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I love the look of the new Samsung Galaxy Note 3, with the new faux leather back, along with its slightly narrower body, really makes holding the Galaxy Note 3 a real pleasure. I almost hate to cover it up with a case, but the ever present danger of dropping this expensive beast without a case is just too frightening. I chose the Neo Hybrid case by Spigen, because it adds very little bulk and retains a lot of the original phone’s design, but adds a little more “metal” around the edges, giving it a bit more of a “rugged” look, while still adding some protection.
This one of my favorite views of the Galaxy Note 3 with the Neo Hybrid case – it has just a bit of flare around the S-Pen silo, but the hole in the case is large enough to accept your finger for retrieval of the S-Pen. Next to the S-Pen is the speaker cut-out, followed by the USB 3.0 port and the hole for the microphone. I would also like to “note” that the Neo Hybrid case actually makes it easier to plug-in the USB 3.0 connector to the phone – the cut-out acts as a guide for the plug’s head. You can also see how the case is ever so slightly raised around the edges, to protect your Note 3 from falls and I must point out that this case fits over the existing Note 3 back…you do not remove the faux leather backing.
Here you can see how the entire edge is slightly raised so if you flip your Galaxy Note 3 over and put it face-down on a table, it will keep your screen from direct contact with the surface…and hopefully, if you drop it, the same thing will occur.
This side shot shows you the new on/off switch, Spigen name engraved, and the noise cancellation hole. Again, from this angle you can see how the back of the case is raised for the Note 3’s protection. I also must say that the buttons in the case almost make the experience of pushing them a little smoother, for lack of a better word.
The other side of the Neo Hybrid case is totally clean looking except for the volume key.
The top of the case shows the earplug/headphone jack, noise cancellation hole, and the larger IR blaster hole, and a good shot of the camera and flash area.
I must say that after using my Neo Hybrid case a few days I really do enjoy it, except that it is a fingerprint magnet from the oil in your hands. It comes in two pieces, the neoprene type “case,” and the separate, one-piece, trim ring, that you can purchase in different colors, shown below. It simply snaps around the the rubber case, and it takes a little “juggling” to get it seated properly, but once in place, it stays there. The trim ring really adds a touch of elegance, and although plastic, it does look like metal. I doubt that it adds as much protection as it adds to the looks to the Galaxy Note 3, but it is definitely better nothing.
The Spigen Neo Hybrid comes in a variety of colors – Dante Red, Reventon Yellow, Satin Silver, Metal Slate, and Infinity White. They will run you $34.99 on their Spigen’s website and about $29.99 on Ebay. What case are you sporting on your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 or do you prefer going “naked.”