Seidio ACTIVE Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 Review

Seidio ACTIVE w/ Kickstand

For an extra $5 you can get the Seidio ACTIVE with the optional kickstand. If you watch videos on your Smartphone then you should really consider coughing up the extra money and getting the kickstand as it does come in handy. Having the kickstand does add to the thickness of the case though, so that it a choice that is up to you.

The kickstand is made from what appears to be aluminum since it is not magnetic and easily opens by using your fingers to pull it out through the access slot along the bottom edge.

The kickstand is spring-loaded, so once you start to open it, the kickstand will pop open and stay open. Once you push it closed a pair of magnets keep it from opening when you don’t want it to. The build quality feels pretty good, but we noticed the magnets appeared to be glued on. Over the years we have seen products do this and eventually that glue or adhesive wears out. It would be nicer to have the magnet inside the metal when it is cast, but that would add even more to the cost.

The kickstand can only be used in one direction, so landscape mode is how the screen orientation will be. It would be nice if it worked in portrait mode as well, but that would mean incorporating some sort of swivel design that would add to the thickness of the case and add additional manufacturing costs. In the picture above you can also see ‘finger grooves’ on the side of the black silicone sleeve that help you keep a firm grip on your phone.

Putting the Samsung Galaxy S III into the Seidio ACTIVE case was easy and takes just a few seconds. You first put on the inner silicone casing and then snap on the arachnid style plastic exoskeleton and you are done. All of the ports remain fully accessible. The volume rocker and power button are covered, but they still function though the silicone casing. The microUSB charge port at the bottom of the phone remains totally open as do the 3.5mm headphone jack and all microphones.

Flipping the phone over you can see that the rear 8MP camera, LED Flash and speaker phone are also all unabated.

Final Thoughts and Conclusions:

The Seidio ACTIVE case works very well with the Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone. The Seidio ACTIVE uses a two layer system – a soft silicone case, surrounded by the plastic hard-shell exoskeleton on the outside to keep your smartphone well protected. Often we find cases that hinder the devices use and are too thick and bulky, but that is not the situation here. The fit and finish of the case were excellent and our only concerns were how well the magnet adhesive will last and how the ACTIVE holster spring clips latches to the silicone and not the hard plastic. We are afraid that the holster clipping to the silicone might cause the silicone to stretch or rip over time. That said, Seidio backs all of their products with a 1-year warranty, so if anything should happen in the first year you are covered.

When it comes to pricing the Seidio ACTIVE case is available for $29.95 shipped without the kickstand or $34.95 shipped with the kickstand. If you wanted the holster you can get the exact ACTIVE Combo kit that we reviewed here today for $44.73 shipped. These prices might be considered high to some, but this really is a high-quality case and you usually get what you pay for. The Samsung Galaxy S III 16GB Smartphone costs around $550, so spending $30-45 to protect it really isn’t that much. Also remember than you can get Seidio cases in Black, Glossed White, Garnet Red, Royal Blue, and Amethyst. We reviewed the Garnet Red, so if you dislike that color you have four others to consider.

Legit Bottom Line: The Seidio ACTIVE is a well designed case that perfectly suits the Samsung Galaxy S III!