SafeGuard MetalSlider Aluminum Treo Case Review

Although I certainly appreciate the material and protective properties of aluminium I have never found a Treo Metal Case quite to my liking – principally because the traditional side hinged flip-lid design is a bit cumbersome.  The new SafeGuard MetalSlider (for Treo 680, 750 and 755p) now offers an interesting variation with a Treo case that seeks to combine the qualities of metal with the convenience of a SliderCase design.

The back of the MetalSlider (above) is made of aluminium while the front (below) is made of clear acrylic so that you can see the entire face of your Treo.  The strong one piece shell (below right) is further lined with neoprene for scratch protection at the back and two rubber side bands on the inside ensure that your smartphone will fit tightly.

Cutouts and openings on all sides of the MetalSlider ensure complete access and visibility to all buttons, connectors, camera, stylus, infrared, SD card and speakers as well as the keyboard offering easy typing thanks to a low side profile.

The MetalSlider is slightly thicker than I would like as it adds between 2 to 3mm all around your Treo but the flipside is naturally that this will offer better and greater protection in case of a drop – the primary reason someone will want this type of Treo Case.

There’s no doubt that the MetalSlider offers the most elegant metal case design that I have seen to date.  Having said this, I personally would have preferred to have an all-metal shell instead of the combination metal/acrylic used here.  Actually, my ideal metal case would probably be an aluminium version of the UltraSlim PocketPouch.

Additionally, even though the included removable 360 degree swivel belt clip allows you to wear your Treo by your side the fact that the unprotected screen and keyboard face outwards makes this less than an ideal carrying solution and I therefore much prefer to use this case without attaching the belt clip at all.

Overall, there is much to like about the SafeGuard MetalSlider which makes a very good first attempt at introducing a new type of metal case but I personally feel that the design is not quite right yet.  I would like to see a future version being slightly slimmer and more form-fitting, made completely out of aluminium and without the belt clip.

For now my three favourite Treo cases will continue to be the:
– P6 Pouch Case
– UltraSlim Leather Holster
– UltraSlim Leather PocketPouch

Treonauts are always hard on the case…