Noreve iPad Mini Leather Case

Specifications

–       Genuine Leather Case

–       Hand crafted

–       Designed in France

–       Leather stand on the back for horizontal use

–       Internal document pocket

The Basics

Since 2004, Noreve has specialised in manufacturing high quality, leather cases for mobile devices. The unique design and style of the south of France can be seen in its entire selection of products. In less than two years, Noreve had conquered the international market via the Internet through a network of specialised resellers (web and stores). Through the quality and design of their products, their new capacity of reaction as well as the new technology boom, the company has achieved rapid growth.

The impressive box that contained the Noreve iPad leather case

The Good

Quality, Quality, Quality that is what Noreve are all about and the iPad Mini leather case from the Perpétuelle Couture Selection did not disappoint either, with its elegant design and use of top quality leathers this is a case made to impress. Noreve kindly supplied me with this case in vibrant red with the diamond quilt affect (Perpétuelle Couture) that makes the case standout amongst the crowd. Noreve have a weird and wonderful choice of colours along with textures listed on their website for each and every product they produce, this is good for customers that are looking to purchase a matching case for both the iPad and iPhone knowing they will be able to get the same colour and texture in both.

When I first opened the parcel from Noreve the first thing to strike me was the sturdy and well design box that the product was presented in, then to my surprise after opening the box the case was accompanied by a beautiful branded pouch for the case to be placed in when not being used. These little touches might not mean a lot to some customers when purchasing a case, but this really does show that Noreve go that extra mile to please their customers.

Branded pouch for storing the case when not in use

Even before putting my iPad Mini into the case I was a little sceptical, as I find that cases made from leather usually do not fit the device snug due to the designers being more worried about the aesthetics of the products that actually addressing the main issue of protecting the product you have specifically purchased the case for. To my surprise the actual component that holds the iPad is made of a strong, lightweight metal which is covered in a lining to prevent any damage being inflicted to your device. This pleased me for two reasons; the first being that this proves that Noreve does not cut corners in an attempt to reduce costs when producing their products. Secondly while being easy to pop the device in and out of the housing when needed, it was tightly secured on both sides with the rounded edges that held the iPad in place magnificently when situated in the case.

This case also has three pouches located on the inside of the face cover to keep documents safe. These offer excellent storage space for items that might prove handy while travelling around with your iPad. The first of the three pouches is around 20cm x 10cm this could be used to keep passports if traveling or other documents such as tickets, bills and letters. The other two pouches are identical and are 10cm x 5cm these would be better for storing items such as cards, cash or receipts. The last point that I will mention with the Noreve case is the branding that is present on the case, this includes their emblem which is embedded discreetly in the bottom right corner of the case to maintain the luxury look. The words “noreve saint – tropez” are also embellished in silver on the back at the bottom of the case.

The red case in Perpétuelle Couture, with the Noreve logo

The Bad

All mobile device accessories have issues with them, even the most expensive products do, but with Noreve it has proved hard to find these almost insignificant issues. The one issue I did feel with the Leather iPad case is the stand that it comes built in, that is located on the back of the case, this works as expected but personally I am not a fan of stands built into cases. I am sure many other customers find them useful which I can completely understand as they do add many benefits like using an iPad with a keyboard etc. The issue with the stand on this case is that it uses a popper to keep the stand closed when not in use and instead of this being flush with the back of the case, there is a good 5mm raise on the back where you would usually hold the device. The does not affect the case when flat on a surface but when holding the case in one hand it might not feel as comfortable as expected at first and may take some time to get used too.

Now down to price, the iPad Perpétuelle Couture case in red that is featured in this review retails for €75.99, but these are fully customisable and price varies depending on the design chosen. I have only included this in the bad section as I understand, for the majority of iPad Mini owners it would be hard to justify spending this amount of money on a case, especially with the global economy at present. However Noreve produces luxury cases for a niche market, these products cost more than competitors due to the materials being used to produce them along with the craftsmanship put into each individual case.

Case stand in the closed position (Here you can see the slight raise)

The Bottom line

Noreve produce some of the best quality genuine leather cases I could find on the market with the most competitive prices for leather products, with their excellent design and customization options available online it would be hard to not find a case that you loved. The case offers great protection for both the front and the back of the iPad as well as offering the little added extras like the stand and the three added pockets to store them all important documents. The best part of this case are the materials used to create it, when first opening the box my nose was instantly hit by the smell of top quality leather that was crafted superbly.

The only small issue that I had with the case was the closed position of the stand, which some people might say that is pathetic but I am sure this issue could be addressed in future products to give it that more complete finish, either way this should not stop you purchasing products from Noreve as I can assure you that you will not be let down by the pure quality of these luxury cases. If Price is an issue for you look at it this way, if you’re willing to spend $350 on an Apple devices for its elegant look and its fantastic build quality, why would you go and put a $2 case on it from eBay? It’s completely your choice on how much you are willing to spend on a case and hopefully this review will help you to decide if this could be the case to house your iPad Mini.

A view of the document pouches available to store items of your choice

Category	Comment	Rating /10
Build Quality	– An exceptional build quality, with hand crafted leather – Uses a metal section to hold your device in place for added protection and a sturdy feel	9
Ease of use	– Easy to pace the iPad Mini inside the case, and just as easy to remove when needed – Nice clips in place to keep the screen cove in place when device is not being used.	8
Protection	– Great protection with the screen being protected by the front cover and the metal holder to keep the device in place if it was to be dropped	9
Value	– With the case being priced at €75.99 it is not the cheapest, but for value in comparison to other products of the price it is a lot better build quality with better materials used – Also comparing it to other hand crafted genuine leather cases the price is very reasonable with pother brands asking for over $100	8
Colors/Textures available	– The website lets you customise your case extremely well considering they are genuine leather products you have a choice for over 10 colours and a number of different textures	9
Overall	– Overall this case is one of the best quality cases I have tested to date, if not the best. It has a large price tag, but if it is the kind of product you are looking for I doubt you could find better quality, design and customer services for the same price	9

If you would like to purchase the item above, or are interested in any other products that Noreve have to offer please feel free to visit the website here:- http://www.noreve.com/

I would just like to say a big thank you to Noreve for both letting and supplying me with this great product to review, and hopefully I will be able to review more products of theirs in the near future for my dedicated audience.

Rearth Ringke Slim Case Review

Specifications

–          Compatibility: Google Nexus 4

–          Slim profile 0.8mm thickness

–          Weight 14 grams

–          Premium SF Matte Finish

–          Impact resistant polycarbonate

The Basics

Rearth was established back in 2003 and since then they have become one of the words leading lightweight phone case manufacturers. Rearth rely on their creditable reputation to produce high quality products along with their outstanding customer service. This was recently proven after the release of the Ringke Slim for the Nexus 4, with the first batch of cases being shipped out for delivery with a manufacturing defect, this caused customers to experience an issue with the fit of the case around the volume rocker. Rearth where quick to respond to the negative feedback and promised to replace any defective case with the revised version free of charge.

Rearth’s Eco-friendly packaging

The Good

Rearth have pulled this case out of the bag, with very few case manufactures offering cases for the Nexus 4, Rearth where quick to respond releasing the Ringke Slim a mere 4 weeks after the release of the flagship Nexus. The case arrived sooner than expected and was delivered in their eco-friendly packaging to help reduce their impact on global warming; something that I feel all businesses should be doing in the near future.

The case is made from impact resistant polycarbonate with a soft feel matte black finish that feels spectacular in the hand and fits the ergonomics of the Nexus 4 almost too well, to give it an almost nonexistence feel. Although I am not as pleased with the grip of the matte finish as I would like to have been, it is far better than the glass finish on the back of the Nexus.

The case is one of the slimmest as well as lightest on the market at an impressive 0.8mm thick (the thickness of an average credit card) and weighing in at 14 grams. I felt that the case provides sufficient protection for a slim fit case; the face is protected with the raised corners along with the back being completely covered. The case has discrete branding positioned at the bottom of the case, this gives that stylish look that is hard to find in many cases that cost as little as the Ringke Slim.

The last and possibly the most important factor when purchasing a case – price, retailing at $9.99, the Ringke Slim is a great choice of case for users on a budget, managing to maintain that premium feel. This case has very few competitors at this point in time with very few case manufactures willing to produce cases for the Nexus 4, so unfortunately this gives me very few products to compare.

A brief outline of Rearth as a business

The Bad

Rearth are very good at listening to customer when it comes to the design of their cases, but this does not avoid small problems arising. The major floor with the Ringke Slim was the manufacturing fault with the first version, but saying that this issue was quickly resolved and has not caused any issues since. When I first purchased this case I was unsure if I had received the defective version or the revised version, but there are a few subtle differences to tell the two cases apart, here are some simple checks:-

Version one (Defective) –

–          All edges of the case are symmetrical

–          The case has a significant gap on the volume rocker side of the case

–          The back of the case does not sit flush with the back of the phone, causing a creek when holding the phone firmly in one hand

Version two (Revised) –

–          The top left corner of the case is noticeably larger

–          The case should have a snug fit on both the power button and the volume rocker side

–          The case should not creek when gripped firmly in one hand

One feature that I feel lets down the Ringke Slim is the lanyard cut out on the bottom right corner of the case. I am not a fan of lanyards myself but I obtained a couple of these to use for the sake of the review and to give my feedback on these, but to my disappointment the two I had planned to use for testing did not fit the cut out provided. This leads me to suspect that most lanyards would not be suitable for this case, resulting in me feeling that Rearth should have left this feature out to maintain the sleek design of the case a little better.

The availability of the case outside the US is also a little disappointing having to pay extortionate prices to have it shipped from US or paying a premium to obtain the case off a reseller that has already done this to avoid the hassle. It would be nice to see Rearth setup a distributor in Europe to meet the demand of the European market, and keep the costs to a minimum for all of their customers.

The inside of the Ringke Slim

The Bottom line

Over all I would suggest this case to all users looking for a smart, minimalistic case that provides essential protection for their Nexus 4. It would be a lie to say this is the best case on the market, but it certainly does the job intended while looking and feeling like a premium case. If you have a spare $10 you could not spend your money more wisely, if you either need a low profile case for day to day use or a spare, then this is a nice option to have lying around, even if it not used all the time it is fairly inexpensive and is always available if its needed.

Back of the Ringke Slim with branding

Category	Comment	Rating /10
Build Quality	– Good build quality but signs of injection molding visible – Good fitting case as long as you have the revised version	7
Ease of use	– Easy to apply the case and a good tight fit when in place – Can be a little hard to remove but better than having a lose case	8
Protection	– This case does not provide the best protection for your Nexus 4, but what do you expect when buying a slim case	7
Value	– This is a great value case, for $10 you cannot go wrong along with the premium feel to the case	9
Colors/Textures available	– These case is available in 4 diffident colors: SF – Matte Black SF – Matte Grey SF – Matte Navy LF – White – It would be nice to see some colorful cases available	7
Overall	– Overall this case is lovely, the feel, build quality and the business themselves have great ethics. If you are looking to purchase a cheap, lightweight and slim case then this might just be the case for you.	8

The Start

The Truth Starts Here.

Google LG Nexus 4

Specifications

– Android 4.2
– 4.7-inch 1280×768 pixel True IPS+ display
– 1.5Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro
– 2GB RAM / 8-16GB internal storage
– 8MP BSI camera / 1.3MP front camera
– WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, Miracast
– 2100mAh battery (non-removable)
– EDGE/HSPA+(21Mbps)/DC-HSPA+ (42Mbps)
– 850/900/1700/1900/2100Mhz
– 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm
– 139gs

The Basics

Google teams up with an Android phone manufacturer to release a new Nexus phone each year, packing the very latest Android OS out of Google’s labs. It’s meant to be the benchmark all other handset peddlers aspire to, and this time round, LG has the privilege of having a go. On paper, all new Android 4.2, a 4.7-inch HD screen and 1.5GHz quad-core processor sound like a match made in heaven. But it’s the stunning £239 price tag that really makes this phone stand out.

Sleek Google LG Nexus 4 Packaging

The Good

If you thought today’s phone were fast, you’ve not seen anything yet. The S4 quad-core processor powering the Google Nexus 4’s super crisp 720p display absolutely blazes: lag is a thing of the past.

And while the world’s still just getting to grips with the awesome potential of Android 4.1, but the Google Nexus 4 comes with version 4.2 pre-installed. It’s still the Jelly Bean we love, with smart notifications you can open in the pull down tray and read, but with a few extra flourishes: there’s a new settings menu in the notification drawer you can use to toggle everything, Gmail now opens all messages properly, and Google Now uses your emails to better predicts what you’ll need before you ask.

All in all, it’s a phenomenal, fast operating system that far exceeds iOS 6 capabilities – if you have the patience to get to grips with it all. And better yet, you can be certain you’ll be first in lune for an update whenever Google unleashes Android 5.0.

The stunning 4.7-inch 1280×768 pixel True IPS+ display

The Bad

Everything the Google Nexus 4 has going for it is on the screen or inside: the actual design of the phone is about as bland as it gets these days. At 9.1mm, it’s pretty chunky: it feels much more unwieldy than the HTC One X or Samsung Galaxy S3.

The black plastic design is uninspiring, and we have no idea what LG was thinking when it put sequins on the back panel. It looks like you dropped your phone in some glitter at a children’s party – if anything, it’s a step back from the handsome(ish) Samsung Galaxy Nexus from late last year.

It’s also missing a few things you might expect – there’s no 4G for slurping down HD movies, and the 8 or 16GB of storage is pretty paltry. And as much as the price one Google Play is incredible, it’s also hard to come by: the Nexus 4 is sold out in both editions right now, and it’s a lot pricier on contract through networks.

The dazzling “Disco Ball” finish to the Nexus 4

The Bottom Line

Sure, it doesn’t have 4G, and it’s about as sexy as a doorstop, but there’s so much raw power under the hood of the Google Nexus 4, and its Android 4.2 software is sublime. For the money – on the Google Play store, at least – it’s the sale of the century for iOS haters.

Category	Comment	Rating /10
Build Quality	–          Feels sturdy in the hand –          Glass back and front give premium feel	8
Performance	–          Android 4.2, very smooth-          One of the best performance phones available	9
Software	–          Android 4.2 is a huge improvement over the older versions	9
Camera	–          Not as good as other cameras on the market-          Camera is fine for people who just like taking few snaps	7
Design	–          Glitter ball back affect is a show stopper for myself, and looks fantastic.-          Button less face gives the Nexus 4 a sleek look	9
Display	–          An amazing HD display-          Great contrast and black levels for the IPS display	8
Battery Life	–          Nothing special here, but should last a full day with general use, 2 at a push.	7
Value	–          The best value phone to specs on the market currently £239 for 8GB or £279 for 16GB.	10
Overall	–          The Google LG Nexus 4 is the best “bang for your buck” phone available on the market, its great price tag along with its awesome specification makes it a hot phone or 2012/2013.	8