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Tips & Tricks: Turn a $5 Kindle Fire Case Into a Nexus 7 Smart Cover [VIDEO]

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Now that the Nexus 7 is shipping out in droves, I thought I’d turn you guys onto a little nugget of a deal I found on a case for the tab. If you cruise onto Amazon, you might be able to get your hands on a cheap, good quality case for the low price of only $5. Originally constructed for the Kindle Fire, the Nexus 7 feels at home in the leather casing with all its ports and buttons exposed and easily accessible.

But that’s not the only reason why we’re here. I wanted to show you guys how, with a small modification made to the case, the $5 protective wear can be transformed into a bona fide “smart case.” Using the power of a magnet slipped under the hand strap, the case will now wake and sleep the device with ease. Pretty sweet, right? Only problem is the case seems to be sold out from the seller I purchased it from online, but you can try finding it elsewhere. Or, just keep trying back and maybe buy a few these as stocking stuffers for the holidays. Cheers.

[$5 Nexus 7 Case on Amazon]

 

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

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15 Comments

  1. damn, no postage to Australia – but still really awesome!

  2. Isn’t the nexus thinner? If it is, does it fit on properly? Btw good find Chris

    1. Oddly enough, it fits perfectly. Actually surprised me. 5 bucks, baby! :D

  3. Neat. I’ll have to see if this works with one of those 1mm thin fridge magnets. If it does, $5 sure beats waiting for the $20 official google smartcover. thanks. :)

    EDIT: So, I just tried using those thin fridge magnets, and unfortunately they’re not strong enough to wake the screen, but thicker ones are. Guess a case with a thin neodynium magnet is worth it. BTW the magnet sweet spot is half an inch above the dock connector.

    1. IKR!? I just picked up a cool lookin case for about $10. I don’t remember if it’s a smart case, but if the tech is really that simple, I feel gypped buying one of those $30 cases just for a magnet. LoL!!

    2. The cover Google is selling isn’t a smart cover. I can verify that one in person. I guess just the ones Asus teased us with are.

  4. Excellent DIY solution!

    Well done!
    (And NEVER get rid of that cool magnet!)

  5. Is the “official” nexus 7 case a hard plastic? is it shock proof? only reason why i would choose that over this leather one. i want to protect my investment.

  6. Taa daaa (twice even)…..LOL

  7. All I could get is a red one, but for $5.99 with free two day shipping this is sweet

  8. I’ve been pretty disappointed in the lack of good quality cases available for the Nexus 7 at launch. I know it takes a while for companies to start making them but still I’d like a couple good ones and not just more of the same poorly constructed “no name” cases riddled on ebay.

  9. Here is the Nexus 7 Verision which comes in black and has the magnet, and is $2 more with no free 2 day shipping. It looks very similar to the kindle fire case, I wonder if they took all the black ones added magnets and now selling for $2 more…It does not release until Aug. 2

    http://www.amazon.com/YooMee-Android-Leather-Multi-Angle-Function/dp/B008L0U8F8/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1342709345&sr=8-20&keywords=YooMee

  10. I’m worried because google never officially announced about the magnet wake. Will magnet damage the nexus in long run?

  11. Thanks Chris! I love when you guys post about these good does. Going to amazon to buy 1 now :)

  12. Hello,

    if you or your readers would be interested in letting us know what you want from a Nexus case, we will work on something. You can comment here http://bit.ly/PF0KG6

    Thank you

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