Cases and Covers – Page 4

totallee iPhone Xs Max screen protector review

REVIEW – I am definitely a firm advocate for the use of screen protectors, going back to the cr@ppy thin plastic films I applied on my Palm Vx. I even pressure many friends and family members to use them. I even go so far as to supply and apply them…obsessive, compulsive I know. Today’s multilayer, precision-crafted tempered glass screen protectors do an incredible job protecting your smartphones and have become impressively inexpensive/cost-effective to use. For this review, totallee has sent me their new edge-to-edge screen protector for the iPhone Xs Max to see how it compares to an insanely crowded field of competition.

BACKSTORY – I’ve reviewed and used all types of tempered glass screen protectors over the years, ranging in price from $2 all the way up to an eye popping $50+. The one you see in this picture is a generic one I purchased from Amazon.com for all of 3 for $10. I’ve had it on my iPhone Xs Max since day one and it has done a fine enough job…though thankfully never truly tested. But as you can see, it doesn’t cover the entire screen, sitting several millimeters off all four of the edges. I actually felt bad taking it off, more or less destroying it in the process, to do this review…hopefully this totallee edge to edge screen protector makes it worth the effort/carnage .

What is it?

This totallee screen protector is an edge to edge piece of tempered glass, engineered specifically for the iPhone Xs Max.

What’s in the box?

Tempered glass screen protector
Installation card
Alcohol prep pad
Cleaning cloth

Design and features

As I mentioned, this screen protector is made from a very thin (0.33mm) sheet of glass that has been precisely cut to fit over the entirety of the iPhone’s OLED screen. Other than its edge-to-edge fit, the only two design features of note are the speaker cutout at the top and 2(ish) millimeter black band encircling protector’s edge.

Setup

Installing the totallee screen protector was easy enough. You more or less lineup the speaker cutout and sides correctly and then let go (see video here). Though like any glass screen protector, you have to be careful to not have or let any bits of dust sneak between the two pieces of glass during installation. I did have to use scotch tape to remove a few myself and the screen protector withstood the force of me lifting an edge or two several times to get it perfect. The only thing I might suggest is that totallee include an installation tray which would help place the screen protector more precisely since it is so exactly fitted. If you’re off just a fraction of a millimeter, you may need to reseat the thin sheet of glass which could break or get dust under it.

The totallee screen protector fits the iPhone Max perfectly. The black bezel makes the screen protector almost disappear (much more so than the previous one I had on my smartphone).

The totallee is relatively thin, thinner than some other tempered glass screen protectors I have used in the past. There has been no impact to screen sensitivity or FaceID accuracy.

Performance

While I haven’t tested its strength, hardness, or protection factor, the totallee screen protector is doing a perfectly fine job protecting my screen. It marks off all the typical boxes for a tempered glass screen protector these days: completely clear, extremely thin, 9H hardness rating, and oleophobic coating. Add in the fact it covers the entire screen, the totallee screen protector does not disappoint.

What I like

Perfectly fitted for the iPhone Xs Max
Edge-to-edge protection
Easy to install
Oleophobic coating

What needs to be improved

Expensive
Lacks installation tray

totallee makes tempered glass screen protectors for a multitude of smartphones, ranging from the Pixel 2 to the latest and greatest iPhone Xs Max. They offer a 30-day money back guarantee and 2 year warranty on all their gear.

Final thoughts

With countless screen protectors under $10 on Amazon, justifying a $25 screen protector is pretty tough these days. That said, the totallee tempered glass screen protector certainly isn’t the most expensive one on the market either. totallee has created a very well done, nicely thought out iPhone Xs Max accessory that does an excellent job protecting your $1000+ smartphone. With its edge-to-edge design and oleophobic coating, you hardly know it’s there while providing solid protection.

Price: $25
Where to buy: The totallee tempered glass screen protector is available directly from their website and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by totallee.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers, iPhone Xs Max

totallee iPhone Xs Max screen protector review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 21, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Protect your new Samsung Galaxy S10 series smartphone with one of these cases

NEWS – Last week I shared with you that I pre-ordered the Samsung Galaxy S10+ as soon as I could. I haven’t been this excited to get a new phone in a long time. I am even planning to take a vacation day next Friday when it is supposed to be delivered. Hey, it’s a good excuse to burn a vacation day so don’t judge me

When most of us shell out a considerable amount of cash to buy a new phone, we want to keep it looking new for as long as we can. The main way we can do that is to protect it with a case. So here are a few Samsung Galaxy S10 series case options to consider if you’re getting a new S10 too.

Otterbox Galaxy S10 Series Cases

If your nickname is fumble fingers, you know you are going to need a case that will protect your phone from more than everyday wear and tear. You’re going to need a case from the Otterbox Symmetry and Commuter series to protect from from an occasional drop.

Symmetry Series – slim protection in a stylish case with a variety of color and graphic options.
Pursuit Series – the toughest, thinnest OtterBox case – protects against dust, dirt and snow, available for Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+.
Defender Series – protects from everyday bumps and fumbles while port covers help keep out dust and debris.
Defender Series Pro – offers an anti-microbial material that protects against common germs while offering the same drop and port protection as Defender Series.
Commuter Series – offers an updated design that delivers added grip on the slipcover.
Alpha Glass – a shatter-resistant and scratch-proof design keeps the Galaxy S10e display safe from front-facing drops in the parking lot or keys in your bag. Alpha Glass screen protectors are compatible with OtterBox cases.
Strada Series – folio style case that provides slots for cash and credit cards.

Head over to otterbox.com to see their full S10 series line up. Case prices range from $39.95 up to $69.95.

Grip2U Cases

I haven’t gotten into the whole PopSocket craze and if you haven’t either, but wouldn’t mind having some extra help holding on to your phone, the Grip2U cases feature a wide silicone band that your fingers can slide under for extra grip. The cases are available in black or clear and are only $29.99. You can check them out at preventthedrop.com

Gear4 Cases

My favorite case out of the ones I’ve shown you here is the Gear4 case because you can buy Chelsea design packs for it. The packs are interchangeable design panels that will let you change up your style without buying a brand new case. The packs are available in a variety of different patterns and artwork and are compatible with the clear Gear4 case. Each pack comes with 4 different panels for $14.99. The clear case is priced at $39.99. You can read more about them over at gear4.com

If none of these cases are appealing to you, never fear because there are a bazillion other Samsung Galaxy S10 series cases to choose from. Just head over to Amazon and have fun browsing.

Speck Cases

Speck has some interesting cases for the Samsung Galaxy S10 series that I’d like to check out. I especially like their Presidio Grip case which is available in several color combos including the one you see here. Is it just me or are you also getting a Star Wars vibe with this case? Regardless, these cases offer some extra grip with raised rubber strips and they have a raised bezel to protect the S10 and S10+’s curved display. The Presidio Grip is priced at $44.95 and is available now from Speck. Some models are also available on Amazon.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Cases and Covers, Samsung

Protect your new Samsung Galaxy S10 series smartphone with one of these cases originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 1, 2019 at 11:09 am.

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Saddleback Leather Boot Leather iPhone Case review

REVIEW – A warm leather hug for your iPhone. That’s what I’m testing this week with Saddleback Leather’s latest phone case design. Forget about plastics, silicone, or rubberized bits… this is 100% leather, and each one is made by hand. To the review!

What is it?

The name says it all. It’s a handmade leather iPhone case. ‘Nuff said.

Design and features

The Saddleback Leather Boot Leather iPhone Case is made from a single piece of heavy boot leather, by hand, in a process that takes 5 hours to complete. Not only are there no plastic or rubberized components, but you won’t even find a stitch of thread in the build. Check out this video to see how each case is cut, shaped, and molded by hand for the final product. Neat, huh?

The cool thing about this process is that the finished piece also shows all the little handmade details, so each item has its own unique personality. Here’s a shot of the front and back of the case… note that mine has been in use for several weeks now, so it’s started to pick up some patina from use (and maybe a water spot from an accidental splash… but that’s another story):

The edges are cut and molded to wrap around the phone. You’ll even see the marks from the shaping process:

The volume buttons on the left side are covered, with the leather being shaved to a thin bevel to allow for clicking. The mute switch is also shaved, but a bit of a cut out so that you can flip it:

The main button on the right hand side is also covered & shaved from the leather, while the camera pod is cut out:

I’ve got an iPhone XS Max, and the case is perfectly sized for a snug fit.

Just slide it into the case, and you’re good to go. Note that the bottom panel is completely open for access to your speaker and ports. The camera pod cutout is right on the money, cut perfectly so that it doesn’t interfere with the functionality.

And that’s all there is to it. Slide your iPhone into the case, and you’re off and running!

Performance

There’s something refreshing about the simplicity and elegance of the Saddleback Leather Boot Leather iPhone case. Don’t get me wrong, I love how designers are pushing the limits with cutting-edge materials to create new products. But it’s also impressive to see a company that’s able to create the same modern usability we demand from our tech with the classic attributes of materials like leather.

From the minute I opened the package, the Boot Leather iPhone case was fully functional. Not only is it easy to install, but I haven’t seen any signs of stretching or loosening in the case that would cause it to slip off the phone. It’s just as tight and snug as any molded plastic or silicone case I have played with. In reading the product details, it looks like Saddleback made some tweaks to this design to address issues with access to the ports and buttons. I’ll tell you that I have seen no issues with any of that so far. The lightning cable pops right into place, buttons work as designed, and the speakers aren’t obstructed. The cutout for the mute switch was a *teeny* bit tight but loosened up after about a day of use. You really don’t notice any degradation in performance or functionality when using the phone on a regular basis.

The protection offered by the phone is also excellent. I’m prone to fumble fingers, so my iPhone takes its share of drops and bangs on a regular basis. The heavy leather does just as good a job of protecting my precious as any silicone or rubber base I’ve had. Now don’t get me wrong… I’m not planning on tossing it out a second story window to be sure! But for general whoopsies, it’s good. Note that the screen is not protected, but that’s common to all phones in this category. I have a secondary screen cover on the phone for that purpose anyway.

You also get all the benefits of beautiful full-grain boot leather with this case. The leather is just fantastic, as we’ve come to expect from Saddleback Leather products. A month in and my case is already starting to pick up a nice patina as well as some personality from use, which will just get better over time. It’s also surprisingly slim and lightweight, well in line with other cases geared towards protection. I’ve had no issues carrying it in a bag or in my jeans pocket; I really don’t notice anything different from a typical phone case.

What I like

Simple, elegant construction
No parts of any kind that could come loose, break, or fail
Beautiful leather that will age wonderfully
All the protection benefits of modern-day materials in a classic looking case

What needs to be improved

None that I am seeing yet

Final thoughts

This is my second review from their newer lineup of Saddleback Leather products that feature the simpler, streamlined design language. Like the iPad case review I did last October, the Boot Leather iPhone Case is another winner. Usability and functionality are both excellent, imparting all the benefits of modern design with the simple goodness of high-quality handmade leather. It’s beautiful and durable, and will probably outlast my phone. It also retails at $79, which is well within the competitive price range for high-end iPhone cases… and pretty great for a hand made product. I’m a fan.

Please note that, as of this writing, the Boot Leather iPhone Case is available for the newer generation of iPhones (X, XS, XS Max, and XR).

Price: $79.00
Where to buy: Get ye to the Saddleback Leather product page for this item.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Saddleback Leather

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers, iPhone Case

Saddleback Leather Boot Leather iPhone Case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 18, 2019 at 9:17 am.

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Mous Limitless 2 smartphone case review

REVIEW – Like a lot of technology that I own, phones are always something I am looking to protect and keep like new. I am sure that I like a lot of people out there are always on the lookout for a phone case that is lightweight, barely noticeable on the phone and gives good protection. I recently received the Mous Limitless 2 Phone Case to review. Let’s check it out and see how it meets my criteria for a good phone case.

What’s in the box?

The box itself is a fully recyclable cardboard box. It has a nice pull tab made of cloth that you simply pull once you cut the adhesive tape keeping the box closed. Pulling on that tab reveals the case itself. I received the Aramid Carbon Fiber version for my Samsung Galaxy S9. Inside the box they had the following items:

The case itself
A disclaimer card – It is rather funny saying you should use the included screen protector in addition to the case. They mentioned the case does not make your phone indestructible although it has been tested by dropping phones from ridiculous heights. It tells you essentially to stay away from the crane and do not test it out yourself.
Screen protector box

Inside the screen protector box:

two screen protectors – made of triple layered PET, TPU and Silicon
Instruction card
Wet wipe
Sticker to pick off dust
scraper card
micro fiber cloth

Design and Features

They offer these Limitless 2 cases in the aforementioned carbon fiber, walnut, bamboo, shell and leather. The cases are crafted with the actual real materials. They have pictures on their website showing a walnut case that had been hit hard with something like a hammer and you can see splinters of wood. They offer them for the S9 and S9 Note, S8 and S8 Note and iPhones from the XR down through the iPhone 6. They are advertised as wireless charging compatible and I confirmed it worked with my Samsung charger and the charging pad in my Toyota Tacoma.

This is an extremely durable case. I have a picture above showing it next to a phone case I had purchased off Amazon last year. It does not have a velvet type lining inside. It has what it calls ‘Airoshock’ Protection. It supposedly dampens the impact of drops while providing extra grip to the phone. It is extremely dense and very rigid and tight fitting to the phone. It was definitely harder to install on my phone than my previous case. I had to press down hard to get that last corner on. Once on, taking it off is pretty difficult. They even have a video on their website showing how to take the case off. You basically push first through the camera hole in the back of the phone while holding on to the case. The case is definitely too stiff to just bend a corner down as I did with my old case. You will also notice that the case gives full coverage across the bottom of the phone, unlike my old case.

The next few pictures show the bottom and the top of the case. The bottom as I stated before is definitely more protective. It has precise cutouts for the various holes and ports on the phone. The top has the one cutout for the microphone.

The picture above shows how the volume and Bixby buttons look. They are not solid and have a small gap at both the top and the bottom of the button. It makes the buttons feel natural, clicky and responsive to the touch. They do not make pushing the buttons any harder at all.

The next two pictures above show the phone in the case. It is extremely tight fitting as they suggested. It is a very firm case and has a nice solid grip to it without being tacky feeling. It is definitely a better grip than the slippery phone itself. The carbon fiber is matte and not shiny at all. Fingerprints are not visible on this case which I really love. My old case would show fingerprints over time. When placing the phone face down on a table the case is what is resting on the table and not the screen. The top and bottom parts of the case extend slightly beyond the screen.

This is a shot of the bottom of the case with the phone inside. Everything lines up nicely exactly as it should.

What I like

This is a very well made case. Compared to my old case, if I were to drop my phone on the sides or back I really don’t think any damage will come to the phone at all. There is a video on the Mous website showing how the inside material of the case absorbs impacts by dropping heavy ball bearings on the material. A lot of cases are often poorly aligned with the ports and this case is spot on. There are no issues with using the buttons. The biggest plus for me is that it now slips easily into my back pocket where the old case was too grippy and would often stick on the way into my pocket. I also like that they give you two screen protectors. I have stopped using screen protectors since I received the Galaxy S9. That curved screen makes it too difficult to put a protector on without bubbles or cracking. I did not even attempt to install the screen protectors.

What can be improved

My biggest complaint is the price. For the S9 the price of the case is $49.99. The price drops $10 for the S8. The iPhone cases range from $44.99 to $39.99. That is kind of crazy since the XS Max is much bigger than the S9.

Price: $49.99 as reviewed for the Samsung Galaxy S9
Where to buy: Mous Website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Mous.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers

Mous Limitless 2 smartphone case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 12, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Saddleback Leather Keyboard Case review

NEWS – Let’s face it – in this “information age”, most of us have become writers and editors. And, for better or for worse, this means having ready access to a keyboard. I carry one around in my bag most days, whether I think I’m going to use it or not, just in case, and that can lead to physical damage to the keys. Enter the fine folks at Saddleback Leather, who have produced a Leather Keyboard Case. (Isn’t that a simple product name? How refreshing!) I was sent one in Tobacco color, but it’s also available in Dark Coffee Brown, Chestnut, and Black. Let’s take a closer look.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

What is it?

As the name implies, it’s a Leather case for your keyboard. A thick leather envelope with a flap, sized for a standard keyboard model, not the expanded one with numeric keypad and editing keys, this will hold the Apple Magic Keyboard, many Logitech keyboards (like my trusty K811) and models of similar size and shape.

What’s in the box?

The leather case, threaded with a leather thong to hold the flap closed.

Design and features

This being a Saddleback Leather product, we know it’s made from real leather. It’s thick, nicely tanned and durably sewn. The outer cow leather is actually thicker than boot leather, and the pigskin suede lining is smooth, soft, and will be kind to your keyboard until the next human-machine interface comes along to replace it. Measuring about 12.5″ x 6″, the envelope has enough play between the folded sides to hold a device .5″ – .75″ thick. The flap is a generous 3″ drop.

The case is constructed from a single piece of leather, folded around and stitched together to form a pocket with the flap coming up the back. The corners of the flap are slightly rounded, and all the edges are stitched with UV resistant marine-grade polyester thread. The keyboard is a snug fit, but the leather molds to the shape and loosens over time. The outer tanned surface will continue to develop that well-worn patina that good leather gains only with the passage of time and active use.

Minimal branding marks include the company name centered on the flap and a logo stamped into the bottom center of the back, just above the fold.

Performance

There have been numerous reviews here of Saddleback products, but it’s pretty amazing to hold one for the first time. You can tell it’s the real deal, and it’s going to protect whatever you put into it for the ages.
It’s quite tight when inserting a keyboard for the first few times, and the flap doesn’t fold down flat. One almost wants to find a way to work it to make it softer and more pliable, like oiling the pocket in a baseball mitt. Just in the few weeks that I’ve used it, however, I’m starting to see the leather take the shape of the keyboard and lay flatter.

What I Like

The quality of the materials and workmanship are unrivaled.
There are no frills or attempts at making it more than it is – a simple sleeve for a keyboard.

What needs to be improved

I wish there was another closure other than the wrap-around thong.

Final thoughts

A lot of the folks whose work I read will mention their keyboards from time to time. Many of them have opined about broken keys, missing keycaps, and damaged charging ports from their portable keyboard being crammed into a bag with other bits of tech and daily life. The Leather Keyboard Cover should prevent this while making a statement to any who see it of attention to quality in materials and design. And, when the computer-to-brain implant is perfected, maybe you can use it for that foldable screen information appliance you’ll replace your tablet with.

Price: $59.00
Where to buy: Saddleback Website
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Saddleback Leather company.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers, Leather

Saddleback Leather Keyboard Case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 3, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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