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Nillkin/Incipio Feather/Case-Mate Barely There Cases

These cases look amazing and I'm interested in to getting the Nillkin one which is made for the i9023 Nexus S, but is it really just for looks? I don't want to get this case if it doesn't protect my phone from a simple drop while walking on the street. I've watched and heard many good reviews about how the case looks and feels, but how good is it protection wise? Thanks.

It's common sense that a case is there to protect the phone. Even though in this case (pun intended) you cannot expect it to offer the protection of some other bulky alternatives, it's still better than nothing. As long as the sides protected by the nillkin hit the ground first I believe you should be ok.
I ordered it about a week ago, should be here in one or two weeks and I'll be able to provide a more hands-on opinion.

Flukzr said:
It's common sense that a case is there to protect the phone. Even though in this case (pun intended) you cannot expect it to offer the protection of some other bulky alternatives, it's still better than nothing. As long as the sides protected by the nillkin hit the ground first I believe you should be ok.
I ordered it about a week ago, should be here in one or two weeks and I'll be able to provide a more hands-on opinion.
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Ehh.. Can't resist the temptation. After reading some more reviews from the G2x Thread and the Nexus S post I think I'll get it..

I've always been a fan of rubbery/TPU cases myself. Most hard cases I've used in the past pop right out when dropped and those "light" hard cases don't protect your phone on all sides.
Dunno, just seems a bit light on the protection in the end and more expensive than TPUs.

I really like this incipio feather. Its hardly noticeable.

OK so my Nillkin case finally came. I didn't expect much since in the past I bought some other products made to look like other product (ripoffs). Thought this was the case with this and the Incipio Feather. I'm happy to say that it I was wrong.
It adds very little bulk to the phone, and has a snug fit. It feels much better in the hand, due to the rubbery finish, and the cutouts are exactly where they should be.
The screen protector bundled is acceptable although as I was previously aware, due to the curved screen there is a small gap on all sides and the top and bottom does not stick very well. There probably are are better ones out there but I'm happy with it.
I'm not into the habit of dropping my phone so the minimal protection it offers is enough for me. If you are looking for a case to withstand minimal impact, prevent scratches an look awesome I do not believe there is a better alternative for the i9023.

Flukzr said:
OK so my Nillkin case finally came. I didn't expect much since in the past I bought some other products made to look like other product (ripoffs). Thought this was the case with this and the Incipio Feather. I'm happy to say that it I was wrong.
It adds very little bulk to the phone, and has a snug fit. It feels much better in the hand, due to the rubbery finish, and the cutouts are exactly where they should be.
The screen protector bundled is acceptable although as I was previously aware, due to the curved screen there is a small gap on all sides and the top and bottom does not stick very well. There probably are are better ones out there but I'm happy with it.
I'm not into the habit of dropping my phone so the minimal protection it offers is enough for me. If you are looking for a case to withstand minimal impact, prevent scratches an look awesome I do not believe there is a better alternative for the i9023.
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Thanks for the review, think I'll buy this one.

I've been using a Incipio Feather and I'm loving it!

Hey, do you have a link for that Nillikin case? Bc I went on their website and I didn't see anything.

tase25 said:
Hey, do you have a link for that Nillikin case? Bc I went on their website and I didn't see anything.
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Look around on obostore.com. I decided last minute that I wasn't going to get this case, but get the silicone and TPU cases from Nillkin. Anyone have either of them(Nillkin Silicone/Nillkin TPU)?

Got a Nillkin lately which is OK. Wondering though how does it compare to Incipio Feather in terms of thickness. Which one makes it more bulky ?
BTW, wondering any frame cases for NS...

Quite like the look of the Case-Mate. Seems like a good balance of protection without adding to much bulk to the device.

The thin cases like these really do help... although they look skimpy they have saved my Nexus a few times. I dropped it down the stairs the other day and not a scratch. If it didn't have it on there I don't know how smashed up the back would have been...

A genuinely tough case for the beast

I know I don't have a lot of posts, but I've been a long time lurker and have been assisted a great deal by these forums(Hince the screen name: Got the original Droid X on pre-order).
I'm having a difficult time finding accesories for my new Note II (just received it Wednesday). I want to get this protected ASAP as this one will be with me for a long time. I need something that could give it a chance to survive a fall from a table to a concrete floor. Obviously I'll be as careful as possible, but I need to prepare for the worst.
I'm familiar with Otterbox, and while this was my knee-jerk reaction of a choice, I want something that might be at least a little different and maybe have a little style without looking like I'm going to a rave with how much neon is thrown on it. Plus I've read all of the reviews on the built in screen protector being garbage, and I don't want to be forced to buy a screen protector with a case that provides one because the built in one is garbage.
I saw that UAG is coming out with one, but their design is disappointing now that they went with the 'iPad' design as opposed to the iPhone/GS3 design (this would probably be my pick if they did).
I like the idea of the Sweet Armor case, but $70 is a bunch of money for a bumper. I have been looking around, and I think if I could find something like LunaTik's Taktik case, I would probably jump all over it.
Any and all help with a direction towards a case that will be tough enough to handle a warehouse floor and a toddler would be great. Thank you in advance!

Wat for dbacases ultra case to come out. It is a tpu with an x shaped poly carbonate shell that goes over tpu to protect corners.
Sent from my GT-N7100

@rbiter said:
Wat for dbacases ultra case to come out. It is a tpu with an x shaped poly carbonate shell that goes over tpu to protect corners.
Sent from my GT-N7100
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Do you (or anyone else reading this) have the GS3 version that can speak to it's durability?

TopherDX said:
Do you (or anyone else reading this) have the GS3 version that can speak to it's durability?
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I assume @rbiter is talking about the Complete Ultra dba case -- the ultra case is a normal tpu style case w/o the exoskeleton cross-member.
In that case (no pun intended) you can find a whole bunch of pictures/opinions from S3 owners of that case in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1919350&highlight=dba
I got it for my gf's S3 and she loves it.
She has never dropped the phone though.
I saw you mentioned that you don't want to go with Otterbox, and one of the reasons was that you didn't want to deal with the screen-protector -- that others didn't like.
Otterbox makes a "Commuter" case, that, unlike the "Defender", does not include the built in screen-protector, or come as a two piece install. But, it does come with a seperate screen protector. You can check out a thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2036565
However, I guess that doesn't solve the problem of "style"....
I'll agree there; the Otterbox line has become stale, but is still an extremely viable solution for protection.

Brad.S. said:
I assume @rbiter is talking about the Complete Ultra dba case -- the ultra case is a normal tpu style case w/o the exoskeleton cross-member.
In that case (no pun intended) you can find a whole bunch of pictures/opinions from S3 owners of that case in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1919350&highlight=dba
I got it for my gf's S3 and she loves it.
She has never dropped the phone though.
I saw you mentioned that you don't want to go with Otterbox, and one of the reasons was that you didn't want to deal with the screen-protector -- that others didn't like.
Otterbox makes a "Commuter" case, that, unlike the "Defender", does not include the built in screen-protector, or come as a two piece install. But, it does come with a seperate screen protector. You can check out a thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2036565
However, I guess that doesn't solve the problem of "style"....
I'll agree there; the Otterbox line has become stale, but is still an extremely viable solution for protection.
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Thanks for the suggestions Brad.
I had a Commuter on my Droid X. It may end up being the one I go with, but I figured there we be so much more of an evolution since then on cases for 'premium' phones. I wouldn't mind spending the money for a good looking case that would also provide superior protection. I'm not going the folio route because I just don't like the idea on a phone that I use as a camera regularly (work and home).

I've got the sweet armor case. It's disappointing. The GPS suffers a bit though I didn't notice a reduction in phone signal. 2 big disappointments were the feel. It has very sharpe edges which makes holding it uncomfortable and the top edge hurt my ear when talking. The second issue is it makes the phone wider which combined with the sharp edges makes the phone harder to use 1 handed. For the money it's not worth it at all.

Get the commuter. Best case in my opinion.

gpgalanis said:
Get the commuter. Best case in my opinion.
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If i'm going with that, I have to find a Best Buy around me that still has one in stock. I have 2 Reward Zone Certs. I need to use. I may have to track one of those down or the Defender just as an expensive carry over until another one of the suggested is available.

I ordered my cases from amazon.co.uk and amazon.de since I live in Europe. They are also available in amazon.com.

Bought 4 Cases (Seidio, Body Glove, Ballistics, Boxwave): Here is my 8 cents!

Hello everyone,
Ive been looking through this accessory thread ever since I owned my note 2 trying desperately to get rid of the crappy Body Glove case I was "borrowing" from Tmobile. Well, my three other cases came today, and after testing them all, I will tell you what I settled with.
First things first:
The Body Glove: I don't have any pictures of this crappy case, but you don't need any. Apparently I found out today after returning my version of the BG that they have OTHER styles which are far superior then the one that I had. But probably still pretty bad. This is the beginners case that you settle on if you have no idea how to surf the WWW. Obviously if you are reading this, you would never settle for this case, especially at the outrageous $30+ price tag.
Now for the 3 puppies that arrived today. I purchased these all on amazon.com.
The Seidio Active Case:
My initial thoughts are that this would be the case I would be settling with, especially after the youtube reviews... But after putting it on, and upon comparison, I realized that this case offers minimal protection as far as a drop would be concerned. It feels extremely cheap with the white plastic, and I had no idea that this is what I was purchasing. Not only that, but it has the same issue as the body glove - Slippery bastard. Sure the sides are rubber, but its an extremely soft smooth rubber that doesnt "Stick" if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, this is a pretty nice looking case, and I like the kickstand...but it's not for me. They also have other very vivid colors. As far as price goes, this case is a rip off at $30.35. Almost as bad as the body glove, but slightly cheaper and prettier.
The Ballistics Case:
This is the case that I read reviews about and heard is supposed to offer some of the best protection outside of Otterbox Defender case. Not to mention it looks good. Well, I opened this bad boy up, and noticed a few things right away. The rubber shell is not snug at all. When you snap on the plastic, it gets a little more snug, but I guarantee this case will fall apart everytime you drop your phone. This already had me worried. Another issue is the damn sides of the case. ITS CHEAP 100% SLIP-GUARANTEE Plastic! Damnit. I had really high hopes for this case.
If this doesn't already kill all your hopes and dreams, it makes your phone much more gargantuan. However, I digress, when it comes to drop protection, even though you'll be picking up the two pieces of your case + your phone, I would feel confident that the majority of impact from the initial drop would be absorbed into this case, before it falls apart. Price to protection value is decent at $23 dollars. Note that this case is cheaper now at $19 which increases the appeal of this case if you have a decent grip of your phone at all times.
The final case is the Boxwave OA3 Resolute:
So check this out, I only found this case on accident thanks to Slickdeals.net. I read reviews about boxwave's case for other phones such as the SIII, and I was prepared to be disappointed with this case. But alas, none of those previous problems exist and ironically, I am keeping this case even though its MUCH cheaper than all the other cases I've tried. This case almost looks identical in design to the Ballistics, which is what I think the company was going for. However, it is only one piece of hardened rubber. It fits very snug, and feels great in the hand. It doesn't make the phone as huge as the ballistics case, and I still feel confident that this case will offer a decent amount of drop protection. Another bonus is that it has a kickstand... but don't count on it for very long, because its the cheapest feeling kickstand you'll probably ever see in your life. I can almost bet money that it'll break with regular usage. So enjoy it while it lasts. You definitely cannot beat this case for the price as it was only $10.00 total. Not to mention its all black, no cheap looking white plastic.
I have attached all the photos I took. Sorry I don't have photos of the case on the phone, as I had taken the pictures with the note 2
Hope you found this post helpful.
Here are the links to all the cases, except for the Body Glove!
Ballistics: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AAA8U0W/ref=ox_ya_os_product
Seidio: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A45SGFW/ref=ox_ya_os_product
Boxwave: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H163JE/ref=ox_ya_os_product <--Unfortunately Sold out until Feb 28th Courtesy of SD.net
Thanks!

Thanks for for the pictures. I personally am still waiting on the seidio convert case for the extended battery, I enjoyed the one I had on my thunderbolt. The case I have on my note 2 is the $12 (now $8.95) rugged case from ebay. The case uses the same style of synthetic rubber that the seido case uses and prevents me from dropping the phone. What are you going to do with those left over cases?

Good review, and I do agree with you on every point. While waiting for my UAG case, I'm using right now $7 ebay case (first one in my review link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=36730711&highlight=rugged+dual+layer#post36730711) - which is a copy of Seidio Active and also similar to Otterbox Commuter. Commuter has a higher quality inner rubber lining, without a doubt. But Active is exactly the same stuff, or I should say that ebay cheap knockoff is exactly the same design and quality as Active
Btw, the Boxwave one you can get from ebay shipped for about $7. Its not their original design, just a generic ebay case they purchase in bulk from China and sell conveniently for local us shippment.

Thanks for the compliments. I am returning the other cases to amazon for free since I said that they are faulty, lol.

Useful review but I disagree on the ballistics case after going through other reviews and more than enough websites I found the ballistics case was the indeed the case which had the protection. The box said 8-9ft drop so I tested it with a leap faith and the case phone stayed together with no damage and didn't come apart. Also you say slippery wrong again I can apply minimum pressure using my little finger and thumb dry and wet with no slippage. The case is made from decent materials not the stuff you would get from a 5 dollar case which I have been through several. The case offers better screen protection from laying flat on a surface screen down than any case with the added corner protection. The back is non slip also and makes good resting on a slanted surface say a car roof, bonnet or dash board. And with a year warrantee you can't get far wrong. In general its makes the whole overall grip better and nice to the touch. Feels very manly to and with a simplistic look. With the plastic support the case holds firmly all round the note. Down side only two colours black and white, little flimsy top and bottom of screen. Price is fair for the case was 22.99 off eBay stores, cheaper if you get a deal on it.
Amazon gives a 4.5/5 overall for 33 reviews that's pretty good like.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium

Spigen Hardbook?

Anyone here have any experience with the latest revision of the Spigen Hardbook case?
I've been eyeing one lately in navy blue. Looks good, but also seems just a bit bulky.
Thoughts?
Anyone recommend another flip/folio case?
I currently have a faux leather Belkin case from Verizon. It feels great to the touch and fits nicely, but it has the annoying wrap-around 'clip' to hold it shut. Good idea, but I can't stand it. It always unlatches when being put in a pocket, that's why I looked into the Hardbook to begin with.
I'm still looking for other varieties:
•Flip style with full coverage
•Ability to use as a kickstand
•Does not add much bulk
•No buttons/clips or magnets
Thanks people.

Must be a pretty rare case lol.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium

Very disappointed with this one.
I'm a big fan of spigen products, so I was expecting something nicer. I really like the design and the materials, but the case I received has some major flaws in craftmanship, the borders are lifting and I can see the glue there. I won't return it because at least here in Mexico it is a hassle to deal with FedEx, so I would spend more money and energy doing so.
Not happy at all this time Spigen. And the fact that they don't publish reviews like this on the product page doesn't help either. I think I can't trust that brand anymore.

TheBlueOne, I've got the same issue. I have the same case too (navy).
I've just gotten used to pressing down on the edges, but I definitely didn't expect them to come off like that. If they didn't peel, this would be my favorite case. I'm gonna call Spigen about it tonight.

Ordered a bunch of cases (list in post). I'll answer any questions.

So I've ordered and received the following 2 cases for my M8 so far:
SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Premium Hybrid Protective
Aduro Shell Holster Combo Case
I'm not completely happy/unhappy with either one, so I've gone ahead and ordered the following cases:
Minisuit Clipster Kickstand Case - This one looks identical to the Arduro case but is $3 cheaper. If I decide to keep it, even after I ship back it will be the cheaper option.
HTC M8 One 2 Puregear Kickstand Case Holster Combo - This one looks very similar to the Arduro/Minisuit, but I'm hoping the shell covers a bit more and/or the holster might be good with one of the other covers.
Seidio Surface Case with Metal Kickstand and Holster Combo
Otterbox Defender Series
Spigen Capsule Clear
i-Blason Prime Series Dual Layer Holster Cover with Kickstand and Locking Belt Swivel Clip
SUPCASE Premium Hybrid Protective Bumper Case
I'm not planning on writing complete reviews because it would be too time consuming, but I would be happy to answer any questions that anyone has.
I have preferred SEIDIO cases in the past with the holster combo. I had those on my HTC Tilt and my first Droid 2 - which was lost at an airport when I think a piece of luggage pulled the whole thing from my belt when I lifted it. Apart from that experience (which I blame myself for as much as anything), I'd been happy with SEIDIO...the Tilt survived a motorcycle accident that totaled my bike, but the phone was fine. SEIDIO was pretty expensive though, so I went through 2 or 3 much cheaper rip-offs (sans holster) over the last couple yeats of my phone.
I think the traditional SEIDIO rubberized cases provided a good balance of protection without being too incredibly bulky.
I'm caught at an impasse now with the M8 because it is such a nice looking phone I'd like to show it off with more of a light and clear case. OTOH, I have a 2 year old that I'd like to protect it from. Also, the M8 is much bigger than the phones I've had in the past (height and width wise, thickness is actually thinner) - so I'm not sure how a thick case will influence my carrying it around.
I think the best solution for me may be a case that provides protection somewhere in-between a TPU and a Otterbox (i.e. middle ground) and ideally be able to fit into some holster. I feel that the holster is necessary due to the size of the phone in a jeans front pocket - especially if a case is grippy and hard to get out.
Anyway, the above thoughts are how *I* will be judging the cases and some of them may change my mind entirely (e.g. The Otterbox, which I really don't think I want, but thought I would give it a shot).
I'll ship all the ones I don't want back to Amazon. I figure $10 return shipping is a good investment to find the right case for 2 years of my life.
Let me know if you have any questions about the cases and I will try to answer them!

TraderJack said:
HTC M8 One 2 Puregear Kickstand Case Holster Combo - This one looks very similar to the Arduro/Minisuit, but I'm hoping the shell covers a bit more and/or the holster might be good with one of the other covers.
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I would like to hear more about this one. I have a similar one from verizon but it doesn't look that slick or feel great in my hand

d1ez3 said:
I would like to hear more about this one. I have a similar one from verizon but it doesn't look that slick or feel great in my hand
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Sure. I think the one from Verizon is identical to the Minisuit/Arduro ones I mention above. None of them look that slick...with the black cross-hatching. About they only thing they have going for them is a good holster setup...but that's why I'm hoping the Puregear has something else going for it rather than a slightly different design.
The cases will be here on Wednesday and I hope to try them all out then.

This is great.... Im very interested in SUPCASE Premium Hybrid Protective Bumper Case
but was holding off ordering from Amazon. Can you tell me how much thickness it adds and overall feel, comfort etc... I agree, I love the body of the M8 and needs to be shown off however it also needs to be protected at the same time.

How's spigen capsule clear? Is it a fingerprint magnet? I presume it's slippery?

As long as we're talking about cases, you should try looking at the Dualtek case for the M8. It's a little bulky but definitely protecting the phone and looks stylish. Feels great, too.

I've been using Otterbox cases for every phone since I switched to Android years ago but I agree that the Defender and Commuter cases make this phone too bulky. Luckily they have the Symmetry Series which is slimmer (one piece, plastic shell with rubber liner built in) but still provides great protection. Color schemes are limited, I went with black, but they have around 5 choices if you like brighter colors.
Cons are that the case is a little slippery for my tastes and it adds bulk to an already big phone but I drop my phone every day so it's a trade-off.
http://www.otterbox.com/Symmetry-Series-for-HTC-One-(M8)/htc28-one-m8,default,pd.html

I just got the cases this evening. I'll respond directly to the questions asked, and then I'll give my overview on the others:
d1ez3 said:
I would like to hear more about this one [HTC M8 One 2 Puregear Kickstand Case Holster Combo]. I have a similar one from verizon but it doesn't look that slick or feel great in my hand
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The Puregear is almost identical to the Arduro and Minisuit cases as I assumed it would be. It has a slightly different cutout for the camera (which I like less), and a different surface texture from the cross-hatching type on the other two. You can clearly see the surface texture differences in the Amazon pics. While I like the design texture on the Puregear slightly better, it is really so equivalent in every other way that it isn't worth the $4-5 premium you would pay over the Minisuit. These are low bulk cases..good holster. These cases would do virtually nothing in a drop except maybe allow a bounce before the phone snapped out of it. That being said my similar case for the Droid took a few drops and the phone was no worse for wear.
cue_32 said:
This is great.... Im very interested in SUPCASE Premium Hybrid Protective Bumper Case
but was holding off ordering from Amazon. Can you tell me how much thickness it adds and overall feel, comfort etc... I agree, I love the body of the M8 and needs to be shown off however it also needs to be protected at the same time.
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This one is maybe one of my favorite from the bunch. It is way easier to take on and off then the SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Premium Hybrid Protective case I also purchased. Unlike the Beetle, the back is totally clear instead of frosted - so it shows off the phone. The sides however are not rigid like the Beetle, which is why it can be removed from the phone easier. The back is more rounded like the phone, whereas the Beetle is more squared. It has a slightly tacky feel...maybe not as much as the Spigen below, but it is grippy. I would say it is kind of your standard TPU type case, but of the utmost quality for these type. Since you can find TPU cases for $3-4, I think the $10 for this is not totally out of line. I'm really unsure that either of the SUPCASEs would offer any real protection from a drop. I will almost definitely be keeping one of these cases for now.
One other benefit of this case is that it fits into the Minisuit/Arduro holster really well.
richteralan said:
How's spigen capsule clear? Is it a fingerprint magnet? I presume it's slippery?
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Despite the term "soft" being in the description in Amazon...I thought this was going to be a hard case - so I was a bit surprised.
It is actually not slippery at all, quite the contrary. I also don't think it is that bad of a finger print magnet. It is in some ways similar to the SUPCASE Premium Hybrid Protective Bumper Case I mention above, except that it is clear all around instead of having a black bumper. However (and I think I read this elsewhere in the reviews) the clear color of the case has a yellow tinge to it that is really disappointing since the main feature of this case is to showcase the phone. This case may have just a *bit* more cushion than the SUPCASE - but in all honesty I still don't think any of these are offering great drop protection. I think I prefer the SUPCASE (either one) to this one - it just doesn't have the same "sparkle" that you get from the pics.
Going onto the other cases.
The Otterbox and the SEIDIO - the two most expensive ones. And, probably because of that, the two biggest disappointments:
The Ottterbox was just ugly out of the box. I've never had one before because I always thought they were bulky and ugly - but I wanted to give it a chance. Even though the Otterbox probably would protect better than most of these, I still don't think it would be foolproof. I also really dislike the screen covering piece which is non-optional. For the cost, I just wouldn't consider something like this over the i-Blason (see below).
The SEIDIO had the same nice finish I was used to on their matte cases. I wasn't a huge fan of the two piece snap together design. I also got one with a slight manufacturing defect and the pieces didn't line up perfectly. Because of the two piece design, it was able to stay as a slim case but protect all around the edges. However I'm sure the case would snap open if the phone fell onto a hard surface. Additionally, as much as I enjoy the quick release holster of the SEIDIOs, they are not without their problems and can easily get caught on things and drop your phone (happened to me not infrequently with my other cases). The kickstand on this phone was also not that attractive being a bit flimsy and off to the side. Like the others, I also really don't know how much protection from a drop this would give you - probably somewhere just north of the SUPCASE/Spigen. Like the Otterbox, just not worth the money on this phone.
Finally the i-Blason... I think it is one of the better in terms of protection - being a 2-piece shell case. South of the Otterbox maybe, but better than the rest. Not a bad looking case, though not beautiful. I almost wish they had a model without the kickstand and big fat grooves on the back. I don't know if those grooves serve a real functional purpose, but if you removed those pieces you would have a much cleaner looking case with probably the same level of protection.
Looks wise - I think overall the SUPCASE Premium Hybrid is my favorite... I'm just not sure it is going to give me the protection I want from my toddler. I'm considering keeping that and the Minisuit (mostly for the compatible holster). Or, perhaps I will keep the i-Blason for most of the time around the house, but also the SUPCASE for a svelter pocket profile and when I want to show off the phone.
I'm going to keep looking I think for something else like the iBlason. I might give up on the holster idea altogether as I realize it isn't the 90s anymore. I need to see how well this phone does in my pocket over the next week or two to decide if it's a priority.
If you all have more questions on these, I'll do my best to answer.

I just purchased the Case Mate Naked Tough Case from Amazon. So far so good. It has some shock protection and still shows the good looks of the phone. I'm using it in conjunction with a Zagg glass shield. I would post a link, but I suppose I need to post a few more times before I can.

I've only used Otterbox defenders in the past. That being said, I just bought a M8 today and looked at the reviews on Amazon. A lot of people complain about the clear screen protector being bowed or warped and not tight against the screen. What's your impression on this issue? And from the sound and looks of the design, it sounds pretty similar to the M7.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app

FearlessAZ said:
I've only used Otterbox defenders in the past. That being said, I just bought a M8 today and looked at the reviews on Amazon. A lot of people complain about the clear screen protector being bowed or warped and not tight against the screen. What's your impression on this issue? And from the sound and looks of the design, it sounds pretty similar to the M7.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
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Definitely. Honestly I played with the otterbox for all of 30 seconds. First off, I just thought it was ugly...
Put it on and it seemed pretty bulky, although I was going to give it a chance since I knew that with that bulk came good protection.
The minute I touched the screen though I observed exactly what you are stating, the screen protector is not flush and that gave it an overall cheap feel.

So here is my update as I am leaving town for a couple of weeks and am choosing a case to come with me for the first real road test:
Based on my observations above, and the info from this thread, I think I'm going to stick with the Supcase Beetle.
While I like the SUPCASE Premium Hybrid Protective Bumper Case as well, I feel that it just doesn't offer great protection. Also, I find the volume buttons a little loose, as if they move too much off contact with the phone when you press on them.
The Beetle may only be a ~6-7 in the protection department, but the only ones that beat it are the Otterbox and probably the i-Blason. I just can't do the otterbox, and the i-Blason is a tad bulky and doesn't showcase the phone at all. I wish they removed the back nubbins and kickstand from the i-Blason. I haven't found a really nice and lean 2 piece case (internal silicon, hard outer shell). The Spigen 2-piece (not reviewed here) is a good contender for that role but it blocks the IR port, which is a non-starter (even though I will rarely use that feature, on principal I don't want a case that removes features from my phone).
So, for now I'm opting more for an "8 looks and 6/7 protection." The UAG looked like a good alternative that might have been 8 on both fronts, but from my thread linked above someone who has owned both feels that the Beetle is close on par with the UAG from protection standpoint. Price wise, the Beetle wins hands down.
I am still left though in a situation where I don't have a holster. I don't know yet how big of a problem that will be. I need to see how the Beetle does in my pants pocket over the next week. If it doesn't work out, and I can't find a compatible holster for the Beetle, I may have to abandon it all-together because it is just too hard to take it out of the Beetle on a regular basis to put into a holster-compatible case...I don't want to have to do that even weekly.

Dang. That is kind of a let down. I don't mind bulkyness at all but if that screen protector isn't tight, it's just pointless for me. I work construction and need something that won't allow the dirt to get between the screen and protector. I'll look into a few that you suggested. Thanks!