[Galaxy S 4 Accessories] LAYGO:
$23 Rocketfish Soft Case (Best Buy)

$35 Platinum (aka Seido) (Best Buy)

$10 Spigen Ultra Fit hard case (Amazon) (Bought when it was 50% off, I got it for $5)

$3 Rearth Ringke Slim hard case (Amazon)

My hands are average size & the S4 is just beyond my grip to one hand it & Swype. The weight is just off for me that it feels like it's precariously perched. Unlike my Nexus, it just felt solid in the hand & not going any where. A case is important to help me maintain that grip!

First, I'm partial to the Platinum because I *STILL* have it on my old EVO 4G. I liked it for how easy it slipped on/off for battery changes, felt in the hand, etc. One of my favorites, that's why when I saw it for the S4, I bought it without question.

Pros: easy on, easy off, great grip, solid, well rounded, covers all edges, multiple colors

Cons: has a weird 'pocket' to the power/volume that you have to get your finger just right to hit them, might eventually wear down from taking on/off & make it not fit as snug.

The Rocketfish I like because it was similar to the TPU no name case for my Nexus. I loved it on my Nexus because it too was easy on/off for battery changes & nothing would "wear out/down" making it refuse to stay connected (like the purple Platinum on my woman's EVO 4G). The problem with my Nexus was that while they had a Platinum for it, it was misshapen & it was front/back snap vs top/bottom slide on. Let me say that the Rocketfish is going back to BB. I like it, but for the $3 & $5 for the Spigen/Rearth, it would pay for both + the 6 Rearth screen protectors. It covers the power/volume, but still very easy to operate them.

Pros: good grip, covers all lips/edges/and buttons, feels very similar to the Ringke, multiple colors

Cons: $23 for an soft hard case or a hard soft case. It's not really either, it almost feels like it'll break, then it bends. Hard to describe. Around the top, near the ear piece, it was just flimsy. Seemed like it might fall off.

The Spigen I bought because people were raving about their products and they happened to be 50% off at the time. I figured, why not for $5. It's a pretty cool, thin hard case.

Pros: $5!, very tight on the phone, very THIN, hard, comes up over left/right edges, very easy to operate power/volume

Cons: Normally $10. Exposes top/bottom edges, very glossy & slick, do not like the slickness, might crack around power/volume if taking it on/off frequently.

Finally, the Ringke. I gotta say, when I first laid eyes on it, I was like . . . it's identical to the Spigen. Then I started noticing very subtle differences. First, it's the similar matte finish as the Platinum, which I like, & makes it grippier than the Spigen. Knowing what I know now, I'd get the Ringke in a heartbeat for $3 considering the Spigen is normally $10, but I happened to have gotten it for $5.

Pros: Clips on as tight, covers the exact same edges, costs 40% less than the Spigen and is way more grippier. $3!! Very thin, hard, etc, very easy to operate power/volume. The Ringke has a secret weapon though! ;) It has a slot for a wrist strap (not included), but hey, it's there (see pix below).

Cons: might crack around power/volume if taking it on/off frequently, but I'll care less because it's $3!!

If I'm going to keep it in my pocket, I'm rolling the Ringke. If I'm at work, it's in the holster in the Platinum. It's that simple for me. We'll see how I decide to use it, but the Ringke & Platinum are clear winners in my book, just one is 1000% more expensive. Dang, makes me want to take it back now too . . .

Also, I got $2 for 3 protectors Ringke Ultra Defenders. I've not yet applied them but figured wtf for $2.

All the cases + screen protectors. Here you can see how the Spigen is glossier, ergo slicker than all the other cases:

Platinum:

Rocketfish:

Rocketfish vs Nexus TPU:

Spigen vs Ringke:

Ringke secret weapon: