GS3 Case discussion thread

[lexluthor]

Does that case have cutouts for power and volume? Looks like it does. Many tpu cases don't and that's a serious flaw as tpu can be tough to press through.
This could be a great option for people who want to show off the phone and have good protection.

Here's a transparent TPU case that appears to be very clear. But it's hard to tell from the picture. With this particular case in mind, I have to disagree with your statement above. I think TPU provides excellent protection from falls. I've had one on my DroidX for almost 2 years and it's survived some nasty falls onto concrete/asphalt on far too many occasions. Combined with a Steinheil screen protector there isn't a scratch, dent or mark on it anywhere. TPU is the perfect case material in my opinion. It's relatively thin but has just the right density to absorb impact while not being so soft that it eventually sags or pulls off too easily. Dirt cheap too...Which fits right in with my budget.

Clear TPU Gel Case Cover for Samsung Galaxy S III S3 i9300 Phone | eBay



I agree that a dual layer case can provide additional protection but they are usually more bulky than a single layer of TPU. I've never seen any comparison tests done but I would guess that for the average fall to concrete/asphalt from a height of 3' to 5' or 6' the results would be similar between a double layer case and a single layer TPU case that wraps all the way around the edges of a phone and has a lip sticking up in front. Kinda like the idea that a foot of steel doesn't provide any more practical protection from a bullet than 6" of steel does. As I said, I've never seen any actual physical comparisons of this before so I'm just guessing based on how tough my TPU case has been and from the experience of some family members and a few friends.

That being said, I happen to have a couple of dual layer cases for my (As yet undelivered ) SGS3 and they not only look cool but also look like they could help a phone survive a higher fall, like from the top of a roof if I were in construction. In reference to my analogy above, this would be like an armor piercing anti-tank missile penetrating the 6" steel but not the 12" steel. For those interested I posted links to cases I have ordered including the 2 dual layer cases in post #463 on page 12 of this thread.

Benny

 

[jazztalker]

Does that case have cutouts for power and volume? Looks like it does. Many tpu cases don't and that's a serious flaw as tpu can be tough to press through.
This could be a great option for people who want to show off the phone and have good protection.

Yeah, it looks like it does have the cutouts. The case I have on my DInc has all of the buttons covered, and I've never had issues with it. I wonder if I got a "good" case or maybe I just press buttons a bit harder than other people

 

[parapluie]

Here's a transparent TPU case that appears to be very clear. But it's hard to tell from the picture. With this particular case in mind, I have to disagree with your statement above. I think TPU provides excellent protection from falls. I've had one on my DroidX for almost 2 years and it's survived some nasty falls onto concrete/asphalt on far too many occasions. Combined with a Steinheil screen protector there isn't a scratch, dent or mark on it anywhere. TPU is the perfect case material in my opinion. It's relatively thin but has just the right density to absorb impact while not being so soft that it eventually sags or pulls off too easily. Dirt cheap too...Which fits right in with my budget.

Clear TPU Gel Case Cover for Samsung Galaxy S III S3 i9300 Phone | eBay



I agree that a dual layer case can provide additional protection but they are usually more bulky than a single layer of TPU. I've never seen any comparison tests done but I would guess that for the average fall to concrete/asphalt from a height of 3' to 5' or 6' the results would be similar between a double layer case and a single layer TPU case that wraps all the way around the edges of a phone and has a lip sticking up in front. Kinda like the idea that a foot of steel doesn't provide any more practical protection from a bullet than 6" of steel does. As I said, I've never seen any actual physical comparisons of this before so I'm just guessing based on how tough my TPU case has been and from the experience of some family members and a few friends.

That being said, I happen to have a couple of dual layer cases for my (As yet undelivered ) SGS3 and they not only look cool but also look like they could help a phone survive a higher fall, like from the top of a roof if I were in construction. In reference to my analogy above, this would be like an armor piercing anti-tank missile penetrating the 6" steel but not the 12" steel. For those interested I posted links to cases I have ordered including the 2 dual layer cases in post #463 on page 12 of this thread.

Benny

What is your opinion on cases that provide essentially the same materials as the dual layer but combine them into one solid case (i.e., Speck CandyShell)? Samsung Galaxy S3 Cases | Speck Products Do you think they would provide the same level of protection as the dual layer without all the bulk? I have a Seidio Active on my og Incredible and it has been wonderful, but I am looking for something slightly smaller for my S3, though not at the expense of possible breakage.

 

[gabquintero09]

Great posting.. Took me forever to read :|

I have a problem.. I purchased the 30$ Zagg screen protection and purchased the case below..

The problem is that the case disturbs my screen protector, causing lifted corners and small bubbles on the side.. Anybody have any experience with cases that haven't caused this problem?

Are there any cases that have the samsung logo on it besides the genuine samsung products?

 

[rjtim]

The problem is that the case disturbs my screen protector, causing lifted corners and small bubbles on the side.. Anybody have any experience with cases that haven't caused this problem?

Mine doesn't. I have the Capdase Xpose (see above).

 

[gabquintero09]

Link?

I wouldn't need the screen protector, since I already have one :| How much did you pay for it?

 

[rjtim]

Link?

I wouldn't need the screen protector, since I already have one :| How much did you pay for it?

CAPDASE

I live in the Philippines. It's 1,000 Philippine pesos here.

 

[Zoandroid]

Great posting.. Took me forever to read :|

I have a problem.. I purchased the 30$ Zagg screen protection and purchased the case below..

The problem is that the case disturbs my screen protector, causing lifted corners and small bubbles on the side.. Anybody have any experience with cases that haven't caused this problem?

Are there any cases that have the samsung logo on it besides the genuine samsung products?

One thing you could do is trim a little off the edges of the screen protector. Best done before it is installed though. I've done that to use screen protectors made for one device on some other device, and it works fine. You just have to be really precise with the scissors so it looks nice.

 

[lexluthor]

Yeah, it looks like it does have the cutouts. The case I have on my DInc has all of the buttons covered, and I've never had issues with it. I wonder if I got a "good" case or maybe I just press buttons a bit harder than other people

We had a TPU case on a Samsung Vibrant and it was much harder to push the power button that it wasn't worth it.

I've seen many other comments like that about TPU cases, but I'm sure there's some variance between cases.

This looks good with the button cutouts. Wonder if anyone has tries this one yet?
Clear TPU Gel Case Cover for Samsung Galaxy S III S3 i9300 Phone | eBay

 

[bennybbc]

Does that case have cutouts for power and volume? Looks like it does. Many tpu cases don't and that's a serious flaw as tpu can be tough to press through.
This could be a great option for people who want to show off the phone and have good protection.

It looks like one of the few TPU cases I've seen with the cutouts for the buttons. I have experience with several different phones with TPU cases and the only case I've ever had problems with (Regarding the buttons) is the one I've had for almost 2 years on my DroidX. But it was a minor problem and I easily and apparently permanently solved the problem by taking several very thin strips of tape and partially filling in the insides of the TPU button covers. That way when I push down on the button's covers I don't have to push as hard. The tape strips are actually contacting the buttons. It was super easy to do and it works perfectly. In fact the first button I did I put too much tape on it and it was too easy to operate the button. I took a couple of the layers off and it was perfect. I don't remember exactly how many layers there are but it seems like maybe 3. My wife, my son and my daughter all have them (Sometimes) and they have no problems at all with the buttons without modification.

Benny

 

[gabquintero09]

One thing you could do is trim a little off the edges of the screen protector. Best done before it is installed though. I've done that to use screen protectors made for one device on some other device, and it works fine. You just have to be really precise with the scissors so it looks nice.

A little late :/ it's already installed

 

[Zoandroid]

A little late :/ it's already installed

I was hoping you had more than one.

 

[Zoandroid]

Got my email this afternoon from VZW, and my S3 will arrive Tuesday.

I can't believe how hard it can be to pick a case, but after much looking around through Amazon Prime offerings ( I want it here soon ) I was almost ready to pull the trigger on a few TPU style cheap cases, when something told me to take "one more look".

I had been impressed by many of the nicer cases, including the Otterbox Commuter, but every time I saw one on Amazon it had either been out of stock or takes anywhere from weeks to months to ship. No thanks. But as I started running the search one last time, lo and behold a 77-21092 Commuter case pops up, Prime eligible! One of the things I really liked about the Commuter is the port covers. Carrying my cell in my jeans pocket all the time tends to get dust and lint in the jacks, especially the headphone jack, which I use daily. I had encountered some reviews mentioning that some cases that were supposed to have port covers in fact did not have them, so I hopped over to Otterbox's site to make SURE this model does, and they are clearly visible in the pictures and described in text.

So, I have that coming, but even with Amazon Prime it won't arrive until the 12th for some reason. I wanted a 'cheap' case to use right away until the Otter gets here, so I also picked up an iGadgitz Black Silicone Skin Case Cover for $3 that has an interesting 'tire tread' design, and also has covers over the power and volume buttons, which despite some negative reviews I decided I wanted to try. My large thumb and fingers sometimes have a little difficulty pressing buttons through case openings, so I thought I might like this better.

I also ordered some Tech Armor anti-glare / anti-fingerprint screen covers. I know these things detract a bit from the screen's sharpness, brightness, and appearance on most devices, and that the Gorilla Glass 2 is supposed to be nuke-proof. But I am quite accustomed to using them on my devices, so wanted to have them on hand. If I don't like how one looks on the S3 I can go without.

Here's a shot of that tire tread design cover in case anyone wants to see it. Something i had not seen anywhere else while shopping.

 

[funkpod]

What is your opinion on cases that provide essentially the same materials as the dual layer but combine them into one solid case (i.e., Speck CandyShell)? Samsung Galaxy S3 Cases | Speck Products Do you think they would provide the same level of protection as the dual layer without all the bulk? I have a Seidio Active on my og Incredible and it has been wonderful, but I am looking for something slightly smaller for my S3, though not at the expense of possible breakage.

i have used the speck candyshell w/ my Incredible, and it was great. dropped it and it survived. it's a great case w/ good drop protection. of course, the screen is exposed.
my only issue with the case is that after a while, the case gets scratched up. some people have sanded it down so that it has a matte finish. i will probably end up getting a lighter color, they show scratches less.

hope this helps.

 

[akita]

Got my email this afternoon from VZW, and my S3 will arrive Tuesday.

I can't believe how hard it can be to pick a case, but after much looking around through Amazon Prime offerings ( I want it here soon ) I was almost ready to pull the trigger on a few TPU style cheap cases, when something told me to take "one more look".

I had been impressed by many of the nicer cases, including the Otterbox Commuter, but every time I saw one on Amazon it had either been out of stock or takes anywhere from weeks to months to ship. No thanks. But as I started running the search one last time, lo and behold a 77-21092 Commuter case pops up, Prime eligible! One of the things I really liked about the Commuter is the port covers. Carrying my cell in my jeans pocket all the time tends to get dust and lint in the jacks, especially the headphone jack, which I use daily. I had encountered some reviews mentioning that some cases that were supposed to have port covers in fact did not have them, so I hopped over to Otterbox's site to make SURE this model does, and they are clearly visible in the pictures and described in text.

So, I have that coming, but even with Amazon Prime it won't arrive until the 12th for some reason. I wanted a 'cheap' case to use right away until the Otter gets here, so I also picked up an iGadgitz Black Silicone Skin Case Cover for $3 that has an interesting 'tire tread' design, and also has covers over the power and volume buttons, which despite some negative reviews I decided I wanted to try. My large thumb and fingers sometimes have a little difficulty pressing buttons through case openings, so I thought I might like this better.

I also ordered some Tech Armor anti-glare / anti-fingerprint screen covers. I know these things detract a bit from the screen's sharpness, brightness, and appearance on most devices, and that the Gorilla Glass 2 is supposed to be nuke-proof. But I am quite accustomed to using them on my devices, so wanted to have them on hand. If I don't like how one looks on the S3 I can go without.

Here's a shot of that tire tread design cover in case anyone wants to see it. Something i had not seen anywhere else while shopping.

To each his own but that tread case looks awful. Im sure its built like a tank though.

 

[bennybbc]

What is your opinion on cases that provide essentially the same materials as the dual layer but combine them into one solid case (i.e., Speck CandyShell)? Samsung Galaxy S3 Cases | Speck Products Do you think they would provide the same level of protection as the dual layer without all the bulk? I have a Seidio Active on my og Incredible and it has been wonderful, but I am looking for something slightly smaller for my S3, though not at the expense of possible breakage.

I don't have any experience with the 1 piece dual layer cases so it would be hard for me to comment on them. But if I had to guess I would agree with you that they should provide the same protection as a comparable 2 piece dual layer cases. However I don't know that the bulk would be reduced or not. Maybe by a tiny amount but that would probably be only if the layers of material used were thinner than the 2 piece cases. The 2 piece cases I have fit pretty tightly together so if they were bonded together I don't think there would be a big difference in their bulk.

I've said it before, unless you're in situations where the phone can drop from maybe rooftop height or more I think a good single layer TPU case will provide all of the protection needed. My DroidX has been well protected by the same TPU case for almost 2 years and it's seen way too many falls from shirt pocket height and higher to concrete/asphalt. I'm about 6'1" so my pocket is at about 5'. But it has fallen from my pocket when getting out of my Suburban where it's falling from 6' or more. It really hugs the DX and while it does make it a little bulkier it's not as big as a dual layer case would be.

Benny

 

[LarrynKy]

I got the Candyshell in a gray color yesterday at the AT&T store and glad I did. I had purchased the Body Glove along with the Moshi screen protector. The AT&T agent asked if I would like her to install both. I said sure. She put on the screen protector without incident. When putting on the Body Glove is kept pinching the screen protector and it would not lie flat on the edges. We then tried the Speck Candyshell case and it worked fine. I get corporate discounts so the prices were not too much over the internet pricing. At least I avoided the frustration of of these items not working together on the SG3. Also the Moshi eliminates fingerprints.

 

[Zoandroid]

To each his own but that tread case looks awful. Im sure its built like a tank though.

Well, I agree it isn't very sexy. But as a utilitarian case for every day use around the house and shop, I think it has its merits. And for those who might like the look of tires, well.....

The one thing that appeals to me about it is that I can imagine sending it skittering across the spalled concrete floor of my work shop over and over and probably never see a scratch anywhere on that tire-style surface. The nice and shiny cases, or those with decoration, can't make that claim as easily. I also wouldn't have paid $30 for it. But for $3, what the heck?

Once the Otterbox Commuter Case gets here I'll be using that.

 

[SmartphonePedi]

Do you charge tax for shipping to the CA?

We are based out of NY so we do not charge tax for orders shipping to CA.

 

[SmartphonePedi]

I like Speck cases, too, and I'm thinking about getting this one...

These Speck cases are nice. I can give you more shots of it if you want from any side. We have the black color for $24.99

 

[powdbyrice]

Anybody have a good recommendation for a case for the blue version? I want something fairly minimal (not bulky) and I'd prefer something "clearer" to let the blue show through. Most cases I'm seeing only show what it looks like in white, which doesn't help me Thanks!

oem sammy cases. $20 for a 2 pack. one clear and one clear blue

 

[Lyons1747]

Has anyone every had any experience with an all leather flip down cases like the ones on SGP's website - Leather Case Gariz Series

Thought this one looked really nice but dont know if that fold open flap would do it for me. I like the protection aspect as well as the quality of the craftsmanship, but I am hoping for someones feedback on using it before dropping 55 bucks on a case. Plus if this thing is gonna be flapping around every time I try to talk on the phone that might get annoying right?

Here is a few pics and a link with more pics

Link to website

Thoughts?

 

[DroidX_Gamecock]

According to amazon Otterbox is coming out in early to mid July. I'm looking forward to buying the commuter series one!

Best buy has these now.

 

[ult]

Best buy has these now.

how much and do they have the colored ones?

 

[pdl2mtl90]

After much thought and going back and forth, I ended up ordering some TPU cases off of eBay plus a leather folio off of Amazon. Bought the wife several different cases as well. So I will be able to try many of the various types. Now I just need to find a belt pouch!