I'm going to be making a couple different cases for the Iconia now that I have one and wondered what everyone here would like to see in a leather case. I would really appreciate any and all feedback!
1. hard case vs soft case: which is better, or would you use both for different purposes?
2. round or square corners: square corners on a case may get worn, but would maybe protect the tab itself better?
3. colors: black, brown, white...red? What'r the favorites?
4. Sleeve or "book" style?
5. If a "book" type design...Screen: protected, or open?
Once I figure out a couple good designs I'll put one of each together and post them. If there's any interest I could make them and ship anywhere Thanks again!
that is difficult to answer tehehe
I like to see my iconia as a laptop replacement and something i could carry around everywhere in my hand. 2) some case that will not add thickness 3)quality
as much as i dont favor the acer iconia (ipad clone) oem case, it is a perfect case for protection and a desktop stand.
but it's too thick
For my use, I want something as light and as slim as possible -- adding minimal bulk or weight to the tablet.
To me, the iPad2 smart covers plus the x gear rear cover are a near perfect combination for my needs.
The rear part is something like this, but from a different company:
http://www.amazon.com/Acase-Compani...f=sr_1_70?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1311608057&sr=1-70
For my original iPad, I had a one piece cover that was very similar -- a thin, form fitting shell around the back (clipped on corners, which also protected them) with a thin, hard, segmented front cover. Not as durable or solid as my current iPad2 setup, but very serviceable overall.
Something like this (this might have actually been it, in black, but it's been months since I sold my original iPad with its cover):
http://www.amazon.com/Macally-BOOKS...sr_1_146?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1311608211&sr=1-146
Since I carry my tablet(s) in a small shoulder bag, I want something that will protect the screen from scratches, or even the odd bump, but that introduces minimal "drag" on pulling it out.
I favor the "prop" characteristic (low angle) more than the "stand" (high angle), as it helps with positioning for typing.
Color, almost always black with minimal ornamentation/design.
I have the Bluerex case. I also have the portfolio Roocase. They are both leather. I like that. I like how they add protection. Yes I like thin, but protection more. The Roocase covers the tablet more so therefore protects it, but its a little too thick. The Bluerex is a perfect thickness. And it has rounded corners that hug every corner of the tablet. When you look at the case from an angle, it matches the contour perfectly. Only things I would like to see is a better means of strapping the tablet closed, and a little more protection on the corners (look at pics in my other post). If those changes are made then in my opinion, you would have a perfect case.
Hi,
So those of you who actually have experience with the X Compact, how does the body hold of the X compact? I have seen many Sonys (and currently own a Z5) and the bodies hold pretty lousy. All (and I mean it) Sony phones my colleagues and friends (and me) have had the rear glass cracked. After a couple of drops my Z5 lost the waterproof ability. I hear things are a bit better on the Z5C with the plastic body. I have outstanding experience with the plastic Lumia phones (735, 1520, 1320) and disastrous experience with aluminum Lumias (830, 930).
So I hope the plastic body of the X compact can be a revelation in terms of the reliability. But then there are rumors that it scratches easily.
Please comment if you have any experience with this specific phone. Thank you!
povilkami said:
Hi,
So those of you who actually have experience with the X Compact, how does the body hold of the X compact? I have seen many Sonys (and currently own a Z5) and the bodies hold pretty lousy. All (and I mean it) Sony phones my colleagues and friends (and me) have had the rear glass cracked. After a couple of drops my Z5 lost the waterproof ability. I hear things are a bit better on the Z5C with the plastic body. I have outstanding experience with the plastic Lumia phones (735, 1520, 1320) and disastrous experience with aluminum Lumias (830, 930).
So I hope the plastic body of the X compact can be a revelation in terms of the reliability. But then there are rumors that it scratches easily.
Please comment if you have any experience with this specific phone. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the phone today and I must say although the design is awesome and feels excellent in hand, the back starts to get scratches the moment you take of the plastic cover.
I had a HTC desire 820 before and it was just like this one so you might wanna use a back protector or cover for your phone from the begining.
I'm on the same boat as well. As an owner of an over-three-year-old Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, I'd like a compact with better performance and camera. However, having read SOOOO many account on the Z-series compacts developing faults (the most notorious one being obviously the self-cracking screen/back), it's tough to want to take the plunge for a premium priced smart phone, especially since I've never had a smart phone break on me and since I tend to switch every 3-4 years which is a long time.
To make matters worse, there seems to be high-quality cases available for the XC. Well, Sony does make two flip cover cases but those things get in the way. All we get for back cases are pretty much 5-10 dollar TPU gel cases or low quality hard cases, none of which aren't probably good for accidental drops. I e-mailed Case-Mate (my go-to case manufacturer) if they are making a Tough case for XC as they have done for Z5C and many of the current X-serie phones. Unfortunately they had no plans for the XC for some reason.
Based on what I've read, most people are going for those transparent TPU gel cases (which according to reviews can look better in real-life as they do look super cheap in the pictures). However, they don't exactly ooze of shock protection although they are obviously better than nothing. Moreover, I wonder how long they'll last if you're like me and keep your phone in your jeans' pocket most of the time when you're on-the-go.
Tigerman82 said:
I'm on the same boat as well. As an owner of an over-three-year-old Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, I'd like a compact with better performance and camera. However, having read SOOOO many account on the Z-series compacts developing faults (the most notorious one being obviously the self-cracking screen/back), it's tough to want to take the plunge for a premium priced smart phone, especially since I've never had a smart phone break on me and since I tend to switch every 3-4 years which is a long time.
To make matters worse, there seems to be high-quality cases available for the XC. Well, Sony does make two flip cover cases but those things get in the way. All we get for back cases are pretty much 5-10 dollar TPU gel cases or low quality hard cases, none of which aren't probably good for accidental drops. I e-mailed Case-Mate (my go-to case manufacturer) if they are making a Tough case for XC as they have done for Z5C and many of the current X-serie phones. Unfortunately they had no plans for the XC for some reason.
Based on what I've read, most people are going for those transparent TPU gel cases (which according to reviews can look better in real-life as they do look super cheap in the pictures). However, they don't exactly ooze of shock protection although they are obviously better than nothing. Moreover, I wonder how long they'll last if you're like me and keep your phone in your jeans' pocket most of the time when you're on-the-go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely get a case. The back is annoyingly scratch-prone. Or apply a full-body skin (I'm trying Skinomi's and it's worked out well so far).
My reviews of four cases after using each over the last 3 days. Not real extensive use, but enough to figure out what's good and bad about each, and how I feel about them. None of them are my "ideal" case, so I'll undoubtedly be trying more and adding more reviews to this thread.
X-dorna Defense Lux (“Cabon Fiber”)
First Impressions: This case has a lot of good reviews (on other phones) online, so I thought I’d give it a shot. I’m not sure how I feel about it. The case material is very hard and stiff, with no soft padding at all. It seems to me it will transfer the energy from an impact right into the phone. There’s a reason football helmets, motorcycle riding jackets, and pretty much every other impact protection have a compressible liner: compressing that material absorbs energy that would otherwise go through to the head / body / whatever.
OTOH, the box says it’s “certified to survive a 10’ drop onto concrete. But what does that mean. Does the case survive a 10’ drop? How about the phone? Does it survive with no damage at all, or does minor damage that doesn't affect function count as "survived"? No details are provided. It also “exceeds mil-std-810G.” Which doesn’t mean as much as you might think: https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/phone-cases-military-drop-test-standards/
The truth is that none of these claims by manufacturers amount to much, because they're all self tested, and no details are provided.
The aluminum band seems to be more for style than function, because it doesn’t actually cover the parts of the case most likely to see an impact: the corners and edges.
Oh, and I put “Carbon Fiber” in quotes in the title because it’s really not a very good imitation of CF. It looks like exactly what is is: molded plastic.
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https://xdorialife.com/products/galaxy-s9-plus-case-defense-lux?variant=360800059408
In use review: Disappointing. On the positive side, it has significant raised edges on the top and bottom to keep the screen safe when you set the phone face down. But that’s about it.
I’m still not convinced it offers as much protection as many less expensive cases. It’s also bulky, adding quite a bit to both the width and thickness of the phone. In fact, it’s by far the thickest of the cases I’ve tried so far. The added thickness makes it harder to get my fingers on the FPS in back, and I got some read errors with this case, and not any of the others. I have fairly small hands, and really feel the added bulk. The edges of the case contain sharp angles, rather than the rounded forms of most cases, and I found them pretty uncomfortable. The button action is pretty good, but stiffer than the other cases tested here. I’m going to see if I can send this one back.
Spigen Ultra Hybird
First Impressions: I had a similar case for my S7 Edge made by Ulack, which was one of my favorites. A hard, clear polycarbonate back surrounded by an impact absorbing TPU bumper, with addition corner protection in the form of "air bubbles" between the TPU and the phone. But the Spigen is disappointing in comparison, in multiple ways.
The Ulak case had raised “feet” in the corners of the back, which kept the polycarb off of whatever surface you laid it down on . The Spigen doesn’t. Put the phone down, and it’s going onto that clear plastic back. I suspect it going to get all scratched up very quickly. And even before putting it on a phone, the clear plastic back shows huge amounts of rainbow effect. Not impressed so far.
https://www.spigen.com/products/galaxy-s9-plus-case-ultra-hybrid?variant=570814824449
In use review: A mixed bag. The case looks nice, and the clear back shows off the phone, especially if you got something other than black. It’s narrower than the Caseology Parallax, so it’s easier for me to hold, but probably offers a little less impact protection as a result. It’s got raised edges at top and bottom for when you set the phone face down. They’re not as tall as on the X-doria or the Caseology, but should be good enough as long as you’re not setting the phone down on rough finished concrete. The button action is typical Spigen – very good. Oddly, the volume buttons are harder to press than the power button, but that’s not a real issue. My only real objection to this case is, as I mentioned in first impressions, that the clear back is going to end up getting scratched up pretty quickly, unless you always set your phone face down. The rainbows I saw with the case off the phone aren't visible when it's installed on a black phone, but I can't say whether they will be on a lighter one. Oh, and the back of this case is as much a fingerprint magnet as the bare phone.
Caseology Parallax
First Impressions: Similar to the better known Spigen neo-hybrid. Black TPU with a semi-rigid plastic band around the edge. In theory the plastic band should help distribute the force of an impact over a greater area, reducing the forces acting on the phone (like the hard shell of a motorcycle helmet). In reality, the band is so thin I’m not sure it makes much difference. But it certainly won’t hurt anything. The TPU isn’t as soft as some, but it’s certainly not as hard as the X-doria case. Probably a good compromise. The sides are thicker than some cases I’ve looked at, which is a good thing, but there doesn’t seem to be any extra corner protection. The box says it’s been “drop tested 26 times,” but without more data that’s meaningless. From how high? Onto how hard a surface? Did the phone suffer any damage in those drops? They don’t say.
The Caseology has one feature which none of the other cases offer. It has a sloping section below the FPS to, I guess, guide your finger to the sensor. I suspect this will reduce the likelihood of hitting the camera lens instead of the FPS.
https://www.caseologycases.com/products/galaxy-s9-plus-parallax-case
In use review: I like this case quite a bit. The TPU is a little thicker than the Spigen, which may translate into a bit better impact resistance. The tradeoff is that, if you have small hands, it’s a little harder to hold one-handed. The sides of the case are a little taller than the other cases, which may offer better protection if the phone lands on one side. They don’t interfere with the edge functions, either. Like the other cases, it has a raised top and bottom edge to keep the screen off whatever surface you set the phone down on. The button action is very good – every bit as good as the Spigen. This case, and the Ringke, have the opening for the flash and HR sensor in a separate little window from the cutout for the lenses and flash. That may help keep your fingerprints off the lenses. The slope to the FPS that I mentioned above, as it turns out, doesn’t help at all. I end up putting my finger on the slope, instead of the FPS, and then have to slide it up. The shorter cutouts on the Spigen and Ringke are better. But I could easily live with this case as a daily driver.
Ringke Onyx
First Impressions: Your basic “little black dress” of a case. Plain TPU, thinner and softer than the Caseology. But it’s very nice looking. I like the brushed metal look of the back. Should offer about as much protection as other inexpensive TPU cases without adding very much bulk to the phone.
https://www.ringkestore.com/products/galaxy-s9-plus-ringke-onyx?variant=6366033739803
In use review: It’s fine. If you value a case that doesn’t add bulk, this will do the job. The button action is the best of the four. It feels almost like you have no case on at all. Like the Parallax, it has a separate window for the flash and HR sensor, and the cutout makes the FPS easy to find and reach.
Conclusions: The X-Doria is a non-starter for me. Just too bulky for the protection it seems to offer, and uncomfortable to boot. The other three are all acceptable, depending on what you’re looking for. I like the look and feel of the Ringke Onyx the best, but it seems to offer the least protection. The Parallax probably offers the best compromise between bulk and protection, but the FPS opening is makes using the FPS more awkward than it needs to be. Finally, if you want to show off the back of your phone, the Ultra Hybrid seems fine, other than the issue of scratches. I probably wouldn’t choose it for a black phone, though.
Hope you find this useful.
Here's one more, and I have another Ringke case on order.
”Luxury” Ultra-Thin…..Hard Back Case
First Impressions: These are available in multiple colors, from multiple sellers on ebay. You can pay as much as $7 or $8 from a US seller, or as little as $3.50 from China. Shipping included. These must cost pennies to make. These are about as close to no case at all as you can get. It’s very thin, hard, and has no cushioning at all. If you drop your phone, all the impact forces are going to be transmitted right through to the glass. It has virtually no lip at the top and bottom to protect the screen if you put your phone face down. It might make more sense to consider this a very thick skin than an actual case.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Luxury-Ul...ar=512214969629&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
In use review:. The button action is great, however. You don’t really realize you’re using a case. Minimal protection (and that’s being charitable) from anything but scratches on the back and sides. And it’s a little bit slippery. That said, I find myself strangely attracted to it. It really does look nice, I love the button action, and that it adds no virtually no bulk to the phone. And it’s dirt cheap. If your goal is to protect your phone from scratches, you could do a lot worse than this.
And it’s so cheap you could by 3 or 4 of them. Some have silver tops and bottoms, some gold, but you could mix and match to get, say, a blue case with silver ends, or a silver case with gold ends (perfect for Christmas, eh?).
Ringke "Wave" Case
First Impressions: I really like the Ringke Onyx case I've been using, so I thought I'd take a chance on another of theirs. From the photos on the web site, the "Wave" case looked really interesting. A TPU inner case with a hard polycarbonate surround that also covers part of the back, and an interesting wave pattern molded into both the TPU and PC shell that gives it some visual interest. I got the one they call "Metallic Chrome," but neither the name nor the pictures really tell you what it looks like. The polycarbonate is a shiny, lightly textured metallic gray that is lighter than it appears in the photos. I think it's very nice looking, and breaks up the all black look without being too flashy.
https://ringkestore.com/collection...xy-s9-plus-ringke-wave?variant=6452285734939
In use review:. The button action is very good, although the volume buttons are not quite as light as the power button, or as the buttons on the Onyx case. But they're fine, not something I would complain about. The TPU is a little firmer than some TPU cases, and the PC shell adds still more stiffness. Your guess is as good as mine as to whether a softer TPU offerz more or less protection than a harder one, and whether the PC shell really adds much, but I'd say this is as protective as any other case that doesn't add a lot of bulk. The PC around the sides is slightly slippery compared to the all TPU Onyx, but I have no problem gripping it or picking it up off a table, and I'm not worried about dropping the phone. This case does have thicker TPU around the edges than the Onyx does. The case is about as wide as the Caseology I reviewed above. That makes it less comfortable for me to hold than the Onyx, but probably more protective. It has significant raised lips at the top and bottom to protect the screen if you set the phone face down.
The wave pattern on the back not only looks nice, it actually helps me hold the phone in certain ways. If I hold the phone in my right hand, with my little finger under the bottom edge, my index finger naturally rests in one of the depressions in the back, providing a nice secure feeling when using the phone one-handed. It's definitely a keeper. I'll probably use the Onyx as my day to day case, because it's more comfortable for me to hold, and this one when I want a little bit more protection, or a little bit more style.
Ringke Fusion Case
First Impressions: I really like the other two Ringke cases I've been using, so when Ringke sent me an email with a discount code that got me this case for $4, I figured I'd take a chance. This is similar to the Spigen Ultra Hybrid, with a TPU surround and a hard, clear polycarbonate back. Unlike the Spigen, this one has raised corners on the back that will keep the rear surface off whatever you set it down on, which should help minimize scratches. It even came with the lanyard included i that $4 price. Hard to beat that deal.
https://www.ringkestore.com/collec...-s9-plus-ringke-fusion?variant=6366003167259
In use review:. I think that if I had a color other than black, this might be my daily driver. It's narrower than the Ringke Wave or Spigen Ultra Hybrid, about the same as the Ringke Onyx. That probably trades off some protection for more comfort, so you pays your money and takes your chances. The button action is excellent, just like on the Onyx. Like the other Ringke cases, it has nice lips top and bottom to protect the screen if you put it face down.
Conclusion:
I'm really impressed with the Ringke cases. Especially given the excellent pricing. They're well made, seem to offer reasonable protection, and they look good. They all have good button action, raised lips to protect the screen, and the Fusion has raised corners on the back to help keep scratches off the polycarbonate.
I'm using the Ringke Onyx normally. It trades off a bit of protection for a narrower case, which is one I'm willing to make. If I wanted more protection, I'd choose the Ringke Wave. And if I had a blue or lavender phone, the Ringke Fusion.
New reviews added.
”iPulse Leather Wallet Case
TL;DR: If you like wallet style cases, or want to try a wallet style case, I don’t think you can do much better than this one.
Background: I really like leather accessories (wallets, key cases, attache cases, etc.) I like the look, the texture, the feel, even the smell. High quality leather made into high quality products just exudes a sense of quality and style than few other things do. And definitely more style than plastic phone cases, no matter how well made those plastic ones are made. Since received my S9+, I’ve been looking for a leather case, but wasn’t considering a wallet style case. I wanted a slim case that covered the back, like most of the plastic ones, but made out of nice quality leather. Unfortunately, no one makes one. The closest I found is “Vegan leather.” Not only is that an oxymoron, “Vegan leather” is a just a fancy name for leather-grained plastic.
But the more I looked at wallet cases, the more I thought combining my phone case and my wallet into one unit would work. So after looking at a number of different options, I bought this one. How do I like it? I like it a lot, but I’m not sure I’m going to use it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079ZRZL2S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
First impressions: This is a REALLY nice case. The leather is soft and supple. It feels great in the hand, looks fantastic and smells wonderful. (No “vegan leather” here.) The stitching is very well done: neat, straight and even. The magnetic clasp is really well designed. It closes firmly, without any user interaction, yet opens easily without any extra effort. The inside pockets are finely made and precisely cut. I’m extremely impressed with the quality of materials, construction, and design. With one caveat.
The phone fits into a plastic (TPU?) shell that’s mounted to the inside of the leather back. Functionally, this is probably a very good design, adding some padding and protection to the phone. And all the cutouts in the shell are precisely made and aligned. It’s just that compared to the quality of the leather it looks cheap. Trade offs. I wouldn’t let this keep my from buying the case, however.
In use impressions: I’ve been using this for about a day and a half. And as nice as this case is, I’m not sure it’s the right case for me, personally. I put my regular wallet in my back pocket, but wouldn’t put my phone there. Sitting on a big screen phone isn’t a good idea, I don’t think. And while the case does fit in my front pants pockets, it’s a tight fit in some of my pants. OTOH, the grip provided by the leather actually makes it easy to get the phone / wallet out of my pocket when it rings. Again, tradeoffs. Using the phone in the case is not as convenient as in a thin, open, TPU style case. It’s much bulkier, and is definitely a two-handed device now.
I’m of two minds about this right now. I really like the look and feel of the case, but I’m not crazy about the extra size. I like combining my wallet into the phone case, but don’t like giving up one-handed use. I’m going to continue using the case for a while and see if my feelings change, either for the better or worse.
My wife, on the other hand, LOVES this case. She carries her phone in her purse, so the extra bulk isn’t a concern for her. And she pretty much always uses her phone with two hands anyway, so that’s not an issue. When she upgrades her current phone, I’m sure I’ll be buying her one of these.
Conclusion: If you like wallet style cases, or want to try a wallet style case, I don’t think you can do much better than this one. I’m going to urge them to make a nice, non-wallet style case out of the same leather. If they do, I’ll be the first person in line to order.
A few other niceties: The case comes with a 1 year warranty, and a promise to replace it or refund your money if you’re not satisfied. The manufacturer says they donate a part of every sale to UNICEF (but don’t say how much).
I would agree with your assessment about "whether it's for me". I'm just so used to have these two items separate. If a user wants this functionality then this is a quality product I would recommend. I'm 47, there's little chance I'm going to change..
meyerweb said:
”iPulse Leather Wallet Case
TL;DR: If you like wallet style cases, or want to try a wallet style case, I don’t think you can do much better than this one.
Background: I really like leather accessories (wallets, key cases, attache cases, etc.) I like the look, the texture, the feel, even the smell. High quality leather made into high quality products just exudes a sense of quality and style than few other things do. And definitely more style than plastic phone cases, no matter how well made those plastic ones are made. Since received my S9+, I’ve been looking for a leather case, but wasn’t considering a wallet style case. I wanted a slim case that covered the back, like most of the plastic ones, but made out of nice quality leather. Unfortunately, no one makes one. The closest I found is “Vegan leather.” Not only is that an oxymoron, “Vegan leather” is a just a fancy name for leather-grained plastic.
But the more I looked at wallet cases, the more I thought combining my phone case and my wallet into one unit would work. So after looking at a number of different options, I bought this one. How do I like it? I like it a lot, but I’m not sure I’m going to use it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079ZRZL2S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
First impressions: This is a REALLY nice case. The leather is soft and supple. It feels great in the hand, looks fantastic and smells wonderful. (No “vegan leather” here.) The stitching is very well done: neat, straight and even. The magnetic clasp is really well designed. It closes firmly, without any user interaction, yet opens easily without any extra effort. The inside pockets are finely made and precisely cut. I’m extremely impressed with the quality of materials, construction, and design. With one caveat.
The phone fits into a plastic (TPU?) shell that’s mounted to the inside of the leather back. Functionally, this is probably a very good design, adding some padding and protection to the phone. And all the cutouts in the shell are precisely made and aligned. It’s just that compared to the quality of the leather it looks cheap. Trade offs. I wouldn’t let this keep my from buying the case, however.
In use impressions: I’ve been using this for about a day and a half. And as nice as this case is, I’m not sure it’s the right case for me, personally. I put my regular wallet in my back pocket, but wouldn’t put my phone there. Sitting on a big screen phone isn’t a good idea, I don’t think. And while the case does fit in my front pants pockets, it’s a tight fit in some of my pants. OTOH, the grip provided by the leather actually makes it easy to get the phone / wallet out of my pocket when it rings. Again, tradeoffs. Using the phone in the case is not as convenient as in a thin, open, TPU style case. It’s much bulkier, and is definitely a two-handed device now.
I’m of two minds about this right now. I really like the look and feel of the case, but I’m not crazy about the extra size. I like combining my wallet into the phone case, but don’t like giving up one-handed use. I’m going to continue using the case for a while and see if my feelings change, either for the better or worse.
My wife, on the other hand, LOVES this case. She carries her phone in her purse, so the extra bulk isn’t a concern for her. And she pretty much always uses her phone with two hands anyway, so that’s not an issue. When she upgrades her current phone, I’m sure I’ll be buying her one of these.
Conclusion: If you like wallet style cases, or want to try a wallet style case, I don’t think you can do much better than this one. I’m going to urge them to make a nice, non-wallet style case out of the same leather. If they do, I’ll be the first person in line to order.
A few other niceties: The case comes with a 1 year warranty, and a promise to replace it or refund your money if you’re not satisfied. The manufacturer says they donate a part of every sale to UNICEF (but don’t say how much).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something different: "Loopy" case review
"Loopy" Case
Now for something completely different: The “Loopy” case. If you look at the picture, the meaning behind the name is obvious.
I really like my S9 +, but it IS big. Too big for me to comfortably use one-handed. My S7 Edge was borderline, but with the extra height (and slightly greater width) I simply can’t reach everything I need to reach to use it one-handed even some of the time, and I just know that if I try I will, sooner or later, drop the phone and shatter the lovely screen. So enter the Loopy, a case which promises one-handed use AND greater security against drops. Sounds like a great combination. And with a 30 day no questions asked money-back guarantee, what’s to lose other than a few bucks for shipping? (Don't worry, it comes in other colors, too.)
First Impressions: I got the matte black version. Other than the strap, it looks like a $2 Chinese TPU case. Thin, flexible, devoid of any styling touches to try to enhance the look. This is very definitely function over form. Every other case I’ve purchased offers at least a little bit of style: a brushed metal appearance on the back, or fake Carbon Fiber, or something. In terms of protection, the case offers little padding, and there’s no extra cushion in the corners to protect it in a drop. Then again, the point of this case is to prevent drops, so maybe that doesn’t matter? It does have nicely raised edges at top and bottom to keep the screen off of surfaces if you put the phone face down. Which you’ll do a lot with this case.
I don't think they offered the "teak wood" version when I ordered mine. If they had, I would have probably ordered it. At least it doesn't look like a $2 case.
Edit: I contacted Loopy, and they let me swap my black case for the "teak" version at no extra cost other than postage to return the first one. No one would mistake this for real wood, but it does look nicer than the matte black one. The functionality doesn't change, of course.
https://www.loopycases.com/collections/samsung
In use review: Mixed, very mixed. It fits very well, and all the cutouts are precisely aligned and finished. But even $1 Chinese cases get that right, so that doesn’t really mean much. The button action is quite good. Not quite the best I’ve used, but close. Close enough that button action isn’t something you think about at all. The main feature, of course, is the loop, so how does it work? Pretty well, actually, with a few caveats.
It’s easy to put one (or two if you don’t have large hands) fingers in the loop, with your thumb and other fingers wrapped around the sides of the phone. And it definitely feels secure. I think you’d have to work really hard to drop your phone if you’re using this case correctly. And it certainly makes one-handed use more secure. But…..
Even with the loop, the S9 + is still too big for me to hold the phone in one hand and comfortably reach both the status bar and the navigation bar, especially the far icon on the nav bar. So, for me, it’s not completely a one-handed solution, but it’s an improvement. If your hands are bigger than mine, you might not have this problem.
And the loop does have some side effects that I probably should have realized, but didn’t occur to me. You can’t use a wireless charging pad with the case on. The loop holds the phone too far away from the charger. And you can’t lay the phone flat on a desk face up. You can use the loop as sort of a kickstand in landscape format, but it doesn’t really hold the phone at the right angle for that. So it’s not a completely positive experience.
Conclusion: I’m probably going to keep it. It won’t ever be my everyday case, though. It’s interference with wireless charging and inability to lay flat on a table are too annoying. But I can see myself using this when going into “high risk” environments, where the extra security against dropping the phone outweighs the inconvenience. Outdoor events, times when my hands might get slippery, on a boat…..
But the cost really does bother me. Without the strap, this would be a $2 - $4 case from a Chinese seller on ebay. And even many of those cases have more style than this one does. At $35, the profit margin on this must be HUGE. Or Yuuuge!
Finally, be aware that you need to choose a left or right handed version, because the strap is angled to one side or the other, not straight up and down. You can use it with the other hand, but it’s definitely less comfortable.
Would you mind reviewing the speck candyshell case? I had that on my s6 edge and found it invaluable. The rubber grip was super annoying with the phone in pocket but the trade off was that the phone was extremely easy to handle. I feel these curved glass edge screens are practically designed to slip out of the hand and speck candyshell has probably the best grip. They have another with a v shaped grip pattern instead of horizontal, I dont think those work as well.
Superb thread! Thank you.
Good job. Thx
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