Not a fan of leather cases for your Windows Phone? Prefer pocket carry but want some level of protection for your phone? Mobi Products may have just what you're looking for in the Hard Shell Case.
The case is being offered for a wide variety of Windows Phones and in an assortment of colors (black, blue, red, purple, and pink). We took the Mobi Hard Shell Case out for a spin with a Samsung Focus and it left a decent impression on us.
To see if this two piece, hard shell case is worth considering just hit the break.
A two-piece for your Windows Phone
The Mobi Hard Shell Case is a two piece, hard plastic case that snaps into place around your Windows Phone. There is a little divot on one side of the case to make removing it easy. I had no problems removing or snapping the case into place.
The plastic is coated with a matte finish to give it a grippable surface and cut-outs are strategically placed to give you access to all of the phones external features.
On the Samsung Focus you have cut-outs for the camera, speaker, volume, power, and camera buttons. You will also find opening for your 3.5mm jack, USB port and microphone. There's a small cut-out in between the camera and power button that helps you remove the case. Just pry it apart and when your ready to use it again, snap it back into place.
I was surprised how little bulk the Mobi case added to the Focus. The case snapped firmly in place and maintained the slim feel of the Samsung Windows Phone. The case exposes the full screen and creates a bumper around the screen to offer a minor degree of protection from bumps and dings.
Fit and Feel
Again, the case added very little bulk to the Focus and only a few ounces to the phone. I like the matte finish and the textured grip it gave the phone. The only thing with the matte finish is that it can attract lint from your pockets.
Personally, I prefer a belt case but in carrying the Focus felt comfortable in the pocket while fitted with the Mobi case. However, after using the Mobi Case for a few days, it grew on me. I found the extra beef the case gave the Focus a comfortable feel. I still prefer a belt case and fitted with the Mobi Hard Shell, the Focus remains slim enough to fit into a case cut for a HTC HD2. Speaking of cuts, the cut-outs for the buttons were large enough to make accessing everything without difficulty.
Overall impression
While I'm more comfortable carrying my Windows Phone in a belt case the Mobi Hard Shell Case grew on me. I'm still not ready to give up my belt case, especially in the warmer months when the only pockets available are my pants pockets. I have this fear I'll sit down and break my phone.
However, there are a lot of Windows Phone users that prefer pocket carry. If this is your preference and you are looking for a degree of protection for your phone, the Mobi Hard Shell Case is definitely worth considering. It is currently being offered over at the WPCentral Accessory Store for $12.95.
