Leather Cases - Patina Proud Photos

[bc 08]

The buttons on mine are the same as the three Apple leather cases I returned. Very tactile.

I always thought Apple (leather), Andar, Bullstrap, and maybe Rhinoshield are pretty much a perpetual tie for best phone case buttons, personal design preferences notwithstanding.
They're all a little different yet all still basically similar -- separate floating buttons that feel just about as tactile as the phone itself and don't let dust in.

 

[n1ghtrain]

How soon do you think Andar's Camel Tan will be available again?

 

[kvlq]

What i really dislike on Andar's cases, is the camera square which is painted in black. And i also think its a bit bulkier than Apple's one. That's why i went this year with Apple's Midnight and Umber leather cases. Saw a bunch of YT videos, and it seems the leather this year is better than it was for series 12/13. They develop nice patina, but probably not as nice as on the X/XS.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

What i really dislike on Andar's cases, is the camera square which is painted in black. And i also think its a bit bulkier than Apple's one. That's why i went this year with Apple's Midnight and Umber leather cases. Saw a bunch of YT videos, and it seems the leather this year is better than it was for series 12/13. They develop nice patina, but probably not as nice as on the X/XS.

Yeah I had an Andar case last year that looked terrible from behind because the camera ring was all dinged up. Plastic is better for that part IMO.

 

[IconIc215]

What i really dislike on Andar's cases, is the camera square which is painted in black. And i also think its a bit bulkier than Apple's one. That's why i went this year with Apple's Midnight and Umber leather cases. Saw a bunch of YT videos, and it seems the leather this year is better than it was for series 12/13. They develop nice patina, but probably not as nice as on the X/XS.

I thought the leather felt like the same cheap stuff they used for the past two years which is why I sent the three I purchased back. Not worth $65 bucks a piece for that....but that's me. I'd rather spend $10 dollars more and get a Bullstrap as I actually prefer the open bottom or $48 bucks on an Andar. I had the Midnight last year and it faired ok but I couldn't imagine any light color how that would be over time.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

I pulled out a couple of old cases that I’d like to submit for evidence in The Members vs. Apple Using Bad Leather case.

Here we have one black leather case that was used on a 12 Mini. The leather was treated with some Nomad conditioner while still pretty new. It rode a mountain in Colorado with me and was actually buried in snow more than once.

The second case is from an iPhone 8 that my wife carried. No winter sports; just everyday purse/pocket carry.

I don’t know about y’all but to me the leather on the 12 series case looks superior, with color rubbing off on the corners of the yellow leather while there doesn’t appear to be any uneven wear on the black even though the usage was much more… violent.

 

[Supermallet]

I pulled out a couple of old cases that I’d like to submit for evidence in The Members vs. Apple Using Bad Leather case.

Here we have one black leather case that was used on a 12 Mini. The leather was treated with some Nomad conditioner while still pretty new. It rode a mountain in Colorado with me and was actually buried in snow more than once.

The second case is from an iPhone 8 that my wife carried. No winter sports; just everyday purse/pocket carry.

I don’t know about y’all but to me the leather on the 12 series case looks superior, with color rubbing off on the corners of the yellow leather while there doesn’t appear to be any uneven wear on the black even though the usage was much more… violent.

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Won’t black show less wear in general though? And if the colors on the brighter cases fade to black over time, that’s another benefit to the black.

 

[IconIc215]

Won’t black show less wear in general though? And if the colors on the brighter cases fade to black over time, that’s another benefit to the black.

Yes. You can't go wrong with a black leather case as it will go with anything but some people just like a little more color contrast on their phones. The lighter colors won't fade to black but will get ugly dark wear marks on the sides etc. depending on how you use it.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

Won’t black show less wear in general though? And if the colors on the brighter cases fade to black over time, that’s another benefit to the black.

Yep, all true. I submit this because I’ve seen posts over the years where even the darker colors like this were showing the flaking color issue and I’m showing that even after taking a beating there’s no uneven wear and the case with the rounded edges “from when Apple actually used great leather” is showing the color flaking unevenly.

🤷‍♂️

 

[bc 08]

I don't think Apple used the same finishes on all of the colors of the older "European leather" cases.

The old (pre-12) Saddle Brown was a classic aniline leather that patina'd like a champ.

That yellow case looks like it might have a pigmented finish on it similar to the newer cases.
I wouldn't be surprised since bright colors are more likely to be painted finishes because even bright dyes tend to shift more earth tone once the leather soaks it up when it's only dyed (aniline).

I don't think the Apple new cases have poor leather quality they've just chosen to use pigmented finishes across the board - probably because the lighter colors won't change as much during the exchange period.

 

[machopeful]

Thought this would be fun to share. In short, this leather connoisseur has good things to say about Apple leather cases.

TikTok’s leather guy tore apart Apple’s iPhone case.

[Media: https://www.tiktok.com/@tanner.leatherstein/video/7148551763774344494?is_copy_url=1\u0026is_from_webapp=v1] He estimates the case costs about $14 to make and says it uses a “pretty good choice for leather.” Verdict: he’d buy it.

www.theverge.com

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

I don't think Apple used the same finishes on all of the colors of the older "European leather" cases.

The old (pre-12) Saddle Brown was a classic aniline leather that patina'd like a champ.

That yellow case looks like it might have a pigmented finish on it similar to the newer cases.
I wouldn't be surprised since bright colors are more likely to be painted finishes because even bright dyes tend to shift more earth tone once the leather soaks it up when it's only dyed (aniline).

I don't think the Apple new cases have poor leather quality they've just chosen to use pigmented finishes across the board - probably because the lighter colors won't change as much during the exchange period.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. My question to you would be “why did we see darker colored leather cases with the paint peeling when they only spray on the lighter colors? Isn’t it safe to say there’s bad finishes on all generations of Apple’s leather but the vast majority of these cases age just fine?”.

 

[Supermallet]

Thought this would be fun to share. In short, this leather connoisseur has good things to say about Apple leather cases.

TikTok’s leather guy tore apart Apple’s iPhone case.

[Media: https://www.tiktok.com/@tanner.leatherstein/video/7148551763774344494?is_copy_url=1\u0026is_from_webapp=v1] He estimates the case costs about $14 to make and says it uses a “pretty good choice for leather.” Verdict: he’d buy it.

www.theverge.com

Now I'm tempted to try the Umber, darn it Apple! Normally I just get one case and I use it for two years without issue, but for some reason this year I can't seem to decide on just one.

 

[bc 08]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. My question to you would be “why did we see darker colored leather cases with the paint peeling when they only spray on the lighter colors? Isn’t it safe to say there’s bad finishes on all generations of Apple’s leather but the vast majority of these cases age just fine?”.

This is what I know:

I owned iPhone X and 11 Pro Saddle Brown Apple cases and they were fully aniline just like Bullstrap and Andar are now. There was no paint to peel and they both developed a rich, even patina as they absorbed oils.

Starting with the iPhone 12 case line all Apple leather colors (including Saddle Brown) switched to pigmented finishes.
Some examples wear better than others but none naturally show even patina like an aniline leather will (without stripping the finish).

I can't speak to the finish method used for every single color of the older Apple leather cases - I didn't own them all.

I speculated on your yellow case based on the wear characteristics evident your pics and second-hand knowledge of what some leather tanneries are forced to do in order to achieve bright colors without any earth undertones.

 

[Forbin1221]

I was wondering when the “Apple’s leather is garbage” crew would drop in.

They never left.

Now I'm tempted to try the Umber, darn it Apple! Normally I just get one case and I use it for two years without issue, but for some reason this year I can't seem to decide on just one.

Me too. But I really like my Andar, I prefer the saddle brown color it has. But if I see some of those starting to patina well.....

 

[machopeful]

Now I'm tempted to try the Umber, darn it Apple! Normally I just get one case and I use it for two years without issue, but for some reason this year I can't seem to decide on just one.

I have to say - I’m in love with Ink and I think it’s the best leather case since the saddle brown from the X/Xs days. I didn’t care for umber when I saw it new, but I have a feeling it will patina pretty well. Either way, Apple did better with leather this year than they did over the last two.

 

[Supermallet]

They never left.

Me too. But I really like my Andar, I prefer the saddle brown color it has. But if I see some of those starting to patina well.....

I've gone for the gray Andar so the Umber would be a different color option for me. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Chrisjaylv]

Anyone have the gray Andar yet? I’m wondering how it pairs with the deep purple 😍

 

[iFone88]

Anyone have the gray Andar yet? I’m wondering how it pairs with the deep purple 😍

I’ll have it tomorrow

 

[jonhoy]

Does anyone have an Apple leather case from the past few years that has been used with MagSafe charging on a daily basis? I'm not scared of the ring forming (which it already is), I just want to know if it gets worse over time or what to expect after a while.

 

[Chrisjaylv]

I’ll have it tomorrow

Nice! Please post pics! Is that the one they still sent even though you cancelled? 🤣

 

[scowl]

What i really dislike on Andar's cases, is the camera square which is painted in black.

Wait I thought the black square around the camera on the Andar case was plastic? It's painted leather?

 

[Ryan1524]

Can you take some close-up photos? I’m most interested in the ring around the camera and the buttons as I wasn’t a huge fan of those on the Aspens I received last year.

Posted some a few pages back

 

[PowerClerk]

What i really dislike on Andar's cases, is the camera square which is painted in black. And i also think its a bit bulkier than Apple's one. That's why i went this year with Apple's Midnight and Umber leather cases. Saw a bunch of YT videos, and it seems the leather this year is better than it was for series 12/13. They develop nice patina, but probably not as nice as on the X/XS.

that's why i preferred bullstrap's case last year -- there is no camera ring that's painted black

 

[PowerClerk]

Anyone have the gray Andar yet? I’m wondering how it pairs with the deep purple 😍

mine is being delivered Thursday. i will post pics