Review: Smartphone Experts P6 Treo Pouch Case
The low profile leather pouch case from Smartphone Experts features a magnetic closure and will fit your Treo 600, Treo 650 or Treo 700w.
Protection
The Smartphone Experts P6 Pouch Case has a soft layer of padding on either side of the case. The antenna and lower left hand corner of the Treo are exposed, but overall the case will protect your Treo in the event it is dropped. While the right hand top and bottom corner of the Treo are slightly exposed (see image), I suspect the edges of the case would shield the corners if it were dropped. The clip, which is part of the case, offers an added level of protection. The interior of the case is a stiched with a soft felt material. The Smartphone Experts Pouch Case will offer you peace of mind when it comes to protecting your Treo against scratches as most of the Treo is covered. The case also protects your SD card as it wraps the top of the Treo. (see image)
Style and Craftsmanship
The case is very well made and clearly designed specifically for Treo smartphones. I tested the case with the Treo 700w, Treo 650 and Treo 600. All of the cases fit snug, no movement and yet the Treo was easy to remove from the case. I was impressed by the feel of the leather which is soft and subtle. The Smartphone Experts P6 Pouch Case features a large magnetic clip. With the magnetic flap open, it reveals a durable nylon that holds the magnet. The flap closes almost automatically due to the construction of the case. You will not have think about closing it. This is helpful if you wear the case on your belt and placing the Treo back after calls or Internet use.
The case comes with a leather clip that is actually part of the case. Designed to be low-profile and it is roughly 1/4 quarter inch in width from the case (see image). I found the clip to be sturdy and would respond well to repeated use.
Usability
When choosing a pouch-style case, you are giving up a certain level of usability. Since the Treo is enclosed, you don’t have access to screen alerts without removing the Treo. The tradeoff is a very well protected smartphone and the P6 case is no exception. Designed for the Treo, I quickly appreciated the low profile nature of the case. Grabbing my Treo 700w felt natural and I didn’t feel like I had to contend with the bulk of a case. Even with the beltclip, the Treo fit in my front jeans pocket. Depending on the user, you might take issue with the aforementioned beltclip. If you wear a belt, then it will work perfectly. The case did feel awkward when attaching to jeans whereas the Seidio Holster’s (see review) clip works well with or without a belt. The Smartphone Experts Pouch case tended to weigh the jeans down a bit. Once again, it all depends on your style. I would have no reservations about using this case to the office. In fact, there are times when you’d prefer a closed case รข?? no need sharing your alerts with everyone in your office.
Port Access
The P6 offers limited access to the ports on the Treo. The only accessible port is the headphone jack (see image). With a Bluetooth headset or wired headset, you will be able to answer calls. However, you cannot swap your SD card, adjust volume or change the ringer while the Treo is in the P6 case.
Overall
The Smartphone Experts Pouch Case is priced on the low-end of Treo cases, but don’t let that fool you. I found the case to be well constructed, durable and a perfect fit for any of the newer Palm Treo smartphones including the Treo 700, Treo 650 or Treo 600. If you are a “jeans and t-shirt” type that rarely wears belts, this case might not be for you. With the P6, you can expect to lose a certain amount of usability, but that’s common with any pouch case. I would like to see a version without a beltclip as this would make it the perfect case to fit in your front pocket. Still, the Smartphone Experts P6 Pouch Case is an excellent option for most Treo owners.
The Smartphone Experts Pouch Case retails for $19.95.
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