Orbitkey has grown in popularity over the last several years due to its incredible build quality and attention to detail. It has a growing line of beloved products, particularly hybrid working products. TheOrbitkey Hybrid Laptop Sleeveis the company’s recent addition to laptop sleeves. What is unique and stands out about this one is its portable workstation focus.
While most sleeves protect on transport, this sleeve is meant to add protection on transport and continue to be helpful at a workspace. It should come as no surprise that the Hybrid Laptop Sleeve is made of high-quality materials, has excellent construction, and is backed by Orbitkey’s two-year warranty.
Orbitkey Hybrid Laptop Sleeve
The Orbitkey Hybrid Laptop Sleeve is a versatile and stylish accessory that can transform any area into a sleek and convenient workspace. It is crafted from premium vegan leather and recycled woven fabric. This laptop sleeve can be unfolded to reveal a desk mat and a mousepad and then quickly folded down to its original slim size to carry or tuck away in a bag.
If you work remotely, this laptop sleeve might be the next addition to your portable workspace, particularly for use in co-working spaces, coffee shops, or wherever the day takes you.
Premium Build with a Functional Design
I noticed the high-quality, premium vegan leather when I opened the box for this hybrid laptop sleeve. The smooth touch of quality leather and the sleek finish are quite beautiful. The edges are pressed and stitched together with precision. The folding edge is intentional and done well. The internal measurements are perfect.
I have a 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro with some MOFT accessories, so my laptop is a tad thicker than a standard MacBook. Because of this extra thickness, I am quite happy that Orbitkey designed this product for 14-inch and 16-inch laptops. My computer slides in perfectly, with a tight, but not too tight, fit as though it was custom-built for my exact MacBook.
The first few times I used my laptop sleeve, I didn’t quite understand the hype of the mousepad space. However, when I went to a coffee shop to work for a few hours and brought the sleeve with me, I finally found the benefit. Usually, I am overly protective of my electronics and would be paranoid that something is on the table. Additionally, I would be frustrated as I slid my mouse along a table rather than a mousepad, which could make me feel unfocused due to the lack of a defined workspace.
I benefit greatly from a defined, organized, and productive workspace. Thanks to this Hybrid Laptop Sleeve, I could quickly solve these minor frustrations and create a clear and clean workspace in the middle of a bustling coffee shop.
Beyond Drop Protection
Orbitkey has intentionally left out zippers, Velcro, elastic, or other materials that could cause friction, frustration, or fade. They chose all leather with quality stitching because rather than fading or wearing down in a way that will decrease value and allure, they know that over time and use, this leather will patina and become even more beautiful.
With the active choice to avoid zippers like most laptop-carrying sleeves, Orbitkey utilized minimal yet powerful magnets to hold their leather tight around your computer, protecting it from falling out and keeping the folding workspace closed when not in use. These magnets do not interfere with or affect the laptop or a mouse in any way, so you don’t have to be worried about that.
Speaking of the mouse, the leather mousepad works wonderfully as a tracking surface for any mouse I have tried, and trust me; I have tried a lot. Granted, it’s not a substantial horizontal space as it is only the depth of the sized MacBook (just over nine inches for the 14-inch laptop variant and just under ten inches for the 16-inch variant) as the laptop pouch is what turns into the mousepad.
It takes a moment to get used to the size, but as long as you are using it for work and not gaming, the width, in particular, works just fine. If you want this to be great for gaming or jumping the mouse around the screen while also using the 14-inch variant, you may find it narrow, but that’s a discussion for a different time.
Even if you treat this sleeve and portable workstation as I do, they will get dirty in coffee shops, co-working spaces, park benches, libraries, and conference tables. The good news, however, is that this leather cleans very well. I’ve had mine get sticky from a hidden substance on a coffee table, and I could easily clean it off with a damp towel. So far, even after months of use, this Hybrid Laptop Sleeve still looks brand new.
Another design element is that Orbitkey was wise and left enough space to charge your MacBook while protecting it without opening the sleeve. Orbitkey designed this for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks and their respective sleeves, specifically for those with MagSafe charging. While I don’t have a 14 or 16-inch MacBook with MagSafe charging, I tested this with a 13-inch M2 MacBook Air with MagSafe Charging, which worked wonderfully.
While keeping the sleeve closed, the MagSafe port is visible near the hinge of the leather cover, allowing me to connect the MagSafe charger to the port effortlessly. With my M2 MacBook Pro, I do not have MagSafe charging (sadly), but with a bit of wiggling, I can access my USB-C port for charging as well, just not as quickly as I could with the MagSafe port, as OrbitKey intended.
Day to Day with the Hybrid Laptop Sleeve
The Hybrid Laptop Sleeve by Orbitkey is fantastic all around. I love how it folds and protects my beloved MacBook Pro, and I love the magnetic enclosure. The magnets help me feel a sense of security without having the annoyance or risk of scratching my MacBook that I feel when using a zippered sleeve.
The mousepad is excellent for on-the-go use. However, the only downside is that there is no way to store a mouse with this sleeve, not even a low-profile Magic Mouse. As a result, I either have to put the sleeve in my backpack where my mouse and other accessories are, carry the mouse in my pocket or loose in my hand, or use the mousepad as a nice place to put my phone instead of using it as a mousepad.
None of those scenarios are bad scenarios. Similarly, no storage compartments are available for cables or charging bricks on this sleeve. So, if you prefer to travel light, you can carry your laptop in this sleeve; note that it will be without any additional accessories.
Should You Buy the Orbitkey Hybrid Laptop Sleeve?
Orbitkey’s Hybrid Laptop Sleeveis a beautifully crafted leather laptop sleeve designed for the hybrid worker, “my office is the world,” kind of person. It is a fantastic take on the classic laptop sleeve, and it opts for clean lines and magnets instead of other bulkier closing methods. Orbitkey utilized high-quality materials and a premium design, creating a fantastic portable workspace. While it is expensive for a laptop sleeve, the durability and longevity of the sleeve itself make the price more palatable—you get what you pay for.
