Review: Krusell Red Label S60 3rd Edition cases
However, cases may be officially 'boring', but they're also downright essential for most people, both as a way of protecting your investment and also ensuring you don't leave it behind. So there IS a place for the occasional case review. Secondly, Krusell have always been the most active manufacturer of smartphones cases and they kindly sent over three of their newest for me to put to the test.
All three case are from their 'Red Label' range. I'm not quite sure what the significance of the colour is, I'm guessing it's to do with the theme of encasing the device so that it can be used in-situ, but the packaging for each case is top notch, with sturdy bound cardboard sleeves and proper magnetic catches(!) Each case is then held in place in the packaging using the same Multidapt system that holds the cases on your belt, with the belt clip and stud tightly contained within the bulk of each case. This is an impressive start and it's tempting to say that if they're willing to go to these lengths over the packaging, imagine what care and attention they've put into the cases themselves. And no, before you ask, I'm not affiliated to Krusell, I'm simply reporting my impressions!
First up is the N80 design, where the challenge was to provide a way of casing the smartphone while still allowing the slide mechanism to work. Krusell get round this by gripping the bottom sliding section tightly, letting you un-pop the front face of the case when needed and simply slide the screen section up. You're then entering text through a plastic membrane, which works well enough but there's definitely some loss of 'feel'.
When you need to take a photo or video, the extra mounting flap on the case's rear detaches, with two more press-studs, revealing the camera/flash/macro aperture. The system's a bit clumsy, but you can't fault the lens protection.
Pros: hardly adds any bulk, well designed and fitted, great belt/flexible mounting system
Cons: offers little protection from dust or knocks from the side
Just as challenging is a case for the clamshell N71, mainly because traditional clamshell cases bulge outwards at the rear hinge when the device is opened. Krusell solve this by mounting the top half of the case on strong elastic, so that the leather is kept (more or less tight) around the smartphone whether open or closed. The N71 itself is held in place at the very top and at the very bottom, with another of Krusell's transparent pockets, through which you're again expected to type on the numeric keypad. As with the N80 case above, the quality of workmanship is excellent and all the right cutouts and apertures are here. One inconvenience is that the case comes with a strongly-sprung belt clip rather than the superior stud/release system used on other Multidapt cases, but I imagine you could switch to the stud system free or at minimal expense.
Pros: hardly adds any bulk, great belt/flexible mounting system but make sure you also order the Swivel mounting
Cons: offers little protection from dust or knocks from the side, comes by default with an awkward belt clip
Finally, something more straightforward from a case design standpoint: the Nokia E61, with no moving parts, other than the keys themselves! The equivalent red Red Label case for this is effectively a simple sleeve into which you insert the top of the E61 and then zip around the bottom. The whole of the front is transparent plastic, with just a little aperture for you to work the joystick.
The E61 case fits quite well, although it was prone to slipping around slightly, with the handheld not quite square in the case. Like the N71 case, it comes by default with a belt clip rather than a stud.
Pros: hardly adds any bulk, good protection from dust all round, great belt/flexible mounting system but make sure you get the Swivel mounting
Cons: comes by default with an awkward belt clip
As you'll have gathered from the text, I was quite impressed by the cases themselves (if not the belt clips), but curiously you can't buy from Krusell themselves. Go to their site for more info on the cases and here to find out the right shop in your country.
Reviewed by Steve Litchfield at