may you say? hold on let me get to the rest of it. if we all remember the lg g4 leather back it was a looker. that was it, because it scratched easily and punctured easily. then we go onto the samsung leather case that scratches easily with minimal show. further more i can not say what that will mean over long term usage with this case from jjnusa. treat it lightly and it should be fine. now back to the leather on the jjnusa case. the leather reminds me of the type you get on a saddle and does not separate from itself. that is a plus. but a minus if the antiquing they use comes off very very easily?, and it does(con or not?) i had a cane that had antiquing and it turned my hands black, but after it leveled out it was fine. you know they always slap so much on to fill in the design that almost certainly more then half they put on will rub off. i have rubbed off some already. hence it would not rub off like wow, i had to use my nail. no way does it show like scratches on the samsung leather case. either way the extra antiquing will no matter what fade away over time and settle down to where it should be. i still think it will look good. at the same time the leather is much more scratch resistant then the latter. and the design and the look really grew on me. now on to the sides. the power button and volume are labeled with symbols and i like it even though i will never look at it. what else i like is that they are tpu like the rest of the sides. the tactile of the buttons are sturdy then again not too stiff not too mushy. then there is a bonus or an achilles heal; you move down the same side as the buttons and find a wrist strap punch out so you can add a wrist strap. have not tested it, seems like it should be worthy of use and not fearing. the bonus is removing the phone from the case, it does not shoot out like it does with the samsung leather case does. still it holds it in better. this is where i tell you that the jjnusa case has way better screen protection that leaves a better feel in the hand. the samsung leather case has a squidgy spongy top and bottom. the bottom is already warped and i never used it; i just put it on a few times and took it off. also a fail for the bottom bumper is the difficulty to remove the spen without nails. the jjnusa case is cut out just right and since it is thinner and more stiffer in a good way you can press your thumb or finger and hear that satisfying click to eject it. with that said the top and bottom bumper are raised higher then the samsung to protect the screen. the samsung case is more flush and flimsy.
i am a happy camper and if it fairs well i will update to 5 stars from 4, but i am really thinking at the price to slap down for another. as we all know leather cases do not last as long as other types
the reason i gave it 4 stars is i never really heard of JJNUSA till i saw them on etsy.com and since they where based in china i thought meh. then i thought to ebay's third party cases and said but leather? does not smell much like leather, oddly that is how saddles with the same type of leather smells. or it could be the antiquing they used and the shipping package. it was not shipped in a box or cheap plastic, it was in a cloth sleeve in a sealed padded envelope. JJNUSA do claim Oregon origins... yeah right etsy.com says ships from china.
i have played around with plenty of cases and phones in cases so it's not like i only have really had the note 20 ultra... just do not get one of them ultra thin all tpu cases. i have one for my lg g4 and only really protects the sides and back. busted the screen.
I have already dropped it having it about 3.6 feet drop going swap when it landed on its' back side. my heart sunk, but the case did its' work and saved it. a plus for the case. it was not dropped it was knocked down from a propped up position onto a hard wood flooring