Perhaps, I just got lucky with manufacturing variances. I received one in Aqua in Jan 2019, and was able to put a field notes in the top pocket without bending the notebook. The pocket on the flip side is too small probably because of the curvature where mounted, but will hold my phone easily. Judging from an index card(3 x 5) and ruler -- the back pocket is about 1/8 " too narrow to fit the field notes notebook ( 3.5 x 5.5).