Level8 15” Protective Sleeve Review

Are you in need of Macbook or Laptop protection? Are you sick of all the boring unprofessional looking sleeves which litter your local hardware stores? Then fear not my friends, because Level8 are coming to your aid by introducing the Level8 15″ Protective Sleeve. Based in the US, Level8 were kind enough to ship one of these bad boys out to us and so I would like to begin this review by giving a big thanks to them.

Before starting this review let me state that the Level8 15″ Protective Sleeve also has been designed exclusively for the 15-inch MacBook Pro, however it can also be used equally with any other 15″ laptop providing it is of similar thickness to the Macbook Pro range.

Review: Build, Design

Like every other Mac and Laptop case out there the Level8 15″ protective sleeve is built to protect your device. Naturally, many products do this very well yet completely misfire in the design stage, and what you end up with is a boring black carry case which will probably hit your store sometime in the near future. The Level8 Protective Sleeve however I am happy to report is not a product which has had its design skimped, and is more of a product that instills quality from every pore from the minute you fondle it.

Starting out from the front of the case you’ll find the Level8 badge centered to the middle of the sleeve, and other than that there is nothing much to look at, other than the looks of the actual sleeve itself which one could describe as contemporary. The case itself is made from very high quality materials, and is marketed as having a durable neoprene and a unique protection system, which we found to be a very good use of materials indeed.

The sleeve also features a zip small pocket (or stash pocket if you like, to you know, hide your stash) and a rather nice little interior zipper guard to prevent scratches to your device when in use.

Practicability, in use

Laptops and Macbooks are not the sort of hardware that you want to lug around daily with you unless strapped to your back for even weight distribution, and so when using a sleeve the chances of finding one which is comfortable to carry is rare. The Level8 protective sleeve however differs from certain cases in my mind, in that it is incredibly lightweight and the carry handle is amazingly comfortable. What I found when using it is that it felt maybe 100 times better in the hand (carry handle, Macbook inside) than other more ugly competitors.

The Neoprene interior to the case also makes sure that your Macbook does not slip and grips it well meaning that there will be no roll when carrying it or running for a taxi in rush hour.

Pricing

The Level8 Protective 15″ Sleeve retails at $49.95 via the official Apple Store (see here) which I feel is a fair price taking into account the build quality of the case in question, and included features such as (as Apple states) a “custom Precise Protection System in a special three-dimensional shock-absorbing pattern engineered of EVA compressed foam that ensures ongoing protection of your MacBook’s pristine beauty.”

Conclusion

The Level8 Protective Sleeve is a decent product at a decent price, and this at the end of the day is all that is going to matter to consumers, so if you are looking for an everyday carry case which is lightweight and good looking then this case is for you, however for 24/7 protection we would recommend something more secure and something which would not be prone to some loser snatching your device out of your hand.

I do not understand completely why Level8 have marketed the case in such a way that it excludes PC users from their bubble, however PC users should note that this case plays well with any 15″ laptop, and so feel free to buy one up.

TB Verdict: 8/10