Joytron System Case for PSP Slim review

This is just a review I wrote for the Joytron System Case for the PSP Slim.

I have owned a PSP ever since it came out, including the PSP Slim (yes, I have two PSP's). When I got the core PSP 1000, I was pretty happy with the neoprene slip on that came with it and I treated my PSP very well. When the PSP Slim came out, I didn't really want to buy it since many said that there wasn't any major changes to it that was worth spending the extra money. However, I eventually caved in and purchased it. When I realized how much more delicate it was (I heard that the Slim was made lighter by removing a metal chassis that was in the PSP fat that was supposed to help the PSP survive blunt trauma force ie. such as dropping it), and how much easier it was to attract fingerprint smudges, I decided to buy a real quality case for it. I decided on the Joytron system skin case mostly because many people said good things about it and I didn't exactly want to go to eBay and buy one of those cheap plastic cases that are often sold there. So, I paid for the case and it came VERY quickly (only 2 days!). Here are some things that I really like about it so far:

Box/Packaging - The box itself is in a bit on the thin side and colored very attractively. The black and green appeal strongly to the eye, though it is written in Korean. Not to worry, the instructions are written in English and actually, really aren't needed as it's pretty obvious how it's put together :)

Construction/Form - The system case itself comes in four pieces: the faceplate that goes over the front of the PSP, two back plates that go over the two the battery case and the side opposite that and then one over the UMD door. They're all held together to the faceplate by these little plastic hooks and I'm not quite sure how strong they are, but this system case isn't designed to survive drops like the Logitech Playgear Pocket.

Anyway, the clips seem to hold the two back plates pretty well, while the UMD door plate simply clips on to the door itself and does not attach or touch the other parts of the case. Also, note that there is NO protection for the screen, you may want to think about investing in a good screen protector, such as the one Hori produces (found on eBay for less than $3 and very high quality) or the one made by invisibleShield (which is about $11 or $12) from their website directly, also high quality.

The skin is also very thin compared to other like cases that I've seen, it does add some bulk, but not much at all. The holes cut for the buttons and analog stick, as well as shoulder buttons, are pretty good; the buttons are easy to access and use for gaming; it doesn't hinder your thumbs and the other ports, such as for headphones, power, on button, WLAN and top USB port are open and not hindered or covered at all. Special holes for sound and lights, as well as the buttons along the bottom of the screen were also cut in precisely, so it fits over the front of the PSP perfectly. The memory stick port was also surprisingly easy to get to as the gap between the front and bad covers were large enough for the door to pass through.

A hook does go through the loop for a wrist strap, but it shouldn't force you to take away the strap. The UMD door does open easily, though I have heard some complaints about it, I personally do not find it problematic so far. Also, I've heard some things that the case might be difficult to remove, but I myself have not tried it (and I'm not sure why you would want to remove it...)

Also, I want to note that the package came with a handwritten note, as well as a promotion to get a free Nuritech product, which is pretty cool :)

Feel - The material of the case at first feels cheap, but not when you get it on your PSP. When you put your hands around it once it's on the PSP, it's very smooth, though it won't attract fingerprints or smudges unless it's oily (I assume). It actually feels very nice to handle and if your fingers are sweaty, you shouldn't worry about them getting a bit sticky on your PSP. The case is also very light, though it should absorb scratches and such very well, and MIGHT handle drops, though I don't think anyone should experiment with that.

Look - I bought the leather black system skin case and so far, it looks very good. I have a black PSP, so it's nothing spectacular, but you can still see the sleek lines of the PSP and it doesn't look like the case is something monster eating or covering up the PSP. I especially like how not bulky the case looks, so your PSP really is nice, small and sleek.

Conclusion - I say, truthfully, that this is probably THE best case you can find for the PSP in order to avoid minor damages, like scratches, as well as preserving the aesthetic of the PSP itself. It's a bit of a price tag (21.99 for the black/red one, 19.99 for the clear one, which many opt for anyway). The case also comes with a nice stand that props the PSP up for movie watching, as well as a small strap, which is a nice touch. This case isn't designed for drops, like I said before, and is for scratches and smudges. If you don't think you're clumsy and you just want a good case that you don't have to struggle to get in and out of your pocket, this case is the one for you. I recommend this for any PSP owner.

PS - I also want to note that with this case, you can fit your PSP pretty snugly into the PSP neoprene slip that was originally designed for the PSP fat, so it doesn't slide out as easily. This was a big plus for me.:)