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Bullstrap minimal leather case for 16 Pro

C

c0LdFire

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 10, 2013
254
154
Hey folks,

This came in today! A couple of pictures for anyone curious about a pricier leather case this year. It feels absolutely superb in the hand, easily rivaling if not beating the leather cases that apple used to make several years ago.

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Feels pretty good. Definitely an improvement over the temporary $5 rubber Amazon case I rocked over the weekend. The camera control still feels best naked, though.
 
c0LdFire said:
Feels pretty good. Definitely an improvement over the temporary $5 rubber Amazon case I rocked over the weekend. The camera control still feels best naked, though.
Click to expand...
Does it feel like you have to reach in to press it or does the case keep your finger flush with the button?

The Bullstrap cases are pretty thick (good thing), so curious how well the taper works with the button.
 
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This is on the white iPhone correct?
Looks good. Trying decide if I should get this for my natural colored one.
 
I feel like I can naturally push it with my index finger but might have to sort of push in my thumb since it’s a bit larger. Compared to the rubber / TPU / whatever cheapo Amazon case I was using temporarily it’s way more usable.

And yeah, white/silver titanium regular non-max pro.

Also, I LOVE the open bottom already. It reminds me of my old XS (and leather’s apple case before they started to suck) a few years ago in all the right nostalgic ways. Except this is even softer and more premium feeling.

Just sort of live blogging right now I guess, haha. Just showed up to my home an hour or two ago.
 
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c0LdFire said:
Feels pretty good. Definitely an improvement over the temporary $5 rubber Amazon case I rocked over the weekend. The camera control still feels best naked, though.
Click to expand...
do you feel that the camera button is a bit too low? I had a Torras case from Amazon and I may return it. Probably will stick with Apple silicone case this year.
 
It feels alright to me — not too low or anything. I still found myself using the screen controls or volume button more often over the weekend, though. I’ll likely try it out more now with this case.

Muscle memory is hard to break and I’m not sure I really ever cared for a dedicated camera button on an iPhone. Maybe my tone will change as time goes on, especially once they introduce the two stage shutter/focus feature(s).
 
Black one came today. Cut out stinks and their buttons are still really bad. I mean they are clicky but the quality of them is definitely lacking. They are an afterthought. Don't forget, with shipping this case is about $110. I expect a capacitive button on this for that price.
 
tgwaste said:
Black one came today. Cut out stinks and their buttons are still really bad. I mean they are clicky but the quality of them is definitely lacking. They are an afterthought.
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If you want to sell it, let me know!
I have the regular pro though.
lol
 
tgwaste said:
I have 6.3" pro as well. I will just return it if i don't want it
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I will genuinely buy it off you. It's sold out until November on their website. lol.

Either way, kinda sucks about the button. Wonder if there's anything they could have done to make it better, being that it's leather.
 
tgwaste said:
I have 6.3" pro as well. I will just return it if i don't want it
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To be fair, they very much so refuse returns as soon as you cut the tag off / remove it from the box.

I find the buttons to be okay, personally. They’re nice and clicky and feel fine. Maybe they could’ve been a different more premium feeling material/metal but I’m not sure I’d notice or care.

The cutout for the camera control is quite a bit wider on my wife’s Spigen Classic C1 MagFit. Playing with them both a bit more, I’d agree that hers feels more usable as a camera button, but on the flip side your hand is always resting on the giant cutout when you’re just using the phone. For the 99% of the time I’m not taking a picture, I don’t like the wider cutout.
 
Would someone be kind to post close up photo showing the buttons? From the pictures here, they seem to be ever-so-slightly misaligned to my OCD eyes. TIA.
 
The buttons are the same that they’ve used for years, no issues with them.

Case has likely been made thicker all around to add strength to the camera button cut-out, but it's unlikely you'll feel a difference after a day or two of using both the old case and the new ones.
 
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My case comes today. I’ll report out this evening. I am VERY concerned about the camera button cutout, but I loved my Bullstrap last year, so we’ll see how that factors in.
 
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Good to see that I can still stand by these cases being hugely overpriced $20 Ali Express cases with Bullstrap logos stamped on them
 
iFone88 said:
Good to see that I can still stand by these cases being hugely overpriced $20 Ali Express cases with Bullstrap logos stamped on them
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They aren't though...

You find me the cases that are on there identical without the brand? You won't be able to.

Even less so with the 16 models compared to the 15 where you could buy similar, but none that were identical.
 
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My case arrived. Initial thoughts from someone who had a Bullstrap case last year:

Positive:
  • I forgot how much I missed the open bottom. I only used the Apple Silicon case for one week, and open bottom is definitely my preference for cases.
  • The camera cutout has no sharp edges and overall feels okay.
  • The camera cutout helps guide your finger to the camera button. I have had issues finding the camera button on my Apple Silicon case.
Negatives:
  • The camera cutout is not completely centered. This is a design choice and not a manufacturing defect. The front lip of the phone is uniform around the whole phone, while the back tapers in.
  • Using the button does not feel as nice as the Apple Silicon, but it seems functional.
  • The case comes with a tag that, if you remove, will void your ability to return. I am currently evaluating the case with a huge tag hanging off.
 
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Hope you're liking it as much as I still am! I removed that tag pretty quickly. The soft leather combined with the open bottom is a winning combination for me.

And yeah, good luck to anyone trying to find a $20 knockoff. This is perhaps too expensive for a phone case, but the quality of the leather is very real and I wanted to treat myself this year.
 
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My Terra for the 16 PM came today but have no phone anymore since returning it so can't give any feedback until my reordered one arrives. Overall, case looks and feels great. I am an every year primary leather user. If down the road they decide to add a button cover, I'll just file a warranty and get the revised one. I don't see too may leather companies shifting gears for a button but time will tell.
 
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cavemonkey50 said:
My case arrived. Initial thoughts from someone who had a Bullstrap case last year:

Positive:
  • I forgot how much I missed the open bottom. I only used the Apple Silicon case for one week, and open bottom is definitely my preference for cases.
  • The camera cutout has no sharp edges and overall feels okay.
  • The camera cutout helps guide your finger to the camera button. I have had issues finding the camera button on my Apple Silicon case.
Negatives:
  • The camera cutout is not completely centered. This is a design choice and not a manufacturing defect. The front lip of the phone is uniform around the whole phone, while the back tapers in.
  • Using the button does not feel as nice as the Apple Silicon, but it seems functional.
  • The case comes with a tag that, if you remove, will void your ability to return. I am currently evaluating the case with a huge tag hanging off.
Click to expand...
Well, after a few more hours of use, I am returning it.

I strongly dislike the camera control cutout. It is harder to use and it’s not pleasant. I take A LOT of photos with my phone, and the case detracts from using the camera control.

The Apple Silicone case, while not perfect, is good enough for the moment. I’m going to wait things out until a leather case manufacturer figures out a case without a cutout. I’m hoping later this year Bullstrap will have one.
 
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