Home Cases and Covers

Alto iPhone 7 Plus Metro leather case review

When I think high-end luxury leather phone cases, a couple brands come to mind like Vaja and Orbino. So how is that I’ve never heard of or seen the leather cases from Alto? If you’ve never seen them either, let me introduce you to what might be your next favorite iPhone 7 Plus case.

What is it?

The Alto iPhone 7 Plus Metro leather case is a thin but protective snap-on cover for the back of your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus.


The Metro case that was sent to me is made of Italian full grain black and caramel stained leather that covers the outside of a hard case that has a black micro fiber lining on the interior. Other color combos of this case are also available.

The back of the case might look like it’s two toned with the brown and black, but the look hides a card slot that can hold 1-2 plastic credit cards or a couple folded bills.


An iPhone 7 Plus snaps into the case with little effort and can be removed with slightly more effort.

The sides of the Metro case are raised slightly higher than the top of the iPhone to protect the display if you lay it upside down.

The left side of the case has an open cutout for unrestricted access to the mute switch and volume buttons.

The opposite side of the case has an open cut out for the power button.

The top edge of the case (not pictured) is completely covered, while the bottom edge is open to reveal the speakers and lightning port.

If you flip the case over, you’ll see a large opening for the camera and LED flash.

The card slot on the back of the case is ideal if you want to leave your wallet at home and just carry your driver’s license and a credit card. The card slot is a snug fit so you don’t have to worry about your cards accidentally slipping out if you hold the phone upside down.

Everything about the Metro case is perfect, from the design and materials to the craftsmanship. I have zero complaints.

If you prefer a phone holder case instead of a case that snaps on the back of the phone, Alto has that covered to.

Their zippered wallet case is equally nice and can hold the phone, credit cards, cash, and more.

Final thoughts

If you’ve been searching for a quality iPhone 7 Plus case that looks great, doesn’t add too much bulk, but allows you to ditch your wallet, then you need to check out the Metro leather iPhone case from Alto. It’s my new favorite case.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Alto. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $72.00
Manufacturer: Alto
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Great craftsmanship
  • Doesn't add much bulk
  • Built in card slot
Cons:
  • None

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: , ,

Alto iPhone 7 Plus Metro leather case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 16, 2017 at 1:54 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Urban Armor Gear Metropolis iPad Pro 12.9 case review

In April of 2015, I reviewed my first case from Urban Armor Gear – the Rogue case for the iPad Air. I really liked the cover and found it quite protective. I now have an iPad Pro 12.9″, and am happy to be the one chosen to review their Metropolis case.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

Like the smaller version, this one is also a full-on piece of body armor for your iPad. It meets MIL STD 810G-516.6. This means:

UAG cases specifically have been certified Military Grade through NEBS Certified Testing Laboratory. To achieve this certification, a device must be dropped from a height of 48 inches, on each face, corner, and back. The device is dropped a total of 26 times and must function properly after the test, while not sustaining any damage to the screen.

Als, like the original Rogue I tested, the Metropolis has a pliable, grippy frogskin texture on the outside, and a nappy microsuede on the inside.

The cover folds back to allow you to view your iPad in several different viewing angles, without having the inner surface of the case lay flat on the table.

One secret superpower that the Metropolis has above it’s smaller sibling, however, is that the outer cover is detachable, and you can use any Apple Smart Cover-esque magnetic folding screen cover with the armored back.

Along the inner hinge, almost the entire side where the Smart Connector touches is free and accessible, so many chargers, keyboards, and stands that are designed for an iPad Pro should work with this case. I’d definitely try it out with the keyboard or stand you have in mind, but the Apple models are what they were designing it to fit.

Since the iPad Pro 12.9 is now being replaced by a newer model with a slightly different form factor, you can pick up one for your original iPad Pro for only $29.95! A $90 case for 66% off – not a bad deal.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Urban Armor Gear. Please visit Urban Armor Gear for more info, and their Amazon store to purchase.

 

Product Information

Price: Originally $89.99, now only $29.95
Manufacturer: Urban Armor Gear
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Original iPad Pro
Pros:
  • Very Protective, yet easy to put on and off
  • Military-grade protection
  • Allows use of other screen covers, if desired
Cons:
  • None, really

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Urban Armor Gear Metropolis iPad Pro 12.9 case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 5, 2017 at 8:33 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Joli Originals Smooth 10.5″ iPad Pro Sleeve review

Several years ago, I reviewed the Joli Originals smooth leather sleeve for the MacBook Pro and while that behemoth of a laptop is long gone, I continue to use the sleeve to this day. I keep it on my nightstand as a soft, secure space for my iPad and iPhone… a safe haven from the hectic whirlwind that is our house. When I was looking for a sleeve to protect my new 10.5″ iPad Pro, Joli Originals was one of the first on my list to look into and thankfully they sent one my way for this review. 

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

Like all of Joli’s products, this sleeve is handcrafted in the Netherlands from fine Italian leather and 100% pure wool felt. The leather is extremely soft, supple, and smells/feels wonderful. The sleeve is lined with a high quality Dutch wool felt. Instead of my usual black or dark brown color selection, I decided to live on the wild side and get the gray leather lined with the red felt interior.

The pictures do not do justice to how nice this sleeve looks in person. The quality of workmanship and finish of the sleeve are excellent. As you would expect, the cut and stitching of the leather is straight as an arrow. The stitching itself is done with strong, durable nylon parachute thread.

This sleeve is perfectly fitted for Apple’s latest flagship tablet. Initially sliding the 10.5″ iPad Pro in and out was a bit tight but quickly stretched just a hint for a glove-like fit.

The Joli Originals smooth sleeve has a simple but extremely functional design. It appears that the wool felt is glued to the leather then the two halves are stitched together to form the slipper case.

Like I’ve said, the feel of the Joli Original sleeve is wonderful. Its overall design is ideal for protecting your naked iPad while in transport solo or in a larger bag. The sleeve will not protect your iPad from any significant drop but does a great job protecting it from scraps and bumps. The sleeve is available for all the various sizes of iPads and you can select a roomier sleeve to accommodate Apple’s Smart Cover or Keyboard. They are available in various color combinations.

I really like the Joli Original sleeve they created for my iPad Pro. Its handmade craftsmanship, high quality materials, and simple design are excellent. Joli Originals customer service and attention to detail are very good as well. I regularly use this sleeve to transport my tablet either by hand or in my gym bag to protect my iPad from my hectic lifestyle.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Joli Originals. Please visit their site for more info and to order.

 

Product Information

Price: €81.82
Manufacturer: Joli Originals
Pros:
  • Excellent materials and craftsmanship
  • Handmade
  • Perfectly fitted
Cons:
  • None

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Joli Originals Smooth 10.5″ iPad Pro Sleeve review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 1, 2017 at 11:02 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Peel Super Thin Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus case review

Here’s a new flash: cell phones are expensive.  With the upcoming flagship phones from Samsung, Google, and Apple the upward trend in pricing probably won’t stop.  So with a significant investment in technology that generally lives in your pocket or in a bag, most people develop a powerful motivation to protect that investment.  The Peel line of cases for your smart phone positions itself as a minimalist protector, but does it do the job?  Read on to find out.

The Peel brand has been around for a while, making minimalist cases for Apple and Samsung devices.  Their main claim in the case market is that they are the thinnest case available for your device.  And in that claim I am reasonably sure you won’t find many contenders – this case is thin.  I mean almost not there thin.  Ridiculously thin.

Before you put the case on the phone one of the first things you should notice is that there is literally no branding on the case.  Nothing about this screams “we’re Peel and we made this case!”, which to me is a plus.  I spent a lot of money for a nice looking phone, and I am not fond of the idea of turning it into a billboard.  With the Peel case, you get to see the curves of the phone without having a brand name shouted out at you.

The fit on the phone is snug without being so tight it is difficult to put on or take off.  When the case is on the phone you would be hard pressed from a foot or two away to tell there was even a case on the phone.  There are precise cutouts for all of your ports, and the buttons come out flush with the edge of the case.  That means I have not accidentally pressed buttons with the case as I did with the naked phone, but when I want them I don’t have to feel like I am trying to push the button out the opposite end of the phone like you do with some cases.

The question, though, is how well this case protects your phone.  And the answer lies in the intent of this particular case.  A more traditional case seeks to protect against drops so these types of cases are bulkier.  Put one on your phone and you will know it is there.  The class of case Peel represents is more about protecting your phone against the everyday indignities – being scratched by something in your pocket or worse, the glass back of your phone cracked accidentally.  Because the case is so thin there is practically no protection against the accidental drop from, say, 3 feet onto a concrete sidewalk.

And because the case is so thin, unlike the bulkier cases there is no lip around the edge of the screen to protect the screen should you set your phone face-down on a table.  Your phone’s screen will come into contact with whatever surface you set it face-down on.

The Peel case is not a rugged case, nor does it try to position itself that way.  It wants to protect your phone from the casual accident and do so unobtrusively.  The case feels “grippy” in your hand, so unless you really have butter on your fingers, it should not slip from your hands.  And if you are like me – and not like my son – you don’t idly flip your phone around, so the case should handle most of the accidents you would encounter on an average day.  There have been complaints around the Interwebs that the case will stretch if removed repeatedly (and therefore no longer fit well), but in the 2 weeks I have had this case I have removed it pretty much daily and it still fits as well as it did day one.

At $24.99 it is not an inexpensive case and there are cases like this that can be had cheaper.  I tried a couple of those when I first purchased my Galaxy S8 Plus and had bad results.  The first case literally tore as I tried to fit it on the phone, and the second one had loose sides that caught on things like the edge of my glasses.  I haven’t had any of those issues with the Peel case, so I guess this is one of those rare occasions where you actually get what you pay for.

After years buying bulky rugged phone cases, I am now a convert to the minimalist design of the Peel case.  It comes in a few colors including a white-ish one that will let the actual color of your phone shine through (especially nice if you were able to buy a Hulk Smash Green S8 model).  The Peel case will remain my daily carry up until the release of the Note 8 – and hopefully soon after, Peel with have a case for that, too.

The sample for this review was provided by Peel.  For more info please visit their site.

 

Product Information

Price: $24.99
Manufacturer: Peel
Pros:
  • Minimalist
  • Logo-free
Cons:
  • Not as protective as a traditional case

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Peel Super Thin Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 1, 2017 at 8:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

ClimateCase will keep your phone cool or warm, you choose

Whether or not you believe in global warming, you have to agree that this is one of the warmest years so far for this planet. It was in the upper 90’s here in Southern Indiana yesterday. Ugh. I stayed indoors in the air conditioning and so did my phone. But for people that have to be outside in the extreme heat or cold, how do you keep your phone from overheating or freezing?

The ClimateCase is a potential solution. It’s a universal smartphone case that is made of impact resistant Neoprene and has multi-layers to protect against extreme heat and cold.

The idea is that you keep the case in the refrigerator when you plan to use it to protect against heat and you place it in the microwave for a few seconds when you want to prepare it to project your device from the cold.

When it comes time to use the ClimateCase, you just insert the device, seal the top and you’re ready to go. Check out this video which shows how it’s used.

The ClimateCase is available in several colors and has an sells through the ClimateCase site for $34.95 and through Amazon.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

ClimateCase will keep your phone cool or warm, you choose originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 23, 2017 at 3:21 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.