Review: Case-Mate Tough Case for the Samsung Galaxy S III

Now that I’ve finally managed to get my review of the Samsung Galaxy S III published, it’s time to start digging into some accessories for the device. The first item to land on our review desk is the Case-Mate “Tough Case” — a dual-layered silicone and polycarbonate hard shell combination case that protects your phone and looks great while doing so.

Upon removing the case from its packaging, I couldn’t help but to think how similar this case is to the Commuter Series, by Otterbox. I used to rock one of those on my HTC myTouch 4G, and I even wrote a review of it many moons ago, so feel free to check that out if you’re unfamiliar with that particular line of cases.

As I said before, the Tough Case comes in two separate pieces. The first thing you’ll want to do is slip on the silicone layer, which covers the volume rocker and power buttons and fits snugly against all the device’s edges. The case provides access to the 8MP rear-facing camera, the LED, and the speaker on the back of the phone; it also provides ample space at the top and bottom of the device for accessing the 3.5mm audio jack and micro USB charging port.

After installing the silicone layer, it’s time to put on the polycarbonate layer. This part can be a little tricky, as you have to line up the silicone button covers and it can be a bit difficult to maneuver them into the hard shell layer’s holes, since the case is designed to fit nice and tight against the device. This isn’t a bad thing, by any means, but those of you who find yourself having to remove your battery often (for development or whatever other reasons you may have) may dislike this.

Once both layers are installed, it quickly becomes clear that Case-Mate wasn’t kidding when they dubbed this case, “Tough”. Everything about it oozes protection. The case is solid and sturdy, with a rigid coating on the back to help keep the phone in your hands, and not flying across the room the next time you get a bit too excited while holding it. The volume rocker and power buttons are still easy to press, despite the thick silicone layer covering them up. The edges of the case are raised slightly, which should provide some extra protection, should your device decide to fall face first.

While it does add a bit of extra weight to your feather-light Galaxy S III, it’s not enough to make it anywhere near as heavy as some devices on the market (Hey, HTC Amaze owners — how’s that brick in your pocket treating you?).

That being said, I’d gladly suggest this case to any proud owner of a shiny new Samsung Galaxy S III. I don’t even need to delve into how beautiful of a device it is, so to say it deserves protection would be somewhat of an understatement.

The Tough Case is available in two colors: black shell with black silicone, or black shell with pink silicone. If you’d like to pick one up for yourself, head on over to Case-Mate’s site and be prepared to spend $35.

For the quality of the case, the price is just right.

Pros

• Solid, sturdy, and rugged
• Easy access to all ports, cameras and speaker
• Grip surface on back of the case shell makes it less likely to slip out of your hands
• Fits snugly on phone

Cons