Any time Apple releases a new iPhone I end up getting flooded with cases, and the release of the 6 plus and 6 were no exception. Just in the last two weeks I have gotten the five cases pictured here, all of which are leather and what would be considered "high end" by anyone in the business with regards to not only price but quality. The biggest difference between most cases in this range and the hand made cases from companies like Pad & Quill is the retention method used to hold the phone in place. Cases under $70 are going to have molded plastic or EVA trays instead of the wooden trays used by the hand crafted companies. In all other ways these cases are just as good with trade offs in features that will appeal to different customers for different reasons.
One of the common (and I think overblown) complaints regarding this form factor of case is that having cards in the flap leaves them exposed when the phone is in use and is a security risk. My response to these concerns is first the cards are in every case except for the one in the ID window more than 80% covered when in the slots, and therefore not visible enough to have numbers seen, and second the entire flap is covered by your hand when you are holding the phone to your head in this scenario, further obscuring them. In other words, it is a non-issue played up by conspiracy theorists and the paranoid. The only other people to point this out as a problem are people who have designed their cases another way as a reason why you should buy their product. One of the cases in our roundup does indeed take another approach, and we will discuss their solution when discussing their product.
*Note: While I reviewed the iPhone 6 Plus versions, all of these cases are available for the iPhone 6 as well.
The Luxury Book for iPhone 6 Plus
y Pad & Quill
$105
I have several products from Pad & Quill, and they have always exceeded my expectations when it comes to workmanship and quality of materials. The Luxury Book is no exception to that track record of success. Hand stitched perfectly, beautifully finished wooden tray to hold the phone in place, Embossed monogram on the front.....every detail is perfect. Well, nearly perfect. As you will notice from the bottom edge of the picture above hand stitching leaves more room for error. To many of us who enjoy hand crafted products this is a sign of quality, but to those buyers who demand perfection it can be off putting. The biggest drawback is price. At $105 with the monogram this offering is more than twice as expensive as any other case in this roundup.
CHAPTER XVI THE BOOK for iPhone 6 Plus (5.5 inch) - Genuine Vintage Leather iPhone 6 Plus Case with Wallet (Vintage Brown)
by CHAPTER XVI
$59.99
The Book for iPhone 6 Plus surprised me. It arrived in a sturdy box, and when I opened it the quality of the leather was superb. The spine has great gilt inlay and molding, with beautiful binding. The stitching and finish are as well executed as anyone could want. The pockets for cards are deep enough to prevent credit cards from scratching your screen if the cover happens to rub across front of your phone. Of the cases featured in this roundup this is the one I find myself using most often. The look and feel are the most personally appealing combination to me.
KAVAJ iPhone 6 Plus leather case pouch "Dallas" black - genuine leather with business card compartment
by KAVAJ
$34.90
I had pretty low expectations as my first impression of the offering from KAVAJ based on the packaging. It arrived in a white plastic baggie with pictures of several cases in different sizes scattered around one side and the company name and it’s model in black block lettering on the other side. So to say I was pleasantly surprised by the Dallas is an understatement.
First, it has the smallest footprint of the cases in this roundup. Made from thin and soft glove leather, there is no wasted material. The other unique thing that KAVAJ has done is rather than having cards resting against the face of your phone, they are in slots on the back, with soft micro-fiber cloth facing the phone when the case is closed and the flap closing over cards when the phone is held to your face and in use. I don’t think it is a security issue, but do see the logic in having cards away from the face of the phone. Having them on the outside also makes them more convenient to get out when needed.
In all the KAVAJ is an impressive product from an eastern european manufacturer sure to make waves in a global economy. Only time will tell us how well the thinner leather they are using will hold up when compared to some of the thicker products used by some of the other cases featured here, but the leather is obviously of high quality. When presented with the choice this was the case my father in law picker for his phone, and he is happy with it so far.
StilGut® Talis without Clip, Genuine Leather Wallet Case for Apple iPhone 6 Plus (5.5''), Black
by StilGut
$39.99
The StilGut is the second smallest case in this roundup, again due to high quality but very thin glove leather being used. Most of you probably haven’t heard of StilGut, but if you have spent any time in Europe you know it very well. Again, a global economy has brought a luxury brand from overseas to us at incredible prices. There isn’t a lot of drop protection with leather this thin, but it fits easily in your pocket. The unique feature that StilGut brings to this lineup is a metal clip that rolls up from both sides to form a kickstand to prop it up.
The biggest thing you’ll notice when you look at and hold this case is attention to detail. From the contrast stitching that is perfectly uniform to the leather that is embossed with the company logo not just on the cover but on the inside of the leather as well. The leather also wraps around the edges of the EVA tray instead of the tray just being mounted to the leather.
Shieldon® Classic Handmade 100% Genuine Natural Leather Wallet Case Flip Book Style Protective Case for iPhone 6 Plus (5.5 inch ONLY), with Stand Function, ID Holder, Credit Cards Slots - Vintage Brown
by SHIELDON
$27.99
The final case in our roundup comes from another company I had never heard of prior to receiving their product, Shieldon. The only natural leather case provided it is remarkably well made for a product at this price point. High quality leather over quilted padding and secure retention is set off by quality stitching and deep and visible embossing. The pockets that hold the cards are deep to prevent scratching the screen, and the soft leather pressing against the screen is held secure by pretty strong magnets.
The magnets are my one concern with the case in fact. The magnets are strong enough that significant resistance can be felt starting at almost an inch away. Magnets that strong near credit cards make me nervous. They sell a version for the same price which uses an elastic strap instead of magnets which would be safer in my opinion, but I didn’t receive that one for review.
Conclusions
In all a fairly wide range of styles, and there is sure to be something to please nearly everyone. While there are some people who won’t buy this type of case because they don’t like anything over their screen, for anyone else one of these will be the perfect solution.