Options make strong case for protecting your iPhone
I admit I’m an iPhone case junkie. Unlike some people who find a case they like, use it until it falls apart, and then buy another one just like it, I try at least a couple of iPhone cases every week. If I love a case, I’ll use it for longer; if I hate a case, it may not last a full day.
Note that all the cases I tested for this column were for the iPhone X and XS, since that’s what I’m currently carrying, but most — if not all — are also available for other current iPhone models.
I love leather iPhone cases. I love the way they feel, smell and even the way they develop a patina over time. So here are three leather case offerings I like:
• Apple’s own leather case ($49) comes in eight colors and is a study in elegant simplicity. Machined aluminium buttons match the color of your case, and a plush microfiber lining helps protect the phone from scratches.
• The Apple cases are nice, but Case-Mate offers a similar leather case called Barely There, which I think is just as nice as Apple’s for $40.
• Finally, the Hex Leather Focus Case ($39.99) has a minimalist design with a unique pebble-grained leather that, in my humble opinion, develops a nicer patina over time than smooth leather cases. Moving right along, each year I try a handful of folio (wallet) cases, and every year I’m disappointed that none of them offers enough space for the things I need to carry in my wallet — driver’s license, insurance cards, two or three credit cards, a few business cards and some money.
This year was no exception, but I did find one case that came very close to having enough room for all my junk, as well as two that didn’t hold enough stuff for me but may hold enough for you.
The one that came closest for me is also the least expensive. It’s called Keeper of the Things from Silk ($14.99), and while it’s made of fabric rather than leather, it has more storage than any of the others, with four slots for cards plus a larger slot for currency.
The other two are fabricated of fine leather, so they’re more elegant and more expensive. The first is Apple’s $99 Leather Folio, which has two long pockets inside and comes in five colors.
The second is Mujjo’s Full Leather Wallet Case (around $47), which has no cover/folio and holds even fewer cards than the others. Its main attractions are that it is beautiful and is half the price of Apple’s Leather Folio.
Finally, for those wishing more protection from their iPhone case, two standouts this year were the Harmony ($39.95) from Body Guardz and Slam ($49.99) from Lifeproof, both available in a variety of colors. Both purport to protect your iPhone from drops of up to 10 feet for the Harmony, and up to 2 meters for the Slam.
One last thing: While it’s not quite the holiday shopping season yet, these cases make fine gifts for loved ones.