Review: Boxwave Active Case

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Acti

Boxwave has been making accessories for Pocket PC’s for quite a while; and to say that they make some of the best is not a stretch at all.  The thing I like best about their products is that while most other companies are making designer products Boxwave has focused on making products that have a purpose.  I have not used their cases before although I have used many of their other accessories with every device I have had so it was not hard for me to choose the Active Case to shield my Tilt.  The Active Case is available directly from Boxwave for $24.95, and comes in four colors: Crystal, Smoke, White and Black.  After spending a couple of weeks with it I’m ready to let you know what I think.

The Active Case is one of many cases that they offer, but seemed to be the most suited to what I was looking for.  It comes in 4 colors: 2 clear (crystal and smoke) and 2 opaque (white and black).  I’ll get into it more later in the review, but I think the opaque cases fit the active part of the case better, but the clear versions definitely have a bit more style.  For the review I am using the smoke version and love the look of it.

In the past I have always used leather cases, and most of them have been “jacket” style cases that are fitted to the device.  I have used a few pouch style cases, but prefer a case that can stay on the device.  I’m willing to give up a few millimeters to not have to constantly be taking the device in and out of the case to use it.  Belt clips are not really my thing either as I like to keep my phone in my pocket so holster style cases have not been something that fits my needs.  

After looking through the long list of cases that are available the Boxwave Active Case really stood out as the case that would fit me best.  The Active Case is a smooth plastic case that fits the device very well and only adds about 3mm to the overall size of the device.  They also make a rubberized version of the case, but since I like to keep the phone in my pocket the rubbery finish would be more of a hassle.  The plastic is not slippery at all and I have had no problems with the grip on the case, although I do like feel of the rubbery finish on the other product.

The Active Case is a two part case that snaps onto each half of the device.  This is what allows the device to slide and tilt as the two pieces can move independently.  It comes with an additional screw on belt clip, but as stated before I don’t use belt clips and the device becomes less pocketable with it attached so I discarded that piece.  One thing to consider is that you should decide whether you may want to use the clip before attaching the case.  The attachment point for the belt clip must be installed prior to fitting the case to the device and getting the case off is almost impossible once it is on. 

The fit and finish of this case is very nice, and my only qualm in this area is that the edges are a little rough when first attached, but after a few weeks of use they have smoothed out.  The case is very well designed and as you can see from the lead picture you can easily slide and tilt the screen in the case with no problems.  I didn’t notice that there was any rubbing or even touching of the two pieces that make up the case. 

The case has cutouts for all important areas of the phone leaving every button, port and access slot available for access quickly and easily, even the reset hole.  This is one area where this case shines.  Not only can you access the buttons, but I think the way the cutouts are done it actually makes the buttons more accessible.  The edges of the cutouts are slightly beveled and a good bit larger than the buttons themselves.  A good example of this is the power/sleep button; on the tilt this button is slightly recessed and, prior to attaching the case, I always had trouble finding the button by touch alone.  With the Active Case I can use the bevel of the cutout to find the button and press it without need to look for the button.  The only part of the cutouts that is difficult is the front button area as it is thick and tightly fitted which makes hitting the start and ok buttons a bit difficult but not a problem at all. 

The bottom and back cutouts are very well done also and give access to everything needed easily and without hassle.  One thing to keep in mind for some other phones is that once this case is put on it is not going to come off very easily (which is a good thing) so if you like to switch out your sim card between phones and the sim is in the battery compartment you may have some difficulty.  Thankfully HTC realized this and on the Tilt they placed it under the screen so this is not an issue for me personally but may be for some people on some phones.  

The attachment points are about the best I have ever seen on a case like this.  Not only do they not get in the way of using the device, but they are very secure and I have absolutely no worries about the case coming off at all.  Just a couple of days ago I dropped the phone off of my desk onto a hard floor with no issue at all the case did not even come loose or “pop” at any of the attachment points.  The downside to this is that it is a bit difficult getting the case attached at first, but it is a trade off I will gladly make for the excellent fit. 

All of the attachment points are reinforced and look like they are molded separately and fused to the main body.  I couldn’t get a good picture of this but you can see a faint outline of the lines where the attachment point meet the body of the case and they look a slight bit thicker on the inside than the rest of the case.  Not something you would notice normally and there is no feeling that they are different unless you look very closely.  The strength of the attachment points is great and they are not intrusive at all in the use of the device. 

Overall I really like the case and am completely satisfied with the quality and fit of the case, but I do have a couple of issues.   One is easily remedied by the choice of the style of case, the other is mostly a function of this type of case and that the case is not removable.  The smoke case looks absolutely stunning when first attached, and really fits with the look of the Tilt.  After a couple of weeks, though, it starts to attract scratches quite easily.  Honestly the scratches are not as obvious as the above picture makes them look, but you can see them when you look.  After a few months they will, most likely, get worse, but the whole point of the case is so that it gets the scratches and not the device itself.   I can’t say for sure, but I would guess that it may be slightly less of an issue on the opaque cases.

The other issue is that the gaps in the case really attract dust.  I am pretty sure that keeping the phone in my pocket is a big part of it so if you use the belt clip you shouldn’t have as much of a problem with it as I do.  Even with the belt clip I’m sure there will be some dust collecting, and the fact that the case doesn’t come off means that it is quite difficult to get the dust out.  I tried using a can of compressed air but that only drove the dust under the case in some of the areas.  I don’t think there is much that can be done about this as the gaps are necessary to allow access to the buttons, and for the case to slide and tile, but it is something to keep in mind.  I’m not much of a neat freak and it bothers me so for those that might have an issue with this you may want to think about this issue if you are deciding on a case.  

The Roundup

The Boxwave Active Case is a fantastic product that fits the purpose of a case that doesn’t inhibit the use of the device and can stay attached permanently.  The case has excellent build quality and I can personally vouch to the way the case stays attached. There are a few small issues, but nothing that would prevent me from repurchasing the case for another device, although I would probably get one of the opaque cases next time.  The included belt clip is just as good as the case and swivels and ratchets to any position.  The price at $24.95 is a great deal compared to many of the other designer cases available and has the benefit of allowing you to slide and tilt the device without removing the case.

Best Features

• Excellent protection with minimal added size
• Very good attachment with no fear of the case coming off
• Access to all ports and buttons
• Impressive initial look and design consistent with the style of the device

Areas for Improvement

• Scratches easily: Maybe a coating that would prevent scratches could be added in the future
• If possible allow for removal, but not at the expense of the secure fit

The Run Down

• Active Case by Boxwave
• Available in four colors: Crystal, Smoke, White and Black
• Customized versions available for most Pocket PC Devices
• Price: $24.95 direct from Boxwave

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