Related
For those interested, here is my OTTERBOX COMMUTER vs CASE MATE TOUGH comparison. I now own both of these cases and found some interesting differences.
OTTERBOX COMMUTER
+ Very solid case 9/10
+ Rubber has extra cushioning bumpers on corners to better protect against drops
+ Cutouts also have secure plugs to prevent dust and water from intrusion
+ top, bottom and sides have hard plastic protection over the rubber making a more secure fit all round.
+ Rubber is of a higher quality 8/10
- Sound quality of speaker phone is slightly affected by the raised plastic that sits closely around the speaker. Sound comes out a little louder and sharper but still sounds fine.
- Case can be quite difficult to remove because the plastic cover sits over all four sides and is very tight
- Plastic cover surface is very smooth and nicely designed but will be slippery with oily or sweaty hands
- Screen protector cutout is a little short near the top where the earphone is compared to other screen protectors I've used, but quality is fine, average.
- headphone and charging ports are a little smaller than I'd like but should fit most accessories.
- ON and VOLUME buttons are a bit difficult to press, quite like most TPU cases
- Having plastic covering on the front sides, it can be easily knocked off a table when sitting face-down, and back down is even worse.
CASE MATE TOUGH
+ Very solid case 8/10
+ headphone and earphone ports are a perfectly cut to fit all brands.
+ Very easy to remove with only sides covered by plastic cover
+ Plastic material has excellent grip on sides and back making it much more secure in the hand.
+ Plastic is less likely to show scratches over time
+ Quite easy to remove with only the sides cover the the plastic cover.
+ ON and VOLUME buttons are very easy and nice to press, with perfect feedback, almost a little 'too' easy actually.
+ The entire front is rubber, so when sitting face-down, it does not move and has a secure grip on surfaces, less likely to be knocked of a table etc
- Because the plastic cover only sits over the sides, the top and bottom have the rubber exposed and it could catch on things, such as removing from a tight pocket. not a huge deal in use.
- headphone and charging ports are open and exposed.
- rubber is a little thinner than the Otterbox's and more stretchy/flexible, though may not be a big deal in use/drops.
So in conclusion, I really like both cases for different reasons. At first impressions, the Commuter appears to be the better case due to it's port covers, more secure fit with plastic covering all sides and the extra protection given to the corners of the case.....BUT....
....the Tough case just feel better in the hand, more secure. While both are almost identical in size, thickness and weight, the Tough has a nicely textured hard surface (that looks like rubber in photos) and this is what I would call 'active' protection, compared to the passive protection on the Otterbox. What I mean is that the Commuter is more likely to slip out of the hand, but be better against drops, and the Tough case is less likely to slip out of your hands, but make be less effective against drops. Also with the Tough case having rubber all the way around on the front, it's rock solid when sitting face down on a table surface and less likely to be knocked off.
Also, if you like to change your case on a fairly regular basis, the Otterbox is not an easy case to remove. Not that difficult, but the Tough is about 3x easier. This is a big deal for me, and combined with the nice secure feel, the Case Mate Tough is the preferred case for me as a daily wearer. If there are days where I feel I may need some extra protection against, say rain, I may be a little more inclined to throw on the Otterbox Commuter.
Either way you can't go wrong as both are great cases.
leicashot, any chance of any piccies with the Galaxy in the commuter case ? I'm thinking of getting one for my shiny new precious !
Also, do you have a car holder of any type that fits with the commuter on it ?
Do provide pics of these two cases if possible...
Interesting! I always wanted to compared them, but I dont wanna buy those cases because I know i would never use them after.
abhifusion said:
Do provide pics of these two cases if possible...
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Will try take some pics later today....
do these cases come with screen protectors or no?
My tough case did not come with a screen protector which is fine by me since I hate them. Bout all I can say is that I had the tough case on my sgs2 both of which I got when they came out (each respectively, the case followed by a week or two) and have no complaints about it. Phone lived through a few drops one of which was standing in the back of a pickup to unload stuff and it fell out of my pocket onto the pavement, some 6 or 7 feet I would guess. The phone was fine and the case showed no mark whatsoever. I have not had any issue with the rubber on the ends sticking to anything and it does not pick up lint. The phone is easy to get in and out of the case but still completely secure in it and wont come out unless you take it out. The case has no movement on the phone and feels solid. The texture on the case is just about perfect for grip and more has an undefineable "good" feel. The ports and all openings line up perfectly with the headphone and microusb ports being opened up a little extra to let larger based headphone jacks or usb cables fully insert to their base. Something I appreciate because I have some headphones that sometimes wont go in without trimming the case.
To be honest I only see one real downside to this case and its going to come down to preference. If you want your phone as slim as possible this case isn't for you. The lip around the top is probably near two millimeter by itself and while it fits like a glove you have the width of both the rubber and case across the bottom and sides. To someone like me its a win because I think modern phones are too thin and I would want to do something to bulk them up even if I didn't need the protection.
I considered the otterbox to try something new but did not. I have no beef with it and it seems like folks that have them like them but for me it was hard to get away from something I knew worked great and for which I had no gripes.
I have a Case Mate tough too and i realy like, i used it on all my phones i had.
Here are some pics http://www.case-mate.com/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-Cases/Case-Mate-Samsung-Galaxy-S3-Tough-Cases.asp.
Never had the Otterbox but it looks clunkier and bigger, the Case Mate is a bit more elegant and has a good grip and feel.
Do any owners of either case use them in car holders at all ? If so any chance of pics in the car holder ? Also, does the case interfere with the operation of NFC at all ?
Hey guys,
I have the CaseMate Though since last week when i got my S3.
Before that I had the Otterbox Commuter on my DHD and I must say, I like the CaseMate much better. It may does not protect the ports as already said, but it does feel very good in my hand.
Car mounting is not a problem for me, I have an universal holder in which it will fit in easily
leicashot said:
Don't mean to be negative but I got the case today and it feels great except I'll be returning it. Why? Because the top front and bottom front of the case don't have hard plastic holding down the rubber lips, so they get caught and stretch in the pocket when retrieving. This over time may cause the rubber to tear or stretch too much cause it's very elastic and thin.
Whereas the Otterbox Commuter has the plastic sides cover top, bottom and both sides so that no rubber is loose, but held down tight. A much better product from my experience in the past and looking forward to having it when it arrives in the next week or so. This review will cover what I was talking about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Dxcyfm3Vg
UPDATE: See my review on both cases here. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=27997216#post27997216
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I read a negative point about Tough case from you in another thread. Didn't see it mentioned here.
So is this problem a big thing or can i go with Tough case?
I have the Otterbox Commuter case on my S3 and I love it!! I had a defender case on my Tbolt and it added weight and size to it. I did not like it for that reason. The commuter case for the S3 fits just right and doesnt take away from the size that much. I have to believe this is a must have case for some protection for your phone.
anyone know if the case mate tough fit the active holster because it does appear to be the same size as the commuter
What are the dimensions of the case mate tough.
Nice review! Have u ever used the incipio silicrylic? seems very much comparable to the Case-Mate Tough and I dont know which one to choose.. Heres a link http://www.amazon.com/Incipio-SA-302-Silicrylic-Silicone-Samsung/dp/B0085VAP38/ref=sr_1_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1353870767&sr=1-2&keywords=incipio+s3
Hi, just got my casemate tough for the galaxy s4. I've been using one with my galaxy s3 and am very pleasedwith it but, unfortunately the one for the s4 is a bit disappointing. Although the look is the same the lip around the screen isn't as deep and the rubber doesn't come over the metal border fully. The volume button only has the rubber over it without the plastic surrounding which makes it feel fragile. I'll be returning the case and have ordered an otterbox commuter, although I would've preferred the casemate. Hope it's helpful.
I have 2 brand new Otterbox Defender series warranty replacements for sale, a Grey on white and Black on black with clip holsters for sale. Looking to sell both for cheap in a bundle. Shoot me a PM if your interested.
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk 2
When you have one of the smartest smartphones at your disposal, you obviously want to make sure that you have the smartest protection out there. The rugged OtterBox Defender Case safeguards the thin and light body of your Samsung GALAXY Note from damages under virtually , any circumstances for the ultimate protection solution!
DESIGN AND FEEL:
Full access to all the Samsung Galaxy Note’s buttons and features through the case, including camera, flash and stylus opening.
Silicone plugs provide full coverage of volume controls, headphone jack, micro USB opening, power button and charging port.
Two-layers of protection include a sturdy polycarbonate inner layer and rugged silicone outer layer.
Inner polycarbonate layer includes a built-in screen protector and inner foam liner.
Outer silicone layer features a grooved texture on the side for enhanced grip.
BUILD QUALITY AND LAYERS OF PROTECTION
Screen Protection: Built-in screen protector prevents scratches, scuffs and smudges while retaining the sensitivity of the Note’s touchscreen.
Inner Layer: Two-piece polycarbonate snaps together around the Galaxy Note creating a solid shelter. The
inside of the polycarbonate includes a foam inner liner to cushion the Note against oopsies such as bumps,shocks and drops.
Outer Layer: Rugged silicone wraps around the inner polycarbonate layer. The sides of the silicone outer layer feature a grooved texture for enhanced grip.
Holster: Rotating belt clip securely fastens to almost anything and also doubles as a media viewing stand when locked into place. You can face the touchscreen out for use or face it in for maximum protection.
ACCESSIBILITY AND STYLE :
The case is classic black in color, which some people may find boring, where as I just love the simple bold look, it looks very sturdy and strong. It does add some bulk to the phone but for me it wasn’t a deal breaker.The Earpiece,Sensors and front facing Camera are protected with hard plastic edges which are very classy and look stunning.The Volume keys are also fully protected ,as is the Power key on the right side..
At the top , the noise cancelling mic is open and the Headphone jack covered by a small pull-able cover, what is great about this is there is a very hard plastic edge around the Jack port.As with the Top the Bottom is also well protected namely the Micro USB Charging port. The S-Pen is fully open giving great ease of use when pulling out the S-Pen. There is separate openings for Microphone and rear speaker.
One word to describe this case would be: DEFENDER!
"Conclusion"
My overall experience with Otterbox Defender series has been great. This is the Best Protective Case for Galaxy Note as no other case provides this Premium look, Awesome feel, and the Amazing protection that Otterbox provides.
Price :
It is priced at $59.99 on www.otterbox.com
For Images and More info , Visit : www.theandroidcop.com/review-otterbox-defender-case-for-samsung-galaxy-note/
I was fortunate enough to find this case lying around the workplace.
The boss-man said I could have it!
Saved myself $60!
Ouch... feels like having 2 notes inside my pocket, lack of close-up pictures in details
Too bulky for a already large phone... and too expensive.. there is better protection for less out there... IMHO
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium HD app
Yes its big, but I'd worked out what size it would be before buying the phone or case. Get a ruler, make a cardboard mock up.
I actually had the case before the phone and it went straight into it on arrival. Working outdoors a lot and having had old candy bar type phones often take a tumble to the ground, I wanted my new phone properly protected.
Having used the phone and case for 6 months, its only tumbled out of pocket once, when not actually clipped in. I typically use the hard beltclip cover, in top pocket of work shirt, with the clip opened over the shirt button. This prevents it riding deeper in the pocket, but the button provides something for the clip to grab, so if during contortions outside, the phone flips out of pocket, it remains clipped to the pocket. Additionally when using the belt clip cover, the silicon shell faces the body, so it seems very unlikely perspiration would find its way into the phone, which seems to be an issue with some phones and their usb/headphone ports (covered with defender)
It seems it would also be quite secure if deeper in the pocket without the belt clip cover, the silicon case grabs the pocket well, although in this position the button is exposed to body moisture (if theres no stock seal around that)
What I did NOT like about the case was the built in screen protector, like all matte finish protectors I have seen, it blurs the pixels giving a fuzzy effect to the display.
I carefully removed the built in protector, pushing around with thumb in warm weather worked, and replaced it with a Spigen glas.t, tempered glass protector. The glas.t is about 0.5mm thick, there is room for it within the defender case. I suspect the tempered glass/silicon adhesive would do a good job of spreading the energy from a sharp impact, performing much like a laminated car windscreen which tend to keep most impact chips in the outer glass layer.
I have the full protection of the defender case, and full visual clarity of the screen. Win/Win
I also do not have to worry about the possibility of dust, grit etc working its way into the case and being held against the screen. This may not happen, I didn't leave it original long enough, but certainly seemed it would be likely in the environments I work in.
Hope this helps someone
Its big, bulky, but is worth it! Own one myself. Its worth the tradeoff for protection of an expensive toy
Well i have this case for over 2 months and i can say that its trully worth the money! The extra protection is awesome as well is the design and grip! However it has 2 downsides IMHO.
1st you have to open it and clean it once per 15 days and believe me at first it's a pain in the ass to open it and you re gonna break some nails .
2nd some areas far on the top on the screen need to be pressed harder i.e. it takes some time to get used to taking down the Notification Center the first days.
Hope this helps!
I recently recieved my second SPECK CandyShell Clear for my HTC 10 (I broke the first one by trying to mod it but that's a different story), so I took the chance to take some photos and give you a short review. Disclaimer: This review is neither sponsored, nor did I recieve any discount in order to write this review.
Pricing
I paid ~30 USDs at an online Android accessories retailer (used some available-to-all coupon that reduced the price by ~5 USDs).
The price is pretty hefty when compared to other HTC 10 cases except the original ice view ones.
Retail box
This case comes in the standard SPECK retail box, which looks nice IMHO and is very easy to open.
Build quality / Durability / Looks
Although it is made of plastic, this case definitely screams premium. The way it shimmers and feels in hand sets it apart from its competition.
Unlike the (now retired) Gem Shell I had for my One M9 and similar to the original CandyShells, this one has a two-layered construction: The outer layer is sturdy plastic while the inner one is soft rubber. Both layers are completely transparent (although the rubber has a very slight frozen look only notably when the case is not yet put on the phone).
SPECK promises that this case would resist UV yellowing and I can mostly confirm this: My first CandyShell Clear did not yellow for two month except the buttons. The buttons did yellow indeed but this did not affect the overall looks too much since the rest of the case stayed perfectly clear.
I had some CandyShell/GemShell/CandyShell Grip cases before and one of the very few downsides is that they were quite prone to scratches and looked worn after a couple of days. I was really astonished to see that SPECK made some serious improvements here: The first case had very few scratches after two month, none of 'em were obvious. No comparison to the elder cases where the gloss disappeared quickly due to the surface being covered by scratches all-over.
One nice detail is the SPECK logo. It is placed quite nicely to complement the HTC logo and not to interfere with it. But what it really makes it a stunner is how it is done. It is embossed in the rubber layer of the case in such way. that it appears to be embossed in the metal body of the phone. Nice idea, SPECK!
The only downside in this department is that this case adds some bulk. Not too much and nothing like UAG-like cases, but those who like their device as slim as possible might find it too bulky.
Protection
Protection is where this case really shines. The sturdy outer shell combined with the cushioning inner rubber layer keeps you covered in most drop situations. The front-side lip does not only protect the screen when putting it face to the table but is also thick enough to protect the screen while dropping on almost flat surfaces.
Fitting / Cutouts
This case sits like a glove. It is manufactured to fit the contours of the 10 like a perfect ten (pun intended). All cutouts are surrounded by rubber that will keep dust out of the case.
The small cutouts for the bottom-side and back-side microphone fit perfectly. The headphone jack cutout is big enough so that most headphones should fit into it. The camera cutout is quite big but this way, the flash should not interfere with the case (although I have not tested this). The bottom speaker cutout fits also well, same goes for the USB port cutout.
But the USB port cutout may be the biggest downside of this case: It is so tight that some cables won't fit. The original HTC charger cable, which comes with the 10 does. But my 3rd party cables with metal plugs did not fit and so won't any cables whose plugs are significantly bulkier than the rather slim plug of the original cable.
Remember that I told you, it was a different story that this is already my second CandyShell Clear? I broke the first one while extending the USB port cutout with a drill. Unfortunately, I did not spend enough attention and damaged the inner rubber layer which looked pretty ugly. So I replaced the damaged case with this new one and also replaced my cables with ones that provide slicker plugs. Quite some hassle but this case is definetly worth it.
In case you wonder which cables I was talking about: Aukey CB-CMD5 (pack of 5) will fit while Aukey CB-CMD2 (pack of 5) won't.
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Does the tpu on the front fit properly? The lip would get pushed in and down when I put the phone one and I couldn't get it to actually be a lip on the screen. I sent mine back. On the bright side speck has a very easy return process.
if you take a picture with the flash on, does the light bleed through the case?
aer0zer0 said:
if you take a picture with the flash on, does the light bleed through the case?
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At least the flashlight does. Have not yet checked whether this affects photos. I'd assume so but I remember having read otherwise somewhere. As soon as I tested it, I will let you know.
TotallyAnxious said:
Does the tpu on the front fit properly? The lip would get pushed in and down when I put the phone one and I couldn't get it to actually be a lip on the screen. I sent mine back. On the bright side speck has a very easy return process.
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This case is a tight fit indeed. It took me some patience to get the phone in while keeping the lid in place. Once the phone is in, it takes some force to remove it. Great for being sure that the phone won't slide out accidentally on drops. Not so great if you want to remove your phone frequently.
Most people on here are probably very familiar with DBrand by now. I think their quality speaks for themselves at this point. i've started using their skin since my galaxy s7, then lg g5, lg g6 and now pixel 2 xl. When you purchase a back skin for the pixel 2 XL , it comes with both the precision fit and standard fit. The logo comes with 9 pieces so if you mess up during the application or if they come off down the road, there are backups. I tried both the precision fit and the standard fit in 2 different color combinations and I will go through each.
Precision fit for the back in hyperblack titanium (metal series) with copper (metal series) logo
Installation:
Pain in the butt, time consuming. My first time using this and it was annoying to apply. You start from the bottom by lining up the usb port. The cut outs are, as the name states, precise. However, the skin was a little short up top so I had to stretch it quite a bit to make it fit better. The precision fit wraps the entire back, including the sides and the corners. Again, I had to stretch the tabs that goes around the corners a little bit to make the fit better and it was concerning because I was afraid I would rip off the corner tabs as I was stretching them. However, as you can see it was OK. I used a hairdryer in the end to heat up the sides and corners to smooth them out. The installation of the logo was easy, i used a pair of tweezers to apply it and the fit was perfect. The whole process took around 25 minutes for me.
Quality:
This texture, as the name states, is metal. you can feel the lines that make the metal texture/pattern as you run your fingers across it. It definitely provides a bit more grip to the back of the phone. The skin will protect the phone from scratches, but because it has some thickness to it as well, I think it will protect the phone from potential minor dents.
Case friendly? No. I tried it with Zeking Ultra Slim TPU case, the Crave SLIM Guard Protection Series Case, the Rhinoshield Crashguard and the Rhionshield SolidSuit. They all took the corner tabs along with it as I removed the case. This makes me wonder how long will those corners actually last as you take it in and out of pockets. And because i have a drone and to put it in the phone holder of the remote would require the case to be removed, I had to move on to the standard fit skin.
Price: $10.95 USD for the back skin (includes precision fit and standard fit) and the logo
Standard fit for the back in matte black (matte series) with yellow (true color series) logo and glass skin
Installation:
A breeze. Lined it up from the top where the camera and flash modules are and go from there. I had to stretch it a little bit near the bottom but it was easy. Again, used a hairdryer in the end to heat up the sides and corners to smooth them out. The installation of the logo was easy, I used a pair of tweezers to apply it and the fit was perfect. And the skin for the glass portion (where the camera and flash modules are) simply goes on top of the back skin. The whole process took less than 10 minutes for me.
Quality:
The matte skin feels smoother than the true color and metal series. Feels almost the same as the back of the phone without the skin. Unlike the true color or metal series, I don't think the matte will provide more grip. The skin will protect the phone from scratches but because it has some thickness to it as well, I think it will protect the phone from potential minor dents.
Case friendly? Yes. Tried it with the 4 cases mentioned above, and all were fine.
Price: $14.85 USD for the back skin (includes precision fit and standard fit), logo and glass skin.
Overall:
Good quality, not so easy to install for the precision fit, but a breeze for the standard fit. However, it is pricey. Comes out to around $33 CAD after conversion (free shipping if you buy over $20 USD) about $16 CAD a set. For clumsy people like myself and with my luck, I will likely drop the phone at some point when it just so happens to be out of the case therefore it's worth it for another layer of protection.
Wanted to share with you all, a really good case that is worth the money for this phone, and I am really happy with it.
The case is intended to put on and leave on, hence the adhesive films on the inside of the front cover, the back (with yellow cushioning) just clips on with a strong solid tight fit. The front cover bezel/lip looks to be about 2.5-3mm deep, but accessing the right side soft menu still good. My finger size is about average/medium size and I have no problem also accessing the power button and fingerprint sensor on the side beside the s-pen.
Used the glue adhesives on the front screen that were already applied, just had to pull off the backings (They also included an extra set of glue adhesive strips for a second mount if you ever need to take off and put back on) and it fits perfect, lines up with all the holes and speaker grills. The back piece with the hinge cover (with 2 spring loaded hinges), protects the back and fold hinge while the lip around the camera protects the camera lenses. It too also has perfect alignment with holes and has lots of clearance with the USB C port fitting. The hinge cover protector also gives you something to hold/grip when the phone is unfolded.
Suggest you first get a front glass screen protector (I used the Spigen Glastr Ez Fit for perfect alignment and easy application) for the front and camera lenses protectors also before applying this case.
This quality case feels very good, smooth, solid, elegant, and provides a great grippy feel. More importantly, I feel more confident holding the phone with this case on, as it feels like it could weather some accidental mishaps and protect the phone.
In my pictures, you will notice I also put a pop socket on the back centre for four reasons:
1) use for general holding in hand, even more support than the hinge cover protection bump when fully open
2) use as a kick stand for front screen and/or the unfolded full screen
3) use for a magnetic mount that I have in my car - so phone can sit in folded vertical or horizontal orientation and also unfolded orientation, using a pop socket flat mount with the metal plate stuck on the back of it- I just slide my pop socket into the pop socket flat mount holder and then attach to the magnetic mount, which also allows me to:
4) wireless charge at home, by twisting the top half of the pop socket half a turn to remove, when it is pushed in, which will allow a closer clearance for wireless charging through the case as it is all plastic
One critical point based on the design of the spring loaded hinge cover protector, when you do unfold/open the phone to full screen, and you are using the back screen for taking a selfie, you loose about 1 cm of view area on the left of the front screen. This minor con is something I can live with as this is in only this situation and for the design, it is a great compromise having that hinge protection.
In closing, I am really happy I got this case. I was originally worried that it might be too bulky, eventually ending up removing it for a thinner/smaller case, but I think it has a great balance of protection, holds the s-pen on the front side of screen keeping it's thickness down (compared to the Samsung pen/kickstand case, or others in some cases), and one of the few cases that protects the hinge, allowing the phone full protection around the whole phone. Hopefully you found this helpful for your situation.
used to have slim armour pro on my fold 3. i thought same as you and glued the front and back to the phone. i didnt removed for 2 months as theres was no need but after 2 months i wanted to clean the phone as dust clogged in corners, dam that case bonded with phone like a rock. no matter how much i pulled it wont come off lmao. i had to use some 70% alcohol and slowly pried it off. there were several scraches on the front screen border where the case was contacting the phone. also its weighs so much, i dont know why they named it as slim as it aint slim at all. but i have to say that case is like BUNKER and protected my phone from several hard falls
this time thinking of going with latercase as i rarely fold my phone unless im going outside.
eswar539 said:
used to have slim armour pro on my fold 3. i thought same as you and glued the front and back to the phone. i didnt removed for 2 months as theres was no need but after 2 months i wanted to clean the phone as dust clogged in corners, dam that case bonded with phone like a rock. no matter how much i pulled it wont come off lmao. i had to use some 70% alcohol and slowly pried it off. there were several scraches on the front screen border where the case was contacting the phone. also its weighs so much, i dont know why they named it as slim as it aint slim at all. but i have to say that case is like BUNKER and protected my phone from several hard falls
this time thinking of going with latercase as i rarely fold my phone unless im going outside.
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I read a lot about people having a challenge to pull the case cover off on the Z fold 3, some had glued the back on also which the current 4 version doesn't have or need, as it snaps on pretty good, but some with the 3 did use the glue strips which made it a challenge to get off. I can't speak to this Z fold 4 vs the 3 case, but having used it a couple of days, I still think it is a solid quality case.
It is a "little" thicker than the Samsung pen case, but not by much, and the pen holder on the Spigen sits in a nice place compared to the Samsung making it thinner right away, even with the hinge on the back when opened up. I understand why they need the glue adhesive on the front protection cover, as it needs to stay locked on especially when you are pulling on the s-pen constantly. What I really like is that it does protect the Fold's hinge area also... the Latercase is super thin, so less protection and the hinge is susceptible when folded with mishaps and for me I use both the front and the inside about the same. I can't see me taking the front cover off for a long time and don't think I will need to clean from the inside on the front panel as the fit is super tight, but the back can be snapped off easily if necessary. There are a lot of people that have used the Latercase as it is thin and has good grip, but doesn't have the "bunker" safety. As I mentioned in my closing casual review, I was afraid the size of the case would be too much for the protection it offers, but it is a lot better than I thought it would be in terms of weight/thickness and with the hinge protection and great pen storage location, I am very happy with it.
I recommend stick for example transprant tape for hinge to protect before scratches from this case. Every unfold and fold device i saw more scratches on the tape and thanks for it no on the hinge
I did it on my fold 2 from first days and now look like new.
eswar539 said:
used to have slim armour pro on my fold 3. i thought same as you and glued the front and back to the phone. i didnt removed for 2 months as theres was no need but after 2 months i wanted to clean the phone as dust clogged in corners, dam that case bonded with phone like a rock. no matter how much i pulled it wont come off lmao. i had to use some 70% alcohol and slowly pried it off. there were several scraches on the front screen border where the case was contacting the phone. also its weighs so much, i dont know why they named it as slim as it aint slim at all. but i have to say that case is like BUNKER and protected my phone from several hard falls
this time thinking of going with latercase as i rarely fold my phone unless im going outside.
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Had the same issue with mine. Damaged and scratched my z fold 3 due to the case adhesive.
Tried to go another route for my fold 4 and got the vrs terra guard modern case, It looked alright & initially I was happy as it had Good Protection. It felt more plasticy than the spigen version but i liked the design so ignored the finish.
Over my 4 days of use I found that the magnets in the hinge created big dead spots in the inner screen where the S-Pen wouldn't register.
Screen protector included is much smaller than the active screen area. (So basically useless)
The hinge created a weird noise while opening and closing which i ignored and it eventually broke after 4 days of use (the hinge created tension in the plastic holding it and lifted the inner base of the case and broke).
Thankfully no damage to the phone.
I'll probably try the iblason or supcase I saw on some youtube channels they looked solid and only had one small piece of adhesive tape for the top cover.
Syd91 said:
Screen protector included is much smaller than the active screen area. (So basically useless)
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Spigen screen protector for the outer small screen is very good. Although its not edge to edge which will hinder with cases.
_GRIZZLY_ said:
I recommend stick for example transprant tape for hinge to protect before scratches from this case. Every unfold and fold device i saw more scratches on the tape and thanks for it no on the hinge
I did it on my fold 2 from first days and now look like new.
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So far, I don't see anyone has managed this on a fold 4! The hinge film gets pushed off when you open the phone as the tolerances are much tighter than the 2 and 3
jonstatt said:
So far, I don't see anyone has managed this on a fold 4! The hinge film gets pushed off when you open the phone as the tolerances are much tighter than the 2 and 3
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Interesting, so in this case scratches problem can be unfortunetly hard to resolve.
After over a month with the Spigen Slim Armor Pro Pen Edition case, it is holding up great. Haven't had any close ones or miss-haps to talk about, and the under the hinge protector, minor dust, which is cleaned out easily with a clean micro-fibre. The case gives me the confidence that it has that 100% protection. Very well designed with upgrades to it since the first one they offered for earlier folds, I have to say this is their best design yet. Everything just works well, the case, the EZ glass front protector, the pen holder, the camera lens cover protection, the removable pop socket with the metal stick on that works with my car magnetic mount and the ESR phone boost kickstand. As for the fold 4 itself, no issues and works well with the Watch 5 pro and Buds 2 pro. The only one thing I wish it did have is a wider front screen similar to the Mix 2/Vivo Fold, but with all the pro's, in Canada, it is the clear winner for Folds here.
For its price, its terribly expensive. There are cases just like it for 30% less money that use magnets on the hinge instead of glue, and the material feels better. I feel as though Spigen rips people off and they must have massive profit margins if you see the cases that show up on amazon and aliexpress.
What case do you recommend then?
Q-Prof said:
After over a month with the Spigen Slim Armor Pro Pen Edition case, it is holding up great. Haven't had any close ones or miss-haps to talk about, and the under the hinge protector, minor dust, which is cleaned out easily with a clean micro-fibre. The case gives me the confidence that it has that 100% protection. Very well designed with upgrades to it since the first one they offered for earlier folds, I have to say this is their best design yet. Everything just works well, the case, the EZ glass front protector, the pen holder, the camera lens cover protection, the removable pop socket with the metal stick on that works with my car magnetic mount and the ESR phone boost kickstand. As for the fold 4 itself, no issues and works well with the Watch 5 pro and Buds 2 pro. The only one thing I wish it did have is a wider front screen similar to the Mix 2/Vivo Fold, but with all the pro's, in Canada, it is the clear winner for Folds here.
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Just got my Z FOLD 4 a couple of days ago..(used to have orginal Z FOLD.....then Xiaomi Mi MIx FOLD..now this beast..it is awesome!)....I have the Samsung case with pen holder...but interested in this Spigen one you recommend..you say it allows wireless charging with the case on ? (the Samsung one does not.....)...and looks like it gives easier access to the S pen too...but does the S pen not block the fingerprint reader ? It is kinda damm expensive too for a case ...let's hope it comes down in price in Amazon prime sale next week !
elio321 said:
Just got my Z FOLD 4 a couple of days ago..(used to have orginal Z FOLD.....then Xiaomi Mi MIx FOLD..now this beast..it is awesome!)....I have the Samsung case with pen holder...but interested in this Spigen one you recommend..you say it allows wireless charging with the case on ? (the Samsung one does not.....)...and looks like it gives easier access to the S pen too...but does the S pen not block the fingerprint reader ? It is kinda damm expensive too for a case ...let's hope it comes down in price in Amazon prime sale next week !
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Hey Elio,
Congrats on getting the Z Fold 4,
No issues with the finger print reader, I have average sized hands and thumb works all the time, there is enough room. Yes it is expensive, but well worth it, you wont feel ripped off as it is excellent quality, and there is no other design out there that has this unique set of design features. The case feels really good in the hand (not plastic feel... more of a smooth rubbery feel, so great grip) and it fits like a glove on the case. As for charging wirelessly, no problem... I even have a removable pop socket and an ESR phone boost kickstand, and still no problem charging after I remove the top of the pop socket (just a quick 1/2 twist when it is pushed in). Not only easier access to the pen, but better placement in my opinion, I would rather have a little wider than making it thicker... it already is thick because of the fold design... so why put a storage s-pen on the back... and putting it in the hinge protector like some designs makes the hinge protector a huge bump on the back when open.
I have very negative experience with the Spigen cover cases for Fold 4. The first one, the Tough Armor got broken after 16 days. The second one, the Slim Armor Pro got broken today after 4 months. Totally, I lost almost 150€ for these two cases ;-( I will request replacement. My conclusion is there is no way to make a good unbreakable cover case for Fold 4. For my previous non-foldable phones the Spigen cover cases where perfect.