Quick Look: Apple Leather Case for iPhone 6 (Black)

The allure of the Apple Leather case for my iPhone 6 was too hard to resist.  After my first experience with the PRODUCT RED leather case for my iPhone 5S, I was a bit hesitant to spend 45 dollars for a case that would look worn and used after a few weeks. However, after keeping an eye out on the various iPhone forums and my Twitter feed, I had come to the conclusion that darker is better when it comes to ownership of an Apple leather case. With that in mind and a finger on my iPhone 6's Touch Id (for Apple Pay), I marched down to a local Apple store and purchased a brand new Apple Leather Case in black.  My first impression upon placing on my iPhone?  Wow. 

The feel of the leather case is just as I remembered from my iPhone 5S version. The soft aniline leather feels great in the hand.  The case adds very little bulk to the iPhone 6 and offers protection on all sides except the bottom, which is pretty much the standard for most snap-on style cases for the Six form factor. The older style leather case for the 5S encased the whole iPhone, including he bottom, but caused problems with non-standard lightning connectors, certain headphone jacks, docks, and was known to tear easily. The newer, open design for the iPhone 6 does away with all of that. The iPhone is still protected from drops on the bottom by the overlapping leather that attaches to each of the corners. 

As usual for an Apple case, the fit and finish are top notch.  All buttons are covered and provide good tactile feedback when pressed.  The mute switch is easily accessible using the tip of my thumb or forefinger.  The front of the case has just enough of a raised lip to provide lay-on-table screen protection.  If you are the type that needs to feel the curved glass when swiping on the screen, then this case is not for you.  However, the leather feels so good in the hand that I can give that a pass.  On the back of the case, ample protection is provided to protect the camera against touching most flat surfaces (not that the safire glass lense needs protection). Thinner cases may not even protect the camera or if they do by providing a ring around the camera hole, the raised edges can make the case a bit wobbly when pressed down.  In terms of protection, I would have to say the Apple case falls right in between the minimal thin shell-type snap on cases and the larger, more bulky full coverage cases (think Otterbox). With the leather case on, I suspect a significant drop on something like concrete from more than a couple of feet would do more damage to case than to the phone.  That's the point, right?

Will  the black leather case stand up to daily use and not look like a worn leather jacket after a couple of weeks?  Some like the look of worn leather, but not me, at least not on a  device like iPhone.  From what I have been able to gather from internet forums and Twitter, the lighter color cases (Red, Olive Brown, and Pink) still suffer from color fading due to the nature of the coloring of the aniline leather.  The darker colors such as black and midnight blue seem to fare better over time.  I have only had the black case on for a couple of days as of this writing, so only time will tell if the leather retains it's looks.  I certainly hope that the black leather holds up and I get my 45 dollars (plus tax) worth.  For now, I will throughly enjoy using the classy looking black leather case. I highly recommend this the Apple Leather case  if you want a slim, great looking case with decent protection. Just be sure to go dark if you don't want a worn look.

Apple Leather Case for iPhone 6 (Black)- $45 (Link)