I got my new Otterbox Defender case from AT&T today. Only paid $42 with shipping and tax so that wasn't too bad.
I weighed it against my Seidio Active case and holster and the Otterbox with holster weighs 12.5 ounces and the Active case with holster is 10.5 ounces if anybody was interested. Removing the clear plastic protective cover from the Otterbox lightens it by 0.15 ounces or about 4 grams.
I will say this thing feels like it will take a lot of abuse before the phone will break. That is of course, unless the screen is hit by a direct impact that the case can't deflect. Remember, there is a lot of screen area so anything protruding like a rock that makes initial contact with the screen will probably break the screen. No case will stop that.
Things I don't like about the Defender whether I knew about it when ordering or not......
yeah it adds a lot of bulk but not too bad. The volume up and down buttons are not very responsive but I suspect some electrical tape on the inside of the case over the phone buttons should help with that. The power button is actually a little too responsive for my taste. It is very easy to click the power button which sucks because the volume buttons have to be pressed hard and the thumb is usually over near the power button when operating the volume buttons. This leads to easy power button pressing.
The plastic case creaks like a wooden floor in a turn of the century house. What the hell is all of this about. Whether you squeeze the case side to side or twist the phone slightly. I suspect it is the outside case rubbing against the inner hard plastic case. I will try some baby powder on that. Still, the case does not have the rigidity that I was hoping for. If you manually twist the phone case at opposite corners the thing flexes way easily.
I called myself from my home phone, walked away and left the note 2 on the counter. I did not hear any echo from either phone as others have reported. This may show up later thought. If the phones are close together then echo can be present.
The plastic protective cover that comes with the case is garbage. Plain and simple. Yes there is a gap between the plastic and the phone screen. Very annoying. I took the plastic off within a few minutes. I have my own screen protector on it anyway.
I like the charging port and headphone port being covered with the rubber plugs.
When the case is put in the holster there is little leeway where the holster snaps into the detent in the phone edge. Several times I have found that the phone had to be adjusted a bit in order for the case to snap into the holster firmly. This may be a problem down the line or I might just modify it so that this makes a positive connection more easily.
This isn't really a comparison between the Active case and the Defender but I thought I would point out a few things.
I don't like having to use the Defender holster as a kickstand for the phone. The Active case has a built in stand in the case.
I do like the protective lip around the screen of the Defender which is made up of the softer outer shell and the hard plastic inner shell. The outside is not soft and gummy like silicone (like the Active) but a little harder. Kind of like a hard rubber but not as hard as a standard hard plastic if that makes any sense. It has a good feel to it. If the Defender is laid face down the hard lip does nothing to keep it from sliding. If laid on its back it resists sliding a little better depending on the surface. It is the opposite with the Active case. The Active has the silicone lip on the face and keeps the phone from sliding around if place face down. If the Active is placed on its back it will slide because the outside part is hard plastic.
The camera has a nice cutout with a lot of plastic protruding around it. The only way this camera lens is getting damages is if something goes right into the cutout and hits the lens directly. Getting to the stylus is very easy.
Ok, I did take the outer cover off and rubbed some baby powder to the inside. The creaking noise is diminished but still there.
I will try out the otterbox for a while and see how I like it. I work in a factory so it is highly plausible that this could fall off of a 12 foot ladder onto concrete. If I worked in an office I would not be using this case most likely.
I really like the look of the Active case in red much better than the otterbox. Fortunately, I place practicality over fashion generally.
Either way, I will hang on to the case and see what happens. Considering that both of these cases have similar MSRP (prices) the value is definitely in the Otterbox as far as material and engineering. The Active case needs to have a little more engineering and firmer material around the screen. in order to ask as much money as they do.
My biggest issue with the Defender is two fold:
1) Face it, this is an UGLY utilitarian looking case hiding our sexy thin phone. They did NOTHING to add any sex appeal to this case. It's like putting a bikini model in a full length raincoat and buttoning every snap.
2) The plastic screen protector feels cheap, scratchy and provides too much drag on the s-pen.
I got my commuter a few hours ago. It's pretty nice looking, the buttons aren't too hard to press, the cutouts are perfect, and it comes with a screen protector which I choose not to use. I couldn't ask for more from it. I also feel like it's very protective and would survive a 6 ft drop (even though im 5 ft).
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Note_2 said:
I got my commuter a few hours ago. It's pretty nice looking, the buttons aren't too hard to press, the cutouts are perfect, and it comes with a screen protector which I choose not to use. I couldn't ask for more from it. I also feel like it's very protective and would survive a 6 ft drop (even though im 5 ft).
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
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I haven't had the opportunity to hold the commuter series for this phone. Most of the cases for this phone need to be ordered since nobody seems to have anything in stock for this phone, around where I live, and I live in a decent sized city.
I got the commuter for $35 shipped on amazon. 3-5 day shipping, ordered Wednesday and got it earlier today even though it was expected tomorrow to friday! I tried to buy one closest to me for a decent price and the seller accessory net did great.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
I too have the creaking issue with the Defender. Mine(two of them) also creak and crackle. The plastic part that snaps together does not snap tightly thus causing some play which in turn causes the feeling that there is movement underneath and the creaking sounds. I got a replacement on the first one for this and the second one they sent also does this.
Otter customer service is great but the product right now imo is subpar
It is probably going to creak because it is suppose to flex... that is the whole point of the case absorbing impacts.
My biggest gripe about the Defender case is that dust makes it way in between the case's plastic screen protector and the phone's glass screen. It enters at the Home button mostly and at the top opening for the sensors. I have to open the case at least once a week and wipe out the dust. It's mainly fabric debris from my jeans pocket so I don't think it's anything scratchy.
honestly i hate my commuter case,its to damned fat,but when i drop my 700$ phone ,im happy, strange how that works
oddly enough, the only time I have dropped my Note 2 is when I used the otterbox Defender holster. If the phone case is pushed back and down in the holster when inserting , then the holster tab doesn't fully lock into the notch in the case. I thought I had it snapped in and it fell about 42 inches, I have a 36 inch inseam, and hit the concrete floor. Of course, this is a walk in the park for the Defender case so naturally there was no damage or marks on the case at all, and I wasn't worried about it when I picked the phone up.
My Active case has a much better spring loaded latch design so it is impossible for this to happen.
I actually got my knife out and made a little adjustment on the case notch so this won't happen again.
Related
Just was wondering what people have been using to protect their N1s now that its been out for a while, and how has it held up. I like the look of the N1 on its own without cases, and was thinking of using the little pouch that came with the box with no other case. Is this a wise move?
I have a case on my phone and an anti-glare screen protector (don't get anti glare it ruins the screen's look and colors) the reason I don't use the pouch is it gets annoying to take the phone out of my pocket with the pouch on then have to remove the phone from the pouch.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
The slip case that came with the phone
Seidio Innocase works for me. See the XDA Nexus acessories section...
I've got an Otterbox Commuter series case that I use when I'm on "business" trips or at other times that my phone is likely to be handled roughly. That case is no joke. Actually, I would probably use that case all the time if I didn't use my car dock every time I drive. It takes a bit of time to pull the phone out of the case several times a day. I generally just use the slip case that came with the phone. Does a good job of fighting off scratches, and is still easy to remove so I can install the phone in a dock in just a moment.
Just a screen protector, I have used cases/covers etc, and always end up coming back to just nothing I like the slim feeling
I like the slim look also, thats why i think im going to stick with the little android pouch that came in the box. Just hope it doesnt cause any black marks on the sides or anything. Previous owner of the nexus said he never used a case but made sure nothing else was in his pocket and the phone looks brand new with no marks anywhere.
On one of my other N1s there are some dust particles under the screen on the bottom left. 1 of them is big enough to look like a dead pixel when the screen is on, the rest are not noticeable. Anyone have a easy fix to get rid of the dust? That one particle is starting to annoy me.
Ever since I lost the neoprene case, I have been going commando.
Case-Mate "Tough Case" and the screen protector that came with it.
Transparent polycarb hard-case from eBay. Beautiful and strong, but no docking possible.
Stealth guard and there pouch that came with it
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
codesplice said:
I've got an Otterbox Commuter series case that I use when I'm on "business" trips or at other times that my phone is likely to be handled roughly. That case is no joke. Actually, I would probably use that case all the time if I didn't use my car dock every time I drive. It takes a bit of time to pull the phone out of the case several times a day. I generally just use the slip case that came with the phone. Does a good job of fighting off scratches, and is still easy to remove so I can install the phone in a dock in just a moment.
Click to expand...
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I do similar: when I'm traveling, I put the N1 in my Otterbox Commuter case and enable the PIN the lock. Otherwise, no case and no PIN.
A gel skin for me.
I put a screen protector on it to cut down on sweaty fingerprints during the summer, otherwise nothing. I've had mine since it came out for ATT (march?) and it's still perfect. Just keep keys and change in the other pocket.
i'm using a silicone slip on protector. i'm too scare i'll drop it without it otherwise i would go commando but i have nerve damage in my right hand so my control over parts of my hand are sub par compared to normal people
my ulnar nerve was severed by glass and repaired but i still do not have full function of the minor muscles in my hand and only have partial feeling in the pinky/ring finger and that side of my hand so thicker phones are more comfortable in my hand and the super rubber grip around the whole thing makes it very hard if not impossible for it to slip out of my hand.
smachine said:
Just was wondering what people have been using to protect their N1s now that its been out for a while, and how has it held up. I like the look of the N1 on its own without cases, and was thinking of using the little pouch that came with the box with no other case. Is this a wise move?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use BestSkinsEver (for a fraction of the cost of an InvisibleShield) protection and a horizontal leather Case Logic pouch... I used to have a silicon protector but it was a pain in the butt because it collects dust and lint like crazy!
They have these on Amazon for $10 less than the Seidio site. The case and clip combo, edited cause I didn't know if people may have thought it was just the case. Just ordered the black one. I was going to wait for the cheaper platinum branded one from Best Buy but it still shows backordered on their site. I had the same case for my Captivate and Inspire and really liked it. If you need a belt clip this is a great option.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006671MRG/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
My seidio active just came in from amazon, love it, although I had to pay the full 30.
pics/review/thoughts of your active and surface cases?
I'm looking for something with at least decent drop protection. Looks like Otterbox commuter fits the bill but I thought the active looked a little snazzier.
Here's the best photos I could manage with my old LG Optimus Get ready for the long blocks of text.
Lots of pros: Case fits perfectly along with exoskeleton, no need to worry about it being loose. Makes the phone a lot easier to grip. I no longer have problems gripping the phone, in whatever position I may be standing/lying. Case made of top notch material. Exoskeleton is made to absorb shock when the phone is dropped on its corners and it seems like it does just that.
Camera is not impacted by the case at all, or at least to the point where I cant tell. Everything is cut perfectly, both on the inner shell and outer shell. Doesn't add a lot of bulk to the phone itself.
Have a problem with accidently pushing the volume buttons? Not anymore. The soft inner case is solid enough so that the volume buttons/power button (which are covered) only get pressed when you want to.
Loved the kickstand the first time I tried it. I believe it was made to lock in one position. At first, I thought it was dumb that they made the kickstand open so that the charger port was pointed down towards the table but you can just flip the phone 180 degrees and use the kickstand that way too! Should be all the viewing angles you need.
Cons: The hard exterior exoskeleton does not cover the top and bottom of the soft case. I did not get the holster with it so I do not know how the holster will affect the softer plastic but it seems extremely durable. Not sure how long the kickstand will last but seems well built so hopefully the entire lifespan of my phone. Another con is that the kickstand juts out of the case a millimeter or two so that when you have the phone flat on a table, it doesnt sit flat on its back.
Does attract a bit of lint but hardly noticeable unless under bright lights, which is how I took the pictures
Overall, very nice and durable case. Wish it was a bit cheaper than 30 dollars so if you can snag a sale, good for you! Highly recommended it. I didnt even know seidio existed before reading through these forums and looking at the opinions others gave them and I am glad I went with it! Let me know if you have any other questions.
I just got my surface case in today and it is exactly what I expected. I've had the same case on my Captivate and Inspire. There are other cases I like better but the clip is a necessity for me. Fits like a glove and doesn't add much bulk at all.
It adds a decent amount of protection but don't expect Otterbox Defender kind of protection. Though I have dropped my Captivate and Inspire numerous times with this case on and never had any damage.
Pics later when I get a chance.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using XDA App
FYI I've had Seido Surface cases cause micro scratches on the plastic of phones before. Little pieces of dust/debris get stuck inside and the hard plastic of the phone causes it to scratch the plastic of the phone.
You can have this issue with any type of hard plastic case. I've seen it happen personally on the cheap generic Ebay cases and expensive Surface cases.
I've seen the build up but not scratches in the 3 that I have owned. But I'm also not looking for it either as I don't care if the plastic gets scratched up. I just need something with a belt clip that doesn't add much bulk and gives some protection in case of a drop.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using XDA App
Didn't see one of these for the Note 2, so here we go:
The Shellster comes out of the box looking nice, very nice. Looks like it cost way more than $15-20. The case itself snaps onto the phone very, very snugly. It's on there to the point that getting it off involves so much pressure that you feel like you're going to break the phone, and it will probably drag across the volume rocker as you go. Kind of scary to do to a new phone.
The holster itself lacks and kind of clip to keep the phone in, but that's not a huge issue because of how tight a fit the cased phone is in there. It feels very snug and secure against your waist. The belt clip on the holster has a metal slider inside that allows it to prop the case up as a holster in either landscape or portrait orientation. It's a very nice touch. The belt clip can be rotated along a 180-degree axis to fit the phone more comfortably to your waist--a big help when your phone has a 5.5-inch screen!
All that said, there are some very real problems with it. The case does not have any protection along the top of bottom of the phone. The holster does, as it extends slightly above the top and has a plastic loop on the bottom for the device to rest in, but not the case. The case does have a raised bezel, but not by much. Given all that, I do not believe that the Amzer Shellster offers much in the way of protection in a fall.
The second big issue, and the reason mine is being returned, is poor build quality. Earlier today, less then three days worth of use on the case, I bent over to pick something up. I am not a big guy; bending over shouldn't generate a ton of stress. The holster was aligned so that it rested horizontally along my side, as opposed to resting straight up and down. As I bent over, I heard a snap, and the holster had fallen off and hit the concrete floor of my garage, with the belt clip still on my waist. Luckily, my phone was out of the holster at the time, so there was no damage. All the same, a product breaking under normal conditions three days after getting your phone just stinks of terrible build quality to me. Because of that, I can't recommend the Amzer Shellster case to anyone. Poke around on eBay or Amazon, and you'll find other holster-style cases for considerably less money. They might be of similar quality, but at least you're only breaking $8-10 instead of $20, right?
Pictures attached:
1. Phone lying on its back, case attached. See the thin strips on the side? That's the case.
2. Back of phone, bottom. Access to the S Pen remains easy.
3. Back of phone, top. Nice, raised case protects the camera and LED.
4. Top of phone. Shows the complete lack of protection up there, as well as how little of the case is up front to keep the screen from being damaged while lying face-first.
5. Damage to the holster itself, with the belt clip that popped off.
Thanks for sharing. I thought about getting one of these, but I could see that it lacked protection for the top and bottom of the phone (based on YouTube videos for other phones). Plus, as you mentioned, the hard plastic cases have the tendency to scratch phones, especially when removing them. Thanks again.
I completely agree with you in your review. I have used only seidio cases and holsters on my past 5 devices. Unfortunately, they just were not ready and shipping and I did not trust this giant phone to being in my pocket bare. I ordered the amzer case and holster and was able to get it this past week.
First thing I noticed off the bat was how tight an initial fit it was getting the case onto the phone. Was afraid I was going to crack the case or damage the phone. I was very unimpressed with the back texture of the case. It is waaaay to slick for my taste. Compared to the bare plastic of the phone, it feels like it wants to slip out of my hand holding it one handed. As you stated, there is NO protection on the corners of the phone. Top or bottom. A fall from any height that lands on a corner will have nothing protecting it.
I also noticed a huge amount of flex in the belt holder. it is made of very thin/cheap plastic. Trying to quickly take the phone in and out of the holder is more of a two handed job. Sadly, I am returning it and getting the seidio. They are finally in stock.
My advice, avoid the case. While it is inexpensive, it just will not do a good job of protecting the phone and the belt clip is just about useless.
Damm I just ordered this from expansys 2 days ago.. waiting for it to come now.. Wish I would have seen this before.. To late now.. I had this case for my Galaxy Nexus and I was happy.. That is the reason I reordered it.. Well I guess I will see what happens when I get here
Edit: got the case yesterday. I like it.for 15 bucks you can't beat it
removing Amzer Shellster case
Can you explain describe how to remove this case frome Note 2
Good review and good info. Looks like one to pass up.
I have this case since a holster case is a MUST on my list. And I do agree with OP with his concern (my clip also comes off one time but I can re-attach it without problem). But the first issue could be resolve with using another case with the holster (I did the same thing with my Note 1). Currently, I am using this Cruzerlite case with the holster without problem (a bit tight but get the work done). Therefore, it's not that bad as a cheap solution until I found better alternative.
Double 0 7 said:
Can you explain describe how to remove this case frome Note 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Slide a fingernail between the case and the side of the phone at a corner (power button side is "easiest"), force the two apart. It honestly feels like you're going to break the phone in half.
So I'm looking at Note 2 cases and want something not too bulky but provides protection from accidental drops.
All these "I've dropped my Note 2 and it cracked" threads are freaking me out.
No case review site has test drops, so I'm looking to you and asking that you share your stories about dropping your phone, if it survived, and what case you had on.
I haven't seen a thread like this before so hope others will find it useful.
I personally have seen the Otterbox Defender on a friends Note2 and he dropped it many times with no problems.
However, that thing is ginormous, and doubles the size of the phone.
I'm looking for something that'll still fit in my pocket.
So my question to you:
1) what case?
2) dropped on what surface as how high?
3) what happened?
- nothing, works great!
- cosmetic damage, but screen good, works well.
- screen cracked...
- screen fine, but internal damage affecting functionality...
Thanks for your time!
go look at note 2 otterbox vids.on youtube... dude throws it out the second story window etc.
Cruzerlite. Had dropped out of the hip pocket of my sweats and I bent over to pick up a piece of mail I dropped out of the mail box. Was a pretty short drop, probably less than 2 feet as I was fully bent over when it fell out, and never in a million years would have imagined that small drop would have broke it. Not a bad break, just a hairline crack going from the home button to the ear piece.
FIREONHIGH said:
go look at note 2 otterbox vids.on youtube... dude throws it out the second story window etc.
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Read the OP, he doesn't want anything that large.
Back on topic: I've dropped my note 2 about 3 or 4 times now, all without a case, all I have is a small, barely noticeable scratch in the chrome bezel and what I noticed the other day is on the bottom right corner the chrome seems to have been rubbed off somehow. I'm now using a samsung the case, seems like it'll provide pretty good protection for its size. It completely covers the chrome bezel, and the outer edge is a softer material so it should do some (albeit not much) shock absorption while the back of the case is hard plastic (and a fingerprint magnet, this must be why there's no black note 2 although one would have looked brilliant.)
I should also add that I've pretty much always dropped I on a wooden floor, which is a bit more forgiving than tiles or concrete
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
DeoreDX said:
Cruzerlite. Had dropped out of the hip pocket of my sweats and I bent over to pick up a piece of mail I dropped out of the mail box. Was a pretty short drop, probably less than 2 feet as I was fully bent over when it fell out, and never in a million years would have imagined that small drop would have broke it. Not a bad break, just a hairline crack going from the home button to the ear piece.
Click to expand...
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Hope that doesn't happen to my diztronic case that I bought. It's pretty similar to the cruzerlite case that you have
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2
The problem with this thread is all drops are different. Unless you get enough sample of a certain drop for a specific case , you can't really generalize. The best you'll get here are a bunch of anecdotal samples.
For the most part though, the thicker the case, the better the protection. So get the thickest case you're willing to tolerate.
swyped all these spelling errors from my galaxy note 2
http://www.tech21.uk.com/Category/samsung_galaxy_note_2
Supposedly Tech21 has a line of cases for the Note 2 that has D3O strips that turn rock hard on impact to prevent damage to the phone on drops. The D3O material works much like cornstarch and water, which turns hard when you press on it.
Review of the case without cover:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af_AARLbKeA
Here's a youtube video of it in action being thrown onto the floor on another phone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw0Kky6sZCA
If you're super scared of your note 2 breaking, maybe get a wallet type of case?
I've dropped my note 2 three times. The first and second one, it was in a wallet type flip case, after the drops, it was scratch-less.The third time I dropped it was when it was on a jelly case. I had it gripped by my armpit when it fell on the ground face down!! It was raining then too so I did panic quite a bit. Fortunately, my note 2 survived that fall without a single scratch too >
I'm only 5'2 so that may not be much of a fall. -__-
ichibanjay said:
http://www.tech21.uk.com/Category/samsung_galaxy_note_2
Supposedly Tech21 has a line of cases for the Note 2 that has D3O strips that turn rock hard on impact to prevent damage to the phone on drops. The D3O material works much like cornstarch and water, which turns hard when you press on it.
Review of the case without cover:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af_AARLbKeA
Here's a youtube video of it in action being thrown onto the floor on another phone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw0Kky6sZCA
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Click to collapse
oh wow, that's actually pretty amazing, are the strips enough though? looks like they're the thickness of sticky tape.
is the entire case not made of the stuff?
they make cases/bumpers made out of d30..how come the note only gets 2 tapes on the back?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtMNfSHfkv4
I bought the Tech21 D30 for my Note 2 before watching those videos, and I'm extremely happy with the case. I don't drop my phone often or anything, but I like to have something on the back to prevent scratches and dings from laying it on various tables, etc. The two times it has dropped 3-4, there are virtually no signs of it. The case grip could be better but then it wouldn't slide out of my pocket easily so there is always that trade-off to consider.
I'm ordering a wallet case from Story of the but I'm sure I'll continue to use this case as well due to how it keeps the phone fairly thin and manageable.
Sent from my Note II using the XDA Premium app
finalhit said:
oh wow, that's actually pretty amazing, are the strips enough though? looks like they're the thickness of sticky tape.
is the entire case not made of the stuff?
they make cases/bumpers made out of d30..how come the note only gets 2 tapes on the back?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtMNfSHfkv4
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Thanks for the videos. To think I was starting to believe their hype.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
Why don't they make a bumper style case with a pinky-finger-thick bead of this stuff around the edges? Might add bulk, but I'd think it would be far better than any silicone or hardshell case.
If you find the OtterBox Defender too bulky, try the Commuter. It's thinner and still provides ample protection as it's a two piece case made from a silicone layer and a poly-carbonate hard shell. I can vouch for the level of protection they provide from past experiences (I had one on my GALAXY S II and dropped it by accident, landed face down and I was petrified that it would've damaged something... not so much as a scratch).
I have one on my GALAXY Note II and it fits very well - the buttons retain their tactile feel and "click" and it doesn't make the phone harder to hold or use in any way.
ichibanjay said:
http://www.tech21.uk.com/Category/samsung_galaxy_note_2
Supposedly Tech21 has a line of cases for the Note 2 that has D3O strips that turn rock hard on impact to prevent damage to the phone on drops. The D3O material works much like cornstarch and water, which turns hard when you press on it.
Review of the case without cover:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af_AARLbKeA
Here's a youtube video of it in action being thrown onto the floor on another phone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw0Kky6sZCA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in the tech21 case, it works well since its a different layer and it just distributes the force evenly across the layer to minimise damage.
with other cases though, hard cases are a double edged sword. hard plastic and metal cases may be pretty to look at, but hard plastic and metal cases also amplify vibrations, which can cause damage to the internals of your phone and to your screen. normally i'd say avoid cases where most of the hard material is in direct contact with the case. ie. only go for hard plastic if theres a silicone/tpu layer between the plastic and the case. and only go for aluminium cases/bumpers if theres a layer of soft material between the metal and the case. this way, the vibrations are dampened before they reach your device.
Really torn right now between purchasing the Commuter case from Otterbox or picking up one of the UAG cases for my note 2. I see that the Otterbox offers a two layer case vs the UAG single layer. Also the Commuter has covers for the ports and the UAG does not. Also for those that do own either or both, which do you orefer and why?
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
2 layers or a single molded layer - both offer very similar level of protection. I played with Commuter, but pass on it. Using UAG now. Too many advantages over Commuter. The back is less slippery, and has standoff "feet" to create friction with a surface; Commuter is easier to accidentally push/slide off the table with slippery surface (like grass top or granite). Also feels less slippery in my hand (UAG that is). One piece is a lot easier to take off if you need to change battery or remove card. Design of volume/power buttons is better and more responsive, like an external hardware buttons. It's lighter. Better design, looks a lot cooler and has customizable vent inserts. Don't care much about port plugs since I use my phone as GPS on a charger in a car and having micro-usb port cover is PITA. I feel Commuter inner rubber shell will get loose with time, already noticed pull around volume buttons where the rubber part was looser.
Honestly i was pulling towards the uag but i couldnt risk an wait for it to show up so just said buck it an got a commuter.. So far ive been realy happy with it. Size is good gives me a better grasp. A tad slippery but i got used to it now an got my way of holding it. Lip size around the edges is nice too realy would help incase phone fell screen down. Also comes with its own screen protector wich i botched the install since i suck at putting those on. An the biggest of all my conserns was the push buttons. On most of my cases on my old gs2 they were hard to push an this case there just rite.. not to soft nor to hard at all realy just perfect pressure to press. Better then my exs gs3 commuter wich is hard as shat to press the volume or power. I wouldnt put up with it if it was like that on mine.
I give it a 9/10. An only for the color choices aint the best style combinations that they coulda use but oh well not a deal breaker
sent from my Cricket Note 2
Loved my s3 commuter but the note 2 version is now in the trash. That thing was a terrible fit and gradually got worse. Had a replacement that was the exact same. UAG looks like the clear winner right now. I will buy once the crazy pricing goes down.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
I had been eye-balling the UAG case, but the uncovered ports were what swayed me to the Commuter. All the **** that collects in the usb port when left uncovered has always made me paranoid. Needless to say I always look for cases that cover the ports.
I was previously using the Defender. That case has great protection and all, but the crap that builds up underneath the screen protector was what made me start looking else where. Seriously, $60 (after tax) for a case that's "dust proof'" that I have to clean inside of twice a week? Plus, the volume and power buttons were as hard as a girls nipples outside in the middle of winter with no shirt on to press down. It made me feel like I was constantly trying to use my manliness to squash the phone and case to pieces with my bare hands with each use.
I'm on day two with the Commuter and have noticed a little bit of slipperiness on the back depending what surface I put it on. But, who cares. You can place the phone face down so the rubber comes in contact with the surface so it doesn't slide. Or, even better, you don't put your phone on a surface that has such a steep grade that it slides right off. The ports are covered (as mentioned) and the buttons have a nice firm yet responsive feel to them.
All the edges seem to line up nicely for what feels to be a nice snug fit. We'll see when I get my glass from Mime if everything fits together nicely.
I really wanted to like to like the UAG. The overall design of the case is pretty cool. The corners with edges will pay dividends when bumped against something. However, the more I thought about it, the big advertisement of a logo all big in brushed aluminum was a little much. Mix that with the uncovered ports and it was enough to sway me to the Commuter.
This is turning into a rant, so good luck in your choice.:silly:
I have to go with the commuter here. Some of the previous reviews have pointed out that the back is slippery. While I would agree, I also think that is not too slippery, and it is much easier to put in and take out of pockets than the UAG. Also, the biggest thing that I disliked about the UAG besides the lack of port covers, was that it just felt awkward in my hand. The commuter is much nicer to hold IMO. Also my UAG case was less than snug, it just felt like the phone wasn't secure. Also, the Commuter I think offers superior protection. Just check out this video. The Commuter, for all realistic purposes, does protects the phone just as much as the defender (which I also have). I think the commuter is the clear winner here.
Also, for what it's worth, Otterbox is the best mobile accessory company out there. Their customer service is quick & friendly. I have contacted them through both phone and email, and I have never received any service less than stellar, unlike my experience with UAG. I preordered my UAG case and was shocked at how little contact UAG had with me, as a preorder customer, especially considering how long the case was delayed.
My commuter also bent my charging port with its stiff port cover. Had to cut it off after my phone was replaced and then the left side of the phone began popping out. The Otter box hit the trash immediately.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
I loved my commuter when I first got it but now I hate it. The silicone is made out of cheap material, two weeks old and it's already tearing. The back is very slippery. I sometimes have trouble fitting my usb plug into the slot because the silicone gets in the way. Haven't had the usb bend yet as some have reported. The headphone jack on the commuter is not big enough for some of the plugs I use. I order the UAG case and it will be in tomorrow. I had the UAG on my S3 and I know what a terrific case it is. When my UAG comes in I'm throwing the commuter away.
I have had a commuter, a few other cases, and the UAG.
The Uag was my clear favorite. It is slim enough, but offer comparable protection to the commuter. The commuter was just too heavy and thick. The Uag is slimmer, and noticeably lighter.
I'd recommend Uag over the computer with out pause... Build, looks, and overall quality. But that is simply my opinion and nothing more.
I had seidio active... The magnet kickstand messed up the stylus.
I had a incipio dual pro shine. Great case that added protection, but not as much as the two you listed above. It so scratched so easy and looked like horrible in a week.
The Uag is my final case I believe. If your not sold on either, look into the trident aegis. I oersonslly don't like the way it looks, not even a little bit. But it is getting g great reviews by people here and the people who own it seem to prefer it. Maybe it looks better in person.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2
jbreeze228 said:
The silicone is made out of cheap material, two weeks old and it's already tearing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Call or email Otterbox. This should not be the "case".
Haha. See what I did there?
AlphaNoble said:
Call or email Otterbox. This should not be the "case".
Haha. See what I did there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lmao. Nicely done sir.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
Anyone know if UAG Allows wireless charging or does it affect it?
So I settled on the commuter case and have got to say I am pretty happy with it. Doesn't make the phone all that much bigger and having the port covers is a plus. Although we will see I'm pretty sure I will end up getting the UAG case as well so I can try them both out.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
Literally just got my UAG case in and it was effing awesome! It's so easy to hold and grip versus the commuter I was scared would fall out of my hands because it was so slippery. The buttons are a lot easier to push. Love how you can change the vent colors but rockin the orange for now. The only area the Otterbox wins in is the size of the spen cut out. Other than that there is no comparison between these two. Don't see myself using any other case. Great job UAG.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
chodie said:
I had been eye-balling the UAG case, but the uncovered ports were what swayed me to the Commuter. All the **** that collects in the usb port when left uncovered has always made me paranoid. Needless to say I always look for cases that cover the ports.
I was previously using the Defender. That case has great protection and all, but the crap that builds up underneath the screen protector was what made me start looking else where. Seriously, $60 (after tax) for a case that's "dust proof'" that I have to clean inside of twice a week? Plus, the volume and power buttons were as hard as a girls nipples outside in the middle of winter with no shirt on to press down. It made me feel like I was constantly trying to use my manliness to squash the phone and case to pieces with my bare hands with each use.
I'm on day two with the Commuter and have noticed a little bit of slipperiness on the back depending what surface I put it on. But, who cares. You can place the phone face down so the rubber comes in contact with the surface so it doesn't slide. Or, even better, you don't put your phone on a surface that has such a steep grade that it slides right off. The ports are covered (as mentioned) and the buttons have a nice firm yet responsive feel to them.
All the edges seem to line up nicely for what feels to be a nice snug fit. We'll see when I get my glass from Mime if everything fits together nicely.
I really wanted to like to like the UAG. The overall design of the case is pretty cool. The corners with edges will pay dividends when bumped against something. However, the more I thought about it, the big advertisement of a logo all big in brushed aluminum was a little much. Mix that with the uncovered ports and it was enough to sway me to the Commuter.
This is turning into a rant, so good luck in your choice.:silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please let us know how it goes with the MIME glass screen protector.
I have both cases and must say UAG wins. Top it off with mime, excellent product with outstanding support
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
P
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
UAG is very light and is easy to put on or take off. It has military standard drop. Heat vents keep your phone cool. Easy to hold. Looks good if you like the rugged look. Last a long time. I have a uag case from 4 years ago that still looks great today.
Sawdust in your port
Covered ports may seem unnecessary, but when I was working at radioshack, an old man came in and said his phone wasn't charging right. I assumed it was the cord (because that is the case 9 times out of 10), but the cable was perfectly fine. I then checked the USB port, and it looked like someone shoved white playdough in the port and shoved it down. As I pick it out, I discover it was sawdust that was left in there and shoved down over time. The phone worked fine after that.