[HTC Sensation] nxt:
REVIEW: Seidio SURFACE Case and Holster "COMBO"

Purchased from Seidio: http://www.seidioonline.com/product-p/bd2-hr3htsen-bk.htm

Search XDA/Google and you can find coupon codes!

I love Seidio SURFACE (aka Innocase) cases. I've had them for almost all the smartphones I've owned. Mostly I love them because of the face-in "Spring-Clip" Holster (more on that later).

The Seidio SURFACE Combo comes with the SURFACE case and Holster. The Holster is made to be able to hold the phone using the SURFACE case. It comes in 2 separate units since you can buy them separately. I suggest you order them together to save money.

Inside the packages are some instructions on how to use the case/holster and some advertisements for their other cases. Unfortunately, even at the $49 price tag of the COMBO, they do not include a screen protector. They sell their own screen protectors for $10. Included is also a coupon code good till 8/31/2010 for 10% off any order. The code is HWKPNS.

Review is split, 2nd post is the SURFACE Holster.

Seidio SURFACE Case

Product Page: http://www.seidioonline.com/product-p/csr3htsen-bk.htm

Case is plastic with soft-touch rubber coating. Unlike cheap eBay knockoffs, the rubber coating does not wear off. I've own several SURFACE cases for a long time and they're just as good as the first day out of the package.

The case is roughly 1-2mm thick. As you can see in the picture, Seidio is known for lining the inside of the case with felt. This protects your phone's back so it does not scratch it when it's in the case. It's a very nice feature for a $30 case (standalone price).

The SURFACE case is comprised of two parts. You slide the phone into the part half, then slide the bottom half of the case in and little nubs on the case lock in. Seidio must have refined this little nub. I don't remember previous SURFACE cases being so tight, which is a good thing.

Previous Seidio cases I've had, the two parts didn't lock tight enough so when holding the phone, you can feel the halves move a bit and wiggle. Let's hope this lasts and not just because it's new. Previous SURFACE cases also has a raised strip on the bottom half as to make it easier to grasp and open the case. This does not. Because of that and because it locks together pretty good, it was a bit hard taking it off. I had to push down on the bottom half, then kind of squeezing the side of the top half to try and raise the top part so I can slide the bottom part off (hopefully you can understand what I mean LOL).

EDIT: Just read the instructions that came with the case. I am doing it right. Squeeze the top half on the sides, then press the top part of the bottom half and wiggle it out.

There are cutouts for the appropriate buttons for the phone. It may be hard to see in the pictures, but there is a hole cutout for the microphone. On the back of the SURFACE case, there is only 1 hole cutout above the camera. There is no holes for the one next to the Speaker, below the LED Flash, or the 2 holes on the bottom of the case. These holes are "controversial", no one knows for sure if they are required to be open or not (If you look INSIDE the battery case, they're really not connected to anything). Since I've only had this case for a little while, I do not know if it affects my antenna signals. (Looks like Otterbox's case for the Sensation blocks all the same holes).

Both the headphone jack and micro-USB port are nice and big. Oversized and weirdly shaped cables should have no problems. Pushing the Power Button and Volume Buttons is also very nice. The case does not interfere.

EDIT: 3 MONTH UPDATE

I've had this case now for 3 months and yesterday a part of it broke:

The thin part in front of the power button cracked/broke. This makes the whole top section loose.

The case is warranted for 1year, I just sent them an email, previously on a different device, my Holster broke and they simply shipped me a new one.

PICTURE TIME

Review continued on next post.