Hands-On: Rearth Ringke Slim case for the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 [VIDEO]
With the release of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and more recently, the Galaxy Note 2 on just about every cellphone provider with a network, I figured it’d be a good time to show you guys some protection available from Rearth, one of my favorite accessories maker. I honestly couldn’t be more clueless on how to pronounce their company name. No matter. They make some of the best cases on the market for a wide variety of devices, in a plethora of colors and finishes. I recently received a few of their cases in the mail — one in a matte finish for my Galaxy Note 2, and one glossy for my Galaxy S3. Let’s take a look.
Finishes and Build Quality
Because Rearth is a South Korean manufacturer, I feel like some things like descriptions tend to get lost in the translation on their site or on their Amazon store. So you don’t get confused, I’ll attempt to explain the 3 finishes they offer, often times represented with the SF or LF acronyms.
SF basically means the case you’re looking at comes in a “soft touch” finish, similar to the rubbery finish found on the OG EVO 4G, or the back of the Nexus 7. Because it’s soft touch and anything and everything will stick to it (dirt, grime, grease), Rearth only makes these in darker colors like black or dark grey. This type of finish provides the most grip in your hand or pocket.
LF refers to a finish Rearth calls “light touch” and more closely resembles the finish found on the polycarbonate shell of the HTC One X. It’s matte, but there’s no special coating. This is the case I received for the Galaxy Note 2 (pictured) and if you’re looking for the same finish on the Galaxy S3, Rearth addly refers to it as “Happy.” Because it’s non-gloss, it’s very slippery. Freshly washed hands make matters even worse, but it feels oh-so soft in the hand, like a little cloud. Hmmm… Maybe “happy” makes sense after all. Of course, white and matte aren’t always the best when matched up, but in my short time with the case, I didn’t experience much rub off or dye transfer from my jeans. The little I did see was easily cleaned up with some rubbing alcohol (something I make a point of wiping down my phones with daily).
Glossy are most likely Rearth’s most popular finish and in some instances, can be found pleasantly discounted from their Amazon store (more on that covered in “Value” below). These are the ones that come in a wide variety of colors like bright orange, yellow, or more subdued pastel colors like mint. While these can develop surface scratches over time, these are also the easiest for cleanup. Get these if you’re a dirty little piggy.
Protection
As you no doubt already figured out from the “Slim” name, the Rearth Ringke SLIM Cases might not keep your phone very safe if your’e working on the construction site. They will, however, keep your phone safe and in pristine condition for 99% of whatever life throws at your phone (as long as you don’t throw it). There’s still a minute chance your phone could fall from your pocket and land at just the right spot, shattering your entire screen. Again, you aren’t really paying for screen protection with these cases — you’re paying to protect the rest of your phone without adding to much bulk in the process. The Ringke Slim cases will protect the corners and back of your device from nicks, scrapes, bumps, and bruises.
Value
It can be a little confusing but Rearth offers either “full retail” or “eco friendly” packaging with some of their cases. The discounted cases (typically around $10) come in the eco friendly packaging at the cost of the bonus screen protector and lanyard. Full retail versions come in at a little under $20 with all those little extras and while I’ll admit, that is a bit steep for a hard shell case, the quality of Rearth’s cases could be enough to warrant a purchase (just not multiple cases for the same device). If you’re frugal, there are thousands of cases that can be found for cheaper, but you’ll more than likely sacrifice overall thinness and craftsmanship. If you like what Rearth is cookin, hit up the links below to purchase from either their Amazon or official web store.
[Rearth USA | Rearth on Amazon]