Capdase Soft Jacket for PSP Review

The last silicone case we reviewed, the BoxWave FlexiSkin for PSP, set a new standard for excellence in the category — now we get to see how the Capdase Soft Jacket stacks up. For starters, it comes in two colors — black and “white,” which is really more of a frosty clear. That’s just the start, as the Soft Jacket really is a different kind of case altogether.

The first thing that’s noticable about the Soft Jacket is the hard plastic panels that protect the screen and cover the UMD door. Both panels are easily removable, and the front panel needs to be removed to insert the PSP into the case. It can then be replaced by fitting four nubs on the corners of the screen through four holes on the plastic panel. Once the PSP is in, the fit is great - and the plastic panel really does a great job of protecting the screen, while being nearly perfectly clear. The panel covering the umd door is solidly connected in the same way as the front panel to a flap at the bottom of the door. Unfortunately, the panel does like to pop open from time to time, so getting it secured at the top after accessing the UMD door is important.

No silicone covers the d-pad, analog nub, x-buttons, or trigger buttons, so they all function as if there was no case on the PSP. The frosty translucency allows for decent, if not great, readability for the buttons below the screen, and they function with nice feel. Openings are cut out for access to all of the PSPs ports, save for the top and bottom accessory holes. Also, the Memory Stick opening is rather small, so if you access the door often you might want to keep this in mind — it’s not bad, just a little less than optimal.

The Soft Jacket provides some of the best protection we’ve seen from a silicone case. The panel covering the screen is hard and provides great protection for the screen — the main concern we have with the overall design of the case is the gap that sometimes opens up between the screen protector and the top of the silicone. The gap is wide enough at times that we fear dust, dirt and the like might sneak in behind the panel and, over time, scratch the screen.

Overall, the Capdase Soft Jacket for PSP is a solid silicone case. It fits the PSP very well, and provides excellent protection. For those of you out there that already have screen protectors installed, the plastic panel may be overkill, and those that access the Memory Stick door often may want to look elsewhere — but for the rest of you, we highly recommend considering this case.