Overview
The i-Volution 86 is a slim case for the e100 that follows in the excellent tradition of the i-Volution line. These form fitting cases offer exceptional impact protection while limiting the obstruction. The nice blue case that I was shipped is very well made – just like all of the other Vaja cases that I have reviewed in the past. It is snug enough to hug the e100 and give good protection while not being so tight that I cannot easily remove or insert the SPV (although the excellent design of the case makes it such that I don’t have to remove it very often).
The case is an open face style case providing unobstructed access to all of the buttons and joystick. The open face also means that the display is not covered. The earpiece at the top of the case is covered by a nice steel mesh, and there is a notch in the case to allow the status LED to show through. In addition to allowing easy access to the keypad Vaja has designed the case to allow free access to all of the buttons on the side of the case. There is also a hole for the headset, and openings at the top and bottom allow for IR interfacing and connection to a charger/sync cable respectively.
The i-Volution 86 features the same, high quality leather that has come to be a mark of Vaja’s attention to detail. It also features the excellent belt clip and locking mechanism. I have used many cases, and I have yet to see a belt clip that can hold up to the abuses of general use that the Vaja clips can.
Pros
If you have read any of my other reviews you will see that I am a huge fan of the i-Volution line of cases. The i-Volution Tiburon II is my case of choice for my XDA, and I also use the i-Volution Tiburon when I need a little more protection than the Tiburon II offers. The i-Volution 86 has been just as much of a pleasure to use as these other cases. Although the open face doesn’t cover the display I don’t mind because the smartphone doesn’t have a touch screen and I many cases just make it harder to see the screen.
Although the case does add a little thickness to the device it still maintains a nice form factor. The snug fit is something that is a real plus. I was having trouble with one of my buttons sticking, and the snug fit of the case actually helped reduce the occurrence of the problem.
Cons
There are only a couple of things that I would consider negatives about this case. The first, and most important, is that the SD Card slot is not accessible through the case. In order to swap SD cards it is necessary to remove the e100 from the case. I don’t swap cards very often, but if you do you may find this to be a hassle. The only other negative is the lack of protection for the display. I know that this was also mentioned as a pro, but although I do not care or need protection for the display there may be some of you out there who prefer a case with protection for the display.
Conclusion
If you’ve read my reviews of Vaja products you may feel as though I am biased towards them over their competitors. That is not necessarily true. I do favor their products, at the moment. They have excellent quality and a track record, with me, that is second to none. Each and every one of the cases that I have reviewed from them has come to me in nice packaging, and more importantly the cases themselves have been impeccable.
Vaja makes quality cases, and that quality comes at a price. If you can afford the cost I would definitely recommend their products. More info on Vaja can be found on the web at http://www.vajacases.com.