[Review] Seidio Innocase Active Limited Edition

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Update: New Exoskeleton design out, dubbed the Innocase Active (not Limited Edition anymore). Look at the end of this first post to see more about it.

Update: Seidio is considering whether they want to offer the Innocase Active exoskeleton in more colors. What do you think? Let us know in the thread.

Update: Seidio is looking into making the Innocase Active work with their Car Dock and Multimedia Player! This is going to be the best case ever.

Update: Amazon is now shipping earlier than expected! Shipping June 15th instead of July 1st I believe.


Hey guys, I've been playing around with my new Seidio Innocase Active Limited Edition for a while, and I am have been very impressed by it.

Youtube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHb3tFA3WJ4





For those who don't know, Seidio is widely known for making superb smartphone accessories, and are best known for their cases. They compete with Otterbox, BodyGlove, and others. This new Innocase Active Limited Edition is available exclusively on Amazon.com.

This new Innocase, the Active Limited Edition is made for those who need more rugged protection for their HTC Evo 4G. The main difference between this and the Innocase II Surface is the thickness, material, and feel.

My Innocase II Surface review: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695432

Thickness: The Active Limited Edition claims 2.2mm thickness, while the Surface claims 1mm thickness. Having used both, I can definitely tell that there is a big difference between the two. The thickness of the Active Limited Edition is crucial to its ruggedness. I feel like if I dropped my Evo on the floor with this case on, it will bounce right back up.

Material: The Surface is made of felt, hard plastic, and rubberized finish. The Active Limited Edition is made of a rubbery polymer "glove", and a hard plastic exoskeleton that also has a rubberized finish. The rubbery polymer inside piece is flexible and smooth. It will not harm the Evo that's docked inside. It also has grooves for your fingers, so that the phone does not slip out of your hand. Very nice. The exoskeleton strategically covers up the 4 corners and the middle, both protecting your device at its most critical points, and holding the flexible rubber polymer in place. Because of this new "glove" like design, the Active Limited Edition is a bit harder to put on and take off than the Innocase II Surface. Any "push" buttons on the Evo (power and volume) will be covered by the rubber. I actually like this approach more than leaving a gap, since the rubber helps to push against the button. You have to push a bit harder than without the case on, but it doesn't block the buttons from fat fingers, like the Innocase II Surface might.

Feel: The Active Limited Edition feels very professional. People may complain that the build quality of the Innocase II Surface is subpar, because the device moves around a bit inside the case. However this is not the case for the Innocase Active Limited Edition. The rubber polymer that contacts the back of the Evo molds itself to fit the Evo perfectly. No squeaky noises due to the hard plastic. Also, the material is very lightweight, plus the exoskeleton only covers the important parts of the Evo. Thus you end up with a case that does not feel heavier than the Innocase II Surface. I'm not sure which one is heavier actually.

Overall: I'd say that most people would prefer the Active Limited Edition more. The Innocase II Surface's main protection comes from the very hard plastic, versus the Innocase Active Limited Edition, which relies on the soft rubber polymer. If you've taken high school physics, then you'd already know that the softer rubber polymer provides superior protection. However, the Innocase II Surface is perfect for those who wants a case that provides protection without sacrificing thinness. When added to the Evo, the Active Limited Edition is indeed thicker and bulkier. However personally I will stick with the Active Limited Edition. It just seems like a product for me

Pictures:


From left to right: Innocase Active Limited Edition, naked Evo, Innocase II Surface


The insides.


Top


Bottom


Left


Another top. Note the covered Power button.


Right. Note the covered Volume buttons


Bottom


Finished product. The corners are protected by the hard exoskeleton.


Works perfect with the kickstand out too.
Jeans bulge.
The edges of the case comes beyond the screen a bit, protecting the phone if you set it face down.

The camera is protected by the case too.

The hole surrounding the headphone port is large enough for any type of plug you may have.

Hole for microphone and ports do their job.

The inner rubber polymer layer.

Hard plastic exoskeleton with rubberized finish.



Q&A:

Have you had any troubles with pushing the power or volume buttons, or do you actually feel it helps a bit since they would appear less recessed?

I actually consider it a slight hassle trying to toggle the power button on regularly so I thought this might help a little.

You know, I actually feel like the case helps. With a naked Evo, your finger has to be pretty much right on the button for you to push it. However with the case, as long as you push hard enough, you can push a much larger area and still toggle the power button.

It's definitely easier to push than with the Innocase II Surface.

The volume buttons are much easier to push than the power button with the case on.

New from Seidio: Innocase "Non-Limited Edition" Active

Seidio has redesigned the case with a new exoskeleton. This is already out at Innocase Active For use with HTC EVO 4G - Pearl White



User comparison from someone who's bought both the Limited Edition from Amazon, and the Non-Limited Edition from Seidioonline:

Originally Posted by sankaty

I've tried both the limited edition from Amazon and the non limited direct from Seidio. Both are very nice and have generally the same construction (hard exoskeleton over silicone). As the pictures show, the limited exoskeleton leaves more of the molded silicone exposed on the sides, while the Seidio direct has an exoskeleton that covers the whole sides of the phone. I significantly prefer the limited version as I like the look better, and the molded sides are slightly easier to grip. The limited exoskeleton also has a tighter grip on the silicone, especially on the left side, though the Seidio direct version didn't slip as long as I didn't fiddle with it.

Both are nice, though, so it's mostly a matter of preference. I got the blue limited from Amazon. It's not nearly as bright blue as the photo shows (more of a subtle blue-black, with a blue matte iridescence is direct light). I love it.

Nice review, love that case man

Reviewed well - how did you get the case already? They told me July 1 or a little earlier.

Originally Posted by rutter9

Reviewed well - how did you get the case already? They told me July 1 or a little earlier.

It's actually a review unit. You're right the retail product is not yet shipping at this instance.

Nice review! Was wondering how it would look and feel from the pictures over at Amazon. Now I know I definitely want this!

Ordered one based on your review! Looks perfect. Thanks!

Just need to be careful for 2-3 weeks. And I bought a 1/16 alloy hex bolt so I could quality for super saver shipping.

Is that an EVO in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?!?


j/k, nice review!

Very nice review and what looks to be a very nice product. The only thing that concerns me is how much more difficult it is to find and press the power button. The volume buttons I rarely use so I'm not too worried about them. But the power button, you press that every time you use the phone.

Update: Amazon is now shipping earlier than expected! Shipping June 15th instead of July 1st I believe.

Update: Seidio is looking into making the Innocase Active work with their Car Dock and Multimedia Player! This is going to be the best case ever.

Originally Posted by TREYisRAD

Ordered one based on your review! Looks perfect. Thanks!

Just need to be careful for 2-3 weeks. And I bought a 1/16 alloy hex bolt so I could quality for super saver shipping.

HAHA very clever!

Originally Posted by Minjin

Very nice review and what looks to be a very nice product. The only thing that concerns me is how much more difficult it is to find and press the power button. The volume buttons I rarely use so I'm not too worried about them. But the power button, you press that every time you use the phone.

I agree. I wish the rubber covering the power button was a bit harder, so it doesn't compress as much when you push it. But trust me it's not much more difficult than naked Evo. Just push harder-than-usual in the general section where the button is and it'll register.

Updated original post:

Update: Seidio is considering whether they want to offer the Innocase Active exoskeleton in more colors. What do you think? Let us know in the thread.