COMMUTER SERIES Case for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 - Retail Packaging - Pink

Five weeks ago I bought this case for my Note 2 from Amazon after I had had my phone for a month with a slim notebook type cover (which offered NO Protection, but which slipped easily into my pocket).I bought the case because of my previous, very positive experience I had had with OtterBox cases for my previous cell phones.The reason that I did not get an OtterBox case to start with was because I was concerned that with the OtterBox case I might not be able to slip the phone/case into and out of my pockets easily. However, much to my surprise I found that I could very easily slip the phone (with OtterbBox commuter case) into and out of my man's shirt pocket with ease and that it did not "stick" to the shirt material going into and out of my pockets. Also, it did NOT just "fall out" when I would lean over at my job. My previous OtterBox cases were more along the "Defender" line and had very "sticky" outer rubber material which made it very difficult to get the phone into and out of any pocket no mater what size the pocket. The outer cover of the Commuter Case is a harder plastic and has good ribbing on it to enable it to be held without slipping out of the hand.I have now had 4 episodes (in 4 weeks of owning the OtterBox case) where my phone fell out of my hand, got knocked off of a table or "thrown" across the room (by my 5 year old grandson) and the phone has received absolutely no marks or malfunctions.The craftsmansip and "fit" of this phone case is excellent. I was concerned that the opening for the S-Pen (stylus) might make it too difficult to get the pen into and out of its slot, but this has not been the case with this case. I am a fingernail biter and it is sometimes difficult to grasp things like the stylus head and pull them free of their docking. But, the OtterBox Commuter Case has a very wide opening for the S-Pen and I have no difficulty removing or replacing the S-Pen Stylus. The other covers and ports are well protected by covers which are easy to open and to close. The bottom port for the charger cable does not interfere with my plugging in the USB charger cable.The "lip" around the screen/bezel is at least 3 to 4 mm deep and is all silicon type rubber so that the screen is very well protected from impact.The lip of the case around the camera lens is about 3 mm all the way around and serves well to protect the camera lens.Finally, from an esthetic point of view the "Glacier" color case is very "beautiful" with the off white parts matching my off white bezel and the slim gray parts acting as a contrasting frame surrounding the off white of the bezel. In fact, the Glacier color scheme makes the phone very visible without being gaudy(like a red or fluorescent) or black and dull like a rubber car tire.I feel the price is very good for the quality materials and the craftsmanship of this OtterBox Commuter Case. And, lets be honest... Why would I be willing to buy a lesser case for say $10 or $15 less when I am protecting a sophisticated hand held computer/phone which retails for about $650 if you buy it outright from a retailer like Best Buy.Don't skimp on the protection that you put around your phone, because it only takes one drop to mess it up.William WeddleVirginia

If you need a durable case, go with Otterbox. Now you just need to debate between the Defender or Commuter case. I own both and all I can say is that both are durable but it comes down to:A. How clumsy are you?B. Do you prefer a hard or soft outer shell?C. Do you want your cell phone to serve as a weapon?With the Defender case, I felt that I needed a concealed weapon permit while carrying my Galaxy Note II. It protected the phone very well. My one gripe about it was the clear screen protector built in. Dust and dirt would always get under the screen protector around the home button.Also, if you are an aesthetically looking perfectionist like I am, try not to make your phone overheat. I went on a roadtrip and had the GPS and music player on and would occasionally talk on the phone. I could feel that the phone was very hot and this was with the Defender case on. The rubber outside is now a tab bit warped on the sides and back of the outside shell. It still protects the phone though.After finding the Commuter case on Amazon I decided to purchase it to see how it is. One plus for me compared to the defender is the hard plastic that surrounds most of the phone. I am sure I will make the phone overheat at some point but I have yet to encounter that. It does not have a clear screen protector built into the phone but does come with one that you can install. I did not use the one provided because I purchased another brand on Amazon.In the end both cases are great for protecting the phone but it just basically boils down to looks and feel. I opted for the Commuter case because it is a tad slimmer when you set it down and it does not feel as bulky when I put it in my back pocket.

I had previously been using the OEM Samsung hard case for my Note 2. It was a very good case that was sleek/stylish however it lacked any real drop protection. I picked the Commuter since the Defender would be way too much overkill. That, plus the built in screen protector on the Defender has always been an issue. The Commuter is a nice balance between looks and functionality. While it does add some bulk to the already large phone, it's worth it IMO. With this case you get added protection from drops/bumps, increased front protection in case you drop the phone screen first as well as ports to cover the charge/headphone plugs.The plastic back cover is a little slippery but it's nothing too bad. I'd prefer a little more grip with that but it works fine as is. Only other concern is that since the back cover is plastic, it doesn't grip well if you lay it on an inclined surface. It'll slide around alot if you're not careful. All the ports are easily accessible however the only issue I've come across is with the headphone plug cover. If your earbuds/headphones have a large 3.5 plug, it may not fit properly with the cover that hides the port. Most of my headphones work fine however a couple won't fit due to the tight squeeze of the plug cover.Overall, really like this case and feel a little more comfortable should my phone get dropped or whatever. For those of you that want a slim/sleek looking case, you're in the wrong place. If you want a sturdy case that will protect your investment, look no further.