Google DeepMind under fire after being given access to 1.6M medical records

Why it matters to you

Criticism of DeepMind’s access to personal health data may inform future legislation about the legality of using that data for research purposes.

Google subsidiary DeepMind has accomplished some amazing things over the past couple of years, from beating humans at their own game to saving its parent company money on its electricity bill. Now, however, it’s coming under major scrutiny because of the specifics of a deal with the United Kingdom’s National Health Service.

DeepMind forged a deal with the NHS that gave it access to health records from over 1.6 million patients, but the United Kingdom government’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office, is investigating the arrangement, according to a report from The Verge.

The sticking point seems to be whether DeepMind had the legal right to handle personally identifiable medical records belonging to NHS patients without asking for permission on an individual basis. This kind of access is legal under U.K. law, but only so long as the entity involved is providing direct care to the patients in question.

DeepMind maintains that it is providing direct care, so there’s nothing wrong with the deal. However, the U.K. government’s National Data Guardian has argued that the company usage of the data — testing out a smartphone app called Streams — falls outside the boundary of direct care.

The Streams app is able to detect if patients are suffering from life-threatening kidney problems and help medical professionals administer the necessary treatment, according to a report from Sky News. It’s easy to understand the contribution that DeepMind is making to this important project, but there’s still a gray area from a legal perspective.

A spokesperson for the Royal Free, the organization that brought DeepMind on board with the project, has stated the importance of lessons learned from a “pioneering” project such as this. Meanwhile, a representative from DeepMind has reiterated that none of the information shared with the company would ever be used for commercial purposes, or to further Google’s products, services, or ads.

Google DeepMind under fire after being given access to 1.6M medical records

Why it matters to you

Criticism of DeepMind’s access to personal health data may inform future legislation about the legality of using that data for research purposes.

Google subsidiary DeepMind has accomplished some amazing things over the past couple of years, from beating humans at their own game to saving its parent company money on its electricity bill. Now, however, it’s coming under major scrutiny because of the specifics of a deal with the United Kingdom’s National Health Service.

DeepMind forged a deal with the NHS that gave it access to health records from over 1.6 million patients, but the United Kingdom government’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office, is investigating the arrangement, according to a report from The Verge.

The sticking point seems to be whether DeepMind had the legal right to handle personally identifiable medical records belonging to NHS patients without asking for permission on an individual basis. This kind of access is legal under U.K. law, but only so long as the entity involved is providing direct care to the patients in question.

DeepMind maintains that it is providing direct care, so there’s nothing wrong with the deal. However, the U.K. government’s National Data Guardian has argued that the company usage of the data — testing out a smartphone app called Streams — falls outside the boundary of direct care.

The Streams app is able to detect if patients are suffering from life-threatening kidney problems and help medical professionals administer the necessary treatment, according to a report from Sky News. It’s easy to understand the contribution that DeepMind is making to this important project, but there’s still a gray area from a legal perspective.

A spokesperson for the Royal Free, the organization that brought DeepMind on board with the project, has stated the importance of lessons learned from a “pioneering” project such as this. Meanwhile, a representative from DeepMind has reiterated that none of the information shared with the company would ever be used for commercial purposes, or to further Google’s products, services, or ads.

Next Google Home version to permit control by third-party devices, improve reminders

Why it matters to you

Google Home will have to work hard to catch up to Alexa and Amazon Echo, but version 2.3 of the app may help make up some of that ground.

It’s been a year since Google Assistant and Google Home first entered the smart home space, competing with the more established Amazon Alexa and the Echo suite. And now, as Google I/O 2017 draws ever nearer, we’re getting a sense of just what the Silicon Valley company has up its sleeve that will give Amazon a run for its money. It would appear that the APK file of the newest update to the Google Home app (version 2.3) adds quite a few new features, including support for third-party Google Assistant speaker devices, listing reminders in the Google Home app, and more.

As outlined by the folks over at XDA, it looks as though you’ll soon be able to control Google Assistant on a third-party device, much as you can with Alexa. While Google recently released the Google Assistant SDK, allowing non-Home devices to integrate Assistant, there aren’t that many companies taking advantage of this offering. But now, it would appear that Google is making that easier. XDA predicts that the Google Home app will soon recognize third-party devices and let you configure them. 

Then, there are smaller (though just as necessary) updates like the ability of users to see all their reminders in one place. While you’re currently able to see your shopping list (or any other list) by opening the sidebar of the Google Home app, you can’t actually see everything on various lists. That ought to change with the updated app.

Similarly, it seems as though you’ll soon be able to clear your search history straight from the Google Home app, so if you’ve been Googling some questionable queries, you don’t have to go to your account via a web browser — you can just rid yourself of the evidence straight from the app.

XDA also suggests that the Google Home app may be preparing for Bluetooth device management activity, and may allow you to change notification sounds, and begin sending customers surveys asking them to rate their experience.

In any case, we ought to have more clarity around these updates at Google I/O 2017.

Sprint buyer’s guide: Everything you need to know

Find out what Sprint has to offer.

Sprint may be fourth amongst America’s top four carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint), but it’s still a big player in the national wireless market, with nearly 60 million subscribers across the country. It was the first carrier to offer “truly unlimited” plans for data, which are still a cornerstone of its mobile business. Sprint operates a nationwide CDMA network in the 800,1900, and 2500 MHz frequency bands, and even combines the three to provide higher throughput with its “LTE Plus” service on certain devices and plans.

Sprint offers unlimited talk, text, and data plans that can be configured for individuals or with multiple lines added for families. They offer deals on the latest phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6.

Sprint has a lot to offer, so read on and find a plan that works for you!

• Best Individual Plans
• Best Family Plan
• Best Phones
• Best Deals on Sprint
• How to cancel Sprint
• How to unlock a Sprint phone
• Finding an alternative carrier that uses Sprint’s network

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Best Individual Plans

All of Sprint’s contract plans include unlimited talk, text, and data, which start as low as $50 a month for a single line. Sprint also offers prepaid plans for those looking to avoid annual contracts and wanting to avoid credit checks and late fees.

• Unlimited plans
• Sprint Prepaid

Unlimited plans

Sprint offers some of the most competitive pricing for Unlimited plans amongst the Big Four carriers, as it prominently displays on its website with a comparative graph. According to Sprint, you could get an unlimited plan for two lines at a better price than AT&T and Verizon’s unlimited plans for just one line.

You can get a single line with unlimited data, talk, and text for $50 a month. That’s before any taxes, fees, or device leasing costs, but it’s still a great deal. Enjoy unlimited video streaming in 1080p and take advantage of 10GB of high-speed mobile hotspot access for your tablets and laptops.

Sprint’s advertised prices do not include monthly surcharges, taxes, fees and other charges, which you can learn about on Sprint’s website.

Learn more

Sprint Prepaid

Sprint offers prepaid plans for individuals and families, which start as low as $45 a month for unlimited talk and text and 3GB of high speed data, with a $5 discount per month for signing up for AutoPay. There’s an option for unlimited data if that’s important to you, for $60 a month with the AutoPay discount before surcharges and fees.

Prepaid plans include a free mobile hotspot (tethering), which you can use with tablets, laptops, or other Wi-Fi connected devices. There’s no credit check required for a prepaid plan, and if you make 12 consecutive on-time payments, you can upgrade to a Sprint postpaid service with no credit check and upgrade to a new device with no activation fee.

Learn more

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Best Family Plans

Sprint offers an Unlimited Freedom family plan that gives you unlimited data, talk, and text for your family, along with 10GB of hotspot data per line for any tablets, laptops, and other connected devices you or your family may own.

Pricing starts at $60 a month for the first line, $40 for the second, and $30 for any additional lines added. Other monthly fees will be applied, including any lease agreements for new phones, and the advertised pricing includes Auto Pay discounts.

You may find a better deal just getting an Unlimited Plan, which offers four lines at $30 a month and offers much of the same features as Sprint’s advertised family plan. Sprint will throw in a fifth line for free until June 30, 2017 for new accounts.

Sprint also offers prepaid plans for families which start at $100 a month for three lines and include unlimited talk and text and 3GB of high speed data. Prices will vary depending on how much data you require on each line.

Learn more

Best Phones

Sprint has a very particular network that doesn’t let you bring your own device from another carrier, so your best bet will be buying your next phone through Sprint and paying for it on contract. The good news is that Sprint offers many of the latest and greatest Android phones:

• Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+
• LG G6
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
• LG V20

If you plan on buying a phone from Sprint, you have a couple payment options to consider. If you have good credit, you can lease or buy the phone via monthly contracts with no money down — if you’re still building your credit or have credit issues, you’ll have to put money down on the phone (typically around $200). If you’ve got the cash to buy a phone outright, that option is also available.

If you opt to buy the phone outright or on a 24-month installment plan, Sprint often bundles accessories with its biggest selling phones. For example, if you were to get a Galaxy S8, you’d get a free “entertainment kit” for the Galaxy S8, which includes Samsung’s Clear View Standing Cover along with a 64GB EVO+ memory card. Buy the LG G6 and Sprint will throw in a free Google Home.

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Best Deals on Sprint

Sprint has a section on its website with all of its latest deals, mostly for customers opening new accounts, subscribers upgrading their plans, and deals on leasing brand new devices.

As of May 2017, the best deals Sprint is offering include:

— Lease a Galaxy S8 and get a GS7 lease for free. With this deal, you’re also eligible to upgrade your Galaxy S8 to the latest Galaxy phone after 12 lease payments. You’ll also be entered to win a $5,000 Samsung shopping spree.
— Sprints Unlimited plans.
— Get a free 32GB iPhone 7 on an 18-month lease with a qualified trade-in and a new line activation.
— Switch to Sprint and get a $100 Visa Prepaid Card for each line of activation.
— Get 50% off the LG G6 — along with a free Google Home.

There are more deals to be had. Check out Sprint’s site or head in-store to find out more information!

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How to cancel with Sprint

You can cancel your Sprint service at any time, but if you cancel it before your contract is done, you’ll have to pay early termination fees on top of the balance remaining on your cell phone bill.

You may be able to get out of paying them if you don’t think you received the service you paid for (might be your reason for cancelling), or sometimes your new carrier may have a deal to pay them on your behalf. Whichever way you deal with it, you are the one who is ultimately responsible for paying them.

You’ll need to call Sprint Customer Service to cancel or change your plans. Call 1-888-211-4727 or dial *2 from a Sprint phone. When you get on the line, ask to speak to someone from the retention team. They may try to offer you deals to keep your business, but will also have the authority to cancel or change your service.

How to unlock a Sprint phone

Not all Sprint phones are available to be unlocked, and even when they can be unlocked, Sprint does not guarantee that they will be fully compatible with other networks. Only Sprint phones released after February 2015 are eligible for domestic unlocking. Of those, the only Android phones that are confirmed eligible for domestic SIM unlock on Sprint’s website are the HTC One M9, LG G Flex2, Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, and Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. If your phone is not eligible for a domestic SIM unlock, Sprint may be able to provide a Master Subsidy Lock code.

To get your Sprint phone unlocked, your phone and/or Sprint account must meet the following criteria:

• Your phone must be Domestic SIM Unlock capable.
• The device must be or have been active on the Sprint network for a minimum of 50 days.
• If you have any outstanding lease payments, bills, or early termination fees, you’ll need to settle up with Sprint before it will unlock your device. Depending on your contract, you may need to buy out the remaining cost of your Sprint phone.
• Your Sprint account must be in good standing.
• The phone hasn’t been reported as lost or stolen, or ‘otherwise flagged as ineligible to be unlocked’. Basically, as long as you can prove that it’s yours and there’s nothing sketchy about it, you should be good.

Sprint offers temporary unlocking for international travel — and most devices they sell are compatible. Same rules apply above, except the phone must be currently active on a Sprint account. This will allow you to use a SIM card from the country you’re travelling to.

Even if Sprint unlocks your phone, Sprint will not guarantee its phones will operate on another network. You may get limited functionality, such as voice services but no data services. It’s the risk you run when you buy through Sprint.

Sprint does partner with a wide variety of alternative carriers. They use Sprint’s network, which allows you to easily bring your own Sprint device over to their carrier.

Learn more

Finding an alternative carrier that uses Sprint’s network

Sprint offers its network up to a whole bunch of alternative carriers. Alternative carriers — also known as MVNOs — work by partnering with one or more of the Big Four carriers to piggyback on their networks. This allows them to offer better deals to consumers without needing to worry about infrastructure upkeep.

They’ve become increasingly reliable over the years and offer the cheapest plans in the mobile industry. There are 26 MVNOs that operate on Sprint’s network, including Boost Mobile, Straight Talk, Project Fi and Virgin Mobile USA.

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Galaxy Note 8 once again rumored with dual cameras and 3x optical zoom

The Galaxy Note 8 will be the first Samsung phone with two cameras at the back.

Samsung tested dual rear cameras on the Galaxy S8, but the company is said to be saving the feature for the Galaxy Note 8. A rumor from last month stated that the phone may feature a 12MP wide-angle lens paired with a 13MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a new report out of South Korea corroborates the claim.

Korea Herald also notes that rising demand for dual camera sensors — Xiaomi is the latest to adopt the technology in the Mi 6 — will result in increased revenues for LG and Samsung. Although Samsung saw diminished sales from phones in Q1 2017, it posted its second-highest profits ever on the back of strong sales from the semiconductor and imaging sensor units.

LG Innotek — which provides imaging sensors for Apple and Huawei in addition to its own devices — also saw a 100% increase in sales to $827 million in Q1 2017. With the Galaxy Note 8, Samsung will be looking to build on the success of the Galaxy S8 and change customer perception around the Note brand, and one way of doing that is by introducing exciting new features.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8: What we know so far

Samsung Pay finally lands in the UK

Samsung Pay makes its long-awaited debut in the UK.

Samsung Pay is finally going live in the UK. The app is now available to download from the Galaxy Apps Store, and is available on the Galaxy S8 and S8+, as well as the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. The Galaxy S6 and S6 edge are also eligible as long as they’re running Nougat.

Currently, Samsung Pay is limited to customers banking with MBNA, Nationwide, and Santander. The list of supported banks pales in comparison to Android Pay, which has over 13 banks including HSBC, Lloyds Bank, and RBS. It is likely more banks will be added to Samsung Pay in the coming months.

You’ll also be able to link your London transport card to Samsung Pay, allowing you to use your phone to pay as you go on the bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line, River Bus and most National Rail services in the capital.

Samsung Pay supports both NFC as well as MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission), making the service compatible with older card readers. You’ll be able to add up to ten payment cards and 300 loyalty cards, but as the data is stored locally on your phone, you’ll have to manually add cards when switching to a new phone.

Looking to get started with Samsung Pay? We have you covered:

Set up Samsung Pay on your Galaxy S8

Follow Android Central at Google I/O 2017!

The next best thing to being there yourself.

There’s something special about Google I/O, and with the conference’s move to an outdoor venue starting last year it has become even more quirky and festival-like than ever before. Only a small number of Android fans get to attend Google I/O alongside the droves of developers who are there to learn about the latest technology from Google, but the Android Central team is lucky enough to have a handful of people in attendance this year.

You’ll see all of the Google I/O 2017 news right here on Android Central, but for all of the smaller things — the experiences, the people, the fun, the after-hours shenanigans — you’ll want to follow us all on social media. Five of us from Android Central will be at the conference, and we’ll also have MrMobile (Michael Fisher) in tow to see everything Google has to offer over three days in sunny Mountain View.

Alex Dobie: Twitter | Instagram

Andrew Martonik: Twitter | Instagram

Daniel Bader: Twitter | Instagram

Florence Ion: Twitter | Snapchat

Jerry Hildenbrand (Cowboy): Twitter

Michael Fisher (MrMobile): YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Snapchat | Facebook

For a single-follow experience that will make you feel like you’re there with us, be sure to follow the official Android Central Twitter account and Android Central Instagram account — you won’t be disappointed!

How do apps work on Samsung DeX?

A full-featured desktop operating system embedded into your smartphone? It’s nearly possible with Samsung DeX.

The idea of using your smartphone to unlock a desktop operating system might sound absurd at first, but what if you could do that for a bit of extra money?

For $150, you can purchase the Samsung DeX dock to unlock the desktop operating system hidden deep within the depths of the code on your Galaxy S8 or S8+. The DeX dock features ports for all the necessary peripherals, including an HDMI input for an external monitor and USB for a mouse and keyboard. Once you have everything set up, you can start using the full-fledged desktop experience to get things done, just as you would on a Mac or PC.

The good news is that Samsung launched DeX with a variety of compatible, popular apps that make getting work done an actual possibility. There’s also added Android app functionality, so that you can use every app you already have installed on the Galaxy S8. Here’s a look at some of the apps that come readily available to use on the Samsung DeX — and some of those that are best avoided.

Every app is already there

With Samsung DeX, every app you already have installed on your Galaxy S8 will have a launcher icon available in the app drawer, as it were. Any apps that were previously open will show up in the dock — or taskbar — at the bottom of the interface, though you can also switch between active tasks by tapping the Recent Apps button in the bottom left side of the screen.

The desktop interface on the Samsung DeX.

This is what happens when an app isn’t optimized for DeX — this one is Facebook Messenger.

Since the Galaxy S8 comes prepackaged with Samsung’s own apps, you’ll see shortcuts to those immediately available on the desktop. You may not regularly use them on the phone, but you’ll want to considering getting into the habit of sparking these up when you get into DeX, since they’ve already been optimized for a larger display and desktop interface. Many of the other apps are merely emulated and will work best if they were already optimized for a tablet interface.

Some Android apps are fine, though, and work accordingly, even without the fancy optimization. Adobe Clips, for instance, is easy to use and exports videos to the phone’s internal storage just fine. The Microsoft Office and the Google Docs app suite are all a cinch to use, too, and you might find you appreciate the fact that you can hook up a full-size keyboard to get some actual writing done. Even Snapchat works just fine, and I was able to post and scrawl away with the mouse and keyboard input.

Not all apps will work properly, and some won’t even launch at all.

Not all apps will work properly and some won’t even launch at all. My favorite app, Pokemon TCGO, doesn’t work on Samsung DeX because it requires touch input (by comparison, the Android app works fine with the mouse or touch input on the Chromebook Flip). Spotify won’t work either, and DeX will tell you it’s because it wasn’t optimized for multiple screen sizes (you can’t launch into the browser version of the web app either). I also found that some apps aren’t even worth using on DeX because they won’t work in the background, like some of my favorite indie music radio apps put out by smaller developers who probably didn’t even consider that this was a thing to develop for.

Full-service apps

For those of you looking for the full desktop experience, DeX is compatible with Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions like VMWare Horizon Client and Amazon Workspaces. You have to download the apps from the Google Play Store and have a valid license to use the desktop emulating clients.

It might look cramped, but it worked!

I was curious about how this particular ability works, so I tried the next best remote desktop experience I could think of: Chrome Remote Desktop. I tried it on DeX by connecting to my MacBook Pro and though the implementation was a little weird — the mouse and keyboard input abilities don’t translate as well as they would if I were using the app from a browser through Chromebook, for instance — it works fine and I was able to navigate around macOS with no lag.

Samsung also worked with Microsoft and Adobe behind the scenes so that their Android apps are solid on the DeX interface. Like the VDI clients, all you have to do is download the apps from the Play Store to get to editing apps and writing TPS reports. When you save a file, it’s stored to the phone’s internal file system.

More app functionality to come

We still need to spend some time with DeX before offering a full verdict.

The Samsung “desktop experience” is still in its nascent stages, so it’ll take some time before all the kinks are worked out of DeX OS. If you’d rather not download an app but still want the functionality, you can do trial by fire with the varying web apps and services you might typically access through the web. Just bear in mind that not everything works.

We’ve still got quite a bit of diving to do into the DeX experience before we can offer a full verdict on whether it’s worth the cash. But if you’ve brought a DeX home and you’re playing around with it, let us know what you think about the apps experience by leaving a comment below.

See at Amazon

This wall charger packs a 5000mAh battery inside to keep you powered up from anywhere for just $22

Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with a pair of charging accessories you’ll want to check out!

Battery life is something that continues to improve in phones and tablets, but not everyone can make it through the whole day on a single charge. Sure, you can carry around a spare wall charger and cable, or a battery pack, but what about if you could combine those into one? That’s what Anker’s PowerCore Fusion does, and right now you can pick one up at Amazon for just $21.99. This is a savings of $4 from its regular pricing.

It looks like a large wall charger, but it actually has a 5000mAh battery inside as well. This allows you to plug it into the wall to charge your phone if you are in the office, or charge it on the go with the battery inside. In addition, it offers:

• The Ultimate 2-in-1 Charger: A hybrid high-capacity portable battery and dual-port wall charger in one sleek package.
• High-Speed Charging: In the wall or on-the-go, Anker’s exclusive PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies ensure that all devices receive their fastest possible charge. Does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge.
• Charge-and-Go: Charge your device and PowerCore Fusion’s internal battery via a wall outlet, then take it with you for up to 3 phone charges—any place, any time. Boasts a foldable plug to ensure maximum portability

Whether you travel a lot, or just like to pack really light, you will want one of these for your phone. Stop carrying around multiple chargers and battery packs, and instead consolidate them into a single device! If you’re looking for just a power bank, Chuwi is offering its 10050mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 for just $16.99 when using coupon ADCENTER at checkout.

See at Amazon

For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

Best Leather Cases for Galaxy S8 and S8+

Add a touch of class to your phone with a leather case!

The debate on whether or not to slap a case on the Galaxy S8 or S8+ rages on. On one hand, the phone is downright classy and beautiful all on its own, but on the other, it’s made of glass and is, therefore, prone to taking damage.

A nice compromise is a leather case, which looks much nicer than other cases made of plastic and rubber. Leather cases are offered by a number of manufacturers and often include some type of wallet functionality as well. We’ve collected a range of options for you to consider, so let’s dive in!

• Spigen Wallet S
• FYY Genuine Leather wallet case
• FlyHawk Slim Leather Back wallet case
• Ringke Flex S Leather-style phone case
• X-Level Vintage PU Leather case

Spigen Wallet S

Spigen’s Wallet S case is a great option for those looking for a folio-style wallet case. Made of synthetic leather with an embedded TPU casing, this case blends protection with functionality by including three card slots, a pocket for cash, and the ability to fold it over into a kickstand for hands-free media viewing.

This case is available for both the Galaxy S8 (linked below) and the S8+ in both black and coffee brown. You can buy with confidence knowing that Spigen is one of the most trusted names in phone cases.

See at Amazon (for Galaxy S8)

FYY Genuine Leather wallet case

All too often case manufacturers misuse the word “leather”, when in fact their case is actually made of polyurethane material that’s made to look and feel like leather. More often than not, we’re okay with this, but if you’re looking for a case made of genuine leather, FYY has you covered with its case for the Galaxy S8.

Available in five different color, FYY’s wallet cases are handcrafted out of real leather for a premium look and feel that you just won’t get from many other cases. You’ll find three card slots and a cash pocket on the inside across from the phone itself. It also offers RFID protection to prevent someone from reading your debit or credit card information with an RFID reader.

If you’re looking for a case made from real leather, look no further than FYY.

See at Amazon

FlyHawk Slim Leather Back wallet case

Not a fan of the folio-style wallet cases but still yearning for that classy leather look? Check out this slim, leather-backed case from FlyHawk. It offers protection around the edges of your phone while keeping the buttons and ports wide open along the sides and bottom of the phone. It’s one of the slimmest cases on this list, giving your phone a classy leather finish without adding too much unnecessary bulk.

Available for both the Galaxy S8 and S8+, you can get one in your choice of six different color options.

See at Amazon

Ringke Flex S Leather-style phone case

If you fall into the “hell yes, give me a case to protect this expensive phone” camp and also want a stylish leather case for your Galaxy S8 or S8+, you’ll definitely want to consider this stylish case from Ringke.

This one-piece case is made with a mix of flexible TPU and PU leather to create a slim and stylish case for your phone. It’s lightweight and streamlined to fit snugly on your phone, while still providing precise laser cutouts for all your phone’s buttons, ports, and camera. You get that great leather in-hand feel without skimping on protection for your GS8. Check it out!

See at Amazon

X-Level Vintage PU Leather case

X-Level has managed to combine a slim and minimalist case with the leather look and feel you desire — the ultimate case for many of you we’re sure.

Made of PU leather and featuring a weathered and vintage look, this case will look great on your Galaxy S8 or S8+. It’s form-fitted and flexible for easy installation, with cutouts around the buttons and ports at the bottom and offering a touch of added protection for the camera on the back.

It’s available in three colors — black, brown, and gold — for both phones; just be sure you’ve selected the right option for yourself before heading to check out.

See at Amazon

What’s your favorite style of leather case?

Got any opinions on the cases we’ve highlighted above? Did we fail to include your favorite one? Let us know in the comments below!

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

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