Next up in our Nexus 5X/6P smartphone case reviews comes a case from Seidio. Our Seidio Surface case review takes a look at a slimmer case complete with kickstand, and the optional Surface holster add on. Read on to see why the Seidio Surface smartphone case earned a spot in our Top Picks of 2016.
Design
Seidio’s Surface case consists of three parts. The first being the TPU inner layer that adds an extra layer of protection with Hexguard™ Technology that helps dissipate shock in event of impact. The polycarbonate outer layer comes in two parts which slide together around the phone. This outer layer is only 2mm thin, so you’re not adding a lot of bulk to your smartphone. The inner layer covers your power and volume buttons, with cutouts on both the inner and outer layer for camera, ports, and fingerprint scanners. The outer layer is also coated with Seidio’s signature soft-touch coating, which not only looks great but is also very pleasant to hold and soft to the touch.
A nice feature on the Surface case is the inclusion of a magnetic zinc-alloy kickstand on the bottom part of the outer case which lets you prop your phone up in landscape mode for easy media viewing. Being off to the side, it’s not as conducive for tapping on your phone as a kickstand in the middle would be, but it works well enough and is definitely solid when extended and your phone is placed on a flat surface. When the kickstand is closed, the kickstand is held in place with a magnet so you don’t have to worry about it flopping open.
The outer layer cutouts on the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P cases differ a bit, with those on the Nexus 5X extending down towards the back of the phone, while the cutouts on the Nexus 6P are smaller and barely larger than the buttons themselves. My initial reaction was that the cutouts on the Nexus 6P Surface case were too small, but after extended use I don’t mind them at all.
As for the holster, it features a cradle of sorts on the bottom half which you slide your phone face first into before pushing it towards the holster to clip in place at the top. To remove your phone from the holster, simply lift the top clip and slide your phone out. The inside of the holster is lined with felt to protect your screen, and the swivel belt clip on the back allows you to adjust the holster position to your liking.
Depending on your smartphone, the Seidio Surface case is available in black, Royal Blue,Garnet Red, or various other color combinations.
Installation
Installation is really easy. Slip your phone into the inner layer, slide the phone into the larger top outer layer, then slide the bottom outer layer and snap into place. It really can’t get any easier than that.
Protection
The Seidio Surface case offers solid protection. Even though the case is very slim, the inner layer provides extra cushion in case of a drop and the hard shell outer case protects all edges and corners from being banged. In addition, the front is raised slightly which leaves a bit of space between surfaces and your smartphone screen when placed face down.
Price/Value
At $29.95USD, the Seidio Surface case is pretty average priced, and you really get what you pay for here. Not only is the slim design great, it looks very nice, and provides decent protection for your smartphone. The holster is an extra $29.95USD, and for those that use holsters with their smartphones this is one sturdy holster that holds your phone securely while protecting the screen with it’s felt inlay. In addition, the Seidio Surface case comes with a lifetime warranty.
Wrap-up
If you’re looking for a smartphone case and like a slim looking case with decent protection, the Seidio Surface case is available for a wide range of current smartphones, and is a fantastic choice for protecting your investment.
[rwp-review id=”0″]*We were sent review samples of the Seidio Surface smartphone cases for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P for the purposes of this review.
Last Updated on April 27, 2016.
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