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Samsung Galaxy S7 Clear View Cover review: The prettiest of them all

posted by Chris P. / Apr 18, 2016, 7:21 AM

Samsung Galaxy S7 Clear View Cover review: The prettiest of them all

While it seems like nowadays there are as many phone accessories vendors as there are stars in the sky, if you're eyeing the Galaxy S7, Samsung would love it if you keep in the family and grab an official case for it. It has a number of them, some cheaper than the other, and while the Galaxy S7 Clear View Cover isn't our favorite, it is quite unique.

Priced at $59.99, this is obviously a tough sell to begin with, given how A-list, third-party accessories makers will sell you great stuff for half, but Samsung has an ace up its sleeve: it owns both the software and hardware. This is visible with the Clear View Cover, as it's of the 'smart' type, meaning the translucent front folio offers extra functionality such as a peek at the time, date, and battery status. Incoming calls, texts, alarms, and notifications are also displayed. You can pick up incoming calls, tap on texts to have them instantly reveal themselves when you open the flap, and even cancel/snooze your alarm. If there's one thing we feel Samsung should've also included, it's the ability to wake up the Cover by tapping on it or something, instead of having to push the Power button. It would make it much more useful for all those times when the phone is laying flat on a table or desk.

As for the design of the cover, we find it to be more appealing than other similar Samsung products like the S View Cover and the LED View Cover. The translucent folio up front looks great in person, but it collects fingerprints like crazy—despite Samsung marketing it as highly resistant to these. That's just not the case and it makes use wonder what Samsung is on about here.

In any case, as far as practicality goes, the case comes with hard plastic bumpers protecting the four corners of the device—the rest is exposed, so it's still best you keep your S7 away from keychains and other sharp objects that may scar the phone's profile. The flap sits flush at the back when you're using the phone, though keep in mind that taking photos with this case (and any flip-type case, really) is uncomfortable, as you have to keep the door open and hanging from the side of the phone, lest it blocks the camera on the back.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Clear View Cover costs $59.99 on the company's official site and comes with free shipping—at least in the States. Color options are limited to Black, Silver, and Gold. Quite frankly, even though we're no fans of the paper-like material it's made out of, we'd go with the S View Cover instead—it's cheaper and the window offers more functionality.

Pros

Looks great
Front folio shows notifications and displays time and date
The front folio sits flush at the back

Cons

While nice to the touch, the plastic material picks up fingerprints like crazy
Despite its unique functionality, it's still a bit pricey

PhoneArena rating:

6.8

Samsung Galaxy S7 Clear View Cover

View more + 8 images

Thanks to our friends at MobileFun.com for providing the Samsung Galaxy S7 Clear View Cover for review.

Related phones

View Full specs

PhoneArena Rating:

9.0

Read Full Review

User Rating:

8.5

Based on 19 Reviews

Display 5.1" 1440 x 2560 pixels

Camera 12 MP / 5 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, Quad-core, 2200 MHz

Storage 32 GB + microSDXC

Battery 3000 mAh(28h 3G talk time)

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47 Comments

1. johanbiff

Posts: 415; Member since: Mar 31, 2015

hope they fixed it since the S6..I got some crazy scratches on the screen from this cover.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 7:27 AM 2

2. drunkenjay

Posts: 1678; Member since: Feb 11, 2013

yeah they did. the first iteration of the clear view case did that while the new ones for the s6 didnt.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 7:31 AM 0

3. Chris.P

Posts: 567; Member since: Jun 27, 2013

I wasn't aware, but I see no scratches.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 7:36 AM 0

4. tyrionTheWise unregistered

Glossy plastic, come on Samsung.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 7:38 AM 1

28. maherk

Posts: 6891; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

It's a clear case, what are they supposed to use? Glossy metal? Or glossy leather?

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 9:54 AM 13

29. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Just like HTC use a matte finish its moronic to use glossy plastic thats is a fingerprint magnet...

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 9:59 AM 4

31. maherk

Posts: 6891; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

It's moronic just because it is made by Samsung, you wouldn't cry about it if HTC also went with a glossy plastic while copying Samsung's clear cover case. Why you have never complained about the dot view case and it's rubbery build? It was a lint and dirt magnet on my A9's case. And as far as I know, the majority of clear cases out there, are made of shiny glossy plastic, you know, to show the design of the phone.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 10:15 AM 2

32. tyrionTheWise unregistered

Why did they need to use clear case anyway. They get dirty in a few months and look fugly. The point of this case was the clear front panel so that the screen is visible. Why not use a matte surface or rubbery testure on back, clear or not. Or at least provide a matte version of it.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 10:17 AM 2

33. maherk

Posts: 6891; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

It looks ugly based on your opinion, and it's a case, you have the choice to either buy it or not. You act like Samsung is pulling a gun at you and forcing you to buy it. And again, it is called a CLEAR case for a reason. You're nagging on everything Samsung is doing since the S6 is becoming really annoying, and it's not just me who has noticed this. I thought you are wiser than that.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 10:41 AM 1

34. maherk

Posts: 6891; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Your**

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 10:46 AM 0

35. tyrionTheWise unregistered

When did I say it looks ugly? Jeez, read the comment before replying. I said clear cases become dirty in a few months and look fugly. I deserve the right to bash any brand I like. I certainly have my reasons, and they are rightfully justified. You don't realise this because you change the phone every 6 months. 90% of people don't have that luxury. Try to stick with a Samsung for more than a year and you'll realise what I mean. I'm not buying it anyway. By your reasoning, you can't post opinions on products you don't own or plan to buy. Which is a shitty reasoning. PS: I'm keeping Samsung hate down for the last week or so. You probably didn't notice it since you only notice when I go anti-Samsung.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 11:09 AM 0

36. maherk

Posts: 6891; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Matter of fact, clear cases bcomes dirty in few minutes, not months, and still people buy them, because they are used to wiping them. And on a phone like the Galaxy S7, fingerprints on a case isn't that big of a deal considering that the phone itself is a fingerprint magnet. And no one is saying you are not allowed to hate, I am just stating a fact, majority of people are starting to find you annoying with your negative remarks on every S7 article. You kept crying over Samsung's new sensor, and how it's gonna suck conpared the G5's, and it didn't. Then you hailed the 10's sensor and said that it will be the best on the market, yet the S7 proved you wrong about it. And thank you for finally admitting that you have been doing nothing but hating on Samsung, I rest my case here.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 11:29 AM 1

37. tyrionTheWise unregistered

I'm not talking about dirty here which can be cleaned. I'm talking about permanent damage of the clear case due to external factors including but not limited to scratcing, chipping and coloration. It's not my hate on Samsung, but clear cases. I hated the clear case on S6 too. Read my 1 year old comment there. And I 'didn't hate' Samsung back then. " You kept crying over Samsung's new sensor, and how it's gonna suck conpared the G5's" Link or it didn't happen. I never said that LOL. I always hated the G5 camera. I said s7 would suck compared to 6P and HTC 10, and it does. S7 doesn't compare to the processing those two do. It has a better overall camera, but the over processing from Samsung makes it look really bad. If you followed anandtech on twitter, you would know how the HTC 10 destroys the S7 in low light camera processing. RAW from S7 is great though. You can work a lot with those. But shots in auto mode are crap. "And thank you for finally admitting that you have been doing nothing but hating on Samsung" You really have issues with comprehension, don't you. I don't hate Samsung. I just hate S7 and I hate the fact that it's the best money can buy right now.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 11:52 AM 0

49. JumpinJackROMFlash

Posts: 464; Member since: Dec 10, 2014

I used to think you had something to add to PhoneArena discussions, TyrionTheAnnoying, but now I feel you're just a anti-Samsung troll who states his personal opinions as facts and turns to an asshole if someone disagrees.

posted on Apr 19, 2016, 4:43 AM 1

50. tyrionTheWise unregistered

Oh, Samsung fanboy feeling the heat. since he can't objectively argue.

posted on Apr 19, 2016, 5:11 AM 0

51. johanbiff

Posts: 415; Member since: Mar 31, 2015

LOL Tyrion..you really need to chill with the camera statments..iv seen the S7 camera spank the living s**t out of the 6P and the HTC camera in both low light and day light, is Anandtech the only site you follow for camparisons?

posted on Apr 19, 2016, 6:32 AM 1

52. maherk

Posts: 6891; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Well, it's the only well-known website that backup his claims, so can you blame him? He won't admit he was wrong, and admit to the fact that almost every tech reviewer out there crowned the S7 as the best smartphone with the best camera on the market atm. But watch him cry about it on another article as well.

posted on Apr 19, 2016, 6:57 AM 0

53. johanbiff

Posts: 415; Member since: Mar 31, 2015

I do agree that anandtech is really good, but I also search for comparisons on other sites to get a clearer picture(pun intended) doxmark also say it`s the best camera(and have the backup/info to prove it) but I guess some will still live in denail :)

posted on Apr 19, 2016, 7:23 AM 1

58. tyrionTheWise unregistered

Dxomark also says that iPhone 5S has a better camera than lumia 1020 and 808 pureview. Dxomark also says that Z5 has a better camera than S6. Dxomark also says S6 edge+ has better camera than note 5(while both have same camera).

posted on Apr 19, 2016, 10:40 AM 0

57. tyrionTheWise unregistered

LOL. Android central, MKBHD, linustechtips, anandtech, android police, erica griffin, android authority as well as countless other reviewers claimed that S7 overexposes and oversharpens. No major reviewer has claimed that S7 has best camera. All who have said that are either amateur or just bad. I'm yet waiting on a major youtuber to say s7 produces non-overexposed or non-oversharapened images. I follow many sites. Anandtech is the most trusted site and I'm following them for years. They actually prove stuff rather than just saying something. One thing I have noticed is that all those who complained had Snapdragon S7. It may be the difference in ISP. But can't be sure until someone tests that,

posted on Apr 19, 2016, 10:38 AM 0

5. Obádárà

Posts: 218; Member since: Nov 02, 2015

... THIS IS TOO EXPENSIVE! I CAN'T SPEND SUCH ON A CASE...

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 7:49 AM 6

10. gorillapod

Posts: 5; Member since: Apr 18, 2016

Good grief, man. It's for a $700 phone. For less than 10% of that you get a good looking product that protects your massive investment.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 8:07 AM 0

17. Marduch

Posts: 81; Member since: Feb 04, 2015

You probably forgot that for this case You must pay in dollars, not in percents!

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 8:42 AM 4

6. Jimrod

Posts: 1605; Member since: Sep 22, 2014

#AndroidArena. Isn't that what we do here when articles about cases are posted for certain brands/OS?

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 7:57 AM 2

7. tyrionTheWise unregistered

4 out of the 7 latest articles are about apple. Anyway, it's childish.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 8:00 AM 5

8. Jimrod

Posts: 1605; Member since: Sep 22, 2014

It is, and I see it all the time here, except on the numerous Android/Samsung articles so I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 8:01 AM 2

20. natypes

Posts: 1110; Member since: Feb 02, 2015

I don't you're thinking about the number of Android phones vs the number of iDevices.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 8:59 AM 2

14. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

No you simpleton, that's stated when bias, hypocritical and unfair BS is posted on this site. Has nothing to do with the number of articles, it's what's written in those articles. This little news doesn't cover up the hypocrisy of their articles and reviews. From crediting features from different rivals that Samsung and other manufacturers implement in their devices, to ALWAYS one rival, apple: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-Galaxy-S7-to-have-a-version-of-Live-Photos-called-Vivid-Photo_id77435 http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-to-answer-Apple-iPhone-SE-with-4.6-inch-Galaxy-S7-mini-featuring-SD-820-or-Exynos-8890-SoC_id79259 http://www.phonearena.com/news/Camera-and-Photos-apps-for-Windows-10-Mobile-receive-updates_id79520 Yet not writing a single article pointing out the dozens of features that single rival has copied: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2015/06/08/ios-9-features-apple-borrowed-from-android/ http://phandroid.com/2015/09/09/iphone-6s-new-features-vs-android-phones/ Even when that single rival is clearly copying an idea from one of the competitor products they've written about: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Blocks-wants-to-make-the-perfect-wearable-with-a-modular-smartwatch_id58017 They don't mention such competitor products in their articles about that single rival's products, they instead keep shut like it doesn't matter: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Patent-filing-reveals-Smart-Modular-Bands-for-the-Apple-Watch_id79866 To writing nitpicky headlines to downplay the successful competition, from calling certain words/phrases in their adverts a copy from apple: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Is-LG-using-an-old-iPhone-tagline-to-promote-the-G5_id79791 going as far as claiming they're not worth their price tag: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Why-I-think-800-is-too-much-for-the-Galaxy-S7-edge_id79644/comments Yet not a single article pointing out why {apple product name} isn't worth the price tag, despite ALL the rational reasons out there, from being inferior in terms of flexibility/versatility/compatibility, to inability to do what a dumb phone is capable of, to the planned obsolescence of iOS updates (bit.ly/1VpBxSa), etc. To making bizarre naive statements in praise of that 1 rival's products, like "No PC will let you do what the iPad does for $999": http://www.phonearena.com/news/iPad-Pro-9.7-inch-specs-review--big-guns-small-form_id79566 To mentioning cons in non-apple device reviews, yet ignoring those same cons in apple device reviews even though they 100% apply. To inconsistency in product reviews. Like their con for the S6 was due to it lacking a MicroSD card slot, so they gave it a 9.3. Then S7 fixes that and improves on many other things, they go and give it a 9. A little positive article ain't gonna fix all of that anytime soon. They need to end their hypocrisy and double standards.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 8:29 AM 8

18. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

That's right, TechieXP1969 their @$$'. SLAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL YOU BIGOTS JUST GOT OWNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 8:54 AM 2

23. Jimrod

Posts: 1605; Member since: Sep 22, 2014

Bigots? What is it with you Fandroids and your walls of text, do you think it makes you sound smarter? Like using "Tech" or "Electric" or similar terms for your avatar that so many of you have, aside from the real saddo's who just hate Apple so much they have Apple related names. I didn't read the post above yours and I'm not going to, just because I can't be bothered...

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 9:14 AM 2

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