Leather Cases - Patina Proud Photos

[nepalisherpa]

Is it really that shiny and real black looking black in real life? Mine is much more matte and somewhat grayish even (very much like what it shows in the official product photos).

Does leather feel fragile and easily scratching?

It is somewhat shiny (that picture looks shinier because of the angle/light) but it's definitely not 100% matte. I've only had it for a day but it does feel softer than the Saddle Brown I had. I might just go back to Saddle Brown as this color looks very boring. HAHA!

 

[0906742]

The plastic lip around the camera of my leather case for the 12PM seems to be detaching from the leather and a gap is now visible. Is this normal? Anyone else have similar issues?

Are you sure that gap was not the right away?
I have black leather (6.1” version) and it seems to have some gap here and there and also some wrinkling in one edge. It almost look like that leather is not cut straight and it is too big on one edge where it is wrinkled.
Also edges of the case are not very well made, there are some wrinkles and marks and bottom edge looks like it is not straight around speaker holes (or leather is pulling it someway).
Also those covers inside the case that comes against the phone side button are not placed very carefully, especially volume buttons side is off quite a bit.

On the other hand red leather case is perfect.

Just wondering if it is worth to try another black case or is this common with this color? I’ve been considering saddle brown, it might match nicely with gold, but I rather want black. I have already found SB looking a bit too yellow/mustard color for my taste and I usually keep my phones so carefully that I don’t expect that to wear out different or nicer looking.

 

[0906742]

It is somewhat shiny (that picture looks shinier because of the angle/light) but it's definitely not 100% matte. I've only had it for a day but it does feel softer than the Saddle Brown I had. I might just go back to Saddle Brown as this color looks very boring. HAHA!

OK, maybe there is some difference from case to case. Have you seen X or XS black leather cases and does 12 case look similar leather to you? Because my X black leather case is much shinier (and blacker black) and it has always been plus leather feels ”harder” in my X case. This 12 case feels a lot like what 5S leather case felt like, except that one smelled real leather always and it was pretty durable still while soft feel.

 

[nepalisherpa]

OK, maybe there is some difference from case to case. Have you seen X or XS black leather cases and does 12 case look similar leather to you? Because my X black leather case is much shinier (and blacker black) and it has always been plus leather feels ”harder” in my X case. This 12 case feels a lot like what 5S leather case felt like, except that one smelled real leather always and it was pretty durable still while soft feel.

This is my first time owning a black leather case. I have only used Saddle Brown before.

 

[0906742]

So black is no good, it will mark up easily and look bad after some time?

I don’t know. It would be interesting to hear from those who have had this case for longer time how it wear?
Especially from those who have matte black with very soft and delicate feel. Mine definitely seems to scratch very easily with just accidently touching my nail.

 

[jm31828]

I don’t know. It would be interesting to hear from those who have had this case for longer time how it wear?
Especially from those who have matte black with very soft and delicate feel. Mine definitely seems to scratch very easily with just accidently touching my nail.

Mine definitely looks to be soft, and the texture on it is very fine- it is disappointing, I expected it to be a more textured leather. I could see where any scratch would show pretty easily on it.

I think I am going to return mine- the ESR black leather case is on sale for under $20 right now on Amazon, I will get that and even if it is slightly lower quality, it is fine given that it is 25% of the price of the Apple case.

 

[nepalisherpa]

I had to exchange my Saddle Brown; however, Saddle Brown is on backorder at Best Buy so decided to try out the Black one this time. Let's see how it ages. This is Day 1.

Well, decided to go back to Saddle Brown and ordered one. Black will go back.

 

[Hooterville]

Well, decided to go back to Saddle Brown and ordered one. Black will go back.

What's wrong with the black one?

 

[nepalisherpa]

What's wrong with the black one?

Nothing wrong with it. Just didn't like the way it looked.

 

[Robbosan]

I believe the other reason why these cases are taking so long to patina is because of the MagSafe charger I’m sure apple tested these cases and wanted to make sure they can be as durable as possible to avoid the MagSafe ring. However I ended returning my black leather case because even though I do not use MagSafe chargers of any MagSafe accessories the case started showing that MagSafe ring for no reason so I went back to saddle brown. I know that I’m never going to get those beautiful results like in previous generations, but it is what it is. 😒

no ring on my black yet using magsafe charger.

 

[Robbosan]

What a shame. I put both leather and silicone cases on my Christmas list but now I'm afraid of what I'll end up getting and the headache that comes with exchanging, especially now that Apple stores are closed.

Buy online if there is a problem they will just refund and let you keep it, they do here anyway. Australia.

 

[Robbosan]

Is it really that shiny and real black looking black in real life? Mine is much more matte and somewhat grayish even (very much like what it shows in the official product photos).

Does leather feel fragile and easily scratching?

apple's leather is more charcoal than black

 

[jm31828]

I have the black leather case for my 12 Mini that I just bought yesterday. I brushed my fingernail across a portion of the back and it left a bit of a mark. Definitely not acceptable given that this is a $60 item, so I will be returning it. Unfortunately since otherwise it is a very nice case.

 

[thadoggfather]

I have the black leather case for my 12 Mini that I just bought yesterday. I brushed my fingernail across a portion of the back and it left a bit of a mark. Definitely not acceptable given that this is a $60 item, so I will be returning it. Unfortunately since otherwise it is a very nice case.

its gonna patina + get scratched up over time

thats leather. I had a slip and snagged my fingernail in a vertical line adjacent to the square camera cut off. such is life

my saddle brown and black leathers for SE2020 have scratched up a bit over time, and my saddle brown has patina'd quite a bit

 

[jm31828]

its gonna patina + get scratched up over time

thats leather. I had a slip and snagged my fingernail in a vertical line adjacent to the square camera cut off. such is life

my saddle brown and black leathers for SE2020 have scratched up a bit over time, and my saddle brown has patina'd quite a bit

Do you find that the black marks up more noticeably than your saddle brown?

 

[thadoggfather]

Do you find that the black marks up more noticeably than your saddle brown?

I would say scratches show up more easily on saddle brown especially when patina’d. They make the case lighter

 

[Hooterville]

I'm real OCD when it comes to my phones and my black Apple leather has a couple dents and a scuff on the back already Must have gotten these from putting the phone in and out of my car mount. Think I'm going to return/exchange it before my return period expires.

Apple leather scratches and dents very easily.

 

[0906742]

apple's leather is more charcoal than black

Yeah, I think it definitely looks more like charcoal than black. Definitely much lighter than iPhone X black leather case.

its gonna patina + get scratched up over time

thats leather.

I also realize that leather will mark up show patina but 12 case leather just feels so much more fragile than my current iPhone X case. Sure that one mark up too but not nearly as easily, and even those marks usually go away by rubbing them with my finger.

I had a slip and snagged my fingernail in a vertical line adjacent to the square camera cut off. such is life

Well now that you mentioned this I also noticed mine got scratch from my fingernail when I felt the wrinkled leather next to camera cutout plastic frame, so a bit too easily in my opinion. I was not pressing hard.

Anyway, sound like my black leather case is not much different from what others described theirs in this thread, so not sure it is worth to exhange it?

One more thing I was wondering about with these Magsafe cases. In leather case there is this ring shaped plastic part touching the back of the phone. Will this eventually cause phone getting marks on the back glass? I think it would be safer if the whole lining was just microgfibre without this ring shaped thing like it has been before.

 

[Robbosan]

Yeah, I think it definitely looks more like charcoal than black. Definitely much lighter than iPhone X black leather case.


I also realize that leather will mark up show patina but 12 case leather just feels so much more fragile than my current iPhone X case. Sure that one mark up too but not nearly as easily, and even those marks usually go away by rubbing them with my finger.


Well now that you mentioned this I also noticed mine got scratch from my fingernail when I felt the wrinkled leather next to camera cutout plastic frame, so a bit too easily in my opinion. I was not pressing hard.

Anyway, sound like my black leather case is not much different from what others described theirs in this thread, so not sure it is worth to exhange it?

One more thing I was wondering about with these Magsafe cases. In leather case there is this ring shaped plastic part touching the back of the phone. Will this eventually cause phone getting marks on the back glass? I think it would be safer if the whole lining was just microgfibre without this ring shaped thing like it has been before.

its just a case will cop a lot more, you trying to protect the case or the phone lol.

 

[0906742]

its just a case will cop a lot more, you trying to protect the case or the phone lol.

That is true it is to protect the phone but I rather would have case that keeps in decent look like my current iPhone X leather case which even after two years of use looks practically like new. Just gotten a bit more shine and some light scratch like marks which hardly show up, no dents or similar. It is still the part that you touch all the time and mostly visible part of your phone when it is in the case.
I’m not that big fan of patina.

Anyway leather in this year model cases feels so fragile, I’m not confident it can handle normal use without ripping apart.

 

[Silvrt3g4r]

saw this picture on bullstrap Instagram. That’s some gnarly patina, I’ve never seen a case turn like that but I love it. I wish mine was like that

 

[katara]

Hi everyone, I just got my Saddle Brown case (12 Pro Max) from Apple last Wednesday, and it's great. However, I've noticed that my hands tend to sweat a lot more when I'm using it. Is sweat safe for leather? I don't want to ruin the leather with it. Also, are there any general care tips for how to keep the leather supple and elegant with time?

 

[Caseguy]

I have purchased 2 California poppy leather cases from apple via Amazon (full price, no discount, fulfilled by Amazon) for my 12PM and they both have a very distinct and unpleasant smell - kind of like plastic

has anyone else experienced this? Google reveals nothing. I’m wondering if it’s the CP color way that’s specifically smells.

anybody else?

 

[Kimquat]

Anyone ever heard of or have used ProHT genuine leather case? Weird HomeDepot carries this product online but they’re available on Walmart.com, Frys and other online retailers.

 

[maxilian7]

I have purchased 2 California poppy leather cases from apple via Amazon (full price, no discount, fulfilled by Amazon) for my 12PM and they both have a very distinct and unpleasant smell - kind of like plastic

has anyone else experienced this? Google reveals nothing. I’m wondering if it’s the CP color way that’s specifically smells.

anybody else?

this exact thread is full of posts regarding this topic:

Search results for query: smell

forums.macrumors.com

i was irritated by the smell as well - it does become better once the first protective layer is worn away.
previous generations appear to be of higher quality, though.