Review: PULSARPlus TPU Case for Samsung Galaxy Note N7000

Someone decided to do me a favor and bought me a case for my Note. I didn't have any say in the matter and I don't know which thought processes went on in the picking of said case, but I received this one (€11.99). 

A phone condom

As far as I can see, PULSARPlus isn't available in the States, but I'm pretty sure one of these fine folks will be happy to help you out if you're in need of floppy case love.


The Case

It's a transparent, smoke colored, flexible case made of what seems to be silicone. It has a faux 3-D diamond effect that looks quite nice on the Phone.

All dressed up for the occasion.

There are cut-outs in all the right places: Screen, camera, flash LED, micro-usb, headphone jack, speaker, s-pen and the top and bottom microphone holes. The volume rocker and the power button are covered with somewhat harder material than the rest of the case. The whole affair is easily put on and taken off the phone and fits perfectly.

Real world use

The first question that poses itself, is what exactly is the case supposed to protect? Since the edge of the case is raised around the front, the screen won't directly be touching the surface if you put your phone face down on a table. The same applies to the camera lens cover. Other than that, the back and edges of your phone are covered. That's it. If you really want to protect your phone, you'll be wanting a different case. In daily use, three things bothered me to the point that I didn't want to use the case, despite it's come hither looks.

As I said at the beginning, the volume rocker and power button are covered with a stiffer material than the rest of the case. So stiff, in fact, that pressing said buttons is nigh impossible. You have to put a lot of strength in it and hit the exact middle of the button with a fingernail to get it to react. This might get better with use, but I don't have the patience to find out.

Another problem is dirt attraction. This seems to be a problem with silicone cases in general. Even  during the shortest use, the case attracts all sorts of detritus which conveniently stick to the screen part directly bordering the case.

Ewww, dude, take a bath.

The last participant in the trifecta of fail, is that you can't dock your phone with the case attached. That is a problem with all cases and not just this one, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

If you don't have a problem with those things, you get a nice looking case for relatively little money.

PULSARplus TPU Case for Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 / GT- i9220 in smoke gray
€11.99 through Amazon

Pro:
Nice looking
Well fitting
Easy to apply

Con:
Extremely stiff button covering
Dirt magnet
Phone won't fit in the dock with the case on.