Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 cases (Review)

If you love your gadgets like I do, you want to protect them from scuffs and scrapes and the normal wear and tear of daily use. Sometimes finding the perfect case for your phone or tablet can be an exercise in frustration. Here are three cases that I've sampled for my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

First up is the Tri-Axis series faux leather case from Tuff-Luv. I've reviewed a Tuff-Luv case in the past, the Saddleback leather case for MacBook Air. I was impressed with the quality of that case, and their Tri-Axis faux leather device cases maintain that high level of quality.

In spite of the fact that it's imitation leather, it still feels like quality leather. The Tri-Axis case has some interesting features. For instance, the sleeve that keeps the tablet in place uses one small velcro tab, and yet the tablet is still held securely.

There is a strap with several snaps on it that allow you to adjust the angle of the built-in stand. I haven't seen an adjustable tablet use this method. It gives the case a unique appearance as well.

The case feels rugged enough to stand up to the abuse of being carried to work in a bag every day, as well as tough enough to handle regular air travel and the occasional drop to the ground as well. It's definitely a nice case and worth considering. It does add some bulk to the super-slim Samsung tablet, but not so much that it feels like you're carrying a school history textbook.

Next up is the official Samsung book cover case. Various listings on the internet describe it as being made of leather, but that is not correct. The book cover case appears to be a very thin, molded plastic case with cloth and rubber bonded to the surface and edges.

This is the thinnest, most form-fitting tablet case I've ever seen. It is capable of protecting the tablet from minor scuffs and scrapes, and should protect it if carried in a laptop bag.

It probably won't protect against drops, but it will protect the tablet from surface abuse. It can be folded back to hold the tablet on a low-grade incline, which is good when you need to type on the screen keyboard.

While I really like the Samsung book cover case a lot, there is one very annoying drawback. The rubberized edge around the cover will eventually peel off, leaving the edges frayed and ragged. It's possible that perhaps some permanent bonding tape could be used to protect the edges, but I would have preferred that they simply seal the edges with a more durable substance.

The rubber began coming lose after only two months of use, being carried in a laptop messenger bag on a daily basis. Considering the high price, Samsung should have created a more durable product.

Finally, there is the Anymode smart cover case. There was an issue last July, where the case was determined to be a knockoff of the Apple iPad2 smart cover.

Of course, the iPad2 smart cover actually copies a design from InCase so take it how you will. Samsung did pull the device from its site, and now the only way you can get one is through ebay.

The case itself is pretty decent. Since there is no magnetic attachment feature, it clips onto the back of the tablet much in the same way the Samsung book cover case does.

The magnetic folding cover doesn't stay in place, again because the Galaxy Tab isn't designed to handle that. It does fold up neatly behind the cover, and feels comfortable in the hand. The back cover is hard plastic with a rubberized panel, and the folding cover is polyurethane with a felt lining.

It's not the best case in the world, and probably won't stand up to a drop from a drop over three feet, but it's pretty good for $20 off of ebay.