This is a very attractive case and true to the pictures. Unfortunately, the pictures do not reveal the substantial dimensions and weight of this case.
The front cover and back cover are both double-layered with something sandwiched between the layers, presumably for stiffness and the magnetic on|off switch. The front layer has a very nice "leatheroid" (Thank you, Fitzwilly) single-card slot on the kick-out stand and the elastic hand strap with an additional leathroid layer on it, and it too is about the same thickness of the Kindle. With Kindle, this case makes the device to be carried a measured 18mm thick, or roughly 2-3/4x thicker than the bare Kindle. Also, the case itself seems to weigh as much, well, more actually than the Kindle itself. If you're thinking this all sounds very sturdy, you are absolutely correct. It is very sturdy indeed.
Inserting the Kindle into the case you encounter the first obstacle, a hidden Velcro® -type closure that mates behind the Kindle. It bridges the space between the back interior soft pad and the full-thickness strap holding the mating piece of Velcro®. This creates a slight elevation of the Kindle where the strap wraps and secures behind the Kindle on the side. The slot the Kindle slips into does not wrap the corners but does add yet another layer of leathroid. That makes a double sandwiched layer + the Kindle + slot layer all on the back side with the double sandwiched layer being very nearly the same thickness as the Kindle itself.
Sleep mode seems to work fine with the cover activating the on|off ably. The charging port and the manual on|off are both easily accessed.
The hand-hold is one-hand only, either always left or always right depending on how you prefer to house your Kindle in this case. The default appears to be left-hand hold as this places the card slot in an upright position with the card existing the slot upwards. The stand is very handy, however the case does not stand "balanced" due to the above-noted offsets of the various layers. When the stand is used, the Kindle leans to one side, in my case down to the right as I have it in default mounting with the left-hand only hold.
Will this case protect your Kindle if dropped? Meh… depends. Sort of, maybe, but the design is really more about avoiding the daily scratches front and back. It can fly open when dropped exposing the screen, and as-noted and shown in the photos there is a large area of the top, bottom, and of course, all four corners, all utterly exposed to the elements and anything that should intrude beyond exterior edges of this very substantial case.
Holding it is another matter. My hands are arthritic and I find holding things for any length of time exceptionally difficult, and holding weight even more so. The stress on the joints, hitherto unnoticed, becomes sublimely painful with arthritis. This was my very reason for being given a Kindle to read on, rather than trying to hold books, even paperbacks. Hardcovers are out of the question for hand-holding. Those without issues would probably have no problem holding this. those of us with these issues will find it… difficult.
So the question is, should you buy it?
If you use the Kindle chiefly because it is thin and lightweight, then the answer is a resounding NO — DO NOT BUY.
If you use a Kindle because you can carry a veritable library with you and are not particularly concerned about the weight or girth but do want something very sturdy to protect it, then the answer is an equally resounding YES — BUY THIS.
It's a nice product, precision cut, well stitched and made, and very classic looking. But it's kind of like buying that very thin and lightweight iPhone then putting it in a gargantuan heavy plastic case surrounding all side, or carrying that beautiful leather briefcase to hold two sheets of 8½ x 11 or size A paper.
| Standing screen display size | 6 Inches |
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