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While purchasing my HTC One M8 (2nd hand from Craigslist), I got this along with with a Ringke Slim as part of the purchase deal. I am thankful that I did not put any money into buying this particular case...Here's why:
Pros:
One of the thinnest cases available.
Very customizable and modular.
Fits onto the phone very well.
Cons:
The color combinations make this highly expensive phone look like a cheap children's toy.
Very difficult to install onto the phone (And may cause scratches on the sides of the phone).
Very weak design (I suspect with one drop, the entire case will shatter or crack).
The build quality is very poor (only 6 small tabs hold the top and bottom portion of the case).
Feels very weak and fragile when held.
The retail box showcases the case fairly well.
When you take out the case you can see and feel how cheaply made it is.
Really? Just 3 tabs/indentations to hold one portion of the case together...
Who would feel comfortable with these bright color variations?
In conclusion, I would never use this case. Its so poorly made, I'm afraid pieces of it will fall off if I put my phone in my pocket. It provides the absolute minimum shock protection and is a complete eyesore.
I can't in good conscious sell this case to some poor soul. Its the worst case I've ever seen and held. When its time for me to upgrade my phone, I'll give this case for free...It's just not worth the $9-$15 that's being sold on Amazon.
Thank you for doing this review. When I got my M8 a while ago I was about to get it but I decided to get a Speck Candyshell. What case do you have currently?
No problem.
The case I use for day-to-day is the MYRIANN Ultra Slim Transparent Case. Since I don't use the IR functionality, the only real issue is the hard to press volume rocker. This case protects the edges very well and I'm quite satisfied with it.
These are my current cases:
I might get the transparent case. I really don't care about the IR blaster since that is one feature that I do not use.
2103ehleec said:
I might get the transparent case. I really don't care about the IR blaster since that is one feature that I do not use.
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Great choice. Its the only case that I know that completely seals up the most vital crevices from dust and debris.
I got my case in the mail about two weeks ago. Full disclosure: I recieved it as a free promo, on the condition that I review it. I am not the type to give a positive review to a product I don't care for, as this post shows: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=62637305&postcount=73
OK, here we go. Case looks good. Not a big fan of gold, but it's not really that important to me. I get why others are saying that the plastic is kind of cheap looking and has a visible seam. But that's only when inspected really closely. From a normal, reasonable distance (like that of everyday use), it looks just fine. I even got a couple of compliments on the case today, and I wasn't even showing it to anyone, juat taking it out of or putting it back into my pocket. It has a very modern, almost high-tech look that is admittedly somewhat cheapened by the gold plastic, but that is quickly gotten over. The rubber back has a nice ridged texture, which feels pleasant and grippy in the hand.
It's kind of hard to talk about function or form independent from each other with this case. It seems like a lot of thought went into both aspects during design, as well as how they could compliment each other. For example, the case is slim and adds no appreciable bulk. It also has curved sides that hug the contours of the phone better than my Otterbox Commuter did. I like the Commuter a lot, but between the non-slippery ridged rubber back, the curved edges and the overall thinness of the Artech, it just feels better in the hand. Its more comfortable to hold and I feel like I have a better grip on it. The slim profile of the case makes it very comfortable in a pocket as well.
The phone pops into the case in a single piece. It went in easily, but there are instructions in case you need them. I was a little worried that it might pop out as easily as it popped in. But after slamming the phone hard against my palm several times, it didn't budge. Even when I cupped my palm in an effort to put more stress on the side of the case to purposely get it to pop out. It has a nice, snug fit. There is a nice raised lip around the screen, even with a tempered glass screen protector.
As another poster noted, there is a nice bezel next to the heart rate monitor on the back of the phone that makes it easy to reach. But overall, the camera hole is smaller than my other case. So I feel that the Artech offers better camera protection without interfering with function. This same type of design is noticeable below the home button, where the lip of the case flattens out for more comfortable access. It is obvious that some thought went into this design.
Despite the back being ridged rubber that hugs the palm, the fact that there are a couple of ever so slightly raised plastic parts on the back means that this effect is, regrettably not useful on a table or other flat surface. It can slide on its plastic parts rather than being anchored by the rubber. It feels a little like a missed opportunity, but not a deal breaker.
The buttons and all of the holes for the various ports line up perfectly. The battery and headphone jacks are exposed, which I don't necessarily like, but can live with. There is a rather large opening for the s pen, but flat surfaces will touch both sides of the case without coming into contact with that part of the device. Further proof that there is a deliberate and thoughtful design here.
The rubber on the back and on the inside of the case seems kind of thin, but is a bit nore rigid than my other case. The power and volume buttons are responsive and soft. They are not very "clicky", of that kind of thing is important to you. It is not important to me, and I like the feel of these buttons.
A good 3/4 of the back is the aforementioned ridged rubber. I'm not sure how much protection it would really offer in the event of a decent drop. Again, I am conparing it to the Otterbox Commuter, which has a plastic over rubber back. One way to find out, which I don't plan on trying anytime soon. But it seems solid enough. There is some ridged pattern on the inside of the case, but I don't know if that is decorative or not. It's not symmetrical, so I think it probably is. In any event, the slightly raised plastic bits on the back look like they would prevent the back of the phone from actually coming into contact with the ground (covered in rubber or no) as the result of a flat drop. But that is just speculation on my part.
In conclusion, i would say that this is a very nice case, a few minor quibbles aside. It's got a nice blend of form and function not often seen in phone cases. It looks and feels good, and the functionality is excellent in my opinion.
For the asking price (I got it free, but you know what I mean), it is definitely nice. I only buy Otterboxes because I get them at a significant discount which puts them in the same price range as the Artech. So if I had to buy one or the other of these, it would be hard to choose (unless the Commuter was full price, in which case it would be Artech hands down because it is a good case and also I'm a tightwad). The Artech looks and especially feels way better, is easier to hold securely, and very comfortable. As far as protection, both seem comparable, but I would give a slight to moderate edge to the Otterbox commuter because of the covered ports and plastic over rubber back. But, make no mistake: the Artech Slim Stylish case seems to offer good, solid phone protection. And I'm in no hurry to go back to my other case. I'm gonna go ahead and use this one for a while.
I would definitely recommend this case to anyone looking for a sleek, yet protective case that feels good to hold.
This is an updated version of a post I made in someone else's thread about this same case. I wanted to make it its own thread and add pictures. After two weeks, my feelings about the case are the same as when I first got it. All in all, I am very satisfied with this case.
good review , and no angry pitch
choetech-official said:
good review , and no angry pitch
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contact me if you can
Full disclosure: I was given this case for free, the vendor is seeking reviews. But, as I've said before, I will give an honest review of a free product regardless. People's feelings be darned.
Product arrived in a timely manner. Packaging was plain, I'm assuming it was non-retail. There were no markings or branding of any kind. No instructions, either. Not that they were really needed I guess, but I would assume that a retail purchase would be packaged, and not arrive in a plain padded envelope.
The case by itself looks, well, clear. Mine is clear with opaque rubber (TPU, Poetic calls it). I guess a model with black TPU is available. I don't want to sound like I'm bashing the case, because I'm not, but it is kind of unremarkable to look at. And I don't think that's a bad thing. After all, this case is designed to show off the phone, not just to show off. And that is apparent when it's actually on the phone. It hugs the shape of the device and doesn't compete for your attention.
The case is made of rigid plastic. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of hard cases, as I feel they can be rough on phones. But, the note 5 has an aluminum frame instead of the Standard issue Samsung chromed plastic. And there is clearish rubber around the frame as well as the lip that goes over the screen. It is along the sides as well. That made me feel better about it being a rigid plastic.
The case is one piece that pops in firmly but easily enough. Let me tell you, this baby is snug! And I mean that in a good way. Takes a little doing to get it out once it's in (again, I hope the retail packaging has instructions, in case there's some "trick" to it). But this thing really hugs the phone tightly. Solid fit. There is a very thin lip over and around the merest edge of the screen which holds the case on. It's a pretty impressive design, because the case basically clips onto the aluminum frame, leaving the entirety of the screen exposed. But there is no fear of the phone popping out of this case.
There is a slight lip that keeps the screen from coming in contact with the table when placed face down. A slight lip, but it is there, even with a glass screen protector on my phone.
It's made of clear polycarbonate with a clearish TPU on the corners, around the screen and in two raised rails running the long way down the back. It is comfortable in the hand, allowing the holder to feel the contours of the phone without adding bulk.
Along the sides, there are upraised ridges for grip. Which is good, because the smooth polycarbonate could feel a bit slippy if not for the TPU rails on the back, rubber around the lip of the case and ridges on the sides. This case has a good, reasonably grippy feel. Those who do not like the feel of smooth plastic against their palm may not dig it, but it feels pretty good to me.
The buttons are perfectly lined up, and very very clicky. One cool thing about the volume buttons: instead of being one big rocker style button for VOL up/down (many cases "join" the two buttons), the Poetic Affinity case keeps them separated just as the phone was designed. It looks sharp and deliberate, and provides some useful tactile feedback.
The TPU around the frame and the rails along the back ensure that your phone will stay put wherever you set it, which is nice.
The ports are almost all lined up perfectly (more on that in a sec). The SPen port seems wide open, which is pretty common for cases of this type. The bottom speaker, instead of being a cutout, is 8 holes drilled or molded or whatever into the case. They don't really line up with the actual speaker holes (at least in mine). But I have tried with and without the case, and I cannot tell any difference in the sound, so it doesn't seem to be a big deal. It isn't to me, anyway. But it will be to someone, which is really the only reason I mention it.
The clear polycarbonate gets smudged up with fingerprints in no time, I wipe mine frequently.
The combination of polycarbonate and strategically placed TPU seems pretty sturdy. I feel like my phone is adequately protected against day to day hazards. The case feels solid, complete and protective. The placement of the TPU seems designed to protect well against average corner drops or flat drops onto the front or back.
In conclusion, if you want a phone case that protects you from everyday hazards, and showcases as it encases, this is a good one to comsider. It is not at all expensive, and seems to offer protection that is definitely a cut above most "budget" cases I have seen. I have mentioned a couple of things that may give some people misgivings about this product (smooth plastic back, misaligned speaker holes), but for me neither of these things is a deal breaker, or even a significant concern. Your mileage may vary, etc. I like this case quite a bit.
Did we really yet another separate thread for this? You could have added it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3220298
Mods please merge these threads.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
Yeah I didnt see that thread sorry all
I have noticed that the TPU gets a little dingy looking and is not easy to clean. I can't imagine that would be a problem with the black TPU, but I have the opaque TPU on mine. Still love the case, still using it, but if I were buying one, I would go with the black TPU.
Just got my poetic affinity case. It's very nice! Love it
I have been searching for a protective case for the note 5 and having tried a few I can say that the Poetic revolution is the best one I have tried so far.
It's not ungodly heavy like some of the other ones, it does add some heft but more in line with what I would expect.
It offers full body pritection, including a plastic screen protector. I have a love hate relation with them honestly, they ultimately end up scratched up and I remove them in time. I put the phone in the case with my tempered glass protector still in place so that is probably the reason but this one I have yet to decide if I like it, it's crystal clear but slightly impedes touch sensitivity and does not sit flush against the glass, requiring you to tap just a bit harder. That's actually a plus tho because on some other cases, the screen protector sits right on the glass and you end up with watermarking. Like I said tho, I kept my glass one on so that's my own doing. The cut outs for the home button, speaker and camera are dead on.
The corners are squared off which should distribute the force of an impact over a larger area, hoping to protect better. The sides are pliable while the back is hard.
I like the volume buttons, having 2 buttons instead of like a slider deal allows easy adjusting with no guessing. The ports are all covered with flaps, it looks to be a tight fit for larger headphones although the stock ones fit fine. The s-pen, I don't know...I am 6'4 and have larger hands but I can not access it. It sits too deep, a key or something you could pop it out I am sure, depending how often you use it, it might be an issue. I think if you need a protective case that's a minor annoyance, just worth noting.
The kickstand works well, mainly in landscape. It's easy to pop out and close, doesn't rattle and stays put rather well.
The only real downside to this case is wireless charging does not work for me. I have a Spigen 3 coil charger and placing the phone on it I get nada. Most likely due to the metal kickstand I would guess.
Depending what's important to you in a case will ultimately determine if this one's for you. I work in construction and welding, I need reliable protection and will use this case when working. Weekends, etc I'll put on a less protective case. Personally, glad to have this one as an option and if you are looking for a good quality, protective case, keep this on your short list.
More pictures
Couple more
My review of the Poetic Revolution case
Disclaimer: I got this case free in exchange for this review. I have previously recieved and reviewed Poetic's Affinity case, a slim case which I like so much it has become my daily driver. How will I like a big case such as this one after using the featherweight, unobtrusive Affinity? Well, let's see....
The case arrived quickly. It was plainly packed in what appeared to be a non-retail plastic envelope. I don't know if the retail package ships with instructions, but mine didn't.
The case looks very sharp. It is big and blocky, with a somewhat military look. It consists of two pieces. There is a black plastic front, which features a built-in clear plastic screen protector with cut outs for the front camera, speaker and home button.. And then there is the back piece. Like the other Poetic case I have reviewed, this one is a seamless combination of hard plastic and rigid rubber. The plastic parts are black, and the rubber is a military drab greenish brown that suits the look of the case. The plastic and rubber meet in a combination of ridges and bumpers that are aesthetically sound. An aluminum kickstand sits squarely in the back. The top right corner of the case has a squared off rubber "loop" which is maybe for hanging the phone on something? I can kind of see the appeal of such a feature, but it adds bulk to an already big case without feeling substantial enough that you want your device hanging from it. There are also some "screws" and "rivets" which seem to be purely cosmetic and just molded into the plastic. Inside the back there is some kimd of texture that looks like it is designed to distribute force and further protect the device in case of a drop or other impact.
The ports line up perfectly. There are covers for the charging port, headphone jack, and even the S-pen. I like the complete protection (and this is the best S-Pen protection I've seen), but I will say that the S-Pen port is kind of hard to squeeze your finger into.
The front part of the case is supposed to snap on. Normally, I do not care for cases that are rigid inside, as I feel they jack up the phone's finish. While this may have been true of Samsung's previous chromed plastic bodies, I have no such concern about the aluminum edges of the Note 5.
Like the poster above, I tried to leave my glass screen protector on when first installing this case. It is obviously not designed for this. No fault of the manufacturer. My results were the same: a bowed out, unresponsive, mushy feeling screen cover. In addition, the convex fit made an easy access point around the camera, speaker and home button for dust and lint, which soon began to accumulate. So, I took off my glass. After doing this, the front of the case snapped on snugly with a satisfying "click". The screen protector, which is visibly thicker than that of the Otterbox Defender, sat flush and tight on the surface of my phone. Two days after taking off the glass(which I left on for two days), I see nothing accumulating under the screen at all. I am seeing some very fine scratches, but nothing visible.during normal use. And, for the record, I only clean my phone's screen/screen protector with lens cleaning wipes. Never dry. And my phone is usually in my pocket when not in use. I work indoors in clean dry conditions.
The front of the case goes on easily (once you remove your glass lol). The back, like most rubber over plastic cases, stretches slightly over the back and hugs a lip on the front of the case. It fits snugly and well, ....except for one part. The lower left. Not a huge deal, but it just doesn't seem to sit flush like the rest of the case, no matter what I do. There is a pic of this corner attatched. But, aside from that small quibble (well, small to me, YMMV), the fit is good and solid. Even the part that isn't 100% flush doesn't feel loose or mushy.
The case is bulky, no doubt. Either you like the way that feels in the hand or you don't. The back of the case is hard plastic with some rubber ridges. The sides are rubber with a barely visible micro texturing that seems to add a nice grip. The phone is not slippery in the hand. Nor is it slippery on a table, whether laid on its front or back. Though big, the phone feels good in the hand, not slippery or slimy. If you use your phone in landscape mode a lot, you need to be mindful of the "loop" on the top left corner. It may get in your way, prompting you to flip your device over to play your game or watch your video.
The lip around the screen has a nice angle to it, so you don't feel like you have to worry about hitting the screen anywhere. It doesn't interfere with the function at all. Can't really say the same for the port around the camera. It's deep and plenty protective, but it doesn't have any kind of bezel or anything like I've seen on some Note 5 cases. This can make it feel like you're "digging" for the heart rate monitor, which is kind of a pain.
The buttons are perfectly covered. But they do feel a little spongy. In addition, the sides of the case are angled inward, kind of under the top, almost like a saucer, get me? This angle has the effect of making the button pushes feel slightly awkward.
The hole around the speaker is deep (the rubber here is very thick) and more tube like than funnel shaped. This has the effect of changing the sound from the bottom speaker somewhat. Making it kind of "canned" sounding.
The kickstand is good and solid. It sets the phone at a good angle for viewing/gaming in landscape mode (but again, you have to be mindful of where the loop is). It works in portrait mode as well, but I dont know if it is intended to be used that way
The case is kind of a bear to take on and off. I put my phone into an armband when I run, so I take mine out of the case a lot. I found a workaround (jamming the thing case and all into my old Note 3 armband lol).
Lastly, as the previous reviewer noted, wireless charging does not work with this case. I must say, as common as wireless charging is becoming, this seems like a grave oversight.
At the end of the day, the phone offers good, solid protection, looking very good while doing it. But it does seem to sacrifice form in favor of function. For those who require, or just like, like solid protection, don't mind bulk, and don't need the case to slip on and off like butter, this may be the case for you. It certainly is substantial and protective. But it isn't terribly user friendly in some respects, maybe even less so than other cases of its type. In any event, even though I generally prefer a slimmer case, I am.in no hurry to switchn and will probably continue to use this one until the next time I absolutely have to charge wirelessly or wear skinny jeans. I don't see it as a daily driver for me. Partially because I just prefer smaller cases (which is no reflection on the product or manufacturer)n and partly because this case does seem to have a few drawbacks. I can definitely see myself using this for occasions when I am traveling or feel the need for extra protection. Ultimately, I have mixed feelings about the case. It has its strengths and weaknesses.
Pros: solid, offers complete coverage and protection, dual-layer (plastic/rubber), thick, and snug screen protector, covered ports, kickstand, nice grip, good looking, great value for the price (around $20)
Cons: S-Pen difficult to reach, difficult heart rate monitor access, bulky, loop adds bulk and reduces ease of use, buttons mushy and slightly awkward, no wireless charging, case affects speaker sound
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
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