Related
I am looking for a leather sleeve or pouch. It doesn't matter to me if it slides in from the top or side.
I have the leather Sena case for my Gnex, so that was the first place I looked. They do have one for the Nexus 7:
http://www.senacases.com/google/nexus-7/ultraslim/
What other options are out there?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
I haven't looked into the specific dimensions yet but the medium sleeve from saddleback leather may be a good option if the fit is right.
www.saddlebackleather.com
Bought this about a week ago, hopefully it arrives sometime next week. It is faux leather though. From the feedback, people were satisfied with the build quality/protection. Price is hard to beat too.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/280913001848...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648#ht_2372wt_1106
I picked up a Blackberry Playbook leather "Envelope" fits great and one of the things you can say about Blackberry in general is that their OEM accessories are top notch in quality. Its very thin, not a ton of protection more it prevents things in your bag from scratching, battering the tablet. Anyway very professional looking if that's important to you, I really like it partly for that reason.
trbloomer said:
I picked up a Blackberry Playbook leather "Envelope" fits great and one of the things you can say about Blackberry in general is that their OEM accessories are top notch in quality. Its very thin, not a ton of protection more it prevents things in your bag from scratching, battering the tablet. Anyway very professional looking if that's important to you, I really like it partly for that reason.
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I also looking for a leather case for my nexus 7, accidently, I found "anker" had been selling leather flip case, cheap enough. does someone tried?
Its an accessories related question and i hope its ok to ask here. I just received my Nexus 7 32GB and loving it! As what i would do usually, I immediately started looking for back cases / covers / pouches for this lovely device and then I tought, does it really need one? The material at the back doesnt look like the one that could easily be scratched. But then I see so many cases around and people using them. Maybe to better protect the device when/if it falls? I dont like folio cases anyway and only buying a back case looks like a waste.
Any suggestions?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
It can get scratched. I have mine in a case almost all the time and I found a scratch on mine somehow
While it's not essential, I'd still go with a case, because you just never know what may befall your new shiny tablet. Since a lot of cases on the market appear to be cheap and ugly, buy something that is well built and from quality materials. This may set you back $50 or more, but trust me, it's well worth it. The tablet will just feel better in your hand, more secure, and you won't have to worry about the screen being scratched or it getting dinged on the side.
Ever since I got my Norever leather case I like the way my N7 feels way more than it does without it.
If you're only interested in a "back case" then I would consider the Incipio Feather. Here's my review. The Feather did come with a screen protector, but I'm with the others in this thread and I would just go with a full case to protect the whole thing.
FULL DISCLOSURE: The Feather was provided to me by Incipio for the purpose of review. I do not receive any compensation for my reviews.
Protection required
I would have to agree that i enjoy having my nexus out of a case . I like the feel of the back and for me it would not get scratched as im careful.. But I use it while im out and about all the time.. I have almost dropped it a few times.I think if you drop this device and it hits the edge of bezel The screen will crack.So i recommend having a nice case . For me i have the bobjgear silicone case . It does add bulk and the nice look of the device . But it provices alot of protection.
Happy Nexus Owner
Erica Renee
I am thinking of a simple plain matte black slim tpu case. Let's see if I can find one.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Well, having dropped my N7 twice, I can attest to getting a case for the Nexus lol. Both drops were from at least 3 feet and the first one went down rolling to the sidewalk from my truck in my Treegloo case. The N7 came unscathed but the Treegloo had an indentation that could barely notice. The second fall was in the garage cement floor. This time the fall was straight down back side down and went SPLAT. I freaked!:silly: and immediately took it out and found it turned on fine and the glass was uncracked. So I went inside and put the N7 down but noticed the cover didn't sit flush like it normally did, so I took the N7 out of the case and saw the backing corners were coming undone and I had to press down to re-snap them back into the corners again.
Now the treelgoo has been semi-retired now that I have the Seidio Active case on. It works because I now also use the Kropsson Aero modded universal car mount and using the treegloo wouldn't work in that case.
Simply... Yes
as in the title yes, I have had a couple of small falls and one or two larger ones, and having the stock official ASUS ones may have saved it a lot of times, so getting any that will have some bump protection is a definite go ahead
call it insurance
I like the naked feel of the N7 in my hand. It's just right. The options available are all over the map. Those folding contraptions remind me of the old paper maps that I could never get right. The armored ones look like two handers and you are going to drop test it because it's a job just to handle all that bulk. I'm going with a leather YooMee pouch [correction: they call it a sleeve] for transport purposes and working the N7 raw.
Noticed Otterbox just announced the Defender series for the N7.
I like Otterbox but $70 is too expensive for a plastic case. Hell, you get a hand made leather Noreve case for $72.
xips said:
I like the naked feel of the N7 in my hand. It's just right. The options available are all over the map. Those folding contraptions remind me of the old paper maps that I could never get right. The armored ones look like two handers and you are going to drop test it because it's a job just to handle all that bulk. I'm going with a leather YooMee pouch for transport purposes and working the N7 raw.
Noticed Otterbox just announced the Defender series for the N7.
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I think this would be good. I am not too worried about dropping it but more want to protect it from scratches. A nice leather pouch is what I need. Thanks! Off to eBay
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
I only use a case outside of my house, otherwise for reading and such I go caseless. I have carpet everywhere and even with a couple drops it's not damaged. It's pretty solid.
ynrozturk said:
I like Otterbox but $70 is too expensive for a plastic case. Hell, you get a hand made leather Noreve case for $72.
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You're right about that. I figure once things settle down they'll run in the $50 neighborhood. Still, as much as I love Otterbox, I'm afraid it will add too much bulk and that's entirely too much for a stand.
I've had all sorts of adventures with my nexus 7, and to be honest back plate is as good as new, the silver border however is a different story.
I went with a Cruzerlite TPU case $19 doesn't add any bulk really comes in all colors with cool design on the back (they are the androids)
Hi guys,
since I got my Nexus 7 WiFi almost a month ago and still don't have a proper case, I finally decided to buy one, but I'm not sure yet which one to get, as there's quite a few different ones out there.
What I'm looking for:
- reliable sleep/wakeup functionality when opening/closing the case
- useable as a stand when in landscape mode
- should not cover up any connectors/plugs of the N7 WiFi
- material plastic or faux leather
- dark color, preferably black
- not too expensive
- should provide good protection from scratches, smaller falls etc.
Would really appreciate your advice on this one, especially if you made some good/bad experiences with (multiple) different cases.
A bonus would be if the case also was available in a european-based online shop, as I live in Germany, but its not a necessity.
Thanks in advance, looking forward to your suggestions
Tech21 make nice leather folio cases with d30 material inside, should be good for a fall;
http://shop.tech21.uk.com/store/Pro...02W_Google-Nexus-7-Leather-Case--Impact-Folio
No sleep function but it has a pocket on the lid where you could stick a magnet inside to create the sleep function, I've stickytaped one in and it works great.
Thanks for the suggestion, but that one is a bit out of my price range.
I also don't need neither real leather nor a super hi-tech drop/fall protection.
I'm looking for something for about 20-30 Euros, if possible.
Roocase
I have a roocase that is basically exactly what you described. But it's over $30 from what I found
-_Alex_- said:
I have a roocase that is basically exactly what you described. But it's over $30 from what I found
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Thanks, I looked it up on Amazon, but there seem to be lots of different versions of the roocase for the Nexus 7, many of them in my price range.
Which case do you have exactly, could you maybe hook me up with a link?
Like you I bought my Nexus7 around a month ago and spent a lot of time thinking about which case to get.
In the end I went with this one from Amazon and it really is as good as it looks in the pics.
Plus it's amazing value.
iGadgitz Black 'Ergo-Portfolio' Genuine Leather Case.
Mike
Sorry
inbetween1 said:
Thanks, I looked it up on Amazon, but there seem to be lots of different versions of the roocase for the Nexus 7, many of them in my price range.
Which case do you have exactly, could you maybe hook me up with a link?
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I'm not exactly sure, I received it as a gift and threw the packaging away long ago.
although there are various other threads on this same topic. I suggest the poetic slimline, it's what i use and seems to have all the qualities your looking for.
i bought the poetic that everyone here raves about. it looks very nice, but the problem i gave with it is the stand. after a couple of weeks it is very weak. i also bought and highly recommend the Moko Slim Case. looks great, fits perfect and the stand is much sturdier and has two viewing angles. it also has a loop on it to hold your stylus and a strap for your hand to slide into very comfortably. theres even an elastic strap that fits over the corners to keep case secured open when in use in your hand so the the cover doesnt flap around. highly recommend this product. youtube review of it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8eTdyBgbnI
and you can get it on amazon for $15.99 http://www.amazon.com/MoKo-Slim-fit-Google-Android-Tablet/dp/B008FLYROG
I have the poetic slim in black and got it for 12 shipped on amazon. Like said above it's stand gets weak after awhile and isn't ideal for that. The reason I got it was to protect the screen and to not be bulky. It does that job really well.
Hi XDA! I am looking for my PERFECT case/smartcover for the Nexus 7.
So the official Nexus 10 has a smart cover that is incorporated into the "rubber feet" on the back. Today, while walking through a mall, I saw these Blackberry Z10 smartcovers that are incorporated into the battery door.
Do you know of a case that is similar for the N7?
this is what the Blackberry Z10 battery door/smartcover look like http://bit.ly/10KGnO9
tried looking around, I haven't yet found anything so I gave up. Now my N7 has no case but I might just sell it an get an N10 anyways
The back has never needed any protection so these folio cases are pointless....it's the front that always has, and a bumper of sorts with the smartcover built in would be ideal
Exactly. The N7 is pretty bulky as is, dont need an extra layer in the back.
ace9988 said:
tried looking around, I haven't yet found anything so I gave up. Now my N7 has no case but I might just sell it an get an N10 anyways
The back has never needed any protection so these folio cases are pointless....it's the front that always has, and a bumper of sorts with the smartcover built in would be ideal
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I have a moko cover that's pretty sweet. Its a portfolio case that let's you stand it in landscape to use with a Bluetooth keyboard or just to watch videos.
I tried posting a link but since I'm a new users, the forum won't allow me to. Just go to amazon and search for "moko slim-fit case" $15.99
Similar to the Blurex cases.
I've tried lots of cases. I DID like the Blurex/Moko style. However it did add a considerable amount of thickness. I also tried the Poetic case, which is a slim hard back plastic case with a smart case attached. It worked pretty well and latches shut at the end to keep closed. The Poetic case is the best case I've found for a smart cover type protection.
I eventually settled on a hardback book case. It is stylish and gives it a little more protection. The lid stays closed with a strap but some include wood shells with magnets. I opted for the cheapest solution and find it very good. In fact it has held up very well. The tablet is held in by sticky tape. I've owned mine for months and never had it fall out or need to be cleaned/restuck.
http://shop.portenzo.com/hardback-for-nexus-7/
Plenty of color combinations. I have a Red exterior, white inner liner, and a black strap. Nice and clean.
So iPAD mini like smart covers isn't available for the N7 ? I too just need a lightweight smart cover only to protect the screen and not the back and was wondering if something like poetic slimline exists?
The Poetic Slimline does exist, as my previous posts states, for the Nexus 7:
http://bit.ly/192m6YK
The iPad Smart Covers uses many magnets around the edge of the screen to keep the flappy flap tight against the surface. Others just use one side of magnets at the edge of the closing point.
Very good price too. I purchased mine for $20, but it is showing $9.95 at Amazon right now.
The Poetic was nice and I liked it but out of the 4-5 months I owned it, I had to replace it 3 times because the material would break at the seams. Poetic has a 3yr warranty and replaced it hassle free by just emailing them my Amazon order number. Because they are so cheap, they don't even bother wanting the old one returned... so while they were falling apart, other N7 owners didn't mind a free slightly worn case.
Here is a video of them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjQMcjb352Y
player911
Awesome, im going to have to pick one of those up soon
olstudios said:
player911
Awesome, im going to have to pick one of those up soon
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Yea. In doing the research and finding that video, I noticed the different colors. When they first came out they only had black. I'd almost wouldn't mind picking up a baby blue or red one.
I noticed colors are a little more expensive.
@player911
After so much of research with matching my requirements, I just couldnt find an alternative to Poetic Slimline case. Looks like it isnt available in my country (India) which is not cheap option.
Any idea if there's any similar chinese ones or replica? Have seen few smart covers from China on Ebay but they have the problem of turning off the screen when cover is flipped around.
rakeshishere said:
@player911
After so much of research with matching my requirements, I just couldnt find an alternative to Poetic Slimline case. Looks like it isnt available in my country (India) which is not cheap option.
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I've heard good things about the Nillkin smart-wake cases. While the case covers both the front and back, the folding section does not, which makes it a bit slimmer (Hard to explain, take a look at the link for a picture). Apparently these cases don't suffer from the waking issue when folded backwards, either.
Here's a review I found: http://www.androidcentral.com/nillkin-leather-flip-cover-nexus-7
Dad recently bought a Nexus 7 and we ordered this case, though we haven't received it yet so can't offer any first-hand impressions.
Insomniac535 said:
I've heard good things about the Nillkin smart-wake cases. While the case covers both the front and back, the folding section does not, which makes it a bit slimmer (Hard to explain, take a look at the link for a picture). Apparently these cases don't suffer from the waking issue when folded backwards, either.
Here's a review I found: http://www.androidcentral.com/nillkin-leather-flip-cover-nexus-7
Dad recently bought a Nexus 7 and we ordered this case, though we haven't received it yet so can't offer any first-hand impressions.
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Heard about Nillkin so let me see
EDIT:
Doesn't protect the screen as cover doesn't have magnets on edges(magnetic closure) like poetic one to close it 100%
EDIT2:
Ordered Poetic Slimline
So I've ordered and received the following 2 cases for my M8 so far:
SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Premium Hybrid Protective
Aduro Shell Holster Combo Case
I'm not completely happy/unhappy with either one, so I've gone ahead and ordered the following cases:
Minisuit Clipster Kickstand Case - This one looks identical to the Arduro case but is $3 cheaper. If I decide to keep it, even after I ship back it will be the cheaper option.
HTC M8 One 2 Puregear Kickstand Case Holster Combo - This one looks very similar to the Arduro/Minisuit, but I'm hoping the shell covers a bit more and/or the holster might be good with one of the other covers.
Seidio Surface Case with Metal Kickstand and Holster Combo
Otterbox Defender Series
Spigen Capsule Clear
i-Blason Prime Series Dual Layer Holster Cover with Kickstand and Locking Belt Swivel Clip
SUPCASE Premium Hybrid Protective Bumper Case
I'm not planning on writing complete reviews because it would be too time consuming, but I would be happy to answer any questions that anyone has.
I have preferred SEIDIO cases in the past with the holster combo. I had those on my HTC Tilt and my first Droid 2 - which was lost at an airport when I think a piece of luggage pulled the whole thing from my belt when I lifted it. Apart from that experience (which I blame myself for as much as anything), I'd been happy with SEIDIO...the Tilt survived a motorcycle accident that totaled my bike, but the phone was fine. SEIDIO was pretty expensive though, so I went through 2 or 3 much cheaper rip-offs (sans holster) over the last couple yeats of my phone.
I think the traditional SEIDIO rubberized cases provided a good balance of protection without being too incredibly bulky.
I'm caught at an impasse now with the M8 because it is such a nice looking phone I'd like to show it off with more of a light and clear case. OTOH, I have a 2 year old that I'd like to protect it from. Also, the M8 is much bigger than the phones I've had in the past (height and width wise, thickness is actually thinner) - so I'm not sure how a thick case will influence my carrying it around.
I think the best solution for me may be a case that provides protection somewhere in-between a TPU and a Otterbox (i.e. middle ground) and ideally be able to fit into some holster. I feel that the holster is necessary due to the size of the phone in a jeans front pocket - especially if a case is grippy and hard to get out.
Anyway, the above thoughts are how *I* will be judging the cases and some of them may change my mind entirely (e.g. The Otterbox, which I really don't think I want, but thought I would give it a shot).
I'll ship all the ones I don't want back to Amazon. I figure $10 return shipping is a good investment to find the right case for 2 years of my life.
Let me know if you have any questions about the cases and I will try to answer them!
TraderJack said:
HTC M8 One 2 Puregear Kickstand Case Holster Combo - This one looks very similar to the Arduro/Minisuit, but I'm hoping the shell covers a bit more and/or the holster might be good with one of the other covers.
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I would like to hear more about this one. I have a similar one from verizon but it doesn't look that slick or feel great in my hand
d1ez3 said:
I would like to hear more about this one. I have a similar one from verizon but it doesn't look that slick or feel great in my hand
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Sure. I think the one from Verizon is identical to the Minisuit/Arduro ones I mention above. None of them look that slick...with the black cross-hatching. About they only thing they have going for them is a good holster setup...but that's why I'm hoping the Puregear has something else going for it rather than a slightly different design.
The cases will be here on Wednesday and I hope to try them all out then.
This is great.... Im very interested in SUPCASE Premium Hybrid Protective Bumper Case
but was holding off ordering from Amazon. Can you tell me how much thickness it adds and overall feel, comfort etc... I agree, I love the body of the M8 and needs to be shown off however it also needs to be protected at the same time.
How's spigen capsule clear? Is it a fingerprint magnet? I presume it's slippery?
As long as we're talking about cases, you should try looking at the Dualtek case for the M8. It's a little bulky but definitely protecting the phone and looks stylish. Feels great, too.
I've been using Otterbox cases for every phone since I switched to Android years ago but I agree that the Defender and Commuter cases make this phone too bulky. Luckily they have the Symmetry Series which is slimmer (one piece, plastic shell with rubber liner built in) but still provides great protection. Color schemes are limited, I went with black, but they have around 5 choices if you like brighter colors.
Cons are that the case is a little slippery for my tastes and it adds bulk to an already big phone but I drop my phone every day so it's a trade-off.
http://www.otterbox.com/Symmetry-Series-for-HTC-One-(M8)/htc28-one-m8,default,pd.html
I just got the cases this evening. I'll respond directly to the questions asked, and then I'll give my overview on the others:
d1ez3 said:
I would like to hear more about this one [HTC M8 One 2 Puregear Kickstand Case Holster Combo]. I have a similar one from verizon but it doesn't look that slick or feel great in my hand
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The Puregear is almost identical to the Arduro and Minisuit cases as I assumed it would be. It has a slightly different cutout for the camera (which I like less), and a different surface texture from the cross-hatching type on the other two. You can clearly see the surface texture differences in the Amazon pics. While I like the design texture on the Puregear slightly better, it is really so equivalent in every other way that it isn't worth the $4-5 premium you would pay over the Minisuit. These are low bulk cases..good holster. These cases would do virtually nothing in a drop except maybe allow a bounce before the phone snapped out of it. That being said my similar case for the Droid took a few drops and the phone was no worse for wear.
cue_32 said:
This is great.... Im very interested in SUPCASE Premium Hybrid Protective Bumper Case
but was holding off ordering from Amazon. Can you tell me how much thickness it adds and overall feel, comfort etc... I agree, I love the body of the M8 and needs to be shown off however it also needs to be protected at the same time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one is maybe one of my favorite from the bunch. It is way easier to take on and off then the SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Premium Hybrid Protective case I also purchased. Unlike the Beetle, the back is totally clear instead of frosted - so it shows off the phone. The sides however are not rigid like the Beetle, which is why it can be removed from the phone easier. The back is more rounded like the phone, whereas the Beetle is more squared. It has a slightly tacky feel...maybe not as much as the Spigen below, but it is grippy. I would say it is kind of your standard TPU type case, but of the utmost quality for these type. Since you can find TPU cases for $3-4, I think the $10 for this is not totally out of line. I'm really unsure that either of the SUPCASEs would offer any real protection from a drop. I will almost definitely be keeping one of these cases for now.
One other benefit of this case is that it fits into the Minisuit/Arduro holster really well.
richteralan said:
How's spigen capsule clear? Is it a fingerprint magnet? I presume it's slippery?
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Despite the term "soft" being in the description in Amazon...I thought this was going to be a hard case - so I was a bit surprised.
It is actually not slippery at all, quite the contrary. I also don't think it is that bad of a finger print magnet. It is in some ways similar to the SUPCASE Premium Hybrid Protective Bumper Case I mention above, except that it is clear all around instead of having a black bumper. However (and I think I read this elsewhere in the reviews) the clear color of the case has a yellow tinge to it that is really disappointing since the main feature of this case is to showcase the phone. This case may have just a *bit* more cushion than the SUPCASE - but in all honesty I still don't think any of these are offering great drop protection. I think I prefer the SUPCASE (either one) to this one - it just doesn't have the same "sparkle" that you get from the pics.
Going onto the other cases.
The Otterbox and the SEIDIO - the two most expensive ones. And, probably because of that, the two biggest disappointments:
The Ottterbox was just ugly out of the box. I've never had one before because I always thought they were bulky and ugly - but I wanted to give it a chance. Even though the Otterbox probably would protect better than most of these, I still don't think it would be foolproof. I also really dislike the screen covering piece which is non-optional. For the cost, I just wouldn't consider something like this over the i-Blason (see below).
The SEIDIO had the same nice finish I was used to on their matte cases. I wasn't a huge fan of the two piece snap together design. I also got one with a slight manufacturing defect and the pieces didn't line up perfectly. Because of the two piece design, it was able to stay as a slim case but protect all around the edges. However I'm sure the case would snap open if the phone fell onto a hard surface. Additionally, as much as I enjoy the quick release holster of the SEIDIOs, they are not without their problems and can easily get caught on things and drop your phone (happened to me not infrequently with my other cases). The kickstand on this phone was also not that attractive being a bit flimsy and off to the side. Like the others, I also really don't know how much protection from a drop this would give you - probably somewhere just north of the SUPCASE/Spigen. Like the Otterbox, just not worth the money on this phone.
Finally the i-Blason... I think it is one of the better in terms of protection - being a 2-piece shell case. South of the Otterbox maybe, but better than the rest. Not a bad looking case, though not beautiful. I almost wish they had a model without the kickstand and big fat grooves on the back. I don't know if those grooves serve a real functional purpose, but if you removed those pieces you would have a much cleaner looking case with probably the same level of protection.
Looks wise - I think overall the SUPCASE Premium Hybrid is my favorite... I'm just not sure it is going to give me the protection I want from my toddler. I'm considering keeping that and the Minisuit (mostly for the compatible holster). Or, perhaps I will keep the i-Blason for most of the time around the house, but also the SUPCASE for a svelter pocket profile and when I want to show off the phone.
I'm going to keep looking I think for something else like the iBlason. I might give up on the holster idea altogether as I realize it isn't the 90s anymore. I need to see how well this phone does in my pocket over the next week or two to decide if it's a priority.
If you all have more questions on these, I'll do my best to answer.
I just purchased the Case Mate Naked Tough Case from Amazon. So far so good. It has some shock protection and still shows the good looks of the phone. I'm using it in conjunction with a Zagg glass shield. I would post a link, but I suppose I need to post a few more times before I can.
I've only used Otterbox defenders in the past. That being said, I just bought a M8 today and looked at the reviews on Amazon. A lot of people complain about the clear screen protector being bowed or warped and not tight against the screen. What's your impression on this issue? And from the sound and looks of the design, it sounds pretty similar to the M7.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
FearlessAZ said:
I've only used Otterbox defenders in the past. That being said, I just bought a M8 today and looked at the reviews on Amazon. A lot of people complain about the clear screen protector being bowed or warped and not tight against the screen. What's your impression on this issue? And from the sound and looks of the design, it sounds pretty similar to the M7.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
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Definitely. Honestly I played with the otterbox for all of 30 seconds. First off, I just thought it was ugly...
Put it on and it seemed pretty bulky, although I was going to give it a chance since I knew that with that bulk came good protection.
The minute I touched the screen though I observed exactly what you are stating, the screen protector is not flush and that gave it an overall cheap feel.
So here is my update as I am leaving town for a couple of weeks and am choosing a case to come with me for the first real road test:
Based on my observations above, and the info from this thread, I think I'm going to stick with the Supcase Beetle.
While I like the SUPCASE Premium Hybrid Protective Bumper Case as well, I feel that it just doesn't offer great protection. Also, I find the volume buttons a little loose, as if they move too much off contact with the phone when you press on them.
The Beetle may only be a ~6-7 in the protection department, but the only ones that beat it are the Otterbox and probably the i-Blason. I just can't do the otterbox, and the i-Blason is a tad bulky and doesn't showcase the phone at all. I wish they removed the back nubbins and kickstand from the i-Blason. I haven't found a really nice and lean 2 piece case (internal silicon, hard outer shell). The Spigen 2-piece (not reviewed here) is a good contender for that role but it blocks the IR port, which is a non-starter (even though I will rarely use that feature, on principal I don't want a case that removes features from my phone).
So, for now I'm opting more for an "8 looks and 6/7 protection." The UAG looked like a good alternative that might have been 8 on both fronts, but from my thread linked above someone who has owned both feels that the Beetle is close on par with the UAG from protection standpoint. Price wise, the Beetle wins hands down.
I am still left though in a situation where I don't have a holster. I don't know yet how big of a problem that will be. I need to see how the Beetle does in my pants pocket over the next week. If it doesn't work out, and I can't find a compatible holster for the Beetle, I may have to abandon it all-together because it is just too hard to take it out of the Beetle on a regular basis to put into a holster-compatible case...I don't want to have to do that even weekly.
Dang. That is kind of a let down. I don't mind bulkyness at all but if that screen protector isn't tight, it's just pointless for me. I work construction and need something that won't allow the dirt to get between the screen and protector. I'll look into a few that you suggested. Thanks!