Review: Smartphone Experts Book Case for AT&T Tilt

The AT&T Tilt (HTC Kaiser II) is one of the most feature packed Windows Mobile devices currently on the market. Those of us riding the current wave of technology brought to us by AT&T and HTC are familiar with the sliding, tilting, Qwerty keyboard bearing device. The only problem with a device with so many features is that the Tilt is somewhat awkward to carry when not in use. The question of, “Do I put it in my pocket or purse to be scratched up by my keys?” has been asked many times by many people.

I give to you, the Smartphone Experts Book Case. I have chosen to ignore all of the comments that I can hear about the Tilt being approximately the same size and weight as a case of books, and will continue with a full review after the break…

Design

The design of this product is intended for those that wish to carry their phone in a pocket or purse as there is no belt clip or lanyard to attach to the case. That being said, this is not just another sleeve for your Tilt. The case closes with a magnetic latch that wraps around the keyboard side of the phone. The flap that folds over the screen contains two sleeves for memory cards, as well as room for credit cards or ID.

When open, the Tilt’s keyboard is covered by a transparent layer of plastic. While this does cut down on the type by feel experience (and makes it a little tricky to slide the Tilt closed), it does offer protection from dust.

Quality

The quality of this device is tough to describe. The outside of the case has a solid feel to it, the front and back are both semi-rigid with enough padding that you’re not going to hurt yourself or your phone. The inside of the case doesn’t feel as high in quality. The sleeve for the keyboard in particular feels pretty flimsy, especially around the edges.

Use

While the case does add an extra layer of protection to the phone, it also adds another step to unfolding the Tilt. I personally didn’t find this to be much of an issue while using it. My biggest complaint is when actually taking a phone call (without the use of a Bluetooth headset obviously) you are holding the phone and case up to your ear at the same time.

Conclusion

I actually feel like I could this case on a consistent basis. The design includes enough added features that I could see it adding to the convenience of the Tilt. The quality issues that I mentioned earlier are only a problem if you are taking the phone in and out of the case, which it’s not designed for. As far as the use, many people (myself included) are relying more and more on our Bluetooth headsets when actually using the phone, so my issues with the actual use of the case are rebutted as well. The bottom line is that for the price, I would definitely recommend this case.