Shellster Horizontal Ribbed Design - Cover/Holster Combo:
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Available from Amazon.com (search words: LG 855 Shellster Black Belt Clip Holster)
Price: About $3.50 US ($3.50 + Free Shipping)
Materials: Hard black plastic cover and holster w/clip
Pros:
Compact
Great fit
Price
All-in-one solution
Cons:
Poor case retention in holster
No shock-absorption by case
No other color options
Belt clip only fits belts to 1-5/8" (4.1 cm)
Boxed-edges on case and holster
The "Shellster" case was my first LG P970 phone case. The price was right from Amazon (under $4, including shipping) and the on-line reviews were mostly favorable. I was impressed with the compactness of the combo, and the overall fit on the phone. I don't think the cover and holster could be made any thinner than this combo. The case sides wrap up and around the phone's sides, and sit just above the glass face surface; this case does not interfere with the on-screen keyboard in any way. The cover doesn't look like it's held on the phone by much, but it grips the phone well. My only real complaint is that the back of the cover is "boxy", with squared edges; the P970 has a beautifully rounded back that fits the hand well, and the squared edges of the cover feel out of place and make the phone appear larger than it actually is.
The holster is precision-molded and holds the phone cover face-inward. Three clips -- two on each side and one on the bottom -- hold the cover snugly in and against the holster. There is a shallow perimeter lip on the holster that helps position the cover; it also (somewhat) prevents the phone/cover from sliding up and out of the holster. A large felt pad lines the inside of the holster and protects the phone's face. A mulch-position clip securely locks the holster on a belt up to 1-5/8" (4.1 cm). The holster also has a "kickstand" built into its clip; pulling out on the clip and slipping an attached wire loop downward locks the clip outward. The stand seems to work fairly well, but I question its long-term durability.
In use, the holster didn't perform well. I immediately ran into problems with keeping the phone/cover in the holster while carrying it on my hip/small-of-back; all was well until I sat down. Sandwiched between my back and a chair/seat backrest, the phone had a tendency to work its way up and out of the holster in vertical carry. The three or four times the phone slipped out, I was able to quickly recover it. The Otterbox for the iPhone has a release latch on its holster; it's a feature that this holster sorely lacks. The holster has a raised ridge at its top to help retain the phone/case, but it's just not enough. I also ran into an issue with the belt clip: 1-5/8" clearance wasn't enough for my 1-3/4" work belt; the clip slipped over my belt, but wouldn't lock.
Rating, in three parts:
Cover - 3/5 - holds phone the well, but feels boxy in the hand, making the phone feel larger than it really is.
Holster - 1/5 - nicely built, but cover/phone retention is poor.
Overall - 2/5 - An inexpensive combo that's limited by both the lack of a retention latch and a non-contoured cover.
Related
So The kind folks at Otterbox sent me not One but TWO replacement cases because my original defender had the rubber for the headphone jack and usb jack start tearing after use.
Let me start by saying they are an OUTSTANDING company ( And I dont own any of their stock, get paid to review or compensated in any form) . I called and asked if they could send me a new rubber outercase for my existing Defender because the two port flaps were tearing. Since they didn't have any of the silicone shells or Defender cases they sent me an Otterbox Commuter in my preferred color choice (Glacier White) until they had more Defender cases in stock. What did I get? at the same time a new full retail Otterbox Commuter in Glacier White and a full Otterbox Defender in Black (my original color).
I thought maybe showing them side by side may help others decide which case is a more suitable choice.
In the pics below the Verizon SCH-i605 is in the (OLD) Otterbox Defender and the NEW Otterbox Commuter is on the TMobile SCH-T889.
Long and short of it is each case has its merits and flaws. But both are great choices for protection on this expensive device.
Common To Both Cases:
+ Very good protection for falls. Corners, Screen, and back are protected.
+ Both have rubber flaps covering Audio and USB ports.
The Defender has 3 parts: Hard plastic back cover, Hard plastic front cover with integrated hard plastic screen screen protector, Soft silicon outer shell that wraps everything including the screen bezel.
The Commuter has 2 parts + a standard adhesive screen protector. Soft silicon inner shell that wraps the entire phone including raised screen bezel, a hard ABS plastic outer shell and also the adhesive screen protector.
Defender:
+ Exterior shell is Silicon. More tacky / sticky in hand and less slippery . Less likely to slip out of the hand.
+ The hard interior case has a raised rim around the screen in the harder ABS plastic and I think would help protect the phone screen from an off-angle fall .
+ Built in plastic screen protector as part of the top lid.
+ Feels more rugged and effective for extreme falls or clumsy ppl lol.
- Exterior is soft rubber and may also be more difficult to slide into pockets.
- Integrated hard plastic screen protector is full coverage BUT has cutouts top camera, sensors, ear piece and bottom home button, which allows dust to eventually get wedged between the actual screen and the protector.
- Is approx 3mm thicker overall and slightly heavier. Generally noticeably bulkier.
- Volume and Power button require more effort to press.
Commuter:
+ Less bulky then Defender. Slimmer, slightly less tall and def feels sleeker in hand.
+ Volume and Power button feel normal with minimal added effort to press.
+ Easier to disassemble.
+ Outer Shell is hard plastic and is mush easier to slide in and out of pockets.
+ Screen protector is a standard adhesive variety , but once installed is very smooth , bubble free and doesnt show fingerprints,
- Hard plastic is slippery and it will slide on a table or possibly out of your hand.
- Adhesive screen protector may be challenging to those trying to install one for the first time , especially one this large. It only comes with one.
- Offers slightly less protection then the Defender , BUT comes with a slimmer profile and weight.
Someone asked me about which of these two cases would offer better "crash" protection onto a sidewalk.
I personally prefer the Commuter case for its overall slender form factor. However ; I think the Defender offers superior protection.
The Defender has the soft (and thick) outer shell. In the event of a fall onto concrete or another hard surface physics would say the soft outer shell will absorb more of the impact shock then the Commuter. Why?
The soft exterior will absorb the shock and disfigure on impact where the hard exterior of the Commuter will transfer the impact to the soft inner shell. The problem is that since the hard exterior of the Commuter compresses the soft inner shell significantly once put on it minimizes the amount of cushion it can offer.
Basically once the silicon is compressed (pretty significantly might I add) and sandwiched between the outer case and the phone itself it wont have the cushion and recoil it would have if it were allowed to remain fully expanded on the exterior as in the Defender..
Seidio has released a Naked Belt Clip Holster for the Turbo.
Can be ordered from Amazon for $28.35
This holster is designed exclusively for a "naked" device
Seidio's Spring Clip Holster has been refined from years of customer feedback and advances in technology. A durable spring clip holds your device securely in place, and then lifts for quick access. Both the felt liner and the face-in design protect your screen from scratches and exposure to outside elements. This holster can be worn in any one of seven different positions, ranging between horizontal and vertical.
- Spring clip lifts for easy access and removal
- Felt liner and face-in design protect the screen
- Rotating swivel belt-clip with choice of seven positions
- For use with bare device
I have ordered one and will be here on Sat. Never found a naked belt clip for my last 2 Motorola's. I am glad Seidio took the plunge in developing one.
Will report after I receive it.
Awesome, I might pick one up.
Here is the actual link to the clip on Amazon
Received the Seidio Naked Holster today.
The fit is very good and it does not wiggle at all while locked into the holster. The Turbo pops in and out easily without any trouble.
Unlike the Shell Holster combo from Verizon, the Turbo pop in face forward from the side. The sliding down from the top with the Verizon holster always seems to catch my shirt in the holster.
Now I can loose the bulk and carry the Turbo without any case/shell like it was meant to be. Showing off the Ballistic Nylon back!
I used the roocase Exec Tough for my Note 5 for a week before writing this review. The current case I use is an OtterBox Commuter, which has been installed for about 2 months. This brief review will compare/contrast the roocase to the OtterBox.
roocase basics:
- Was sent a production version (not a beta) of the new Exec Tough Slim Fit Armor case for the Note5 to review
- Made from a co-molded TPU/polycarbonate process which combines a shock absorbent rubber inner lining with a hard but flexible outer case into a single cover that snaps onto the phone as one piece
- Case was all black except for the volume and power buttons, which are covered by a raised metal-looking plastic buttons that protect them from dust while making it easy to feel for the buttons with your fingers (more on that below)
- Other colors for the case are available - check the roocase website
- Case was surprisingly thin but strong
- Pictures below
roocase vs. OtterBox comparisons:
- roocase was thinner and lighter; felt easier to hold in my hand than the OtterBox
- roocase was not as bulky in my front pants pocket as the OtterBox
- roocase volume and power button cover keys were easy to locate and press; OtterBox key covers require a much firmer push to engage the buttons by comparison as they are covered by a raised rubber area
- roocase has a nice raised bumper on each case corner, clearly intended to fend off issues from drops (see pic below); OtterBox has no raised corners but has rubber around each corner as part of the OtterBox inner liner piece
- roocase was much easier to install on the phone versus the 2-part install process and alignment / press-fit of the OtterBox; however, roocase was very snug once on the phone once installed, and some strong pressure is needed to remove the roocase - it does not come off easily (probably a good thing)
- roocase does not have any rubber flaps covering the micro-usb or headset jack ports, like the OtterBox does
- Was much easier to get at & remove the S-Pen with the roocase on than with the OtterBox - the OtterBox has a slot in the rubber inner liner at the bottom right of the phone case, which while protecting that corner against drops, makes it a little harder to reach in and pop-out the stylus than the roocase's TPU co-mold design. Those with skinny fingers may not have such issues with the OtterBox installed but I do.
- OtterBox when installed has a higher case lip around the screen that makes you slow down and focus more when using a full finger swipe in from the far left edge of the screen; the roocase does not have as high a lip around the screen, and made this finger gesture easier to be recognized
Other general comparisons:
- Both cases offered clear access to the speaker & mic ports at the bottom and mic port at the top of the phone - no issues
- Both cases offered clear access around the camera and flash on the back of the phone - no issues
- Both cases offered clear access to the micro-usb and headset jacks (other than the OtterBox has rubber flaps covering these which must be first pushed out of the way). I had no issues hooking up my USB cables or Bose & Samsung headset cords to the phone with the cases installed.
Drop test notes:
- I have dropped my phone before with the OtterBox case on it (3' drop), and it landed on the bottom right corner, ejecting the S-pen onto the floor but no damage at all to the phone, case, or S-pen
- I did not drop the phone during the week I had the roocase installed, so I cannot comment on how it protects the phone, but just looking at its design and appearance of case features, it should protect just as well as the OtterBox
In conclusion:
- The roocase was more to my liking than the OtterBox, thanks to the fact that it was seemingly just as strong/durable, but also easier to install on the phone, had less weight/bulk, and it was easier to get at the S-pen/USB/Headset jack locations
- I have not decided which case I will use going forward as my ONLY hesitation with the roocase is that I find the phone screen turns on much too easily in my pocket due to the fact that only the lightest touch is required on the silver roocase button covers to activate the phone. I will use each case for another week, switching between them, until I can decide. Leaning towards the roocase though - just being honest.
These are just my opinions - you have yours. Will reply to thoughtful questions but will ignore any attacks or criticism of my opinion.
jaxf250 said:
I used the roocase Exec Tough for my Note 5 for a week before writing this review. The current case I use is an OtterBox Commuter, which has been installed for about 2 months. This brief review will compare/contrast the roocase to the OtterBox.
roocase basics:
- Was sent a production version (not a beta) of the new Exec Tough Slim Fit Armor case for the Note5 to review
- Made from a co-molded TPU/polycarbonate process which combines a shock absorbent rubber inner lining with a hard but flexible outer case into a single cover that snaps onto the phone as one piece
- Case was all black except for the volume and power buttons, which are covered by a raised metal-looking plastic buttons that protect them from dust while making it easy to feel for the buttons with your fingers (more on that below)
- Other colors for the case are available - check the roocase website
- Case was surprisingly thin but strong
- Pictures below
roocase vs. OtterBox comparisons:
- roocase was thinner and lighter; felt easier to hold in my hand than the OtterBox
- roocase was not as bulky in my front pants pocket as the OtterBox
- roocase volume and power button cover keys were easy to locate and press; OtterBox key covers require a much firmer push to engage the buttons by comparison as they are covered by a raised rubber area
- roocase has a nice raised bumper on each case corner, clearly intended to fend off issues from drops (see pic below); OtterBox has no raised corners but has rubber around each corner as part of the OtterBox inner liner piece
- roocase was much easier to install on the phone versus the 2-part install process and alignment / press-fit of the OtterBox; however, roocase was very snug once on the phone once installed, and some strong pressure is needed to remove the roocase - it does not come off easily (probably a good thing)
- roocase does not have any rubber flaps covering the micro-usb or headset jack ports, like the OtterBox does
- Was much easier to get at & remove the S-Pen with the roocase on than with the OtterBox - the OtterBox has a slot in the rubber inner liner at the bottom right of the phone case, which while protecting that corner against drops, makes it a little harder to reach in and pop-out the stylus than the roocase's TPU co-mold design. Those with skinny fingers may not have such issues with the OtterBox installed but I do.
- OtterBox when installed has a higher case lip around the screen that makes you slow down and focus more when using a full finger swipe in from the far left edge of the screen; the roocase does not have as high a lip around the screen, and made this finger gesture easier to be recognized
Other general comparisons:
- Both cases offered clear access to the speaker & mic ports at the bottom and mic port at the top of the phone - no issues
- Both cases offered clear access around the camera and flash on the back of the phone - no issues
- Both cases offered clear access to the micro-usb and headset jacks (other than the OtterBox has rubber flaps covering these which must be first pushed out of the way). I had no issues hooking up my USB cables or Bose & Samsung headset cords to the phone with the cases installed.
Drop test notes:
- I have dropped my phone before with the OtterBox case on it (3' drop), and it landed on the bottom right corner, ejecting the S-pen onto the floor but no damage at all to the phone, case, or S-pen
- I did not drop the phone during the week I had the roocase installed, so I cannot comment on how it protects the phone, but just looking at its design and appearance of case features, it should protect just as well as the OtterBox
In conclusion:
- The roocase was more to my liking than the OtterBox, thanks to the fact that it was seemingly just as strong/durable, but also easier to install on the phone, had less weight/bulk, and it was easier to get at the S-pen/USB/Headset jack locations
- I have not decided which case I will use going forward as my ONLY hesitation with the roocase is that I find the phone screen turns on much too easily in my pocket due to the fact that only the lightest touch is required on the silver roocase button covers to activate the phone. I will use each case for another week, switching between them, until I can decide. Leaning towards the roocase though - just being honest.
These are just my opinions - you have yours. Will reply to thoughtful questions but will ignore any attacks or criticism of my opinion.
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Great review, thanks.
May I add, the otterbox cover for ports is a great advantage especially as a daily commuter, my pockets are filled with stuff.
This stuff caused me to loose my headphone jack because it was not connected on my work Iphone.
*the fact that it was an iphone didn't help *
Note: I received a discount on this case in return for reviewing it.
This case is better than others which claim to offer a huge amount of protection because it is not as bulky as most of the others. One reason could be also because it does not in fact include a cover with a built-in screen protector for the front, although there are lips which do stick up around the front to protect it when the phone is placed face down on a table.
Wireless charging works well with this case as well which can be an issue with other protective cases.
The back of the phone is a shiny plastic material which can be a fingerprint magnet to a very small extent, but that is not nearly as noticeable as an issue as the phone has on the back when it has no cover. The back is also curved on the sides like the bare phone itself, so it is very comfortable to hold.
In order to make up for some possible slipperiness on the very back, you can see by the photos included that that is more than made up for by the rubber "grippy" sides. I would have preferred the side on the phone with the volume buttons to have the same rubber material all the way up the side as the side of the phone with the power button, but that is just my preference with which everyone may not agree.
On the front, the top lip and the bottom lip around the screen are hard rubber, while the sides edges are in fact the same plastic as the center of the back of the phone. They do not fit right up to the edge of the glass the same way - so on the front you can see a little of the metal edge on the top and bottom front edges of the phone with this case. However, it is just this one 'slight flaw' that makes the next paragraph possible:
It may sound counterintuitive, but what I like most about this case is that is not only a very protective case for the phone, but it is also very easy to slip on and off the phone at the same time - the rubber and plastic pieces do not have to be pulled apart from each other to put the phone in or to take it out. Just grap a couple corners and with a little effort it will pop off - not so easy that it would ever slip off on it's own - it is very snug. It may seem like a silly thing, but I have a custom proclip holder in the car (for the bare phone) - and I like to slip my phone into that when I get into the car. As that requires removing the case and slipping it back on, when I am using the other protective cases for my phone I am forced to just not use the proclip holder those times when I am driving - except not with this case!
All in all I really like this case and I'll be using it a lot!
wondermanyoulove said:
it is 4.99 dollars in Ebay
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Probably one of the other reviewers. I still have mine.
https://www.amazon.com/JJNUSA-Handma...ef_=ast_sto_dp
you know i never thought trying to find a case was going to leave me so hard pressed. note i do not mind the camera bump one bit. but they could have rounded out the camera hump a bit more. not the corners, but where the surface meets the edges and also they could have slanted the sides a bit more angled. who knows they did pull it off pretty good.
still on the camera bump.
note: with JJNUSA leather case you will be covering the mic on the camera bump. if that is a problem for you look elsewhere for a case.
i have received 200 in incentives to order goodies when i got my phone pre ordered and used it to order a few cases.
cases i ordered:
samsung rugged: bulky, heavy, don't like the texture on the back and flimsy kickstands that shoot off when used
samsung leather case: upgrade from last years, 2g lighter. seamless, but warps at the bottom. good cam protection.
samsun silicon: unsure if food grade safe. and slippery as glass
-other cases-
spigen Rugged Armor: oddly best all tpu case with carbon fiber accents. the back is slippery if trying to reach across the screen. side bumpers have one way slip grip and flimsy. camera is well protected. pen cut out too deep corner exposed but covered. top /bottom bumper good but top may block ear piece. 2g heavier then jjnusa leather
...now my official review of the JJNUSA Handmade Leather Case...
NOTE i used amazon prime
don't let the first pic they have on amazon throw you off, but what bothers me is the video they added to the product and it is of the s20 ultra; the camera lens is so scratched. i am still baffled how they did that. then again we will see in due time, because i can not stand the samsung leather case(which got me hooked on leather cases oddly) it is too slippery. the jjnusa case has tpu sides and saddle leather on back with plastic on the inside that the phone rests on. but i will say the leather on the back is so soft i think it sorta makes up for the lack of suede like the official samsung case has. then again the leather is so thick its' edges pop out the mold a teensy-weensy bit, but i doubt with proper use and not picking at it it will survive for a long time. with the 5% off coupon i also got another 1 usd off(who knows if it was the amazon prime). so for 19.95 it is a steal. most other leather cases are $30+. a steal; why may you say? hold on let me get to the rest of it. if we all remember the lg g4 leather back it was a looker. that was it, because it scratched easily and punctured easily. then we go onto the samsung leather case that scratches easily with minimal show. further more i can not say what that will mean over long term usage with this case from jjnusa. treat it lightly and it should be fine. now back to the leather on the jjnusa case. the leather reminds me of the type you get on a saddle and does not separate from itself. that is a plus. but a minus if the antiquing they use comes off very very easily?, and it does(con or not?) i had a cane that had antiquing and it turned my hands black, but after it leveled out it was fine. you know they always slap so much on to fill in the design that almost certainly more then half they put on will rub off. i have rubbed off some already. hence it would not rub off like wow, i had to use my nail. no way does it show like scratches on the samsung leather case. either way the extra antiquing will no matter what fade away over time and settle down to where it should be. i still think it will look good. at the same time the leather is much more scratch resistant then the latter. and the design and the look really grew on me. now on to the sides. the power button and volume are labeled with symbols and i like it even though i will never look at it. what else i like is that they are tpu like the rest of the sides. the tactile of the buttons are sturdy then again not too stiff not too mushy. then there is a bonus or an achilles heal; you move down the same side as the buttons and find a wrist strap punch out so you can add a wrist strap. have not tested it, seems like it should be worthy of use and not fearing. the bonus is removing the phone from the case, it does not shoot out like it does with the samsung leather case does. still it holds it in better. this is where i tell you that the jjnusa case has way better screen protection that leaves a better feel in the hand. the samsung leather case has a squidgy spongy top and bottom. the bottom is already warped and i never used it; i just put it on a few times and took it off. also a fail for the bottom bumper is the difficulty to remove the spen without nails. the jjnusa case is cut out just right and since it is thinner and more stiffer in a good way you can press your thumb or finger and hear that satisfying click to eject it. with that said the top and bottom bumper are raised higher then the samsung to protect the screen. the samsung case is more flush and flimsy.
i am a happy camper and if it fairs well i will update to 5 stars from 4, but i am really thinking at the price to slap down for another. as we all know leather cases do not last as long as other types
the reason i gave it 4 stars is i never really heard of JJNUSA till i saw them on etsy.com and since they where based in china i thought meh. then i thought to ebay's third party cases and said but leather? does not smell much like leather, oddly that is how saddles with the same type of leather smells. or it could be the antiquing they used and the shipping package. it was not shipped in a box or cheap plastic, it was in a cloth sleeve in a sealed padded envelope. JJNUSA do claim Oregon origins... yeah right etsy.com says ships from china.
i have played around with plenty of cases and phones in cases so it's not like i only have really had the note 20 ultra... just do not get one of them ultra thin all tpu cases. i have one for my lg g4 and only really protects the sides and back. busted the screen.
I have already dropped it having it about 3.6 feet drop going swap when it landed on its' back side. my heart sunk, but the case did its' work and saved it. a plus for the case. it was not dropped it was knocked down from a propped up position onto a hard wood flooring