Seidio Online was kind enough to send me a sample unit of their Convert Combo (formerly known as the Rugged) for the HTC EVO 4G, and I have spent the last week using it and I am now ready to share my thoughts.

First off, the first impression you get is that the case is quite large for an already large phone. The minimal clear plastic packaging holds the belt clip/holster, a Surface hard shell, The silicon outer shell, the ballistic plastic skeleton, and a static cling screen protector with cloth and plastic smoothing tool. The Surface case, the screen protector and the overall packaging had instructions on how to assemble all the various parts that make up the Convert.

Putting the case together was a snap. The Surface case fit snugly and with just that case on, the phone still fits into my leather belt holster. Once you slip on the silicone cover and then snap on the skeleton, though, you can kiss the old stand-by leather holster goodbye. The only way you are clipping this to your belt is with the provided holster that places you phone screen down for protection. The clip on the holster has a lock on it that works surprisingly well and will keep your phone from falling out if it gets snagged on something.

One feature that I like, since I have to be outside for my job from time to time, regardless of the weather, is that the silicone portion of the shell has covers for the headphone jack, the camera, and the USB and HDMI ports. These fit snuggly, but are easy to open and move out of the way when you want to plug in or use the camera. One drawback: When you have the full case on, you cannot use the kick stand, it’s sealed up inside.

Now, since I have kids, I have had my 4 year old play with the phone with the full case on. While he is very good with my phone, he does tend to drop things from time to time, and with the Convert Combo on, there has been literally nothing he has been able to do to damage the phone. The raised edges protect the screen from impact and the rest of the phone’s body is covered in silicone and ballistic plastic. The skeleton reinforces the likely impact points nicely at the corners and sides, giving your phone a high degree of protection in case of an impact or a drop. Very reassuring when your kids take your phone to feed their Angry Birds addiction…
One thing that I noticed was that the contours of the case and its size actually make it easier to hold the phone for an extended period of time. It fits the hands naturally and is still totally usable. You might think that the plastic skeleton would make it slick, but it is positioned in such a way that your hand comes into contact with the silicone more than the plastic, giving you a good solid grip.

Overall, after having used several different cases that were either just skins, or shells similar to the Surface, I will say that the Convert Combo is easily the best case I have used on my EVO. It fits well, and allows you to use the phone just as it was designed (except for the kickstand, of course…). The strength and durability of this case make it a must for anyone with small kids, or if you are going to be in an environment that could put your phone at risk. It looks good on your phone, but most importantly, it provides solid protection for the EVO for those who need it the most.
Thank you to Seidio Online for providing the product sample!

Photos courtesy of Seidio Online.

With the release of the Touch Pro 2, users are frantically looking for ways to protect their product. While holsters do a great job of offering mobility, they don’t do justice for when the device is actually in your hands being used. Most of the time this is when the phone may drop, or get scratched, making you wish you’d want to jump off a bridge for damaging your phone.

Finding hard cases to protect your phone isn’t that difficult. Ebay has a large collection, although most of the time, result in  a low quality feel and doesn’t always fit that well. Thankfully Seidio has expanded their line-up of Touch Pro 2 accessories with their latest offering, the Seidio Innocase Surface, which provides an amazing layer of protection without added bulk.
Continue reading for the full review.

The Look:
The Innocase Surface currently comes in black, which thankfully is the color of most of our devices, so worrying about a mis-match in color is not an issue here. The Innocase Surface comes in two-pieces. One to clip on the back of your device and one to cover the front half.

The front clip is very well designed. Most hard cases are well… Hard!. The front clip on this product is very flexible. Why is this important? Well for one thing, you don’t have to worry about the stiffness causing the piece to crack in certain areas if removing it from your phone, or while putting it on.

The back clip is a little more sturdy as its a full cover design. Looking at the back clip, you will notice that it is specifically designed at heart towards our Touch Pro 2’s. There is a nice cut out on the top half for the sleep button on the device, a cut out at the bottom of the device for the stylus, usb jack and 3.5mm headphone jack. Adding to that, Seidio has also supplied the cut out for the nice wrist strap feature on the phone. On the back of the case, there is also a cut out for the camera, dual speakers and microphone switch.

Seidio has definitely done a great job with the look of the case. The soft rubberized finish blends in very well with the device, and it doesn’t look tacky.

The Feel:
Applying the case to your device is very simple. Simply apply the back piece to the back of your phone, you will hear about 4-5 clicks as it’s clipping properly to your phone. Proceed to do the same with the front piece and voila! Your done.

Well, how does it feel when it’s on the phone? Many can argue that the Touch Pro 2 is already a bulky device to hold. Why add more thickness to the device? The Seidio Innocase Surface is designed from a high quality polycarbonate plastic that measures only 1MM in thickness. Holding the phone with the cover in place doesn’t change the experience of your phone at all. There is absolutely no added bulk to the device.

The finish on the cover is exceptional. It has a soft, rubberized finish which allows the user to have a better grip on the device while using it.

Using the device while having the keyboard slid-out is also a non-issue with the case. Seidio has done a great job having a specific cutout along the edge, therefore the device still maintains its tilt feature, allowing the user to use their device to the full advantage.

Conclusion:
Many companies out there that design accessories for our devices, although do a great job, sometimes lack in certain areas. Seidio has been offering accessories for over five-years now and the quality is definitely shown with their latest offering. The Seidio Innocase Surface is highly recommended for users who are looking to have some added protection for their devices. The Seidio Innocase Surface is currently available for all customers and can be purchased for $29.95USD

Overall, it’s definitely the best solution for protecting your device for years to come.

Head on over to SeidioOnline.com to purchase your Innocase Surface today!

Review Rating: 5 out of 5