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Galaxy S4 Cases and covers!

Well, I received my Otterbox COMMUTER case and I have to be honest - I am pretty disappointed. Mainly in comparison to my previous Otterbox cases.

I had the Otterbox Commuter case for my GS3 and I liked it a lot. The matted plastic seemed sturdy and it really enveloped the phone except for the corners and it kept it held the rubber inside in place securely.

Then I bought the Otterbox Commuter case for my iPhone5 and noticed that the plastic did not seem as sturdy and I also noticed that it did not really surround the phone as much and the rubber insert was used as the frame for the area around the buttons. This bugged the hell out of me because everyone knows that the rubber eventually stretches, and without the hard plastic frame to secure that part, it is only a matter of time that that area will expand. So it feels like the top part of the phone is rubber and the bottom part and the back is hard plastic. To top it off, the top layer of the rubber started coming off after a week. :-/

Fast forward to today - my Otterbox Commuter case for my GS4. I thought it would be built like the one for the GS3, but boy was I wrong. It was designed with the same concept as the iPhone. The hard plastic frame is more for the bottom half and the back (where there are no buttons), and the top part on both the left and right side is the rubber insert that is not held down by any hard plastic. So even visually, the top part is a tiny bit wider than the bottom because it's not secured with the hard plastic. Given time it's just going to expand.

So, while it looks fine from a distance, the hard plastic is a bit glossy which to me looks cheaper and the rubber part is just covering more of the edges that I would like without it being secured down. It's not like as if the rubber was like the hard rubber in the Speck cases, but it's a soft rubber that is maybe a little bit hardened in the corners and the exposed top.

I don't know - maybe in reality the hard plastic is stronger and the rubber won't expand, but I already don't like the fact that I can easily stretch open the rubber that is not covered by the hard plastic.

I probably didn't do a good job describing it - but compared to the GS3, which for the areas of the buttons - the hard frame covered that area with the rubber insert covering only the buttons - it just doesn't feel as sturdy and it makes it feel like they want the rubber to stretch out so you buy a new one.

Anyway, are there any other cases out there that are similar? I like the added protection but do not want a Defender case (too bulky) and don't really want a Speck case (I have that for my Note 2 and it has it's own rubber stretching issues).

Most of the cases above seem more for minimal protection and aesthetics.

Ah, well - just my opinion on the Otterbox commuter cases... At least for me, I liked the GS3 version better.
 
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Again, if you are the type that is looking at otterbox defender you owe it to yourself to also take a look at the Casemate toughcase. Same concept but with better materials and providing more protection while managing to be less bulky. Honestly, otterbox needs to up their game because their product is no longer competitive with comparable offerings on the market and they can only coast so long on good will.
 
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Again, if you are the type that is looking at otterbox defender you owe it to yourself to also take a look at the Casemate toughcase. Same concept but with better materials and providing more protection while managing to be less bulky. Honestly, otterbox needs to up their game because their product is no longer competitive with comparable offerings on the market and they can only coast so long on good will.

I just picked up a casemate tough case and I love how it keeps the phone slim yet the materials are still very structurally rigid. Im still waiting on my other cases to arrive but this is my favorite so far
 
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Well, I received my Otterbox COMMUTER case and I have to be honest - I am pretty disappointed. Mainly in comparison to my previous Otterbox cases.

I had the Otterbox Commuter case for my GS3 and I liked it a lot. The matted plastic seemed sturdy and it really enveloped the phone except for the corners and it kept it held the rubber inside in place securely.

Then I bought the Otterbox Commuter case for my iPhone5 and noticed that the plastic did not seem as sturdy and I also noticed that it did not really surround the phone as much and the rubber insert was used as the frame for the area around the buttons. This bugged the hell out of me because everyone knows that the rubber eventually stretches, and without the hard plastic frame to secure that part, it is only a matter of time that that area will expand. So it feels like the top part of the phone is rubber and the bottom part and the back is hard plastic. To top it off, the top layer of the rubber started coming off after a week. :-/

Fast forward to today - my Otterbox Commuter case for my GS4. I thought it would be built like the one for the GS3, but boy was I wrong. It was designed with the same concept as the iPhone. The hard plastic frame is more for the bottom half and the back (where there are no buttons), and the top part on both the left and right side is the rubber insert that is not held down by any hard plastic. So even visually, the top part is a tiny bit wider than the bottom because it's not secured with the hard plastic. Given time it's just going to expand.

So, while it looks fine from a distance, the hard plastic is a bit glossy which to me looks cheaper and the rubber part is just covering more of the edges that I would like without it being secured down. It's not like as if the rubber was like the hard rubber in the Speck cases, but it's a soft rubber that is maybe a little bit hardened in the corners and the exposed top.

I don't know - maybe in reality the hard plastic is stronger and the rubber won't expand, but I already don't like the fact that I can easily stretch open the rubber that is not covered by the hard plastic.

I probably didn't do a good job describing it - but compared to the GS3, which for the areas of the buttons - the hard frame covered that area with the rubber insert covering only the buttons - it just doesn't feel as sturdy and it makes it feel like they want the rubber to stretch out so you buy a new one.

Anyway, are there any other cases out there that are similar? I like the added protection but do not want a Defender case (too bulky) and don't really want a Speck case (I have that for my Note 2 and it has it's own rubber stretching issues).

Most of the cases above seem more for minimal protection and aesthetics.

Ah, well - just my opinion on the Otterbox commuter cases... At least for me, I liked the GS3 version better.

I agree. This one is much different than the GS3. Nowhere near as secure. I actually went to the AT&T store and picked up the Speck Candyshell. I have tried a lot of cases thus far and without a doubt, this is the vicest feeleing in the hand. Looks pretty good too.
 
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I have the Spigen Neo Hybrid case and am really pleased with it. Doesnt add much bulk to the phone and feels good in the hand. The phone feels well protected.


And what does it mean when it says that it includes one set of "Jelly Bean Home Button"? Look under the included section.

The Jelly Bean Home Buttons are set a of three small thick stickers, one orange, one black and one white. They look like they will stick on the home button, don't know why though :thinking:
 
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I have the Spigen Neo Hybrid case and am really pleased with it. Doesnt add much bulk to the phone and feels good in the hand. The phone feels well protected...

I got the same one. Very nice case. It's very slim, and certainly won't protect like one of the crazy Otterboxes, but I prefer slim and non-intrusive. If that's what you prefer too, you'll love the Spigen!
 
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Going naked till my slim armor arrives. Glas.tr slim should be here tomorrow

I have the Glas.tr slim on mine and it's absolutely fantastic. I had it on my original Note and loved it so much - and it's like having nothing there. I installed it in my steamy bathroom to make sure nothing was flying around.. One thing I didn't realize that would come with it was a soft protector for the back cover as well. So, I had just those two things on the phone until I got a case for it.

Edit: I got the one without the rounded edges. Didn't find a use for paying more for rounded edges when I was going to get a case to surround it.

The Jelly Bean Home Buttons are set a of three small thick stickers, one orange, one black and one white. They look like they will stick on the home button, don't know why though :thinking:

I believe they are meant so that the button isn't too recessed. I know I received them for every glass Spigen screen protector that I ever bought because it made the button a little recessed due to the screen protector, and I got them with my glass protector for the GS4. It's actually not bad looking once it's on, and it creates a little higher profile button. Not sure why it would come with a case though.
 
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How grippy is that case? It's not clear if it's rigid plastic or rubbery neoprene, though the ad copy mentions "soft-touch coating".

i have this seidio case. now i'm just waiting on the phone. it's not very grippy out of the box, but all seidio soft touch cases are. they get grippier with use, but will never be grippy like a tpu case or the like. not really an issue for me though. the kick stand is awesome and comes in handy especially considering they kept the form factor very slim.
 
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I recently bought a hybrid case that came with a belt clip which will only work with the case it came with, but I'm not digging it so I bought this one. Anyone know of a belt clip or belt case that will fit the phone with a case on it? I know a lot of leather cases on ebay will only allow room for the phone.

I refuse to keep the phone in my pocket.
 

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I recently bought a hybrid case that came with a belt clip which will only work with the case it came with, but I'm not digging it so I bought this one. Anyone know of a belt clip or belt case that will fit the phone with a case on it? I know a lot of leather cases on ebay will only allow room for the phone.

I refuse to keep the phone in my pocket.

Hi sincarafan. I merged your thread with the existing case thread. :) If you'll look through Amazon there are case and holder combos and a few just the holster. I wanted a case and holster myself. I received one today and ordered another today. :D Like Pappy said, there are also some leather (faux) cases it would probably fit in and attach to your belt.
 
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I just received my Spigen Slim Armor case.

It doesn't add much to the phone as far as bulk but it definitely makes the phone easier to grip and keep hold of. The back plastic part of the case isn't nearly as slippery as the back of the phone is and the TPU parts of the case are very firm and again, very easy to keep a grip of.

All important parts of the phone are exposed through the case so you won't lose any functionality with various ports and whatnot.
 
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