Of all the cases I’ve reviewed so far for the Axim, this one is just about my favorite–it provides a rather good level of protection with a very high level of accessibility as well. The FlexiSkin covers the side and back of the device, as well as the buttons on the front, but leaves the screen uncovered unless you choose the version with the optional flip cover (more about that later). Installation is as simple as you would expect–just stick the bottom edge of the device into the bottom of the case, then stretch the upper portion of the FlexiSkin over the top corners of the device and you’re done. The opening is perfectly aligned with the screen, and the case covers all of the application buttons and the power button on top of the case with perfectly molded indentations. You can easily manipulate the buttons and won’t have any difficulty telling which is which when you’re trying to turn on your device when you aren’t looking, for example, but you still get some extra protection. A cutout on the side of the case leave the lock button uncovered, but the wireless button and voice recorder buttons are covered. On the right side of the case you’ll see a small lanyard attachment; it is rather thick and I don’t have any worries about either wearing the Dell around my neck or using the included wrist strap.
The top of the case leaves the expansion card slots uncovered, as well as the headphone jack and stylus silo. The back of the case features a small reset button cutout and an attachment point for the optional belt clip (included). The attachment point is metal for durability and strength, but it is completely covered by silicone on the inside of the case, so metal never touches your handheld. You’ll also see three vertical cutouts on the back of the case; I’m not sure whether they’re there for heat dissipation or some other purpose.
The very best feature though is the removable flip cover for the screen. It is made of rigid clear plastic and has a small protrusion on each side at the top that slide into the appropriate spot on the skin cover to hold it in place. There’s an extra tab at the bottom of the cover that allows you to open it with a single finger when you need access to the touch screen of your handheld. There are two tiny little tabs on the bottom of the screen, one on each side, that fit into a little cutout underneath the skin of the case to keep the flip cover closed when you have the case in a bag or purse. You can also completely remove the screen cover if you like, for when you’re using the device at home or office and won’t be putting it in a bag; that way you don’t even have to flip up the cover if you want to use your handheld.
In my mind this is just the perfect combination of protection and accessibility. Is it possible for something to work its way in between the case and the flip cover, potentially damaging the screen of your device? Yes, but that risk is incredibly small, and if you abuse your device that much you need a metal case for it (like the Innopocket aluminum case or Proporta’s magnesium case). I also saw that the skin case has the tendency to “pop up” just a bit when the flip cover is raised, and I’m not sure how that will affect the case over time; I’m hopeful that the FlexiSkin will always go right back to its flat, smooth form-fitting perfection, but only time will tell.
I recommend this case very highly to anyone who needs to protect their Dell Axim X51v. The FlexiSkin is now my “every day” case, though I still use a metal case when I travel for ultimate protection. For the relatively tame life my Dell normally leads, the FlexiSkin gives me all the protection I need, plus a comfortable grip in the hand and easy access at all times. After all, a handheld isn’t much use if you have to fumble every time you need to look something up, now is it? You can get the FlexiSkin without the flip cover for $24.95, or with the flip cover for $29.95. I highly recommend that you get it with the cover, because you can always remove it when you like, but you can’t get it separately later. Get it now at the BoxWave online store.
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Would the three slots be a belt loop by any chance?