Review: Smartphone Experts UltraSlim Pouch Case
When it comes to protecting your Treo, pouch cases traditionally offer the most complete coverage. Smartphone Experts latest offering, the UltraSlim Pocket Pouch Case is no different in that it provides protection to the exterior shell of the Palm Treo and the all important LCD screen.
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Having reviewed a few cases from this particular manufacturer, I was pleasantly surprised by the packaging. The SPE UltraSlim came in a nice translucent pouch. Available in black, brown and red, the UltraSliim is compatible with the Treo 700 series of smartphones including the Treo 700wx, Treo 700w and Treo 700p.
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Style and Craftsmanship
The leather case is made of soft sheepskin and has a luxurious feel. The case I used for the review was tan brown and reminded me of Coach leather, all that was missing was the tag. Surprisingly, the case didn’t have the distinct leather smell that you find with other high quality cases such as Vaja. The case itself is made of polypropylene giving the Smartphone Experts UltraSlim case its shape. Squeeze the SPE UltraSlim and it snaps back to form. You don’t actually see the plastic, as the case is wrapped in sheepskin on the exterior. The interior is lined with suede and I had no worries about scratches to my Treo. Clearly one of the goals when designing this case was to keep it thin and this was evident. With the Treo inserted, this case works great for owners who carry their Treo in their front pocket or suit jacket pocket as the case is remarkably thin. The style of this case screams executive. In fact, perhaps the marketing folks at SPE should consider renaming the product to SPE Executive rather than the bland “UltraSlim Case”. I found the case to be well constructed all the way down to the precision stiching that holds it together. While I haven’t spent extensive time with the UltraSlim, it’s my assertion this case would respond well to repeated use. The leather does not scratch easily, so it should be easy enough to maintain the "new" look.
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Protecting Your Treo
Great materials, soft feel and stylish. If we stopped the review right here, the Smartphone Experts UltraSlim case would likely get our highest rating of 5 stars, a rating that we don’t often hand out (TomTom Navigator, PocketTunes). The SPE UltraSlim is designed for the Treo 700 series. In our testing, we used both a Treo 700p and Treo 700w. Like the FoofPod case, it’s top loading allow you to easily slip your Treo in and out of the case. The FoofPod case was designed specifically for the iPod, so it was understandable that our Treo didn’t fit like a glove. Still, all in all it would require a few shrugs of the FoofPod to cause the Treo to dislodge. This brings us to the SPE UltraSlim, designed specifically for the Treo. In comparison, the SPE UltraSlim case we tested did not provide the proper fit for the Treo 700 series. Moving the case side to side and there is a noticeable shake of the Treo. Turn the case upside down along with any slight movement caused the Treo to dislodge. I was disappointed with the fit and expected a tighter grip on the Treo.
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Pros and Cons
Pros
- Stylish look reminded me of Coach leather products
- Soft touch
- Low profile allows for carrying in pants or suit jacket pocket
- Suede interior will protect against scratches
- High quality materials
- Good value
Cons
- Does not provide snug fit
- Treo dislodges too easily
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Conclusion
Smartphone Experts have exceeded my expecations when it comes to the style, mateials and design of the UltraSlim case. The quality of the materials reminded me of those found in more expensive cases from manufacturers such as Sena and Vaja. The fit of the case is not ideal and I’m hoping we’ll see improvements in future cases from SPE. In the end, I found the Smartphone Experts UltraSlim case to be an elegant, affordable case, but one that has room for improvement.
The Smartphone Experts UltraSlim Pocket Pouch retails for $34.95 and is available in red, tan and black.
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