Ok,so you read my reviewof the Samsung Galaxy S4 and decided to pick up a new phone. Now what?Let's look at some accessories for your new toy / tool. This is a multipart,curated collection of stuff I liked, including both strengths and weaknesses.Generally, products that proved unsatisfactory are omitted.
Thefirst thing you'll want to do with such a cool device - after playing with itfor hours - is protect it. Smartphone cases have become a seemingly commodityitem, but there are differences. I wanted one with a kickstand, so I could setthe device down and watch video on that stunning AMOLED screen. This narrowsthe options dramatically.
Agreat choice is the SeidioActive, also available in a combopack with a holster for a geeky look (I'll pass, thank you). It's a smoothsilicon case with a matte-finish soft-surface hard plastic exoskeleton thatgives added protection at the corners and top while adding minimal bulk. Theoverall look and feel is quite pleasing. A variety of colors of the skeletonare offered, allowing for a two-tone look; the silicon comes only in black. Theunit includes a small aluminum kickstand. The kickstand creates a bulge, butthe effect is minimized by smooth edges that keep it from getting caught onyour pocket. A magnetic catch keeps it out of the way when not in use.
Buildquality and fit are excellent and the phone, encased in the case, feels greatin the hand, easy to grip and well-protected.
Inaddition to protecting the phone, the case helps you hold the device withoutyour fingers accidentally touching icons that are near the edge of the screen,which I'd found to be a problem without the case. On the other hand, even withmy small fingers, it's slightly awkward to access the back and menu buttons.This is probably true with any case though, since those buttons are close tothe edge of the screen.
Overall,the case is well-designed, with one caveat: I found the power button difficultto press with the case on. This was a surprise, since my friend with an S IIIand the Active case does not experience this problem. The volume rocker is easyto operate, but the power button sometimes requires multiple attempts to presswhen the case is on. This is not due to any inherent stiffness in the powerbutton, since it's easy to press when the case is off.
Anothercase with a kickstand is the Amzer95549. The kickstand is rugged plastic, and is not quite as chic for mytaste as the Seidio. But on the other hand, it's half the price - and I had noproblem pushing the power button. Even less expensive - but still with akickstand - is the Amzer 95693(not tested).
Forfun, I also liked the Amzer line of soft silicone cases available in tencolors, with one of my favorites being the 95557(orange). Amzer has a particularly wide range of S4 cases of various types,available at competitive prices. Click hereto search Amazon for Amzer Galaxy S4 cases (double check the search resultsbefore you buy, because a few S III cases show up too!).
Astep up in ruggedness, but also in bulk, is the BallisticSG. Like the Seidio Active and the Amzer 95549, it's a two-layer case madefrom silicon and hard plastic (probably polycarbonate). There are differencesthough. The SG's corners are oversized silicon, whereas on the Seidio and95549, the silicon at the corners is not particularly thick - but the Seidio'sand 95549's corners (unlike the Ballistic's) are reinforced with the hardplastic. In addition, with the SG, the back of the phone is protected by threelayers of material: silicon, hard plastic, and then an extra layer of siliconon top of the hard plastic.
Thefit of the Ballistic case is not quite right at the top: a bit of the bezel isnot covered. Also, the hole at the bottom of the case is much bigger than theUSB charging port and is asymetrical. This is so that the phone's microphoneisn't covered. The Seidio case adopts the more elegant-looking solution of havinga separate hole for the microphone (as do the Amzer cases I tested). Overall,these cases are similar, but the Seidio is sleeker and has a kickstand, whilethe Ballistic appears to be more rugged. (I didn't drop test either one.) Also,it was easy to push the power button with the Ballistic case on, in contrast tothe difficulty I had with the Seidio.
Ifyou're a woman looking for a high style case at a reasonable price, check outthe Musubo Chamfer case, available in silver, black, burgundy, magenta andblue. I sampled the black and the burgundy. The matte-finish black was,frankly, boring, but the burgundy had a metallic sheen that would pair wellwith the right lipstick and nail polish for a sexy night out clubbing. (Here'sa linkto the iPhone 5 version of the case; the S4 version is coming soon.) Be aware,though, that this is a minimalist, hard shell case with no silicon rubberlining. Translation: it won't protect your phone as thoroughly as the Seidio.But it does make the phone easier to keep hold of than no case at all - and itlooks great.
Clubkidz of any gender, orientation or identity will find something to like in thex-doria EngageForm VR, a textured, shimmering 3D design made of metalized plastic. Verysharp. Again, this is more about high style than high protection.
Anothercase that skews towards a female demographic is the Odoyo LiteFolio,a leatherette folio case. It's textured and has a professional rather thanclubby look. Since it's a folio, the entire device is protected.
Lesfemmes chic should also take a look at an offering from Belkin, the Sartorial Wristlet(not tested). Yes, the company known best for cables and routers actuallyoffers a cellphone case that's "Runway Inspired" - and judging from thepictures, this clutch case (which doubles as a wallet) is quite attractive.
Alsoin the high style category, I like the ZAGG's ifrogz NaturalSeries, a line of three cases made from a layer of exotic natural woodsbonded on hard plastic. Suitable for men and women, these cases have nocushioning and cover only the back, top and bottom of the phone (not thesides). So, as with the Chamfer, we're talking about a case you buy for style,not for super protection.
Onthe more rough and tough side, if you want something that withstands the rigorsof outdooring, check out the OtterboxDefender case. I didn't test it for the S4, but I did for my old iPodtouch. It's bulky, but will take a lot of abuse. It includes a cover for thescreen - i.e., a clear plastic sheet that lays over the screen and is held inplace by the case, as opposed to a plastic or glass sheet that attachesdirectly to the screen - and port covers that help keep dust out of the USB andheadphone jacks.
Anotherbuffed out option is the Ballistic SGMAXX Series Case. Like the Ottorbox Defender, it features multilayerconstruction, a plastic screen cover, and rubber port covers. Here again, Ididn't test it for the S4, having already examined the iPhone 4 version.
Unfortunately,the G-Form XTREME case is not (yet?) available for the S4. Here's a link to theSIII version. Don't be surprised if your phone runs away and joins a SWATteam wearing one of these cases.
Alsoin the "I'd love to see one of those" category are the dramatic Lunatik TaktikExtreme cases, which are not available for the S4 (here's a link to the iPhone 5 case).They look like you could run them over with a tank, then still dial out forpizza.
That'sit for cases. Look for my next installment, where I examine screen protectorsfor the S4. Afterward will come Bluetooth speakers, power banks (external batteries), Bluetooth keyboards and mice, USB chargers, USB cables, and miscellaneous accessories. You can find all this at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-handel/.