Covertec case
for Audiovox XV6600 Pocket PC Phone Edition
(and other XDA III devices)

Discuss this Review!

My first experience with a Covertec case was one designed for the Samsung i700, which I reviewed in late 2003. I so enjoyed the case that I just had to have one for my latest device, the XV6600! Fabrice Minelian from Covertec was gracious once again, and sent me a case for review. Even if Fabrice hadn't happened to send me one, I would have gladly purchased it. I highly recommend these cases. They are nice!

You can click on the thumbnail images throughout the review, to see a larger shot with more detail. I tried to capture as many different angles as I could think of!

Opening the box - ahh, the smell of leather!

Contents

In the package is the Case, a 360 degree swivel clip (called the Wips System), and a screwdriver to attach the optional clip. I like the fact that they made the clip optional - I've seen users opt to not use the clip (for example, for women carrying it in a purse). It's nice to have a choice. The clip works great. Like I said, I've used a Covertec case for over a year and a half, and the clip (and case) have both held up very well. There are some comparison photos further on, and you'll see how nice the i700 case still looks!

The case and the hardware.

The rear of the case, without the clip attachment.

The rear of the case, with the clip attachment mounted.

First Impressions

One of the first things that I noticed is a different style of latch. Where my previous case latched in the back, this case fastens on the front. At first glance, I did not like it as much, but it's growing on me. My only concern is having the latch catch on something...

I spoke with Fabrice at Covertec - he said they went with a different type of latch to prevent problems with the battery. They found that the magnetic closure (on the back) was interfering with the battery of this model of device (wasn't an issue with the Samsung i700). So, that explains why it's on the front, especially for this case.

Here is a shot of the new case along side my i700 case.

Comparison of the XV6600 case and the i700 case.

Creating a sturdy case for this uniquely styled device must have been a challenge, but what they've created works. The keyboard portion of the XV6600 slides under a clear strip of plastic, and that's all that holds the device in! It's quite sturdy, though. Something else I like about the way they fasten the device into the case: there's no leather blocking the view of this beautiful Pocket PC! Instead, the XV6600 is almost "displayed" in the case, so the beauty of the leather compliments it, rather than distracts from it! Gosh - I sound like a commercial or something! You can see what I mean in this photo further on down the page.

The clear strap which holds the device in place
To insert the device into the case, you must first slide the screen up to expose the keyboard. Then, you simply insert it under the plastic.
The plastic covers most of the keyboard, and really doesn't interfere with typing at all. Some people say it actually gives a better tactile feel to the keys, allowing a slightly less accurate press of a key to still work!

The magnet for the latch is noticeably heavier-duty, and latches easier. I like that aspect of it. Another cool touch they added - the closing strap can retract into the case. This eliminates flapping of that strap while holding the device with the case open.

The closing strap extended (L), and retracted (R). Nice touch!
Closeup of the strap retracted.

Here are some more shots, comparing the look to the i700 case. Notice the changes in the location of the SD card slots and business card/credit card slots. One thing I like about the new SD slots is that they are "indented" into the cover. Speaking with Fabrice at Covertec, he said this new design was to ensure cards would not get lost. I never lost a card with my i700 case, but I still like this improvement they made.

cases opened, side-by-side	closeup of flap detail

Here are some other shots of the case, showing different angles. All buttons (and the reset hole) are easily accessible, and for those owners of a camera-version of this device, the rear of the case folds down to allow easy access for snapping a photo.

Final thoughts

As I said in my review for the i700 version of the Covertec case, the craftsmanship on these cases is excellent. Covertec simply makes a great case. The stitching is sturdy and the case holds up really well. Just look at my i700 shots in this review! The case is 16 months old, it's been through a lot, and looks great!

You can get the case in several colors:
Black	Brown	Red

You won't be disappointed!

Discuss this Review!

Members of

 
Windows Mobile and Pocket PC are registered Trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Contact the with questions about this site

All Trademarks are owned by their respective companies
All content on this site, video, graphic and text is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without expressed written consent.

Copyright © 2001-2007 Pocket PC Louisville
All rights reserved.