Vaja i-Volution for PSP Review

Leather cases are normally black, so the initial sight of a Vaja case is a sight for sore eyes. Their combinations of brightly colored leather make a great contrast against the stark black of the PSP. However, looks aren’t everything — protection, fit, and usability are all important, and the competition facing the i-Volution is stiff.

The first thing you notice upon receiving the i-Volution is the nice looking box it comes in — this is a premium product, and it feels like it. The leather is of a very high grade, the color is very bright and rich, and it feels great against your hands. The case opens in a standard PDA-case manner, and it includes storage for three Memory Stick Duos in the lid. This is really the first case we’ve seen where the idea of storing the extra sticks above the screen seems to pose no threat to the PSP’s screen.

The fit of the case on the PSP is really second to none. The leather sleeve that holds the PSP snaps in place, snugly encasing the PSP while still allowing access to all the switches and ports of the machine. It should also be noted that this sleeve, along with the inside of the lid, are a different color than the outside of the case, making for another level of contrast. The lid of the case stays shut through the use of what appears to be two magnets, both covered by leather to make the closure seem all that more elegant.

The level of protection is also great. The only areas really left exposed when the lid is closed are the Headphone and Remote ports, the shoulder buttons, and the Memory Stick slot. All of these (save for the Memory Stick slot) are handy to have available when listening to music, and therefore the fact that they are left exposed really isn’t a problem. The Memory Stick slot is exposed because in a design of this type there really isn’t any other good way to allow access without taking the PSP out of it’s holder.

As far as using the PSP while still in the case, the i-Volution is simply the most comfortable case we’ve reviewed yet. The top does dangle in the back when the case is open, but we really didn’t find that to be a problem, and the leather felt better against our hands than even holding the PSP without a case. All of the buttons on the PSP are fully functional and reachable, and the thickness of the leather didn’t seem to cause any problems whatsoever.

Luxury cases often use the best materials and construction, but lack when it comes to usability, while many less expensive cases provide good usability and protection, but are made from only so-so materials. The i-Volution from Vaja offers all of these things. While it’s $180 price tag may not be for everyone, for anyone who feels they can afford it, it’s the best PSP case yet. Period.