Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Leather or Silicone Official Apple case?
- Thread starter thadoggfather
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Toughie! I was all set on the Silicone, but since i'm going black, the leather won't discolour too much over time (which I don't like), so I could go the leather.
Only thing with the leather is the smell. Not the new smell, but after using it for a while, body oils will be absorbed, & may stink it up? Others can confirm this.
The Silicon's smoother finish is nice though.
Anyone know if one is thinner than the other??
Only thing with the leather is the smell. Not the new smell, but after using it for a while, body oils will be absorbed, & may stink it up? Others can confirm this.
The Silicon's smoother finish is nice though.
Anyone know if one is thinner than the other??
Silicone has better shock absorption and grip, but leather is timeless and has good feel to it. It's difficult to choose one over the other. Clearly the solution is to wrap it in silicone and then get a leather case to go around it.
Ideally, you'll want to use a leather cleanser and conditioner over time.
Please dont get silicone.
The corners start peeling off nastily after a very short time, revealing a shiny matte rubber surface underneath, making it look cheap. Furthermore if that wasn't enough, it starts absorbing the oils in your finger to give it a naturally greasy look after time. Gross.
You don't get either of these problems with leather which instead develops a patina with time that will be unique according to the user
The only advantage silicone has over leather is being water resistant.
The corners start peeling off nastily after a very short time, revealing a shiny matte rubber surface underneath, making it look cheap. Furthermore if that wasn't enough, it starts absorbing the oils in your finger to give it a naturally greasy look after time. Gross.
You don't get either of these problems with leather which instead develops a patina with time that will be unique according to the user
The only advantage silicone has over leather is being water resistant.
That's another point - I like to wipe my case down with a damp paper towel at the end of the week.
Will leather react badly to this?
I really do love my Olive Green Silicone, the feel and fit are great. The leather was a little slippery imo
The silicone is MUCH nicer than the leather.
The silicone has an amazing feel to it and if you've never touched one, you'll be like 'wow'.
The silicone also is lined entirely on the inside, the leather is not lined on the sides which is lame. The leather also gets nasty looking IMO. "Patina" it is not. It's just nasty dirt and grime where you hold it which is disgusting to me personally.
As for the corners peeling, neither me nor my wife have ever experienced this. What are you guys doing, using fingernails at the corners to pry these cases off? You don't need to touch the corners at all to remove the case, you can just use the broad side of your thumb along the side near the lower corner of the screen and it slides off nice and easy without any corner damage.
Had both over the years and silicone >>>> leather
The silicone has an amazing feel to it and if you've never touched one, you'll be like 'wow'.
The silicone also is lined entirely on the inside, the leather is not lined on the sides which is lame. The leather also gets nasty looking IMO. "Patina" it is not. It's just nasty dirt and grime where you hold it which is disgusting to me personally.
As for the corners peeling, neither me nor my wife have ever experienced this. What are you guys doing, using fingernails at the corners to pry these cases off? You don't need to touch the corners at all to remove the case, you can just use the broad side of your thumb along the side near the lower corner of the screen and it slides off nice and easy without any corner damage.
Had both over the years and silicone >>>> leather
Last edited:
Apple make cases for the SG 8+?
Cheers.
I take good care of my phone/case & don't intent to remove it much at all - I remove my current case maybe 5 times a year just for the odd dusting..
Are you saying the Silicon is easier to slip in/out of pockets? It's annoying when cases are too grippy & latch into fabric lining pockets.
Apple make cases for the SG 8+?
Cheers.
I take good care of my phone/case & don't intent to remove it much at all - I remove my current case maybe 5 times a year just for the odd dusting..
Are you saying the Silicon is easier to slip in/out of pockets? It's annoying when cases are too grippy & latch into fabric lining pockets.
SG 8+ is short for the iPhone Space Gray 8 Plus. In my experience the silicone grips the pocket and attracts lint much more than the leather.
I have the leather case for my 8 and it has a microfiber lining. As far as I know, Apple’s leather cases have always been lined.
This has been my experience with Apple’s silicone cases as well. I like the grip they provide, but they seem to attract pocket lint like crazy. The grip also does make it more difficult to get the phone out of pockets.
The leather will slip in and out of pockets easier, but the silicone is by no means difficult - it's actually pretty smooth and slides in and out of pockets with no issues really. When you hear silicone you're like "cheap" and then you touch it and you're like..."ohhhh". I first had a leather case for my 6 and my wife got a silicone one a few days later and I immediately returned my leather one.
Sorry I mispoke, I edited my post - I meant to say that the sides of the inside aren't lined with microfiber on the leather ones. For whatever reason the silicone one is lined entirely while the leather one is only lined on the backside of the phone but not up the sides. Also the lint attraction really isn't too bad at all, surprisingly. A little bit here and there, sure, but not terrible. Easy enough to wipe off a bit here and there.
Interesting observation about the lining. I hadn't noticed but you're absolutely correct
(I have saddle brown leather and cocoa silicone btw got them both on sale, sales that are no longer around)
Another deciding factor may be the buttons - the new Leather case has metal buttons which give it a premium look.
Silicon has more sleek looking buttons that blend in with the case.
I like to 'feel' for the volume buttons whilst in my pockets. I wonder if one design will make this easier than the other??
"SG 8+" needs to stop in that case....very confusing!
Silicon has more sleek looking buttons that blend in with the case.
I like to 'feel' for the volume buttons whilst in my pockets. I wonder if one design will make this easier than the other??
"SG 8+" needs to stop in that case....very confusing!
Another deciding factor may be the buttons - the new Leather case has metal buttons which give it a premium look.
Silicon has more sleek looking buttons that blend in with the case.
I like to 'feel' for the volume buttons whilst in my pockets. I wonder if one design will make this easier than the other??
"SG 8+" needs to stop in that case....very confusing!
Well actually the Samsung Galaxy 8+ is written as S8+ on all their promotional material not SG 8+. Also considering this is an Apple forum I don’t think anyone was confused by my reference.
How long have you had it for?
Would you say you look after it, or are rough with it?
Any chance of photos of corners/back?
I purchased it when 7+ came out (last sept 2016). You could say I look after it. I have an office job + gym etc. Its been dropped once from shoulder hight
Here are some pics - https://imgur.com/a/mWxDG
The look and feel is very good! Everyone comments on it
I'm hoping my saddle brown patina's nicely over time. So far it's spotty and mostly limited to sides and the center near apple logo
Doesn't look terrible just a bit odd. After a couple weeks
Thanks for that. Gives me a good idea of how it roughs up.
Does anyone have a black Silicone case that's roughly a year old, to compare?
I currently have the silicone Midnight Blue case on my iPhone 8 Plus, and it does provide a great grip.
Lint isn't as big as an issue as I thought it would be - it really doesn't attract that much! I have owned a leather case as well (when I had the iPhone 7) and that too, is great. Personally, I'll be getting the 'Cosmos' Blue case, after pay day as I quite like the colour!!
Lint isn't as big as an issue as I thought it would be - it really doesn't attract that much! I have owned a leather case as well (when I had the iPhone 7) and that too, is great. Personally, I'll be getting the 'Cosmos' Blue case, after pay day as I quite like the colour!!
I've had both. I loved the leather, but I wouldn't buy the silicone again. For me, the silicone was a dust and lint magnet.