Review: MarBlue Origin Case: Thin, lightweight protection for the Kindle Fire HDX
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 30, 2014
Tablet cases are a subjective choice, often a compromise between price and features. It all depends on how much you wish to spend and how basic you want your case.TheMarBlue Ultra Lightweight Origin Case for Kindle Fire HDX 7"is a decent product that offers basic protection and convenience at a fairly reasonable price. Yet like so many similar products, it has its good points and some that are not as good. Please note that this is not a leather case, and for the price it wasn't expected to be that.◆ Strong Points:+ Two-position stand (horizontal mode); allow for viewing & typing+ Lightweight and very thin; fits the Kindle Fire HDX 7" well+ Magnetic closure on lid; keeps it secure during travel+ Microsuede interior; soft, protects the display screen+ Access to all ports and buttons; very convenient◆ Not So Strong:- Magnetic closure does not power power Kindle off- Does not offer a good vertical mode◆ In Use:Have had prior experience with earlier cases from MarBlue before they changed their name from Marware in the fall of 2013. MyMarware Vibe Case Coveris still in use with my original Kindle Fire is still in use today, as is myMarware Vibe Standing Case for Kindle Fire HD 8.9"for that product. This attests to the overall quality of the products from this company.But times change, as do products, and this new MarBlue Origin Case is missing one key feature that is offered by its competitors: the magnetic sleep/wake feature. There is a workaround, and all you have to do on the Kindle Fire HDX is go to Settings > Display & Sound > Display Sleep and then change screen-lock time to 1 minute. Doing this will help save battery battery life, but it's surprising that MarBlue did not include it since this is noted to be a "Certified Made for Kindle Accessory" for the Kindle Fire HDX 7" tablet.The magnetic sleep/wake feature is found in thePoetic Slimline Case, theFintie Folio Case, and theMoKo Slim Folding Caseamong others. These are also designed to fit theKindle Fire HDX 7"exclusively. It should be noted that these also come in at a lower cost at the time of this review, so it does pay to shop for the features that you want that fit your budget.◆ Summary:ThisMarBlue Ultra Lightweight Origin Case for Kindle Fire HDX 7"is a good product at a fairly reasonable price, all things considered. Like so many of the reasonably priced cases, this one is made from PU leather (as confirmed on the manufacturer's site), which is actually embossed polyurethane. It has an attractive texture that can be cleaned easily, but just understand what you're getting. Genuine leather will cost you more.JW ▪ 1/30/2014