The Best Cases for the HTC Hero

The HTC Hero is a difficult one when it comes to finding cases for it. Its funny ‘chin’ – the angled section of the phone under the screen – makes finding a case that fits it well extremely difficult, especially as all the case manufacturers took their time in releasing cases that are specifically shaped for the Hero.

It’s taken a while, but I’ve managed to track down 10 cases for the HTC Hero, so with more cases available and after hearing feedback on some of the cases I’ve put this list with cases that are made specifically for the HTC Hero. I’ll still keep my eyes open for any other cases that come along, and I’ll update this post as and when they become available so you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed or bookmark this post so that you don’t miss out on any new ones that become available.

HTC Hero

Now before I go on to the cases, there is one thing that I’ve noticed on the Hero that I feel I need to warn you about – particularly if you have a white one. The plastic that the housing is made from seems to discolour quite easily, the dye from clothing or some cases may transfer on to the phone, which will require quite a bit of effort to clean off and it means that if your phone isn’t protected, it might end up looking worn quite quickly on the corners and on the back cover.

Normally, I’d recommend an InvisibleSHIELD full body protector to stop this kind of discolouring of the case, but if you try to remove an InvisibleShield from the phone, it will peel the paint off too, so for that reason avoid InvisibleShield for the HTC Hero.

Noreve Tradition A Leather Case for HTC Hero

Noreve are a designer case that to be honest I’ve never heard of. They produce premium leather cases that give Piel Frama and PDair a run for their money. This case for the Hero fits the phone so well it’s surprising. When I first saw the ‘chin’ on the Hero I didn’t think that this style of case would work, but Noreve have proved me wrong. The case is the same shape as the phone and moulds around it beautifully. The whole case is hand crafted from top quality leather and leaves your camera, charging ports and volume keys accessible. The case has a detachable ratchet clip that locks eery 15 or so degrees on the back that can be removed easily to leave the back of the case perfectly flat.

Noreve Leather Flip Case for HTC Hero

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Top 10 HTC Hero Accessories

The HTC Hero is the most highly anticipated Android handset to be released. Not only because it’s only the third handset to be released running the new operating system from Google, but because this one is available without network or Google branding. Instead, HTC have put their own interface on top of the Android operating system to make it easier to use and improve how the menu system looks.

There’s no doubt that the Hero is going to be an incredibly popular handset this summer, and if you’ve invested in one, you’re going to want to keep it looking at its best and working to it’s full potential. To do that you’re going to need a few accessories, but with so many accessories for the HTC Hero available, choosing the right ones for your phone can be a bit of a minefield.

To help you decide on the accessories that you need, Ive compiled a list of my top 10 Accessories for the HTC Hero .

1. HTC Hero C300 Leather Carry Case

The Hero is a smart looking phone that needs a smart looking case. The C300 has been designed to fit most HTC smart phones. It has cut outs for your charger and handsfree/headphones, as well as a hole in the bottom to make it easier to push your phone out. It’s made from a high quality leather with grey stitching and a soft suede lining that helps to keep your screen fingerprint free. The front of the case has been toughened to give your screen extra protection against crush and impact damage. On the back, the case has a couple of mounting options. The first is a sprung belt clip that allows you to attach it and remove it from your belt quickly and easily, the other is two stitched belt loops that allow you to keep the case on your belt permanently with no chance of it falling off.

HTC Hero C300 Case

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A guide to FlexiShield Skins

FlexiShield Skins are a relatively new type of protective case for mobile phones, but what exactly are they? Are they silicone cases, crystal cases or something else completely? To answer this, I’ve put this quick guide together to explain what they are, how they work and why you’d want one.

Flexishield Skin vs Silicone Case

Although FlexiShield Skins and Silicone Cases are quite similar, there are a number of differences between them. Firstly, FlexiShield Skins are made from a tough, flexible gel, rather than the softer, more flexible Silicone used in Silcone Cases. Both of these skins are very different to Crystal Cases, which normally break when your phone is dropped FlexiShield Skins and Silicone cases will absorb impact without damaging the case or your phone. It’s worth noting here, that crystal cases are designed to break on impact – it’s not a design fault – after all, what would you prefer to break; a 5 case or your phone?

Both cases are roughly 1mm thick, but each case will deal with damage differently.Silicone cases will protect your phone against scratches while your phone is in your pocket, minor liquid spills and small distance drops, where as the FlexiShield Skins are tougher and provide better protection to against impact damage.

HTC Hero in a Silicone Case on the left and a FlexiShield Skin on the right

As you will probably notice from the picture above, Silicone Cases cover more than just the back and sides of the phone – most will normally offer some kind of protection for your phone’s keypad, although they can become loose over time and need replacing where as FlexiShield Skins will only protect the back cover, corners and edges of your phone but have a much tighter fit and won’t loosen over time.

If you want to look after the screen on your phone you’ll need to purchase a screen protector separately as neither Silicone Cases or FlexiShield Skins will cover your screen.