Piel Frama is well known for producing quality smartphone accessories in the higher end of the market, and at 70 Euros this particular case is not cheap. The question is if it lives up to the price tag? It may appear to be expensive at first glance, but with the smartphone it is protecting retailing at close to £400 it seems like a reasonable price to pay to protect it.
In the box
The box contents are not what you would normally expect with a smartphone case, but this is definitely a good thing. Here is what you get-
A belt clip
A key to remove the belt clip stud on the back
Three replacement flat studs for if you do decide to remove the belt clip stud
Instruction sheet for belt clip removal
Small leaflets which offer more information on Piel Frama as a company
The entire package is well made and subtly brings over a message of quality without going over the top.
The case
The case itself is a flip style which offers more protection that most can due to its design. The screen is protected by a soft covering which also has a mesh insert for a credit card or loose notes. There is also a further slot behind this for extra storage. This style is excellent for protection, ABS inserted protection included, but has the disadvantage of being slightly less quick when receiving a phone call. You can use the Curve perfectly well while in the case, but the front flap will hang down which may not be ideal for some.
The build quality is as good as I have seen in any case; from the stitching to the perfectly cut slots for the camera, everything is made to complement the rest of the design. The Curve sits firmly within the case, but there is no chance of damage occurring because the leather is soft enough to avoid any small scratches occurring when in situ.
There are also cut-outs for the charging port and the left / right convenience keys which ensure that all of the standard functions are accessible all of the time. Strangely I found it very easy to type with the Curve in the case, and in fact it seemed slightly easier than normal. I guess that the slight increase in dimensions and the soft leather is responsible for this.
Conclusion
I tend to know what to expect from Piel Frama these days, having used lots of its cases in the past, and it is gratifying to see that the standard has not deteriorated at all. This is by far the best quality case I have used for the past 2 years, and as such makes the 70 Euro price tag seem more than fair.
This style of case from Piel Frama is available for many makes and models of smartphone and PDA so you can expect the same level of quality no matter what device you own.
Available from Piel Frama for 70 Euros, and in a variety of colours and styles.
