I won't lie: I'm not in the habit of applying cases to my phone. After all, my EVO 3D is hardly fragile, and cases often add bulk to a handset and distort its aesthetics.

So when I received an offer to review Trident's latest addition to its premium mobile protection portfolio, the Kraken AMS, I was skeptical. Nevertheless, I'm never one to turn down a review unit, so I accepted it, tested it out, and found myself somewhat surprised.

In a nutshell, this case is intense.

Breakdown

  • What is it? The Kraken AMS (Adaptive Modular System) is full-on body armor for your EVO 3D, complete with three layers, a kickstand, and a screen protector.
  • What comes in the box? 3 things:
  • All three parts of the case
  • The belt clip/holster
  • A set of plastic screen/camera protectors
  • How much does it cost? $44.95 - an undeniably steep price for a phone case.
  • Do I want it? If you want/need the ultimate protection for your EVO 3D (and don't care how thick your phone becomes as a result of said protection), then the Kraken AMS is perfect for you. Otherwise, there are likely better and more affordable options on the market.

The Good

  • Practically invincible.
  • Looks like a tank - the Kraken AMS' aesthetics make it clear that it is by no means "just a toy."
  • 3 layers:
  • The "Kraken" layer, which is made of hardened polycarbonate
  • The middle layer, "Perseus," which is crafted from impact-resistant silicone
  • The top layer, which is also constructed from polycarbonate and which basically keeps all the other parts in place
  • The problem of excessive bulk can be avoided by applying only the "Perseus" layer(though there is one rather large caveat - see below).
  • Lots of different colors.
  • Comes with free screen and protectors (sure, I refused to apply them since such products invariably decrease the quality of the display, but hey, it's there!).

The Bad

  • Junk in the trunk? You betcha.
  • Three layers provide protection galore, but also make the case nigh impossible to apply correctly
  • The "Perseus" layer attracts so much dust that if you don't apply the other layers, by the time you pull the case out of your pocket, it will no longer be black; it'll be a dirty shade of gray. Ick.
  • The "Kraken" layer feels very slippery, though it's never actually caused my EVO 3D to slip out of my hands.
  • The cover for the USB port sometimes gets stuck and is very difficult to pry open.
  • It's $45 - I'm guessing that's well out of the average consumer's budget for a phone case.

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Has the Kraken broken me of my reckless, case-less lifestyle? Not quite - I've developed a propensity to cover my phone with only the "Perseus" layer, as the full package is far too thick to lug around on a daily basis.

Seen above: My EVO 3D with only the "Perseus" layer of the Kraken AMS applied.

Ultimately, the Kraken AMS isn't really a consumer case; it's more of a product aimed at construction workers and the like: the people who need a veritable tank of a phone. And at $45, it's priced to match - this clearly isn't a case for ballerinas.

That said, the Kraken does do a wonderful job of "scaling down" - as mentioned above, the "Perseus" layer alone is pretty slim yet still sufficiently protective. We find it hard to recommend spending nearly half a Benjamin on what amounts to a thin layer of silicone, though, so our advice is to steer clear of the Kraken unless you truly need the utmost protection.

The Kraken AMS is also available for the DROID Bionic, the Galaxy S2, and yes, the iPhone 4S, though we were not given the opportunity to test those models out, and thus we are unable to comment on them. It's relatively safe to assume they're very similar to the AMS for the EVO 3D, though.