Long regarded as one of the leading manufacturers of rugged and adaptable cases, Krusell’s Dynamic Leather Case for the Palm Pre sets forth to bring that reputation to Palm cases – but falls short. While the removable clip and touch-through cover are nice to have, the general fit of the Dynamic Leather Case falls far short of our expectations.
The Incipio Orion Sleeve Case for Palm Pre is a clean and stylish way to carry and protect your Pre. While similar in concept to Palm’s own Leather Side Case, the Orion sleeve executes more cleanly, not to mention being available in variety of colors.
Most quality clip-on phone cases come in solid colors and maybe a few transparent varieties, but the Mobi Products Protector line of cases for the Palm Pre actually come in more than a dozen different designs and textures. For my time with the Protector Cases I sampled three distinct product lines, the standard Protector case, in a metallic red, the Skull Wing graphic Customer Protector, and a Dragon-emblazed soft-touch Lizzo Protector case. While I had little doubts about the protective abilities of these cases (good for a fall here or there, but not running over with a car), the finish on two of the three left something to be desired.
After 13 years of using Palm handhelds, my preference for cases is fairly clear: a pouch I can clip (not loop) to my belt, allowing easy access to the device while protecting it from drops, impacts and scratches. Along the way, I’ve noted a few common points of failure (especially the joint for the clip) of which to be aware. When I got the Pre, I tried a few cheap belt-clip cases, some with top flaps and others without, but when the fabric around the clip on the most recent one started to wear out, I sought a replacement. What made the search a bit more challenging was that, since my Pre has the Seidio Innocell 2600 mAh battery and the extended back it requires, a case made to closely fit the standard Palm Pre would be too shallow for my phone. I looked through the PreCentral store, and found a case that appeared to fit my needs: the $15.95 Nite Ize Backbone Case for Palm Pre.
The Incipio Leather Hipster Pouch for Palm Pre is a tank of a leather case. I don’t mean that in just that it will protect your Pre well against daily threats, it’s actually also notably heavy in comparison to some other cases, including the identically designed Incipio Sports Holster. The stitched leather case was designed specifically with the Pre in mind, so you can count on it to provide a good fit without being too tight or too loose.
The Case-Mate Naked Case for Palm Pre combines two popular Pre accessories into one package: screen protection and body protection. While most Palm Pre cases only cover the back and sides of the top half, the Naked Case also incorporates a plastic sheet that covers the screen and gesture area, allowing unimpeded use of the Pre while offering maximum protection.
The Covertec Luxury Leather Flip Case for the Palm Pre is a solid combination of a leather flip case and a hard snap case, providing protection and class in a single package. Inside is the bottom half of a snap case, serving as a mounting point for the Pre, while the outside is wrapped in soft fine grain leather with tastefully contrasting stitching. This flip case strikes a balance between protection and style that few cases have, but it is not without its faults.
Made of soft scuba material and woven nylon, the Incipio Sports Holster for Palm Pre is a quality durable side case that will protect your Pre in style. Incipio designed the Sports Holster specifically for the Palm Pre, so it provides a secure fit without being too tight like some other Pre cases. The Sports Holster is also quasi hardened under that soft exterior, allowing it to serve in a protective role for your precious phone.
While most clip-on cases add some protection and color to the Palm Pre, the Body Glove Faux Nylon Case for Palm Pre takes it a step further by adding some textural visual flair. Sporting two contrasting textures, the Faux Nylon Case encases your Pre in a layer of protective plastic while still providing access to all the phone’s features. But is the extra protection and style worth the extra bulk that this case adds?
There’s something to be said for quality materials like those in the Prima Leather Pouch Case. There’s also something to be said for the case being the correct size. Unfortunately, only the former can be applied to the Prima Lateral Pouch Case as with regards to the Palm Pre. The case is made of rather nice leather with cleanly stitched and sealed edges, but it’s simply too large for the Palm Pre, unless you like having an extra half inch of space for the phone to slide around. Clearly, this case is designed for a phone much larger than the Pre, as evidenced by the extra space and elastic expansion joints on either end. Altogether it’s a nice case, it’s just not the right case.