Kenzo Leather Tokyo Pouch iPhone 4 review

With a definite flair of the Far East this is a pouch that is bound to attain some attention. It comes in two versions: one black masculine design, and one red feminine design. Both versions have the basic designs, and functions in common. Other than that the black version is much more practical, whereas the focus of the red one is on looks. Both bring something new, and fresh to the genre.

The Kenzo Leather Tokyo Pouch is a vertical pouch with a top flap. This makes it excellent when it comes to protecting the iPhone 4. It also makes it a bit impractical when it comes to quickly extracting the phone. I have been testing the red one geared towards the less bearded part of the population. It is still usable by a male, and it is actually only the wrist strap that goes slightly over the line for me. I still review the case out of a female perspective based on thoughts, and ideas from female co-workers.

Made from reinvented leather there is a cool vibrant sheen to the entire pouch. All seems are well made, and goes in a slightly brighter red colour. Inserting the phone means that you have to flap open the front flap, and then slide it inside the case. It is quite an easy procedure, but it still requires both hands. Pulling a small strap found inside the case behind the phone does the extracting. I like the fact that you can insert the phone anyway you want it.

Once the phone is inside the pouch you have access to zero functions, and it gets hard to even hear the ringer. When I have it in a pocket I can’t even feel the vibrations if I have the front of the pouch against my leg. With the back against my body I can feel slight vibrations. Not having any kind of opening for the speakers is problem in those cases. My biggest concern is that there is no cutout for headphones, and that makes it hard to use on a daily basis for me. I usually have earphones plugged into my iPhone for 4-5 hours each day. A lot of that time is spent on a bicycle, or walkng with the phone inside a pocket. With this pouch I have had to use another case for those occasions, and then have the pouch when I am at work.

For protection the case is excellent, and it can withstand quite a beating without the phone becoming damaged. It offers 100% scratch protection, and even quite good water resistance. It is not waterproof by a long shot, and if you drop it in a puddle of water/pool/toilette the phone will become wet. Rather it can withstand a drizzle outside without letting water in. The red version comes with a handy wrist strap, and the black version has a belt-clip. Both these additions elevate the level of usability, and protection of the pouch.

The looks of the pouch are the biggest selling point. It really stands out as a sophisticated accessory to the iPhone 4. The Kenzo name is found on the front flap, and the logo is found on both the flap and the wrist strap. Overall it works really well with the brand of Kenzo, and even if you are not a fan of the perfumes or clothes it brings it’s own Asian flair. The price is a bit high, but considering this will be just as usable with the new iPhone 4S it can last quite a while. For me the lack of functions available inside the pouch limits the overall rating somewhat.