For any iPad users out there, you may have heard of Portenzo. They are a company that makes some book style cases for various device, mostly the iPad. With the success of the Nexus 7, Portenzo has decided to create several types of cases to match. Peaking my curiosity, Portenzo was kind enough to send me a case to review. The case took a while to receive in the mail (but not nearly as long as waiting for the cheap cases from China), although a lot of that time can be chocked up to the manufacturing process (read: hand made), which Portenzo state can take anywhere from 2-10 business days, depending on how busy they are.
Magnets on Cover
Upon taking the case out, you can notice the attention to detail and high quality polish. There are no loose seams or bubbling. All parts are glued together well. Portenzo even provide a small custom order form with your info and the person who assembled it. Very nice touch.
Portenzo makes extensive use of magnets to do everything from keeping the case closed to turning the screen on and off (yes, it makes use of the Smart cover feature on the Nexus 7). I can tell you, the smart cover magnetics are an awesome addition. All cases should come with this. The magnets used on the cover are a bit weak though and make me a bit nervous. I still preferred to use the elastic strap, which also helps to give you Tablet the “Moleskin” look. If you like the cleaner look, the magnets are there and do hold, but I could always open the case with very light pressure.
Magnets are also used to control the IntelliStand features, which allows you to keep the Nexus 7 in landscape mode (but doesn’t help much with the homescreens sadly). The IntelliStand is very nice, and there a several magnetics that will hold the Nexus 7 and a couple of different angles. It’s actually quite ingenious.
Low Angle
High Angle
Wedge
The frame for holding the Nexus 7 is made out of American Maple and layered to look like pages from a book. The molding is perfect with nothing poking out or keeping the Nexus 7 from fitting flush. The rubber corner pieces make it hard to push in at first, but once it’s in, you can rest assured that your tablet will not pop out. It is held in there hard! They do provide instructions on how to remove the Nexus 7 from the case, but even that can be hard considering how well the corner pieces hold.
Outer Corner
Inner Corner
Ouch!
My one beef is that the outside corners are rounded, while the internal ones are kept sharp. That may have been done give it a nicer look, but they poke hard into your hands when you are using the Nexus 7 in landscape mode for gaming. If the game can rotate, it’s fine, but not all games can. Also folding the cover back creates a very thick wedge (not unlike the Sony Tablet) which can make it hard to hold in landscape mode. Also, due to the thickness of the case, the NFC is unfortunately not usable. If you don’t use it, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if you make extensive use of NFC on the Nexus 7, taking it out and putting it back in can become a hassle.
Several slots are cut out in the framing to allow access to buttons and ports. These work well for the most part, but the power and volume buttons can be tight to reach in. Fortunately the smart cover feature means you don’t have to reach for the power button much.
Micro-USB and Headphone Port, Gap for Sound
Volume Rocker and Power Openings
If you have used many other cases before, you know that it can be hard to get clear sound out of them. Portenzo has created what they call an “Audio-Flow Sound Chamber” which is suppose to enhance audio quality. What I can tell you is it works as advertised. I did notice and increase in volume with a rich sound (probably for the echo like chamber created in the back). I’m not sure it’s enough to blow anyone away, but you definitely do get an improvement.
The case is very well made with high quality materials, but that does add some heft and thickness to an super slim Nexus 7. That being said, it by no means tires my arm out when I am using it for extended periods of time. I do miss the slimness, but if you like protection and the professional look, this is definitely the case for you. I actually did drop the case once accidentally (opps…), and my Tablet was unscathed.
The bookcase itself starts at $39.95, but as you add features, it can start to add up. Also, shipping will cost you a bit, but that is no different from any other US seller. That being said, if you are super nice and hit the chat now button, Lea maybe nice enough to give you a coupon code
Which brings me to my next point, Customer Service. I can safely say that I have never dealt with a nicer customer service department in my life. They are friendly, super helpful and fun to talk with. The Customer service alone could help justify the price.
Bottom line, if you are looking for a high quality professional case for your Nexus 7, this is definitely one you will not regret buying. A few issues here and there are not enough to take away from the amazing build quality and features built in. It may be one of the pricier cases out there, but it’s definitely worth the investment, especially considering how much you saved on the tablet itself
You can buy the Portenzo Bookcase for Nexus 7 here.
