RIM Blackberry 8700c Leather Holster with Belt Clip

Hands on review by lgreenberg
March 3rd, 2006

Price as reviewed: $21.96

Has any one accessory been more anticipated than the OEM leather case from RIM? I think not. In all seriousness my case arrived today, overnight, from Smart Phone Depot. I wanted to get the pictures and comments up as quickly as possible so forgive the shortness of this review. I'll add more to it as I use the case.




This case is a vertical pouch style case with belt clip. The belt clip is the exact same thing that's on the back the OEM plastic holster (the one that comes with the device.) As most of you are aware it does ratchet.




The case is made of black, soft leather. It does have elastic sides. One thing I'm disappointed about is the sides. Much of the sides of the device are left exposed. There is no leather at all on the sides of the case. Only the elastic pieces.





The case uses a magnetic closure but the magnets are sewn inside the leather so they are not visible. It's very easy to close the case. Unlike the Fortee, where you have to check to make sure the flap's magnet has hit and locked into the sweet spot on the case the OEM case's magnet catches every time. The case is lined with velour.



The case has a sleeper magnet built in and the device can be placed into the case screen in or out. The magnet works either way.

Once on your belt the case does stick out a bit.




I'm actually a little disappointed in that. Here's a comparison to the Fortte vertical pouch. They stick out about the same.




The case seems very heavy to me. It's definitely heavier and longer than the Fortte case. Must be because of the thicker leather the RIM case uses. The RIM case feels larger to me as well. The device does go in and out of the case a little easier.

All in all it's a very nice case. The belt clip is great. It's good that it has the sleeper magnet. The device fits in perfectly.

My only real complaints are the exposed sides, and the overall weight/bulkiness. The way the device fits in the case, how securely it both closes and stays on the belt make it an excellent choice.

Pros: OEM, sleeper magnet, ratcheting belt clip.

Cons: Bulky, Not 100% protection.

Nice review!

As I posted in another thread, I was disappointed in the 7130 version of this case from RIM. Here are two of the most significant issues:

1. Speaker being covered/encased causes the sound notifications to be muffled especially in a somewhat noisy environment.

2. The magnet on the top of the case that engages the flap causes messages to be marked as read instead of opening automatically when received and unholstered within 15 seconds. On the 7130 when you place it near the top of the case it actually engaged the sleeper function. So you get the sleeper twice each time you holster/unholster the BB.

I just got the Verizon leather swivel case made for the 7130. Its flap magnet is located low on the BB when holstered. So I don't see the sleeper function engage when I unholster it. We'll see how well it works in the next few days.

1. Agreed. The sound of an incoming call definetly seems muffled. The Fortte is better on this end. I usually use vibrate when my device is in the case 100% of the time (it's on me so I figure vibrate suits better) so it's not really an issue for me.

2. I'm not sure I understand. None of my messages are being marked read unless I've read them.

On the 7130 when you receive an email and you unholster it within 15 seconds, the message opens on the screen. With the RIM case I was using, when I unholstered it, the magnet at the top of the case where the flap connects to has a magnet. When the BB passes by it, the sleeper function engages causing the message to not open and in the message screen its marked as read.

Try this:

open the flap and slowly holster the BB. See if the screen blanks when it passes by the top of the case. Then see if it lights again, then blanks when its fully seated in the case.

I just tried this with all my cases which have magnetic closure.

The RIM case and the Gizmoskin do as you describe (the screen blanks when it passes by the top of the case. Then it lights again, then blanks when its fully seated in the case.)

The Fortte case does not do this.

However, none of them do as you also describe (When the BB passes by it, the sleeper function engages causing the message to not open and in the message screen its marked as read.)

I tested it a few times. When I remove the 8700c from the case immediately upon receiving a new message (within 15 seconds) the screen is opened to the message when I remove it.

Or if a leave the device in the holster past the 15 second period it also opens to the home screen and leaves the message marked as unread.

If there's no new/unread messages when I remove the device it just turns on to the home screen.

Some further testing is required.

It seems to have something to do with the speed at which the device is inserted or removed into and out of the case.

A few times I've received a new message but not removed the device. Than later removed it (well past 15 seconds) and had the device open directly to the new message.

Good observation.

It also may be the fact that at times, I can stretch the side of the case that has the stationary magnet (top of case) far enough away from the BB as I pull it out. In this case, the top magnet does not affect the message and it opens. It all depends on how you pull the BB from the case. It could also be where the sleeper feature is located on the BB (7130 vs 8700).

Keep testing and see if you can make it happen as I described. I just think its a flawed design to have another magnet near the top of the case. I don't like velcro that's for sure. But if the flap closure was futher down towards the bottom (like the Verizon leather case) it would not exhibit the 2nd sleeper function.

This was great to see on here so fast. Much appreciated!

So is this available now? I waaant it... mainly because the sleeper works properly!

Yes, it's available now from Smart Phone Depot.

Lgreenberg, you are truly the case-master....i bow to your case-supremacy

I'm ill.

I paid more in shipping than for the case itself.

Hey Doc want to invest. I have been thinking of opening a case factory out of my garage, I figure with lgreenberg alone we ought to get our money back in no time. Are you listening lgreenberg?

LOL

Don't tempt me.

Heheh, that is a really tempting business venture. I might be able to earn enough to quit being a doctor. Lgreenberg...where did you get all your $$$$ to spend on cases?

From my wife.

I'm a "kept" man.

Hey, whatever works!!

Oh yeah, I'm not complaining...................

yuck. i'm sticking with the stock launcher for now. i'd love to see some pics of and hear some feedback on your vajas when they show up.

dave

could this case be used for the 8700c?

http://www.shopblackberry.com/_black...WB26TARNVYXZRG

It's too large for the 8700... of course the 8700 would fit in there it would just have some additional space.

Nice review, my wife actually has this similar case for her 7100, and I am glad the 8700 case has the flap on the top, I am hoping mine ships from SmartPhoneDepot on monday, I had placed my order on March 1st. It will be nice to get rid of this plastic clip

I have read this string and the previous on cases. I want a horizontal case and it seems that the Fortte will be the most reliable. I want to keep it as low-profile as possible....is there a special clip that I should purchase...or does the one that comes with the case suffice? Also....where is the best place to purchase the item. Thanks!!

The only place, that I know of, to purchase a Fortte case from is from them directly.

www.fortte.com

It comes with a belt clip. I haven't seen a replacement that fits.

LOL! What Geeks! Love the Pics of the Holster on your hip.

would there be way to much space? or just a little extra? thanks...

Does anyone know if this case is available in Cingular stores yet?

I find your comment funny because I used to think the same thing till i started investing in Treo's and now a Blackberry but I'm going to assume you don't use a case just wait till you throw it in your pocket with keys or something or accidently bump into a table and crack your screen... We won't be geeks anymore.

Cases I use for my 7130e are the Verizon one with the long flap when I first got the phone, but I place my phone on my sun visor in my car so I've gone back to the case that came with so i can slide it in and out w/o a flap. I'm constantly switching!
Verizon Case = Good Case, Sleeper Magnet, Swivel Clip, Mostly Protective
Stock= Easy slide access, Sleeper, Not super protective.
I wish i could have easy slide access and better protection for the top of the phone w/o having to have a flap!

AFAIK Smart Phone Depot is the only one who has it right now.

It would work fine but you will have a 1/4" of play in the width. I used a 7290 case http://store.bizshopr.com/spdmon0193.html for ever on my 8700 and it was fine. I see no reason this case wouldn't work. The Hydofoam cases have somewhat of a lip on the top to retain the unit so i do see it "popping out" readily. I will test it on Monday for you.

As far as we know we are the only ones... I would suspect other sources would have them in a week or so... but then why would you shop anywhere else but SPD????

Dammit. I tried purchasing it from SPD, but no options to ship to Canada. Any plans to include Canada or anybody with a PayPal account want to pick up an extra one and post it up for sale to a Canadian?

From the other thread...............

Sweet. Thanks lgreenberg.. I'll keep my eyes peeled for the 15th

The new store opens the 15th - shipping to CANADA will begin towards the end of the month as we want to debug an issues that come up on the new cart before rolling it out - sorry about that but this has been a long time coming an we want to make it a good cutomer experience.

I got mine today. SPD was great to deal with and will buy from again. This is the only case I own, not like some people that have like 10 of them..........lol. I like it a lot and think it is a heck of a lot better thatn the holster. It seems very durable and it is constucted very nice. I will still be using my holster for my car. I put it on my sunvisor so I can hear when someone calls me, that way the seatbelt doen't get in the way of taking it out of the case.

so lgreenberg, in your "expert" opinion would you recommend the fortte case or the oem leather case?

It's a tough call.

You can't go wrong with either.

I've been using the OEM RIM exclusively since I got it. Perhaps that says something.

^^^^^^all confused, he has too many to chose from...LOL.