Vista is a word that used to be about seeing a great view, and not about a bug ridden operating system. When Sena decided to use Vista as the name for this particular case it refers to a great view. To me it is truly hard to wash away the foul Microsoft tainted aspect of the word. I will give it my best not to let the choice of name affect my thoughts on the new case from Sena.
The Vista is a thin snap on case made using a thin plastic frame overlaid with a thin layer of leather. It is the first case from Sena that has this kind of construction that I have otherwise seen from Vaja, and a few other leather case brands. The fit is good, but not 100% around the top left corner where it feels loose next to the headphone socket. The edges of the case protects the screen when you place it face down on a table. If you press on the top back of the case face down the phone will come loose, and the screen will touch the table.
For protection the case offers more than the basic protection seen in most back only snap on cases. It is slightly thicker, and extends above the screen. The top, and bottom of the phone is bare, and open to scratch and impact damage.
The unique feature of the case, and the reason it got the name Vista is the fact that it includes a stand. Folded into the back of the case is a metal hinge that folds out into a low stand. As a stand it works really well, and is sturdy on most surfaces. However it is angled quite low making it less ideal for viewing in bed with the phone next to you. It works best in a seated situation, such as when eating breakfast or sitting on a train with a table. The stand only works in one direction with the volume controls facing down.
The hinge stand feels quite vulnerable, and I fear that I will accidentally break it. If it was destroyed you would be stuck with a quite ugly case, as the back plastic shows when the stand is out. Another issue I have with the stand aspect is that it doesn’t fold in completely. When placed back down on a table the case wobbles on the middle where the stand is placed. It is annoying when trying to use the phone one handed lying on a table.
All functions of the phone are available in the case. The camera cut-out seems to be slightly misaligned, and it looks like it would interfere with taking images. From the images I have taken I have not seen any interference, but it does look slightly sloppy.
Worth noting for newcomers to the iPhone 4 is that the case is compatible with both AT-T, and Verizon phones.
The Vista is a nice looking case offering a cool stand function. The stand is also the weakest point, and if it breaks the case will loose all appeal. A less than perfect fit coupled with some slight design mistakes mare the otherwise good idea. It gets a limited recommendation.
Final Rating
Available in Black/Metal, Tan/Chrome and Red/Gold.
