Finland-based Mozo has been making accessories for Microsoft products for quite some time now, reaching prominence with the Lumia 950 and 950 XL's replacement back covers. Now the company is veering into the perhaps more lucrative Surface accessories business.
Mozo's first foray into Surface products are their new Surface "sneaker" Sleeves, which are now on sale. We managed to get our hands on all three variants — blue, red, and black — and here is my quick review and video tour!
The Mozo sleeves are very well built and made from a combination of canvas and PU leather (a base of leather coated with an embossed layer of polyurethane). The interior linings are entirely soft cotton canvas, and there are both interior and exterior pockets. The whole thing measures 33.5 cm x 25.5 cm x 2.5 cm.
There is no strap or strap mount with these, making them strictly sleeves to carry around your computer. You can, of course, put the sleeve in a larger bag, or just it carry under your arm. But they just look so damn good you probably won't want to slip them into another bag.
Not just for Surface
Sure, Mozo is marketing these under the Surface name, but they can take many different laptops, two-in-ones, etc. For example, I was able to put these into the sleeves with no issues:
- Lenovo X1 Carbon (4th Gen)
- Surface Book
- Surface Pro 4/Surface Pro 3
- Dell XPS 13
- Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro S
- Huawei MateBook
The Mozo sleeves look to be tailored made for the Surface Book, which is a good idea since it is the largest of all the Microsoft devices. Mozo says most 13-inch laptops should fit, but even the 14-inch X1 Carbon was able to squeeze in albeit tightly. Naturally, no 15-inch laptops – not even the XPS 15 with its bezel-less Infinity Display – could fit.
Since the Mozo Surface Sleeve looks to be made for the Surface Book, that means the Surface Pro 4 (or Pro 3) will have some space at the top and a bit on the sides. This space is no big deal as it just gives you a little more room to tuck in a portable mouse, magazine, or whatever.
The zippers are also really well done and of a "chunkier" style, which I find more reliable in the long run. The zipper design also plays into the whole "sneaker" aesthetic and gives them a unique appearance. For those who don't care for the red or blue variants, the all-black one is very conservative looking and more ideal for business types or those who just don't like to be flashy. The black version is also mostly leather and lacks the canvas top half.
Rounding out the bottom of the sleeve is a nice rubber foot that lets you more easily keep the sleeve positioned vertically. It's a nice touch that not only protects the bottom of the device and sleeve, but gives it more support too.
The interior is a relatively soft cotton canvas fabric that lets you easily slide in your tablet or computer while also not scratching any delicate metals. There is also an inner pocket that's big enough that you could slip in a magazine or some papers.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Mozo sleeve is quite well done. The canvas/leather combo works well, and the blue or red design is ideal for the younger crowd while the all-black one appeals to those who want something more traditional.
Mozo sells the sleeves for around $56 USD (€49.90), which is by no means cheap. Nonetheless, between the unique design and fun little bits like the zippers and zipper handles, I can't fault the sleeve for much. They're simple, stylish, and offer moderate protection for your Surface or 13-inch Ultrabook. In the future, I wouldn't mind seeing one with a shoulder strap for easier carrying and maybe a little more space to make it more of a messenger bag instead of a sleeve. Mozo's first foray into the Surface is quite exciting, and I can't wait to see more from the company.
Finally, I'm very happy to announce that Windows Central and Mozo are teaming up to offer Mozo products right here on our site. Mozo products will be coming soon to the Windows Central Shop{.nofollow}; when that happens, I'll be sure to let you know!
