[Nexus 7 Accessories] Deleted member 4331454:
Hello everyone! I'm a relatively new Nexus 7 owner, having owned my baby for about a month now. I ordered a temporary sleeve for it until I concluded my research for a permanent case. I was looking for something aesthetically pleasing, but still offered 100% protection. I decided on the Portenzo Bookcase due to their premium materials, quality, customization options protection, and positive reviews. The customization was the second most important factor, next to protection, for me. You can choose from many different color options for the exterior, interior, and elastic strap. You can add engravements or logos or your choosing, and they have several additional closure options to choose from.

I ordered my Portenzo Bookcase on Sept. 27, it shipped Oct. 3, and i received it Oct. 5. After a few days of usage, i decided to write a review for anyone currently on the fence about Portenzo, or looking for a new case in general.

Website: http://shop.portenzo.com

COST:

Base Price: $39.95

The options i added were:

Magnet closure: $9.95

Intellistand: $9.95

Shipping: $9.95

= $69.80

AESTHETICS

I'm very pleased with the looks and handiwork of my Portenzo Bookcase. When closed, it resembles a Moleskin journal/notebook and the woodwork resembles pages. I've yet to see a Nexus 7 case that looks THIS good, IMO.

DURABILITY

I've only had it for less than a week, so i can't yet comment on the longterm effects. but, i can say, that it definitely looks like it can stand the test of time. I'm not one to jump from new device to new device, just for the sake of keeping up with technology. I owned my iphone 3g for 2 1/2 years before switching to my HTC Inspire, which i've had fo over a year and a half now. I dont plan on upgrading until it breaks either. With that said, i plan on keeping my Nexus as long as it keeps working so i do plan on having my Portenzo case for just as long. I feel confident that it'll hold up. The fit and finish on this case is remarkable...

FIT AND FINISH

Very, very professionally made. You can tell it was handmade down to the woodwork. It even smells like fresh maple wood. The corners are carefully tucked and fastened, the wood is very smooth and sanded down, the magnets work flawlessly, and there isn't a loose end to be found. I chose the Black Morocco Faux Leather finish on the outside cover, and am very pleased. It gives the case a classier look. While youc an tell it isn't actual leather, it still feels great to the touch...and looks really good too.

The Intellistand is impressive and works like a charm. You don't have to worry about it slipping and falling flat, it WORKS exactly as advertised. You also have a few options of how steep you want the angle to be. It slides and locks flawlessly. Very intuitive feature and i'm glad ipaid the extra 10$ for it.

PROTECTION:

The Nexus fits very snugly into the wooden cradle. There are also these rubber (silicone?) pads in all four corners in order to prevent scratching from the wood. I tried flipping it upside down and dislodging the nexus by force (over my bed of course lol) to no avail. It isn't going ANYWHERE. The edges of the nexus are fully protected, and if your case is closed, i've no doubt it'll be fully protected from all around in the case of a drop. if open when dropped, the corners are still very well protected due to the wooden cradle. The edges of the Nexus are completely surrounded and will not directly in contact with the ground if dropped.

Also, the elastic strap does a GREAT job of keeping the case closed tightly. I added the additonal magnetic closure as well, which i must say, i'm not completely happy with...

THE NEGATIVE:

The only negative thing, for me, is that the magnetic closure is nowhere near as strong as i'd hoped. Had i just gotten the magnetic closure without the strap, my case would flop open at the slightest force. I tested this, holding it upside down (w.o the strap) and semi-forcibly driving it downward...the case just opened. Good thing i got the magnetic closure in ADDITION to the elastic strap. I've read that Portenzo advises letting the case break in, and the magnetic closure will be stronger. It's only been 5 days since i received my Bookcase, so hopefully this is true.

CONCLUSION - Rating 4.8/5

This case should not be passed up if you're looking for a beautiful, fully protective case for your nexus 7. It may seem pricey, but once you receive it, you'll see first hand how premium the materials are and how well your HANDMADE case was fabricated. I feel more confident now that my nexus 7 has a snug home, and i love the comments i've gotten on my Portenzo Bookcase. The only downside is that the magnetic closure seems a bit weak, so i'd suggest getting the elastic strap.

PHOTOS: (Do excuse the 8MP phone quality, finger print smudges, and dust!)