Seidio's 2800 mAh Extended Life Battery: ****

There were two little things I didn't really like about my Nexus when I first got over the honeymoon period (assuming I did). I'll be talking about the other in another post, but the primary one was battery life. Now don't get me wrong, it would last a full day under "normal use", normal use being a business day where it stays unused until evening time. (I teach English, the "no phones in class" rule applies to us too!)

Come the weekend, I couldn't leave the house without thinking "Damn, should I bring my charger?" Which needless to say is not the ideal start to a weekend!

I looked around online for a solution and found the Seidio 2800 mAh Extended Life Battery. Around the same time Google made spare 1400 mAh batteries available but I didn't want to have to mess around with replacing batteries half way through my day.

So, here comes the review, drumroll please...

Seidio's customer service is first rate with a lot of customer engagement in forums and a live chat feature available on their website. They replied quickly to all of my emails and even though they're in Texas and I'm in France, I received the package on the morning of the third business day.

The battery itself is great, after about 8 or 9 charges now I can use my phone however I want, lots of maps with gps, WiFi, a few hours browsing and 15 hours after unplugging it I still have about 30-40% left. This post is being written with it.

The cover is less great...

Sure, it has a nice finish, very similar to the original nexus cover.

It's black, not dark grey, which while not to everyone's taste, suits me just fine.

There's a bit of a gap at the bottom third which annoys some but I don't find it too much of a problem. The photos on their site are pretty accurate.

But I worry for the camera. The original back includes a clear lens cover but none comes with the replacement cover provided by Seidio. The camera is recessed enough to prevent scratches but since it's open to the elements, dust becomes a problem.

Taking a photo in daylight is okay but when you use the flash it diffuses off the dust, adding a white glare to the photos. A side by side comparison is below, the first photo is prior to removing the cover and giving the lens a wipe. It's not a major difference but will only get worse with time and wiping the lens directly is hardly an ideal solution.

Both photos were taken within seconds of each other in identical lighting with identical camera settings, don't believe me? Ask the cat. The lens was directly wiped with a lint-free cloth.

Apart from that though, the new back is pretty good. The phone stops feeling like a bar of soap and after a day or two feels right in your hand.

Overall I'd recommend it, but if you're ok with the stock battery for the moment, maybe waiting for an alternative cover that provides lens protection wouldn't be a bad idea.

Overall I'd give it 4/5 stars, but better protection for the camera would improve that score.

P.S. I've reviewed the 2800 mAh battery, but while writing, they've released a 3200 mAh one, since the main gripe is the cover that doesn't change much, but if you try to order a 2800 mAh battery, you will be directed to the 3200 mAh.

EDIT (20/3/2010): While a bit of an inelegant workaround, a bit of insulation tape cut just right and taped between the two holes on the interior of the case prevents the diffusion problem without any external signs visible.