Well, I bought the "flip case"

[barskin]

I was looking for it at the AT&T store, but they were charging 50 dollars for it - thank you very much, but no. I bought one from one of those Chinese vendors on eBay before I received my SG3, but the picture looked like a light pastel blue, rather than the slate "pebble" color, so a few days ago, I bought one from Amazon. Well, they both arrived today, and they both were the official OEM Samsung pebble blue covers. Oh well. I have a backup.It looks good with the Samsung C pen stylus I got, too.

(note to self: get more Shalimar)

As you can see, it's very different from the Otterbox Defender

1) It's sleeker, sexier, more beautiful
and
2) It probably won't do nothin' to actually provide any protection for my SG3. But, hey, ain't she purty?

 

[jcp007]

Mighty purty. Here's praying that your GS3 doesn't do any accidental gymnastics down concrete steps or when it is accidentally dropped. Good luck.

 

[barskin]

Mighty purty. Here's praying that your GS3 doesn't do any accidental gymnastics down concrete steps or when it is accidentally dropped. Good luck.

Yeah...it's back to Amazon for the Otterbox...sigh.

 

[jcp007]

Got mine from Alwayz on Sale on Amazon. I heard that AT&T has both the Defender and the Commuter.

This video should help you decide.

Samsung Galaxy S III Otterbox Defender Review Extended - YouTube

 

[Scythe55]

I went with the Otterbox myself. I would personally like something a bit smaller, but due to where I work if I drop it - it's hitting concrete. So more protection is a plus.

 

[barskin]

Well, here's the thing that gets me. Part of the reason I love my SG3 is its looks. It's sleek, slim build and it's pebble blue exterior. So to keep it good looking, I have to make it ugly.

 

[cvflowe]

I have the same flip cover. It's really classy! How is that pen working for you?

 

[barskin]

I have the same flip cover. It's really classy! How is that pen working for you?

Eh...so so. It has a smaller point than the usual capacitive stylus, and I have so much trouble with the non-physical keyboard (the one thing that kept me with BlackBerry), but it seems to use variable amounts of pressure. I just wish I could thumb type, like I see people doing on busses all the time. If I had tumb typed this post it would have read something like this:

Rh....do ai. Uy hss a dmallrr ....

Well, you get the picture.

 

[cgardnervt]

FYI Best Buy us selling it for $29.99! Return or have them price match it! (Corp stores do.)

 

[cvflowe]

Eh...so so. It has a smaller point than the usual capacitive stylus, and I have so much trouble with the non-physical keyboard (the one thing that kept me with BlackBerry), but it seems to use variable amounts of pressure. I just wish I could thumb type, like I see people doing on busses all the time. If I had tumb typed this post it would have read something like this:

Rh....do ai. Uy hss a dmallrr ....

Well, you get the picture.

Thanks!!

 

[icwhatudidthere]

Pros:
-Can be potentially used as a shade for taking pics in bright light.
-No AT&T logo!
-Slightly thicker than stock, but at least the camera glass isn't resting on the surface.
-Pretty

Cons:
-It blocks the notification LED.
-Slightly thicker than stock.
-Makes it hard to change the volume with phone in your pocket.
-When I leave it folded back for a while, it looks like it's starting to separate at the "hinged" area.
-Useless once the wireless charging kit comes out.

 

[jcp007]

Pros:
-Can be potentially used as a shade for taking pics in bright light.
-No AT&T logo!
-Slightly thicker than stock, but at least the camera glass isn't resting on the surface.
-Pretty

Cons:
-It blocks the notification LED.
-Slightly thicker than stock.
-Makes it hard to change the volume with phone in your pocket.
-When I leave it folded back for a while, it looks like it's starting to separate at the "hinged" area.
-Useless once the wireless charging kit comes out.

Biggest Con:

When the phone is doing an unplanned cartwheel down concrete steps resulting in a cracked screen and dings all over the phone.

 

[barskin]

Biggest Con:

When the phone is doing an unplanned cartwheel down concrete steps resulting in a cracked screen and dings all over the phone.

Oy veh...you're such a pessimist.

 

[haggertyb]

I like the flip case, but one more con for people working out is that you need to either change the case every time you want to put the phone in an arm band, or you need to work harder to cram it in. I think I'm going to punch a hole in mine so I can see the notifications. It should've come that way to begin with!

 

[jcp007]

Oy veh...you're such a pessimist.

More of a realist having watched my RIM devices do some unplanned gymnastics over the last several years.

 

[DeYanKees1]

I got the flip case for free from AT&T the day I bought my S3 but after a while it gets really annoying. I got the Defender which I really wanted so I stayed with the Flip case till places started having them. The rubber around the cover peeled off and like some have said it offers no protection outside of covering the screen if you keep it in your pocket. Honestly once the Defender case came in I practically tossed the flip cover out.

 

[reno55]

I am just still not sold on the whole flip case thing..kind of sounds like adding another step to getting to my phone

 

[barskin]

I am just still not sold on the whole flip case thing..kind of sounds like adding another step to getting to my phone

No, I beg to differ. It doesn't kind of sound like adding another step to getting to your phone, it is another step to getting to your phone.

 

[jcp007]

Behind every great phone is a great case. The case is an important decision. Protection and mitigating threats to the functionality are paramount over style. I agree that the case looks nice but nothing beats a good rugged case.

 

[Terminator91]

Wouldn't it be more practical to just get a full body wet application protector? That way the back and sides are quite protected from scratches, as is the screen, and you don't get the con of having the screen covered?

I really wanted to buy this, but people said the fact it blocks LED notifications, is not really that sturdy, that it makes holding the phone while answering or calling people difficult etc.

I'd rather have a solid screen protector and a case that could at least absorb many dings, nicks or scratches.