iLounge

Company: Orbino

Website: www.Orbino.com

Model: Cambio

Price: $89+

Compatible: iPod 5G

Orbino Cambio Premium Hand-Stitched Case for the iPod Video

By Jeremy Horwitz

Editor-in-Chief, iLounge
Published: Monday, November 6, 2006
Category: Cases - iPod 5G (with Video)

[Editors' Note: On November 1, 2006, iLounge published The 2007 iPod Buyers' Guide, with more than 30 brand new, capsule-sized product reviews - only for products we considered to be amongst the very best we've seen throughout the year. The short review below is excerpted from the Guide, which you can download here.]

Slimmer than Vaja’s iVod but similarly protective, Orbino of Italy’s Cambio case combines a precious metal ring - here, palladium - with classy hand-stitched leather to create a knockout, iPod-matching case. You can choose from four classic leather colors -
black, brown, saddle or cognac - or pay extra ($30) for your choice of a different custom leather. A jewelry-class detachable belt clip is included, as is a non-adhesive plastic insert for screen and Click Wheel coverage.

Apparent immediately is the fact that the case is light on top protection - just like Vaja’s cases, you just pop the iPod inside and leave its whole top surface and side corners exposed - and we weren’t super impressed by the plastic insert that protects the iPod’s screen and Click Wheel, all reasons this rated a B rather than higher. However, to the extent that you’re looking for a case that’s very flashy and don’t mind risking some iPod scratches, this one’s a stunner, making a strong first impression even though its price has gone up since first announcement earlier this year. You’ll get a certificate of authenticity in the box, and unlike many such certificates we’ve seen, this one actually looks like it’s worth keeping.