There are plenty of us out there that like the look of wood. Wood and electronics don’t necessarily mix, but that won’t stop us. Some phone makers, like Motorola and OnePlus, have recognized this and included wood as a back cover option. Device skin makers, like dbrand and Toast, also offer wood.
So I was intrigued when I heard about Cover-Up, a case manufacturer that uses real wood. If you peak at its Woodback inventory, you’ll see tons of different kinds of woods/styles. It should be enough to satisfyingly any wood lover.
Today we’re taking a look at a couple of those cases for the Galaxy S7 Edge – with Carpathian Elm Burl and Padauk wood. Let’s see if these are the right cases for your wood fetish.
Design
Cover-Up offers two different types of cases, a slim Snap case and a more protective (but still slim) Explorer case.
The framework of the cases are plastic, with a wood panel slapped on top. The wood is real, not just a skin. You can tell it by the feel. Additionally, Cover-Up offers tons of wood options, some of which you probably haven’t heard of before.
Although the core is plastic, it’s well done. The frame around the wood has a super smooth (velvety) matte finish. It’s great to the touch. The difference between the two cases is that the Explorer case has extra plastic (TPU-like) that wraps around the sides of the phone, for extra protection. Despite that, it’s still very slim.
In contrast, the Snap case is more like a tray that the phone sits on (but it still snaps in place). The S7’s volume and power buttons remain exposed. The bottom is open too, as the plastic only grasps the phone from the corners. It’s a quality job for those who want a less invasive case and only care about minimal protection.
Usability
As I suggested, both of the cases fit like a glove, and are very form-fitting to the S7 Edge. They satisfyingly maintain the phone’s slimness; it slips in and out of the pocket just as easily.
The Explorer case one-ups the Snap case in regard to grip. On the sides, there’s a dotted texture that helps my buttery fingers significantly.
My only complaint (minor) is that the plastic over the physical buttons is flat and not the easiest to locate. I’d suggest Cover-Up to outline them better in the future. That’s no problem with the Snap case, as the buttons of the phone are exposed.
Bear in mind that these aren’t going to be your military-grade armor cases, even on the more substantial Explorer case. The perimeter of the phone is wrapped, but the material is fairly thin and there’s not much of a lip around the front (meaning that the front glass is still vulnerable).
Final Thoughts
Cover-Up did a great job on these cases. They accomplish the company’s slim, form-fitting purpose and deliver high quality aesthetics. The cases are also made more compelling by the multitude of wood panel options. I would totally recommend these if you want the wood look and don’t care for ultimate protection.
That said, it’d be cool if Cover-Up adds a more robust case to their lineup. Many consumers want their phones to be unphased by drops, and I’m not confident of the front of my phone surviving with these cases.
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