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Product: i-volution for PSP Manufacturer: Vaja Retail Price: From $180.00 USD Date of Availability: Now Available We’ve looked at Vaja’s premium i-volution cases before for other handhelds and have come to expect a slim case, excellent leather finish and flexible functionality built in. The i-volution for the PSP does not disappoint. It encapsulates these three points succinctly. In a $180.00 USD package, it’s considerably more expensive than other cases for the PSP and in this review we’ll find out why.
The i-volution design for the PSP grafts on to the PSP device in such a manner that all USB and charging ports are left accessible. Many cases tend to fall into two categories: over-protective, covering the entire unit including essential functions like the A/C outlet. Or the cases are under-protective; very sleek in design but it exposes too much of the unit to potential damage. It’s clear that the i-volution was designed from ground up for the PSP. It strikes a good balance between usability and protection. That Sony has crammed in so many features into the PSP makes Vaja’s job all the more difficult because a higher level of craftsmanship is required. The i-volution also takes care not to inhibit any of the buttons used for gameplay, although those who have large stubby fingers might be brushing up against the side of the leather. Luckily, the i-volution takes a cue from Vaja’s other leather products. The quality of the leather is higher than your typical leather case. Virtually no stitching can be seen anywhere except on the inside of the case. This i-volution case is subtitled a “leather suit” and has a softer leather feel to it. The interior of the case is fleshed out with a soft suede-like material that is designed to prevent scratches from inserting or removing the PSP from the case. Three memory stick holders are available and can be easily accessed. A magnetic snap enclosure is included to allow the i-volution case to maintain a low profile.
Also like other Vaja products, we were impressed with the ability to customize the PSP i-volution. The case itself is available in a single color or it can be two-toned with the interior case color looking different from the outside. Vaja has a wide range of colors available from striking yellows and oranges to darker shades of grays, blues and blacks. For a price, Vaja will even throw in the ability for you to customize the case by personalizing a name or logo. The use of UMD has enabled PSP owners to use the device to view movies, and the folks at Vaja have included the ability for the i-volution case to fold out into a stand. This shows why the case was designed with two colors in mind and it’s also functional too allowing hands-free operation of the PSP in stationary movie viewing positions. We mention stationary since the leather product didn’t really cope too well in turbulent situations like bumpy plane rides or a rough train ride. The flap that supports the opening and closing of the case would need to be reinforced with something heavier if it is to stay steady in shaky environments.
We enjoyed using the i-volution case with the PSP. Clearly, a lot of thought went into the design from Vaja to merge aesthetics and functionality together. With the current PSP running for $249.99 USD (at the time of writing), most gamers may opt to buy a few more games or memory sticks with $180.00 USD. The price to purchase this is steep, so for now, the product appears aimed at the elite. If premium cell phones, gaming and PCs are indicative of buying trends these days, Vaja should get a fair share of those premium dollars for this PSP accessory.
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