Kangaroos have been using pouches to keep their little ones safe for a long time now, so I figured it was about time I tried using one for my iPhone 3GS. Sena kindly sent over a free Corsa pouch and Sarach Flip for me to review, and I figured I’d start the writing off with the Corsa pouch, since it’s a little simpler (and I thought of the silly Kangaroo imagery first). If the design looks a little familiar, that’s because it’s basically the UltraSlim pouch, but kicked up a notch with a leather stripe and a pull system.
Sena talks in a fair amount of detail about their cases and how much trouble they take to make them, and I’m glad to report it isn’t just fancy sounding shop talk: the Corsa case is quality leather. The black and red Corsa pouch I received looks ridiculously slick, and the red of the stripe is so deep (thanks in part to the sunny day) that I needed to colour edit my photos to truly capture it. The Sena Corsa pouch isn’t cheap, but that’s because it doesn’t use cheap materials. The outside features Napa leather that’s different from the LeatherSkin or MagnetFlipper in texture: it’s a little rough, and it doesn’t scratch easily as a result. The inside of the Corsa is layered with soft velvet to ensure your iPhone won’t be damaged by the case.
Why should I get a Corsa?
There are two reasons you might want to spend an extra $10 and buy a Corsa instead of an UltraSlim: 1) the sexy stripe, and 2) the pull tab for quicker access to the iPhone. The first point is definitely a matter of taste, but I think the stripe adds a lot to the design, and I’m not really a fan of the plain look of the UltraSlim. However, having seen my friend’s brown UltraSlim, I’m a real fan of the added cloth strip that you can pull on to help remove your phone from the pouch. Pulling on this tab will raise the iPhone out of the pouch, leaving about 40% of it exposed. From there, it’s very easy to just grab the device and use it, but it’s not sticking so far out that it might accidentally fall out.
Extra thoughts
The one thing I was really wondering about the new “designer” suite of Sena cases is if they were really worth the increased price tag. I know that the leather in the Corsa pouch and the comparable UltraSlim pouch is the same, but the assembly of each pouch is different. The seams on the Corsa are exposed along the edges of the case, giving it a bit of extra texture when you hold it. I really enjoyed the extra attention to detail on the Corsa, and I think it’s an interesting enough re-imagining of the UltraSlim to warrant a look from people who are already familiar with the design. I like the way the leather adds some padding, but hugs the curved form of the 3GS.
One last thought I wanted to add was something for a possible future Sena case. Thin leather pouches don’t usually make for decent belt attachments because you need to actually push them from the bottom to eke the iPhone out bit by bit. However, with the inclusion of a tab, I could see how a Corsa pouch with a permanent clip (like on the Sena Elega pouch) could be a very interesting case. The thin leather wouldn’t take up much room on the belt, but the pull system could make it easy for users to take the iPhone out — even if it was held horizontally. Just a thought 😉
Conclusion
I’ve really taken a liking to the Corsa case, and I’ve only had it for about a week. I’m pretty confident that it will last a good long time, based on my friend’s experience with his UltraSlim and my experience with other Sena products. The designer label does add $10 to the price tag, but I think the extra detailing and pull tab justify the increase in price. Sena leather already looks amazing (although I’m still not a fan of the croc skin), but the Corsa takes things to the next level. It’s a more luxurious, more accessible, and even more gorgeous pouch than the UltraSlim, and it was great to see a different approach to Sena’s classic iPhone lineup.
Coming soon: the Sarach Magnet Flipper review, so stay tuned.
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You can pick up your own Corsa pouch for $40 from Senacases.com. By the way, it also fits the iPhone 2G just fine.
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TAGS: leather case
