[One (M7) Accessories] ChrisM0678:
Finally got around to putting my thoughts together on the Seidio Active and Surface cases. I took a ton of pics since its two cases instead of the normal one. Let me know if you have any questions.

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DESIGN

The first thing you notice on the Active case is definitely its unique exoskeleton. Not only does it look awesome and slightly reminiscent of the Spiderman logo but it certainly creates a near perfect impact protector on key surfaces around the device. Every corner and side is gripped tight by the beautifully rubberized soft touch polycarbonate frame.

In case of an unfortunate drop, the design alleviates stress on the impact spot by disbursing the energy to the other pegs. A second inner layer of silicon absorbs the impact as well as protects against the occasional scratch or two your phone might of received on the chamfered edges. Both pieces together create a safe space for your HTC One to reside and the optional addition of a holster ensures protection and convenience all in one solution.

I'm a big mobile gamer and when presented with the option of having a kickstand, I quickly jumped on it. There is a version without it but its a feature that benefits you while watching a simple YouTube video, listening to Googles latest music streaming service at work or pairing your MOGA controller and playing Modern Combat 4 on your free time.

Of course the kickstand will force the case not to sit evenly on a flat surface but it doesn't feel weird in the hand since it fits nicely into the palm of your hand. And lets admit it, our phones never sat flush on a flat surface to begin with considering it has a curved back.

The Surface case takes a minimalistic approach to protecting your HTC One. It features a slide on installation that is super easy to get on but may be hard to get off if you've never owned one before. Its coated in the same rubberized soft touch texture that the Active case frame uses which makes for a premium feel in the hand. Trust me when I say this, no one in the industry has quite figured out how to make a soft touch coating quite like Seidio, they are miles ahead of the competition and you notice it the second you hold one of their cases in your hand.

The two piece case snaps into place about half way up the device thanks to a notch lock design. The Surface used to have a felt material lining the inside to cushion your phone and prevent any scratching but has since been replaced with carbon fiber pads which not only look awesome but provide less space for dust, dirt or debris to sneak in and accidentally scratch the aluminum back. In the event that one of them starts lifting or in some way gets damaged, Seidio has included an extra set with the purchase of the Surface case.

BUILD QUALITY

So you may be wondering, how do these cases stand up to continual abuse. I've owned many Seidio Active and Surface cases over the years and trust me when I say they are as rugged as they can get. They offer way more protection than the cheap TPU cases you find on Ebay and the premium feel in the hand makes for a tremendous addition to your collection.

The Active case is by far the safest bet with its dual layer protection. It offers a lay on the table design with roughly a 2mm lip from what I can estimate which is in perfect range for a safe drop onto a flat surface. The silicon inner core offers reinforced padding where the exoskeleton doesn't cover so even in the odd chance that the phone would land on one of those parts, you can rest assured that the silicon will do its job in absorbing the impact until the polycarbonate frame takes over and preserves the integrity of the case.

All port openings are finely drilled leaving absolutely no excess material hanging off. The volume rocker is covered but provides great tactile response so adjusting the volume is easy as can be. I do have to mention that unfortunately the power button is covered which essentially rendered the IR Blaster useless in my testing. It's always sad to see a feature lost but if you never used your HTC One as a remote control this won't be a bother to you in the slightest.

Active Case Color Availability:

Black

Glossed White

Garnet Red (As seen here)

Amethyst

Royal Blue

The Surface case offers perfect port cutouts including the power button and volume rocker. At a mere 0.2cm in thickness it is one of the best scratch protection cases available on the market. Don't immediately discount its drop protection either as I have personally witnessed it take 2-4 foot spills and come out perfect on the other end. You shouldn't make a habit out of it and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to an accident prone individual but it will be there for you on the off chance it falls from your lap while getting out of your vehicle or your child reaches for it while on the table and lets it fall to the ground.

I would estimate its face down protection at around 1.5mm but again I have not received any specs from Seidio to confirm this. The fact that both cases primarily depend on a rigid polycarbonate frame means you won't be seeing any dents on those reinforced areas. I'd like to take a moment to focus on the beautiful camera and LED flash grooves which subtly drop off instead of a quick cut off. They don't necessarily improve the design much but certainly add a notch to the workmanship that went into the manufacturing process.

Surface Case Color Availability:

Black (As seen here)

Garnet Red

Amethyst

Royal Blue

HOLSTER

Each case came with its own holster as a part of the Combo pack for those who enjoy taking your device on outdoor adventures or happen to work outdoors. The holster itself is a solid piece of plastic with perfect fitting for its respective case. It offers 180 degree rotation and a very stiff spring loaded clip which definitely doesn't mess around.

The inside is lined with felt so your screen is in no danger of rubbing up against anything that may scratch it. I would still encourage the use of a screen protector but its nice to know they didn't overlook this much appreciated addition.

CONCLUSION

The Active and the Surface cases may be some of the most appropriately named in the entire industry. The rugged Active case provides optimal protection when out and about on an adventure and when paired with the holster combo you're sure you won't inadvertently drop it somewhere. The Surface on the other hand shaves off as much bulk as possible while retaining a light and premium feel in the hand. No matter what hole you're trying to fill in your case collection, there's definitely need for a Seidio case. You can purchase both cases with a kickstand as well as purchase the Surface without a kickstand. Seidio also offers a holster for each but unfortunately you can't interchange them. Both the Active and Surface cases with kickstand sells for $34.95 each while the Surface case without kickstand is a mere $29.95. If you're thinking you may want a holster for your case I would highly recommend purchasing the combo pack from the get go as it will save you $10 to buy it bundled as opposed to purchasing one after the fact.

Enjoy the pics below: