Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
The Samsung Galaxy S3's sleek profile and thin design make it one of the slickest devices to look at but its shiny plastic exterior makes it a bit too sleek to hold. Incipio's Feather case ($24.00) adds almost no weight or bulk but gives the Galaxy S3 a nice, luxurious texture while providing some protection.
The Incipio Feather line has always been one of my favourite cases for various devices. I don't particularly like having to put cases on smartphones as I believe they were designed to be used without any bulky protective cases or sleeves.
But the reality is that smartphones are mostly made out of glass with the display being the largest component in use which means it needs some protection. The Samsung Galaxy S3 seems particulary fragile, the first unit I owned got a hairline crack on the Gorilla Glass 2 screen within a matter of days (that one was in a case since day one and babied).
So when I got a second Galaxy S3 as my daily smartphone, I thought long and hard about what sort of case I should get. One case I particularly liked and plan to review later on is the Merkury Innovations Exquisite Case, the other is the Incipio Feather Case.
Featuring the same sense of polish and spot-on fit and finish we've come to expect from Incipio products, the Feather Ultra Light case is light yet feels resilient enough to help disperse the impact of any drops as well as scratches to the areas that it protects.
The case snaps on easily and with less effort than what I have experienced with similar type case. This shows Incipio was really paying attention to the minute details. It also covers just enough of the Galaxy S3's corners and doesn't seem like it would impact the structure of the phone.
Getting the Incipio Feather case on and off is easy and fast. I like the soft and almost powdery finish that the rubber material has, which makes it easier to get good grip on this skinny smartphone. The cutouts for all the ports and buttons are also very well done with ample spacing so the buttons are protected from inadvertent presses but also easy enough to toggle.
The area surrounding the rear camera, LED flash and speaker is particularly well designed with enough space so that using the flash won't cause any weird reflections while the case has just enough of a ridge to protect the camera's delicate optics.
I also appreciate that Incipio decided not to cover the dual microphones of the Galaxy SIII and these are left exposed for optimum noise cancellation. Looking at the Galaxy S3's front, you can hardly tell that it is using a case, that's how subtle and fine the Incipio Feather case is, it's easy to miss. Finally, I love that Incipio colour matched the Pebble Blue motif of the Galaxy S3, the Matte Navy Blue colour blends in very nicely.
The Incipio Feather Ultra-light case works particularly well for the Samsung Galaxy S3 since it offers some protection to the back and the sides while adding very little weight and almost no bulk. It is recommended for users who don't want to weigh down their device but who understand the need for basic protection. The Galaxy S 3's screen will still be exposed and this can be remedied by placing a protective skin or sticker. I find these are more trouble than they are worth but some users may consider them for more complete protection.
Rating: 5 out of 5