Speck Presidio Clear Case For Samsung Galaxy S9 Review

Speck has already announced its range of cases for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, and the Presidio Clear case is one of the many that are available. This case is a pretty interesting one, since it is a clear case, but it does add quite a bit of protection to the Galaxy S9. Which is what many people are looking for anyways, but is it the one to pick up for your brand new Galaxy S9? Let’s find out.

This case is a clear one, so you are able to show off the design of the Galaxy S9, especially important if you picked up the Lilac Purple or Coral Blue colors. This case is thicker than some of the other clear cases on the market right now, and that’s because Speck has built in some shock absorption into this case, to protect the Galaxy S9 from the inevitable fall that it’s going to take. This case is actually a two-layer case, even though it is just one piece. The outer shell is made of polycarbonate, while the inside is made of shock-absorbing IMPACTIUM Clear lining. This is what protects the Galaxy S9 from being dropped on the ground, even on the corners, which is where phones usually hit when they are dropped.

Speck has also added a lip on the Presidio Clear case, which allows the Galaxy S9 to fall on its face (or the display) and not get damaged at all, since the case will be in the way to take the damage. This is a good thing, since it is much easier – and cheaper – to replace the case rather than the display or the Galaxy S9. Despite this being a slightly thicker case, it does not really add a lot of bulk to the Galaxy S9. That’s definitely a good thing for those that are looking to keep their phone pretty lightweight.

With the Presidio Clear case, there are cut outs at the top and bottom, as well as on the back. The backside has one cutout for the camera module and fingerprint sensor. Obviously on the Galaxy S9 Plus, it’s going to be a slightly longer cutout due to the fact that it has two cameras instead of one like the Galaxy S9. Speck has used chamfered edges on this case, which makes it easy to use the fingerprint sensor and even the heart rate monitor with the case on the Galaxy S9. On the bottom, you’ll find cut outs for the speaker, microphone, USB-C port and headphone jack. The cutouts are pretty tight, meaning that there isn’t a lot of room around the jacks or speaker, that the case doesn’t cover. Particularly on the speaker and the microphone. But on the headphone jack and charging port, there is plenty of room to charge and plug in your headphones. Always a good thing there. There’s also a microphone hole at the top of the case, so that both microphones can be used with ease. 

Since this case is on the thicker side, there are no cut outs for the buttons on the left and right sides of the phone. They are rigid so you can press them and also feel for where they are. At first, they are a bit stiff to press, but that seems to soften up over time. That’s pretty much the case with most smartphone cases like this. So it’s not too surprising really. This does have a rigid button for Bixby, so it’s not completely gone here, but this case will make it easier to not press the Bixby button by mistake.

Now there is one thing here that we were not a fan of, with this clear case, and it’s not really exclusive to the Presidio Clear, but it’s fingerprints. Clear cases are typically really bad at picking up fingerprints, and it can look even worse on a clear case like this one. Really the only way to get a case without it attracting fingerprints is by getting one of those “frosted” cases, but those aren’t really clear, and it’s tough to really show off the style and design of your smartphone by using one of those. That’s really not a bad thing, and definitely not a reason not to buy this case, especially if you really want a clear one.

The Speck Presidio Clear case is a great option for those that want to protect their Galaxy S9 and still show off the design. It’s currently available for just under $40 (under $45 for the Galaxy S9 Plus) on Amazon’s website. That’s actually a pretty good price for a case of this caliber, considering how much protection it’s going to add to your Galaxy S9.