Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
I've already discussed how the Samsung Galaxy S3 is thin and light but how its polycarbonate case can be slippery. The Merkury Innovations Exquisite Case adds a bit of bulk, substantial protection and a nice leather texture to Samsung's most popular handset.
I chanced upon the Merkury Innovations case at Winners where it was being sold for $9.00. I knew right away that this was a great case for the Samsung Galaxy S3. It isn't as lightweight or thin as the Incipio Feather Case but it does feel slightly more robust and gives the Galaxy S3 a more luxurious look and feel.
A little bit snug to put on and remove, the Exquisite Case does grab on to the Galaxy S3 very well. It is made of a mix of hard rubber, plastic and faux leather that seems rather tough and scratch as well as impact resistant.
There are cutouts for all the necessary ports and buttons and even a bit of a lip to elevate the camera lens, LED flash and rear speaker. The Galaxy S3's two microphones are also left uncovered which means the case does not interfere with their noise cancelling qualities.
The Exquisite Case feels really well made and feels great in the hand and the overall experience of using it reminds me of the BlackBerry Bold handsets that had faux-leather backplates that effectively gave a more organic and premium look and feel.
I had no problem accessing all the Galaxy S3's ports and buttons and I was even able to use a variety of headphone jacks without any problems, that is usually the downfall of third party cases.
The Merkury Innovations case has a very precise fit and manages to clasp on to the Galaxy S3's corners without obstructing the display. The fit is snug so removing the case require a bit of maneuvering and wiggling. I'm not sure who else carries Merkury innovations cases but if the Exquisite Case is any indicator of the level of quality and construction then their products are definitely world class.
The Merkury Innovations Exquisite Case for the Samsung Galaxy S3 adds character to the handset's look and feel and also provides excellent protection at least for the rear and the sides of the device. This is a great option for a lighteweight protective case with an added premium feel to it.
Rating: 5 out of 5