Gadgetoid

gadg-et-oid [gaj-it-oid]

-adjective

1. having the characteristics or form of a gadget;
resembling a mechanical contrivance or device.

Krusell HTC Touch Pro Orbit Flex Leather Case

I find Krusell cases to be somewhat of a mixed bag, on one hand their comparatively low prices make them an excellent choice for the less affluent leather fan, on the other hand this low price is very clearly reflected in the finish the cases. The finish, which tends to not quite reach the lofty standards and consistency set by the likes of Piel Frama or Sena, is still good at a glance however and is also more than made up for with the odd feature that you’ll not find on competing, premium leather cases.

The Krusell HTC Touch Pro Orbit Flex case is no exception to this rule, it’s a little rough around the edges and plays host to some decidedly inconsistent stitching and some other almost unnoticeable but poor aspects of its overall finish.

It does, however, boast some features I’ve encountered on other Krusell cases. For example, the top flap that normally covers and protects the screen of the phone can easily and quickly be entirely removed from the case by means of a slide-in plastic clip. This allows you to remove and pocket said flap when you’re planning on using the phone for a significant period of time and don’t want it getting in the way.

On the down side (or up side, depending on your belt-clip preferences), and again like previous Krusell cases, the Orbit Flex comes with a “multidapt” hardpoint on the back of the case, which can’t be removed to make the case as perfectly pocketable as I think it should be. Belt clips are a matter of preference, however, so I can’t outright chalk this up as a minus for the Krusell Orbit Flex, if you’re into creating Batman-like utility belts then it should be right up your alley.

A definite plus is the transparent plastic window in the case under which you’re supposed to tuck the HTC Touch Pro keyboard. It’s a little bit tricky to get it seated properly but once you do it will adequately protect your keys from dust and grime in addition to very securely holding your phone inside the case.

The mix of black and cream leather with complimenting stitching makes the Orbit Flex look quite good if you don’t examine it too closely, the black exterior and cream interior is an eminently professional look which I’m quite fond of. It trumps any single tone case immediately and adds a bit of interest to what would otherwise be an overwhelmingly black phone in an overwhelmingly black case.

Overall, the Krusell Orbit Flex is a cracking case for your HTC Touch Pro, for the money. If you want to loose a few features, despise belt clips or simply want to go full on “designer” with a much better finish then you’ll be wanting to give it a miss, but if you want a striking leather case for little over £20 then it’s certainly an option worth considering.

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009, Windows Mobile.