Blackberry Pearl / 8100 Noreve Leather Case Review [Red]

Style: 9
The red is a nice color and with 13 color choices, you are sure to find one that’s right for you.
Protection: 8.5
Aside from the top of the case (the spine), protection is assured.
Functionality: 8
Being a flip case, you need to take an extra step to get to the phone. All functions and buttons are accessible while still in the case.
Clip: 5
It is a slim profile, but the ratchet function does not work and the clip is very difficult to attach to your belt.
Overall: 8.5
The case is slim enough to fit into your pocket, but ideally it should be attached EASILY to your belt. Quality is a big plus.

read on for the detailed review and pictures…

Where to Buy:

• NoreveUSA.com – $39.99
• AbsolutelyU.com – $36.95 

Noreve began designing high-end leather cases in 2004. Their main focus is on flip cases that protect the entire device. They also have upwards of 13 different color choices for each case. Today, we are going to be looking at the red case, so let’s move on…

Packaging
 As always, not the most important part of the review. Each case comes in a blister package along with a nice gift box.

Quality of Materials
 I have always loved the great quality of the Noreve cases. The stitching is straight and holds the leather together nicely. After using low quality cases for a couple of weeks, you start to notice the stitching loosening up. Never with a Noreve case (in my experiences). All of the cutouts around the phone are nicely symmetrical and have been lined up with care. It seems that Noreve may be changing the material that they use on the inside of the case. My previous review of the Nokia N95 Noreve case, the inside was designed in leather. The inside of this case, for the Blackberry Pearl, is designed in a soft nylon. After speaking with a NoreveUSA.com representative, they said that they will be making all future cases with the leather on the inside. Regardless, the nylon is still looks very nice & won’t scratch the Pearl.

Color
 Let me start of by saying that the red color we are reviewing today probably looks best with the red Blackberry Pearl. It also looks great with the black Pearl, which we are using. Check the pictures below to see how it all looks. The color is a matte red and after three weeks of use, has not faded or rubbed off. It comes in matching stitching and the inside nylon is black. The microSD holder on the inside flap is red leather, which I cannot decide if I like or not. If red isn’t your thing, you can surely find one you like out of the 13 options.

Fit and Design
 The great thing about this Noreve case is the lack of work that you need to go through to make it fit correctly. A lot of leather cases require twisting and tweaking to get the all of the holes lined up. With this case, just take the Blackberry Pearl & slide it in. You will immediately notice that all of the cutouts on each side of the case are lined up perfectly. There is ample room to plug the USB charger in and you can easily push all of the buttons. The keyboard and screen are left uncovered and there is a cutout for the LED light atop.
 When you fold the leather flap completely over, you have complete access to the camera, and thankfully it is protected when the flap is closed. When opening and closing the flap, you will notice that there is not snap, like in most flip cases. Instead there is a metal plate on the front bottom of the case & a magnet at the bottom of the flap. This enables Blackberry’s standby mode when the flap is closed, preserving the battery. You will notice that the “snap-less” flap does not hold very tightly at first. After using the case for a couple of days, the leather stretches enough to hold perfectly. After the first annoying days of the flap opening at random, it stretches to the appropriate spot.

Protection
 As this is a flip case, protection is very good. There is only one spot that is vulnerable, the spine of the flap. Because this is the part where the flap bends, it is not reinforced. If the Blackberry Pearl (with case) were to fall directly on the flap, you may experience some damage. This is the weak point in a majority of flip cases & has come to be expected. Aside from that obvious vulnerability, everything else is well protected. As I stated above the camera is covered by the flap & the entire backside is reinforced. The bottom & sides of the case are quite sturdy. The front of the case (the flap) is nicely padded for any accidental fall.

Clip
 In my last review of the Noreve clip, accompanied by the gorgeous Nokia N95 case, I was very harsh towards the clip. The clip has not changed since then and I do not wish to just copy and paste that review. So here are the facts, plain and simple:

• The clip is very hard to attach to your belt (a two hand job)
• The ratchet function does not work
• The clip is low-profile and slim
• The clip is made of very durable plastic

There you have it. Take a look at the pictures below for a good visual of the clip.

Conclusion
 The Noreve leather case for the Blackberry Pearl is a great case. It is very protective, due to the flip cover design. It fits well, aside from one part on the side where it puckers. The clip is not the best in the industry, although I like its slim profile. The 13 colors options for this case are quite nice & the quality IS one of the best.

Where to Buy:

• NoreveUSA.com – $39.99
• AbsolutelyU.com – $36.95

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