PSP World

Logitech PlayGear Pocket

Even though Sony reportedly sells PSPs at below production cost and loses money on every unit sold, the device is not cheap by any means. At $250, it's more than any console or portable gaming system, and hasn't yet sold out in the US as expected due to its hefty price tag. However, those of us who are lucky enough to own one love it — and we don't want it getting hurt. That's why a case should be in every PSP gamer’s arsenal.

Made from clear polycarbonate with black rubberized interior padding, the Logitech PlayGear Pocket ($19.99; available later this month) is the most rugged case we've seen. It's hard to explain how sturdy the case feels. Let's just say that Logitech's claim that it's "virtually indestructible" is very accurate. When closed, your PSP is motionless inside thanks to the wrap-around padding that is molded in the exact shape of the PSP. You can bang the case around and could even drop it to the ground without the PSP feeling a thing.

Our only safety concern comes from the openings on the PlayGear Pocket's four corners that allow access to the left and right shoulder buttons, power/hold switch, WiFi switch, headphone port, and power port. It would be easy for dirt and small items like a paperclip to find their way inside the case if you had put it in your backpack for the day. I would make sure to put the case in a pocket on your bag that had nothing else in it.

Your PSP is totally playable while inside the case with the lid up. The above-mentioned openings allow for complete access to all controls and ports except the USB and UMD door. It's also very easy to charge your PSP or use headphones while your PSP is in the case (when the lid is both open or closed).

The lid of the PlayGear Pocket is what sets it apart from all other PSP cases we've tested so far. Like most other cases, it opens up from the top. But you'll notice that the hinge is unlike all current cases on the market. It has a stiffness to it that allows it to stay at any angle you adjust it to. As Logitech suggests, this is great for using it as a visor to block out the sunlight while playing games outdoors. But the real benefit of the lid is its ability to fold completely back to create a stand for setting up your PSP to watch movies. It gets very tiring holding your PSP for two hours, and this is the best solution we've seen so far.

As far as looks, the PlayGear Pocket is a complete knockout. The clever use of black padding and clear casing gives the illusion that you're actually seeing the PSP through just a clear case. It even has a circle cut from the bottom padding to expose the stainless steel PSP logo on the UMD door. Up on top, the PlayGear Pocket features a minimal Logitech logo in a nice shade of silver — Very classy.

Our only problem with the PlayGear Pocket is a big one. The latch on the case is nearly unusable. There's not much to say about it except that it doesn't work very well — if at all. You push the button on the latch in and try to pry the two pieces apart to open the case and it simply doesn't budge. And if you're hands/fingers are the least bit sweaty, totally forget about opening it. In order to get it open, we have to push the button in with force and then separate the top piece of the case from the bottom piece using either the opening for the headphone port or power port.

It's very hard to find a perfect product. Everything from looks to functionality have to be, well, perfect. Logitech's PlayGear Pocket comes very close, but fails in an area that you'll use every time you want to play your PSP. If it wasn't for the latch issue, this case would have definitely gotten an A. Here's to hoping Logitech will see this review and hear customer concerns and modify future versions of the PlayGear Pocket.