Hands-on with the Galaxy Note 3 S-View Flip Cover (gallery)

Summary: Samsung enhances the Note 3 experience with their accessories and the Flip Cover offers some protection with unique user functionality.

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is an amazing large display device with excellent S Pen functionality. Samsung likes to enhance the Galaxy experience with accessories and last week I bought the new S-View Flip Cover for my Note 3.

This is a rather expensive $59.99 accessory, but I found a 25 percent off coupon for T-Mobile accessories and was able to apply it to this cover. It arrived in the typical Samsung clear plastic retail package. I ordered the black one, with pink, white, and orange also available.

The S-View Flip Cover does NOT include Qi wireless charging. I found on Samsung sites outside the US that there is another Flip Cover with wireless charging capability that looks to run about $15 to $20 more. This wireless cover does not appear on the Samsung US store.

Samsung does a great job with these covers by replacing the back of the Note 3. The S-View Flip Cover has a leather feel to it, even more so than the default cover. It actually has an edge around the cover that protrudes beyond the border of the phone frame itself.

The front flap wraps around the left edge and rests on top of the display. There is a small square window that is in the top half of the front flap.

I'm not sure where the sensor is for the cover, but when you close it up a special view of your display appears in the window. The time and data appear when you first turn on your Note 3 with the ability to swipe from right to left across the bottom, through the plastic window.

You will then see a screen with icons for the camera, Action Memo, and media controller. Tapping the camera icon launches the camera with a square viewfinder appearing in the plastic window. Pictures captured in this mode appear in a special folder called Cover Camera.

Tapping Action Memo launches a special square memo where you can enter handwriting with the S Pen right through the plastic viewer window. It is a great way to quickly jot down something without opening up the cover.

The media controller lets you control music right from the lock screen window. You can also choose to show the weather and Walking Mate information from S Health.

You can also jump into the settings and choose to have an open cover unlock your Note 3 and choose what color you want the S View window to be. You have 10 color options available on the Note 3 with this Flip Cover.

The S-View Flip Cover is a great accessory that adds very little bulk to the device, yet offers some unique functionality. I would love to have seen Qi wireless charging included on this cover and may look to see if that one eventually launches here. I did see they also have a Qi wireless replacement back cover for the Note 3, but that does not include the flip cover part of the case.

It is quite expensive at $59.99, but look around for deals like I found to see if you can find savings on it too. BTW, the T-Mobile code I used was FALLFUN25 so give that a try.

Further reading

via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFKyW8ALYooGcHHsKg_WztTShbizA&url=http://www.zdnet.com/hands-on-with-the-galaxy-note-3-s-view-flip-cover-gallery-7000022483/