I was just gifted a Piel Frama Piel Leather Kindle Fire Case w/ Tab Closure in Saddle. I love how it looks but I don't like certain features. I feel the case is great looking and classy but, for the price, I expected better protection and functionality for my Kindle Fire. 

About the Case

The Piel Leather Kindle Fire Case w/ Tab Closure is 7.75 x 5.25 x .5 inches  and made of genuine leather. The leather is smooth and soft. The folio has four leather and elastic corner straps to hold the Kindle Fire in place. On the inside of the case cover are four credit or business card slots which can also hold cash or any other small, thin items. The first pocket/slot can hold taller items. The case is secured with a tab that slides through a loop. The case is supposed to easily flip back so that one can read without holding the Fire like a book but I have found that the cover doesn't want to completely fold back. It will, but it's a little bit of a struggle and, if I set the Kindle Fire down, the cover will flip open.

My Experience

I now have several Kindle and Kindle Fire cases and pouches. It seems everyone loves to buy me new ones and I sure am not complaining about that! The Piel Leather Kindle Fire Case w/ Tab Closure comes in Chocolate, Black or Saddle. I love the look of the saddle shade. It's a nice rich tan. The leather is of good quality. It is soft and smells ... leathery.

The case is made well in that it is sewn nicely feels and looks sturdy. However there are some drawbacks to it. The leather and elastic straps that hold the Fire in place tend to allow it to slide around more than it should. Cases should securely hold the device in place and not allow it to move around. I have opened this case and my Fire was either not in the right position or even one corner has been out of the strap. I don't have any idea how that happened but it must be that the straps are too loose although they don't feel that way when I insert the device into them.

The case has a tab closure which is a bit cumbersome. I have to thread the tab through the loop (sort of like a belt). Once I do that, there is no snap or magnet securing the case. It stays closed just with the tab but, if I put the case in a bag or my purse, it's very easy for the tab to slide out of the loop. That leaves the Kindle Fire vulnerable to scratches and other things that I don't want to happen to it.

When I open the case, it does open flat and the pockets are a nice addition although I rarely use them because whatever is in them will lie on the screen when the case is closed. I don't like Kindle or Kindle Fire cases with inside pockets for that reason although I have slipped some cash into one of the slots because it was completely covered and would cause any harm if it did lie against the screen.

Although the Piel Leather Kindle Fire Case w/ Tab Closure does open flat with no problem, when I go to flip it back so that I don't have to use two hands to hold the Fire, it resists. I can get the cover to flip back but it seems to be straining the binding and I worry that I will damage the case if I keep doing that.

The tab also can get in the way when I am reading. It just hangs there, usually right near the screen so I have to keep moving it out of the way when reading. This happens when the case is flat or open like a book and is a common problem for any case with a tab or closure whether it just slips through a loop, is magnetic, or snaps.

Still, the case looks beautiful and is classy. It feels soft and seems as though it is protective if I dropped the Kindle Fire. It isn't padded but it is not paper thin either.

But for nearly $50.00, the case should be more complaint. It doesn't hold the Kindle Fire very securely and it doesn't want to flip back like all cases do. It seems to want to just be pretty but not as functional as cheaper cases.

I do use the case but not too often. I like to swap cases and pouches depending on where I am going and the situation. The Piel certainly makes a beautiful presentation when I am in a professional setting but I am rarely in such a setting and I prefer functionality over beauty in this situation.

Buying Info

You can purchase the Piel Leather Kindle Fire Case w/ Tab Closure in Saddle or the other colors from a number of online sites that sell PDA accessories including Amazon. The price is around $48.00 to $50.00 where I looked and that is steep for case like this. Granted it is real leather but it isn't much leather! I think it's overpriced.

The Bottom Line

Although I think the Piel Leather Kindle Fire Case w/ Tab Closure is really luxe and attractive, I don't think it is as functional as other, less expensive cases. It is soft yet stiff when I go to flip the cover and the tab closure isn't very secure. I also feel the straps that secure the Fire are a bit loose and allow the device too much movement. In all, I rate this case 3 stars. It's certainly gorgeous but does have some functionality issues. If you want a great looking leather case, this is it. But you can find ones that protect and function much better for half or even a third the price. 

Recommended: No