Style: 8.5

It’s not the most attractive case I’ve ever seen, nor the classiest, but it’s still nice-looking and accessible to most functions.

Protection: 9

Assuming the top flap remains attached, this Fortte case is very protective. There are openings in leather, but it’s only the two bottom openings I’m a bit worried about in terms of device exposure.

Functionality: 9

Though the USB cable is covered by the leather while in the case, every other function is accessible while inside the case. This includes volume control, power button and speakers, headphone cord, and camera lens.

Overall: 9

It’s a fine case; I’m not blown out of the water, as there are some functions of the case which I’d do without (the bulky metal stud for the belt clip, the extra bulk with each strap button, etc.), but otherwise the case is function-accessible, protective, and durable.

Fortte.com – Starting at $39.99

Color:

The color I’ve received from Fortte is the Brandy Black case for the 8900. The black is a nice, dark black color, and the “brandy” is a lighter brown color. I’m not a huge fan of brown, let alone black and brown, but I think the richness of the brown is nice against the black.

Fit and Design:

The fit of this case is a bit different from previous cases I’ve reviewed; instead of a top flap covering the device’s face from the top down, this Fortte case has a flap that is snapped from the back of the case and comes up from behind and a magnet within the flap holds the cover shut. The nice thing about this is feature is that besides the fact that when the device is in use it hangs from below instead of above, the top flap also unsnaps and be completely removed to leave an open face for the BlackBerry. The style is interesting; not as clean-cut looking as some of Fortte’s competitors, but still upscale-looking. There are openings in the leather to allow for the device’s basic functions including the side controls, speakers, and camera lens. The stitching is tight and the leather is smooth. In terms of bulkiness, I’d say that the top flap adds a fair amount of bulk and weight to the device. Reason being, the top flap has thick padding as well as magnetic sensors which seem to add the majority of the weight to the top flap. There is a plastic cover on one side of the case, protecting the side buttons from outside harm. Additionally, there is a tiny strap on top which will keep the device completely in place so it will not shift in the case during use. Aesthetically speaking, the case is attractive. I wouldn’t say it’s the most elegant case I’ve ever seen, but I would say that is case is good-looking. The embossed Fortte logo can be seen on the front/top flap, along with a metal rook symbol above; Fortte’s familiar logo. Finally, a metal stud is place on the back of the case to house a plastic 360˚ swivel belt clip. The problem I have with the metal stud is the fact it sticks out a fair amount and I fear it would be uncomfortable to those who chose not to use the belt clip, leaving the metal exposed. The high-resistance plastic belt clip is nice because the plastic is sturdy enough to open and close easily as well as expand with great range for any size belt, but it has free rotation which makes it so that once the clip is in place on a belt, the case and device will hang loosely, swinging with any movement. However, though a bit inconvenient in that regard, I find the clip itself to be more easily accessible than other clips I’ve reviewed, especially in terms of fitting onto the case. It simply slides in and clicks when in place, and to remove it you press a plastic tab on the clip which will release its hold on the metal stud. The tab is somewhat hard to access, especially once on the belt, but I wouldn’t say that this should sway your purchase at all.

Protection:

A great deal of the BlackBerry will be protected with durable leather. The top flap covers the screen almost completely, and much of the sides are covered in leather or protected by plastic. The only part of the device I worry about is the bottom of the BlackBerry, where Fortte has left openings in the leather for easy device removal from the case. These openings allow for users to push up on the device so that it can easily slide out of the case without having to grab it from the tops or sides, risking damage to the device. I just worry about this device being dropped and landing on those openings, because there is nothing to protect against outside harm there. That said, check out the pictures to decide for yourself.

Quality of materials:

According to Fortte, this case is premium full grain leather. The padding on the top flap is protective and seemingly durable, and the stitching appears tight and durable as well. This case weighs 2 ounces with the top flap still attached, just over 1 ounce without the top flap, and just over 2½ ounces with the plastic belt clip attached. As you can tell, the top flap adds a fair amount of weight which I, like I said, attribute to the magnetic sensors inside the padding. I like the quality of the leather, as it seems protective against scratches though I wouldn’t say it’s the highest quality of leather I’ve reviewed.

Conclusion:

For being in about the medium price range of BlackBerry cases, I’d say it’s a good purchase for most customers. Though a bulky, this Fortte case is mostly protective while still somewhat attractive. It’s a good buy, and even if you don’t like the look of this case, there are numerous color options to choose from.

Fortte.com – Starting at $39.99

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