galaxy note7 |

Manufacturer: Samsung

Release Date: 8/17/16

MSRP: $59.99

Colors: Blue, Black, Gold, Silver

I reviewed both the S-View case and LED wallet case, and both offered something unique, but neither really was something to write home about. With the third, and final, official Samsung case for the Note7, we will see if this is your best bet.

I actually opted to order online this time instead of inside T-Mobile, so I got the same color case as my phone, Coral Blue, and mad does it make a difference? Just being able to match your phone color really shows how great a case can look. The Clear View case is kind of the other two cases combined into one. It’s hard plastic all the way around, so it does provide better protection than the other two, and its door is heavier, so it stays closed more often. It fits firmly around the phone and has transparent edges, like the LED wallet, which looks great.

The front cover is translucent, allowing you to use the always-off display and a full-screen view. You can control calls, see incoming messages, and more with this case, so it’s fully functional. The only downside is that you can use the actual phone with the cover closed, and you have to still open it to see messages in apps, but this is kind of expected. Most standard features use the always-on display, such as phone calls. Most of the screen is black, with only the buttons lit, saving battery power. The case also feels slick and smooth and looks fantastic on my phone.

What keeps this case from being perfect is the lack of a clasp to keep that damn front cover closed. This won’t protect your phone if it falls face-first with the cover open, so it’s a gamble. As it is, though, it’s the best case of the three, and this is the one I recommend the most as it’s fully functional, provides better protection, and just looks better.

Manufacturer: Samsung

Release Date: 8/17/16

MSRP: $59.99

Colors: Blue, Black, Gold

I recently reviewed the S-View case for the Note 7, and it didn’t turn out too well. I then turned to the LED wallet case, as it looked more sturdy and had a unique LED grid on the front cover that no other case I have seen has. What’s awesome about this case is that the LED functionality isn’t battery-powered, but it uses the NFC on your phone to run and takes less than 1% of the battery per hour to operate.

Samsung didn’t stop there, as there are software features that tie into this LED cover. For starters, the case itself is sleeker and better-looking than the S-View cover. It has a nice fabric feel to it, and the sides around the edge of the phone are transparent, so you can see the beautiful edge of your phone (especially the coral blue). The flap of the case has more weight to it, so it doesn’t just pop open even when laying flat, which is what mainly sold me on this case. It feels more sturdy, and a drop should survive in this thing.

Software-wise, the case allows you to see the time on the front as well as notification pictures. These LED (or 8-bit) pictures can be set to certain contacts, or you can draw your own with the S-Pen. Yes, this was a wonderful feature that tied other features of the phone into the case, which was great. Lastly, you can set icons for each and every app you have, which is very convenient. Now, unlike the S-View, you can’t directly see who’s calling or what the notification is. The LED panel is touch-sensitive, so you can swipe to answer or reject calls, and you can talk with the cover closed. These minor gripes don’t really concern me, as I knew what I was getting into when buying the case: There’s no window. You also can’t put credit cards in this wallet, as the magnet will wipe your strip. All you can put in are punch cards, driver’s licenses, and club cards that don’t have magnetic strips. That’s no big deal to me, as I like carrying my wallet and don’t plan to use this pocket anytime soon.

Overall, the LED wallet is so awesome that it turns heads and looks stylish and unique at the same time while protecting your large investment. I am planning on eventually picking up Samsung’s third case, the Clear View, to see which of the three is the best.