Because MicroFlip ($40) doesn’t represent a major breakthrough in PDA-style iPod case design – a style we feel is increasingly outdated because of the video capabilities of new iPods – we’ve opted not to give it a full review. But we will say this: especially in the “saddle” colored suede version, it is one of the nicest such flip-open cases we’ve seen, and a great option for those who are still fans of that style of case.
We consider its exterior – soft and padded, with a specially stitched-around, classy XtremeMac logo – to be expertly executed, the rare use of leather in a way that seems worthy of a higher-than-$35 asking price for a full-sized iPod case. An integrated belt clip is on the back, and a “tab and post” peg system is used to hold its front flap closed.
One size fits both 30GB and 60GB iPods; four total colors are available.
If anything is a little lacking here, it’s corner protection, which is very weakly executed, and the interior, which uses textured rubber to hold your iPod on place, and simple PVC plastic to cover both its screen and Click Wheel. On most cases, these materials would be more than acceptable, but this one oozes so much class from the outside that the inside seems only fine by comparison.
