The Galaxy Note 5 is a handful, so selecting a case that doesn't make handling the device any more difficult is what we're after. Spigen's Slim Armor Case manages both layers without going overboard on bulk with a couple extra features to boot.
The TPU interior of the Slim Armor Case sports a web pattern that assists in shock absorption, along with their Air Cushion technology on all 4 corners. The anti-stretch skin leaves easy access to the important stuff including the camera, flash, S-Pen, speaker/mic, and charging/auxiliary ports. The volume and power buttons on the side have been raised to sit flush with its polycarbonate exterior, allowing a smooth and easy press.
The plastic shell has some shine to it, feeling quite smooth in the hand while still enhancing grip when matched with the TPU edging. Fingerprints are actually hard to spot on the shell and are more prominent on the skin itself. As expected, wireless charging and NFC works without a hitch. The kickstand on the back is made of plastic and feels a bit flimsy, but still works fine when propping up the Note 5. The fact that the kickstand sits flush with the rest of the case only enhances its slim design, unlike the stand on the Seidio DILEX Pro Case which protrudes a tad.
The openings at the bottom seem to work great with any charging cable I plugged in, and the S-Pen is still easy to click and retrieve. The raised bezel keeps the display elevated approximately 1.25mm from surfaces. The outer shell isn't very scratch resistant, as only a few days after I'd been using the Spigen Slim Armor minor scratches and nicks started showing up. Not a huge deal, since they're not very noticeable unless in the right lighting and angle.
For great fitting cover that keeps a thin form, the Spigen Slim Armor Case for Galaxy Note 5 is definitely one to check out. It's available in gunmetal (as pictured) for $14.99, while the metal slate, violet, and champagne gold colors are a couple bucks extra.
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