As soon as I saw the OEM flip case from Samsung I knew it would be one of the first accessories for my new S3. Unfortunately after having read reviews of the case's questionable construction, coupled with the fact that I wasn't a huge fan of the integrated battery door, I figured I'd shop around for an alternative.
Thankfully that alternative came in the form of ROCK's Big City Flip case.
Warning: Picture Heavy:
PROS:
*
Texture is PHENOMENOL! - The pictures really don't do it justice. ROCK claims the material is "Italian imported PU", (I suspect it's like a "Pleather", plastic-like leather) but whatever it is, it provides a great deal of grip but remains extremely soft to touch. An added bonus is the fact that the "dark blue" variant matches PERFECTLY with the S3 Pebble Blue version.
*Design is simple, elegant, and creative - Reverting back once more to the texture, I've never seen anything quite like it. It's almost reminiscent of a cascading waterfall. The inside is completely lined with a micro-fiber/felt-like material that ensures both the front and back of the device will remain scuff free. Not to mention the "cradle" for the actual phone hugs it in all the right places, ensuring it won't escape the case's clenches
All ports, camera, light, and speaker portions are precisely cut and accessible, EXCEPT the volume rocker (at least when the case is closed); thankfully however the material on the spine of the case is soft to the touch, thus allowing you to press the volume rocker with ease.
*Reasonably priced - Similar cases run $25+, and given the reputation of ROCK and the quality of the case, I'd say it's nothing short of a great buy. Not to mention it comes with a screen protector and decorative lanyard. I managed to pick mine up via eBay for $16.88 shipped (note: I have yet to come across a seller not based out of China or Hong Kong).
CONS:
*Loose Frontt - Similar to the Samsung OEM Flip Case (along with a bevy of other similar products) the front portion of the case has no clip, magnet, or similar fastening feature. While not a particular deal killer for me, I'd rather not have the flap potentially swing to and fro every time I use the device. (Note: I plan on trying to add a magnetic strip to solve this in the near future).
*Top and Bottom Minimal Protection - I suspect ROCK took a cue from slim case designs when designing the "cradle" portion. Similar to slim cases, there seems to be a minimal amount of protection for the device on both the top and bottom portions of the case. Unfortunately I haven't tested a screen protector with the case on, but will update accordingly
*Tricky Using with One Hand - I assume this is a no-brainer for most who have used or plan on using these types of cases, but attempting to use the device cradled in this case with a single hand, proves more difficult then you might suspect. Most of this has to do with the spine of the case not sitting flush with the back when the front is flipped over. Not a total deal breaker for me, but possibly for some.
Overall I'm quite happy with the purchase!
Notes:
More info and pictures of the case here:
ROCK Big City SAMSUNG Galaxy SIII S3 I9308 I939 Side Flip Leather caseBigCity ROCK
Seller I purchased the device from (took about 9 days from China to the D.C. area):
eBay My World - samlink360
You can attempt to check the validity of the case (apparently there are lot of ROCK case knockoffs floating around out there) but I haven't been able to get the page to display properly:
Anti-forgery Inquiry ROCK